Selbu

Thursday, July 24

We joined the group at their downtown hotel around 10.  Ben and Eric had picked up their perspective rental cars and they followed Torgeir out of town, through Hell, (yes, Hell is a village)

and on through the countryside to the valley of Selbu.  Our first stop was at the home of Bjorn and Anne Lundgren, my second cousins.  Sitting on the deck in the very warm sun, a fantastic view of lake and valley lay before us.  Anne brought out pictures of my relatives who had visited Selbu, my grandfather, several aunts and uncles, sisters Ann and Corrine, and niece Kirsten included.  Anne, a retired English teacher, has a keen interest in family history. 

Anne welcoming us to their home in Selbu.

Torgeir, Bjorn, Norm and Brynjar, Torgeir's cousins so therefore my second cousins.

Spisa (eat)

From their side yard overlooking Selbu Lake.

The entire group sans Nathan who took the picture.

 They led us to the Selbu store to look at sweaters and other knitting products produced locally, complete with the trademark Selbu rose design. 

After the store, Bjorn lead us to the Aune farm via “Aunevegen”.   Aune way.

The old house, which we visited in 1973, is now gone.  It was hundreds of years old and had been added to several times.  It was inefficient, dark and dreary.  The new home, modern and light, sits at approximately the same spot and has a commanding view of the lake and valley.  Norelf and Elsa welcomed us.  Elsa eloquently described the old home, the valley, and the present farm.  They both work away from the farm, leasing the land out to a neighboring farmer. Again, I stand on a spot which now at least 9 generations of Aunes have lived and prospered.  This is the spot where my father was born, and his father as well, and his…

On the Aune deck with Elsa and Norelf who now live in the Aune house.

Document the visit

Document the visit.

Document the visit.

 

Our next stop was the Nervig home, home of my Grandmother Kari.  Oyvind and Marit greeted us.  Again, as it was in the two prior stops, the flag was up indicating that visitors from afar where coming.  Their daughter, Anne Berit, was quite helpful, eloquent in her English as she described the family and farm history.

Oyvind showing me history of Nervig farm.

Marit and grandson.  Marit is my second cousin through the Nervig side.

 

Our last stop, before the hotel, was the Selbu Kirche.  Here the generations of Aunes and other family members were baptized, confirmed, married, and buried.  Bjorn had done his homework, leading me around to find the grave sites of my great grandparents and beyond.  The graveyard is well maintained; many gravestones kept polished and clean.  One of my great grandparent’s headstones was missing, presumable removed because of disrepair. Unfortunately, the church was locked and the kids did not get to see the interior.

Selbu Kirche, first phase built around 1100.

Graveyard with many ancestors.

Great Grandmother, not buried next to my Great grandfather, interesting.

 

The Selbusjoen is a classic 1930ish resort style hotel overlooking the lake.  It caters to conventions and workshops and is pretty empty during the month of July.  I think there were only one or perhaps two other groups there.  We all met for dinner on the deck, including Torgeir, Heidi, Bjorn, and Anne.  After the 3 hour dinner, we were all tired and went to bed.

Nathan in the lake, Cailyn and Ben approach.