# Holt, Aust-Agder

Holt is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county in Norway. The 176-square-kilometre (68 sq mi) municipality existed from 1838 until its dissolution in 1960 when it was merged into the present-day municipality of Tvedestrand which is now in Agder county. The administrative centre of Holt was located just south of the village of Fiane where Holt Church is located.
Holt Church probably dates from the twelfth century and has an ancient baptismal font. The interior was decorated by Torsten Hoff. The Nordkalottruta trail runs through the Holt area in Tvedestrand.

## History

The parish of Holt was established as a civil municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law). According to the 1835 census, the municipality had a population of 3,116.
On 1 January 1881, a part of Holt with 52 inhabitants was moved to the neighboring municipality of Dypvåg, and on 1 July 1919 another part of Holt with 14 inhabitants was moved to the neighboring municipality of Moland. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1960, the municipalities of Holt (population: 3,759) and Dypvåg (population: 1,805) plus the town of Tvedestrand (population: 868) were merged to form an enlarged municipality of Tvedestrand.

### Name

The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Holt farm (Old Norse: Holt) since the first Holt Church was built there. The name is identical to the word holt which means "small forested area" or "grove (of trees)".

## Government

While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.

### Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Holt:
* 1838-1842: Jacob Aall
* 1838-1842: Andreas Faye
* 1842-1843: Andreas Faye
* 1844-1847: Lars Jonsen
* 1848-1849: Halvor T. Skjerkholt
* 1850-1853: Reier T. Lilleholt
* 1854-1857: Halvor T. Skjerkholt
* 1858-1861: Reier T. Lilleholt
* 1861-1865: Halvor T. Skjerkholt
* 1866-1866: Tor Reiersen Lilleholt
* 1866-1867: Peder Christensen Goderstad
* 1868-1869: Ole Torjesen Goderstad
* 1870-1871: Torbjørn T. Bjelland
* 1872-1875: Halvor H. Lunde
* 1876-1879: Torbjørn T. Bjelland
* 1880-1883: Lars Albretsen Myklebustad
* 1883-1887: Torjus Albretsen Myklebustad
* 1887-1891: Ole E. Grændsen
* 1891-1892: Lars Albretsen Myklebustad
* 1893-1901: Ole E. Grændsen
* 1902-1904: Torjus H. Skjerkholt
* 1905-1907: Ole E. Grændsen
* 1908-1910: Torjus H. Skjerkholt
* 1911-1913: Peder Tengelsen Langang
* 1914-1916: Torjus H. Skjerkholt
* 1917-1925: Stian Erichsen
* 1926-1937: Grunde O. Gliddi
* 1938-1838: Halvor T. Skjerkholt
* 1938-1940: Thoralf Skjerkholt
* 1946-1947: Søren Sørensen
* 1948-1951: Erik Solberg
* 1952-1959: Frithjof Bjørnstad

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Holt was made up of 21 representatives that were elected to four year terms. The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.
Holt herredsstyre 1956–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 4 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Holt herredsstyre 1952–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Holt herredsstyre 1948–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 3 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 3 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Holt herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 1 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 5 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 2 |
| | Joint list of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Radical People's Party (Radikale Folkepartiet) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
Holt herredsstyre 1938–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Farmers' Party (Bondepartiet) | 4 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 5 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 20 |
| Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. |||

## Attractions
### Holt Church

Holt Church (Holt Kirke) is a cruciform church dating from the 1100s. The medieval-era church was constructed of stone. In 1753, it was expanded. The extension, choir and transepts were built of wood. The rebuilt church was also equipped with a chancel arch, decorated in the rococo style. The church has a baptismal font made out of soapstone, carved in high Gothic style. The Baroque altarpiece from 1732 is carved with a painting of Jesus in Gethsemane.

## Notable people

* Aasulv Olsen Bryggesaa, a local politician
* Helga Gitmark, a local politician
* Harald Selås, a local politician
* Torje Olsen Solberg, a local politician