2018-11-25
Jul 102019
Jul 102019
Diary Entries:
2018-11-01 Now we have finalized the wall in the barn, and we think it looks great. Today we will smoke salmon.
2018-12-01 Morning, now we are ready for the Norwegian Country Christmas Tour. We look forward to see you at CP Farm. We do not have large quantities, but as long as it lasts, you will have the possibility to taste and buy some of our smoked salmon. Welcome.
2018-12-01 Evening, what a great day for the Norwegian Country Christmas Tour. A lot of visitors came by, and we really appreciate to experience the interest for what we are doing here. Thank you all for visiting. Thanks to the hostesses and parking attendants for assisting us during the day. We especially thank Bryan Jameson for joining us, and telling us about the excavation work.
2018-12-02 Evening, Cleng Peerson’s cabin, with star tracks.
2018-11-30
Jul 102019
Feb 082016
Left to Right: Vidar Aarhus (The Historical Society of Tysvær), Ingvar Frøyland & Arvid Vallestad (Municipality of Tysvær), Eldbjørg Djønne-Stuve & Thomas Mannes (owners), and Sigmund Lier (Mayor of Tysvær).
On December 4, 2015, CP Farm was officially opened. Invited guests from USA and Norway were present, and several speeches were given.
Our dear friend Mary Orbeck, whose great grandfather Ove Colwick lived at this place, gave the opening speech.
Representatives from Texas Historical Commission announced that the property has been officially listed in the National Register of Historical Places.
The Municipality of Tysvær was represented by the Head of Culture Ingvar Frøyland, Mayor Sigmund Lier, and CEO Arvid Vallestad. They expressed their appreciation of the work done at CP Farm and contributed to the support of future work by the gift of a check in the amount of NOK 10.000. The Historical Society of Tysvær, represented by its leader Vidar Aarhus, also contributed to CP Farm in the same amount.
Jul 102014
We have had a wonderful time in Texas this summer and, once more, a lot of things are going on.
This time we started in Duluth, Minnesota, where Thomas held a keynote presentation, and a cultural presentation at the Sons of Norway District 1 Convention. This was a good opportunity to tell more than 300 delegates, representing 10 states in the mid-West, about all the exciting things that happen in Norse and Bosque County.
New flagpoles at CP Farm.
- Now we have installed 2 flagpoles, and raised the Tysvær and Texas flags on them.
- Archeologists from Texas Historical Commission have come two times to the property to survey and to document buildings and artifacts.
- In the red barn, one of the walls has been covered with plywood, and further work will be done with this in the future.
- We have now received a cost estimate to build a smoke house. Before we start to build this, we must remove an old shed which is in poor condition.
- This website has been created.
- Information boards for the property are printed, but some work remains on the construction of the frames. They will be installed in the near future.
- This time we have met a lot of our friends here, and in addition we have met a lot of new, wonderful people. We really enjoy our visits here in Bosque, and look forward to our next visit.
May 072014
Thomas Mannes and Eldbjørg Djønne-Stuve (from Tysvær, Norway) came to the Norse Community near Clifton, Texas in April 2014 and were able to meet with many people from the area and to make some plans for the Cleng Peerson cabin and the property where it stands.
A copy of the Petition to the State of Texas written by Cleng Peerson in 1855 was obtained, and is posted here for you to read. And interesting point in the Petition states that Cleng Peerson lived at the property from about 1854 and cultivated it after the former owner, Andris Broten, died. It has been suggested that the former owner could be the same as “Andreas Bretta,” the first Norwegian who died in Norse; and several people in the area have supported this theory.
At present, designs are underway for information plaques to be placed at the property to provide a short historical overview of Cleng Peerson’s role, the original cabin on the land, and the remains of the Colwick home where Cleng spent his final days.
The old log cabin has been cleaned and temporary coverings placed on the floor. Because the cabin itself is unstable, and potentially unsafe, as well as home to snakes, visitors are not allowed entrance in the cabin at this time.
Some interior modifications are planned for the “new” red barn to facilitate future activities, such as the preparation and serving of traditional Norwegian food.
The Bosque County Chapter of the Norwegian Society of Texas invited Thomas Mannes to the St.Olav’s Kirke (Old Rock Church) Gathering Place to give a short presentation about these plans. The enthusiastic and positive response by so many in this “Norwegian Capital of Texas” is quite encouraging.
