Kyrkö – Åke Danielsson’s abandoned scrap yard

The setting for the lonely and inspiring tale of Åke Danielsson is located outside Ryd in the Tingsryds municipality of Sweden.

It begins in 1935 when Åke bought a boggy piece of land for the purpose of making his own natural fuel and organic fertilizer.

Inside the abandoned barn. Photo Credit: Susanne Nilsson, CC BY-SA 2.0

When the war ended, a new form of car-buying mania took over. Many old and worn out cars were abandoned near the forest where Åke Danielsson lived. So Åke started to collect these old pieces of junk.

Eventually, Mr. Danielsson had what the locals called “skrotbilar”, which roughly translates as “scrap yard”.

An abandoned car. Photo Credit: Susanne Nilsson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Before he started his passion for car collecting, Åke didn’t even have a driving license. Everything he knew about cars was a result of its own persistence and discipline in trying to understand exactly how cars worked – he became a self-taught auto mechanic.

Bus at Åke’s car graveyard. Photo Credit: Susanne Nilsson, CC BY-SA 2.0

With time, he became a confident enough mechanic to build his own peat shredder. The business of scraping, fixing and reselling went more than well. In the year 1974, Åke made his final purchase for the scrapyard.

Through the window. Photo Credit: Susanne Nilsson, CC BY-SA 2.0

The environmentalists and the government weren’t particularly disturbed by Åke Danielsson’s business. He was careful to remove batteries, chemicals, and machine components that might damage the surrounding nature. But local officials had a final say in this matter.

Long time deserted car. Photo Credit: Susanne Nilsson, CC BY-SA 2.0

They gave him a deadline by when the scrap yard had to be cleared: November 1998. And then the whole tale took another turn in favor of Åke. Bad weather was on its side and the whole business of clearing up had to be postponed.

Part of the front of a vehicle. Photo Credit: Pelle Sten, CC BY 2.0

Åke’s followers seized the opportunity to fight against the erasure of the scrap yard. Some even thought that the scrap yard should be preserved as a piece of 20th-century Swedish history.

The rust made a sunroof. Photo Credit: Susanne Nilsson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Among its followers and supporters were journalists, automobile collectors, urban photographers, and the Småland Museum director. Now Åke Danielsson had allies in the legal battle and a 49-year permit was given.

Working clothes left behind. Photo Credit: Susanne Nilsson, CC BY-SA 2.0

Mr. Åke Danielsson left this world in 2000, some 47 years before the end of the whole drama. The scrap yard he left behind is protected until 2047.