Since the 18th century, there has been a sawmill on the beautiful island of Ornö in the Stockholm archipelago. Originally located in the Brevik area, the sawmill was moved to Brunnsviken around 1920–1930. This relocation was crucial to the sawmill’s development and success. By moving the sawmill to Brunnsviken, the business was able to grow and expand. It became possible to receive timber from other islands and store it in the water before sawing. Communications and connections with customers awaiting their timber deliveries also improved. The sawmill was initially powered by a steam engine, but with advances in technology, electricity reached Ornö in the 1940s. During this period, the sawmill operated seasonally and employed around ten people. When in operation, approximately 110–120 logs were sawn each day, mainly timber harvested during the autumn. Sawmilling and planing typically continued until May each year.

The sawmill was owned by the Stenbock family of Sundby and remained an important part of the local economy, operating actively until the 1980s. However, the business was eventually closed down in the late 1990s. After the sawmill closed, the site stood empty and gradually fell into disrepair until Margareta Stenbock decided to turn her dream into reality. She created a family-run hotel with a restaurant on the site where the sawmill had once stood. In 2018, Margareta proudly opened Ornö Skärgårdshotell, marking a new era for the site and giving its history a chance to continue in a new form.

Source: The book “Ornö under 500 år” by Bengt Dennis