Gråklubben - the old lighthouse at Skagsudde

Mrs. Norman has always enjoyed herself at the lighthouse. The Lindströms had 13 children. In addition, there were more
two families on the island, the lighthouse keeper KH Holmqvist and the lighthouse keeper LR Sjöstedt.

The guards at the lighthouse were divided into four-hour shifts. It was a matter of keeping an eye out around the clock
the fog, the foghorn would be switched on at the fog. Naturally, there was a bit of this and that with that
get ashore many times when there was a storm or the ice neither carried nor broke. They bought a home
pork and dry milk so you could get by for a longer period.

INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLD

They did the baking and fishing themselves. Lindström was out hunting seals as best he could
use for a lot. From them you got grease and tar that could be used for the boats in
instead of linseed oil. There was never any concern with the heat. Strandwood floated in to the island i
sufficient amount, the fired man with. At some point it could happen that you bought birch wood
for a nicer fire.

One problem was the fresh water. There was a well on the island, but it was dry in the summer and
freeze in winter. Back then you had to take water from the mainland in large milk bottles. In the winter it worked
to melt snow. Seawater could be used for dishes and washing. But it was clean water because it
where there was a current around the island, the water constantly changed.

The gray club was bare and gray. But there were small trees, alder and maple and currant bushes.
Firemaster Holmqvist tried to arrange a blockage of his own. He rowed land from the mainland and out to
Island. Daisies, cornflowers and mulberries grew on the island.

STORMY

Of course, life on the island was greatly influenced by the weather. It could storm so the windows broke
in the engine room. At the lighthouse keeper's residence, there were shutters that could be put over the windows when
the storm moved on. It was windy and usually cold and the springs were long.

- It is clear that there were bright times, it was not always a storm, says Mrs. Norman.

FIRST MOTOR BOAT

Lindström was the first to acquire a motorboat in these areas. It was built in 1922-23.
It was equipped with a Wickström engine that Lindström changed to when the boat arrived.
The motorboat is now in the safe custody of the Grundsunda Hembygdsförening. Already at the age of 7-8
Mrs. Norman drove the boat herself, she says. Then she went to the mainland and shopped and
picked up the mail. On the way home, the engine could strike. Then it was just a matter of rowing and sucking on
the breast sugar you bought. For 5 öre you got a big piece. The thing about driving a boat then was not
more remarkable than when ladies drive now.

THE PHONE WILL COME

In 1928 or 29 the telephone came to the island. Before that, the only option was to communicate with
outside world to go by boat to the mainland. Pulling the phone cord turned out to be one
problem. First it was drawn to the top of the lighthouse across the strait. The cable soon blew off. MAN
tried to put the cable in the water, but it was worn out by the sea heave and the ice.

13 children like Lindström's were, accidents should happen at some point. That somebody
falling into the water happened a little now and then, but no one has drowned, says Mrs. Norman. Awhile
did you have a cat on the island. That cat was the cause of a nasty incident. It was fresh snow and the cat
had gone out on the ice spring. One of the brothers followed the cat onto the ice, which did not carry him.
Someone saw it and alerted Lindström, who was able to follow the tracks to the edge of the ice.
Lindström picked up the boy. It was the most serious incident.

RICH BIRD LIFE

There were a lot of birds at Gråklubben. Swallows built a nest in the lighthouse. Other birds built in
krevor on the island. Waste was thrown into the crevices and the birds ate it.

- You were afraid of the birds, it was a company. Firemaster Holmqvist got himself a big one
called a motor boat called Skag.

- It was more fun to go with Skag, it was nicer...

On the third day of Christmas 1925 Mrs. Lindström gave birth to twins. Midwife Mrs. Lindblom from Banafjäl
could not come ashore but had to remain on the island for three weeks. Mostly wife gave birth
Lindström his children in 1and. In February 1929, she came home in a truck to the island with a newborn son.

TO THE MAINLAND

In 1934 the family moved to the mainland, not least to facilitate schooling. Lindstrom
remained on the island. When he was home, he would always put in the lit kerosene lamp
the window that faced land. From the residence on the mainland you could see the island. When the light shone
did anyone know that Lindström had returned to the island.

There is still no electric light at Gråklubben. It was there all along as the lighthouse
only kerosene candles were available.

Now the houses at Gråklubben are summer cottages. But other people own them. The island was sold for
a few years ago, but then the Lindströmars didn't think about buying.

The lighthouse has been taken down and is now located in Bureå.

- Better if it was allowed to remain as an attraction for the coast. The lighthouse belongs here.
Now Mrs. Norman's motorboat goes past the island and looks, but it's not like it used to be when you went ashore.

- It's still like a home even though you've moved away from it.

Article in, probably, Örnsköldsviks Allehanda, date unknown. Sometime after 1965, when the lighthouse
was dismantled and moved to Jävre south of Piteå

An image for the article. View towards Gråklubben from the lake southwest of the island.
Caption: The gray club as it looked before the lighthouse was shut down, and as it has looked for as long as
the lighthouse stood there. The Lindström family lived in the house on the far left. The lighthouse keeper had his
residence in the house behind the lighthouse. On the far right is the engine house with the foghorn.