Stigen Farms

Lower Stigen Farm number(gnr) 35, Sub-farm number(bnr) 2

The Stigen farms lie on a hillside outside the city of Ringebu in the valley of Gudbrand. Ringebu is located a couple hours drive north of Oslo. The meaning of Stigen is "the ladder". When you look at the slope of the pastures on the farm you understand why the name makes sense.

The first mention of the name Stigen is in the Ringebu parish records at the confirmation of Hans Kristoffersen, son of Christopher(Kristoffer) Hansen (1756 - 1835) in 1808. Christopher is my 4th great-grandfather. He had two wives. The first was Mari Pedersdotter Bergon (1764 - 1810). They had 7 children. His second wife was Anne Larsdatter Hjørnet (1781 - 1840). They also had 7 children. Their 2nd child was Lars Christophersen Stigen (1812 - 1857) (my 3rd great-grandfather). Lars married Mari Hansdatter Flatmoen. They had 8 children. In 1839 Upper Stigen was divided from the (Lower) Stigen farm with Lars as the tenant farmer. Their fourth child was Anna Larsdatter Stigen, my great-great grandmother, born in 1844. It is likely that she was born on the upper Stigen Farm. She left the farm by age 15.

Lower Stigen Farm
Photo October 2014 by Michael Baird

In the above photo the Lower Stigen farm is the nestled on the hillside in the middle left of the picture. The Upper Stigen farm is behind the trees to the left of the Lower Stigen farm. The pasture falls away to the right down the hillside. The city of Ringebu is further down the valley. This picture and others of the area was taken on my visit to Norway in October 2014 while winter scene pictures were taken on my visit in December 2004. The picture below is a zoomed in view of the Stigen farm. Several of the smaller buildings date back to the late 1700's and would have been there when Anna was born. The house, which is the red building and the barn, which is the largest building in the back are newer.

Lower Stigen Farm
Photo October 2014 by Michael Baird

The above picture is from an angle above the farm. The pasture to the left of the road belongs to Upper Stigen.

Lower Stigen Farm buildings
Photos October 2014 by Michael Baird

The buildings in the above two picture date back to the late 1700's and are still in use today.

Olga Stigen at Lower Stigen Farm, date unknown

Lower Stigen Pasture
Photo October 2014 by Michael Baird

The above photo is taken from the bottom of the Lower Stigen Farm pasture. Ladder indeed!

The pictures below are of the Upper Stigen Farm. It lies adjacent to and above the Lower Stigen Farm.

Upper Stigen Farm
Photo October 2014 by Michael Baird

Upper Stigen Farm, date unknown

Upper Stigen Farm from Lower Stigen Farm
Photo December 2004 by Michael Baird

There is also associated with the Lower Stigen farm what is known as the "summer farm". Early in the summer the animals were moved to the summer farm, which is higher up in the hills. The pasture on the lower farm was then harvested for feed for the winter. The animals would then be brought back in the fall to spend the winter at the main farm. The next pictures are of the summer farm. The buildings in these pictures also date back to the late 1700's