Research for this cache is done by David Fällmar.
This cache will take you to the former cemetery for patients and staff from the old Ulleråker psychiatric hospital.
THE HISTORY In 1802, the main hospital in Uppsala was moved from the city to a large area in Ulleråker. Fifty years later, the hospital was yet again moved (to the current location), but this time, the care of psychiatric patients remained, so to this day. In 2012, the care of psychiatric patients will move to "Psykiatrins hus", and be incorporated in the Akademiska hospital, no longer separating the psychiatric and the other (somatic) diseases.
The area of Ulleråker was a locked, "gated community", and many of the patients helped with gardening, the growing of crops, laundry and brewing. Many of the nurses, doctors and helpers lived within the gates with the patients. In 1909 (celebrating 100 years 2009), Ulleråker hospital got its own graveyard, and both patients and staff were buried here. Between 1909 and 1954, 1290 patients were buried here (many of them died of the Spanish flu 1918), in addition to many of the staff. A few burials have been carried out here after 1954.
Remaining medical charts tell the life stories of some of the patients at Ulleråker. Patients that died less than 75 years ago are protected by classified charts. The older files are available, but the graves of those persons are not identifiable anymore, because they were only marked with wooden crosses.
One example from the charts is the patient Olof, who had epileptic seizures and religious apparitions. The autopsy showed a brain tumour in the left temporal lobe.
Another example is Josef, who was healthy until the age of 23, when he became ill "because of masturbation and a cold" (!). He had long periods of depression, and shorter periods with animated spirits. He was violent to his mother and talked with himself. He died of a chronic ear infection.
A third example is Elin, admitted at 20 because of "unhappy love". She threatened to take her life many times. She was intelligent and proud. She received hypnotic treatment, but died 39 years old of tuberculosis.
THE CEMETERY
The center of the cemetery is divided into four quarters where the patients were buried. The first and oldest quarter (the patients mentioned above) is southwest, then counting clockwise. The fourth quarter was never used.
The resting places of the staff surrounds the patients, being along the outer wall (not unlikely a symbolic gesture).
Directly to the left of the gate, you will find the grave of the Turné family. Knut Turné was the "first main groundkeeper", and had an important role in Ulleråker and in the planning of this cemetery. Facing the parking lot you find the grave of August Pettersson, hired as outer gatekeeper in 1899. The walls surrounded large areas, and some people of Uppsala climbed ladders set to the walls to "take a look at the fools".
In the far south end of the graveyard, you find the grave of Hjalmar and Gertrud Källmark. Hjalmar was a doctor at Ulleråker for almost all of his life, and chief medical supervisor. He and his family lived in the building which now houses the Museum of Psychiatric History. Gertrud was a nurse at Ulleråker, trained in Germany.
THE CACHE: The box is placed outside the cemetery, near the north gate. It is NOT hidden in the stone wall.