About Us - NHOH Lag

About Us

About Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag

The Norwegian-American “bygdelag” is an organization of emigrant descendants from a particular area of Norway, now living in North America. Each “lag” seeks to preserve Norwegian cultural heritage, facilitate genealogical research, and strengthen bonds with its community-of-origin in Norway. There are over 30 bygdelag in America today. The parent organization is Bygdelagenes Fellesraad. Our Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag includes 16 kommuner in the three districts of Nord-Østerdal, Sør-Østerdal, and Hedemarken / Hamar.

NHOH Map

History of NHOH Lag

History of NHOH Lag

By Roland Krogstad

After a year of planning and promotion, the Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag was formed with the approval of Bygdelagenes Fellesraad at an organizational stevne at Madison, Wisconsin on August 18-19, 1995. This bygdelag covers the northern two thirds of Hedmark fylke and encompasses the three districts of Nord Østerdal, Sør Østerdal, and Hedemarken/Hamar. These three districts currently include the following 15 kommuner: Alvdal, Elverum, Engerdal, Folldal, Hamar, Løten, Os, Rendalen, Ringsaker, Stange, Stor-Elvdal, Tolga, Trysil, Tynset, and Åmot. Some former kommuner have become merged with others. However, their old records have maintained their identity. The Lag is an expanded revival of the former Østerdalslaget which was formed during their first stevne at Fergus Falls, Minnesota on June 18, 1910 and dissolved in 1962. Membership of our Lag hovers around 220 descendants and friends of immigrants from the three districts, with about 35% residing in Wisconsin and 23% in Minnesota. About 40% have roots in Ringsaker followed by Stange (15%) and Hamar (11%).

Ties to Norway

Our Lag seeks to learn more about the history and culture of our home districts, kommuner, parishes, and kinfolk. Bridges are built and liaison is maintained with the Norwegian Emigrant museum, the archives at Hamar, and the 18 Kommuner Historielag. Three issues per year of our newsletter (NHOH News) are sent to the above in exchange for yearbooks, genealogical, and other information. Some of our members live or have lived in Hedmark. Lag members communicate by e-mail with relatives and research genealogical web sites. Members travel to Hedmark to do genealogical research and to visit relatives and ancestral farms.

Ruins of Hamar Cathedral

501(c)(3) Organization

Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

NHOH Bylaws

The bylaws of the Nord Hedmark og Hedemarken Lag are published here