In the end of the 1800’s and beginning of the 1900’s, many people from Andøya traveled out into the wider world. Many of these traveled because there weren’t enough farms and plots of land to feed everyone. Of those who traveled, many went to the USA. In the summer of 2023, the Durum (Norwegian spelling: Dørum) family came to search for their roots in Andenes.
With them, they brought a recording of their family history. It starts in Andenes, in the house of the lighthouse keeper. In the Polar Museum, they received information from the local history books about the family’s stay in Andenes. We also put them in contact with Berit Karlsen, who is a descendant from the last lighthouse keeper assistant, and today owns the house. The families met, and the Americans got to enter the house to see where their ancestors had lived.
Oskar II reigned as king of both Norway and Sweden from 1872 to 1905. Magnus I (Magnus the Good) was king of Norway from 1035 to 1047. Perhaps these kings were Oskar’s namesakes?
Oskar Magnus Dørum was born in Andenes, Nordland county, Norway, the 29th of March, 1886, and baptized August 15th in the local Lutheran church. His father was Knud Olsen Dørum, and his mother was Ingeborg Kristine Hansdatter Angell. Their marriage was registered February 1st, 1886 in the church book of the same congregation.
Knud Olsen was born to Ole Halvorsen and Gertrud Ingebrigtsdatter November 15th 1849 at Dørum farm in Oppdal, Søndre Trondhjem county (known as Sør-Trøndelag after 1918), Norway. Knud left the farm May 22nd 1869 and traveled north to Vesterålen in Nordland county. He went there to work as an assistant to lighthouse keeper Andreas Vincent Stoltenberg at Lødingen lighthouse, which was located on Hjertholmen. Knud Olsen Dørum had by then taken the name of the family farm in Oppdal as his last name.
He met, and shortly after married, Andreas’ daughter Wilhelmina Birgitta Stoltenberg. October 1st 1873 they had a daughter. Sadly, his wife passed away on June 1st 1874. The same day, their daughter was baptized and given her mother’s name Wilhelmina Birgitta Dørum.
November 2nd, 1877, the records show that Knud was employed as a lighthouse keeper’s assistant in the small fishing harbor, Andenes on Andøya. It was apparently here that Knud met Ingeborg Kristine. Their marriage was registered in the church books of the Andenes congregation. Ingeborg was born to parents Hans Petter Eliasen Angell and Elen Marie Dorthea Nilsdatter August 25th, 1859 in the Lødingen congregation.
Ingeborg and Knud’s first home, which they shared with lighthouse keeper Sivert R. With and his family, was next to Andenes lighthouse. The house had five rooms and a kitchen on the first floor, and three rooms and a kitchen on the second floor. Oskar’s family had the apartment on the second floor, which did not have indoor plumbing. It was also here in Andenes that Oskar’s oldest sister, Dagmar Marie, was born April 26th, 1887.
The construction of Andenes lighthouse began in 1856. September 24th, 1859, the light was turned on. At 40 meters, the lighthouse is among the tallest in Norway. There are 148 steps to the balcony at the top (I climbed all the way) where you have a view that goes on for around 13,2 nautical miles. In 1958, the Royal Norwegian Air Force took over the operation.
On September 10th, 1888, Knud was hired as the lighthouse keeper of Flatøy lighthouse. The family then moved south to a small island in Steigen municipality. Here, Oskar got two brothers and two sisters.
December 23rd, 1894, Oskar’s father Knud died from pneumonia. Shortly after, his mother moved with the six children south to Bodø. Oskar was confirmed here August 12th, 1900.
As a 17-year-old, Oskar traveled south to Trondheim, and from here to England (and then to America).
This history is written by James Durum, Oskar’s son and grandfather to Scott Durum, who came to Andenes with his family. Scott’s wife is named Tiziana Cavinato and these are their children’s names:
Jonas Walton Mugge-Durum, Christop Kurt Mugge-Durum, and Rita Winifred Durum.
The history turned out to be larger. The Stoltenberg family that was mentioned are the ancestors of Jens Stoltenberg, and Oskar’s brother went on to become the mayor of Kirkenes. There is also a large possibility that they’re related to former minister Odd Einar Dørum.
The family is also mentioned in the local history book for Risøyhamn. Here it is mentioned that they have a property at their disposal. To me, it seems to be either the property that the rural museum is on, or related to this. Here, the not so unknown Richard With lived. In relation to this, we recommend reading Idar Nilsen’s book about Risøyrenna, and of course the local history books and the yearbooks of Andenes Historical Society.
We collect small and large histories and try to puzzle them together as part of the foundation of the Andøy we live in today. Feel free to stop by and see if you can find traces or histories of your own ancestors.