Greetings from Borghamn
Old picture postcards tell

Greetings from Borghamn
Old picture postcards tell

Guest rooms and harbour, 1912

Greetings from Borghamn: Guest rooms and harbour, 1912

Greetings from Borghamn: Guest rooms and harbour, 1912

After the Crown Work Corps left Borghamn, the Borghamn Tourist Hotel (“Ombergspensionatet”) was established in the facility. The former officers' mess became an inn with a kitchen and restaurant. Guest rooms were created in the “new barracks” by the harbour. The building was later named “Stora Annexet” (the Large Annex) and is now called “Baltzar.”

Drottning Omma's hillfort and Borgs Udde can be seen in the background.

Note the wooden pier on the right. It was replaced in the 1940s by a stone pier using the same technique as the other piers.

Photo: Beckmann Collection

More picture postcards from Borghamn can be found on the page Greetings from Borghamn.

Train accident on F.W.Ö. Railway on 8 May 1907

Greetings from Borghamn: Train accident on F.W.Ö. Railway on 8 May 1907

Greetings from Borghamn: Train accident on F.W.Ö. Railway on 8 May 1907

Derailment at Bårstad bog between Rogslösa and Borghamn on the Fågelsta–Vadstena–Ödeshög railway, FVÖJ, on 8 May 1907. The train was on its way to Ödeshög when a break occurred on a carriage axle. The wagons were loaded with sugar in sacks, which were going to Ödeshög. No one was injured.

In 1874, the narrow-gauge railway from Vadstena to Fågelsta was put into operation. The company was financed by Vadstena town. This gave the town a connection to the Hallsberg-Motala-Mjölby railway and the modern transport infrastructure.

A new company was formed and the line was extended via Hästholmen to Ödeshög in 1888. In Hästholmen, a branch line led to the harbour.

This connection contributed greatly to the development of tourism on Omberg: a railway hotel was built at Alvastra station and the tourist hotel on the southern slope of Omberg (1892). Borghamn Turisthotell (Ombergspensionatet) followed in 1900, Gyllenhammars Pensionat in Borghamn in 1914 and Stocklycke vandrarhem in 1934.

Freight traffic was limited. The accident on 8 May 1907, just before the entrance to Borghamn, remained the only one during regular hours. The railway between Vadstena, Hästholmen, and Ödeshög has been closed since 1958. The Vadstena-Fågelsta section remains Sweden's oldest-narrow gauge railway in operation (museum railway WFJ with summer traffic and bicycle draisine hire).

Photo: Swedish Railway Museum

Borghamn's crown labour station, ca. 1880

Greetings from Borghamn: Borghamn's crown labour station, ca. 1880

Greetings from Borghamn: Borghamn's crown labour station, ca. 1880

Borghamn was bought by the state in 1842 and a crown labour station was established. It took over a decade before the old buildings of the Göta Canal Company were replaced by new buildings.

First, the old barracks (today's "Omma") were built, then the new hospital (today's "Husmor") with the sergeant's (fanjunker's) apartment. In 1878–79, it was time for the new bakery and kitchen as an extension of the old barracks and the new barracks ("Baltzar") with the police station. These three buildings characterize the image of Borghamn .

The photo was taken after the new barracks were built, i.e., 1880 or a little later. At this time, the old quarry was being filled in south of the "Kommendanten", i.e., south of the earth cellars located there. We clearly see an entrance to one of the cellars. The cellar is shown on contemporary maps but probably no longer exists.

Korpås 1952

Greetings from Borghamn: Korpås 1952. Photo: AB Flygtrafik

Greetings from Borghamn. The photo shows Korpås in 1952.

The photo was taken by AB Flygtrafik in 1952 and shows the "geographical centre" of Borghamn, Korpås, from the north. In the middle of the picture, we see Gyllenhammars Pensionat and "Emmavillan", Logen Omberg in the Borgshult quarter to the left, and Borghamn station to the right. The road, which runs through the picture, is the old connection between Västerlösa (Gård) and the Bårstad part of Borghamn.

Claes Westling writes: "Now, not only was the railway station located in the middle of the village, but the railway yard also happened to be in the way for all. Between the waiting hall and the tracks with the platform was the shortest route through the village and therefore frequently used by everyone, except car traffic. Signs on both sides of the station yard indicated that vehicular traffic past the station house was prohibited under penalty of a fine, but leading a bicycle across the yard was OK. However, mercy on anyone who was in a hurry and did not get off the bike when the stationmaster was an eyewitness; then there was scolding and the threat of a report to the constable. This, of course, made it a bit of a sport to cycle unnoticed and quickly across the station area.""

Only after the closure of the railway in 1958 was today's Hovanäsvägen created, providing a better connection to Borghamnsvägen and the turning point for bus traffic.

Borghamn, Hotellet, 1900, picture postcard posted 1904

Greetings from Borghamn: Borghamns Turisthotell, 1900, Beckmann Collection

A greeting from Borghamn. The card shows Borghamn's Tourist Hotel (Ombergspensionatet), main building, 1900.

After the Crown Labour Corps left Borghamn, Borghamn's Tourist Hotel—also called Ombergspensionatet—was established in the former officers' mess on "Liden". In addition to the glazed veranda facing the lake, which had already existed during the era of the prison, there was a two-storey veranda facing east. A similar one was erected a little later on the west side. The whole glory was demolished when the tourist hotel became the school headmaster's residence in 1959.

The house is today privately owned and part of the listed site (former Borghamn school).

Borghamns Touristhotel, "Guesthouse"

A greeting from Borghamn: Borghamn's Tourist Hotel, Guesthouse, Beckmann Collection

Greetings from Borghamn. The picture postcard shows the "guesthouse" of Borghamn's Tourist Hotel, date unknown.

From 1842 to 1894, Borghamn was a "work station of the crown" under the direction of the "Kronoarbetskåren", i. e. the crown's work corps. During this period, much of the building work that still dates back to the founding years of Göta Kanalgesellschaft was modernised, and in 1879/1880 this "new" barracks was the last new building to be constructed.

After the prison was closed, Borghamn's Turist Hotel, also known as the "Ombergspensionatet", was established in the former officers' mess. The guest rooms, on the other hand, were set up on the upper floors of the "new" barracks at the harbour. The picture shows the original form of the building, in which arrest cells on the ground floor and the first floor are recognizable. In later years, the southern part of the building was rebuilt. On the upper floor, accommodation rooms were created instead of the prison cells, while the heating room was installed on the ground floor. When this happened is unclear.

Even today, a remaining arrest window on the southwest side reminds us of the former purpose of the building.

Aerial view of Borghamn, before 1961

A greeting from Borghamn: Aerial view of Borghamn, before 1961, Beckmann Collection

A greeting from Borghamn. The postcard shows old Borghamn from the air and was taken before 1961.

The Vadstena Folkhögskola Association founded the country housekeeping school in 1923 on the former premises of Kronoarbetskåren. The barracks became classrooms, and the large annex was turned into a sewing and weaving room. On the upper floor of the barracks, a teacher's flat and later a headmaster's flat were created. The students were housed in the former commander's house and other buildings.

In 1972, the housekeeping school was renamed Borghamnskola; ten years later, the boarding school was taken over by the municipality of Vadstena. In 1992, the focus of the school shifted to the children's and leisure programme. Five years later, the school moved to Vadstena (Vadstena Gymnasiet). From 1997 to 2017, a youth hostel was operated on the premises. Today, the complex belongs to Borghamn Strand.

The picture shows old Borghamn from the air, long before the great changes of 1972, when Norra Sjövägen was given a direct connection to Borghamnsvägen through the filled quarry. The extension of the quarry to the east is clearly visible. In the picture, the entrance to the harbour starts at the chestnut alley and leads from there directly to the "Kommendanten".

The house with the gymnastics hall ("Leutnant") had not yet been built. However, the old quarry from 1842, which is partly still preserved today, is clearly visible.

The fishing boats are neatly lined up next to each other. At that time, there was hardly any trace of leisure boats.

View from Bårstad's lime kiln before 1960

Greetings from Borghamn: View from Bårstad’s lime kiln, before 1960

The picture postcard shows the view from Bårstad's lime kiln and was taken before 1960.

The lime kiln at Bårstad's limestone quarry was put into operation in 1908, after its predecessor on Hovanäset had been shut down. It was in operation until 1960 and was blown up around 1970. A small hill by the tennis court opposite the water-filled quarry is a reminder of it.

The picture shows Hovanäsvägen in the foreground, i. e. the way from the railway station in Borghamn to Hovanäsudden, and the "fishing village" behind towards the shore of Lake Vättern.

The settlement here in the Bårstad part of Borghamn developed from the beginning of the 19th century and had fishing as its economic background. In 1940, there were 28 families who earned their living from fishing. The inhabitants of the lakeside estates had their own small harbours and bridges, which still exist.

Bårstad's limestone quarry, Borghamn, ca. 1910

Greetings from Borghamn: Bårstad's limestone quarry, Borghamn, ca. 1910

Greetings from Broghamn. The postcard shows Bårstad's limestone quarry and was taken around 1910.

The limestone quarry in Bårstad started operations around 1860 and supplied the Hovanäset site business, which had been founded by Hagelin from Mjölby, a farm owner in Bårstad. These included the distillery, mill and lime kiln, stonemasonry and dairy at the barn on Trädgårdsudden, as well as their own boat harbour. Limestone was transported to the headland on its own industrial track (3-foot gauge). Remains of earlier activities can still be seen there (see Östgöta Dals hembygdsgård).

This was an entrepreneurial company. For example, they produced "Puderette", a mixture of fertiliser, peat and lime, i. e. a predecessor of today's flower and plant soil.

After 1900, the company on Hovanäset was closed down. A new lime was built in 1908 beside the limestone quarry itself. The stonemasonry was also relocated to the limestone quarry.

The limestone quarry and lime kiln were in operation there until 1961, when the company ceased operations. The demand for lime had decreased, and the quality of Bårstad's limestone was not as good as that of Borghamn,s limestone quarry. The lime kiln was blown up in 1972. A small hill at the tennis court still serves as a reminder of it.

Today, the limestone quarry in Bårstad is filled with water and is used for fish farming.

Borghamns Turisthotell, 1939

A greeting from Borghamn: Borghamns Turisthotell, 1939

A greeting from Borghamn. The picture postcard shows "Borghamns Turisthotell" and was taken in 1939.

The narrow-gauge railway between Vadstena and Ödeshög was opened in 1888. This marked the beginning of tourism on the Omberg: Omberg's Turisthotell in Alvastra was inaugurated in 1892, Gyllenhammar's boarding house in Borghamn in 1914, and the youth hostel in Stocklycke in 1934.

Thanks to the railway connection, it had become easy for the inhabitants of nearby cities to get to the Omberg.

Borghamns Turisthotell, also called "Ombergspensionat", was established in the former officers' mess of the Kronoarbetskår, a military disciplinary corps, a little bit above the harbour facilities, i.e. today's Borghamn Strand. This was the original location of the Göta Canal company's engineers' accommodation. The military built a larger house with a glazed veranda and a view across Lake Vättern.

After the military had left Borghamn in 1894, the mess was turned into an inn and then into a tourist hotel. Guest rooms were located on the upper floor of the large outbuilding in the harbour. It is unknown when the two-storey side verandas were added.

The hotel was closed in 1957. One year later, the railway to Hästholmen and Ödeshög was closed. The century of automobile tourism began. The rector of the rural household school lived here for several years. After that, there was a scout home here. At times, the rooms were also used by the youth hostel. At last "Liden", as the building was called, stood empty. In 2017, the plots of the former Turisthotell and the harbour with its buildings were separated from Omberg's Ecopark. "Liden" was sold by Sveaskog in 2017 and is now a summer house which is being renovated by the new owner.

View over Borghamn on Lake Vättern, 1909

A greeting from Borghamn: View of Borghamn on Lake Vättern, 1909. Photo: Jvm.KCAC12384

A greeting from Borghamn. The picture postcard shows "Borghamn" and was taken about 1909.

A view of the harbour with its buildings and the headland Hovanäset in the background. One sailboat is at the small pier, another has moored at the "bondbryggan" ("Farmers' Bridge").

The postcard is archived in the Swedish Railway Museum. The connection to the railway is—as in the last greeting and hardly visible—the industrial narrow-gauge railway of the quarry, which led past the small house in the middle of the picture on the right.

The picture shows the old and new access roads to the harbour as well as the bakery. The bakery still exists today. However, the house is in an irreparable condition.

The postcard is related to the railway. It is archived in the digital collection of Sweden's Railway Museum (Sveriges Järnvägsmuseums samlingsportal) (Jvm.KCAC12384).

Ombergspensionatet (Borghamn Turisthotell), 1900

Greetings from Borghamn: Ombergspensionatet (Borghamn Touristhotel), 1900. Photo: Jvm.KCAC12383

A greeting from Borghamn. The postcard shows the "Ombergspensionat", i. e. Borghamn Tourist Hotel and was taken around 1900.

The disciplinary work corps of the Crown (kronoarbetskåren), with soldiers and prisoners, had left Borghamn in 1894, and the former officers' mess started to be used as an inn around 1900. The "Tourist Hotel" quickly developed and became part of the development of tourism on the Omberg after the construction of the railway between Vadstena and Ödeshög in 1888: Omberg's Turisthotell in Alvastra opened its doors in 1892, then Borghamn Turisthotell, Gyllenhammars Pensionat in 1914, and finally Stocklycke Vandrarhem.

The photo of the "Turisten" was taken before the large verandas were built, which we know from other pictures.

Lilla Fridhem (built 1875) can be seen at the left edge. The house belongs to the development on the old village road (Svängavägen) from Västerlösa Gård to Omberg (Borg). Only Hagalund (also called Kransen) and the barn near Svängen are left of this development. And an older building on Brottsledet. The remaining properties were redeemed by the quarry as it expanded south towards Skedet.

The picture was probably taken from a place at the old harbour entrance. In the foreground you can see the quarry's light railway, which came from the inner harbour and the two nearest piers and branched into the quarry at a switch on two tracks.

The postcard has a connection to the railway. It is archived in the digital collection of Sweden's Railway Museum (Sveriges Järnvägsmuseums samlingsportal) (Jvm.KCAC12383).