An Immigrant Story - Sivert Olson

A long building and a church stand next to one another along a street.
Sivert Olson building on Scott Street in Calumet.

Courtesy of Keweenaw NHP Archives Curto--Album--4--#003--Scott St. Sivert Olson Building St. Anne's and Industrial Core in Background

Sivert Olson was born in Norway in 1850 and left as a young man in 1873 to begin an immigrant story. Sivert married Emma Christensen within a year of his arrival and the young couple made their home in the village of Red Jacket (Calumet). There, they would raise two children.

Sivert was a carpenter by trade and worked for E.L. Siller for a few years. In 1878, he began a partnership with Stephen Wold, purchasing Dr. Siller's business. This firm built numerous churches, schools, and homes in the Calumet and Lake Linden areas (where a branch store was located). Mr. Olson belonged to the Free and Accepted Masons, was a member of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Modern Woodsmen of America, The Knights of Macabee, and was a founding member of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of Calumet.

 
A man poses for a photograph from the waist up.
This volume of the Biographical record contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Houghton, Baraga, and Marquette Counties, including Sivert Olson.

Biographical Publishing Company. Chicago, IL. 1903.

Like many contractors, Olson & Wold also built and sold furniture and coffins, becoming undertakers as well as builders. Their store on Scott Street in Calumet was centrally located near many of the area's churches. Today, Olson's building is home to The Office Shop, Northern Cuts, and seven apartments.

Last updated: January 24, 2018

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

25970 Red Jacket Road
Calumet, MI 49913

Phone:

906 337-3168

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