Oberstar Plaza

Between Lake Blvd (Hwy 8) and 1st Ave. N., Lindström, MN 55045

Oberstar Plaza features sculptures of Daniel Lindstrom, Erik Norelius and Per Anderson.  This plaza is nestled between Lake Blvd (Hwy 8) and 1st Avenue North on the west end of the historic portion of downtown Lindström.  It is historical site #9 on Lindström's Historical Walking Tour (downtown north walking tour loop).

These sculptures created by local sculptor Ian Dudley commemorate our founding fathers.  Per Andersson was the first to arrive with his nephew Erik Norelius and 100 of his neighbors in 1850.  Erik Norelius enrolled at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio where he spent four years studying, being ordained in 1855.  He served as the first preacher and teacher at the newly formed Chisago Lakes Lutheran Church in Center City.  Norelius moved to the newly formed congregations in Red Wing and Vasa, Minnesota in 1856.

In 1858, he was called to serve the Swedish Lutheran congregation in Attica, Indiana.  In 1863, he was called back to the Vasa and Red Wing congregations in Goodhue County.  Norelius went on to initiate Minnesota Elementar Skola, a predecessor of Gustavus Adolphus College.  Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota traces its history to 1865 when Eric Norelius and his congregation took in four orphaned immigrant children and later opened Vasa Lutheran Home for Children.  He was also active in the publishing world and began the publishing of Minnesota Posten, from 1857-58 which merged with Hemlandet.  Daniel Lindstrom, Per Andersson’s half-brother, arrived in 1853 and with help from Erik Norelius bought 130.4 acres that he eventually platted and sold as the first lots in the area to be known as the City of Lindström.”

To learn more about the history of Lindström and "The Story of the Umlauts", click HERE.