In November 1884 Erik went back to Stockholm. He didn't return to his old stomping ground on Jakobsgatan, rather, he settled down in the Maria Parish at 46 Timmermansgatan.
My initial attempt at finding 46 Timmermansgatan on a Google map took me to a small walk-up restaurant called Thai Oasen. It didn't take long to realize that the actual 46 Timmermansgatan was behind it.
When we walked up to the building we weren't at all sure if it was the same one that existed at that address in 1884. There was an addition on the front which was definitely too new. But my structural engineer, brick expert husband found some clues that led us to believe parts of the original structure might - might - be old enough.
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| 46 Timmermansgatan today |
But as I was researching for this blog I went to my favorite Stockholm photo archive website and a photo titled "46 Timmermansgatan" popped up. I'm quite confident this was the building he actually lived in.
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| 46 Timmermansgatan in the 1880s |
I was also able to find several other photos of adjacent and surrounding buildings taken around the time Erik would have lived there. We can really get the flavor of the neighborhood.
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| 42 and 44 Timmermansgatan |
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| Directly across the street from 46 Timmermansgatan looking down Bengt Ekehjelmsgatan |
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| About 1/2 block away from 46 Timmermansgatan looking down Högbergsgatan |
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| A grocery store about a block away at the corner of Timmermansgatan and Hornsgatan |
Concerning the grocery store on the corner:
A housewife of today would probably not, without absolutely compelling reason, set foot in such a room, if such are now found. There were often sawdust on the floor. The herring barrels were left on the side of the counter where customers waited. Butter was never packed. It usually lay in a barrel on the counter with the open lid facing out. Meat and pork also lay on the counter, exposed to everyone's fingers. Wrapping paper was usually old magazines. Bags used when weighing flour, sugar, coffee and the like were "inflated" by the assistant before filling the goods in the bag. If he coughed at the same time no one cared. Caramels, which was a "big" item, were sold in strut, which the assistant did for a customer of newsprint and then grabbed hold of his more or less clean hands directly into the caramel jar.
Coincidentally, a well-named restaurant currently exists on Timmermansgatan near Erik's former residence. (No relation that I'm aware of unfortunately.) I credit Diane's husband, Scott, for the photos.
Living just a few blocks away from Erik on Brännkyrkagatan was Josephina Albertina Helena Engström, the woman who would later become his wife.
Living just a few blocks away from Erik on Brännkyrkagatan was Josephina Albertina Helena Engström, the woman who would later become his wife.
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| The corner of Brännkyrkagatan and Timmermansgatan |
The old buildings may be gone, but at least we were able to walk on the exact same streets as Erik and Josephina.
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| Brännkyrkagatan near Josephina's home |
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| Brännkyrkagatan today |
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