Towards the end of the 19th century, one of Europe´s largest sawmills grew on the islands of Norrbyskär. The sawmill company bought the island and built a steam powered mill, but also housing for the workers. This was a community on its own (at most 1200 people); the workers were drawn with good salaries and houses (with electricity!) and good education for their children (the future workers), but were also expected to be very loyal to the work place.
The mill was in operation 1892-1952.
We took the 9:30 ferry from Norrbyn to the harbor on the island closest to the mainland.
First we went to see the street with wooden workers' houses. Most of them were split into four apartments, evidently the apartment on the first floor closest to the street was the most popular. There were also some larger houses for the foremen. The social classes were much more obvious during these days.
On the way we passed the remains of the (electrical) railway on the island, used to transport all the sawed boards. Next stop was the remains of the harbor where everything were shipped from the island.
On the easternmost island, YMCA/YWCA ("KFUM") has some activity, among other things an adventure course, several kinds of small boats and confirmation camps. We went up to the northernmost part of this island, where a breakwater was constructed of stones. This was a nice place to have some snack and with the sun shining nothing to complain about.
Next to the island there were some ships left in the water. We are not sure exactly what these were used for, either for moving boards or sawdust.
Back on the middlemost island, we went down the street past the school. In this area, some holiday houses were built already during the sawmill days.
Back through the woods, we passed the place were the big planer was situated. The only remnant now was a tiled floor, it was really hard to realize how this place looked only about 50 years ago. The trees do a good job taking back the nature, if you let them be.
Close to this place, we thought that the dirt on the ground looked strange, until we realized that it was sawdust that we walked on. Pretty long decomposing time for this matter!
Right after we arrived on the island(s) during the morning, we just passed the museum since it was closed. Now on the other hand it was time to pay it a visit.
A lot of artifacts and photos told about life in the sawmill society, but the most interesting part of the exhibit was the scale model of Norrbyskär during its high time. Piles and piles of sawed board everywhere.
Next to the museum there was houses built in scale 1:3, all prepared for the kids to get a view of the daily life of the early 19th century.
We finished our trip with a visit to "Kalmar'n", the place where all the sawdust from the sawmill was transported to with cable cars and then shipped to the mainland.
The workers' houses here were in same style as the other wooden houses, but made of bricks instead.
Next to here was the big house for the manager. He had his own house, with stables next to it. The area was marked with a fence, so that the workers wouldn't come too close.
Towards the end of the 19th century, one of Europe´s largest sawmills grew on the islands of Norrbyskär. The sawmill company bought the island and built a steam powered mill, but also housing for the workers. This was a community on its own (at most 1200 people); the workers were drawn with good salaries and houses (with electricity!) and good education for their children (the future workers), but were also expected to be very loyal to the work place.
The mill was in operation 1892-1952.
We took the 9:30 ferry from Norrbyn to the harbor on the island closest to the mainland.
First we went to see the street with wooden workers' houses. Most of them were split into four apartments, evidently the apartment on the first floor closest to the street was the most popular. There were also some larger houses for the foremen. The social classes were much more obvious during these days.
On the way we passed the remains of the (electrical) railway on the island, used to transport all the sawed boards. Next stop was the remains of the harbor where everything were shipped from the island.
On the easternmost island, YMCA/YWCA ("KFUM") has some activity, among other things an adventure course, several kinds of small boats and confirmation camps. We went up to the northernmost part of this island, where a breakwater was constructed of stones. This was a nice place to have some snack and with the sun shining nothing to complain about.
Next to the island there were some ships left in the water. We are not sure exactly what these were used for, either for moving boards or sawdust.
Back on the middlemost island, we went down the street past the school. In this area, some holiday houses were built already during the sawmill days.
Back through the woods, we passed the place were the big planer was situated. The only remnant now was a tiled floor, it was really hard to realize how this place looked only about 50 years ago. The trees do a good job taking back the nature, if you let them be.
Close to this place, we thought that the dirt on the ground looked strange, until we realized that it was sawdust that we walked on. Pretty long decomposing time for this matter!
Right after we arrived on the island(s) during the morning, we just passed the museum since it was closed. Now on the other hand it was time to pay it a visit. 
A lot of artifacts and photos told about life in the sawmill society, but the most interesting part of the exhibit was the scale model of Norrbyskär during its high time. Piles and piles of sawed board everywhere.
Next to the museum there was houses built in scale 1:3, all prepared for the kids to get a view of the daily life of the early 19th century.
We finished our trip with a visit to "Kalmar'n", the place where all the sawdust from the sawmill was transported to with cable cars and then shipped to the mainland.
The workers' houses here were in same style as the other wooden houses, but made of bricks instead.
Next to here was the big house for the manager. He had his own house, with stables next to it. The area was marked with a fence, so that the workers wouldn't come too close.
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