Andrew Dahl

From a Westby Times article written by Margaret Gulsvig.

Andrew H. Dahl home built in 1888

The house itself sits unobtrusively on Westby’s Main Street, presently owned by Chris Kilen. It is white frame with an open porch across the front. A second look reveals that it has some unique aspects: interesting design, especially on the second floor facade. Spoked half wheels hint of Mississippi steamboat decor. The house is more than hundred years old having been built in 1888 by Andrew Dahl.

Andrew Dahl was one of Westby’s first entrepreneurs, notably because he sold the first cars. His store on the corner now occupied by Uff-da-Mart housed a variety of merchandise. Actually his Ford garage was on land next to the Dahl home. It was sold to Jules Rudie who in turn sold it to Vernon Telephone who then tore it down to enlarge their parking lot. Supervisor and president of Westby from 1899 to 1902. Andrew Dahl served four terms in the State Assembly and during the 1905 session he was chairman of a committee on assessment and collection of taxes which probably led to his being elected state treasurer in 1906, where he served for the next six years.

The Dahls had six children, four boys and two girls; Victor, Chester, Harry and Aad, Alice and Jane. During a visit to the Rude home, Victor recalled when Governor Bob LaFollette, prominent progressive party governor, visited in their home. The week prior to his coming, Mrs. Dahl cleaned and painted to have the house in good condition for this occasion. Two days before LaFollette arrived, she started preparing the food — baking and cooking good Norwegian fare. When LaFollette arrived he declined to eat, explaining that his ulcers had been making life miserable. During the period of preparation, the excitement trickled down to the Dahl children, who hung over the railing of the stairway when the governor arrived. Of course the inevitable happened — one fell over the railing of the stairway when the governor arrived. Victor also recalled that one Christmas he received a bicycle. While his parents attended church he proceeded to try it out and sailed right through the kitchen window, which took some explaining when his parents returned home.

This interior view of the Dahl store shows the staff then working: store manager

Knute Villand is third from left. Next to him are Harry and Victor Dahl.

The names of the female employees are unknown. Harry Dahl photo

Another son Harry, started Dahl Garage in La Crosse which flourishes today with Harry’s son as owner.

Andrew Dahl died in 1928, and is buried in the Coon Prairie cemetery.

In 1941 the home was sold to Attorney D.M. Langve of Utica, also a politician. From 1917 to 1923 he was Crawford County Clerk of Court. War interrupted part of this time as he served with American forces in France. In 1928 he was elected to the state assembly, serving two more terms before deciding not to run again.

Ray and Conalee Rude bought the house in 1959 and moved in with two children, Brenda and Brian. Chris Kilen now owns the house which is home to his real estate business, Nordic Hills.