The house number 38 in the first block stretched originally from Västra to Östra Långgatan. The house facing Östra Långgatan was the main building and its oldest part was built in 1812 according to the fire insurance certificates. However, according to land registers and a map, Matts Bäckström and his descendants owned the house from 1732 to 1888, i.e. for 156 years, and it can be assumed that the house is much older than 1812.
The western part of the warehouse wing facing the alley was destroyed in an arson in 1888, set up by the owner him self, police constable Josef Robert Till, for insurance money.
The cottage was visited by General Mannerheim in 1920:
“On 21 November 1920, General Gustaf Mannerheim visited our city. With his cicerones, he made a tour of the city. It is said to have been its picturesque appearance that struck him. Arriving at Kattpiskargränden, at Glasas-Richard’s (Richard Eklund) house, there was a break. The general had certainly seen something beautiful about the old house — but also something more. In one of the windows fluttered a nailed-on piece of cloth. He inquired his attendant about who lived there. According to the information received, Mannerheim’s words went something like this: The old man must have a whole window, whereupon he was shown in to Richard. He shook his hand and a large bill had thus changed hands. They exchanged a few words, and Richard, who had become ecstatic, stammered out his “Thank you very much.”
Sannsagor från Kattpiskargränden by Gösta Lindqvist (1954). Note that the patch of cloth in the window mentioned is included in the photograph above.
The main language of this hous is swedish, there is more information on the swedish page
