Edvard Liljedahl

Agriculture

When he overtook the property, the Havnen farm consisted of only a barn, a summer cow barn, and a bathhouse. He had to build a farmhouse, cow barn, and a stall. Edvard cultivated more land in Havnen and planted a large number of fruit trees (about 250) of which about half were pear and the rest apple and cherry trees. These trees became an important source of income in Havnen.

In addition to Røitehola which had been cleared and planted with fruit trees, he also had another farm in Østrem which he sold, and an additional farm farther out in Sogn.

In 1904 after his postmaster days were over, he went back to Kyrkjebø to live at the Røitehola property, and immediately purchased more land which he cultivated. After his employment as postmaster in Ålesund he purchased the Vågenes farm in Borgund, but quickly sold it to his brother-in-law Magnus Ramslie, who was from Vangsnes. He then purchased the Spjelkavik farm, which was a large farm with several cottages, many forests, and mountain bodies of water. It ended up being too large and expensive to operate, so he sold it after a few years, and moved from Ålesund to Bergen.

Contributing to his different farm purchases was his interest in fresh water fishing and hunting. He started fisheries in many lakes in Sogn and also in the large lake of Uldalsvatn in Kyrkjebø. He also founded the Spjelkavik yarn and fish net factory, which grew to be a large business which contributed to the construction of many buildings and homes in the area.

Education and church

In 1868 the Kyrkjebø district opened its first school, which still stands. At the dedication of the school some songs were sung that Liljedahl had written. He has written many songs. One of them is printed in Nordahl Rolfsens school books. He also wrote a newspaper column in the local press about people. In Kyrkjebø he helped many people in writing legal papers and took care of their legal matters while he worked for the justice of the peace. A colleague who attended school with Edvard Liljedahl in the year 1876 wrote: 'He was a pleasant man, full of life and desire. I was amazed at how the children clung to him with such high affection and respect." Those who had him as a teacher, say that he was unusually serious in school. He carried out his parish clerk duties in a deserving and honorable way, that left a valuable impression. Many who remember his conversations with the youth on the church floor can still repeat portions of them.

When the weather was bad and the pastor could not come from Lavik, Liljedahl spoke from his front porch to the congregation.

He was a Commander of the Order of St. Olav, a Grand Cross of Legion of Honour, and a Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star.

Hobbies

Edvard Liljedahl was an outdoorsman. During his free time he went to the mountains to hunt and fish. At that time there was no fish in Uldalsvatn. His brother-in-law, merchant Andreas Ramslie, introduced fish to Uldalsvatn. This later became a source of income for Edvard Liljedahl.

Gardening

Edvard Liljedahl was very interested in gardening. He had planted many plants and started many gardens in Sogn, including the parish garden in Eivindik [actually his father, Apolonius]. Liljedahl first went through Balestrand Teachers School and later the Stord Seminary. He also taught school in Leikanger for one year. He was an office clerk for a justice of the peace. In 1867 he was a teacher in Kyrkjebø.