Vår Gård & KF

That was the thinking of the members in 1899 when the Swedish Cooperative Association (KF) was formed, based on the need for cheaper and better goods. Our history has much in common and we still share our cultural heritage and values ​​in the same place that has always focused on the meeting of people.

The entrepreneurs behind the business idea Saltsjöbaden came about when the brothers Wallenberg and Ernest Thiel were on holiday with their families on the French Riviera in Trouville. They were fascinated by the lively French coast with its beautiful houses, restaurants, railways and stately hotels. Why not create something similar back home in Stockholm? The inspiration led to the idea of ​​building a fancy seaside resort. Now it was a matter of finding the right location to build on. The place with the most hours of sunshine had to decide and the choice ended up between Tyresö and Saltsjöbaden. As is well known, Saltsjöbaden took home the victory.

Starting this major project proved to be very costly and there were some doubts and disagreements between the gentlemen. One of the Wallenberg brothers thought that it would ruin the bank. When they could not agree, Knut came up with an idea. He invited everyone to his villa in Djursholm and proposed a competition that would decide the fate of the idea. Whoever jumped the furthest into the water from the bathhouse roof would decide whether the project would go ahead or not. Ernest Thiel, who was one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the idea, took the plunge and jumped the furthest of all. This was the start of Saltsjöbaden as a new exclusive seaside resort. Stressed inner-city residents of Stockholm could travel here to enjoy fresh sea air, nice swimming and an elegant lifestyle.

The Wallenberg brothers and Ernest Thiel initiated the project and after four years, Saltsjöbaden was inaugurated by King Oscar II on May 10, 1893. It was celebrated with great festivities when, among other things, the Grand Hotel, the railway and several buildings were completed. Oscar II often returned with his family and guests to spend the summers on Mellangårdsholmen or Kungsholmen as it was popularly called. Today, the islet belongs to Vår Gård and is called Vår Gårds Holme. A popular natural area for walks and swimming for our guests and locals.

Our magnificent building Villa Skärtofta was built in 1897 for engineer John Bernström who was then CEO of the machinery company AB Separator. Today the company is better known as Alfa Laval. Together with his wife and 11 children, John Bernström lived at Villa Skärtofta . He was a strong authoritarian and deeply religious. As an employer, he was hostile to socialist unions, which contributed to severe conflicts with the workers, which resulted in the political suffrage strike in 1902.
Today, Villa Skärtofta for conferences, concept dinners and other festive events. The newly opened Restaurant Skärtofta and Baren Tant Grön for fine dinners and pleasant evening hangouts.

In 1917, a proposal was raised within the Cooperative Federation to appoint an education committee. Harald Elldin, who was a school teacher and politician on the Värmland bench, was given responsibility for this. After a year, they had completed their work and the KF study department was started. First, you had to acquire knowledge through the KF correspondence institute, it was a kind of preliminary education which meant that you could apply for the Education Staircase which were short centrally arranged courses and these were initially held at various elementary schools around Sweden. One of these occasions was held in a villa in Neglinge which is located very close to Vår Gård . Albin Johansson, who was a legendary manager of KF, was present on this occasion and the very next day he took a broker out to find a suitable area for KF to build its operations on. It ended with them receiving an offer from AF Petersens to buy the land area which was then called Vårgård. Here were located Villa Bikupan and Ackevillan, which were rebuilt to be suitable for education. Canteens, school halls, practice shops and accommodation emerged. The purchase was completed in 1924 and in 1929 Villa Skärtofta .
In connection with the purchase in 1924, Harald Elldin was appointed principal at Vår gård and became a pioneer in adult education.