Fargarstova

Fargarstova

Fargarstova is a know building at Holmen. It is situated behind the municipality office on a plot originally belonging to the Kvikne family. The house was built around 1877 by Rasmus Valentinsen, a fabric dyer by trade. He finshed his training in Bergen in 1860, married Berthe Sophie Larsdatter in 1856 and had eight children. After her death Rasmus moved to Balestrand in 1872 together with a young woman, Mariane Pedersen (1855-1939), registered in the church books as his ward.

In 1873, Mariane is 18 and Rasmus is 40 when they get married in Tjugum Church. Three weeks later Mariane gives birth to a still born daughter. Mariane has more children, and one of them Antonette Beathe «Tulli» (1889-1983) lived in the house until she died.

After her death there was some uncertainty surrounding the house as it was old and needed maintenance. A local soul, Alvhild Tveit, wanted to salvage and restore it with the purpose of cultural events and exhibitions. She succeeded in raising funds to restore it and in the late 1980s the house was restored. At its reopening descendants of Valentinsen came from England to join the event.

The house was used for cultural purposes for some years, but was later sold to private owners. Today it is in use as a holiday home.