Vår Gård & KF

That's what the members thought in 1899 when the Cooperative Union (KF) was formed, based on the need for cheaper and better goods. Our history has a lot in common and we still share our cultural heritage and values ​​in the same place that has always had the meeting between people in focus.

The entrepreneurs behind the Saltsjöbaden business idea arose when the brothers Wallenberg and Ernest Thiel were on vacation with their families on the French Riviera in Trouville. They were fascinated by the bustling French coast with its beautiful houses, restaurants, railways and stately hotels. Why not create something similar at 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 being between Tyresö and Saltsjöbaden. As is known, it was Saltsjöbaden that took home the victory.

Starting this big project proved to be very costly and there was some doubt and disagreement between the gentlemen. One of the Wallenberg brothers believed that it would drag the bank into ruin. When they couldn't 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. The person who jumped furthest into the water from the roof of the bath house would get to decide whether the project would be completed or not. Ernest Thiel, who was one of the most driving forces behind the proposal, took the plunge and jumped the furthest of all. It was the start of Saltsjöbaden as a new exclusive seaside resort. Stockholm's stressed inner-city residents could travel here to enjoy fresh sea air, nice baths and an elegant lifestyle.

The brothers Wallenberg and Ernest Thiel started the project and after four years Saltsjöbaden was inaugurated by King Oscar II on May 10, 1893. Then it was celebrated with great festivities when, among other things, the Grand Hotel, the railway and several buildings were ready. 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 walking and swimming for our guests and local residents.

Our magnificent building Villa Skärtofta was built in 1897 for engineer John Bernström, who was then CEO of the machine 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 trade unions, which contributed to severe conflicts with the workers which came to be a consequence of the political suffrage strike of 1902.
Today, Villa Skärtofta for conferences, concept dinners and other festive events. Here are also the newly opened Restaurant Skärtofta and Bar Tant Grön for fine dinners and pleasant evening hangouts.

In 1917, a proposal was raised within the Cooperative Union 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 finished their work and KF's study department was started. First, you had to acquire knowledge through KF's correspondence institute, it was a kind of pre-training which allowed you to apply for the Utbildningstrappan, 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 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 with him to find a suitable area for KF to build his business on. They ended up getting an offer from AF Petersens to buy the land area then called Vårgård. Villa Bikupan and Ackevillan were located here, which were rebuilt to be suitable for the 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 headmaster at Vår gård and became a pioneer in adult education.