Bränntjärnstorpet
In the deep forests of Bergslagen’s Finnish settlements, it wasn’t just men who had to be strong and determined. Many women also achieved great things, often in silence. One such woman was Anna-Stina Knas (1822–1904).
Anna-Stina Knas was born and raised in a small smoke cabin – a Finnish-style hut – in Grangärde Finnmark, Ludvika Municipality. The cabin had been built in 1793 by her grandfather, Mats Pålsson. Her father, a former soldier who retired by his own request, left the family to fend for themselves. More than once, young Anna-Stina was sent out to beg for food at nearby farms.
When Anna-Stina eventually married, she hoped for a better life. She and her husband, Anders, were given a small plot of land by the farmer Anders worked for, and there he built a small cabin for their family. However, the land was swampy and wet, and Anders, who often worked waist-deep in water, became ill. After his untimely death, the farmer no longer wanted Anna-Stina and her children to remain on the property.
Anna-Stina engaged in a long and grueling legal battle, first with the farmer and later with a nearby ironworks, both of whom wanted the land. Ultimately, she lost the case and was forced to leave her home, returning to her childhood cabin, Bränntjärnstorpet. But that cabin, located on land owned by the ironworks, was also at risk of being seized.
Anna-Stina devised a bold plan. The county border between Örebro and Kopparberg (now Dalarna) lay just 40 meters away. The Grangärde district court belonged to Kopparberg County, so if she moved the cabin across the border into Örebro County, perhaps the court’s ruling would no longer apply.
In 1866, using her inheritance from Anders, Anna-Stina moved the cabin to the new location. At the same time, she added a chimney and open fireplace, transforming it into a “Swedish-style” cabin.
After the move, Anna-Stina was left in peace and remained in her cabin. Her youngest son, Adolf, also lived there, later becoming the father of the poet Dan Andersson. It’s easy to see where Dan Andersson drew inspiration for his stories and his deep empathy.
In 1890, the cabin was sold, and the widow Anna Stina Persson moved in. She lived there until her death in 1935, becoming the last permanent resident of the cabin.
Fact Box
Bränntjärnstorpet was built in 1793 by the forest Finn Mats Pålsson as a smoke cabin and was later converted into a Swedish-style cabin after being moved across the county border.
The old Finnish trail to Rikkenstorp can be followed from this location.
Poet Dan Andersson (1888–1920), a descendant of Mats Pålsson, grew up in the Finnish forest region, which deeply influenced his writing.
The site is well-signposted.
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