On the farm Slette in Heidal in Gudbrandsdalen, the Slette family is well underway in restoring an old log cabin from 1689. – I got on my knees with a crowbar and tore up the old floor. Underneath were several plank stumps, and among them was one that was longer than the others, says Synøve Slette, who lives on the farm. Not only was this piece of plank supposed to attract attention in the neighboring country, it was also supposed to give her an insight into the life of the carpenter who had been working in the log cabin in 1947. Took a raw chance When Slette turned the plank over, she saw that something was written. In squiggly writing it says: “This floor was laid on 12/6 1947 by apprentice carpenter Peder Andersen. Whoever repairs the floor must send a greeting.” This is the greeting from the Danish carpenter. On the plank it says: “This floor was laid on 12/6 1947 by apprentice carpenter Peder Andersen. Whoever repairs the floor must send a greeting.” Photo: Private – I thought this was incredibly fun, says Slette She began to investigate. Could this Peder Andersen still be alive? An address is also written on the plank: Muldbjerg St, Jutland Denmark. She found a group on Facebook for residents of Muldbjerg and the surrounding area. – I took a chance and wrote a post in the group – and got caught, says Slette. The family thinks the floor laid in 1947 was too modern, and will lay a new, more old-fashioned floor with heating cables. It was during the demolition work that the piece of plank saw the light of day. Photo: Privat Saw the world as a playground One of those who made contact was Mogens Andersen. He was surprised and happy, and could share many stories about his uncle, the craftsman Peder Andersen. He died in 2003, according to the nephew. Slette has also learned that he was restless. – He is described as a special person, in a positive sense. The world was his playground. He was an adventurer, and has, among other things, worked for a few years in Greenland. However, the nephew was not aware that he had worked in Norway. – It may seem that he had some secrets, says Slette. It was in this log cabin in Heidal that Peder Andersen left his mark. Photo: Privat The message on the plank not only attracted attention in this country, but also in Denmark. – “Help”, I thought when they called, laughs Slette. It was Danish TV Midtvest that made contact. To them, the nephew says that it could be like the uncle to leave an imprint without being visible. – That was him in a nutshell, he says. Selden Kjell Marius Mathisen is head of the cultural history department at Lillehammer museum. – Messages as comprehensive as this are rare, he says. Here, the craftsman has also left an address, and asked for a greeting from those who find it. But it is not unusual for carpenters or builders to leave a signature on a piece of work they may be satisfied with, and which appears again when you do some work with old buildings, according to Mathisen. – Such discoveries are rarely so well carried out, says Kjell Marius Mathisen at Lillehammer Museum about the plank. Photo: Arne Sørenes – It’s funny. Because of this greeting, they have come across a story that nobody really knew about, says Mathisen. – Without this message, you would never have known that this Dane had been at work in the timber shed in Heidal. Made more discoveries On Monday evening, the family in Heidal was again at work demolishing the floor. On a floor beam under the old floor there are also engraved traces from the past. A well-known signature also appears here, namely Peder Andersen’s. His name is not the only thing here – the beam is also signed by his brother Johannes Andersen, and a Johan Rusten from Otta. All the signatures are dated 23 May 1947. These are signed by Johannes Andersen, Peder Andersen’s brother, and Johan Rusten from Otta, both with the same date. The floor beams are signed by three craftsmen.«Peder Andersen, Denmark, 23/5-47.»«Johannes Andersen, Muldbjerg, Denmark, 23.05.1947.»«Johan Rusten, Otta, 23 May 1947.» – It’s nice to have a greeting from the past. Now I have at least sent a greeting back to the family, says Slette. When the family at Slette gård now lays a new floor, they must return the piece of plank with the greeting where they found it. In addition, they must write a new message on a piece of the new floor. – Then maybe someone will find them again in a hundred years, she says.
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Family in Heidal i Sel found a plank with a message from a craftsman in 1947 – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
