Translated by Edna Rude, Gary, Minnesota Put on the list with her permission Many thanks to her and Roland Carpenter of Ada, Minnesota who found the book. There will be more later. Ole Sørflaten Here is a man about whom much has been spoken and written - much of it true and much of it fiction. Here is a reliable picture of this often discussed man. Ole Sørflaten was born in 1803 on South Sørflaten, high up above the West - Bagn village, where he remained until he died. He was from a well known and gifted family. His father was a good fiddler and an accomplished fiddler . Ole, himself, was a good fiddle player when he was young. In middle age he got involved in a "religious awakening" which was harsh and false and weird. It finally became a weird obsession with him and affected his mind. Placed in a mental hospital for more than a year he gradually improved in health and realized he had been mentally ill. The "disciples" who had followed him eventually saw their mistake and went elsewhere for teachings. Ole Sørflaten died 23 October 1889. Ole Erickson Thorsrud Ole Erickson Thorsrud, was born in 1788. He died quite young and his widow was left to raise the family. In 1814, all four of he sons were drafted into the army. With the help from the senior Pastor Stabell, Ole, one of the sons, was able to stay home and help his mother on the farm. Ole was very talented in music. He provided fiddle music for hundreds of wedding celebrations. He also mastered the organ and was installed as organist in Bagn church, a position he held until an old age, and then his son Ole took over as organist and was also the local teacher. And when he got old his son Ole served as organist while he was attending seminary. He held the position several years, and then was hired as teacher and song leader of the church at Bagn. These three served as organist for almost a hundred years. The old organist was a big, handsome man. He wore the old fashioned suit of clothes and always looked good. He had many friends, in other communities as well as in Bagn and was highly respected. His wife Marit was well known as a respected woman with a warm heart. Ole was known for having a good sense of humor, and had done may laughable things when he was young, but he never made enemies or got into any trouble. Sometimes Ole was asked to provide rides for the senior pastor on his visits to the area. In one of the parsonages two of the Pastor's sons were at home and they played pranks on this mountain farmer. Ole did not object, and only acted like the worst of country bumpkins. They invited him in and gave him coffee. He took the sugar bowl and cream pitcher closer toward himself and witth a spoon consumed the contents as it were porridge and milk. Then he drank the coffee and thanked the men for food and drink. Then they took him to another room where they had some interesting things including an organ. They wanted him to see that and hear it. Oh, this was the strangest thing Ole had ever seen or heard, when they played it. And how it could sound! Then they asked him to step on the pedals. He seemed fearful at first, but then he got real brave and wondered if it would make a sound if he placed his hand on the keys. They told him to try. Carefully, he placed one hand down so it sounded. He jumped back in surprise. They told him to sit down and try again and it would go better. So he did. Little by little he got braver, and finally he played the organ so it roared and rumbled. The brothers felt shamed. They thought they were making a fool of him. Now they realized they were the fools. They asked father their,Pastor Stabell , what kind of a driver he had brought. He answered "it was the organist from Bagn church". Later the organist laid aside his fiddle and did not play for celebrations anymore because it did not seem discreet for for the fine Christian faith that had been developing in him. He died in 1871. The Hedal Church The terrible epidemic known as the Black Death raged through Norway in 1349-50, and also in all of Europe. It destroyed a large part of the population so many communities were totally vacant. In Valdres it was by far the worst in the southern most section. From Bagn and more than 14 English miles south there was not one person left alive. That valley lay vacant a long time. Those who later settled there were along the flat places by the river. The southernmost parish was called Bendalen (Ben Valley??). Walking, from there, up over the steep hills toward the west we came down on the other side of the ridge and into Hedalen. This valley was also totally decimated during the Black Death and was finally forgotten and unknown. One winter day a man was out skiing through the great Hedal forest. He shot an arrow at a bird sitting in a tree, but the arrow hit something that made an unusual sound. He walked on , and there in the woods was a church right in front of him. The arrow had hit one of the church bells. His first thought was "this house belongs to the ones who lived under ground". To make sure it would not disappear, he threw is firesteel over the church. (Firesteel: the small iron gadget on which to strike a flint stone for igniting a spark). Now those underground creatures had no more power over it. He saw that the door stood open and he cautiously entered. He found a bear hibernating behind the alter, so he killed it. On the way home he marked trees (blazed) in order to be able to find it again, even if the underground ones destroyed his tracks in the snow. After that, several parties came and settled in Hedalen. The hunter cleared a farm and built a house where his firesteel had fallen. The farm was then named Ildjarnstad (Firesteel Place). The Hedal church is probably the only church in Norway allowed to maintain its"Catholic" look. There is an artistically carved statue of Virgin Maria, a reiquary, an incense burner, an alter painting showing Christ on the Cross and other nicely carved items from the Catholic times. Later additions to the structure made it a cross shaped building. Historians believe it was built ca. 1200. The saga tells further: The hunter had skinned the bear and nailed the hide on one of the church walls. Visitors have cut "souvenirs" from it so only about 1/3 of it remains. That has been preserved under glass and framed for future generations to see. Outside, above the entrance gate there are two bells, and up in he church more bells. They all have exceptionally beautiful sounds. Inside the church is a small bell which was used ages ago in Catholic times during mass. Later it was rug when someone was lost in the woods. That way the underground ones would not have power over the lost persons. Saga tells us that there was yet another bell, the biggest of all. There had been a decision to move it to the Bagn church. On a winter day, one man was to haul the big bell on his sleigh. On top of the high ridge is a small lake. The man brought his loaded sleigh on the ice, but the horse was too tired to go on, so he "unhooked" and took the horse home. Next morning he returned to fined the ice broken and the sleigh floating between ice sheets. The bell was gone. Men tried to raise it (from the lake) but could not. They firmly believed it could be raised regardless of how many men tried to do so. The saga goes on to tell of misfortunes taking place when men tried raising the bell. Once they had hold of it and were ready to put into the boat and one man said to the bell " now you will sing in Trondheim Cathedral" and it sank immediately. Burt if seven brothers brought it up again to hang it in its original place, one man would die in the process. The bell would demand a life for the profanity it had suffered. Now , no one is living who knows where the bell lies down there but ages ago it could be seen as they rowed over the water. Yet many a Hedal man talks about it as he glides over the lake. The saga is much loved and many people resent the researchers who tear the story apart.

The Raudal Dance Translated by Edna Rude, Gary, Minnesota From "Memories from Valdres" by O.L. Kirkeberg 1919 Up on the seter meadows west of Reinli church lies Raudal, near the border between Hallingdal and Valdres. This was a gathering place for young folks from both those valleys, In old times, during haying season on the seters, they would meet on a Sunday and spend most of the day together. To the music of a fiddle or flute they danced and visited and shared their drinks. There was nothing planned or organized in these gatherings. By mid afternoon some of the fellows were quite drunken and there would be fights. Some of them would use their knives on each other. At times someone would attempt to separate the fighters, but others would egg them on to more fighting. Once an eye witness told me about one young man, who during a "spring dance" , with much yelling and noise tried to dance everyone else off the "arena". Pulling out his knife he threatened to cut to pieces the one who hit him, if dared to step forward. The people moved aside, but a young girl from Hallingdal stepped right up to him and said "I was the one, You can cut me". Then another young girl spoke likewise. The man went silent and drew back. Another time two fighters started at each other. Then a shoemaker from Valdres, Harald Smedsrud, stepped in giving a loud and rousing "Wedding Speech", wanting to marry these two fighters. He was able to do this in such a humorous way that all the people, including the fighters, began to laugh. Then one of the fighters took a jab at Smedrud's mouth and nose so the blood flowed. But Smedrud took it quietly and said"you sure knew where to find my nose". Often, when some began to fight, the girls and many of the fellows went home, and the dancing stopped. Others stayed to drink and fight until late at night. This sort of took care of itself, and it happened there was neither drink nor fighting. Just after 1860 there was a party so wild at the Raudal dance that many years went by without any gatherings. But after time nobody was drunk and the dance was much enjoyed and everyone parted as friends. They left the dancing place (a patch of hard packed ground). The Hallings went in their direction and the Valdreses theirs. Just as they separated some small boys, from each side, began to call to each other, name calling, bad words. Soon they began throwing small stones at each other. the Valdres boys came over a small hill where there were many stones and finally stormed ahead, driving the young Hallings away. At least three were injured quite badly. One of whom whose hand was so badly damaged he was not able to hold a scythe all the rest of the summer. The Valdres boys felt they were the winners. For awhile there was much bitterness among the wildest ones on either side. A rumor spread that next year they were coming back to take up where they had left off. But the families whose young boys were thus behaving , were ashamed of such behavior. Results were, the following summer nobody went to Raudal from either valley. It was many years later before any gatherings took place, and they were not of the wild nature. That kind of behavior does not occur anymore.

Ole Dønhaug Translated by Edna Rude, Gary, Minnesota "Memories from Valdres by O.L. Kirkeberg In Bagn, just north of South Aurdal's big church, where the old road led from the main road up over Bagn's ridge, lies Dønhaug (farm), What a fine sounding name! The "house" was small with only one room. It was built on a little rise out of stone and earth on the intersection of the two roads. On both sides of the cabin were stone foundations as tall as a man, shoring up the walls. Below a window on the south side was a small flower bed. A corner of the foundation consisted of one huge stone, known as the "kings stone". and had smooth surfaces. Facing the main road, the side of the stone had some lines carved into it by the builder. "For twenty years King Karl Johan was faithful as Norway's King. And thats when Ole Olson Bagn Built his happy Dønhaug home. 1838" Later several inscriptions were added: "Karl XII the first Union King. 1814 The peoples love, my highest goal." "King oscar, the Peoples Delight. He rules our land with Truth and Right." 1854 "Now karl XV is reigning here He rules in peace and to the people is dear," 1871 1872 "King Oscar II at his brother's death Inherited Norway as the law required. by Ole Dønhaug Such inscriptions were extremely rare. It was admired by the local people as well as travelers. a traveler sent Ole a photo of Karl Johan, which is mounted, under glazss on the stone.He later added pictures of the four last union kings, on the big stone. Ole Dønhaug was a most pleasant, good natured man toward all who knew him. Once there were two men walking north over Bangsmoen. near the church, came an old man toward them, walking with two canes. When he was very young he had suffered an illness in his hips causing his legs to twist and were crossed at the knees. He was able to walk in a difficult way, twisting around for each little step. But he had clean-cut open face although furrowed with age, showing a pleasing personality. The men stopped and greeted him, "It is bad for you being so lame, "he said, "Oh no, it is brave to be a little lame", said the old man. That was Ole Døhaug. Several men sat one day north by Aurdal Woods, discussing this and that. They began to wonder who was the happiest man in Bagn. Several were mentioned, and they seemed to agree it was Ole Jordet who was happiest, He was a well-to-do landowner, lived peaceably with everyone and had a flock of fine children who were all doing well. A laborer who had been standing near and listening, commented, "You have not yet mentioned the happiest man in Bagn yet!" "Who is that, then?" asked one of the men."It is Ole Donhaug, as there is certainly no one here as contented with what he has," And the men all agreed. Ole was born on the little Spangrud place in 1800. When he was a boy he had to go out and fend for himself. He found work at senior Pastor Stabell (one of the Eidsvoll men) in 1814. Here the little fellow went to work and did not spare himself. It was due to the struggle of lifting and rolling rocks that he became crippled. The great pastor took notice of this boy who learned quickly, so he decided to taker the little fellow under his wing "and train him to become a teacher." Afterward, when the teacher training was completed, there was the examination, (in order to become a legally certified teacher. Classes were held in the kitchen area of the one-room farm homes, one week in each place. While the teaching was going on, all the usual work in the cramped farm home was also in progress. The whir of the spinning wheel, the tapping and pounding of a work man's tools plus family conversation and often a baby or two crying. Business went on as usual. At noon, teacher and pupils had to move from the table so the housewife could be prepared to serve the meal to her husband and older children, bur often several laborers on the farm and perhaps a grandparent or two. On many occasions those in the house were listening to the lessons, especially while the children were reading. Sometimes it was the mother who added a question, or a compliment to a child who ad well, or a correction if a child was restless or answered poorly. The "circuit" school had its disadvantages but it also had a good side. It was a time when the home and the school worked very well together. If the teacher was a capable man, he was certainly respected and appreciated. Usually, the people were happy to have the classes in their homes. They all benefited. In the early days, very few children learned to write. Of course Ole was a good writer, and was often asked to write letters and documents. Instruction in the school was mostly reading, basic arithmetic, and some singing. They read from the New Testament or hymnbook or the reading books. They memorized the catechism.\, a Bible history, etc. Ole was a master at teaching the children to memorize. He did that in a friendly and interesting way. He sang beautifully and so did the the children. He was often praised by the senior Pastor and even the Bishop. Once when the Bishop came to visit at the local church he publicly complimented the children on their fine behavior toward the teacher, and then he shook hands with Ole Dønhaug and thanked him heartily. Ole was a teacher for more than a whole generation. When he could no longer walk to school due to health deterioration he stayed home and arrange his little home as cozy possible. He also had the community bookstore in his house, and sold as few baked goods and candy. People even bought their newspaper through his place of business. He had a daughter and her little daughter who stayed with him and helped him with everything, He was abler to maintain as small potato patch and did a nice job of it. he had to lie on the ground when he was digging or weeding, but he got the job done. On his own patch of ground, north of his cabin, he had a vegetable garden which was nicely planned and groomed, and it produced s richly it could well have been a model for others to copy. He had tried several times to get a pension but did not et it. Finally senior Pastor Heyerdahl gave him a recommendation and that helped. He would get 10 specidalars per year. You must know Dønhaugen was happy! Not only for the help, but it as so "honorable", he said. He had a fiddle and knew how to use it. He had memorized perhaps hundreds of tunes, some of them were hundreds of years old. When he was younger he had the honor of playing for fine weddings. As the bridal party and all their guests were marching to the church, it was Ole Dønhaug who provided the grand bridal march. But he cold only stand by the entrance and "play them into the church." The fiddle was not allowed in the building. Ole Dønhaug was poor, but he always had enough. He would say "God be praised. I have it so good. I could have been on the local "Welfare List." Ole died 29m Nov. 1889. He was 80 years old.