Traveling to Alvdalen - Sundborn - Mora - Gåsvarv - Evertsberg

THE VAN:

Rick's unique 'head rest'

Saturday, July 31st. We left Uppsala around noon and began our trip to Dalarna. I will only speak about how our van and Marbles and Parkers car traveled. I don't know which routes Sheldon and LeGrand and their cars took.

Just a word about our van. Roger Zakrisson arranged for the new Volksvagen 9 passenger diesel for us to use through a car rental agency in Mora. When we arrived in Sweden we were met at the airport in Arlanda by Hasse and he handed us the keys. The perfect ride for our crew. We were very comfortable, even when Rick and Joelle joined us. We drove the van (Mike and Bonnie) from Stockholm to Ystad, then back to Stockholm and from there to Älvdalen (Mike, Bonnie, Rick) and back to Uppsalla where we turned in the van. In fact, Hasse drove us to Uppsala from Mora. Roger did us a great service. We owe him, big time! I don't remember how many kilometers we logged, but it was a lot.

As we traveled Rick was able to find rather interesting ways to nap - in the van as well as at stopping places.  Bonnie took a few photos that show the 'sleeping man'.

'Bench Rest'

'Table Rest' at Frösthult

Down and out at Gyllene Brunen

Grassy rest at Malmins

SUNDBORN:

On our way to Älvdalen, we stopped at Sundborn, the home of famous Swedish artist Carl Larsson. Carl Larsson was born in 1853 and is famous for his water colors and paintings of his family in their cottage "Lilla Hyttnäs". His paintings portray a happy family life. His wife Karin created a light and airy environment in their home with bright colors which contrasted the dark colors used in interior decorating during that time in Sweden. The home has remained just as it was when the family occupied it, creating an interesting living museum. Our guide was particularly informative and gave us a very nice tour.

When Larsson's art was put on display at the Stockholm Exhibition in 1897 it was an instant hit and was used by the media as an illustration of wholesome Swedish life. Today copies of his charming paintings can be found in Swedish calendars and lovely note cards.

He considered Midvinterblot (Mid Winter Sacrifice) to be his masterpiece, and was sorely disappointed when it was turned down for exhibition by the Swedish National Art Museum in 1915. It was not a picture of family life, but rather of the pagan sacrifice of King Domalde being offered at the Viking Temple in Uppsala. In 1997 it was purchased and donated to the Museum where it was hung on the wall as originally intended.

The on site store tempted many of us to buy just a few special items. 

MORA - GÅSVARV - EVERTSBERG:

After passing through a classic American car parade in Rättvik we finally arrived in Mora. We saw classic American cars all over in Sweden but they were having a week long event in Rättvik, sort of like Logan's Run. Cars with fins were especially popular. We didn't know how to get to Zakrisson's house but, as happened so many times during this trip, we got help from a stranger. Our cell phones didn't work in Sweden and, since we couldn't call, we did the next best thing. We went to a McDonalds parking lot and asked a comely young tös (girl) if she had a cell phone, which of course all flickor in Sweden do, and she called Maria, who called Roger's parents, who came and guided us to Zackrisson's house.

After a delicious meal of spaghetti with moose meat sauce, we left Mike and his family at Zackrisson's and Rick and Joelle in Rebeka Sten's apartment in Mora. Larry and Bonnie, with Vern and Mary and Dave and Wyoma and Jill went on up the road to Gåsvarv where we were bunked on the Bogg Farm by Karen Bogg. Slades and Marbles stayed in the old Baker's Stuga and Parkers and Jill in a nearby cottage.

Sheldon and Donna, LeGrand and Dianne, Christine, Rosalie, Gloria and Davine were accommodated in a big house owned by Ulla Bogg in Evertsberg. We all had wonderful places to stay.

It was a long day that lingered on in the northern twilight. Everyone went out of their way to make us comfortable.

Malllmins Farm, Forsby Mill

GÄSTRE - MALLMINS FARM:

Following lunch, Bengt Allfredsson and Anna Wessen took us to their farm in Gästre which they are restoring, and talked a bit about the history of the area and the battle of Gestrilen which took place in 1210. This battle was to be reenacted on Saturday, 7 August. Their farm is quite old and typical of the area with a two story farm house and several outbuildings, one of them filled with antique automobiles. Mike and Bengt were two birds of a feather with their interests in old cars.

This is an area of fertile farms. We walked a short distance to the adjoining Mallmin Farm where Erika Mathilda had worked as a serving girl and her parents had worked there as well. I don't know whether or not Erika had room and board, but it would have been rather a long walk from Björkebo to Mallmins farm. The farm was not particularly noteworthy with a large farmhouse and outbuildings.

FORSBY:

Bengt and Anna then took us to Forsby where Johanna Mathilda Larsson, Erika Mathilda's mother, was born. She was the daughter of Lars Ersson, a farmer in the area. The interesting thing about Forsby is that it was a mill for grinding flour. This would have made Forsby a place of importance in the area. Their weren't many streams around sufficient to provide water power for a mill. The old mill building has now been converted to a dinner theatre and the studio of a local artist.

Frösthult

FRÖSTHULT CHURCH:

Friday, July 30th. I note on the map which Bengt Alfredsson gave us that the place which we think was Erika Mathilda's birth home is within walking distance from the church in Frösthult.

Lotta Flygare, a young Priest Assistant, was very gracious in giving us access to the church. We were able to explore at will and Rick Slade even climbed to the top of the tower. Maybe he found a place to stretch out for a nap up there. Lotta told a bit of the history of the church, although she had only been assigned there for a short time, and didn't know a lot of the history.

It is interesting to note from a booklet about Frösthult Church that it was built in an area where Vikings abounded, with Iron Age graves and Runstens in the vicinity. The word Frösthult suggests that this was an area dedicated to the goddess Frie (Frö) and the area is called Frö's parish (Frösthult).

We didn't have a lot of time to spend at the church. I was not able to find any grave markers related to Grandmother's family (her father Erik who died in 1888 or brother August Alexander who died in 1882). Perhaps the grave markers have been pulled as is happening in church yards throughout Sweden where there is no family to maintain the grave site.

Michael Slade took several photographs of Björkebo and Frösthult church which he plans to make available in a book covering the entire trip which can be obtained online when it is published. He took photographs throughout the trip and came home with 36 rolls of film which he shot as well as negatives which he shot with his field camera. I will give the information as to how to obtain the book when it is available. I took only one photograph on the trip as I knew others were using cameras right and left. Vern Marble was probably second only to Michael in shutter clicking.  Bonnie didn't get any photos of Frösthult.

Painting showing original building and bell tower

Frösthult church

Inside Frösthult church

GYLLENE BRUNNEN (Golden Well):

Leaving Frösthult church we were directed to Brunnby, about 15 minutes drive, and the Gyllene Brunnen, a conference center and cafe where we had a delicious lunch prepared by Karl-Erik and Inge Ekblom.

As we walked into the dining hall we noticed a BYU pennant on the wall. What a surprise to find that Karl-Erik is related to the Harline family, that's right, the family of Johnny Harline, BYU football star. The Härlin family were from Härvesta, just a few kilometers from Skensta. They joined the LDS church and moved to Utah, changing their name to Harline. There is also a famous composer in the family, Leigh Harline who wrote "When You Wish Upon A Star." As wee were leaving, we met Harline relatives, who were visiting from Utah.

Rick and BYU pennant @ Golden Well - Johnny Harline relatives live here

Lunch at Golden Well

Uppsala

UPPSALA:

Thursday July 29th. After the Temple visit, we drove up the road for about an hour to Uppsala, a wonderful university city where I had done a sabbatical from Utah State University with the University of Uppsala. For my sabbatical I was pursuing my interest in conformation as it relates to performance in horses. Bonnie spent a short time with me while I was there and Uppsala was a city which we came to love.

The travelers enjoyed two nights in Uppsala. Places of interest were Carl Linneas garden, where ground breaking work on taxonomy was done; Gustavinium, where teaching of dissection of human cadavers was initiated; the biggest Lutheran cathedral in Sweden; Viking mound graves; a palace and good places to eat.

Donna - Larry - Sheldon & Uppsala Cathedral

Joelle - Rick at Castle

Joelle - Rick in Castle

SKENSTA:

Friday July 30th. Grandmother Anderson was born in Skensta on November 13, 1870. Skensta is about an hours drive west of Uppsala. There is no village of Skensta, just open farm land. According to the Husförlängd (Swedish Church Census) of 1870 for Frösthult, the family of Erik Björklund was located in Skensta ägor (property) Nr 2.

We went to the farm of Robert Ihrsen where we were greeted by him and his father Johann. Robert led us on a trek of about a mile through pasture and woods to a spot where we found the remains of a cottage foundation and fireplace stones, with a big rock in front. The cottage of a tenant farmer would have been very small in 1870, according to Lilly Lorenzen in the book 'Of Swedish Ways', just as this foundation ruin indicates. The cottage of a tenant farmer would have been located on the edge of more fertile farm ground, as this one was. It fits the description of her childhood home given to me and others by Grandmother Anderson. She said that the Missionaries would sit on the rock and teach the gospel to people in the community. It is known today as the 'Mormon Rock'. A grove of birch (björk) trees surrounds the cottage site. That is consistent with the family name Björklund (birch grove). The place is called Björkebo (Birch Home). The location of the cottage ruins is not far from the Frösthult church. Erika's birth was recorded in this, church where she was baptized.

The ruins are in a beautiful spot and it felt good to be there.  It cannot be said for sure that this is 'the place' where Grandmother lived, but it fits better than other places I have looked at.

A ray of sun broke through the clouds as we stood there - maybe a sign that we were on sacred ground!

Ihrsen Farm sign

Robert Ihrsen - Christine by stuga @ Björkebo

Johan Ihrsen - Davine - Donna - Dianne - Legrand

Travelers @ Björkebo

Erika Mathilda Grandchildren @ Björkebo

Foundation of Eric Björklund stuga at Björkebo

Flat Rock (Mormon Rock) @ Björkebo

Foundation of Björklund stuga at Björkebo,  Flat rock in background.

Beginning of trip - stockholm

August 9, 2010

Hej:

The following posts will be an account of the visit of 21 Spjut Swen Olof Anderson and Erika Mathilda Peterson Björklund descendants and their families from America to Sweden to visit relatives and see places of ancestral interest.

THE TRAVELERS:

For the record, the travelers represented the following children of Grandfather and Grandmother Anderson: Olive, Eva and Lovetta. From Olive there were Mary and Vern Marble; Wyoma and David Parker with daughter Jill Howells. From Eva - Davine Glasscock. From Lovetta there were Christine Gillen; Larry and Bonnie Slade with son Michael and wife Polla and children Connor and Abigail and son Rick and wife Joelle; Rosalie England; Sheldon and Donna Slade; LeGrand and Diane Slade; and Gloria Decker. Many others wanted to make the trip but were unable due to circumstances which made it impossible for them to travel. The range in age of the travelers was oldest at 81 and youngest at 12.

A LITTLE FAMILY HISTORY:

Spjut Swen Olof Anderson was the oldest son of Spjut Anders Swensson and Gröt Kerstin Olsdotter. He emigrated from Sweden in 1895 leaving behind his father and brothers Spjut Anders and Spjut Per Axel. This trip allowed the grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren of Swen Olof to get to know grand children, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and great great great grandchildren of Anders and Per Axel. Swen's ancestral home, Gåsvarv in Dalarna, and our relatives there was the prime destination of our trip.

Erika Mathilda emigrated from Sweden in 1889 with her mother Johanna Mathilda Larsson, grandmother Brita Katharina Carlsson and brother Erik John. I am not aware of any relatives of Erika Mathilda's remaining in Sweden. Erika's ancestral home in Skensta was also a point of great interest in our trip.

STOCKHOLM:

We were able to schedule a visit to the Temple in Västerhanninge for the 29th of July. Temple President Paul Oscarson, a former missionary acquaintance of LeGrand, greeted us cordially and made available a room for us to gather as a family and do temple service. Mike Slade was able to do ordinance work with his children Connor and Abigail. It was a special experience to be with family in that sacred setting. Mary and Vern were given special recognition during the service. Afterward, we ate a delicious lunch of Swedish pancakes, a traditional meal for Thursdays.

The Temple is built on an ancient Viking site and on the evening of the 28th, Larry and Bonnie and their family visited Viking burial grounds near the Temple, with many graves which were marked with stones raised in various patterns. Some of the patterns were circles, others rectangles and octagons and some in the shape of ships. We had a feeling of reverence as we walked among these reminders of lives once lived in this area.

Frökost in Jönköping

Wyoma & Jill in Gamla Stan

Meal with Kjelströms, the family Larry and Bonnie taught

Lars - Eva - Bonnie- Larry

Mike - Polla - Eva - Connor - Joelle - Rick - Larry - Bonnie - Abigail

Jill, Bonnie, Wyoma, Mary in Stockholm

Stockholm Temple

Stockholm Temple

Hej

Welcome family and friends to the family history blog for descendants and relatives of the Spjut Swen Olof Anderson and Erika Mathilda Peterson Bjorklund family. This is not a professional blog--the compilations included herein will be primarily from direct descendants or other relatives, although I will try to include published sources wherever possible. Feel free to email me with suggestions, comments, additions, photographs, and anything else you feel can help enhance the experience and add to the availability of family history information to help us all feel more connected. We will also include details from the planned reunion trip to Sweden this summer for all involved.
(NOTE: I am not a Swedish language speaker, so please pardon--it will be in all English!)