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Big Ole’s Tall Tale
A Norwegian boy was born that was so big as a baby, that he was given the nickname of Big Ole. Big Ole lived in the mountains of Norway. At the age of fifteen he stood well over eight feet tall. He was especially loved by all the little children, because he was very kind to them. As he grew, he began to feel out of place in his home village, and he knew that he must leave his home to find a new land to live in. He needed a place as big as he was, and he had heard that America was a place with wide-open spaces.
So Big Ole left his home, and walked to the ocean. There he met Paul Knutson, who was about to sail in a Viking ship to explore and look for another land that they had heard tales about. The Vikings believed the world was flat, and at the edge of the world you would fall into space and be lost forever, but these were tough, fearless Vikings and they were looking for adventure! Big Ole was so strong that he was immediately hired to help row and sail the ship. Their first stop was Iceland, where there already was a Viking settlement. From there they went to Greenland, home of another group of Norwegians and Swedes. This was the year 1359.
Big Ole first met Lena in Greenland. She was a very large girl, just the right size for Ole! When Big Ole and Lena saw each other, it was love at first sight. They were meant for each other, ya sure, ya betcha! Their love grew as big and strong as they were. But Ole couldn’t leave his ship and his captain, Paul Knutson.
Alas, they were torn apart. Big Ole had to continue his voyage across the big sea, and his Lena could not go with him, but he did promise to come back or send for her when he reached the new land. We understand she’s still waiting somewhere in Greenland, waiting for Ole to return, and that’s why Lena isn’t in Alexandria along side of Big Ole.
Finally, Big Ole, Paul Knutson, and the Vikings found a new land to the West called Vinland. From there they traveled north along the coast of what is now Nova Scotia, took a left on the map, and followed a river inland. When they reached the Hudson Bay, they were only fourteen days from their final destination. From there, some of them left their ships and traveled on foot to a land of mixed forest, many lakes and open prairie, near what is now known as Kensington, Minnesota.
Big Ole loved the wide open spaces of this new land, so he decided to settle here. When the other Vikings left, he remained. Before they left, they carved their story on a stone. It is known today as the Kensington Runestone.
Because he was big and strong, he was able to build a cabin all by himself. He made friends with the wildlife, the Indians, and the settlers that came. Everyone loved Big Ole’s jokes about Lena. He was the first settler in Minnesota.
A long time later, they even built a statue of him. It’s 28 feet tall, as mighty as he was. Like Big Ole himself, it looks out over our town of Alexandria – the town that he loved and protected.