MUSEOS DE LA SEDA / SILK MUSEUMS

se functioned as a mill until around 1900. The premises also held housing for workers, stables, sheds for carriages, and outhouses. The Alm- gren residence faced Götgatan and had a gar- den on the yard. Although having gone through rebuilding, the houses are still standing. In 1852, a house was acquired on 44 Sto- ra Nygatan, Gamla Stan (Old Town) and the company head offices were set up there. It also housed a shop for the selling of products from the mill. The house was sold in 1887 and the head offices and the shop were moved to 22 Li- lla Nygatan, on the corner of Kornhamstorg. The shop closed down in the early 20th century, while the offices and storing facilities resided in the building until the 1960’s. A new factory building was erected in 1862 along Repslagargatan on the same lot as the original mill. This building is still standing and is relatively untouched, a characteristic sample of factory architecture from the middle of the 19th century. 12 The trade agreement signed with France in 1865 meant low import tariffs on French silks in exchange for Sweden being allowed to export wood products and iron ore to France. K.A. Almgren worked vigorously against the agreement. His success in business and his political involvement saw him establishing personal connections with the royal family and the uppermost classes of so- ciety. In 1838, he became a member of the Masonic Order and he was awarded Knight of the Order of Vasa in 1850. 13 These social networks were probably important to receive orders for the exclu- sive furnishing silks. Almgren was also very successful in a financial sense. In the book Svenska Millionärer (Swedish Millionaires) he was described as one of the wealthiest individuals in the country. 14 He left an estate worth 1.8 million Swedish crowns (SEK). 15 After 1869, only K.A. Almgren Sidenväveri and Casparsson & Sch- midt were still in business, but were enjoying good times and were able to expand. Between 1872 and 1890, K.A. Almgren Sidenväveri owned the property on 13 S:t Paulsgatan, where earlier the Me- yersson silk-weaving mill had been. 16 It had a factory hall of 100 m2 on the second floor and also lodgings for workers. During the financial boom of the 1870’s, K.A. Almgren Sidenväveri reached 12 Restaurator 2002. Bergqvist 2000. 13 K.A. AlmgrenAu- tobiography, Almgren- ska släktarkivet, RA. 14 Lazarus, Svenska millionärer. Minnen och anteckningar. 1. Saml, p. 102. 15 Stockholms Stad- sarkiv, bouppteckningar [probate inventory] 1884 nr. 218. 16 The Laxen district No. 4. 155