Carlsten Fortress - A very special day

I have been treated as a special guest at Carlstens Fortress. I had no idea Metta Fock was such a popular folk hero in Sweden. Everyone in the town of Marstand knows of her as a famous prisoner of the Carlstens Fortress. There have been books written about her, a movie and documentary and even a popular folk song written by Stephan Andersson.

One of the authors, Ann Rosman, lives in Marstand and is personal friends with Charles Souter, the proprietor of Carlstens Fortress. Charles asked me if I would like to meet Ann during my stay. I replied with an enthusiastic yes!

I had a nice breakfast at the fortress just across the courtyard from the Commandants House. I then took the opportunity to explore the fortress grounds. The fortress itself is built on the highest point on the island and offers great views of the surrounding area. 

After my self guided tour I stopped in the fortress office with my laptop to print a section of my genealogy chart I had promised Charles when I checked in. The chart shows how my ancestry is connected with Metta Fock. Here he is calling Ann Rosman to arrange a time to meet while perusing my genealogy chart.

In the office at the same time were the tenants of the second floor of the Commandants house. I was then offered an opportunity to visit the room where Metta Fock was imprisoned for 3 years. The room itself is no bigger than a walk-in closet and is currently being used to store antique arms. My feelings were intense as I stood within the confines of the room, There were metal frames on the window and I was told a wooden shutter was over the window blocking out most of the light from entering the room while Metta lived there. It was in this very room that Metta Fock made the embroidery of her appeal of innocence!

Ann Rosman graciously set up a meeting for 12PM at her house in Marstrand. Charles and I got into his golf cart, took the ferry over to the mainland and drove the short distance to Ann's house. Meeting Ann and spending time chatting in her garden was a privilege. Ann greeted me with a genuine warmth and a long hug. 

Ann is an enthusiastic champion of Metta Fock and her innocence. She outlines in her book, Mercurium, all of the evidence for Metta's innocence and the behind the scenes dealings of those that worked against Metta. 

Ann has a stone in her garden that was part of a stairway to the basement of Metta Fock's house where Metta had lived prior to her imprisonment. Ann retrieved the stone prior to the house being destroyed by the new owners. Ann took a hammer and chipped a corner of the stone and presented it to me as a keepsake of Metta Fock! 

 

Ann presented me with a signed copy of her book, Mercurium, with a personal message! I am humbled by the graciousness of a truly fine person. Thank you Ann!

On parting Ann told me she had contacted another descendant of Metta Fock, Cia Härd Af Segerstad-Dahllöf mentioning that I would be returning to Stockholm. Ann texted me Cia's contact information saying I may give her a call to perhaps set up a time and place to meet. I left Ann with a warm sense of connection.

Charles drove us back to the ferry and the short 90 second trip to the island and the fortress. I freshened up in my room and took the opportunity to take the walk around the island and digest the day's events.

I repeated yesterday's dinner only this time followed it with dessert.

On the walk back to the hotel I saw this poster of Stephan Andersson announcing a concert at the Carlstens Fortress. Metta Fock championed through song. Here is a link to a live performance of his song about Metta Fock on Youtube.

Tomorrow is a travel day back to Stockholm for another 4 nights. My plan is to visit the birth place of my great grandfather, Claes Erik Leonard Sjöwall and the place where my great great grandmother, Hedvig Johanna Fock passed. And perhaps meet my fourth cousin, Cia.