STEAMBOATS
The boats that trafficked the coast were Fama, Flora, Freya, Avance, Linnea, Sylfid and the bigger boats Bönan I, Bönan II and Bomhus I. The Bönan boats had two decks and took up to 190 passengers. They departed from Sehlberg’s bridge, where Elite Grand Hotel is located today.
Ships, politics, beer, tobacco and coffee
Among BG Kronbergs steamboat travelers from 1888, we find among others merchant Vict Th Engwall who had his summerhouse on Lyckan, next door. Vict Th Engvall had a substantial shipping business and traded with coffee among other things. In 1920, this coffee was launched under the brand Gevalia (Gävle in Latin).Merchant John Rettig lived in Villa Brynäs on the south side of Gavle bay. John owned the tobacco factory PC Rettig & Co. and also performed extensive ship building operations and shipping.
BG Kronberg, Vict Th Engvall and John Rettig were all prominent merchant in Gävle during this time and the discussions on the steam ships might well have been about ships, politics, beer, tobacco and coffee.
One of the city's major shipbuilders, O. A. Brodin, whose magnificent summer home Mariebergs was located close to Engeltofta, was another good friend of Kronberg.
Further north, city architect EA Hedin (who designed Engeltofta) had his beautiful summer home at Tomtebo. During this time, merchant Axel Brandt stayed in the magnificent Villa Sjötorp.
Timetable 1888 for the Bönan boats, docks and owner of the dock/villa
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Docks Villa Brynäs Katrineborg |
Owner of the dock/villa John Rettig Löjtnant Lindahl, Guldsmed Kling Isaac Westergren |