A Cup of Chicory Coffee Anyone?

During WWII from March 1940 you couldn't get real coffee because of the rationing. So people drank this stuff. Kaffesurrogat. Made from Chicory. So did I yesterday. At the old alehouse/district court building in Västerhaninge. These days that building is used by the homestead society, Haninge Hembygdsgille. I also enjoyed Kronans kaka. The recipe dates back to 1903, ingredients includes potatoes and almond. Served with lemon sauce. I also got a rye biscuit. All for 20SEK. Why? Because yesterday was a European Heritage Day.

The Homestead Society

Three photos from the Christmas Market that the homestead society arranged in Västerhaninge yesterday. On the top photo you can see Hans Widfond, the chairman of the society, Haninge Hembygdsgille, standing outside the Erikslunds cottage. A building that the society successfully has moved from Ramsdalen near Tyresta, to it's new location at the old courthouse in Västerhaninge that these days serves as the society's headquarters. The little cottage is now all that remains from what once was a small farm (3 ha), in rural Haninge. The farm was bought in 1870 by Per Erik Pehrsson and his wife Anna Sofia Forssberg. It was a tough life working as a farmer, and the family also operated a small laundry business. Their grandson Yngve Pettersson was interviewed by the historian and author Henry Hall from the society many years ago, and if you understand Swedish you can read more if you download these two PDF files from Haninge.org. On my visit yesterday I looked through a photo album with around 100 photos from Erikslund. Both old ones and some recent pictures from the work of tearing down and reassembling the building.

The old Alehouse

This is "Sotholms Härads Tingshus" in Västerhaninge. Built between 1731 and 1734. Then a pub (until 1844) and the district court, which it served as until 1916. It was also used as a post office, shop and as a private recidence. Today it is a museum, library and meeting place for the local historical association and a few other groups.