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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

County magistrate, bailiff, magistrate and sheriff Throughout most of the 17th century, Eiker was a separate fief, but with its own lord and bailiff. From 1679, however, it was part of the newly established Buskerud county, and in 1708 Sigdal, Modum, Eiker, Lier, Røyken and Hurum were merged into one bailiff's office. Both the county governor and bailiff resided in or near Drammen, and they often sent deputies to the local assemblies. They were high-ranking officials, with whom the common people of Eiker only rarely came into contact. During the years that the Nøstetangen glassworks was in operation, Buskerud had only two county governors - Just Must, who held office from 1719 to 1760, and Andreas Fjeldsted, who was county governor from 1760 to 1788. The county governor's immediate subordinate was the bailiff, who was both a public prosecutor and responsible for collecting taxes and fees. Throughout most of this period - from 1749 to 1765 - Eggert Madsen Fischer was bailiff in the lower part of Buskerud. The bailiff was divided into two magistrates' offices, and the northernmost half includes Eiker, Modum and Sigdal. The magistrate did not live in Eiker either in the latter half of the 18th century. Both Giert Falch, who was magistrate from 1730 to 1753, and his successor Otto Laurentii Darjes, who held the office until 1780, both resided on the Mælum farm in Modum. However, when there was a court session at Eiker, they usually appeared there, unless they had a valid reason to do so. Such sessions were held three times a year, but "Extra-court sessions" could also be scheduled outside of this. The court sessions were held in Haugsund, but their own courtroom did not get its own location until around 1840. In the 18th century, the court was held in privately owned houses - Lieutenant Winther's house and later Madame Braun's house are constantly mentioned as "Eger's arranged courtroom". Alongside the parish priest, the sheriff was the public official who was present in the local community on a daily basis. Ever since the Middle Ages, the "farmer sheriff" had been the extended arm of the sheriff and bailiff at the local level – but at the same time the common people's spokesman towards the authorities. In the 18th century, the sheriff probably still had some of this role, but formally he was the county governor's subordinate, but responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting fines and a number of other tasks. The sheriff was no longer one of the village's large farmers, but an immigrant with roots in the bourgeoisie. In 1741, the same year that the glassworks at Nøstetangen were built, Eiker got a new sheriff - Peder Eliasen Søboholm. However, he died the following year. Then Søren Hiermind was sheriff from 1743 to 1751, Ole Høyland (hardly a relative of the famous master thief of the same name) from to 1761 and Stephanus Bagge until 1771. None of these four were born in Eiker, but all lived in Haugsund and were homeowners there. Between 1769 and 1775, Anders Høyland is also mentioned as sheriff at Eiker. He was a native of Eikværing and the son of the previous sheriff, Ole Høyland.

WELCOME TO PHOTO REGISTRATION Nøstetangen Café, Sorenskrivergården Thursday, April 24 at 7:00 PM Pictures from Terje Koch Betsy Johansen (Narveland) behind the counter. For many years she ran a small kiosk in her private home, right behind Arbeideren in Gamle-Hokksund. She ran it as long as there was a cinema at Arbeideren, from the 1950s until the 1970s. ea-2009-014-001 Betsy Johansen (Narveland) behind the counter. Unknown girl on the left. ea-2009-014-002 Jacob and Betsy Johansen's house in Gamle-Hokksund, where Betsy ran a small cheese shop for many years. They later changed the name to Narveland. ea-2009-014-003 Egil Dahlmann. Terje Koch and Runar Kruke outside Betsy Johansen's kiosk, with Betsy in the window. ea-2009-014-004 Bicycle repairman Ola Larsen ("Ola pang-pang") outside the workshop at Bruhjørnet. On the left is Leif "Vøkert" Bermingrud, who also had the nickname "Elvelosen". ea-2009-014-005 Jacob Johansen (Narveland). ea-2009-014-006 Nils Ole Rønning and Erik Svendsen's car dealership in Stasjonsgata. Previously, baker Rommelhoff-Berg had a shop and cafeteria here, then butcher Torgersen. ea-2009-014-008 Mona and Erling Ystenes' business in Stasjonsgata. Previously, Løvgren-Olsen had a flower shop here. Later, Kirsch had a bicycle repair shop, and it has also been a hobby shop, kebab restaurant (Kalino) etc. Now (2025) the soon-to-open sushi restaurant is here. ea-2009-014-009 Eiker Sparebank's new building, July 1984. ea-2009-014-010 The old fire station in Hellefossveien. Behind the house we see the tall poles that were used to dry fire hoses. ea-2009-014-011 Karl Hansen ("Dakota-Karl")'s kiosk at Bruhjørnet, with the residential building behind. ea-2009-014-012 Karl Hansen, also called "Dakota Karl". ea-2009-014-013 Ukjent mann sager ved. ea-2009-014-014 Taxi driver Kristian Groven with his Essex 1930 model. ea-2009-014-015 Photo by Thor Wilhelm Tollefsen Pictures from Kjell Amundsen Rehearsal with Øvre Eiker Youth Corps, probably in the 1960s. We see, among others, Bjørn Rasmussen (no. 2 in the second row), Hans Hobbelstad (standing behind), Kjell Amundsen on trumpet (no. 2) from the right and Odd Røren (far right, partially hidden by the conductor). ea-2010-006-001 Band exercise - probably a joint exercise with participants from several school bands. Conductor is Einar Kristensen. ea-2010-006-002 Ellen Holmen (Sundt) on clarinet and instructor Einar Kristensen, Kjell Amundsen standing behind. ea-2010-006-003 Øvre Eiker Youth Corps. We see, among others, Runar Narveland, Nils Rasmussen, Odd Røren, Kjell Amundsen, Per Engh, Sverre Nygård, Knut Persson and Torbjørn Oskasin. ea-2010-006-004 Demolition of Hokksund Cooperative. Volunteer work at Øvre Eiker Youth Corps. ea-2010-006-005 Østre Brugata in Hokksund with the Cooperative Society. ea-2010-006-006 Østre Brugata in Hokksund with the Cooperative Society. ea-2010-006-007 Unknown man on the left, then Harald Ingebretsen (Messeconsult), Henry Tranberg and Kjell Amundsen. ea-2010-006-009 Presumably meeting in Hokksund Chamber of Commerce. From left: Grethe Jahr, Nils Christiansen, hidden man, Erling Holden, Gudrun Styve Varlo, Hans Muggerud, Kjell Amundsen (at the end of the table), Arne Stokke, Bjørn Ristvedt, hidden man, Elsie May Stengel, Jorunn Kvale and Britt Stokke Amundsen? ea-2010-006-010 Knut Olav Bakkene, Kjell Amundsen and Harald Loe. Presumably prize giving in Eiker O-team. ea-2010-006-011 Film: The 1952 Olympic Relay Here are the results of the previous registration meeting Pictures from Dynge The backyard of Braathengården, later also called Ihlengården. It was later owned by Blegeberg (daughter and son-in-law of Ihlen). Several families lived there, including their relatives. Opsahl 11-1 The backyard of Braathen farm with the outbuilding. The entire house burned down in 2011. Opsahl 13 The Paulsen family's house in Dynge. The outbuilding on the left has been demolished, while the farmhouse on the right still stands. Opsahl R001 Langebakk photographed from Vendelborg in the direction of Dynge. The nearest house belonged to Karen Fisker, then Thoresen and Laugerud with an old outhouse. The man in the photo is Nils Paulsen (Gabbe), who lived in the outhouse at Paulsen's (cf.R001). He had TV license no. 8 in Norway, and the outhouse became a gathering place for people in the area. Opsahl R005 The old Haugsund school. The building is practically unchanged today. Opsahl ØEK037 Street section from Dynge. The house closest to the left belonged to Kulland, who had an ice house for salmon that was to be shipped by rail (the ice house is not in the photo). The next house belonged to Nils Paulsen - relative (uncle?) of Nils Paulsen in photo R005. The house on the right belonged to Olga Amundsen. Opsahl ØEK101 Photo from Langebakk, taken from Vendelborg towards Dynge (cf.R005) Closest is the flat roof of Ishuset, then Elvehuset. The photo is taken from Hillerens hus (Timberli). Outbuildings down towards the river. Opsahl ØEK102 Street from Dynge. From the left we see the houses of Andreas Engebretsen ("The Count") - his sons Georg, Odd and Arne were good football players. The next house belonged to Julius Grimnes (now belongs to his daughter Turid Skyba), and then Amundsen (cf. ØEK001). Opsahl ØEK899 Street section from Dynge. The photo was taken at the same location as ØEK899, but in the opposite direction. Opsahl ØEK900 Pictures from Gamle-Hokksund Opsahl 103_0301_JFR Opsahl CRW_0499_JFR Kristof014 Opsahl VOP145 Opsahl VOPS846 Opsahl VOPS861 Opsahl ØEK039 Opsahl ØEK040 Opsahl ØEK090 Opsahl ØEK933 Sundbakken Pictures Opsahl 39 Opsahl N36 Opsahl scan 2021 465 Opsahl scan 2021 ny152 Opsahl scan 2021 new159 Opsahl Vidar232 Opsahl Vidar233 Opsahl Vidar234 Opsahl Vidar235 Opsahl Vidar236 Opsahl Vidar238-20x30 Opsahl Vidar239-20x30 Opsahl Vidar242-20x30 Opsahl Vidar258 Opsahl Vidar259 Opsahl Vidar262 Opsahl Vidar263 Opsahl Vidar264 Opsahl Vidar309 Opsahl VO11 127 Opsahl VO11 214 Opsahl VO12 379-66 Opsahl VO14 621 Opsahl VO14 622 Opsahl VO14 623 Opsahl VO14 627 Opsahl VO14 629 Opsahl VO14 630 Opsahl VO14 631 Opsahl VO14 636 Opsahl VO14 641 Opsahl VO14 642 Opsahl VO018 Opsahl VO019 - 92 Opsahl VO027 - 98 VO055-May81 Opsahl VO13546 Opsahl VO13571 Opsahl VO15812 Opsahl VO15813 Opsahl VO15842 Opsahl VO15922 Opsahl VOP263 Opsahl VOP271 Opsahl VOP273 Opsahl VOP278 Opsahl VOP448-jan01 Opsahl VOPS523 Opsahl VOPS544 Opsahl VOPS633 Opsahl VOPS634 Opsahl VOPS635 Opsahl VOPS882 Opsahl ØEK041 Opsahl ØEK119 Opsahl ØEK121 Opsahl ØEK745 Opsahl ØEK758 - 03 Opsahl ØEK814 Opsahl ØEK843 Opsahl ØEK847 Opsahl ØEK859 Opsahl ØEK863 Opsahl ØEK865 Opsahl ØEK866 Opsahl ØEK868 Opsahl ØEK874 Opsahl ØEK881 Opsahl ØEK882 Opsahl ØEK925 Opsahl ØEK927 Opsahl ØEK937

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

Jens Hofgaard at Hoen - a proprietor and his use Jens Hofgaard was among Drammen's largest lumber merchants for several decades. He owned sawmills in Ringerike, Modum and Eiker, but chose to concentrate his business on the Hoenselva to an increasing extent. He is known for having built the large cart at Hoensbruket, and it was he who commissioned the famous "Hoenspokal" from Nøstetangen glassworks. But he was also behind an extensive regulation of the Hoensvassdraget, including through the construction of Himsjødammen. The last decades of the 18th century were a golden age for lumber trade and sawmill operations in Eiker. It was the heyday of the "trading patriciate", also called the "plank nobility". Perhaps the best known is Jørgen von Cappelen, who built Fossesholm Manor as a memorial to himself. Another of the great lumber merchants was Jens Hofgaard, owner of the farm Øvre Hoen with underlying delights, including the water rights in the Hoenselva. His predecessors had also expanded the sawmill operation quite significantly by transferring quota grants from sawmills they owned further up the Drammensvassdraget. But Hofgaard continued this strategy, and he ensured sufficient water flow through a purposeful and comprehensive regulation of the entire watercourse.

Fossesholm Manor Written by Bent Ek In the mid-18th century, the estate economy at Eiker was in complete disarray. The large Sems estate had been divided up after Lieutenant Colonel Richelieu went bankrupt in 1719, and in 1743 the main farm itself was bought by the farmer's widow Olaug Pedersdatter on the neighboring farm Berg and divided into two farms. Skjelbred at Fiskum was divided up after the death of the mining councillor Niels Mechlenbourg in 1713, and the division of the Ulleland estate at Skotselv began when the county magistrate Vilhelm de Tonsberg died in 1731. The exception to this development was the manor house Fossesholm at Vestfossen. This estate was also divided, in the sense that it was divided between a number of owners belonging to the same family. However, one of these owners – Gabriel von Cappelen – pursued a determined acquisition of farm shares, and in 1762/63 his son – Jørgen von Cappelen – was able to buy out the last co-owners, so that he became the sole owner. While the other estates on Eiker had disintegrated, Fossesholm still had a significant land and forest estate, with underlying farms between Vestfossen and Fiskumvannet and stretches of forest on both sides of the Eikeren. One half of the settlement of Vestfossen, with five large sawmills, also belonged to the estate. The Cappelen family had been involved in the timber trade for several generations, based in Bragernes, but Jørgen had become a wealthy man as a supplier to Kongsberg Sølvverk. In 1763, he was 58 years old, and he retired to the old manor house at Eiker with his wife, Magdalena Darjes. There they began a large-scale building project, which resulted in the manor house that we largely find on Fossesholm today. Here, the refined lifestyle of the merchant patriciate continued for another couple of generations – until it ended with a forced auction in 1822.

The community above Hellefossen The exhibition "Society under Hellefossen" was presented in the new exhibition areas of the Nøstetangen Center in the summer of 2023. Here, a fantastic exhibition and a historical journey about life on and along the river under Hellefossen were presented. 3D presentation from the 2023 exhibition Hilmar Olsen Old Hokksund Laundry in Drammenselva

Nøstetangen's neighbors: Haugsund, Hoen and Prestegården Haugsund Haugsund was not the largest of the settlements on Eiker, but it was in the process of establishing itself as a center for the local administration. It was where the town council meetings were held and where the sheriff lived. Sundstedet was an important hub, with a railway station and inns. The population consisted of timber floaters, char fishermen and salmon fishermen, but also some craftsmen and workers who were connected to the farms on Hoen and Vendelborg. It was a rapidly growing settlement. The Hoen farms The farms Øvre Hoen and Nedre Hoen had considerable dirt roads, but primarily these farms were among the most valuable in the village because of their other "glories". The owner of Øvre Hoen from 1751 was Jens Hofgaard, a well-known lumber merchant and proprietor and the man who commissioned the Hoenspokalen. The mill and sawmill operations in Hoenselva were significantly expanded during his time. Nedre Hoen belonged to the Winther family. They owned a sawmill and mill at Hellefossen, but the greatest value was the rich salmon fishing below the farm. Jens Hofgaard at Hoen - a proprietor and his use Situations Cart over Hoen 1783/84 - who was Jens Irgens? The Winther family on the Hoen farms The Hoen farms in 1765 Eker rectory The parish priest was the most important civil servant in the local community. People had regular contact with him through church services and other church activities, and the churchyard was an important gathering place, where public announcements were read and where news was spread by word of mouth. In addition, the parish priest, together with the chaplain, bells and other assistants, was responsible for important tasks such as school and poor relief. The church and rectory thus became an important center. The Church and the parish priests Schools and poor relief

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.

Schools and poor relief The pietist King Christian VI introduced confirmation in Norway, and from 1739, community schools were established throughout the country with religious instruction and simple reading instruction. It was common to have community schools, where teaching took place around the farms and was limited to a few weeks a year. However, Vestfossen got a permanent community school as early as 1747, and at the Hassel ironworks in Skotselv a vocational school was established in 1757. A permanent school probably also came to Haugsund (Hokksund) during the 18th century, but the rest of Eiker still had a community school. The parish priests were responsible for the school system, and the main emphasis was placed on religious education. In public documents we see that it was still common for most people to write their name "with a pen" - they could not spell their own name. Poor people who were unable to earn a living, usually because they were old or disabled, were paid "legd". This was part of the tax system and meant that a group of farms were jointly responsible for providing food and shelter for a poor person. During the 18th century, several decrees on the poor were passed, in 1741, 1742, 1755, 1789 and 1790. Poor committees were introduced, led by the parish priest and the sheriff, who also included the local farmers and two men appointed by the county governor. But during this period, the population also grew, and when the harvest failed, there was a famine: "People eat everything they could get their hands on: Bark bread, roots, moss porridge, etc. and they drank water for it month after month. Pine bark, roots from the ground, aspen and silje leaves were collected, dried and ground into flour. Bread was baked from this, which was fried on flat iron roofs." A rich village like Eiker also attracted many poor beggars. In 1741, the king decided that this should be prohibited and that beggars should be put to forced labor at the "Tugthuset" in Christiania. It was not until the very end of the 18th century that priests came who were concerned with improving schools and the poor: Hans Strøm, who became parish priest in 1779, and Frederik Schmidt, who succeeded Strøm in 1797.

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.