The Norway Community Center will host the 96th annual Slooper Society of America meeting Sunday. The Sloopers are descendants of the Norwegian immigrants who arrived in America on a type of boat called a sloop in 1825 and went on to found the community of Norway, Illinois in 1834.
Anyone interested in the Sloopers can go. Most of those who will are related to the original Sloopers somehow. Norsk Museum President Dave Johnson says he isn’t one of the 8,000 direct descendants living today. But he’ll make a presentation about them and their history.
Audio PlayerJohnson says no tickets are being sold, but donations are welcome. He just asks that people let him know in advance so there’s enough food. The doors open at noon and lunch will be served at 1pm.
Johnson’s hoping to get the ball rolling for a big celebration in 2025 when Norwegian-Americans will mark 200 years in America. For their 150th year observation in 1975, King Olav V of Norway the country visited Norway the unincorporated community in LaSalle County. Johnson says it would be wonderful to have a similar visit from current King Harald V.