Day 14 - Nedstrand Ungdomshus Museum, part 1 - Vatland and Kirkebø Collections - Thurs., Dec. 27, 2001

    On this cold clear day, Einar drives us to the old Nedstrand Ungdomshus (young peoples' social house) that is now a fascinating museum housing the Vatland and Kirkebø collections.  This is located in Baustad, just west of the town of Nedstrand.  We are met there by the Tysvær historical society members, Eli Ubøe Marvik and Sigmar Myhre, who give us a most informative tour of the collections.  

    Ommund Vatland was known as a "collector," especially of artifacts from the past. Among other things, he was a cooper and was able to make the wooden barrels in the old way. After his death in 1993, his daughter gave this extensive collection to the Tysvær municipality. Most of the photos on this page are from the Vatland samlinga (collection).

    Jon Kirkebø was the district doctor in Nedstrand from 1925-1949. His district was large and included Sandeid, Vikedal, Marvik, Jelsa, western part of Ombo and Nedstrand to Yrkje. While he had to travel often, he had a residence, an office and a little pharmacy here in Nedstrand.  One room in this museum is devoted to his medical collection, parts of which are shown in the last 2 photos on this page.

Nedstrand Ungdomshus at Baustad was built in 1913. Standing in front from left: Keith, Einar, Sigmar & Eli.

Here we gather in the official entranceway. From left: Peg, Eli, Sigmar & Einar.

Peg admires the well crafted wooden containers.

Here Eli displays the bound collection of the very old publication, "Nutiden." This  was a special photo as Keith was given a beautiful Tysvær picture book by Cultural Officer, Ingvar Frøyland, and the first color photo in the front of this book is of Eli holding the "Nutiden" at almost this very spot.

In honor of Einar's Slooper Senter idea, Keith asks Sigmar to hold this hand woven pillow. We are not sure what the "SS" stands for.  These first areas that we viewed showed household material from what would be considered a "well to do" family of the past.

 Sigmar here shows us a beautiful old desk, along with material (like typewriters) that might be found in a home or office. Above the desk is the hjørneskap cabinet. The chair is from the ship Stavangerfjord of the Norwegian America Line.

This little room shows a collection of the shoe maker's trade.

Household items, including an early knitting machine and knitted garments, are displayed here.

Peg admires the cleverness of this waffle maker that can turn over on pivot rods in the wood stove ring.  It even has a recipe for waffles cast in iron.

Kitchen implements, spinning and laundry equipment are some of the items shown here.

Sigmar and Eli explain another cooking implement that could be inserted into an open fire.

An interesting collection of containers of porcelain, glass and wood.

It was pointed out that this was a "crown" bed and not a “himmelseng” or "heaven" canopy bed, as this one does not go all the way to the ceiling.

Here is an interesting collection from old bathrooms. The copper hot water heater is a work of art in Keith's view.

The bright sun coming in through the window might make this photo difficult to see, but it is of a very ornate wood heat stove with baffle chambers to efficiently distribute heat and provide 2 warming shelves.

Farm tools and harness rigging are displayed here.

Peg reacts to Sigmar's jokes in the doctor's office about medical tools of earlier times which were used by the district doctor.

While clean, sterile, and sanitary, Dr. Kirkebø's exam table is still rather uninviting.  

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