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The Hoen farms in 1765 In 1765, Øvre Hoen belonged to merchant Jens Hofgaard, who lived in Bragernes. His manager, Peder Gregersen, lived on the farm with his wife Guri Gutormsdatter and their three children. Seven households are listed under the farm, which must have been homesteaders of various kinds. Some of these probably worked at the Hoen sawmills, but there were also three old homesteaders' widows. Niels Clausen Winther, who had recently taken over the farm from his uncle, Peter Nicolai Winther, lived at Nedre Hoen. He lived there with his wife Dorthe, his sister Angel and several servants. The soldier Jens Olssen also lived on the farm, and there were eight household members. Several of them may have worked at the sawmills or had day jobs in connection with the farm or salmon fishing. The Winther family at Hoen Winther was a family descended from old Norwegian nobility that can be traced back to the Middle Ages and that had connections to various farms on Eiker, including Hoen, dating back to the 14th century. The name was again linked to Nedre Hoen in 1685, when a marriage was concluded between Annechen Clausdatter Winther and Niels Christophersen Hoen, who was a parish priest on Eiker. Several of their descendants used Winther as a family name, including the eldest son Claus Nielsen Winther, who became a theologian and parish priest in Stavanger. Øvre Hoen was taken over by his younger brother, Captain Peter Nicolai Winther, but in 1764 his nephew, Niels Clausen Winther, moved back to Eiker and settled on Hoen. He was the owner until 1777, when Nedre Hoen was sold to the brothers Niels and Otto Omsted and farmer Borger Christophersen Woldstad. It is possible that the famous glass cutter Villas Vinter at Nøstetangen was connected to the Winther family at Hoen, but this connection is unclear. The Hofgaard family at Hoen Merchant Jens Hofgaard became the owner of Øvre Hoen in 1751, as heir to his father-in-law Otto von Cappelen. This happened after a long legal dispute between Niels Christensen and Otto von Cappelen, who both claimed to have bought the farm from the previous owner, Christopher Winther. Hofgaard, who was one of Drammen's largest lumber merchants, also became the owner of the sawmills below Hoen, and he increased the yield at these sawmills by transferring quantities from other sawmills in the district, while also having several large dams built to regulate the flow of water in the waterway. He is also known for having built the cart that is depicted on the famous Hoen Cup. Both the lumber business and the Øvre Hoen farm were taken over in 1775 by Jens Hofgaard's sons, Gabriel and Andreas, who started the company "Gabr. & Andr. Hofgaard". When this company was dissolved in 1787, Øvre Hoen and the sawmills passed to Gabriel Hofgaard, and his descendants were owners until 1825.

What did it cost back then in the 18th century? In the Danish-Norwegian coinage system, the rigsdaler species was the main coin from 1544 to 1813, and in Norway it was usually called daler or species. In 1625, 1 rigsdaler = 4 ort = 6 marks = 96 shillings Skilling was a unit of currency used in Norway between 1505 and 1875. Converted to today's exchange rate, one skilling was worth approximately 1.50 NOK. Courant or kurant means small coin. 10 kroner for us was equivalent to 3,655 kroner in 1701. This corresponds to a price increase from 1701 to 2012 of 36,450%. The krone was introduced in 1875 in both Norway and Denmark. Salaries A servant who worked for a farmer earned 10-12 rigsdaler a year, but also had room and board. A maid had half the salary, 5-6 rigsdaler. In a year, a miner could earn 50 rigsdaler. In Norway, glass workers became a high-wage group. Cabin manager Christian Fillion at the crown glass cabin (window glass) in Hurdal 288 rigsdaler a year Blows away 192 rigsdaler a year in the same place Starts at the same place 120 rigsdaler a year In addition, various bonus schemes came in the amount of 3 - 6 riksdaler per month. Schoolmaster in the same place in 1776 28 rigsdaler a year Unskilled Norwegian workers 36-72 rigsdaler a year Salaries compared to Kongsberg Sølvverk The salaries are based on the Silver Works' accounts during the years the Skarra mines were in operation (1770-1798). 1st class miners: Exceeds 120 rigsdaler a year Sharpens 120 rigsdaler a year Prices Beef, 14-15 kilos: 1 rdl Clipfish, 8-20 kilos: 1 rdl Herring, 1 barrel: 3 rdl Sugar, 1 kilo: 1 tbsp Butter, 4-5 kilos: 1 tbsp Tobacco, 3 kilos: 1 rdl Barley flour, 1 barrel (139 liters): 3 rdl Spirits, simple, 1 pot (1 liter): 16 shillings/1 mark (1/6 daler) Wild boar, large: 1 1/2 rdl Young sheep: 1 place Goose, 3 pieces: 1 rdl Cow, 1 pc: 2-5 rdl Horse, old: 5-6 rdl Bricks, 144 pieces: 1 rdl Brass kettle: 1/2 rdl Silver bowl, large: 30 rdl Plate, 2 shillings Coffin, painted and well-studded: 1 rdl Chest with carvings: 15 rdl Duvet cover and duvet cover, used: 3 rdl per piece Sheet, fine canvas with "knippel", used: 1 3/4 rdl Sheets, striped, used: 1st place Bible, large: 8 pages Hat, "high-polled", black: 1/2 rdl Shoes or boots, one pair: 1 1/2 ort Hose, one pair: 12 shillings Paddy flour, gray, a cubit: 12 shillings Skirt, purchased (used): 2-3 1/2 rdl Cemetery space: 2 rdl Wax candles that burned on the altar during a funeral: 4-6 rdl For a blood donor to open a vein for bloodletting: 8 shillings

Movies about the war The Gunhildrud Tragedy is a 2024 film that tells the story of the dramatic events that took place on April 24, 1945 in the area around Gunhildrudsetra on the west side of Eikeren. The film is produced by the Well-being and Coping Center in Øvre Eiker municipality, and Anders Fossesholm and Bjørn Rørdam Bergersen are responsible for the script and direction. Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes. Watch a short clip from the film here: The entire film can be downloaded from Eiker Archive/Eikerhistorie: The Gunhildrudtragedien 6.7 GB - download time approx. 10 minutes

Milestein School circa 1920 Class picture at Milestein School circa 1920. The teacher is Anders Martinius Knudsen, who started at the school as a substitute in 1920, shortly after he had retired. In 1923 he celebrated his 60th anniversary as a teacher, aged 76 - see: Buskerud and Vestfold, Tuesday 27 November 1923 . The picture was submitted by Kari Næss, daughter of Knut Arne Næss, born 1910, standing farthest to the right in the third row (second from the back).

Ironworks - Hassel and Eidsfos Hasselverket Da glassverket på Nøstetangen startet opp i 1741. var Hasselverket alt en veletablert bedrift, mer enn hundre år gammelt og et anerkjent jernverk. Det produserte både smijern, som smedene brukte som råstoff til sine produkter, og mange typer støpejernsprodukter. Mest kjent – både i samtid og ettertid – var nok Hassel for sine «jernkakkelovner», med jernplater som var små kunstverk. De ble støpt i treformer med utskjæringer som var laget av noen av de fremste treskjærerne i landet. Rokokkoperioden på siste halvdel av 1700-tallet regnes som en storhetstid for denne ovnskunsten, og rokokko-ovnene fra Hassel er en interessant parallell til glasskunsten fra Nøstetangen i samme periode. Motivene var hentet fra bibelhistorien, men også fra gresk og romersk mytologi. Landets konger ble også hyllet, og noen av de aller rikeste borgerne kunne også spesialbestille ovner med sitt eget monogram. Eiere i denne perioden var familien Neumann, slektninger av Cappelen på Fossesholm og medlemmer av det lokale handelspatrisiatet. Jacob Hansen Neumann var eier fra 1746 til han døde i 1777. Deretter sto enken hans, Verkets hovedgruver lå i Hasselåsen på Modum, men det hadde også gruver andre steder på Eiker og ikke minst ved Arendal, der det ble utvunnet jernmalm av en helt spesiell kvalitet, som ble fraktet sjøveien til Eiker. Selve verket med den store masovnen lå ved Daler på Eiker og ble drevet med vannkraft fra Bingselva. Sammen med sagbrukene, som lå litt lenger ned i elva, la det grunnlaget for tettstedet Skotselv Eidsfos Ironworks Eidsfos ironworks was started in 1697 by Caspar Herman von Hausmann – grandfather of Caspar Herman von Storm, who played such a central role at the Nøstetangen glassworks. The ironworks was located in Hof parish in Jarlsberg county, but it was still connected to Eiker in several ways. Many of the works' mines were located in the area between Drammensdalen and Eikeren – most at Konnerud, but also partly at Eiker. The farmers at Eiker were probably involved in ore hauling for the works and in deliveries of coal and wood. Together with Kongsberg Sølvverk and Hassel ironworks, Eidsfos was a competitor for Nøstetangen in the fight for forest resources. Much of the transport to and from Eidsfos also went through Eiker. Ore and other goods for the plant were rowed up the Drammenselva and Vestfosselva rivers to Vestfossen and onward by sailing yacht across Fiskumvannet and Eikeren. Together with the timber rafting and the transport of goods for the Silver Plant, the transport to Hassel and Eidsfos made the waterway at Eiker an important transport artery. It helped to employ a growing population of farmhands and workers.

Topics in Eikerhistorie 2025-2027 "Eikerhistorie 2025-2027" is a project under the auspices of the association EIKERHISTORIE, which is an umbrella organization in which other voluntary organizations in Eiker can be members. The members as of today are Eiker Historielag, Eiker Arkiv/Sameia Kulturminnedag, Nøstetangensenteret, Hellefossen Elveeierlag and Østsiden Jeger- og Fiskerforening. It may be appropriate to invite more participants during the project period. Samfunnet under Hellefossen This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person's role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Nøstetangen - Norway's first glassworks This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person's role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. War years at Eiker This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person's role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Setre og boplasser på Eiker This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person's role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Eikers skihistorie - topp og bredde This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person's role and responsibilities, or add a short bio. Vestfos Cellulosefabrik This is your Team Member description. Use this space to write a brief description of this person's role and responsibilities, or add a short bio.

Magazine drive on "Sölvveien" The transportation of goods between Bragernes and Kongsberg is often called "warehouse transportation". In reality, this transportation took place both on land and by water. The actual transportation was carried out by "reeders" in rowboats and drivers with horses and carts. Along the river and the road there were transport stations, guesthouses and inns where both the transport workers and other travelers could quench their thirst and get food and shelter. This is where goods were probably also bought and sold to the local population, at a time when there were no country stores. All the traffic also provided work for craftsmen such as boat builders, blacksmiths, wheelwrights and shoemakers. In the latter half of the 18th century, the mining town of Kongsberg had around 8,000 inhabitants and was Norway’s second largest city – smaller than Bergen, but larger than Christiania. The local agriculture could not feed such a large population, and the miners and their families were completely dependent on a regular supply of grain and other foodstuffs. This gave great power to a small group of “suppliers”, who had the exclusive right to run this profitable business. Together with the top management at the Silver Works, they constituted the upper class in Kongsberg. The grain and other imported goods destined for Kongsberg came to Drammen - which actually consisted of two separate trading posts - Bragernes and Strømsø. The large warehouse of the silver works was located at Øvre Sund in Bragernes until 1786, when a new and larger warehouse was built on Strømsø. From here the goods were to be transported to the warehouse in Kongsberg - today known as "Magasinparken". This was the origin of the term "Magasinkjørsel", and the transport went through Eiker. Although a road had been built all the way to Bragernes as early as the 1620s, much of the traffic was carried out on the river, especially the transport of heavier goods. The "Røyertene" were a separate professional group, who rowed "big boats" up the river to Haugsund. Some goods were transferred to horses and carts at the Langebru transport station near Haug Church, but much was also transported by boat to Vestfossen and sometimes all the way to Rudstøa in Fiskum. However, the last leg through Kongsbergskogen had to be covered by horse and cart. This was by far one of the country's most important transport arteries. "The Silver Road" is a name that this road has been given in recent times. Originally, it was often called "The King's Road", but also "The Post Road", since there was a fixed postal route here with important correspondence between the management of the Silver Works and the central administration in Copenhagen. Today, several new and larger roads have been built between Drammen and Kongsberg, but at the end of the 18th century, the route was largely the same as when the road was built in the 1620s. Maintenance and improvements were carried out, however. One of the most important was the construction of stone arch bridges, which probably replaced older wooden bridges. The largest and most important was Smedbrua, which was built in 1767 by stonemasons from the Silver Works, where the road crosses the Fiskumelva River. Smaller bridges of the same type were built at Skogen and at Brekke on Nedre Eiker. Today, these bridges are protected as cultural monuments.

18th century building in Hokksund In a registration of the buildings in Gamle-Hokksund and Dynge that was carried out in 2015/2016, nine buildings were dated to the 18th century. However, due to extensions and reconstruction, it can be difficult to date the buildings. Up to 50 buildings may have a core from the 18th century, or perhaps from the 17th century. Among the best preserved are Gundersgården (Hobbelstadgata 8), Kolbrækgården (Dynge 34) and Madsengården (Storgata 42). At Falchegården (Storgata 75), the western part dates from the mid-18th century and the eastern part from the early 19th century, and the building has been restored so that the 18th century character is largely preserved. The small houses from the 19th century also contribute to creating an old wooden house environment that has developed naturally over several hundred years. Madsen Farm. Kolbrækgården Gundersgården The Falchegården Ihlengården - «Braathengården»

Who are we? "Eikerhistorie 2025-2027" is a project under the auspices of the association EIKERHISTORIE, which is a umbrella organization where other voluntary organizations in Eiker can be members. Members as of today are Eiker History Society, Eiker Archives/Sameia Cultural Heritage Society, Nøstetangen Center, Hellefoss River Owners Association and Østsiden Hunters and Fishermen's Association. It may be appropriate to invite more participants during the project period. This project is a continuation of the collaboration around the exhibition "Society under Hellefossen", which was shown at the Nøsteangen Norwegian Glass Museum in the summer of 2023. In In connection with this project, the website “eikerhistorie.no” was established as a joint platform for storing and exchanging historical sources and documentation. This is a cloud storage solution based on Microsoft O365 (Sharepoint), with backup on local servers. The purpose of the project is to develop eikerhistorie.no into a general knowledge base for everyone who works with Eiker's history, but at the same time point out some special focus areas in the period 2025-2027. Spoke history Main Street 7 3303 Hokksund Org. no.: 933550028 E-mail: Arkiv@eikerhistorie.no

Photo registration 2025 During 2025, we will arrange a number of photo evenings in Nøstetangen Café at Sorenskrivergården. Here the public can help with information about the images, but everyone is welcome, whether they can contribute information or not. Thursday 27/3 at 7:00 PM Thursday 24/4 at 7:00 PM Thursday 25/9 at 7:00 PM Thursday 23/10 at 7:00 PM Thursday 20/11 at 7:00 PM

THE EIKER SONG FROM 1756 Notification from the Eiker Parnassus (Translated from Danish) From Eiker’s lofty Muses' choir, A stern decree resounds entire: "A warning now to all the town: No verses here with shameful frown! No poetry of such disgrace Shall dare pollute our sacred place. Beware! If someone pens such trash, They’ll feel our wrath descend in flash! No mean-spirited rhymes or jaded tone Shall ever reach Apollo’s throne. Though Grubler's pen might stir the street, Or Skildrer’s jest the folk repeat, No sulky soul nor grumpy song Will mingle in our artful throng. We seek no lines of wrinkled spite, Nor joyless scribes who dread the light. The world is dark and grim enough— Why spread more shade with solemn stuff? But let the breeze through birches play, Let sunlight cheer the hills of May. Let happiness in verses dwell, Where warmth and friendship rise and swell!" Thus speaks the Muse, her word is law— A cheerful tone must strike with awe. So bend your rhyme with joy and grace, Let kindness fill the metered space. Then you may knock upon our gate— A smile will be your welcome fate.

The Church and the Parish Priests Since the Reformation in 1537, the church in Denmark-Norway had been part of the state, with the King as head, and the priests were royal officials. The church service and the church acts – baptisms, weddings and funerals – were an important part of people’s daily lives. But during the 18th century, the church also gained an expanded social mission, with the introduction of confirmation in 1736 and a community school three years later. It also played an important role in the development of a poor system, and royal laws and decrees were announced on the church grounds after the services. Thus, the parish priest became a cornerstone of the absolute monarchy’s civil service. The main church and rectory at Eiker were geographically centrally located, close to the sound site of Haugsund. There were several homesteads here, and the "Egerske Company" had a practice area at the church. In 1741, the Nøstetangen glassworks was also built on the rectory grounds. Between 1741 and 1776 there were four parish priests at Eiker. Peder Anchersen had held the office since 1720, and previously he had been ship's chaplain for Peter Wessel Tordenskjold. He is described as He was parish priest until 1749, when he was succeeded by Christian Grave He was a poet and antique collector, very interested in history and was appointed Peder Jespersen NyropLorentz Schnitler The tombstones of Nyrop and Schnitler can still be seen in the cemetery at Haug Church, where they are among the oldest tombstones.