Sawmill Landing

Much of Northern Lights centers on the small town of Sawmill Landing in northern Minnesota. Sawmill Landing was founded by various groups of European immigrants, many of whom worked in the nearby lumber yards. By the 1960s, Sawmill Landing is quiet and sparsely populated; many residents refer to it as a “dying town” (65). Forest fires present a constant threat to the community. Perry and Harvey have a particularly complex relationship with the place. Although their family is deeply entwined in the cultural fabric of Sawmill Landing (both their father and grandfather were preachers at Damascus Lutheran), a sense of entrapment and isolation suffuses the town. Many residents have chosen to leave Sawmill Landing. Throughout the novel, Perry and Harvey struggle to decide if they should join this exodus.

Harvey and Perry’s Home

Set just outside of Sawmill Landing, Harvey and Perry’s childhood home is an...