The Norway House
&
Birthplace of Alexander Wiley
10 Block W. Grand Avenue, Chippewa Falls

Built in 1871 by Alexander Wiley, Sr. and Nels Elikson , the rooming house over the years was home for hundreds of immigrants, lumber jacks, mill workers, farm hands and log drivers (known as river pigs). In 1887 Wiley Sr. became the sole owner and operated it until 1895 when it was sold to Erick and Johanna Myrman. The Myrmans operated the Norway House until 1915 after which it was rented to various other operators until 1939 when the building was razed.

In its heyday, room and board was $4.00 per week. Horses were fed and bedded down in a large connected barn for 25 cents per day.

This site is also the birthplace of Alexander Wiley, Jr. Born here in 1884 to Norwegian immigrants, Alex and Sophia, he went from the lumberyards of the north woods to the Capital grounds of Washington D.C..

Not satisfied with his first job as a lumberman, which paid 15 cents an hour, Alexander attended Augsburg College in Minneapolis and then received his law degree from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He returned to his hometown and practiced law for 30 years and also was elected to three consecutive terms as Chippewa County District Attorney.
Elected to represent Wisconsin in 1939 as a United States Senator, Alexander was a diligent worker for U.S. foreign affairs, military and industrial research, preservation of natural resources and veteran's rights. He served a distinguishing 24 years in Washington D. C., retiring in 1963.

Chippewa County Historical Society
Historic Sign #27