Building of the Norwegian Grade from Conejo Valley to Camarillo 1909 to 1911

This historic photo and information was generously provided by Gerry Olsen, grandson of Nils Olsen, one of the original settlers in the Conejo Valley in the 1890s.

Back at the turn of the century, farmers in the Conejo Valley grew dry crops like barley, wheat and had to take their harvest to Port Hueneme/Oxnard via horse drawn wagons. Their only routes were the treacherous Potrero Road or down the unpaved Norwegian Grade to Santa Rosa Road.

So in 1909, with a $60 donation from the county to purchase dynamite, Norwegian families Olsen, Pedersen, other volunteers and paid helpers blasted into the hillside from Nils Olsen's property 1 1/2 miles down to Santa Rosa Road.

It took 2-3 years to finish the project using the dynamite, manual labor and horse-drawn earth moving machines called Fresno Scrapers (named after a Scottish chap in 1883 who formed the Fresno Agricultural Works to manufacture it).  Here is a historic photo of these early Conejo Valley roadbuilders.

The Norwegian Grade is Moorpark Road from the Conejo Valley YMCA to Santa Rosa Road

I used to run up the grade on occasion and that was pretty scary (tight squeeze with steep descent and cactus on the side of the road). While most people take the 23 freeway to get to/from Thousand Oaks/Moorpark (and the 101 to Camarillo) these days, the Norwegian Grade provides an alternate 2-lane route that provides a direct link to the gritty Norwegian settlers who had the guts and determination to make their marks here.