Picture: It was probably not how the animals got the water served in 1780, but rather in an well below the houses. The area here has been named "Smørbekken". The name originates from the time the farmers at Sakshaug had a "drinking station" here on their way to and from summer grazing on Nordfjellet. Then those who lived on the site received butter in return.
Stene
The highest point of the property. It was in the year 1886 that the property was named Stene.
Mortinus Petterson Melhus married the daughter (Ingeborg Margrete) from the place, which until then had been a homestead under Kvam nedre.
Mortinus and Ingeborg bought the place and called it "Stene", they also took Stene as family name. As a homestead, the place also got the nickname "Smørbekken". Towards the end of the 1890s, Mortinus and Ingeborg also bought the neighboring farm «Skogen», as additional land.
So one may ask how the young people could afford to buy land and houses at that time?
Mortinus was of German military lineage (Bruneck), and military commander at the time had good pay. There were many of them who bought farms in several places on Inderøy. Mortinus' father bought Litle Ulven. The grandfather had a farm on Frosta, and stated that he had had 2 wives and 24 children, of which 8 sons in military service!
It is the same family that has been here since the 1780s when the place was first cleared as a homestead, and until today. As previously mentioned, the place was referred to as "Smørbekken" (1780-1886). The name originates from the time the farmers at Sakshaug were supposed to have the cattle grazing on «Nordfjellet». Then they led the animals to the north side of the village where there was a boat ride across the fjord. But the animals had to have water along the way, and here there was an well that was never empty. When they returned in the autumn, they also stopped by this drinking station. Then those who lived on the site received butter in return. Hence the name: «Smørbekken» (Butter creek).