Mount Horeb Trollway and Associated Troll Legends
Location: East Main St, Mt Horeb, WI 53572, USA
Mythical Creatures
by @wisconsinwizard
After the construction of a highway bypass redirected traffic around Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, in the 1980s, the town (largely descended from Norwegian settlers) decided to construct a "trollway" to bring people back. East Main Street in Mount Horeb now features dozens of wooden troll sculptures, each with its own character and personality.
The Norwegians of Wisconsin also brought with them a large number of troll legends.
Perhaps the most common type of troll in Norwegian-Wisconsinite legends is the giant bergtroll, or mountain troll. These lived atop mountains or in caves, and amused themselves by rolling boulders down hills to trouble humans. They were thought to be unable to cross plowed earth, and so if you ever find a troll lair, you can troll the troll by plowing the land outside his cave, therefore sealing him in forever. The bergtrolls were said to live alongside the jutal, or mountain dwarves.
Another type of troll found in Wisconsin lore is the house troll. This troll had pinkish skin, a pig-like nose, and two pig-like tails. It could perform chores around the house, but unlike the tomte nisser (gnomes with a similar function) the house trolls were enslaved rather than performing these tasks freely. The house trolls could also be sent out to steal from neighbors on behalf of their masters.
Another troll found in Wisconsin lore is the hulder creature, which appears as a beautiful maiden with an ox's tail (which she hides beneath her skirts). She attempts to lure men into the wilderness to kill them, but is kindly towards charcoal burners. The male of this troll type is called the huldrekrall, which dwells underground, and is giant in size and hideous as one might expect of a troll.
The final troll of Norwegian-Wisconsinite lore is the fossegrim, a waterfall troll which takes the form a beautiful naked man. This troll has masterful command over the harp and fiddle, and can produce wonderous music compelling those who hear it to dance. One could also bargain with this troll by offering stolen mutton, and if enough meat was offered the fossegrim would teach you to play with the same supernatural skill.
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