When Hemsedal thanked my great-grandfather

A historical tribute to Hans Flaten – the teacher, author and local historian who dedicated his life to preserving Hemsedal's history

When I started looking for the story of my great-grandfather, Hans Flaten, I knew that he had written books about Hemsedal. What I didn't know was that an entire county council had chosen to honor him while he was still alive.

In December 1925, the Hemsedal district council presented him with silverware and a clock as a token of appreciation for his life's work. The mayor gave a speech that still makes a strong impression a hundred years later. Not only because it honors one man, but because it puts into words the value of preserving knowledge, history, language and culture before it is lost.

Ingvar Flaten, sønn av Hans Flaten, sitter på hesten Blakken ved Eikrestølen i Hemsedal, mens den lille Magne Bjella står ved siden av. Med Skogshorn og Storevatn som majestetisk bakteppe forteller bildet en historie om slekt, natur og kulturarv – en forbindelse mellom Hans Flaten, hans sønn Ingvar og oldebarnet Magne.

For me, this is more than a historical newspaper article. It is an encounter with my own family history. At the same time, it is a reminder of why I have chosen to spend so much time collecting, sharing, and preserving knowledge through Invisible Capital .

Barndomsminner. Som liten fikk jeg oppleve et nært forhold til naturen og dyrene i Hemsedal. Blakken var mer enn en hest – han ble en del av minnene fra en oppvekst som lærte meg respekt for både mennesker, dyr og natur.

A personal reflection

When I work on the website The Invisible Capital, I often think of my great-grandfather, Hans Flaten.

I have no idea that what I create will ever be able to match the life's work he left behind. Over many decades, he collected family history, cultural history, dialect and stories from Hemsedal – knowledge that otherwise might have been lost forever.

Still, I recognize some of his driving force.

My great-grandfather wrote that he wanted to "gather relics together so that nothing goes to waste . " In my own way, I try to do the same. Not with family history, but with research, experiences, knowledge and stories about people, leadership, innovation and value creation.

We lived in two different centuries, with completely different tools and challenges. But the desire to preserve knowledge and pass it on to future generations is perhaps what binds us together.

It is a thought that makes me both humble and grateful.

Below is the article as it appeared in print inBuskeruds Blad. December 15, 1925 , reproduced in its original language.

Akvarell inspirert av avissiden i Buskeruds Blad fra 15. desember 1925, der læreren, forfatteren og lokalhistorikeren Hans Flaten blir hedret av Hemsedal herredsstyre i forbindelse med utgivelsen av Hemsedals slegts-historie. Illustrasjonen gjenskaper stemningen fra den historiske avisen og markerer et av de viktigste øyeblikkene i Hans Flatens liv – da et helt lokalsamfunn takket ham for arbeidet med å bevare Hemsedals historie, kultur og slekter for kommende generasjoner.

"Hemsedal's history"

The author Hans Flaten is honored by the district council with large gifts.

Teacher Hans Flaten.

Hans Flaten's new book "Hemsedal clan history" has now been published and is being met with great interest throughout the village.

At the last meeting of the Hemsedal District Council, Mr. Flaten was present — by request — and Mayor Aalstvedt gave the following speech for him:

"When I, on behalf of the lord council, have asked you to come with us here today, it is so that we, on behalf of the village, can say thank you, a thank you from everyone in the village.

You say about yourself in the village book that there are two words you have followed throughout your life. One is:

"The hour that passes will never return,"

and the second:

"Gather leftovers so that nothing goes to waste."

And it is true, — you have used the hour and gathered remains, — remains that will become a dear possession for all Hemsedøl.

You unfortunately had to quit early as a teacher, but it must be that you have made better use of your time for the village in the way you have since worked, constantly busy collecting everything you could get hold of that otherwise would have gone to waste.

We have entered a new era now. Much has changed, but not only for the better.

In the old days, everyone had a good time, we lived for ourselves, and not many people came to us. Then people had time to think about their village and their country, and stories about old times and old countries passed from parents to children.

Now it is no longer like that - and it will perhaps change even more in the direction that people do not take the time to think about the history of the village and the village.

Then it might be good, Hans Flaten, to have the remains that you have collected together in the village book, a book that is unique in its kind.

It has been fortunate for Hemsedal that we had a man among us who could write such a work.

What you have collected here about cultural conditions in Hemsedal in the past, about the life of the people and about the history of the farm and the farm, I am sure will be the best help for the people of Hemsedør through the ages to preserve their love for their village and for the old customs.

It will help to understand that in our own culture we own something that is worth looking after, and that we can be proud of.

I would also like to thank you for what you have done for our rural area.

It will probably happen here — as in other places — that the dialect will change little by little, but we all agree that we want to maintain and protect our own local dialect.

Therefore, I specifically mention what you have done for our own purpose by using it in the context of what you have written.

When the council of lords has granted a gift which is presented to you today on behalf of the municipality, it is not intended as payment for the book, - we know very well that the great work you have done cannot be paid for in that way.

We thought it should be a thank you for what you have done for our village.

We want you to know that if you have encountered cold in your life, — as you mention in the book — then perhaps there is more warmth present than you have known.

That is what we would like to have said to you today, and as an expression of this I ask you to accept this gift with the wish that for a long time you will be able to "use hours and collect remains together" for Hemsedal.

Thank you, Hans Flaten.

The mayor thus handed over the gift, silverware and a living room clock, worth NOK 700.

Flaten thanked him with emotion for the gift and stated, among other things:

"Today, Hemsedal has created an opportunity for me, which I experience only once in my life.

"It has been fortunate for Hemsedal that we had a man among us who could write such a work."

It was nice to receive an appreciation from the lord, even if it had only been a fraction of the value of this gift.

I take this as proof that people understand my work.

When I wrote to the district council 2 years ago and asked if the municipality would allow the book to be printed, it was between hope and doubt.

While I was working, I spoke to several people about it. Some showed great interest, others just said: never mind!

If I had asked the district council 40-50 years ago, I would probably have gotten a unanimous no, just as I got a yes now.

I see that interest in rural history has grown, just as interest in education has done the same.

There aren't many homes today without their own newspaper.

I had to leave school early, and it was rather painful to accept the pension when I couldn't give anything in return.

Then I came up with the idea to write this as a memorial for the coming bad guys."

...“The hour that passes will never return.”

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