Quick look to the past

The history of Koguva village can be followed from 1532 when the grandmaster of Livonia Walter von Plettenbenberg commanded in Koguva the area of peasant Hanskeniel`s free farm. From time to time this free farm was divided between Hansken`s descendants and Koguva`s yeoman and at the end of the 19th century there was already nine farms. Vanatoa is one of the oldest farms in Koguva. In 1645 the Hansken`s farm was divided into two. From that time it is possible to follow the history of  Vanatoa, where the owner was a man named Jürgen. In 1693 the farm was ruled by Jürgen`s son Wabaniko Hanss and the farm was known as Hanso-Antsu. In 1713-1756 after ploughland audit the farm was carrying the name of his owner Hanso Andrus. The next owner was  a man named Hanso Tõnis. He had two sons – Ado (1730-1781) and Andrus (1741-1820). At the end of 18th century  Ants`s farm was divided into two. Ado founded a new farm named Ants. Former Ants` farm owner was his younger brother Andrus. His farm was called Vanatoa. Both farms can be found from 1802 land division map- Ants`s farm is named Hanso Ado and todays Vanatoa named Hanso Andrus. It this map there is also possible to find another farm Hanso Peeter. It seems to be a farm what in 18th century was spread from Ants – Vanatoa`s farm. Today this place is known as Peeter`s fence or Pärdi. Koguva Välja`s  farm origins also from Ants- Vanatoa (formed in 19 th century), when Hanso Peeter`s farm  was perished.

Vanatoa`s farm was one of the richest farms is Muhu and  Jaan Smuul (1858-1939) was the one who laid this foundation  During the foundation of the strait dam between Muhu and Saaremaa (1894-1896) Smuul was it`s subcontractor. He helped to build the quarter of the dam`s length ( the length was 1642 square cords).

Nowadays the oldest preserved buildings are the wooden wheel shed and barn. The wealth is also witnessed by outbuildings – in1930 built limestone warehouse and the building next to the main gate. The warehouse had four rooms: sleeping shed (for summer workers), barn, shed for chests and boy`s bedroom. Next to the gate there is a granite building where were sauna, dryer and summer kitchen. At the beginning of the collective farm it also had generator which gave daylight to Koguva village.

At the beginning of the 19 th century Vanatoa`s people got the last name – Schmuul (later papers give Shmul). Vanatoa`s master was Jüri Shmul (1794-1848) but not one of his three sons weren`t able to reach to manhood. The workforce came from Koguva`s Andrus farm – Andrus Schmul `s ( 1809-1885) family came to help. Andrus became the master of the farm after Jüri`s death. The next master was Andrus´son Mihkel (1933-1909) then his son Jaan Schmuul (1858-1939) and after that Jaan´s son Jaan schmuul (1884-1949). His sons Artur, Arnold and Rudolf escaped during the war to foreign country, Jaan and his wife Riste were deported in 1949.  After that  untill 1969 the farm wasthe officeof „Tormipoeg´s „ collective farm. In 1970 tha farm was  sold to  publication „ Valgus“, whos workers have the main favours for retaining Vanatoa as it was. After Estonian regain independence  the farm was returned to its legal owner  Rudolf Schmuul (1921-2001) who found in Vanatoa a turism farm. In 2007 it was sold to new owners. Today Vanatoa´s history is protected and developed by OÜ Vanatoa turism farmstey.