Birthday interview with 90 years old Mrs. Katharina Ebbesson

One of the oldest inhabitants in Höganäs, Mrs. Katharina Ebbesson, is celebrating her 90th birthday the 12th of June. During a birthday interview the old lady is telling us some things from her past.

- My father was Ola Nyman and he worked at the factory in Höganäs. He worked there when they had to made the clay for the household utensils (containers) smooth with their naked feet. In wintertime it took quite a while before the frozen clay was thawed by the feet so you could hear the well known sound, kliss, klats, klis, klats. Poor old man, he often suffered with aches and gout through the years.

He was one of the few workers that was able to write. He was often asked to help others to read and write letters between parents and emigrants from Höganäs who had gone to America. Emigration to America was very common at that time. He once wrote a letter for a shareholders meeting in Höganäs in which he described the poor working conditions. This letter resulted in the workers' daily salary being raised with two skilling up to 20 skilling a day.

- What was school like during the time Mother grow up?

- School was voluntary, and from the "mine yard" there was only one girl, Per Bengt's Katharina, who went to school. She was lonely, so I got my parents permission to keep her company during a little more than one term . I learned to read quite well and at my graduation I was the only girl that got an award, as much as 50 öre. I was very proud.

My mother taught us early to be of help at home, and when there were many mouths to feed with little food we had to leave home early. I got my first job as a nursemaid at the age of 8. I remember how I sang of joy when I was on my way to my job in Lerhamn. Maybe Magnus, the boy is still alive! One of my sisters got job for a year at the age of 9.

- Wasn't there a job for a year for Mother too?

- I was the oldest girl and they needed me at home in wintertime to take care of the younger brothers and sisters. After my confirmation I got a job at a farm. There was always work to do. In wintertime you started 6 AM and worked all day until 9 in the evening. In the summertime the day of work lasted a couple of hours more. For the youngest maid the salary wasn't high, but the oldest maid had a yearly salary of 50 kronor and a couple pounds of wool. Sometimes you would get a Sunday afternoon free. Then you would willingly visit your parents, walking the way home in your wood slippers (trätofflor). If you were lucky enough to have they needed to be saved and last for many years.

I met my future husband, August Ebbesson, in 1871. We were married in 1872. In the beginning of our marriage he worked as a coal-miner, then he was in charge of Höganäsbolaget's butcher's for some years. After a period of time he started his own butcher business. It was a hard working life for both of us. During the years I was the mother of 12 children who required food and clothing. There were no cars driving around selling bread or things to drink at that time. You had to bake and brew your own bread and drink. In addition you had to weave and sew your own clothes. The sheep wool was washed and dried several times in the summertime. During the winter evenings I mitted and spun.

- There wasn't electric light then?

- No, no we worked in the light from our home made tallow candles even if the carne lamp at that time was out of most homes. After a time the kerosene lamp arrived and we were the lucky owners of one 10 lines lamp. In early spring the web was set. During the summer months, textiles for suits for the family were maid. During the fall months it was cut and sewn. If in time for Christmas I was able to get clothes ready for some of the boys, their great happiness were a great reward for all the work. During the years I became a "good" tailor. When the confirmation suit, which I had not had the honor to sew myself, was adjusted at home, I dared to think that my jackets fitted almost as well as those did.

Even though work took most of our time, I was able to spend many hours on my little passion, reading. One of my daughters in law said that she was astonished when she heard that a couple of years ago I had read "Dahns; Striden om Rom, (The battle of Rome) twice in two weeks. To my great regret I must admit that today I can't, even with glasses, see good enough to read.

As you see Mrs. Ebbesson has a lot of work behind her. We say thank you for the interview and also we want to wish her peace and quite during coming days for a remarkable old woman.

After a time of illness, Katharina died on May 26th 1939, She was one of the oldest inhabitants in Höganäs. Mrs. Katharina Ebbesson was the widow of the late August Ebbesson, Höganäs.

She was born June 12th, 1847 and was almost 92 years old when she died.

The deceased was born in Höganäs and was the daughter of factory worker Ola Nyman.

She started to work early. She has been a hard working and capable woman. She gave birth to 12 children. In her spare time she was very fond of reading and over the years she gathered much knowledge.

She is survived by her children who live in Höganäs and USA.