Historical Landmarks
The Norge Historic District was considered for the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 (reference number 92001269), but there were owner objections. The landmarks include the following:
Viking Hall: In 1908, a group of young men, who called themselves the "Vikings", purchased two lots on the corner of Richmond Rd. and Penninulsa St. for $5.00 in order to construct a Town Hall. They wanted a centrally located place to be used for dances, meetings and parties as their parents had known in Norway. Viking Hall provided a space for a variety of venues until the 1920s, when it went into disrepair. The Norge Home Demonstration Club purchased the building, renovated it, and renamed it the Norge Community Hall. To this day, the community and many local organizations continue to make extensive use of this hall.
Bergh Hotel: This hotel was built at the turn of the 19th to 20th century. It was owned and operated by Alfred Bergh to accommodate the new arrivals at the new community. The building today is thriving as a furniture store: since the 1980s it has been the "Williamsburg Wicker and Rattan".
Kinde and Nesseth Store: Hans Kinde and John Nesseth opened Norge's first store in 1903. It was a general store that sold everything from clothing to fertilizer to groceries. In 1904, the first Norge post office operated from this facility. The building was rebuilt in 1908 after a fire, and still operates today as an antique store under the name "The Old Store in the Village".
Other landmarks in Norge include the former Doll Factory, the former Williamsburg Soap and Candle Factory, Our Savior's Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Norge Depot.
| Norge Train Depot | |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Norge Train Depot at the Library | |
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| Nearest city: | Williamsburg, Virginia |
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| Coordinates: | 37°22′36″N 76°46′19″W / 37.37667°N 76.77194°W / 37.37667; -76.77194Coordinates: 37°22′36″N 76°46′19″W / 37.37667°N 76.77194°W / 37.37667; -76.77194 |
| Area: | less than one acre |
| Built: | 1907 |
| Governing body: | Local |
| NRHP Reference#: | 08000256 |
| Added to NRHP: | May 5, 2009 |
In May 2009, the Norge Depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The train station is the last surviving example of a wood frame “informal standard” depot in the six states that were served by C&O. Originals were built according to an informal plan and no standard drawings were prepared or entered in the railway’s set of design standards.
In February 2006, the station, which dates to approximately 1908, was relocated about 1 mile to a site adjacent to the James City County Branch of the Williamsburg Regional Library (opened in 1996) on Croaker Road. It is being renovated as a museum and a community center. Renovations were completed in 2012.
Read more about this topic: Norge, Virginia
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