It seems that many immigrants to this area of the world shared a similar travel route from Europe. Once the Atlantic crossing had been made, many found themselves in the port at St. John, New Brunswick. Next came the journey up the St. John River by steamer and/or tow boat to the next destination. For the Danes in 1872, the destination was New Denmark, New Brunswick. For the Scots in 1873, the destination was New Kincardineshire, New Brunswick. For the Swedes in 1870, the destination was New Sweden, Maine. For more on how the trip was made, read my page about Travel Route From Sweden.
Archive for February, 2009
Travel Routes
February 24, 2009Mathilda Anderson hosts researcher Melvin 1950
February 18, 2009Charlotte Lenentine Melvin visited New Sweden as a student researcher in 1950. She was invited to stay at the home of Mathilda Anderson during the visit. The notes that Charlotte took from her conversation with Mathilda provide an interesting view of the hardships in the early days of settling New Sweden.
Do you know who Mathilda’s family was? Please help me find out about them.
Boston Post Cane
February 14, 2009The most recent recipient of the Boston Post cane was Edmund F. Anderson, born April 1, 1912. Debbie Eustis-Grandy made a presentation at the November 2008 meeting of the New Sweden Historical Society where Edmund and his wife Eloise were honored guests. The page about the cane recipients that I have added gives some more information as well as some photos. Photograph by William L. Duncan.
Edmund F. Anderson, born in 1912, recipient of the Boston Post Cane in November 2008
New Sweden Grange
February 13, 2009New Sweden had a grange. Like many towns in Maine, the grange was dissolved in the sixties. I have been looking for information, but there doesn’t seem to be too much. Here is part of the story based on an article that I did find about the end of the grange.
More 1970 Photos
February 13, 2009I have enjoyed exploring a second set of photos sent to me via email from Anders Tidstrom of Sweden. He visited the New Sweden area in 1970. Please enjoy looking at the page “More Photos from 1970 New Sweden.” Please help me tell the story by adding comments or sending me tidbits (as well as any errors or omissions!)
If you missed the first set of photos, be sure to read the page “1970 Photos of Anders Tidstrom of Sweden.”
Murder in Westmanland
February 11, 2009The page “Murder in Westmanland” tells the 1899 story of the murder of Gus Johnson by Albert Bjorkman. Apparently jealously prompted Bjorkman to hunt Johnson down at Anders G. Olson’s lumbering operation. Olson’s daughter was married to Johnson. The funeral for Johnson was held at the West Road home of John W. Holmquist who was married to another of Olson’s daughters. A huge caravan of horse-drawn wagons traveled from the site of the funeral to the New Sweden Cemetery where Johnson was buried. Johnson’s wife remarried and lived to age ninety three years.
First Lutheran Pastor of New Sweden
February 8, 2009I found a newspaper clipping from an old Aroostook Republican. It tells the story of Rev. Andrew Wiren’s grandson and his search to find his grandfather. I had wondered what had happened to Wiren after he left New Sweden. I had taken a photo of Abbia Vaughan Wiren’s cemetery stone, but there was no sign of her husband. This newspaper article held the expanation! Please read my page about Rev. Wiren.
