Manufacturer Christen Sørensen (January 4, 1853 – November 10, 1925) was the founder of the brickworks in Højslev and played a key role in the growth of Højslev Station Town. He lived his entire life in Højslev parish, although he had interests in other brickworks, including Stoholm, Lundgård and Overhoved brickworks, was for a time the owner of the manor Kjærgårdsholm and owner of several large properties, including “Postgården” in Torvegade in Skive.
The first brickworks: ups and downs
In 1879, together with farm owner Per Odgaard, Tastumgård, he started the first brickworks in Højslev. The brickworks was located southeast of the railway station in Højslev. In 1880, he bought Bådsgård Brickworks in the northwestern parish of Højslev, which he expanded with, among other things, a steam engine, and he started laying railroad tracks from the brickworks to Højslev station. In 1885, he bought the Bådsgård manor house, but two years later he went bankrupt. He then became manager of the brickworks in Højslev St., and his activities had to be conducted in his wife’s name.
The current brickworks
In 1898, Chr. Sørensen built the current Højslev Brickworks (north of Viborgvej), but already the following year Per Odgaard had to take over half of the new brickworks. In 1904, the brickworks did so well that Chr. Sørensen was able to buy Per Odgaard out again. The period from 1898 was a good period for Chr. Sørensen. He got back on his feet financially and built the striking director’s residence at the brickworks. He built an electricity plant at the brickworks, which also supplied power to the station town.
Højslev Station Town grows up
Chr. Sørensen played a significant role in the growth of Højslev Station Town. He bought one of the three farms in the area – Langmosegård – and from here he subdivided a significant part of the building plots in the station town. He spearheaded the construction of a waterworks in the station town and donated land and money for the construction of the first school in the town in 1908.
Chr. Sørensen’s many initiatives and perhaps not always fruitful investments meant that in 1910 he was stuck financially. There was a lack of capital, and all the properties were sold to a newly established limited company, A/S Højslev Teglværker. In 1917, in search of clay for the brickworks, Chr. Sørensen bought the Lundgård manor near Stoholm, where a new, modern brickworks was built. Then the economic situation changed again. Brick products fell sharply in price after 1920, and when Chr. Sørensen died in 1925, A/S Højslev had a large debt to Skive Bank.
Chr. Sørensen’s relationship with the brickworks workers
Chr. Sørensen had a complex relationship with the brickworks workers. He was a solid right-winger, and in the 1901 parliamentary election, he forced his workers to support the right-wing candidate. One of the workers refused and was fired on the spot – but rehired a few days later! Sørensen was also strongly opposed to trade unions, until one day he turned the tables and encouraged the workers to form a union for brickworks workers. When the union held two founding parties, Chr. Sørensen and his wife, Kathrine, were invited guests. Chr. Sørensen raised a Leve for the union – and the workers thanked him with a Leve for the manufacturer! There’s no doubt that Chr. Sørensen’s workers probably thought he could be a tough guy, but they probably also admired the enterprising manufacturer. And that’s probably why they put a memorial stone on Chr. Sørensen’s grave.
The church in Højslev Stationsby. Chr. Sørensen dies
In November 1924, Chr. Sørensen invited to a meeting about the construction of a church with a cemetery and a vicarage in Østerris, i.e. Højslev Stationsby. At the meeting, Chr. Sørensen offered to donate the land and bricks for the church construction, and a committee was set up to work for the church. DKK 24,000 was collected in pledges, but the construction was dependent on a large government grant, which the Church Minister was not willing to give. It also turned out that the parish priest, Provost Brandt, would rather settle for a chapel and a cemetery. On November 9, 1925, a crucial meeting was held where Chr. Sørensen, who was terminally ill at the time (he died the next day), refused to transfer his gift to a chapel. Thus, the church case in Højslev St. came to a standstill.
And buried in Skive Cemetery
Perhaps Chr. Sørensen sensed that the case would end here. In any case, he chose to be buried – not in Højslev or Dommerby cemeteries – but in Skive Cemetery. But he was buried in a zinc coffin so he could be moved when the day came that there was a cemetery in Højslev Stationsby.
Sources:
- Niels Mortensen: Højslev-Dommerby-Lundø 1880-1940. In: Skive kommunes historie fra 1880 til 1940, p. 83-140. 2002.