The association Lapphellas Venner was established in 1983, and aims to preserve and take stock of the old wooden houses on Lapphella.
Lapphellas Venner owns Isakhuset, Gunvor Johnsen Huset and Roghellskøtet. Otherwise, three families live permanently in one house and two piers, while two of the piers are used as holiday homes. Hemnes municipality owns a house and a churchyard that is managed by Helgeland Museum, and in addition there is a churchyard in private ownership.
Since its inception, the Friends of Lapphella have had three visions:
- Preserve the unique settlement for posterity.
- Restore houses and piers.
- Facilitate cultural activities in the area.
They have succeeded in all of this! Thanks to the persistent efforts of Lapphella's friends, the building has been granted conservation status in the current zoning plan. The house, piers and outdoor area have been renovated with a lot of volunteer effort and some public support. Lapphella has long served as a cultural arena for festivals, concerts, film shoots, church services, markets and more, and in 2021 a new cultural scene opened well integrated into the rest of the building.
Millennium Place
In 2000, Lapphella was chosen as Hemnes municipality's millennium site. The criteria for choosing a millennium site state that this should be a common property for all the inhabitants of a municipality. The site should have a thousand-year history, a present and a future, and with its church arches and piers, the inhabitants of Hemnes have had a connection to the Lapphella area for generations.
An enormous effort has been made by today's generation that will delight many generations far into the future!
