A shorter version of the article appeared in the August 3, 2011 issue of the Star Herald, Presque Isle, Maine’s local weekly newspaper.

Sold cigars at the festival [Midsummer]. People from Caribou, Perham, Woodland, Westmanland, Frenchville, Fort Kent, and Fort Fairfield there.

MAINE’S SWEDISH COLONY

A novel and entertaining feature of the Maine State fair, held at Lewiston, September 21-25, was the exhibit made by the Swedish Colony of The Pine Tree State, located in Aroostook County. The Fair itself was by far the largest and most successful since the organization of the Society, and the agricultural products and examples of the domestic industries of the Scandinavian settlement occupied a prominent place in the main building. The grains and vegetables amply illustrated the fruitfulness of the soil which a few short years ago formed part of the vast forest that still covers a part of the state larger than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Illustrative of the primitive arts and industries of the sturdy descendants of the Vikings was displayed an assortment of home-made cloth, cloth made from cows hair (for blankets), wooden shoes, beartraps, bronze coffee pots, wooden tableware, saddlebags of wickerwork, oxyokes, moccasins, gloves and leggings of reindeer skin; straw beehives, snowshoes ten feet in length, and a variety of similar articles, none of them possessing much aesthetic grace or beauty, but admirably adapted for the severest purpose.

“A unique chapter in the History of Maine” was the apt phrase by which the Hon. W. W. Thomas, Jr. ex-minister to Sweden, characterized this Swedish Colony in an address at the decennial of its founding, held at New Sweden in 1880; and the colonists greeted Governor Chamberlain on that occasion with ‘Leve Koloniens Grundläggare! (Long live the Founder of the Colony). It was during the notably progressive administration of Joshua L. Chamberlain—the hero of Little Round Top at Gettysburg, and now President of Bowdoin College [1871-82] – that in response to his earnest recommendation the Legislature took action to secure Swedish immigrants to offset the depopulation of the State by emigration by the native born citizens. Mr. Thomas was sent to Sweden in 1870, and in a short time returned with a colony of fifty one souls, who were enthusiastically welcomed to the promised Land. The State gave each settler – all having paid their own fare from Sweden – 100 acres of land and afforded such other assistance as was necessary at the start. In 1880 the colony had expanded to 787 souls, and at present times numbers about 1000 men, women, and children. They have 20,000 acres of land under careful cultivation.

The Town Hall, or “Capitol,” as they call it, of New Sweden, serves as a church, schoolhouse, Castle Garden, and general place of meeting. In religion the colonists are about equally divided between the Lutherans and the Baptist. They have five schools and an excellent system of practical education. The original settlers still retain their native costumes and customs, but the new generation is becoming thoroughly Americanized. The farmers particularly pride themselves on their fine horses and comfortable turnouts for both Summer and Winter driving.

Mr. G. W. P. Gerrard of Caribou, who was responsible for the excellent exhibit at the State Fair, said to the writer: “The Swedish colony today is very prosperous. They are hardworking, industrious, frugal people, and are steadily improving their farms. They are an honorable class of men and women, and can be trusted implicitly. I do not believe there is another community of so many souls in America of which so much can be said in this direction, as of the Swedish Colony in The State of Maine.” Ex-Governor Chamberlain said: “I regard the enterprise as very well planned, well arranged and successful. The colonists are an excellent class of people, and will make the best of citizen. They are thriving in every way, and I look for a still more important development of the colony, which will in no small degree be influential in the course of future welfare of the State.”

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By now, the great Decennial Celebration was past, the colony was secure, the church bell had been installed, and in making notes for a later speech, doubtless in a jocular vein, Thomas (we presume) wrote:

Church dedicated

You have built you a church

I have given the bell

You may now got to meeting

Or else go to h–l

[Centennial History Maine’s Swedish Colony 1870-1970 New Sweden, Westmanland, Stockholm and Adjoining Areas, Compiled and edited by Richard Hede, Section H-1 and H-2]

Newspaper’s second issue began the carrying of an ad by John Brown of the Fort [Fort Fairfield] who advertised in Swedish his groceries, dry goods, etc.

New Sweden Grange organized with 17 charter members. First master was F. O. Landgren. First secretary Solomon Johnson. First chaplain J. O. Wickstrom. (All three deceased by 1966). Later grange records note that some of the regular grange sessions which were then held on Saturday afternoons, drew an attendance of 77 members compared to the final year’s attendance which was not sufficient to fill the 13 officer’s chairs. Also noted in one of the earliest of secretaries reports was the purchase price of half a cord of kindling wood which was 50 cents and a half cord of hard wood which was $1.25.
A large pencentage of members have been awarded the Silver Star certificate for 25 years of consecutive grange membership and 12 or more members have received the coveted Golden Sheaf Award for 50 or more years of membership.

Grange met for the final session on Saturday night at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Nelson. Unanimous vote was recorded for the dissolvement of New Sweden Grange No. 315 and surrender of the grange charter due to lack of member attendance.
Approximately 100 members from Stockholm, Woodland, Westmanland and New Sweden are on the Grange roster with a high of 150 members, registered in previous years.
Youngest master to serve was Forrest Nelson at age 16.
Only three women served as Master’s: Alice Nelson, Mrs. Madge Nelson, Mrs. Beatrice Farrington
Any granger in good standing and on the grange membership may apply to the secretary, Mrs. Charles Hicks for a demit, to join another grange. The Grange Hall, located on a town lot which was formerly the Capitol School has automatically reverted to the town, an agreement at the time of purchase.

Midsummer’s eve to be celebrated in the grove. Jemtland Band to be there. Coffee, cakes, lemonade, ice cream–proceeds to Lutheran church.

Midsummer’s day–24th as usual. Baptist Sunday School excursion to the Lake.

Midsummer’s Day was celebrated with Sunday School picnics by the churches in New Sweden in the “Grove.” Entertainment was provided.