Sepia Saturday 851 - Göta Älvbron, 1940s

A postcard showing Götaälvbron (a bascule* bridge over the river Göta Älv) in Göteborg (Gothenburg); probably from the early 1940s. The construction started in 1937, and it was inaugurated 26 November 1939. It was replaced by a new bridge in 2021 (Hisingsbron). 

*a type of bridge with a section which can be raised and lowered using counterweights

The stamps have been removed from the back of the postcard, and I don't know what year it was sent. But it was written by my grandfather Gustaf to my dad, who was born in 1931; and the message reveals that it was written on 7th January. Gustaf also addresses his son by a nickname which suggests that he was still quite young (I never heard that name used myself). The earliest possible year is 1940, when the bridge was brand new; but looking up som old weather statistics, my guess is 1942 (when January temperatures in Gothenburg as low as -26 C were recorded). And then my dad would have been 10 years old (+4 months) when receiving it. My grandfather in turn must have been attending some kind of lectures to do with his job as journalist at a local paper.

The message on the back of the card runs:

"Göteb. 7 jan. Hello Putte! It's icy cold here in in G. - 21-24 C, but feeling even colder because of the humid air. We're staying at the Fenix (a beautiful old mansion) and attending lectures in another location, where it's only +12'C. Best wishes to you and Mum. / Dad "

SVENSKA: Göteb. den 7 jan. Hej, Putte! Här i G. är kallt, må du tro. 21-24 grader, men det känns kallare än hemma på grund av den råa luften. Vi bor på Fenix (ett vackert gammalt f.d. borgarhus) och går på föreläsningar i en annan lokal, där det endast är 12 g. varmt. Hälsningar till dig och mamma. /Pappa

Linking to Sepia Saturday 851 

Sepia Saturday 846 & 847: Earth & Water

 

Repeating a photo I've shared before. It's an old favourite of mine, and that was what came to mind for me for this week's Sepia Saturday theme: "Earth". However, it would fit next week's theme just as well: "Water"!

The photo is from the spring of 1930 and shows my grandparents Sally and Gustaf (engaged but not yet married) at the newly dug well on the piece of land where they were going to build their house. (The house in the background is not theirs.)

The well - or at least the winch for it - was built by their friend and future brother-in-law 'Olle' (Olof), engaged to Sally's sister Hildur. When the house was finished, both couples (+ Sally's and Hildur's mother) were going to share the the same house for a few years, until Olle and Hildur built a house of their own only some 100 m or so away. The house originally  had 1 room + kitchen downstairs, and 1 room + kitchen upstairs. (Later on in history the upstairs kitchen was turned into a second bedroom.)

In a letter from 14 April, 1930, Sally (still living at the family farm) writes in a letter to Gustaf (then living in town, and working as journalist):

"Today Olle is going to get started on the well, he said last night when we got back."

I also have Olle's bill to Gustaf for the job, dated 26 April 1930:

(In 2026, 28 SEK might buy 2-3 litres of bottled water...)

Cf a longer post from April 2023 for Sepia Saturday 669  

Linking now to Sepia Saturday 846

Two Steamboat Postcards from 1909 - Sepia Saturday 844

Two steam boat postcards from 1909, reposted for Sepia Saturday 844 (previously posted on this blog 2021-04-24 and 2021-05-01

Both cards sent by a John Beckman to my great-uncle Gustaf Ekman in 1909, while Gustaf was living in Galeton, Pennsylvania (working at a sawmill there).  

Str City of Buffalo, landing at dock, Celeron, N.Y.

 

Made expressly for S.H. Knox & Co. Printed in Germany

To: Mr Gust Ekman, Galeton, Pa

From: John Beckman (Jamestown N.Y., Jul 18, 1909)

Str City of Buffalo, landing at dock, Celeron, N.Y.

Hello Gust. I will send you a postal now and thanks you very much for the postal you send me. I hear you had good times on 4 of July in Buffalo, did you have any girls whed [with] you all [-?-] Gust. I had lovely times out here in Jamestown to[o]. Alfred and Henning is working here in town now so pretty soon all de Boy [all the boys] from Galeton will be here in Jamestown. I supoese Hilding have a picnic now whed all de girls. Good bye, ans. soon. / John Beckman, 27 Broadhead Ave., Jamestown N.Y.

Hej Gust. Jag skickar ett kort och tackar så mycket för det kortet du skickade mig. Jag hör att du hade trevligt 4 juli i Buffalo, hade ni några flickor med er? Jag hade det härligt här i Jamestown också. Alfred och Henning arbetar här nu, så snart är väl 'alla pojkarna' från Galeton här i Jamestown. Jag antar att Hilding kan välja och vraka bland alla flickorna nu. Hej då, skriv snart. /John Beckman, 27 Broadhead Ave., Jamestown N.Y.

Boat Landing at Celoron, Chautauqua Lake, N.Y.

(Can't interpret the publisher's symbol)

To: Mr Gust Ekman, Galeton Pa, Box 342
From: John Beckman (Jamestown N.Y., Aug 26, 1909)
Boat Landing at Celoron, Chautauqua Lake, N.Y.

Hello Gust
I thought I will send you a postal now and thank you very much for the letter you sent. I se[e] you whont [won't] come over to Jamestown. I was to a picnic 2 weeks a go, and here is the boat. How do you like it all. Tell you Gust I had [a] pretty good time that day. Ans. soon. - Best regards from your friend J. Beckman. Send my best regards to mine girl, you know who that is.

Swedish text:

Hej Gust, jag tänkte jag skickar dig ett kort nu och tackar så mycket för brevet du skickade. Jag ser att du inte tänker komma över till Jamestown. Jag var på en picknick för 2 veckor sedan, och här är båten. Vad tycker du om det hela. Du ska veta att jag hade roligt den dan. Skriv snart. - Bästa hälsningar från din vän J. Beckman. Hälsa så mycket till min flicka, du vet vem jag menar.

My note from 2021: I googled "steamboats celeron new york", and found a web page from Chautauqua County Historical Society: Large Chautauqua Lake Steamboats. (Phew, that is one tricky name to keep spelling...) Evidently there were several steamboats of this kind in traffic on this lake in the late 19th /early 20th century. On a previous card (G.042.03) from John B. we had the steamer City of Buffalo, The one on this card looks similar but not identical. The card does not reveal its name, and I can't find an exact match on that web page either. 

Linking to Sepia Saturday 844

Midsummer at Mösseberg - Repost for Sepia Saturday 831

 

Mösseberg, Ankdammen. 52737
Imp. G.W. Lundins Bokhandel (Hjalmar Lundin) Falköping

 

(G.017.01)

Date: Unknown, but most likely 23.6.1902 (Midsummer Eve)
Sent from: Mösseberg, Falköping (spa resort)
To: Herr Gustaf Ekman, Storegården, Fristad
From: Gerda

Jag är nu på Mösseberg och har mycke roligt. Här skulle du varit med. Jag kommer nog hem på tisdag e.m. på halv 7 tåget tänker jag, eljest på sista tåget, möt mig då.
Tack för brefvet, det kom oförväntat. 
Hälsningar från Gerda
Hälsningar från Anna E—? o E—r o Edith.

I am now at Mösseberg and am having a very good time. You should have been here. I think I'll be home on Tuesday by the 6:30 train, or else the last train - meet me then. Thanks for the letter, I did not expect that.
Greetings from Gerda
(and Anna E-, E-r and Edith)

Mösseberg is (still) a spa resort up on the hill Mösseberg at Falköping, founded in 1865. There was a spring there, and the location high up was also considered to be good for people with lung diseases. (The hill is ~100 m high.) A railway nearby made it easy for people to get there. In 1885, there was a sanatorium for people with tuberculosis. In the early 1900s, it became more of a spa for "anyone", including healthy and wealthy upper class people. The park and bath were restored and more guest rooms added, to be able to have guests there all year round. (Source: Swedish Wikipedia article.)

The postmark on the card shows vague traces that the date may have been 23, but not which month or year. My guess is June 1902, though. Later that year, Gustaf (the recipient of the card) and his sister Gerda (the sender) would both be emigrating to America. The image on the card shows a Midsummer pole. Midsummer Eve back then was always celebrated on June 23. In 1902 that was a Monday, and Gerda writes that she'll be going back home on Tuesday evening. E-r might refer for Ester (their sister), and Edith could be their niece - their older sister Emma's daughter. I also seem to recall having heard that Ester at some point did spend some time at Mösseberg for her own health - but I don't know when.

You'll find my original post about this card here (2013-06-18). 

Back then, I had not yet starting linking this blog to Sepia Saturday.

Linking now to Sepia Saturday 831 -  "Celebration time"

Sepia Saturday 826: Stormy Weather at Varberg (Repost)

This is a modified repost of an early post on this blog, from 2012-02-21 .

Varberg: Hamnpiren i storm. / Varberg: The Pier in storm.
Publisher: Vilén & Johanson, Borås 

Varberg 6/8 (1903). Heartfelt thanks for the postcard. Yesterday there was quite a storm here. Rather beautiful to behold. Mother does not have to be anxious about us going out on the sea, because that is impossible. Otherwise we are quite well. Greetings G.J.

This is a card that seems to fall outside my own family history. My great-uncle Gustaf (in whose postcard album the card is found) probably got it second-hand later in life, from some friend who knew he collected postcards. In August 1903, Gustaf was living in America; but he returned to Sweden in 1910. This card was written by a  G.J. to an J.A. Johanson. My guess is that J.A. was the sender's mother, as it was common in Sweden back then to address your parents “in the third person” rather than using “you”. 

The card shows quite a magnificent picture of stormy weather at the pier in Varberg, a town on the west coast in the county of Halland. Varberg and all of Halland are well known for their "typical west coast" sandy beaches. In Varberg the coast changes from wide sandy beaches to rocky terrain that continues north into the Bohuslän archipelago.

Varberg is still a popular summer and spa resort for  people living further inland. Its reputation as a spa resort was founded in the early/mid 19th century. The railway line between Varberg and Borås was established in 1880. The town has an old fortress from around 1280-1300; now museum + hostel.

Below are my own photos from a visit there in 2001 - in not so stormy weather...

1. The Fort
2. The Pier
3. A beach beneath the fort, with an old wooden bathhouse

Linking to Sepia Saturday 826