Article from "Ejdern Telegrafen" 2000,
our yearbook.

Why join a steamer society?
And why this one?

To find out we asked some of our members. Some have been members almost from the start (1972-73) others joined later. Most of our more than 1000 members are of course from Södertälje, many remember their childhood trips with Ejdern, and the imposing captain Fredmark. But there are members living in more remote places and we asked them why join a society here and why our´s. Nils Lindén lives in Södertälje, joined in 1973 and remembers Ejdern from his childhood. He is chairman of the Södertälje Social History Society and is also interested in mechanical engineering which are reasons enough to support us. Nils thinks Ejdern is part of this town and shall go on being the living museum she is today. Jens Pettersson from Hörby in the very south of Sweden has been interested in steamers a long time and used to work some of them i Stockholm in the early 80s. In the summer 1988 he attended a steamer gathering a bit up north and there was Ejdern as well. He then came back to Södertälje with Ejdern and became a member at the same time. Ingrid Johansson from Eskilstuna, a town some 80 km west of Södertälje, has been a member since 1986. She thinks it all started with a visit to old friends in Södertälje and a trip with Ejdern. Her now deceased husband Sven had an interest in steam engines and worked for the society as a carpenter. The life vests cases and the toilet door were made by him. And even if Sven isn't with her anymore being a member and supporting Ejdern is just fair Ingrid thinks. Hasse Kjäll, living in Älvsjö, just outside Stockholm became a member 1983 and then worked on Ejdern as a stoker when she was coal fired once more. Another active member coaxed him into it. As Hasse has a genuine interest in ships and steam engines and works in the Navy it came quite naturally. But as if that wasn't enough he signed both his sons, Markus and Martin, now 16 and 12, as individual members as soon as they were born. That massive support Ejdern is very grateful of.

Translation: Birgitta Bengtsson

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