Sand Island (Wisconsin)

Sand Island is one of the Apostle Islands, in northern Wisconsin, in Lake Superior, and is part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The Sand Island Light is located on the island.

and Island Pioneer Settlers

Much of the land in the Bayfield and Apostle Islands cleared by the logging industry in the late 1800's was later sold to Scandinavian pioneers seeking to settle in the area to farm, fish, or work in the logging or iron ore industries. "(Ashland WI Visitor's Center Archives)"

Bertam and Bergit Noreng (Noring), came from Norway to the USA on their honeymoon. They arrived at Ellis Island on May 2, 1906 on the ship called Oscar II. (Ref "Ancestry.com, personal testimony confirmation by Harold Noreng)." After living in Minnesota for a while, they heard about the opportunities in the Bayfield and Apostle Island area to own their own land. They bought land on Sand Island. Harold A. Noreng, their 5th child, was the last child born on Sand Island (July 8, 1920). His older siblings were William, Helen, Signe, and Norman.

The industrious Norwegian family cleared the trees and built a home on the interior of Sand Island. There the Noreng family farmed and fished Lake Superior year round for whitefish, chubs, and lake trout. Fish nets were repaired with handmade net shuttles (needles) made of wood. Bonfires were built on shore to notify others to send a small row boat to pick them up from the mainland. Crossing Lake Superior waters could be dangerous with large waves and strong winds, and bitter cold in late fall. In the winter, people could walk or take the horse drawn sled to the mainland over the ice. When other pioneer families on Sand Island came to visit, a feast was held, followed by music on the front porch: harmonica, guitar, violin, and accordion accompanied those who sang both Norwegian and American songs.

Harold Noreng graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. In between his junior and senior year, Harold joined the Army Air Force pilot training program in San Angelo and Mission, Texas (1942-1946), serving his country in WWII. Harold retired as a Major from the Air Force Reserves in 1980, with a total of 37 years combined service.

Eventually, Harold married Rachel Beatrice Williams, and they had four children: Hildegard Ruth, Linda Marie, Bruce William, and Mark Harold Noreng. Harold started working for Sears & Roebuck in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where his second daughter Linda, was born September 23, 1951. Harold's career included Manager of J.I. Case Tractor sales in Spencer, Iowa, Manager of Arlan's Department Store in Rockford, Illinois and Administrator of English Hills Nursing Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.