The 1891 founding of Djurgårdens IF at Alberget 4A

At Alberget 4A, the roots of Djurgårdens IF reach back to 1891. The club first gathered in a café that no longer exists, though a small sign on the wrought iron gate reminds visitors of one of the initiators, the circus athlete Axel Öfverstén.

Starting in the late 1700s, the area contained three small farms. These were acquired by the trading house of Jacob de Ron & söner in 1812, who managed a timber yard here for more than a century. During the 1780s, the firm was a large exporter of bar iron, and they also owned Svabensverks bruk in southern Hälsingland.

History eventually split the property into two paths. While 4A became a residence for families and wealthy merchants like the racing driver Joakim Bonnier, the eastern building known as 4B evolved into a maritime school after 1882. The Abraham Rydberg Foundation provided free training for young sailors who lived on a ship moored just below the garden.

In the eastern building, a room is decorated to remind visitors of the maritime school, featuring a figurehead and an inscription to Abraham Rydberg. Furthermore, the garden contains a skittle alley from 1848 that was moved here from Norra Djurgården in the 1960s.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons