Ormsund Rowing Club | Skeivt Arkiv

Ormsund Rowing Club

Ormsund Rowing Club, 1935. Photo: Oslo Museum, Historical Collection
Ormsund Rowing Club, 1935. Photo: Oslo Museum, Historical Collection

Translator's Note: This is a machine-assisted translation completed on March 11, 2025. While care has been taken to maintain accuracy, this translation has not yet undergone human review or validation. Please note that specialized terms, historical references, and nuanced content may benefit from expert review.

In the 1950s and 60s, DNF-48 hosted parties at the premises of Ormsund Rowing Club, located on Ormøya near Bekkelaget in Oslo.

Discretion was important here, and Kim Friele, in her autobiographical book Trolls Must Be Tamed (1990), described how she followed some individuals she suspected to be homosexuals and arrived at the clubhouse on Ormøya, only to be turned away at the door because she was not a member—or recommended by a member. The second time she visited, things went better; by a fortunate coincidence, she had become acquainted with one of the Association's members, Mogens, who could bring her along. Friele described the experience as follows:

Ormsund Rowing Club, which concealed 'The Association for Town and Country,' resembled a West Norwegian prayer house. Inside a large cloakroom was a square room where dancing, eating, and drinking took place. To the left of the main hall was a smaller room, where a narrow bar counter stretched from wall to wall. The clubhouse faced Sjursøya. The evening's hostess, board member Else Pettersen (pseudonym), welcomed me, said 'hello' to Mogens, and marked a red cross by my name in the guestbook.

Later, however, the Association was informed that their lease agreement with Ormsund Rowing Club would not be renewed; a jazz club could pay more in rent. But there was no reason for despair—DNF had already secured new premises at Snarøya Sports Club. A new chapter in the history of queer nightlife was about to begin.

Sources:

Friele, Karen-Christine. 1990. Troll skal temmes. Oslo: Hjemmets bokforlag.