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.)
I also have Olle's bill to Gustaf for the job, dated 26 April 1930:
I remember this story! Your details add so much more to Sally and Gustaf's photo making it a picture of hopeful aspiration for their future life. I like the receipt. Lately I have been trying to cull similar receipts from my own archives, though few are as neatly handwritten. It's overwhelming how so many are for things I no longer have.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike. This photo, even more than their wedding photo, seems to me to symbolise them aware of being in the process of starting to build a new life together...
ReplyDeleteDigging a well is quite a job...I hope there was some kind of drill involved. Love this photo of the young hopeful couple.
ReplyDeleteDigging into the earth to form a well is one of the first things needing to be done in the process of building a home!
ReplyDeleteSuch an apt /ost to match the prompt - digging into the earth to create a well.
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