Here, where Erzscheidergården now stands, there used to be a farm with a dwelling house and outbuildings. In 1917, Sámi husband and wife Elin Anna [1874–1922] and Daniel Mortenson [1860–1924] purchased this farm at Haugan. They built a new byre, and to secure fodder for their livestock, the family purchased a piece of grazing land in Småsetran east of the mining town. In time, the day-to-day work of attending to the family's reindeer was taken over by their adult sons. 

Daniel Mortenson was active in Sámi politics and worked to secure a legal basis for Sámi reindeer husbandry. Living in Røros was practical in connection with this work. Many Sámi people had different errands in Røros, and could therefore pay Mortenson's farm here at Haugan a visit to discuss various issues and exchange points of view. This contact was facilitated by the railway passing through Røros. 

Henrik Kvandahl [1865–1950], an active Sámi politician and author from Ballangen in Nordland, spent periods of time at Daniel Mortenson’s farm in connection with the literary work Samenes historie (History of the Sámi). Røros was also home to other Sámi people who were active in Sámi politics. Martin Jonassen [1874–1941], long-standing leader of Søndre Trondhjems amts lappeforening (Sámi association of southern Trondheim county) and publisher of two of Henrik Kvandahl's books, also had a house here at Haugan for several years. 

Living in Røros also made it easier to publish the Sámi newspaper Waren Sardne. It was initially published from 1910 to 1913, with Mortenson as editor. At the time, the family lived on a farm near Svukuriset, east of Femunden lake. As the newspaper was printed in Røros, this must have entailed considerable challenges. The Mortenson family's move to Røros in 1917 made publishing the newspaper easier, and Waren Sardne was again published from January 1922 onwards.

The farm was sold following Daniel Mortenson’s death in 1924. Its subsequent owners have all left their own mark on the farm, and the current buildings are thus not as they were when Elin Anna and Daniel lived here.