Knusbacka farm was formed in 1777, as the farm Storfinnas was devided between Erik Johansson’s sons, Johan and Fredrik. The latter moved to a hill (Swe. knös/knus) and as such the farm was kalled Knusbacka. Fredrik’s mother, Anna Henriksdotter, moved out with him and it is said that the division of Storfinnas was her idea. Fredrik owned Knusbacka for 40 years, and after him his widow Anna Claesdotter lived here until 1834, when their son Gustav took over. Gustav Fredriksson changed his last name to Stenfors. His daughter Vilhelmina and her husband Johan Hindrik, who also took the namn Stenfors, lived in Knusbacka until Wilhelmina’s death in 1906 and Johan’s in 1910.
Knusbacka farmstead in Herttoniemi in 2019. EAW.
In 1919 the company Svenska småbrukare bought the farm and donated the buildnings to the society Svenska Odlingens Vänner i Helsinge (SOV). At this time SOV had aquired Hertonäs Manor and planned a museum at the manor. In 1922 the first buildning was moved from Sipoo to Herttoniemi. The move cost both time and money and hence it took a decade to move all the buildnings. Only a few smaller buildnings were left in Sipoo.
Objects from the everday life of the peasants were collected in the 1910s and more were collected by Arne Appelgren in the 1920s. Some of the objects derive from Helsinge that Herttoniemi was a part of until 1946, ad some derive from Eastern Uusimaa. The are north of the main buildning of Hertonäs Manor was probably planned to form an open air museum (such as Seurasaari) for Finnish-Swedish culture. The old mill that still stands next to Linnanrakentajantie, was moved here from Western Uusimaa. Nowadays it is a symbol used by Restaurant Wanha Mylly (the Old Mill) in the area.
In 1932 the last buildning, the main buildning in Knusbacka, was moved to Herttoniemi. The following year Knusbacka farmstead was opened to the public as a museum. A big feast was held for 1000 visitors.
The society SOV still ownes Knusbacka farmstead and takes care of the area as a museum. Nowadays DOT r.f. arranges timetravels A Day in the Countryside here since 2004. Knusbacka is also open in different occasions during the summer and autumn. Our guided tours usually end here in Knusbacka that represents life of the Finnsh-Swedish peasantry. The museum will open Sunday 7th August at noon and then you have the opportunity to also visit Knisbacka on out guided tour that starts at 2 PM. Welcome!
The porch of Knusbacka farmstead's main buildning in 2019. EAW.
Sources:
Backman, Sigbritt 2016: Hertonäs gård. Från säterier till museum. SOV: Helsingfors.
Backman, Sigbritt 2013: Tidsresa med Svenska Odlingens Vänner i Helsinge. SOV: Helsingfors.