After being stranded on their little island at Struten Lighthouse in stormy climate with the waves crashing in, a lady succumbed to her sickness and has since then been haunting it, nonetheless ready for the assistance that by no means got here.
Far out at sea past Hvaler, Østfold, the place the Skagerrak turns unforgiving and the horizon feels infinite, lies a small volcanic island referred to as Struten. The island is topped by an deserted lighthouse that ought to, by all logic, be darkish and silent. At night time, its gentle nonetheless shines throughout the water, guiding ships away from hidden reefs.
Learn Extra: Take a look at all ghost tales from Norway
Right now, the lighthouse is a part of the coastal path within the Oslofjord, with choices for in a single day stays. And when darkness deepens, the island reveals one thing else.
An island born of shipwrecks
The waters between Hankø and Hvaler have lengthy been feared by sailors. Storms rise shortly, currents shift with out warning, and numerous ships as soon as met their finish on unseen rocks. So many lives had been misplaced that public strain finally compelled authorities to behave.
Within the autumn of 1904, the barque “Sir John Lawrence” went down at Struten, and your complete crew of 13 perished. The wreck was situated in 1997 and is taken into account a marine archaeological discover of nice curiosity. A proposal has been made to depart the wreck untouched as an “underwater museum”. The tragic sinking led to the demand from the seamen’s associations being made once more. Now the matter gained momentum and a lighthouse station was constructed at Struten throughout 1906/07. Within the autumn of 1907, Struten Lighthouse was accomplished and put into service.
Fyrvokter Fredrik Nannestad arrived from Kristiania along with his spouse Albertine Marie and their two sons, Fredrik and Arthur. Collectively, they had been entrusted with protecting the paraffin lamps burning in order that no extra vessels could be claimed by the ocean.
A lifetime of isolation
Life on Struten was harsh and lonely. The household labored in shifts by means of the night time, seven days per week. There was no phone. No motorboat. No faculty for the kids. Their solely common contact with the skin world was the mail boat, which arrived each different week if climate allowed.
In case of emergency, they got one lifeline. If assist was wanted, a black balloon was to be raised on the flagpole. Somebody on the mainland would see it. Assist would come.
The winter of 1910 was unusually brutal. Storm after storm battered the island all through February, slicing the household off utterly. Waves smashed towards the rocks. Wind screamed across the lighthouse tower.
Albertine fell gravely unwell. She burned with fever, coughing blood and mucus as her power pale. Fredrik did every little thing he may. Because the storm howled, he tried repeatedly to boost the emergency balloon. Every time, the wind tore it free.
Finally, he managed to safe the black balloon to the flagpole. It fluttered wildly within the storm, a silent cry for assist. However nobody on land noticed it, or they did, nevertheless it was per week till they might get a ship out to see what was occurring.
For days, Albertine lay dying whereas the lighthouse continued its obligation. When the climate lastly calmed a full week later, a rescue celebration was despatched. They arrived too late. Albertine Marie Nannestad had been lifeless for a number of days. The physician later decided she had suffered from tuberculosis, a lethal and contagious lung illness.
A tragedy that echoed
Albertine was buried within the metropolis. The very subsequent day, Fredrik and his sons had been required to return to Struten and resume their duties.
The story shook your complete area. Locals started calling the lighthouse Djævleø-Fyre, the Satan Island Lighthouse. Newspapers wrote of the tragedy for days.
That very same autumn, the eldest son died from a coronary heart situation. The youngest left for America as quickly as he was sufficiently old. Fredrik remained alone on Struten till retirement, watching the sunshine burn the place his household had as soon as lived.
A presence that by no means left
Struten Lighthouse was automated in 1985. Since then, nobody has lived on the island.
Many report listening to footsteps within the steep spiral staircase main up the lighthouse, even when they’re utterly alone. Others have seen the shadow of a lady shifting silently throughout the island, her determine fading earlier than they will method.
Each night time, because the previous wall clock within the keeper’s residence nears quarter to eleven, she is claimed to start her rounds. She is commonly seen close to the flagpole. It is usually mentioned that the boulder on the north aspect turns each Thursday at midnight.
Since Struten Lighthouse was opened to vacationers, witnesses declare she seems each single night. Within the fading gentle, a lady stands by the flagpole, scanning the horizon. At Struten, the lighthouse nonetheless does its job. And beside it, a keeper’s spouse nonetheless waits for assist that’s greater than a century too late.
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References:
DEN FORTVILTE FYRVOKTERKONA på Struten fyr på Hvaler – Issuu
https://laguide.no/utstillinglindesnesfyr/norgesfyr/struten/dynamic-no.htm
Fredrikstad-spøkelser: andre spøkesteder
