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Näshult - over the centuries
13th century
A priest named Finvidius is mentioned as the clergyman in Näshult. At the beginning of the century the church in Näshult is built.
14th century
Plagues and epidemics rages and reduces the number of inhabitants strongly.
A fortress on the island Biskopsö in the lake of Serapssjön is built for defence and protection. People have fear of passing soldiers and gangs of robbers. Soldiers from armies belonging to Denmark in the south frequently pass through the area.
15th century
Silver is discovered at the end of the century in Vargahagen (todays Näshults Säteri) and mining is started.
The crossroad in Näshult promotes trade and commerce.
16th century
Gustav Vasa writes a letter to the governor Nils Persson, askig for the amount of silver occurance. The king needs money for his german mercenaries.
Laurentius, the clergyman of Näshult is against the reformation and therefore supports the peasant leader Nils Dacke. As Dacke is injured in the battle of Hjorten, he flees to Näshult and Laurentius hides him in his house. After a few days Dacke flees further south. The priest has to pay a high penalty and has to leave his services.
Näshults was now located on the main road (The Kings road) from the Kings resident towns of Jönköping and Kalmar through Småland and the village is established as a popular trading center. Kalmar was at this time Swedens most southern harbor for trade to the rest of Europe.
17th century
An inventory of prehistoric sites in Näshult is made under the supervision of Erland Kebonius, a priest. Records show that graves were found dating back to the stone age and grave mounds from the bronze period.
18th century
Around the intersection between the Kings road and the smaller road in the center of Näshult the village develop. There is a public house, a carrier station and a market takes place more than once a year. The old church undergoes a total renovation.
19th century
Näshult population increases and peaks around 1500 people in the sixties. At the intersection there are now four or five different stores. There are handcrafts such as: shoemaker, coppersmith, blacksmith, plumber, tailer and carpenter. Here is also an inn with transportation services and a postoffice, one of the first in Sweden.
A large number of the population leave Näshult after that the harvest failed in 1867-1869. Many emigrate to America. At the end of the century the population is 1140.
20th century
The people of Näshult turn down a proposal that the railroad then being built from Kalmar to the western parts of Sweden should pass through the village.
This undermined Näshults importance as a center. Other places along the railroad grew and new industries were established.
What would have happened, if the railway had passed through Näshult? Näshult could have become larger than Åseda, with the advantages and disadvantages of a township. The population at the end of the century is around 350.
Näshult Hembygdsförening/Bengt Winbladh 1997
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