Rebuilt on its wing’s site in 1996, \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd stands as a reminder of times gone by. This building is more than just bricks and mortar. It echoes with centuries of history. \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd has witnessed the ebb and flow of generations.
Let’s step back in time. Imagine yourself in 1397. A purchase document mentions \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd. It was then called Elpta. A knight named Bl\u00e5panna sold it to Rutger Kroell. Kroell was a merchant in Stockholm.
During the 1500s and 1600s, \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd changed hands several times. After 1560, it became a tax-exempt farm. It was under Tyres\u00f6 Castle’s control. In 1625, the Crown took over.
In the 1620s, Matthias Soop acquired \u00c4lta. In 1642, the name was written as Altadh. For part of the 1700s, \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd was under Erstavik. It operated as a tenant farm then. During the 1800s, \u00c4lta became a Crown farm again.
From 1816 to 1834, Bernhard and his wife leased the farm. They also worked the Hedvigslund farm. That farm still exists. It gave its name to one of \u00c4lta’s residential areas.
Franz Witte owned \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd in the late 1800s. He started dividing the land. He created plots for holiday homes and villas. Witte acquired \u00c4lta in 1880. He farmed it between 1890 and 1908.
In 1908, AB Witte & Co took over the land sales. They continued into the 1930s. Edvin Landholm was one of the last tenants. He leased \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd until 1938.
The main building was torn down in 1934. It was damaged by rot and mold. But it was rebuilt in 1996. It was rebuilt on the wing’s site. The old building served as a model. A tiled stove is all that remains of the original interior. A preschool has been located in the \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd since 2007.
Lovisedalstorpet belonged to \u00c4lta. Originally, it stood at Erstaviksv\u00e4gen and K\u00e4llmossv\u00e4gen. The cottage dates back to the 1700s. It is still preserved. In the 1990s, it was moved to its current location near \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd. It forms the southeastern wing. The building is \u00c4lta’s oldest preserved structure. The “Association Council in \u00c4lta” uses it.
So, as you stand here at \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd, remember its journey. It is a journey from a knight’s sale to a modern preschool. It has seen farmers and real estate developers. The \u00c4lta g\u00e5rd stands as a symbol of \u00c4lta’s enduring spirit.