Breidablik (“Broad Shining”) Baldr’s and Nanna’s hall in Asgard; a magnificent palace. No unclean thing is permitted to be there.

Breidablik- (Broad Splendor) Balder’s hall in Asgard.

Balder Balder Baldur (bal-der)-(“The Bright One”) Æsir son of Odin and Frigga, who was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe sot by the blind God Hodor.  Known as the Shining God; the Bleeding God.  Sacred wells sprang from the hoof marks of his horse.  He represents light, advice, reconciliation, beauty, gentleness, reincarnation, wisdom, harmony, happiness..

The North Kitsap area was settled by Europeans in 1853 with the establishment of the Pope and Talbot Saw Mill in Port Gamble.  With the timber and logging industry growing, settlers discovered the beauty and rich natural resources of the area.  The first settlers at Dogfish Bay (Liberty Bay) in Poulsbo were mainly from the Scandinavian countries, especially Norway.  The area resembled the fjords of Norway with the evergreens reaching to the waters edge and the abundant fishing resources.

The first school in Breidablik area, just north of downtown Poulsbo, began with a donation of land from Gilbert Paulson, one of the original settlers in the area.  Gilbert donated the land in 1893 with the use to be “dictated” at a later date.  A community election was held to decide on the Play Yard and Cemetery.  The original land is located on Highway 3 approximately 1 mile east of the current school building.  On May 06, 1893 a meeting was held to determine the size of the school.  The original school was 20x22’.  Volunteers pitched in to clear the land.  Two local landowners built the school which cost $240.00 for labor and timber.  By summer 1894 the school was completed.

In September 1894 the first school in the Breidablik area opened its doors to the children of the area.  In ten years, by 1904 the original school was too small for the budding student body.  The community was growing and a vote was taken to either build an extension or a new school. The majority voted for a new school.  The old school was sold to the Woodman of America Camp #9237 for $95.00 and became know as Woodman Hall.  It still stands on the site in which it was moved in 1906.  The new school measured 26x40’ and was two stories.  The first level was completed in the fall of 1904.  The monthly pay for the one teacher was $45.00.  The second floor was completed in 1906 and the grades were divided and the school year increased to eight months.  Secondary grades occupied the top color and primary occupied the first.  Two teachers were employed by the school. This was a major change for the school which until then was a one room, one teacher school.  Running water was non-existent at the school.  Memories recall the boys had to haul water from the Montgomery well to the school.  On hot days everyone shared a common in dipper with the girls being presumably last.  The school yard had four buildings:  The two story school house, wood shed and two outhouses.

Many students had over two mile commutes on foot in the early days.  One student described her travails:  “We were always facing some problems to and from school.  We walked from Big Valley westward to the Breidablik School.  It was only about two miles but I was up-hill practically all the way.   We had to walk through pasture, then walked a trail and logging road through the woods.  In the fall of the year we were always on the lookout for a mare dragging a chain on her foot.  And the, how were we to escape the bull coming toward us?  Some of the children would take to the trees, others would climb stumps.”

By 1923 the high school students were “bused” to Poulsbo Union High School (Bused on transformed open bed truck with one bench on each side of the bed)  Inn 1930 the Breidablik School district was consolidated into the North Kitsap School District (current).

The Breidablik School was closed in 1942.  In the late 1980’s longtime resident Bertha Criss sold 13 acres of prime real estate to the North Kitsap School District to establish an elementary school  The current Breidablik school (taking its name from the area and original school) opened its doors to a full student body of Kindergarten-Sixth grade in the fall of 1990. 

Bibliography:

The Way It Was Kitsap Schools; Kitsap County Retired Teachers 1997.  Published by Kitsap County Retired Teacher Association.

Bernice Denton-Longtime resident, daughter of Bertha Criss.  Also known as “Mayor of Breidablik”