1. The brig loading tropical timber under the skies

When ships went from the local into the global trade from Europe’s major trading ports they journeyed widely. Voyages reaches Africa and the east coast of South America and sometimes as far away as the Pacific. The cargo could among other goods include general freight, hides, cow horn, coffee, rum, copra, sugar, dyewood, and exotic types of timber. The loading of the precious timber used for example in furniture workshops and in industries. Dyeing could be done in Mexico under difficult conditions often upstream in a river. There could be long waiting times for ships before they got their cargo on board. However, for the sailors it could be an opportunity for exotic experiences and to buy local goods and to talks with people living locally or even to buy a parrot in a cage.  

2. The bowsprit was the most dangerous workplace on a ship

Therefore, it was called “The widow maker”. It’s a quotation from an inquiry: By furling the flying jib a man fell overboard. The ship veers. Two life rings were thrown out, but not grasped. The man is most likely thrown against the ship and in so doing been struck unconscious. He previously lost two finger joints on the left hand.   

3. “Lost at sea” was the worst words in a letter to a seaman’s wife

The significance of the word was synonymous with uncertainness and often economic ruin for a family.

4. Votive ships sails under the ceiling in Sønderho Church

The old builder of model ships Mr Sonnichsen found occupation by building models of his own newly built ships for example this brigantine. Homebound skippers and mates made model ships as handicraft and donated them to the church created by rule of thumb as the seamen saw their ship. In other parts of Denmark and other countries the model ships were donated in gratitude for a rescue or an honour from saved seamen. In Sønderho, the votive ships were granted to show that you belonged to the church and to confirm one’s Christian faith. No church in Denmark is so rich in votive ships as Sønderho Church. There are as many as 15. The only model of a man-o-war is of a frigate that joined the collection around the year 1800. As the tale says with an instruction found in the hull of the stranded ship that a model of the vessel should be displayed in the church nearest the place of stranding.

5. Seaweed dikes or stone dikes

In August 1845 a severe storm significantly destroyed the newly renovated quays and groynes in Sønderho. Further, the storm washed away big parts of the sandbanks behind the quays and left Sønderho exposed to the destruction from the sea. The people of Sønderho had experienced storm surges several times before, but this time they found themselves unable to repair the dikes and other constructions. They realised that help from the Government was the only option. An application was approved, and a big quantity of granite stones were imported from Norway to construct a stone dike at a price of 17.000 rigsdaler. The inhabitants of Sønderho, thought that the new dike would give them protection from the sea. However, nature decided otherwise. An autumn storm the following year damaged the new dike and this time the local inhabitants could not afford to repair the dike. In 1852 a new storm destroyed the precious dike.   

6. Wild duck in the sky over Sønderho

Flocks of duck over Sønderho. An image from the days of duck decoys when a part of Sønderho’s earned income came from fowling. In the best years where the duck decoys were active (1866-1930) up to 8000 ducks were taken in the decoys. The catch was prepared and sold to game dealers and hotels. On board passenger ships cruising the Atlantic Ocean from British and German ports, passenger could often experience canned duck (Confit de Canard) on the menu. Sønderho’s economy prospered in more than 50 years towards 1900 when the technical and economic development terminated due to several negative factors. In the following years many people moved from Sønderho. The expanding town of Esbjerg provided better economic opportunities and employment. 

7. Between 1768 and 1896 many ships were built in Sønderho

In Sønderho a shipyard was located at Kalvekrog in the north-eastern part of the village. It was an ideal workplace on a flat sand area in close vicinity of deep water. There was space for building two ships simultaneously. Ships build at the shipyard were mostly schooners, ewers and one custom cruiser. An area was allocated for launching ships and there must have been a slipway, either permanent or set up on demand. Smaller ships with a low draught could be launched on wood rolls. Logs of wood were unloaded from ships or horse drawn wagons and stored at a timberyard. Woods for planks, frames and boards were sawed up manually. Two men were needed to do the hard sawing work by applying a long saw. The days of shipbuilding are long gone. However, Fanøs historian N.M. Kromann estimates in his book on Fanø’s history, that in the period 1741-1895 about 1000 ship were built in Sønderho. Today the former shipyard site is a public parking area.

8. A capstan was used to launch a ship

The capstan, a winch used on board a ship to drop and weigh anchor. But it could also be used to do other works. The horizontal winch was turned manually by applying handspikes which could be inserted vertically into the top of the capstan. At the shipyard in Kalvekrog a capstan used for launching ships was secured by strong dug-in anchors. When ships were launched a section of the seaweed dike was removed temporarily.

9. Fanø skippers brought home English faience

English faience dogs can be seen in the windows of many skipper houses in Sønderho. The dogs were

popular souvenirs between 1860 and 1900 brought home by sailors as presents to their wives or other loved ones. According to a persistent story the position of the dog would tell if the skipper was at home or at sea. When looking out of the window the dogs indicated that the skipper was away, when turning the other way their master was at home.

10. The customs officer on alert for smugglers at the entrance of Sønderho

When Fanø – in contrast with (North-Slesvig) – was not occupied by Prussia in the years 1864 to 1920, tax should be paid to Denmark of dutiable cargo imported from the area south of the Kongeå (river on the border to North-Slesvig). These taxes were very unpopular, and many tricks were invented to cheat the custom officers, but smuggling was a risky and often dangerous business. The owner of the Sønderho Inn wanted to be on good terms with the custom authority, but a bit of smuggling, also had its place there. Jes Øhle was a crafty smuggler who understood to be careful when having dutiable goods on board. The sea around Fanø had from old days been controlled by light custom cruisers from Ribe and Hjerting respectively. In 1845 Fanøs two custom districts were merged into one district with two custom cruisers each manned with a custom officer and an ordinary seaman. Until 1851 Fanø was an independent customs district.