Klevfos.munch.Norway

Klevfos Paper Mill in Løten, 2016
Photo by Elroy Christenson 2016

Aadalen farm existed in 1842 as a farm nearby a nice stream now called Svartelva but then was probably Aadal which supported the newly developing foundry. I believe that Olea Olsdatter was born here and her family worked on the farm until the factory took over the land. Down the road from the Adadsbruk foundry is the Klevfos paper making facility. The stream was dammed just above the paper mill for water power and the water was also used to wash the tree pulp used to make the "craft paper", similar to the brown paper used in corrugated cardboard boxes today.


Svartelva stream Aadalsbrug, Løten photo Elroy Christenson, 2016	The Klevfos paper mill interior. photo Elroy Christenson 2016

Klevfos Mill, muller.
photo Elroy Christenson 2016

The Klevfos paper mill was one of two major industrial complexes on the stream that connects Aadalsbrug foundry in Løten. This was the second largest manufacturing area in all of Norway in the late 1800's. They used the water source as power but when the water froze in the winter they had to find another source of power. A rail line transported raw material and finished goods to Hamar where they were shipped to other parts by rail or Lake Mjøsa. Both businesses closed in the 1920s. The Aadalsbrug foundry burned to the ground in 1928. Paper making became too competitive for this small factory to continue operation. The factory buildings remained intact but abandoned and finally turned into a local community center that puts on dramatic, music and arts performances.

On the same property is a small building devoted to Edvard Munch who lived only a half mile away from this location. He visited here several times and considered this a reprieve from the city life of Oslo and Europe. He was born up the road on the Engelhaug farm and visited periodically. My grandmother, Olea Olsdatter, may have seen or met Munch on one of his visits because of proximity in time and place but we have no proof.

Munch-Senteret, museum at the Klevfos center, Løten.
photo Elroy Christenson 2016