Information board with map, parking lot . Start of the cultural trail Minnenas stig.

1. Bergby School Community Center

Public primary school was introduced in Sweden in 1842 by decision of the Swedish Parliament. Even before that, however, most of the population could read and write, thanks to church education and house examinations. There was a schoolmaster in Norrby as early as 1777. He taught itinerantly in various homes. The first permanent school in Norrby opened in 1875 in the so-called Bönhuset (see sign 21. Prästgårdsbacken). In 1882, the number of students amounted to 53 children. During this time, teaching was only conducted every other day.

Bergby Skola was built in 1908 as a permanent elementary school. In 1928, a separate teacher’s residence with two apartments was built. In 1930, the basement was dug out to accommodate a laundry room and sauna. Previously, students would travel to Hallstavik to bathe and wash themselves. Bergby Skola operated as an elementary school (grades 1–6) for just over fifty years. For most of this time, between 1926 and 1960, Nils Börjemalm was one of two teachers. He was a well-known and respected person in the area. In 1960, Bergby Skola was closed down, as the number of students decreased sharply. The students were transferred to Häverö church school, among other places. In Bergby Skola, Häverö municipality started a housewife’s school, later a high school, which was run until 1982.

Bergby School Community Centre Association was formed in 1986 when Norrtälje Municipality leased Bergby Old Primary School to the association. Since then, Bergby School has been used as a community centre – an important gathering place for the residents of the area and a vibrant cultural centre in the village. The community centre association is a non-profit association, whose task is to run Bergby Community Centre as a public gathering and meeting place.
In addition, the association shall work for the cultural development of the village.

In the community centre there is a permanent exhibition about Hatt-Stina Ericson who was born in 1897. The exhibition consists of a collection of beautiful hats as well as pictures and texts about Stina and the milliner’s trade. In the 1920s she worked at Bergby Gård. Thanks to support from her uncle, Stina was given the opportunity to train as a milliner in Stockholm for two years. Stina married the preacher Halvar Holm and began making hats in her home in Trästa. Stina became widely known under the name Hatt-Stina. Women from all over Uppland traveled to buy hats from her, and she herself traveled to markets to sell her creations. Her hats became both popular and style-defining. She continued to work as a milliner until the 1960s and lived a life characterized by creativity and entrepreneurship. Hatt-Stina died in 1981.

The members of the village association collect cultural history material about the villages in the area and conduct cultural history study circles. In 2008, the association published a book about the people, the farms and the villages – 
Minnenas resa genoms vilärna Norrby, Bergby och Västerkulla 1950. The association’s website contains a photo collection and stories from the 60 years that Bergby Skola operated as a public school. The village association has a fine collection of old wooden skis from the school days. The village association is also the starting point for our cultural trail through the villages; Minnenas stig . See separate sign.

Are you interested in participating in one of our courses , or do you perhaps have your own idea for a course? At the village hall we offer children’s activities, bridge and computer courses, gardening courses, gymnastics, wine tasting, dance courses and village research. Please contact the village hall association if you would like to participate in or arrange a course.

The public can rent the community center . Downstairs there are two halls and a fully equipped kitchen for parties, courses or meetings. We have space and equipment for up to 80 people. In the basement there is a shower and sauna. Upstairs there are exhibitions and an extra meeting room. The whole house has wireless Wifi with internet connection.

The association also has a popular flea market that is open 24 hours a day during the summer months. We thank everyone who donates and all customers who shop. All proceeds go to the community center association.

We welcome everyone to Bergby School Community Center