Famous people from the Old Town

Sigfrid Aronus Forsius, Astronomer

 

Sigfrid Aronus Forsius was one of the foremost researchers of the Renaissance, who combined scientific thinking with medieval superstitions. He was born in Helsinki in the middle of the 16th century and died in 1624 in Ekenäs. He is believed to have studied at Uppsala University. He was a versatile talent devoted to astrology, astronomy, mathematics, and natural philosophy. He was a writer, priest, psalmist and for some time had the exclusive right from the Swedish king to publish almanacs.

He seems to have been, among other things. as a preacher at the cathedral in Reval (Tallinn), professor of astronomy at Uppsala University and church pastor in Stockholm. He was jailed in Sweden a few times for his views, and lived a stormy life. He was criticized for his "endless drinking ability" and his wife was not much better. The couple was known for their loud arguments.

In the end, the king had enough and deported him in 1620 to Ekenäs where he became church pastor. A memorial stone to him stands at the eastern end of the church, and a street in Ekenäs bears his name.

Helene Schjerfbeck, Artist

 

The artist Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946) lived with her mother in Hyvinge from 1902 to 1925. She then moved to Ekenäs and lived here from 1925-1941, having previously hired rooms during the summer in the town. One of her houses was at Södra Strandgatan 16. She also painted portraits of her landlord Sigrid Nyberg, and the red cabin with a black basement door found in the courtyard is also depicted in one of her paintings.

 

In this house, Schjerfbeck rented rooms for a couple of summers.

After her mother's death, she settled permanently in Ekenäs in a now-demolished wooden house on the street that was then called Perspektivet, at the intersection of Raseborgsvägen, Långgatan and Gustav Vasa's gatan. She painted several of her best-known paintings in Ekenäs.

When the war broke out in 1941, Schjerfbeck moved first to Tenala, then to Lovisa and finally to Luontola Sanatorium in Nummela. In 1944, she moved to Saltsjöbadens bath hotel outside Stockholm, on the initiative of her art dealer and benefactor Gösta Stenman. She died in Stockholm in 1946 and is buried at Sandudd's funeral home in Helsinki.

A small permanent exhibition called "Helene Schjerfbeck - life and art" with some of her paintings and personal items can be found at the Raseborg Museum in Ekenäs.

The guide Anne Ingman takes on the role of Helene Schjerfbeck during her tours of the Old Town (+358 40 965 0491).

 

Alfons Takolander, Director

Alfons Takolander (1875-1935) was the director of Ekenäs seminary which trained primary school teachers. He was also a school counselor and honorary theology doctor. In addition to his pedagogical work, he was able to occupy himself as a scientist, writer, poet, collector and composer of hymns, and participate in local government.

His widow lived for many years after his death in their home at Södra Strandgatan 8.

 

 

The house of Alfons Takolander

Dido, Policeman

The legendary policeman ‘Dido’ (Viktor Selenius 1877-1956) lived on Hattmakeregatan in the Old Town. There are many funny stories and anecdotes about him. One of them took place in the Old Town, where he patrolled the narrow alleyways. It was a hot summer day, the windows in the low houses were open and he passed a house in which a telephone rang. He stopped, noticed that no one was home, put his hand through the open window, took the handset and said, “There’s nobody here to answer the phone right now”.

 

 

Dido also worked as an organist and bell-ringer in the church.