In last week's post, I showed a photo of my grandparents (Sally & Gustaf) at the well on the property where they were going to build their house. My grandfather purchased the plot in March, and the well was finished towards the end of April. A few months later (late summer or early autumn) the house was "taking shape". I'm guessing that this photo was taken as part of celebrating having got the roof in place. It was probably my grandfather who took the photo, as he's not in the picture himself.
Family gathered at the New House (in progress), late summer 1930. Standing: Olle (engaged to Sally's sister Hildur), Sally, Mother Selma, Carin & Nils (Sally's brother and his fiancée). Sitting: Gustav (older half-brother to Sally and Nils), Hildur - and I think probably a brother of Carin's to the right (he looks vaguely familiar to me).
(Unless, possibly the unknown man is the builder? I know they had one, by name of Richard Andersson, as I have his bill, or receipt, for the finished work...)
Olle, Hildur's fiancé, may have helped with details on the house too, I suppose, as he was a carpenter by trade - and for the first few years, he and Hildur would be living there too. From what my father told me in the past, I know that originally, the house had two flats: One room + kitchen downstairs and the same (somewhat smaller) upstairs. Sally and Gustaf (who got married towards the end of September 1930) moved into the downstairs flat. (From about a year after their wedding also shared by baby Bertil, my father.) And a few months later, newly wed Hildur and Olle moved into the upstairs flat, together with Mother Selma (who slept in the upstairs kitchen).
I'm not sure exactly how long they all continued to live together in the same house - maybe a few years. Olle and Hildur then built their own house only a few minutes walk away; so the two families always remained very close. (Hildur and Olle never had children of their own.) Selma I think alternated between living with her daughters in winter, and spending the summers in the small cottage on the farm (which I think was hers for the duration of her life). She lived until 1941 so was very much part of the household during my dad's early childhood. After Hildur and Olle moved to their own house, Sally and Gustaf made the upstairs room their bedroom; and later, the upstairs kitchen was converted to a bedroom for my dad.
Below is the last letter in my collection of letters written from Sally to Gustaf in 1929/30, between their engagement and wedding. It has no date, so I've been hesitating about exactly where it belongs in the chronology. But most likely it was written while it was still wintry; as gloves, socks and firewood are mentioned. The most interesting part is that it shows some of Sally's "mixed feelings" about the upcoming changes in her life after their marriage. She realises that in his career as a journalist, Gustaf has to meet and mix with "all sorts" of people - and is sometimes also expected to socialise in contexts in which she herself will feel timid and not quite comfortable...
Storegården, Thursday night
Darling!
Now you'll be getting a letter anyway, but it won't be a long one this time either. And please excuse me for writing in pencil. As you know, I have no ink here in our room, and I don't want to go into the men's room tonight, so I use what I have. It's past 9:30 pm and I'm rather tired. I've had a busy day, sewing gloves and also on that dress I was working on last night.
Olle is here working tonight and Hildur has gone down to him, so Mum and I are alone at the moment, and I'm grabbing the opportunity to write to you.
Have you heard anything more about Mr & Mrs K's party? I've been contemplating today whether I should come with you or not. I guess we'll talk more about it on Sunday. Of course I'd like to accompany you for your sake, and perhaps in a way it would be good for me as well. I suppose I must try to overcome my shyness at least to some degree. I guess sooner or later I'll have to get used to meeting ”society” ladies and gentlemen, even if the thought of it intimidates me a little.
I too am looking forward to the day we'll be united; but my joy is also mixed with some apprehension at the thought of my responsibility to be a good wife to you. With the help of God I still want to get started, and if I can only trust in that, I know I shall succeed. I'll leave both of us in his hands.
I would have written more, but I can't tonight, I'm so tired.
Lots of love from your Sally
PS. Gustav won't be going into town until Tuesday or Wednesday next week, Miss L does not want any potatoes until then. I hope you'll be all right for firewood until then.
Mum sends her love. It's now past 11 but she is still knitting away at her socks. The sound of the spinning wheel has stopped for tonight.
Linking to Sepia Saturday 670
(because sometimes you feel like crawling into a corner and hide - but you know you can't...!)
Storegården torsdag kväll
Älskade!
Nu får Du allt brev ändå. Men det blir inte långt denna gången heller. Och så får Du vara snäll och förlåta att jag skriver med blyerts. Jag har, som du vet, inget bläck här inne i vårt rum, och jag vill inte gå in åt herrummet i kväll, utan då tog jag vad jag hade. --- Kl är ju också redan över ½ 10 och jag börjar vara en smula trött. Jag har haft så bråttom i dag. Har sytt dels på vantarna och dels på den där klädningen jag höll på med i går kväll.
I kväll är Olle här och arbetar. Hildur har gått ner till honom nu så mamma och jag äro ensamma för tillfället, och därför skulle jag passa på och skriva till Dig.
Har Du hört något närmare sedan om Herrskapet K---'s förestående bjudning? Vet du, jag har tänkt mycket på det i dag om jag skall följa med Dig dit eller ej. Vi få väl tala mera om det på söndag. --- Nog skulle jag gärna vilja gå med för Din skull, och kanske vore det bra för mig också på sätt och vis. Jag måste väl försöka att övervinna blygheten åtminstone i någon mån. Och jag måste väl också en gång för eller senare sammanträffa med respektive societetsdamer och dito herrar, kan jag tro, fastän jag bävar en smula vid blotta tanken därpå.
--- Jag emotser, även jag, med glädje den dag då vi skola förenas. Dock är ju glädjen blandad med en viss bävan vid tanke på det ansvar som vilar på mig som en god maka åt Dig. Med Guds hjälp vill jag likväl börja och kan jag blott fullt och fast lita därpå, vet jag också att jag skall lyckas. I hans händer vill jag lämna oss båda.
Jag skulle skrivit mera men det går inte i kväll, jag är så trött nu.
Hjärtevarma hälsningar, Din Sally
Gustav reser inte till stan förrän på tisdag eller onsdag i nästa vecka. Fröken Larsson vill ingen potatis ha förr. Hoppas att Du klarar Dig med ved till dess.
Mamma hälsar. Kl är över 11 nu men mamma stickar lika flitigt på sina strumpor. Spolrocken har tystnat för i kväll.
What a sweet letter from Sally! Loved seeing the 2 photos of the house. It looks very weather proof. I can identify with Sally's feelings toward having to be in society of people with her professional husband. I hope she settled into acceptance of that role.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I think my grandmother was probably always happiest with family and friends and in familiar context. She was never one to "dominate the room" in a group of people.
DeleteThe letter reminds me of a letter my grandmother wrote to my grandfather before they were married.
ReplyDeleteThe house looks very snug and I'm glad they all were able to share it until the upstairs couple was able to build their own house.
Kristin, I guess it worked for them as they were used to living close together at the farm as well.
DeleteRemarkable that you have photos of this family home in various stages of development. The final house looks lovely, and certainly big enough for two couples starting out in life together. Touching that Sally was so open about her reservations, but also determined to learn and grow into her now role.
ReplyDeleteI love the house. When my husband (a foresterr) and I first married, we lived in small communities in little cabins in the woods that I decorated with ruffled muslin cafe curtains and tie-backs. I felt like I was on a continuous vacation. Back then the District Ranger's wife was the recognized leader of the wives of the men who worked under the leadership of the District Ranger. Years later when my husband became a District Ranger, I decided I didn't want to be the traditional 'leader' of the other forester wives, I just wanted to be a part of the group. Some were surprised at first, but it turned out to be the best decision I ever made as I became good, easy-going friends with several of the other wives which might not have been quite as easy under the old traditional leadership way. :)
ReplyDeleteThis seems like the most personal letter you've shared from Sally with her expression of concern for being a "good wife" and meeting "society" people. Yet her pragmatic personality is revealed in her comments about mundane things like potatoes and socks which made me laugh. My mother told me late in her life about her misgivings becoming a young wife of an army officer which required her to attend military social events and participate in.officer wives clubs. She thought herself too shy and too low-class, and yet she learned to assert herself and speak her own mind about things.
ReplyDelete