Stenvallen Summer Farm in Mörkret, Särna

På svenska	Fulufjället	Pan Park

2004.05.23

More pictures from Stenvallen

Picture from ca 1890, Fulufjället in the background.

Stenvallen was the summerfarm for a homestead in Särnaheden. I don’t know how old it is, but ”Stens fäbodvall” was mentioned in a book from 1829.

The old road from Särna via Särnaheden to Mörkret - Njupeskär - Gördalen went between the houses in Stenvallen. In the 1880:es a few tourists found their way to Njupeskär. The waterfall and Stenvallen were mentioned in The Swedish Touring Club’s annual book of 1891.

The tourism increased and my ancestors decided to exploit it and planned for a life in Stenvallen. In the 1890:ies they built the two-storey building and opened a youth hostel. The wallpapers - newspapers - were even mentioned in The Swedish Touring Club’s annual book of 1908.

So far the only way to get to Mörkret summertime was to go walking or riding on the horseback. During the winter they used skis or horse and sledge. A road was planned to go quite near Stenvallen and my ancestors cultivated the big field, built the big barn and also a stable (which now is moved away) in order to offer accomondation for travellers and their horses. I think the family moved here in 1905-1907. I have been told that my grandmothers younger brother and sister went to school in Mörkret. Due to envy and disagreement between people the road to Mörkret, finished 1920, went too far from Stenvallen and the family moved back to Särnaheden.

My great grandmother, Knapp/Tysk Karin still used Stenvallen as summerfarm in the 1920:ies, but later she used another place during the summers.

Stenvallen was rented by other families, sometimes two at the same time. The same family rented it from 1938 until the 50:ies. They kept the place in good shape, neat and clean. Since they left the place nobody has used it. In the 1950:ies the tin roof was put on the two-storey building. 1963 my dad and uncle put a new roof on the smaller house after lots of begging from my grandmother Tysk Julia Jonasson (married name: Julia Tjern).

Except from the stable, one house has been moved and nothing else has happened. Lots of decay, of course. But on the other hand it has been left untouched. Most summer farms in the area has been split between siblings, houses have been moved, the original use of the houses has changed into fancy cottages, extended in more or less ugly ways. The barns have been turned into livingrooms with huge windows towards the best view, the old logwalls have been insulated and covered with panelwork. New houses have been built, playhouses, carports and junk not wanted at the regular home have completed the total ruin of the genuine environment.

My grandmother Julia who was the owner of Stenvallen, died in 1971. My mother, Tjern Karin (married name Carin Wall) and her brothers and sister could not come to any agreement on the inheritance. My grandfather, Harald Tjern, died in 1991. Still no agreement, rather like the opposite.... My mother, Carin, died in 1998. Finally, in 1999, I managed to force an agreement on them. I ended up with this farm, which I had longed for the last 25 years!

In spring 2000 my family went to Stenvallen the first time. For me it was the first time in at least 15 years. The place looked miserable. Small and big birch trees grew all over the place. The barn roof was on the ground. We were not at all happy. But, with saw and axe we cleared our way between the houses, an got happier and happier. In summer 2001 my husband, Sten, with som help tore down the whole chimney in the big house, we had bricklayers building a brand new chimney. Coming important projects are the well and the toilet.

The future: Dreams, and more dreams.

We have neither the money nor the knowledge to put the place in order. I have made an application to Länsstyrelsen for financial support, but they turned me down. They told me that it is a very valuable place, it is important to save it for the future, but no money from them.

We don’t want electricity. And (today) we don’t want a road all the way. The place wouldn’t be the same with a car in sight. We would like the restoration to be as oldfashioned and ecological as motivated. If tin roofs had been available 150 years ago, they wouldn’t have made wooden roofs....

We have already started out with ecological fight against mosquitoes and other biting bugs. Sten has put up about 25 nesting-boxes for bug-eating birds. He is very much ”for the birds” and rings them so he can see if they come back next year.

If the place was in order it would be a wonderful place for excursion for the guests in the area of Fulufjället.

* I would like to find a person who could have animals and a real summer farm here. Cows, sheep, goats, hens and a cat.
* A small café with coffee and homemade bread?
* Guided tours on the farm?
* Course in different old handicrafts?
* Course in felling trees ”the old fashion way” with axe and saw?
* Course in making/repairing fences and stone walls?
* Serving waffles to visitors on snow scooter or ski in the winter?
* Spying on owls? Sten i experimenting with an owl restaurant.
* Bird ringing?
And so on.......

Or how about horse and carriage fetching people down by the parking lot by the bridge across Fuluälven in Mörkret, taking them the gravel road by the lakes Trollsjöarna, coffebreake at open fire, guided walk the old trail from there to Stenvallen, lunch, guiding, walk down to the bridge?

Lots of activties can be done in cooperation with other actors to serve especially the guests in the nearby PAN Park Accommondation Village. And we really look forward to the exciting future in the area!

Inga Wall & Sten Hallin
Vita Villan
SE-790 90 SÄRNA
+46 253 105 64
Epost:

Producerat av Sten Hallin, SAGH
©2002 SAGH