Listeskøyta Kystkultursenter

Facts about immigration from Lista. Message from the U.S. President to the Senate in 1901. Gift from Lista to the Norwegian pavilion at the World Fair, New York in 1940 and handed over by his highness Crownprince Olav to the Norwegian museum in Decorah, Iowa.

"LISTER" FISHING VESSELS IN THE USA?

From lists from Ellis island it is registrated that there were boat-builders among the immigrants, who started building Lister boats after they arrived in the USA, but we have not been able to document this as a fact. We are however, seeking information regarding this!

HERRINGS FROM THE COAST OF LISTA.

The record herring catch outside Lista between 1824 and 1838 became a booster to local businesses affiliated to the fishing and shipping industry. It increased inquiresof fishing and freight vessels as well as boat building. Farsund'smaritime

business had reached it's peek, and the herring export from Flekkefjord was now the largest in Norway. In between these cities was the Lista coastline and peninsula, where most of the fishing activities were found.

In 1838, fishing for herring declined and the following year it was at a full stop. At the same time, a small pox epidemic broke out and many died. The lack of food and work lead to hunger and disparity. When in addition, the local potato farmers had a bad crop during 1845 and 1846, it was badly felt by Lista residents.

In 1848, the first immigrants from Farsund left for USA with briggadere

"Hercules". Following years, several merchant ships from Farsund, participated in the emigration exodus to the USA.

Emigration from Lista (Briggadere "Hercules”).1821.

The history repeats itself around 1890. After 30 golden years with massive

mackrell-fishing, export to England and great activity within the boat building, the fish disappeared...It is now the immigration from Lista to the USA took a drastic boom....Most emigrants traveling from Norway to the USA during this period would be young, single men with work title as a ships deck hand, rigger, bosun, seamen or mate.

THE MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE SENATE.

In 1898 an official representative from USA visited Bergen where a fishing

trade fair was held. In his report you will find that both the "the Lister

Skøite" and "the Lister fishing boat" is mentioned. Documents from the U.S.

Government Printing Office shows an in depth description of the "Lister"

boat and its fishing equipment which was used during fishing, as well as

detailed drawings of an open Lister boat.. The report was sent to the US

senate by then president Theodore Roosevelt in 1901.

CROWN PRINCE OLAV AND THE LISTER BOAT.

In November 1938, the Norwegian Museum Association's board contacted Lista

Museum asking them to donate a gift of local origin to the Norwegian Museum

in Decorah, Iowa USA.

It was the wish of the Norwegian Museum Association to exhibit artifacts

from various parts of Norway at their pavilion at the 1940 Worlds Fair in

Queens, New York City.

The gift would be presented during his majesty crown prince Olav and her

majesty crown princess Mærtha's visit to the US the following year. It was

decided to send a modell of the old and original Lister boat which in 1868

received numerous awards and medals during the Norway Regatta. Mr. Julius

Tjørve's firm offered to make the model. The model was  exhibited at the

Vanse civic center February 24th and 25th, 1939. It was then brought to Oslo

to be presented to their Royal Highnesses who brought it along to USA.

THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES VISIT TO USA. THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES VISIT THE U.S. PRESIDENT.

News from Farsunds Avis (Local news paper) February 24th.1939:

LISTER BOAT MODELL TO THE WORLD FAIR.

The model will be exhibited at the Lista civic center this afternoon as well

as tomorrow morning.

Early last November, the board of Lista Museum was asked by the Norwegian

Museum Association to donate a gift of local origin which could be used as a

PR for Norway and presented by his highness crown prince Olav to the

Norwegian museum in Decorah, Iowa.

Lista Museum replied with an offer to build a replica of the Liste-boat,

designed by Gjert Gundersen, Ore, improved by Ole Olsen, Stave and Hans Kr. Kristensen, Borhaug amongst others.

The original vessel had made great news through out Norway, specially after

the Stavanger and Arendal Regattas where it received several 1st prizes as

well as silver and bronze medal during the boat show in Bergen.

In addition, the Lista Museum advised that Mr. Eilert Sundt had authored a

book about the "Listerboat", it's designer and distinct features, almost

like his presentation in the Folkevennen in 1865. In addition, the artist

Hans Gude produced one of his most famous water colors paintings, using a

couple of Lister-skøyter as the motive from the Breknestranda. (This

painting was reproduced about 32 years ago by W.C.Fabritius & Sons Inc., as

an inclusion to the " Christmas in Norway ")

Lista Museums offer was welcomed with great appreciation by the Norwegian

Museum Association.

Farsund Slip and Mekaniske verksted (Farsund Marine) whose proprietor is Mr.

Gjert Gundersen's great grandson, Mr. Julius Tjørve, offered to make the model.

Most of the work however, was done by Mr. Nils Tjørve, who is also a great

grandson of Gjert Gundersen.

The model will be on display this afternoon at Lista civic center as well as

through tomorrow morning. Tomorrow afternoon it will be shipped to his royal

highness the Crown Prince, who will bring it along to USA and present it to

the Norwegian Museum in Decorah as a regional "Viking ship" from Lista.

Supreme Court lawyer, Mr. Slevedal has informed that he is interested in

purchasing a number of Eilert Sundt's "The Listerbåt" as well as the

reproduction of Hans Gudes painting of the Brekne stranda from Fabritius &

Sons. He is also looking for more information of the Listerbåt's and

Lister-skøytenes  participations in various regattas.

Written by Stein Nordhaug, Listerskøyta Coastculturesenter, Lista in Farsund. January 1. 2015.

Transelated by Victor Samuelsen, Samco Group.Manhattan Helicopters.

WELCOME TO LISTESKØYTA COASTAL CULTURE CENTER AND MUSEUM

A coastal culture exhibition in the former Brekneholmen boat builder's yard.

BORHAUG is a village on the seashore at westernLista, about 2 km from LISTA FYR (lighthouse). 150 years ago, boat builders started building LISTER BOATS for local pilots and fishermen in the harbor. Later bigger LISTER SKOITEs were built for freight traffic and fishery. The boat types from Lista became legendary, and wrote fishery history all along the Norwegian coast.

Go on board an old Listerskoite and get to know her story. Explore Lista’s proud boat building traditions. Learn about the old freighters. See the cool engines. An exhibition of items found in ship wrecks tells the story of the dangerous Lista shores. Visit “Uggerbyskipet”, built in Norway in 1810, wrecked in Denmark in 1854. Dug up from the sand and brought to Listeskøyta Kystkultursenter. Study the open boat that helped four men escape to Scotland in during WW2.

(Images will come here)

Listeskøyta Coastal Culture Senter. From the exhibition hall.Boat building for children.