Our hometown

Strømmen grew up around the water sawmills by the river "Sagelva". This river falls through small rapids and waterfalls down to "Skjervagapet" where it meets the river "Nitelva". There were sawmills here since the 16. century. 

The name "Strømmen" is first mentioned in 1640.

Timber from vast areas of eastern Norway was floated to "Sagelva". The finished planks were then driven to Christiania (Oslo). At the most 2000 horsecarriages were trafficing the road "Strømsveien", so it could be quite a rush even at that time. Around the year 1680 about 20 sawmills were busy. Along "Sagelva" it is now planned for an environmental and historical park. 

In 1852 the railroad reached Strømmen, and the planks got a new way of transport. But soon the water sawmills were out competed by saws driven by steam. The railroad station also were responsible for the postal services and had a telegraph station.

Strømmens Værksted, 1900.

"Strømmens Værksted" was built in 1873 at "Sagelva". This company produced railroad carriages and owens, and later other articles like stoves and dairy machines. The company established a steel foundry in 1903, and an electro steel factory, "Strømmen Staal", in 1924. 

"The Strømmen-bus" from 1949 was the first bus in the world to be built in aluminium alloy. There also were car production here. When "Strømmen Staal" was closed in 1978, the greatest employer of Strømmen disappeared. 
"Strømmens værksted" still produces railroad carriages, and is now a part of ABB Adtranz.

"Strømmen Trævarefabrikk" meant a lot for Strømmen in the period following the saw mills. The factory opened in 1884 with 30 employees. Exporting doors, windows and wooden lists was the basis of the production. Later they produced prepared houses. The houses were mounted inside a large building, then taken apart and delivered all around the world. Carpenters from Strømmen followed all deliveries. The company took part in the rebuilding of Messina, after the major earthquake in 1908, when more than 80000 people were killed.

Director Hauge in his T-Ford in 1928.

The houses from "Strømmen Trævarefabrikk" had characteristic Swiss style, and such houses are still preserved in Norway. 

Some railroad stations, and Kjeller airfield from 1912 are among the buildings raised by this company. 

Two major fires during twenty years damaged most of the company. Yet trademarks like the "Strømmen window" and the "Strømmen terrace door" are well known until the company was closed in 1990.

In January 1999 the worlds southernmost, Lutheran church, originally built by "Strømmen Trævarefabrikk" was reopened. It is located on the British island of South-Georgia. For several generations Norwegians went to this island to participate in the whaling. The church was built in 1913. Since the last Norwegian left the place in 1964, wind and weather corroded the building. Several Norwegian foundations and authorities have financed the restoring of the church in Grytvika, on appeal from the archbishop of Canterbury.

Strømmen's own Church was inaugurated in 1929. The site was given by "Strømmen Trævarefabrikk", which also gave NOK 45000 of it's profit to the church. 

At the start in 1923 they only could afford walls and no roof, despite of several fairs to add to the budget. In 1927 the community took over the building, and it was finished in 1929.

Strømmen Church

Partly in the premises of "Strømmen Staal" the Shoppingcentre "Strømmen Storsenter" is situated. This is one of the largest shoppingcentres in Norway, with a yearly trade of almost NOK 1,3 billion.

Some of the interior from the steel production are preserved in the buildings, and creates a certain atmosphere. Two cultural institutions are also situated here. Those are "Akershus Culturecentre" and the Motor museum. "Akershus County museum" recently moved to another place in Strømmen.

Shopping in Strømmen earlier took place along the length of the main street "Strømsveien". In 1985 the mentioned shoppingcentre opened, and with it's 15000 m2 the shopping area of Strømmen was more than doubled in size. The shoppingcentre has later added another 10000 m2 to it's area, and a new parking area combined with more shops is now increasing this once more. This of course leads much traffic to this characteristic, suburban, villa area, with only about 8000 inhabitants. In August 1998, a new road solution with the main road in a tunnel, meant essentially less traffic.

A traditional building,
Sagdalen school of 1919.