City tour Lilleputthammer

Lilleputthammer is a miniature version of Lillehammer’s famous main street, Storgata, with many of the historical stores and businesses that were in Lillehammer in the 1930s. Most of the buildings and some of the businesses are still in operation in Storgata today.

Below we have described some of the history behind the various buildings and sites in Lillehammer.

Lillehammer belongs to the so-called ”planned cities”, and on 7 August 1827, the Norwegian government founded the city by official decree. The actual h2iding up of the city into lots did not take place until 1828, however, and Road Inspector C. Buchholz`s plan and building bye-laws were adopted by Royal Resolution on 7 July 1828. The building bye-laws stipulated criteria for construction, as well as for the width of streets and sidewalks. Among the stipulations was a rule that the corner of buildings had to be “rounded” and at least about 10 feet wide. The result of this stipulation is easily visible in Lillehammer today.

Building practices in Lillehammer in the early 19th century are a testimony to an age of modesty and demure. Even so, if you look closely, there are a number of interesting and enjoyable architectural details for you to discover.

Storgata 31 – Wiesegården

The building is from the oldest period in Lillehammer's history, and was built in the Empire style by storekeeper Ludvik Wiese. Half of the ground floor was used as a store, and on the first floor there was a large hall where Wiese held a major Christmas ball annually with up to several hundred guests from Lillehammer and the surrounding villages.

Storgata 32 – Astrupgården

This two-storey log building was built with vertical panelling in a characteristic urban Gothic style with elements of an earlier Dragon style of architecture. The building is a good example of the typical and showy building tradition popular in the last half of the last century.

Storgata 35

A small two-storey house built in the 1850s. The former owner was baker O. F. Myhre, who ran his bakery in the rear court. The house was later acquired by storekeeper Martin Nielsen.

Storgata 36

This building was built in the late Empire style of architecture. The windows on the ground floor are an early example of “shop windows”.

Storgata 41

This Swiss-style building was built by storekeeper Rolf Bjørke around the year 1900.

Storgata 42

This Swiss-style building has been the site of commercial trading for more than a century. In the beginning of the 1900s, Netta Olsen traded white goods at this site. Later the shop was acquired by Helene Forberg, and in 1921 Ivar Rønning opened a textile shop at the site.

Storgata 46 – Raabe-gården

This site was named after gardener Raabe, who sold flowers and vegetables at the site for years. The well-known artist and pipe manufacturer Gudbrand Larsen moved into the building in 1844.

Storgata 48

”Politi Larsen” (police officer Sigvard Larsen) lived in this house, and the local jail complete with barred windows could be visited in the rear court.

Storgata 45

A log building embellished with bricks was constructed at this address in the 1850s. It became known as Baumannsgården after the county physician Ludvig Adolf Bauman, who served as a physician in Lillehammer from 1858-78. The Promenade Café was on the ground floor.

Storgata 49 – Julingården

This building was built by storekeeper Hove in 1846. The building has taken the name of the Julin family who owned the property from 1868 to 1911. The founder of Maihaugen, Anders Sandvig, rented a room from the Julin Family when he arrived in Lillehammer in 1885. He lived at this house and ran his dental practice up until 1894. Julingården has now been rebuilt at Maihaugen.

Storgata 51 – Gundersengården

In 1845, the Gausdøl Simen Gundersen ran one of the most popular country stores in Lillehammer at this site. The Gundersengården has now been rebuilt at Maihaugen.

Storgata 54 – Salvesengården

Mr. Salvesen ran his stationery business from this site starting around 1900. A goldsmith also had a shop at the same address at about the same time. Neither of the two businessmen lived here in this building though. The apartment on the first floor served as a residence for a carpenter and his family. A carpenter’s workshop was established in the rear court. The Salvesengården has been rebuilt at Maihaugen.

Storgata 55 - Bøhmergården

This brick building was erected in 1855 by banker Nikolai Gunnerius Bøhmer.

Storgata 60 - Kjølstadgården

This building designed in the Empire style of architecture was built by Dr. Gunder Nilsen Kjølstad. (Kjølstadgården burned down in 1961).

Storgata 62 – Bergsenghjørnet

Thor Bergseng & Co is a two-storey Empire-style building featuring horizontal panelling and a very characteristic roof. The business was started in 1841 by Arne Bergseng, who ran a regular country store, and the business is still in the family’s possession.

Storgata 61 – Olstadgården

This site served as a popular destination for shoppers in Lillehammer in earlier times. Mr. A. G. Olstad ran a successful business here starting in 1842.

Storgata 64 – Nordstrandgården

This building has had a number of owners, and the original farmhouse has served a wide range of functions down through the years, from a bed & breakfast and a barbershop to a milliner’s (hats) and a sausage factory.

Storgata 65-67 – Thorstadgården

This two-storey Empire-style log building was owned by Anders Thorstad from Brøttum who started a country store here in 1837. Thorstadbutikken was in earlier times one of the most well-known country stores in Lillehammer.

Storgata 69 – Iversengården

This two-storey log building featuring horizontal panelling features a characteristic Lillehammer roof.

Storgata 72

Storekeeper Chr. Andersen ran a successful business here at this site. In the rear court, he processed tobacco, manufactured casings and printed labels.

Storgata 73 –75 – Mæhlums bakeri og Helleberggården

These two historical Lillehammer buildings burned down and were rebuilt in 1984.

Storgata 74

The goldsmith J. Frisenberg is one of the city’s oldest craft businesses still in operation today. The building features many architectural elements inspired from the neoclassicism style of architecture.

Storgata 78

H. Avlangrud grocery store: this business was established by Niels Evensen in 1854. Hans Thv. Avlangrud (1883-1974) purchased the building and the business in the summer of 1912. Later his daughter Elise (1904-1998) took over the business together with Hans H. Avlangrud (1911-1998). The business specialised in ”finer groceries”, and coffee was one of their specialities. The business was closed in 1994 and has now been rebuilt at Maihaugen.

Storgata 81

This building was formerly one of the most famous shops in all of Lillehammer. You could purchase alcohol at this site, and the grand hall ”Listadsalen” on the first floor was a popular site for social gatherings.

Storgata 84 – Victoria Hotell

This hotel has a history of offering travellers accommodation as far back as the 1870

Source: Vandreboka for Fåberg og Lillehammer; revised edition issued in 1991 by Fåberg Historielag.