DAY 141 - Finding the Olson Homestead in Gardebyn (Part 1)

Aug 7 - My new Swedish friends

My Grandpa Olson was Swedish and came from Kansas.  His father, Olaf, immigrated from Sweden back in 1870 and claimed his homestead in the Herndon, Kansas area.  His two brothers, Anders and Erik, came over a little later. They left behind another brother, Daniel,  two younger brothers, and a sister.  I found out that the two younger brothers may have also come to America, but I don't know much about that yet.  They were all eager to leave in their 20's, mostly likely looking for a better life because of religion freedoms as well as better opportunities for sustaining their lives.

 The main "pull" was the availability of low cost, high quality farm land.  In the earliest stages of immigration, crop failures and the wish to escape the established state church played a role. 

I didn't have very many clues as to where the old homestead was except that Daniel had somehow changed his name to Bohmann from Olafson and that the farm was named "Bohm's Garden."  All the farms in Gardebyn had a name to them.

I looked at a map and discovered a street called Bohmgatan, so we went and came to a cul-de-sac.  A man was standing in his driveway and to make a long story short, he made a couple of calls, then hopped into our car, taking us to the homestead.  He had talked to an old-timer who was from Gardebyn and that man had said, "Oh yes, I remember three brothers going to America."  He took us just around the corner on a street...Gardebygatan where we met Suzanne and a couple of days later, her husband, Paul, who currently live on the place.

Meet Suzanne and a neighbor who showed us this house - it was a miracle we met him!

 Suzanne and Paul had bought the old home 7 years ago and were the first ones outside the Olson family to live on it.  Hans and Birgitta were the cousins who had sold it to them.  They still live around there, but I've been unable to contact them as of yet.

Bohm Kalle and Elsa planted this tree probably around 1950.  They were the previous cousins living here.

 Suzanne proceeded to take us all around outside and show us the outbuildings and the grounds.  She invited me to come back on Friday to see the inside of the house.

Original doors from around possibly the 1700's

 There was an original small house that stood here in the 1600's. There had been much remodeling done through the years.  Extra living quarters were put in the original barn area.  I was in such a daze at having found the place, that I can't remember all the details that Suzanne told me.  I snapped pictures and wrote notes, but now they don't make as much sense as when she explained it.  I will be getting a hold of her soon to have her correct and add more details.

They had used original beams when remodeling everything.

Tool storage area

There used to big one big door for the cows and horses

Every household likes to have the Swedish flag a-fly-ing.

There used to be a small shed here, but it was removed - now rhubarb grows here.

You can see some more original windows and a door that they will use somewhere else.

The Swedes saved everything because they might be able to use it later.

 Paul gave me a few pieces of old wood that was from some apple trees to take home.  I treasure them and will have something made from them.  Evidently there was a big bin of old pieces of wood, so he was sure it was a couple of hundred years old.  So exciting!

Here is where the old wood pieces came from

Some more original windows from 1800's

         

There were many apple trees on the homestead.

The hay was stacked up on these wooden poles so it could dry and be used in the winter.

 The yard was beautiful with so many lovely apple and other trees.  Suzanne, Carl, and their two young boys have done a wonderful job of preserving the original look and updating it, too.  They are such hard workers.

  The Olsons (Olafsons) had a little house up in the woods so that in the summertime the women folk would stay and take care of the cattle grazing up there.  They would also make cheese from the milk.  The men would stay closer to town on the homestead tending to the farm and other chores.

Here is where Daniel Bohman, Jr. was born around 1885.  Anna, his mother, was up in the woods and when Daniel, Sr. realized she didn't come back as expected, he went up there and found his new little son and mother - both well.

Year later, Daniel, Jr. moved to Chicago.

 Later the little cabin was moved here, to their homestead farm.

They must have been tiny people back then

 Suzanne and Carl rented this little cabin just last week during the famous Classic Car race that takes place every year in July in Rattvik.  If only the little house could talk of all that has taken place within these walls.

Inside the cute little summer cabin.

A side view of the house that was remodeled in early 1900.

 Suzanne is not even related, but she knows so many stories and cares so much about preserving the history here.  I appreciated her kindness in taking us around and telling us all that she knows.,

The remodeled barn that Carl now uses for his tailor business as he makes folk costumes for the whole region of Dalarna.


We'll go inside in the next post.

Rich takes a picture of us from inside the tree house that Carl and the boys built.

My new friend Suzanne and I enjoy a lovely afternoon talking about the old Olson homestead

I can't wait to go inside and to bring my cousin, Annette, who happens to be the mayor of Rattivk, with me.  We'll do that in the next post.  You can't believe how exciting this all is for me.