Jørgen Rytterager
Encyclopedia
Jørgen Rytterager was a Norwegian
farmer and public servant.
Born in Hole
, Buskerud
to a wealthy family, he married Anne Engebretsdatter Hovin (1813–1899) from Tyristrand
on 23 July 1837. Rytterager became a successful farmer in Buskerud, and had various positions in public service, amongst them elector
and arbitrator for Buskerud County. He nonetheless lost his fortune after a few unfortunate transactions in the summer of 1865.
When the Krøder Line, a branch line from the Randsfjord Line, was constructed in the early 1870s, Rytterager wanted to become station master
at the future Snarum Station
. On 14 March 1872, he sent a letter to the operations manager of the Randsfjord Line, asking for the position. He received a reply in a letter from the operations manager dated 28 September 1872, in which the manager approved Rytterager's application. He was officially appointed station master at a meeting on 26 November 1872, at the age of 63 years. His monthly salaries were 15 Norwegian speciedaler
per month, as well as free accommodation, lighting and heating and a new uniform each year. The uniform consisted of a trench coat, a hat with silver badge, single-breasted dress and west with flipped collar. In 1873, it was decided that all serving station masters should have a red strip around the bottom edge of the hat, so that passengers more easily could recognize the station master.
Rytterager's duties as a station master were ticket sale, freight expedition and supervision of logging at a side track at the station. From 20 March 1873, it was possible to send telegrams from Snarum Station. Rytterager sent telegrams to Vikersund Station
, in which he stated the arrival and departure dates of trains from Snarum Station. On 1 November 1873, a post office was opened at Snarum, where Rytterager was employed as post opener for customers. His salary was therefore increased from 15 to 18 speciedaler on 1 January 1874, and from 18 to 20 on 1 November 1875. After ten years in service, Rytterager retired from his positions at the station on 1 December 1882. He was succeeded by Olaus Strøm. He lived together with his wife a few years in the house of their eldest daughter, before they moved to their own house at Modum
. Here, Rytterager died on 17 March 1899 after he had fallen down a stairway in their house.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
farmer and public servant.
Born in Hole
Hole, Norway
Hole is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Ringerike. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Vik. Hole is located around lake Tyrifjorden and extends to the woodland around Oslo...
, Buskerud
Buskerud
is a county in Norway, bordering Akershus, Oslo, Oppland, Sogn og Fjordane, Hordaland, Telemark, and Vestfold. The county administration is located in Drammen.-Geography:...
to a wealthy family, he married Anne Engebretsdatter Hovin (1813–1899) from Tyristrand
Tyristrand
Tyristrand is a former municipality in Buskerud county, Norway.-Background:Tyristrand was created by a split from Hole on 1 July 1916. On 1 January 1964 Tyristrand was merged with the municipalities Hole, Hønefoss, Norderhov and Ådal to form the new municipality of Ringerike. Before the merger...
on 23 July 1837. Rytterager became a successful farmer in Buskerud, and had various positions in public service, amongst them elector
Electoral college
An electoral college is a set of electors who are selected to elect a candidate to a particular office. Often these represent different organizations or entities, with each organization or entity represented by a particular number of electors or with votes weighted in a particular way...
and arbitrator for Buskerud County. He nonetheless lost his fortune after a few unfortunate transactions in the summer of 1865.
When the Krøder Line, a branch line from the Randsfjord Line, was constructed in the early 1870s, Rytterager wanted to become station master
Station master
The station master was the person in charge of railway stations, in the United Kingdom and some other countries, before the modern age. He would manage the other station employees and would have responsibility for safety and the efficient running of the station...
at the future Snarum Station
Snarum Station
Snarum Station is a railway station on the Krøder Line in Buskerud, Norway. It was opened on 28 November 1872 and located in the village Snarum. The station house was designed by Georg Andreas Bull in Swiss chalet style. On 26 November 1872, farmer Jørgen Rytterager was appointed the first station...
. On 14 March 1872, he sent a letter to the operations manager of the Randsfjord Line, asking for the position. He received a reply in a letter from the operations manager dated 28 September 1872, in which the manager approved Rytterager's application. He was officially appointed station master at a meeting on 26 November 1872, at the age of 63 years. His monthly salaries were 15 Norwegian speciedaler
Norwegian speciedaler
The speciedaler was the currency of Norway between 1816 and 1875. It replaced the rigsdaler specie at par and was subdivided into 120 skilling . It was replaced by the Norwegian krone when Norway joined the Scandinavian Monetary Union...
per month, as well as free accommodation, lighting and heating and a new uniform each year. The uniform consisted of a trench coat, a hat with silver badge, single-breasted dress and west with flipped collar. In 1873, it was decided that all serving station masters should have a red strip around the bottom edge of the hat, so that passengers more easily could recognize the station master.
Rytterager's duties as a station master were ticket sale, freight expedition and supervision of logging at a side track at the station. From 20 March 1873, it was possible to send telegrams from Snarum Station. Rytterager sent telegrams to Vikersund Station
Vikersund Station
Vikersund Station is a railway station located at the village of Vikersund in Modum, Norway, on the railway Randsfjordbanen. The station is served by some express trains between Bergen and Oslo operated by Norges Statsbaner.-History:...
, in which he stated the arrival and departure dates of trains from Snarum Station. On 1 November 1873, a post office was opened at Snarum, where Rytterager was employed as post opener for customers. His salary was therefore increased from 15 to 18 speciedaler on 1 January 1874, and from 18 to 20 on 1 November 1875. After ten years in service, Rytterager retired from his positions at the station on 1 December 1882. He was succeeded by Olaus Strøm. He lived together with his wife a few years in the house of their eldest daughter, before they moved to their own house at Modum
Modum
Modum is a municipality in Buskerud county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hallingdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Vikersund. The municipality of Modum was established on 1 January 1838 .The area has a long tradition of skiing with several famous...
. Here, Rytterager died on 17 March 1899 after he had fallen down a stairway in their house.