Happy Birthday to…Royals and Geniuses

First…The Royals! 

Happy 708^th Birthday to Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor 

King of Bohemia (1346 to 1378)

 

Born: May 14, 1316

Birthplace: Prague, Czechia

Died: November 29, 1378 (62 years old)

 

Charles IV, crowned king of Bohemia in 1346, king of Italy in 1355, and king of Burgundy in 1365, holds the distinction of ruling over the Holy Roman Empire and all its kingdoms. He became Holy Roman Emperor in 1355. During his reign, Prague became the empire’s capital city.

 

The multi-lingual ruler was fluent in Czech, Latin, Italian, French, and German. He built the first university in Central Europe plus several castles and churches. He married four times and may have had as many as fourteen children—counting one reputedly born to an anonymous woman who was not one of his wives.

 

Happy 471^st Birthday to Margaret of Valois 

Queen Consort of Navarre (1572 - 1599) and France (1589 - 1599) 

 

Born: May 14, 1553

Birthplace: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France

Died: March 27, 1615 (61 years old)

 

Margaret’s marriage to Henry of Navarre, later King Henry IV of France, had more to do with politics than romance. The alliance was intended to ease tensions between Protestants and Catholics. However, the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre occurred only a few days after the wedding.

 

The infamous Catherine de’ Medici, Margaret’s mother, might have been involved in the horrific violence. Catherine is also suspected of poisoning Queen Jeanne III, Henry’s mother, who opposed his marriage to Margaret and died before the wedding took place.

 

In later years, Margaret’s brother, King Henry III, threw her into prison. So did her husband. Their childless marriage was officially nullified in 1599 even though they’d divorced several years before and Henry had remarried.

 

During Margaret’s imprisonment, she wrote her memoirs, published after her death in 1628. This work is “reckoned as one of 16th century’s best literary works” (Memoirs).

 

Happy 170^th Birthday to Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

“Grandest of the Grand Duchesses” and “Her Imperial Highness” (as daughter-in-law to the Emperor Alexander II of Russia).

 

Born: May 14, 1854

Birthplace: Ludwigslust Palace, Ludwigslust, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, German Confederation

Died: September 6, 1920 (66 years old)

 

Fun Facts:

• Marie was the first “Foreign Princess married to a Grand Duke to retain her own religion” since she refused to denounce Lutheranism and convert to the Roman Catholic Church (Gelardi).
• Though a German-born princess she supported Russia during World War I and strongly denounced German Emperor Wilhelm II.
• An addicted gambler, she was temporarily banned from Nicholas II’s court for defying “a prohibition on the playing of roulette and baccarat in private homes” (Morgan).
• Catherine the Great was her great-great-great-grandmother.
• “Marie was the last of the Romanovs to escape Revolutionary Russia and the first to die in exile” (Wikipedia).

And Now…The Geniuses

Happy 188^th Birthday to Wilhelm Steinitz

First World Chess Champion

 

Born: May 14, 1836

Birthplace: Prague, Czechia

Died: August 12, 1900 (64 years old)

 

The thirteenth son of a tailor, Wilhelm was twelve when he learned to play chess. As a young adult, he entered tournaments and within a few years had established himself as one of the world’s top players. He later developed a different style of play and eventually became a chess journalist.

 

He returned to competitive tournament play for a time and moved to New York in 1883. He founded the International Chess Magazine in 1885.

Sadly, his accomplishments as an influential chess theoretician, tournament player, and writer didn’t bring him financial security. He died a pauper, leaving his second wife and two young children.

 

Happy 106^th Birthday to William T. Tutte

British-Canadian Mathematician; World War II Codebreaker

 

Born: May 14, 1917

Birthplace: Newmarket, Suffolk, England

Died: May 2, 2002 (almost 85 years old)

 

William T. Tutte, a gifted mathematician, is credited with the bulk-decryption of top-secret messages originating with the Lorenz rotor cipher machine. This system was used by the German Wehrmacht High Command during World War II. 

 

Tutte’s parents, an estate gardener and a housekeeper, worked at Fitzroy House in Newmarket, Suffolk, when he was born in 1917. He graduated with first-class honors from Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied natural sciences and chemistry. During his graduate studies, he transferred from physical chemistry to mathematics. 

 

Tutte and three friends were among “the first to solve the problem of squaring the square, and the first to solve the problem without a squared sub-rectangle. Together the four created the pseudonym Blanche Descartes, under which Tutte published occasionally for years” (Smith).

 

In addition to his important decryption work during the war, Tutte is also known for his numerous mathematical accomplishments, including his foundational work in graph theory and matroid theory.

 

Your Turn

 

Whose birthday party do you most want to attend? You can…

• Talk about languages and architecture with Charles;
• Discuss French history with Margaret;
• Play baccarat with Marie;
• Play chess with Wilhelm; or
• Break codes or “square the square” with William.

Johnnie Alexander imagines stories you won’t forget in multiple genres. A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, she shares a life of quiet adventure with Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her racoon-treeing papillon. Visit her at johnnie-alexander.com.

Photos ~ all images designed with Canva.

 

Charles IV ~ John Ocko votive picture-fragment.jpg. Created 1371. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 2 August 2018. Public domain.

 

Background of Charles IV image ~ Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by Charles IV. Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa). CC BY-SA 2.0. File:Karte Böhmen unter Karl IV.png. Created: see file history. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 16 December 2013.

 

Portrait of Princess Margaret of Valois by François Clouet, 16th century. Marguerite de France reine de Navarre (1553-1615). File:Clouet Margerite of Valois.jpg. Created: Mid-16th century. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 6 April 2010. Public domain.

 

Portrait of Queen Margaret of Valois. 16th century. François Clouet. File: MargueritedeValois.jpg. Created: 1571. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 7 February 2007. Public domain.

 

Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (the Elder) of Russia, nee Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Unknown author. File: Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia.jpg. Created: late 1880s. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 24 March 2020. Public domain.

 

Wilhelm Steinitz (1836-1900). Unknown author. File: Wilhelm Steinitz2.jpg. Created: 1900. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 6 March 2010. Public domain.

 

William T. Tutte. Original publication: Newmarket Journal. Immediate source: http://www.newmarketjournal.co.uk/news/new-sculpture-honours-forgotten-war-hero-1-6290664. File: W. T. Tutte.jpg. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 7 May 2017. Fair use. Also found on Duck Duck Go Images ~ “Free to Share and Use.” 

 

Background of W.T. Tutte image ~ the Lorenz SZ42 machine with its covers removed. Bletchley Park museum. File: Lorenz-SZ42-2.jpg. Uploaded to Wikipedia: 4 November 2016. Public domain.

 

Sources

 

Gelardi, Julia P. The Romanov Women: From Splendour to Revolution from 1847-1918 (Reprint ed.). St. Martin's Griffin, pp. 47. ISBN 978-1250001610. The quote from Ms. Gelardi’s book is a partial quote from British diplomat Lord Augustus Loftus.

 

Memoir ~ quote regarding Margaret of France. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/margaret-of-france-6774.php (accessed 4 May 2024).

 

Morgan, Diane (2007). From Satan’s Crown to the Holy Grail: Emeralds in Myth, Magic and History. Westport, Ct: Praeger, pp. 134. ISBN 978-0275991234.

 

Smith, Cedric A. B.; Abbott, Steve (March 2003), "The Story of Blanche Descartes", The Mathematical Gazette, 87 (508): pp. 23–33, doi:10.1017/S0025557200172067, ISSN 0025-5572, JSTOR 3620560, S2CID 192758206. 

 

Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchess_Marie_of_Mecklenburg-Schwerin, (accessed 4 May 2024).

 

Unexpected Legacy Series: Jeanne-Marie Bouvier

By Matthew J. Elliott

Have you ever been in a situation where it just felt like you were dealt the worst hand life could possibly have given you? I think we can all say that we’ve been there, so I won't dwell on it, but that is the kind of background Jeanne-Marie Bouvier came from. Does that name sound even remotely familiar to you? How about Madame Guyon? Well, she is known to many who have read her book “Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ” as one of the most influential women of faith the 1600s produced. This particular book was even publicly burned in France (more on that later), but it still found its way into the hearts and minds of thousands and thousands of Christians seeking to understand the value of experiencing a deeper faith. 

As a child, she was born into a wealthy family but dealt with childhood illnesses that kept her from living a normal life. Due to these constant ailments, her education was neglected far more than it should have been. She was even shipped off to live with nuns more than a few times as a child and never really given an opportunity just to be a kid. Her parents were devout Christians but when she was the ripe old age of 15, she was forced to accept a marriage proposal to someone 22 years older than her, whom she had never met. While he too was well endowed, Jeanne-Marie still endured long periods of neglect and a demanding home-life. Her life was not the kind of life one might imagine could belong to a person who eventually became such an advocate for the Christian faith. Everything she struggled with as a young sickly maiden could not prepare her for the struggles she faced with barring children, appeasing an overbearing spouse who gave into his demanding mother who had no interest in the woman her son married, and becoming a widow at the age of 28. Of the five children she gave birth to Jeanne-Marie outlived two of them and still had to deal with their father's mother. 

François Fénelon

Her life, while endowed, was filled with tribulation. So how does a woman with so much pain and suffering end up leaving a legacy like hers? It all comes back to her affinity for making faith a priority even amid everything she faced. In truth, she embraced the practice of Christian Quietism. This is a way of thinking that, according to those who lived by it, taught that spiritual peace and perfection were attainable through contemplating completely the ways of God, and nothing else. Those who sought a life of Quietism strived to rid themselves of human desire and become a completely passive individual, in the spiritual sense. While there is a lot of debate on these practices still today, the point I am making is that Jeanne-Marie Bouvier devoted her entire life, post-marriage, to finding ways for her to embrace a path in life that encouraged a deep and meaningful faith. This is where her legacy began to reveal itself to the world she lived in, but not in the way some may have expected.

In the late 1600s, Madame Guyon was arrested by church leaders who believed that her theology was flawed. While this was a brief imprisonment, her reputation was ruined. In an effort to find support for her beliefs, she began reaching out to others. Eventually, she found the support she was looking for through her cousin, a priest named François Fénelon. He was a French philosopher and would eventually become the archbishop of Cambrai, as well as one of her biggest advocates. Even with his support, Madame Guyon’s beliefs continued to cause her issues and she was arrested again and imprisoned from 1695-1702. Despite all this, she would eventually pick up the pen, so to speak, write everything down, and continue to pursue her beliefs, relentlessly. In her eyes, these beliefs would lead her to a complete understanding of the depths of Jesus Christ. 

Before all this, Madame Guyon had already released material in the form of a book called "A Method of Prayer." It has served many roles over the years and has constantly been a story that questions the reality of what faith is, and what it means to experience it deeply. This book caused so much opposition in France that a group of Roman Catholic priests serving in Dijorn gathered a total of 300 copies and burned them. On the other side of that coin, there was a Frenchman, who took 1500 copies and flooded his community with them. In truth, Madame Guyon is considered one of the most influential leaders of her time. In the end, she was denounced as a heretic by the religious tribunal and forced to live out the rest of her days in solitude until her death. After her eventual death,  this story found new life under the name “Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ” and to this day is considered one of the greatest Christian writings of all time. 

Bastille: Where Madam Guyon was imprisoned

It is a very unlikely story indeed, but this unexpected legacy has influenced believers as much, and, maybe even more, than Brother Lawrence and his short little book. The Practice of the Presence of God. While one cannot deny the simplicity of Brother Lawrence, many consider Madame Guyon’s detailed approach to quietism and devoted prayer a more unexpected legacy. A sickly child, devalued by her family, grew up and found herself in an unhappy marriage where she lost two of her children; One day became an undeniable advocate for devoted prayer and deep faith. She was rejected by so many throughout her life but always stood firm in her faith. This example of dedication has played a vital role in the lives of people across 100s of years. The results speak for themselves and it just goes to show that unexpected legacies are all around us. 

Do you believe that there are those who have a similar legacy today?

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He has served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which has given him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew is happily married to Traci, and they have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, Matthew's goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and His Website. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

Are you ready to dive into a captivating series that delves into the journey of a young runaway slave who discovers God in his quest for redemption? Finding Philemon is exactly that kind of series. Follow along on the unexpected journey as Onesimus embarks upon his path of faith and new beginnings.

Throughout this journey, Onesimus will encounter life-changing events that will transform the depths of his heart and aid him in discovering the redemption that only God can offer, and ultimately his way back to his former master Philemon.

----

Sources:

Guyon, J. (1997). Madame Guyon: An autobiography. Whitaker House: 1st edition.

https://www.gcu.edu/blog/theology-ministry/theology-thursday-madame-jeanne-guyon-life-transformed-through-prayer

Guyon, J. (1685). Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ. SeedSowers.

Unexpected Legacy Series: Nicolas Herman

By Matthew J. Elliott

Wikipedia.com

Everyone has that one historical figure who plays a significant role in their development and understanding of the world around them. As a writer who tends to build stories around the lesser-known historical figures in scripture, most of the biblical characters who have played the more meaningful roles in who I have become were not well-known people. In truth, my inspiration came from characters others did not give a second thought. These types of characters always taught me insightful and unexpected lessons that I use even today. However, if you are reading this particular blog post, you are likely looking for the historical aspect of the story. Don’t worry; that is where we will spend the rest of today’s post.

While scripture is one of my primary resources for content; Today, I wanted to bring a little knowledge to the table about a man once called Nicolas Herman. This amazing historical figure was born in the early 1600s in France. History will tell you that this young man was nothing special when he was born, but have you ever heard the saying, “Your past defines you?” Well, the family Nicolas was born into had little wealth and even less education. Nothing about this man would have led anyone to believe who he became as an adult. One thing his parents did have going for them was their Christian heritage, and that is what they taught their son. If you can imagine a scene with me for a moment…

playgroundai.com

It is a dark and stormy evening; a young boy is looking out the window of a poorly built home, watching the rain fall from the sky.  He turns away from the window to see his father home from the fields, pulling an old looking book from the top shelf. Together, the family sits in their half-broken chairs, looking at the words written within its wrinkly and damaged pages. In the corner, a small fire, cooking an even smaller meal. Suddenly, the young boy looks at his parents with the biggest smile upon his face. “I know that one Pappa.” Then, the three of them embrace. After this, the meal is served. Moments later, they all kneel by the young boy's bed and look to the heavens.

While I will never know if something like that happened, the idea is there. Regardless of what did take place in the home Nicolas grew up in, his parents encouraged a life of faith. Was that all they gave him? Likely not, but there is not much history about that time in his life.   What is known though, is that this young man grew up, and throughout his life, he embraced the teachings his parents tried to instill in him, and he eventually became the author of a small book that has inspired millions of people, including myself.  

Before we jump into that, there is more to his story than the impact of his words on the world today. Nicolas grew into a young man whose zeal for life was inspired by a tree hibernating in winter, a sentiment that has inspired me also. When asked by a good friend why the tree inspired him so much, Nicolas would only state that even though he knew the tree was barren, what mattered was that eventually, life would blossom from it again. The friend asked a further question about why this mattered, to which Nicolas replied. ‘It gave me a profound impression of God’s providence and that knowledge has never really left me.’ Who would have thought a sleeping tree could do so much? Soon after this experience, Nicolas became a soldier and fought in the Thirty-Year War, one of the most devastating conflicts in European history. 

During this conflict, Nicolas was taken prisoner by the Germans and given the worst treatment. However, due to his patient mindset and strong will, he was eventually released. Soon after, he was forced out of the army due to an unprecedented leg injury. After recovering, he found work as a personal attendant, but his position there did not last long. His lame leg caused issues with his esteemed employer. Nicolas had many experiences like this throughout his life—all of which led him through war, poverty, and eventually to a monastery. 

pxhere.com

Here, in this monastery, Nicolas adopts a different, maybe more familiar name, Brother Lawrence. Upon joining the ranks of the other monks, Brother Lawrence spent the next 50 years of his life serving in the monastery as a cook, a shoe cobbler, and even a janitor of sorts. He struggled daily with understanding the presence of God and deeply desired to find ways to serve his faith. Eventually, Brother Lawrence found a home living within the community of his monastery. Over the years, he grew in his faith and spent many years learning how to value the presence of God in his life, and this knowledge influenced many of the other monks who lived alongside him.   

The practical way Brother Lawrence lived his life may seem meaningless, but for me, these teachings have influenced my faith in more ways than I could have ever imagined. There is only one book attributed to Brother Lawrence, and it is filled with simple sayings that have inspired many authors today. In truth, his book, The Practice of the Presence of God, even inspired me to write my first book, Ahavah Writings for the Journey. It is fascinating that such a humble man could inspire people more than 400 years after his death. This just goes to show that even the most unexpected people can inspire a legacy that stands beyond the test of time. 

Who is someone who has influenced your life's legacy?

‌

~ Biography ~

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who loves to encourage and inspire others. He has served in various ministry roles for over 15 years, which has given him a unique perspective on people and Biblical History. Matthew holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, with a focus on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship.

Matthew is happily married to Traci, and they have three children named Leyla, Caleb, and Hannah, who bring them immense joy and inspiration. As a writer, Matthew's goal is to share love, equip others, and edify them for the greater good. He loves connecting any amount of scripture to his stories and uses his knowledge of Biblical History to do so often.

You can find Matthew's works on Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, and His Blog. He has written Devotionals, An Episodic Series, Novellas, and even Commentaries for The Gospel Daily.

~ Highlighted Release ~

Are you ready to dive into a captivating series that delves into the journey of a young runaway slave who discovers God in his quest for redemption? Finding Philemon is exactly that kind of series. Follow along on the unexpected journey as Onesimus embarks upon his path of faith and new beginnings.

Throughout this journey, Onesimus will encounter life-changing events that will transform the depths of his heart and aid him in discovering the redemption that only God can offer, and ultimately his way back to his former master Philemon.

----

Sources:

*The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence

*Soulshepherding.org/brother-lawrence-writings-story

The Last Visit to Maihaugen

During the 1700s in Norway, large farms could contain thirty buildings. In other parts of Europe, many structures in one space could have been feudal systems which consisted of a baron's property where serfs farmed the land. These Norwegian farms ran similarly but not under serfdom. Proprietors owned the land and had tenants. After reading information on this design, this seems it was a better situation overall. Yet the proprietor in Norway often retained the best land for himself and offered the more challenging locations to his tenants. Portions at high elevations where frost risk was common or low in the valley where the farming was less favorable were the areas inhabited and worked on by tenants.

The prior two posts showed many of the buildings that existed on the Norwegian farm of that era. These structures preserved by Anders Sandvig allow visitors to experience a slice of Norwegian life of the past. Read Maihaugen: Open Air Museum and Maihaugen: Open Air Museum: Inside Out for a recap.

A farm could have consisted of many of these buildings: winter house, summer house, schoolhouse, sheds, stables, barns, threshing structures, other houses, cookhouse, barn for drying grain, smithy, woodshed, mill, and many more. Farms might have had water systems in the dryer areas. Farmers created these tools to bring water to the valleys using soil or wood. They could have been kilometers long to bring water from the mountains to the locations where it was needed.

Guest houses were needed on the farms for craftsmen staying extended periods of time, family, or other visitors. One such structure at Maihaugen is the Lieutenant’s house. It was named such because a lieutenant inhabited the space for a long time. 

This building was used to store food in the cellar. It had a bedroom and living area on the first floor. The upper floor was used to store wool. It was commonly referred to as “The Wool House.”

Venturing out of the farm areas of the Open Air Museum will deliver you past the fishermen’s camp complete with chapel and into the more modern area. The Town is the latest installment. It features multiple buildings representative of the 1900s.

Stores, a post office, and a chemist’s office with  laboratory are a few of the spots that adorn the streets. There are homes that display building techniques and variations of contents from the early 19th century through the 20th century. You can literally walk through the ages.

           

       

          

I would like to leave you with a tour of doors so to speak. I am fascinated by doors in my travels. Perhaps it is the possibility of what could be behind the doors. Then again, maybe it is the fact that so many people have passed through those doors over millennia. 

Whatever the reason for my interest, it should be noted that the doors at Maihaugen are fantastic! I wonder if these individuals invested copious time to create these portals because it was an opportunity to display their artistic talent or even personality. The house floor plans themselves for most of the structures were simple boxes. Not a lot of variety existed in the buildings. While furniture allowed individuality inside, the door held weight as a first impression for any passerby. Take a gander at these beauties. Leave a comment with your favorite. Does your door at home reflect your style?


   

And a gate for good measure...

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 90 Plans on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. If it were up to her, she would be traveling - right now. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, Rebecca learns the craft of fiction while networking with a host of generous writers. She is working on her first fiction novel. This story unfolds from the 1830s in Northern Georgia.

Rebecca and fellow blogger, Cindy Stewart, traveled to Europe on a writing research trip. They met many people and interesting characters during their journey. The photos shared within this post were captured by Rebecca. The troll of course was elusive.

Connect with Rebecca:
Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest Twitter   

Maihaugen - Open Air Museum: Inside Out

Beauty and wonder exist inside the structures of the Open Air Museum just as they do outside. Peering into the main rooms and lofts of these 190 buildings gives visitors a chance to imagine what everyday life was like for Norwegians in the 1700s and 1800s. More than 50,000 items are catalogued at Maihaugen. They also give a glimpse into how the lives of these individuals unfolded. In the image above the washboard indicates 1864. Washing clothes was a chore, literally and figuratively without our modern conveniences. How do you suppose they used the other implements shown in that photo?

To consider an upper-class family’s home and lifestyle, peek into the main room of the House from Mytting. Up to date with all the latest of the 19th century, the people who lived here enjoyed furniture from urban craftsmen and from their travels. The interior was divided into rooms, which made cleaning easier. Not to mention the outdoor privy which kept the interior tidy as well. 

If you are thinking this furniture and decor looks a bit fancy for a house with grass growing on its roof, your thoughts are in line. The exterior of this dwelling was first built in 1760 but was erected in Sandvig's garden in 1897. The final placement at Maihaugen occurred in 1904. (You can read about the founder of this museum, Sandvig, in the last post.) The furniture collections evolved over those 137 years and do not reflect the original pieces from 1760. Those would be more in line with what you can see in some of the upcoming houses.

The House from Vigstad has a half-loft. It has building dates of 1709, 1813, and 1904. This “Akershus style” features decorative paintings on its doors and cupboards. These motifs came before carvings of later dates. The paintings are true examples of what existed in the later portions of the 18th century. The main area was a workroom for craftsmen who created bentwood boxes that could hold food and small objects.

Before the days of assisted living or nursing homes, the younger generation took over the farms and moved their parents into adjoining structures so they could care for them. If you read Amish stories, you may recall the “Dawdi Haus.” Similarly, in Norway this “Nystua” or New House was built in 1787. It has a room with a bedroom connected to the main house for this purpose.

In 1860 the New Education Act passed, requiring a permanent school in each township if there were enough children. This was the end of the ambulatory school system. This School House was finished in 1863. Notice the teacher’s quarters attached to the school room. This benefit gives a whole new meaning to commuting to work, doesn’t it?

This Winter House was built at the end of the 17th century. It gained new decorations and was moved in 1785. Less people lived on the farm in the winter. Smaller structures were therefore fitting. Children slept in a half loft. There was a drying cupboard fitted with slate shelves between the fireplace and the wall. A stove from 1758 made by Baerum Ironworks sits in the room. Notice the nifty niches to store dishes near the ceiling and the clock attached to the wall.





The last structure for this post is the Per Gynt Loft. It was built around 1620. Yes, you read that correctly, 1620, and it is still standing where it was re-built. As a frame of reference, the Mayflower left England in August of 1620.

The room you see on the ground floor of the loft stored grain. Upstairs the living room with fireplace served as a guest room for any season of the year. Anders wanted to include the character Peer Gynt inspired by a Norwegian Folk Tale, so he named the loft Per Gynt.

Next month is the last visit to Maihaugen. We will look inside the Lieutenant's House, talk about Norwegian farms of the era, and glance at some glorious doors. Which structure boasted your favorite interior from the post above? Were there any tools or implements you recognized and could share their purposes?

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 80 Plans on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. If it were up to her, she would be traveling - right now. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, Rebecca learns the craft of fiction while networking with a host of generous writers. She is working on her first fiction novel. This story unfolds from the 1830s in Northern Georgia.

Rebecca and fellow blogger, Cindy Stewart, traveled to Europe on a writing research trip. They met many people and interesting characters during their journey. Rebecca captured the images shared in this post, except for the troll... he is still at large.

Connect with Rebecca:

Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest Twitter