By Kjell Jakobsen
translated by Mark A. Bigelow
Norsk
As with other norwegian communities, so begins the history of Vefsn township by political resolution in 1837. The new municipal authority, the Council of Aldermen, came into being in 1838. The townships first mayor was the parish pastor Christian Qvale.
The new township, as an administrative unit, was actually a continuation of the much older Vefsn parish and Vefsn judicial district, both with origins in the middle ages. The municipality of 1838 was much larger than it is today, app. 6,500 km2. The population was around 4,100. Hattfjelldal (in 1862) and Grane (in 1927) later became townships in their own right. Mosjøen was granted municipal status in 1874 and was a municipality from 1865-1961.
The economic base at the time was primarily agriculture, both pastoral and field farming, which consisted mainly of grain and potato cultivation. Most farmers were tenant farmers as the majority of the land was privately owned by those living outside the district or in the hands of institutions or estate owners. The richly forested areas of Vefsn were also a valuable resource and were utilized extensively in combination with farming. For the Lapp population of Vefsn, the tending of reindeer was the most important activity.
In addition, fishing played an improtant role in the early development of Vefsn. The "Lofoten" fleet in 1860 had approximately 200 "fembøringer" (a "fembøring" is a boat with 5 pairs of oars) manned with over 100 men, though after this time the fleet quickly dwindled in size.
Early on, with regards to northern norwegian conditions, Vefsn gained insight into the large, modern industry. This came about in 1866-67 with the modern, steam-driven sawmill that a british firm established at Halsøya. The sawmill utilized lumber from its own properties in Grane and Hattfjelldal, which the company had purchased in 1865. This was a large operation that at best employed almost 900 workers, with some 200 of these at the sawmill itself.
Unfortunately the sawmill existed for only 20 years, but forestry and timber processing has always played an important part in the economy of Vefsn. This is best represented by Nes Trelastbruk. This firm began modestly in 1874 and in 1902 moved to Halsøya, where it rapidly expanded operation. There were also many other smaller firms in the timber and woodworking trade that have played a large role in the economic and business life of Vefsn. One of these, the boat building firm N. Skandfers of Kulstadsjøen, had at one time a workforce of 70 and was quite instrumental in the modernization of the local fishing fleet. Therefore, when in the 1950’s Vefsn experienced a new growth of large industry (aluminum works, textile factory), this was nothing that was fundamentally new for the district.
Until the middle of the 1800’s, there was no real district center in Vefsn. Dolstad, with its church and vicarage, and Kulstadsjøen, with its commercial base, were central areas since the 1600’s. There were also many "sjøer", that is, places that were merely an assemblage of boat-houses that belonged to the farms and estates of the nearby area that, in the course of time, established firm settlements of their own. One of these places was Mosjøen, which since 1780-90 was actually two seperate commercial areas.
From around 1850 and especially during the 1860’s, Mosjøen rapidly developed into the undisputed center of the district of Vefsn. Mosjøen, with a population of 774, was granted municipal status in 1865. Though this was a relatively small city - population didn’t reach 2,000 until the 1930’s - there was quickly established a well organized community. Through Mosjøen and an improved school system, local associations, public institutions and services, the sensation of the modern, urbane society was channeled out through the district. The oldest neighborhood, Sjøgata, has in later times been completely renovated and is now a protected area.
The building of the main road system in Vefsn began in the 1860’s with emphasis towards the north and the Rana district, though it took many years before connections south to Trøndelag were complete. This happened first in 1924. In the meantime there had been much campaigning to build the Nordland railroad. Parliament, in 1923, approved extending the rail system from the Trøndelag district northwards to Bodø. In connection with the ongoing work along the Grong-Mosjøen rail section, the main quay structure in Mosjøen was built. The rail line from the south to Mosjøen was opened for service in 1940 as work continued north to Bodø.
Mosjøen and the Vefsn district were fortunate to come out of World War II and the occupation years relatively unscathed. During this time, however, the resistance front was quite extensive which resulted in hundreds of arrests and numerous executions.
Throughout history the river Vefsna has played a major role in the development of the district. Not only as a means of transport for boat traffic and timber running, which began in earnest in the 1860’s, but also as a means of recreation for the population of Vefsn and Mosjøen. The river has always been a good source of salmon and the first recreational fishermen from Great Britain began appearing in numbers in the 1850’s. They were to leave their stamp on the social environment for years to come.