Elin Mathilda Larsson

Getting around

Steamboat travel vs. carriages

In the 1870s, travel by steamboat between Umeå and Stockholm was considered more comfortable and cheaper than using horse-drawn carriages on poor country roads, taking four to five days to complete.

At the table

Hard rye bread stored on ceiling poles

Families often stored hard rye bread on poles hung from the kitchen ceiling, sometimes baking it only four times a year. In Jonsered, children dipped their dry bread into tall cups of coffee to soften it before eating.

What people wore

Going barefoot to save shoes

Due to a shortage of leather, it was common for rural people to go barefoot from the time snow melted until late autumn, sometimes even applying layers of tar to their feet to protect them against rough terrain.

Music

Herding Calls in Mountain Pastures

Women working in mountain pastures used a distinct vocal technique called kula or other dialectal names to communicate with cattle over distances up to 5 kilometers. This powerful, high-pitched call was used for hours during their 3-4 month stays in the pastures.

Daily life

Iron stoves replaced open hearths

During the late 19th century, iron kitchen stoves became popular and more affordable, allowing households to heat homes more efficiently and improve cooking compared to traditional open hearths. These stoves were often so hot that residents began using double glazing on windows to keep ice from forming on the glass during winter.