Dr. O.F.E. Winberg Home

     Oscar Fridolf Eskil Winberg, known as Dr. O.F.E. Winberg, was instrumental in the development of the satsuma industry along the Gulf Coast. He moved from Chicago to Silverhill in 1905 and introduced scientific agriculture and the benefits of cooperative marketing to the local farmers.

     In 1910, Winberg started satsuma mandarin development on a commercial scale and devoted his energies toward the development of satsuma production throughout the Gulf Coast region. Dr. Winberg eventually became the president of the Gulf Coast Horticultural Society, president and manager of the Gulf Coast Citrus Exchange, and Chief Deputy Horticulturist of the Alabama State Board of Horticulture.

This is a recent satellite view of the 20 acres northeast of Silverhill which Swen Pehrson bought in 1901. Also, lots 15 and 14 in block 16 of Silverhill which Swen Pehrson bought in 1903. Lot 14 is the area that contained the Winberg Home, highlighted in orange in the right half of that area. - Click to enlarge.

This is a recent satellite view of lots 15 and 14 in block 16 of Silverhill. Lot 14 is the area that contained the Winberg Home, highlighted in orange in the right half of that area. - Click to enlarge.

     The house that would become known as the Dr. O.F.E. Winberg home was already built when Dr. Winberg came to Silverhill. Swen Pehrson and his wife Carrie built the house in about 1903. Swen worked as a machinist in Chicago, but in 1901, he bought 20 acres outside of Silverhill with the intention of farming.

     Silver Creek ran through Swen Pehrson's 20 acres which bordered the Oscar Johnson sawmill. That land most likely provided the timber to build his house in town.

     Swen's wife Carrie and children lived in the house until 1912 when Dr. Winberg bought it. By this time, Swen was working as a machinist in the Los Angeles area. Carrie moved to be with her husband in California.

     Location: On the north side of Silverhill Highway (104) at the east corner of 2nd Street (town block 16, lots 14-15). The building that was the home still exists today as the office of Harbison & Hoyt, LLC, Attorneys at Law.

     Interesting fact: Dr. Winberg developed a satsuma named "Silverhill" which could withstand cooler temperatures during winter.

The house on the left is the O.F.E. Winberg home that Swen and Carrie Pehrson built in 1903. The house on the right is the home that Claus J. Frisk built for himself and his wife Mathilda in 1918. George D. Lundberg and wife Louise Lundberg bought this house in 1922 when the Frisks moved to Robertsdale. The road in front of the houses would become Silverhill Avenue, also named Alabama State Highway 104. - Click to enlarge.