Relatives

Thanks to Sten and Kai Ove we found a second cousin of Mom's living in Etne, Sten's town whose name is also Ingemund. More later.... Just wanted to get this out as Internet is a real problem.

Walking in grandpa's footsteps

Kai Ove got in touch with Sten Valen, a teacher and local historian in the area grandpa was from. He and a friend met us and walked us to to to the spot where we have a photo of the Severeid farm and Erik O Severeid and Torgeir H. Stolen. The farm was Sten's grandfather's. Then we walked the road down to the farm past sheep and dogs. Still a few folks living on the farm and Johannas has worked hard to maintain the historical integrity of the buildings. We  saw the schoolhouse grandpa attended and looked out the window pretty much at the view he would have seen. Gave Anita and I chills and we sure felt his presence. Johannas pulled out a photo of the class of 1905, we think and in the second row from the top was Jonas, then the third one in was Ingemund then Gunnar (Johannas'  grandfather). I think Viar might have been behind grandpa in the back row. What a cool item to see. We knew for sure we were in the right place. Sten brought us up the old path to the place grandpa's family had their cottage. The foundation was still there. A creek was near by, with a little waterfall. Small cottage, no running water, no electricity, no heat except likely a hearth fireplace. Life was hard. Terrain around them was beautiful. Amazing that we were able to retrace grandpa's steps. 

Norwegian Roots part one

Today was the day we began the search for Grandpa Erickson's past. Our guide, Kai Ove H. from ToursByLocals.com had been busy contacting the MP and local historians and indeed had a surprising day in store for us. We began with a picturesque ride from Bergen to Gjermundshamn where we caught a 20 min. Ferry to Rosendal. Then down to Matre to Skanevik, a beautiful, sleepy rainy village that swells from a few hundred people to about 3 thousand in July when they host their Blues Festival. On a little island just offshore is a statue of a guitar player. In the town we found the site of the old church we think, although the new one was built in the 1900's. This is where Grandpa was possibly christened. The other stronger possibility is Akra, a village you could see from the Severeid farm across the fjord. At any rate, Skanevik was a charming place that had a bakery from the late 1800's that served excellent cinnamon buns. Maybe grandpa had one?

Same recipe they say

More pics of Bergen

These are of Hakken's Hall, Rosenkranz Tower, leprosy museum, view of Bergen and Hanseatic museum as well as fish market