Behind every successful man, they say, stands a woman. When Julia met Johan August, she was 19 and he two years younger. Julia’s elder sister was to marry Johan August’s older brother, and Johan August accompanied them on a visit. He caught sight of Julia and was smitten. The feeling was mutual, and after diligent courtship and subsequent engagement, the young couple married. The wedding took place at Julia’s parents’ estate in 1903, but thereafter they moved to Johan August’s farm.

An invisible heroine

If you’re familiar with ESBE’s history, you know Johan August founded the company in 1906. For years, he split his time between the family estate and Reftele, where he set up a small workshop. Johan August didn’t want to be away from Julia and their two children, expressing, “Where I am, I want you to be,” while searching for a plot in Reftele for their future home. In 1907, the house was ready, and the beautiful wooden villa was named Skogsfors, a name that later became the family surname.

Within the white tower house, 11 children grew up under Julia’s nurturing wings. The brood consisted of seven girls and four boys. Julia jokingly lamented missing the twelfth child to complete a dozen. She also dryly noted that dinnerware was sold in sets of 12, not enough for their family of 13.

Johan August and Julia

Life with Julia and Johan August

Raising eleven children is no small feat. Julia often had sole responsibility for the family when Johan August was away. Sometimes, the family didn’t know if he was travelling or working since he left home before they woke and returned after they slept.

Julia sewed all the children’s clothes, darned socks, baked bread, cooked meals, and, of course, managed the logistics of the family, which was more than a full-time job. While her husband was occupied with meetings, business trips, and company development, Julia ensured everything ran smoothly in the Skogsfors villa.

She had Johan August’s curiosity and technical interest to assist her. The villa was equipped with running water, heating pipes, electric lights, a car, telephone, radio, bathroom, refrigerator, and washing machine, making Julia’s work easier to manage.
 

Julia with 10 out of 11 children
(missing is son Sigurd who is presumably holding the camera)

A love story

Johan August and Julia Skogsfors lived a rich and loving life. When Johan August was home, he wanted nothing more than to spend time with his family. Outings with a picnic basket and reading sessions by the fireplace were highly valued by the whole family. Unfortunately, Johan August didn’t have long on this earth and passed away at the age of 64.
Julia outlived her husband by thirty years. She lived to be 96 and passed away in 1974. Julia Skogsfors’ home was always open and welcoming, and she was described as “the kindest person in the world” by her grandson Mats Skogsfors. Mats lets us know that Julia kept track of her thirty grandchildren without any trouble, knowing both their names and birthdays. He fondly remembers Julia giving all her grandchildren five Swedish kronor as a Christmas present.
Julia and Johan August’s love story extends not only through their own time but also lives on in the fourth generation of Skogsfors. Their love and care have left a lasting impression not only within the family but also within the ESBE company, where their values continue to permeate the business today.

Women in the plumbing industry

In Julia’s time, it was common for women to focus on household duties. Today, society looks different, and women’s roles are more diverse. European women perform a variety of tasks in various industries and professional categories. The choice of career path is now much more open than it was a hundred years ago. Even in industries that have traditionally been male- or female-dominated, we see changes, something we at ESBE are pleased about. It’s especially nice to see women in the plumbing industry. Do you have female colleagues at work? Why not give them some extra recognition today, on International Women’s Day? 😊
 

Wedding photo 1903