1915 was a very important year in the Kjærsgaard family, which meant, that all parts of the family - in the future - would have much more contact, the the average of families.
The life in "Veddinge Bakker" has meant so much, that it was decided in 2006, to consolidate all memories and stories in "The Kjærsgaard Chronicle"
In the story: "The man on the Stone Dike" Paul Nauntofte tells about "The myth of the mother of all houses", which he had been told by his
mother, Ingeborg Kjærsgaard.
"In 1915 Ernst Kjærsgaard was visiting director Skovgaard-Petersen at "Lærkereden", which stood on top of "Hulegraven" with unobstructed views to Høve and Ordrup Næs. Ernst
Kjærsgaard - with a straw hat and a silver mounted cane - went for a stroll down the road, (now called "Ellebakken").
On the stone dike west of the road a young man sat crying. "My young man, why do you weep?" -
"Oh look to my property: my house, the meadow and the shabby cow and horse. I'm broke. The stone soil cannot feed me or the animals. Could I just find a buyer, I'd sell
everything and travel to America" (It was after the First World War)
The result was, that Ernst Kjærsgaard bought 25 acres from the peasant for approx. 4.000 DKR and then he sold the 13 acres west of the existing grounds for 4.000 DKR - trade was reasonable!
The house got the name "Strandhytten".
The "farm" contained the barn, stables and a couple of living quarters were converted into a large living room and two medium rooms, a transverse long was constructed. It was called the
grandfather's room with "the alcove" under the roof.
Down the beach a little red beach hut was built with two benches for "master and mistress"- dressings. Small holes in walls gave us kids a special excitement, and we had a splendid view of
the sky from there.
The red annexe beside Strandhytten was added as a guesthouse and "das" (privy) was built outdoors into the ground distanced behind the garage with two seats upon a large hole.
Today it is difficult to imagine, that the countryside only was overgrown with small trees: Grandpa let plant 2.400 trees."
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