ANDERS HAUGEN

Anders Haugen was born October 24, 1888 in B O Telemark, Norway, and immigrated to the United States in 1908, eventually settling in Burnsville. On arrival in Orchard Gardens he lived with Ed Annunson.

Mr. Haugen was a carpenter and bricklayer and set about building his own home on Judicial Road just a few yards from the Lakeville township border. The house was built primarily of rock hauled from Savage. To this day, it is difficult to understand his reasonings for going so far for his rock since rock was the best crop ever grown in Orchard Gardens.

Orchard Gardens and its rolling countryside was a perfect place to develop his already famous skiing achievements. In Ishpeming, Michigan , at the National Ski Hall of Fame, there are plaques honoring both Anders Haugen and his brother, Lars.

In 1910 Anders won the National Class A Ski-jumping Championship. In 1912 his brother, Lars, became champion. Again in 1920 and 1926 Anders took the National Ski Jumping honors. He was originator of indoor skiing, and thrilled thousands on his straw slopes in the Minneapolis Auditorium.

In 1924 Haugen participated in the first Olympics in Chamonix as a member of the United States ski team, finishing fourth in special jumping due in a computation error, which deprived him of a medal. The mistake was rectified 50 years later when he was awarded the bronze medal at a special ceremony in Norway.

June Dille