– We have gone out widely with this property, and received a lot of inquiries from large parts of the country.
This is what housing broker Fred Johansen at Privatmegleren Hammerfest says. He has taken on the task of selling a rather unique property – namely Langstrand boarding school on the island of Sørøya in Western Finnmark.
Some will call it a pearl in the middle of the butter’s eye – others a thorn in the side.
The property has a usable area of 2,702 square metres, divided into no less than 139 rooms.
According to the housing advertisement, it appears partly as a “time capsule from the boarding school era in the 50s and 60s”, with nostalgia and a unique history.
TIME CAPSULE: Here you can have your own classroom, fully furnished. Photo: Private broker Hammerfest
60 children
Boarding schools are student homes for children and young people who cannot live at home during school. They were used, and are used, in areas with scattered populations; pupils can gather in boarding schools, where they live and receive education in the same place.
In the opening year 1954, Langstrand boarding school accepted 60 children.
In 2019, the newspaper wrote The hammer fastening about Kjell Håvard Næss, who had his first teaching job at the school in 1964.
LIGHT IN THE HOUSE: In 1964, Kjell Håvard Næss came to Langstrand to work as a teacher. – It was a fantastic year, Næss told the newspaper Hammerfestingen in 2019. Photo: Facsimile from Hammerfestingen
– It was a fantastic year, said Næss, who drove 190 miles to get from Vestfold up to Sørøya.
Here he was one of three teachers at the school.
INTERNATLIV: The pictures are from an article in the newspaper Hammerfestingen in 2019. Teacher Kjell Håvard Næss at the bottom Photo: Facsimile from Hammerfestingen
– I have not had a teaching position that has made such a strong impression on me since, said Næss.
“A lot of bullshit”
Boarding life probably did not turn out as fantastically for all students at these schools, and there are many stories about this.
– (…) there are probably many children who feel that they have been subjected to abuse, both physically, psychologically and sexually, there was a lot of bullshit. But I just have to ask what was the alternative, there was no alternative. It was not possible to build schools everywhere, said author Ingjerd Tjelle in an interview with The daily newspaper in 2022.
Renovation object
The asking price for the old school is NOK 1.75 million.
“Gitt förr pængan”, some might say – but the need for renovation is great for the building, which has been used as a private holiday home since the school was closed in the 70s.
Although some of the building stock has been refurbished and decorated, there are still furnished classrooms, nostalgic wash basins and even an old dentist’s chair left in the old boarding rooms.
GAP OPP: An old dentist’s chair is among the items you can secure at Langstrand boarding school. Photo: Private broker Hammerfest
OLD DAYS: The picture shows the laundry room in the basement. Photo: Private broker Hammerfest
WASH THEIR HANDS: The bathroom oozes nostalgia and sobriety. – Photo: Privatmegleren Hammerfest
TIME CAPSULE: Here you can have your own classroom, fully furnished. Photo: Private broker Hammerfest
– All fixtures are included in the purchase, says broker Johansen.
– Who do you think would be interested in such a building?
– Anyone, really. The entrance ticket is relatively low – but the person who buys this must at least have both courage and muscle, says the broker.
Reindeer driving Sami and entrepreneurs
Around 20 people from large parts of the country have expressed their interest in the property.
THE BROKER: Housing broker Frank Johansen from Privatmegleren Hammerfest has taken on the task of selling Langstrand boarding school Photo: Rino Engdal
According to Johansen, we are talking about both local businesses, reindeer herders and private individuals looking for a holiday home in wild and beautiful nature.
– We have also been in contact with some entrepreneurs who want to start a data park, says Johansen.
The broker has also made up his own mind about what the property can be used for.
– It could be a perfect place for filming out there, he believes.
Optimist
Mayor Terje Wikstrøm (Ap) in Hammerfest municipality tells TV 2 that a sale of the boarding school could perhaps trigger activity in the small village, which has many holiday homes, but only four permanent residents.
– We want people to be able to live where they want. And here there may be some exciting opportunities with a new owner – for example a tourism company, says Wikstrøm.
OPTIMIST: Hammerfest mayor Terje Wikstrøm (Ap) thinks people should be allowed to live where they want. Photo: Hammerfest municipality
– There are large, beautiful areas with sea and mountains and great opportunities for both fishing and scooter riding on approved trails, says the mayor.
However, getting to Sørøya is not easy, according to the mayor. You must either have your own boat, or use the county municipal “village route” from Hammerfest.
– It runs four times a week, and the offer is getting worse and worse, he says.
