My name is Fredrikke Sophie Dass Klæboe, born here on Ørnes in 1844. It was my great-grandfather, skipper Elling Pedersen, who first received privileges to run trade at Ørnes in 1794.

Out on Meløya, Elling and his sons conducted, trade and shipping, so Ørnes was not the highest priority. This responsibility fell on his daughter Karen Andrea Klæboe. Elling was a old man when he started at Ørnes, and already in 1802 he died. His wife then moved here to help her daughter, but unfortunately she also died, only 2 years later. After this, the son, Hans Klæboe Ellingsen, moves here ans took over. But it didn't go well. Already the following year, the trading post was hit by a major fire.

 

A few years later, Hans sells the business to his great-uncle, Ole Ellingsen from Meløya, and moves to Støtt. Sadly Hans was not a lucky man. At Støtt, he was hit by both a fire and a shipwreck, and in 1824 he was bankrupt and went out of business.

In the beginning, the trading post's operations were modest, but during the 19th century, the fisheries experienced a strong and long-lasting boom. Like other trading posts, this was the time when Ørnes Handelssted began to grow. And Ole Ellingsen was the man who made it happen. In addition to starting with shiping, he bought up large tracts of land and ventured into farming. It must be said that this was the start of the trading post's heyday.

 

In 1845 Ole Ellingsen dies. Anders Dass Klæboe, marries Ole's daughter and takes it over the place that his Grandfather had to sell. Father was a capable man. He continued in Ole's footsteps by buying up surrounding areas and started a larger farm.

It was a great time. Large herring had made many trading places rich and Ørnes was no exception. I can remember from when I was a child that there was always a lot of activity on the farm. We had 5 servants and 5 maids.

When Anders suddenly passed away suddenly in 1873, my husband took over. He bore a great name my husband, John Nikolai Myhre Bernhoft. As well as being an capable man with great origins, he was a good man. You will never see a warmer smile than that on my John Nikolai.

Unfortunately, society was changing and our basis of life was no longer as secure. We had already lost the trading monopoly while dad was running the place, but now our ships were no longer good enough. Now everything would be steam. These were large expensive boats that no merchant could afford to buy. Well, apart from the big man Zahl on Kjerringøy, of course.

We had a good life at Ørnes and our lord blessed us with 5 healthy children. 3 girls and 2 boys. My youngest, Sigurd, was not yet a year old when we were struck by illness. There was a powerful darkness that settled over us, and when it finally lifted I was no longer the mother of 5. Only Sigurd and Johanne survived. They say that as a result I have spoiled Sigurd. But they can say what they like. When love for 5 is to be divided between 2, of course there will be plenty to go around.

 

In 1918 my life on this earth was over, but John continued to watch over the trading post and our children. Johanne grew up and married into a great family, while Sigurd stayed here at Ørnes. He had gone to shipping school in Bodø, so when he took over the trading post in 1927, he was well trained. He had also married a girl from the south. Elise Klementine Finne Bernhoft.

 

Although the golden age of the trading post was long gone, Sigurd still carried himself as if he still was the lord of the land. Maybe a little high on himself, but he took care of the village. Sigurd and Elise gave away parts of their land in Ørnes for business development, and contributed to positive growth in the area. The same development eventually ate into their private plot boundaries, and after their death the area became increasingly unsuitable for private use.

 

Sigurd and Elise also had some difficult times. In 1942, during the war, the old main house caught fire and they got any children either. So when Sigurd passed away in 1958, Elise's nephew, Fredrikk, moved into his aunt's house.

 

Sigurd and Elise also had some difficult times. In 1942, during the war, the old main house caught fire and they got any children either. So when Sigurd passed away in 1958, Elise's nephew, Fredrikk, moved into his aunt's house.
 
 
 
In 1976, the heirs moved out, and the trading post was then sold to Meløy municipality. After this, the buildings were used as offices, shops and other businesses. Still, they were mainly empty until the Nordlandsmuseet took over operations in 2004.
 
 
 
The buildings have been restored and are today the center for the Nordlansmuseet's operations in Meløy. It is used for offices, teaching and as a cafe in the summer. In 2 of the buildings there are also exhibitions that people can experience.
 
 
But I must say. Even though it's great that history has been preserved, I wonder if it was necessary to make an exhibition in my bedroom and display my best underwear for public viewing?
 
Its shameful…

Subject text: Helge Seim

Screenplay: Helge Seim og Jan Ivar Bårtvedt

Voice:  Miriam Sollie Iversen

Editing: Helge seim

Musikk og Lydeffekter: freesound.org

 

Sources:

Documents

• Kyllingstad Røyne (1959) Det store eksamensarbeid, Handelsstedet Kjerringøy Norges Tekniske Høgskole
• Fulsås Narve (1983) Voksten og fallet til ein nordlandsk handelstad. Kjerringøy i K. Zahl si tid, 1850-1900. Hovudoppgåve i historie Tromsø
• Gulowsen Jon (2008) Hundre år i utakt s.178-185 nytt norsk tidskrift bind 25.

 

Books

• Knutsen Nils M. (1988) Nessekongene Gyldendal norske forlag
• Kiil A. (1940) Nordlandshandelen i det 17.århundre Trykt for Fridtjof Nansens fond
• Ytreberg (1941) Nordlandske handelsteder  Bruns Bokhandel forlag
• Engelstad Eivind S. (1954) ”Hos Bernhoft på Ørnes”, i Norsk Hydro
• Moe, Knut (1981) Gård og grend: Meløy: Bind 2
• Stamtavle over Slægten Bernhof, Emilie Bernhoft, (1885) Chr. Gundersens Bogtrykkeri
   

Interviews

• Klara Sletten, Spildra, 15. september 2010, av Håvard J. Nilsen
• Liv Strand, Ørnes, 15. september 2010, av Håvard J. Nilsen
• Rolf Dybvik, Dybvik, 11. oktober 2010, av Håvard J. Nilsen
• Gerd Myrvang, Glomfjord, 8. november 2010, av Håvard J. Nilsen

 

The museum is run by Nordlandsmuseet

 

If you have any questions about  Ørnes Trading post, please contact Helge Seim: +47 91 00 92 53  or by e-mail: helge.seim@nordlandsmuseet.no