Guttó – cradle of cultural life

In the Good Templar Hall, 7 Suðurgata, the Hafnarfjörður Folk Museum has opened the exhibition „Guttó – House of the Templars, cradle of social and cultural life for 130 years“, which sheds light on the history of the Order of the Good Templars in Hafnarfjörður and the extensive social and cultural work that has taken place in the house over the years.

The Good Templar Lodge Daníelsher is the oldest active society in Hafnarfjörður, and the Good Templar Hall is the oldest meeting house in the country, being closely connected to all cultural and social life in the town throughout its history. The idea for the Gúttó building arose on 4 October 1885 at a meeting of the Morgunstjörnunnar lodge, and the building was consecrated on 17 December 1886 amid great celebrations. The Good Templar House is the first building that the Good Templars erected in this country for their activities. The building was considered large, accommodating around 300 people, and the story goes that almost all the inhabitants of Hafnarfjörður could fit inside at once, at a time when the town's population was just over 400. The building was the first proper community hall for the people of Hafnarfjörður and, for a long time, the centre of all cultural life in the town. It hosted a great deal of social activity, meetings and entertainments; plays were performed there, and singing and dancing events were held. The first meeting of the town council was held in the building, and for around 20 years the council held its meetings there. In the winter of 1907-08, the Flensborg School's teacher training college was housed in the building. Several societies were also founded there, including the Hlíf Workers' Union and the Hafnarfjörður Seamen's Union. 

The exhibition – Gúttó – was opened on the 108th anniversary of the City of Hafnarfjörður on 1 June and will be open every weekend this summer from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission is free.