O. W. Gardner, Millman and Merchant

Otis Warren Gardner (July 4, 1845 Washington County, ME-May 29, 1921 Caribou, ME) was a farmer, bookkeeper, and teacher near Dennysville, ME before he moved to Caribou with his wife and three children in 1886.

O. W. Gardner was a Caribou merchant until about 1890. In 1889, he leased O. W. Stadig’s Jemptland mill for a year and also purchased the New Sweden Starch Co., located in the AVRR area, where he manufactured potato starch, shingles, and lumber. He built a store and warehouse in New Sweden. Gardner’s mill was sold to the New Sweden Starch Co. in 1896.

The Gardners left Caribou in 1900 to operate a mill in Springfield, ME. By 1910, Otis, now widowed, was back in Caribou.

Susanna Allan (1842-1908), daughter of a Dennysville lumber merchant, married Gardner in 1871. They had two daughters, Hope and Margaret, and a son Richard, future president of the Aroostook Trust Co.

The Aroostook Republican published some news items about Gardner.

Sept. 26, 1888: The store formerly occupied by S. W. Collins & Son has been rented. O. W. Gardner & Co. have secured the main store and the basement which will be used as a store-house. We understand that Mr. Stitham has rented the addition to the store which will be fitted up as a photograph gallery.

Nov. 13, 1889: The New Sweden Starch Co. has sold its mill to O. W. Gardner & Co. The product of the mill this season was 120 tons starch and its capacity is 200 tons.

Dec. 25, 1889: The wide awake business men of Caribou let no opportunity pass where there is money to be made. We are informed that Mr. O. W. Gardner has leased Mr. O. W. Stadig’s mill in Jemptland, for a year.

Nov. 19, 1890: O. W. Gardner & Co. are closing out the stock in their store on Sweden street and will hereafter devote the entire time and attention of the firm to their large business interests in New Sweden. They offer some great bargains in goods damaged by the recent fire in their store.

Feb. 11, 1891: Almost a Fatal Accident. Olof Sundstrom met with a serious and what proved to be almost a fatal accident at O. W. Gardner & Co.’s shingle mill in New Sweden Monday afternoon. He was putting on a belt when in some manner he was caught in its encircling embrace. His clothing was nearly all torn from his body, his left arm broken near the shoulder and his body terribly bruised. Dr. Thomas attended the victim of the accident, who is now as comfortable as could be expected, considering the nature of his injuries. [Olof died about a week later, age 16, from blood poisoning caused by the accident, son of Marten Sandstorm and Maria Bodin, one of the first settlers.]

May 6, 1891: Mr. Nils Olson, one of the original settlers of New Sweden, has sold his farm near Gardner’s mill to Mons Jepson and will hold a public auction of his household goods next Friday, preparatory to starting with his family for Chicago, Monday, where they will make their home with their son, William Olson. Mr. Olson has been sexton of the Baptist church since its building, and has done his duty faithfully. He will be greatly missed by all.

Sept. 2, 1891: The stores in Holmes’ Block, formerly occupied by O. W. Gardner & Co., are being made ready for Mr. S. L. Black’s use.

Oct. 14, 1891: Mr. George Howarth will occupy the store in the Holmes’Block, formerly occupied by O. W. Gardner & Co., beginning Oct 19th, and will do all kinds of upholstering.

Feb. 3, 1892: Wm. Small & Co., the furniture dealers, have rented the store in the Holmes’ Block, formerly occupied by O. W. Gardner & Co., and will soon move from their present location in Farrell’s Block.

Aug. 24, 1892: New Sweden: O. W. Gardner & Co. are making extensive repairs on their starch factory this season. They mean to have everything in running order in time for an early start.

Sept. 5, 1894: N. S. Allen, Esq., of Dennysville, who has been visiting his sister, Mrs. O. W. Gardner for a few days, returned home Monday. He was accompanied by his niece, Miss Hope Gardner, who will spend the winter in Boston.

Mar. 19, 1895: O. W. Gardner’s starch factory is in full operation, and to judge by the string of teams arriving from neighboring towns we predict for Mr. Gardner a busy season.

Nov. 21, 1895: Little & Page, contractors and builders, have commenced the erection of a new residence for Mrs. O. W. Gardner on the corner of Main and Grove streets. This building will be 22 X 45.

Aug. 20, 1896: Mrs. Susie A. Gardner has sold out her shares of the New Sweden Starch Company stock to William B. Kehew, E. E. Allen and E. O. Succumb, all of Boston. the officers of this corporation are now as follows, viz William B. Kehew, president, Carl A. Ullrich of Caribou, treasurer and Ernest Ullrich, of Caribou, secretary.

Oct. 8, 1896: [insolvency notice published O. W. Gardner & Co., partner with Oscar J. Chandler]

Nov. 5, 1896: Mrs. O. W. Gardner has sold her shingle mill in New Sweden to the New Sweden Starch Co.

Feb. 11, 1897: New Sweden: O. W. Gardner has hauled away those large plank piles and is making rapid work of removing all his sawed lumber from his former mill. Several teams are hauling every day.

Oct. 19, 1899: Mrs. O. W. Gardner returned home Saturday from Springfield.

May 24, 1900: [Gardner family moves from Caribou to Springfield, ME; see image]

Aug. 24, 1893, The Beacon: C. J. Johanson, on Madawaska road, has already thrashed and sold to O. W. Gardner, one hundred bushels of oats at 50 cents per bushel.

Nov. 3, 1904: Mrs. O. W. Gardner of Vermont is visiting relatives in town. [Her sister Eliza was married to Horace Jones, merchant.]

Sept. 6, 1906: Mrs. O. W. Gardner of Springfield and her daughter, Mrs. S. C. Dillinham of Watertown, NY, who have been spending a few days in Caribou, the guest of Mrs. H. E. Jones, left Monday for Springfield.

Feb. 20, 1908: Mrs. O. W. Gardner, whose demise was mentioned in last week Republican, was well-known and highly respected in this town, she having spent several summers here [New Sweden] in Mr. Gardner’s store.

Feb. 20, 1908: Richard F. Gardner returned last week from Pearcefield, NY where he had been attending the funeral of his mother, Mrs. Otis Gardner. The deceased was formerly a resident of Caribou, where she has many friends who learned of her demise with sorrow.

April 8, 1909: For sale. To settle estate, the O. W. Gardner property on Grove St. Large lot, fourteen room house, good stable and sheds. R. F. Gardner, Executor.

July 21, 1910: R. F. Gardner, cashier of the Aroostook Trust & Banking Company, is spending a week in Milo, the guest of his father, O. W. Gardner.

Sept. 8, 1910 [published as “25 years ago” on Sept. 5, 1935]: H. O. Spencer, R. F. Gardner, G. H. Howe and Dr. I. W. E. McLellan left Sunday morning in Mr. Spencer’s automobile by the way of Washburn and Ashland for Patten where they spent the day with Mr. Gardner’s father, O. W. Gardner, returning Monday.

Update: Here is a link to a photo of Gardner’s mill buildings. Zoom in to the left side to see over the door “O. W. Gardner & Co.” (The 1920 date on the webpage would be too late. Probably the photo was taken between 1889 and 1896 when Gardner was in business in this location.)

Sources

Aroostook Republican and News

ancestry.com

Fort Fairfield Review

Lenentine, Charlotte. “The Swedish People in Northern Maine,” 1950.

Ringdahl, Chester. “SAWMILLS AND STARCH FACTORIES IN NEW SWEDEN: 1870 to the present,” March l982.

Flames in New Sweden. O. Iverson’s Mill and All Other Buildings Burned Friday—$5,000 in Lumber Consumed—Eleven Houses Burned in All—Some of the Swamp Fires Extinguished Sunday.

The Beacon, June 6, 1895

(Special Correspondence.) Forest fires are raging in all the swamps around New Sweden, and sometimes advancing high on the upland. Unless rain comes soon, it seems as if everything within reach will be consumed.

Last Friday a fire was started in the swamp near which O. Iverson’s mill was located, and in less than one hour the entire plant, consisting of seven buildings, was destroyed by the flames, together with all the machinery in the mill and all merchandise in the store. The rift and spruce lumber in the yard, estimated at $5,000.00 in value, was consumed, as were also the machinery and agricultural implements store in the warehouse. It was an awful sight to see the flames sweep everything off and leave the bare ground, hardly any ashes remaining to tell the tale.

At the same time a house owned and occupied by N. Landin, and a house and barn owned by C. Nelson were burned. A few things that were saved from the houses and left confidently at what was thought to be a safe distance were also destroyed. Another house belonging to Mr. Nelson, the engineer at the mill, was also burned,—in all eleven houses were destroyed with all their contents. Nothing was saved. Household goods, wearing apparel, in fact everything, were destroyed.

While some of the residents of the western addition were trying to get across the swamp to assist at Iverson’s, an alarm was sounded from the centre swamp, and looking that way a smoke was seen thick enough to hide the sun. A rush was made for the houses lying within range of the fire. Among these were Carl Erickson’s fam buildings and the Tornquist mill plant. A serious fight was had with the flames to save C. Erickson’s place.

When Saturday arrived it was plain to everyone that a hot day was coming, but by the most extraordinary exertions the mill was saved. Had it not been for the lesson given the day before of the danger at hand, it is doubtful whether sufficient numbers of men would have been on hand to master the fire and save the mill.

Sunday morning saw most of the male portion of New Sweden busy in the swamps extinguishing fire—and a good precaution it was. Little danger was apprehended by this time, and no farther damage happened here; but in Woodland the fire gained the upper hand, and destroyed John Hagland’s place. Several other places were severely threatened, but escaped.

Monday morning a fire was discovered in Madawaska swamp, bearing directly down on the schoolhouse and neighboring farmhouses, but watchful care, plenty of water and a sufficient number of men at hand saved everything.

We are anxiously waiting for rain, not only to extinguish the smoldering fires but to revive our now famishing crops. If this drought lasts long, we are afraid of dire results.

Read more about Oscar Iverson here.

Research: Ocar Iverson and Iverson’s mills

Introduction:

Oscar Iverson (April 24, 1854 Soon, Norway—1940) and his wife Aagot Rustadt (1856 Soon, Norway-1938) were married in 1871 and immigrated in 1880. Their first child Sigrid was born in 1881 at St. Stephen, New Brunswick, where her father was a 26 year old sea captain. Son Arthur was born in Calais in 1883. Ragnhild Lillian was born in Caribou in 1885.

In Caribou on the west side Main Street, south of Sweden Street, Iverson ran a restaurant, grocery, and general store between 1885 and 1890. In 1889 he held a lease for Johnson’s mill and was selling shingles. In 1890 he was building a new home on the east side of North Main Street and was also operating his store in New Sweden along with a lumber business. He built a new sawmill in New Sweden in 1891, near lot 139 in the East Road. Tragedy struck in 1895 when a fire completely destroyed his property in New Sweden, leading to Iverson’s move to Portage Lake where he soon owned another mill. The family left Caribou by 1897.

By 1900 Oscar was a mill owner in Portage Lake Plantation, Maine living with his wife and three children, Sigrid 18, Arthur 17, and Lillian 15. In 1910 at Portage Lake, Oscar was still in the shingle mill business. By 1920 the Iversons of Portage Lake were in the seasonal sporting camp business and spent the winter with their daughter Lillian’s family in Houlton, ME. In 1930 the elderly Iversons and their widowed daughter Sigrid resided at Portage Lake.

Oscar, his wife Aagot, son Arthur (1883 Calais, ME-1907 Portage Lake, consumption) and daughter Sigrid are buried at Portage Lake Municipal Cemetery in Portage, ME.

But what happened to Mr. Iverson between 1885 and 1900? and in the years at Portage Lake?

In 1885 Oscar Iverson’s busines was in Caribou: 0. Iverson & Co., dining saloon [noted in “Early History of Caribou“].

Aroostook Republican and News search reveals details, with other sources as noted:

May 11, 1887: O. Iverson has just received a free invoice of confectionary, fruit, etc.

Aug. 17, 1887: O. Iverson and his wife and children returned home Saturday. Mrs. Iverson and children have been visiting at their former home in Norway and arrived in New York last week where they were met and escorted home by Mr. Iverson.

Nov. 2, 1887: Go to O. Iverson & Co.’s for your tobacco. Boston prices on standard brands, at wholesale.
O. Iverson & Co. are pegging away, and keep a little of everything, from a peanut to kerosene, at wholesale and retail. A carload of No. 1 winter fruit next week.

Aug. 17, 1887: O. Iverson and his wife and children returned home Saturday. Mrs. Iverson and children have been visiting at their former home in Norway and arrived in New York last week where they were met and escorted home by Mr. Iverson.

April 18, 1888: Caribou: The social dance in Clark’s Hall, Friday evening, was largely attended and a most enjoyable time was experienced by those present. During the evening O. Iverson, the restaurateur, furnished one of the best oyster suppers ever gotten up in this town. It was served in the dining room in Clark’s Hall, and was highly appreciated by the tired dancers.

Nov. 1888 and 1889 [Iverson ad for his Caribou store]:

Nov. 27, 1889: O. Iverson of Caribou has leased Johnson’s mill for a year.

Dec. 25, 1889: Caribou’s onward march! . . . [long list of town improvements]: . . . O. Iverson & Co., store and small dwelling on Bridge street, costing $500; shingle house near railroad station, $200; . . .

May 21, 1890: O. Iverson has just completed an unusually well built stone foundation for his new residence on Main street hill. The carpenters are now at work on the frame of the house. Mr. Iverson has secured a very choice building lot and will have one of the prettiest places in town.

June 11, 1890: O. Iverson has the frame up for his residence on Main street.
Carpenters are engaged in putting in a large glass from in the Roberts’ store on Main street, formerly occupied by O. Iverson & Co. The interior of the store will be remodeled and painted. When completed it will be occupied by C. J. Tornquist.

July 22, 1890: O. Iverson & Co. have moved to the store on Main street, just below Clark’s Block, formerly occupied by John Anderson, where they will be pleased to see all their old customers as well as many new ones.

Nov. 19, 1890: O. Iverson & Co. have given up their Caribou store, and the firm name has been changed to that of O. Iverson. Mr. Iverson will keep a good stock of general merchandise in his store at New Sweden, which he will run in connection with his lumber and shingle mill. Oscar is a hustling, wide-awake business man and well deserves the success he is achieving in Aroostook.

1890: [Iverson ad for New Sweden store]

April 22, 1891: [ad for Iverson’s shingles, lumber, general merchandise in New Sweden; same ad used later in Jan. 1892;]

June 24, 1891: O. Iverson and O. H. Nelson returned last Friday from a trip to Fort Kent, where among others they called upon David and Henry Anderson who are in the harness business. Messrs. Iverson and Nelson report a most enjoyable time.

July 22, 1891: New Sweden: O. Iverson intends running the mill he now occupies another year.

Sept. 9, 1891: New Sweden: I shall close out my business interests in New Sweden during September and I want all indebted to me to call and settle during this month. All my goods will be sold at cost for cash or good paper. Oscar Iverson.

Sept. 30, 1891: Oscar Iverson of this village, is building a sawmill on the John Bergerson site, New Sweden. Mr. Iverson will put in two shingle machines and a rotary.

Oct. 14, 1891: Oscar Iverson has purchased the mill formerly owned by E. LeVasseur and will use the machinery in his new mill at New Sweden.

Jan. 27, 1892: What might have been a serious accident occurred at O. Iverson’s mill, Monday. While the foreman, Mr. Erickson, was working at the emery wheel it went to pieces, one of which struck him on the leg, inflicting a painful wound.
Notwithstanding the decided assurance of many interested parties that Mr. O. Iverson would be unable to secure stock to run his mill more than one year, he is already cramped for room, as cedar of a very good quality is coming in at a lively rate. A number of days he was obliged to have four and five men on the yard rolling up, and the three last days of last week three hundred loads were brought into the mill yard. He is also getting in an extra good lot as well as a large quantity of spruce and pine. [see images, ad for New Sweden store]

May 18, 1892: New Sweden: O. Iverson’s mill had a close call Saturday evening, as fires were raging all around it.

June 15, 1892: O. Iverson is having his house wired for electric lights.

June 25, 1893: Limestone: Forest fires did great damage to the growing lumber in the southeast corner of this town. Several buildings had narrow escapes. Many thanks are due O. Iverson and Tornquist & Johnson, who shut down their mills and with their crews labored long and hard to save the endangered buildings.

Mar. 1894: [Iverson advertisement re: agent for Skandia steamship line for tickets for immigrants to Europe from Quebec]

May 23, 1894: S. L. White has purchased of Ullrich Bros., an acre house-lot on Main street, just south of O. Iverson’s residence property. Mr. White will build a nice residence next fall.

June 5 1895: [fire burns Iverson mill in New Sweden, see story here]

Feb. 20, 1896: It is rumored that the New Sweden Grange will build a new starch factory in New Sweden and that the services of Oscar Iverson have been secured as manager.

“In 1896 Oscar Ivensen from New Sweden, and earlier direct from Norway, came to Portage and built a long lumber mill.” [Footnote: “Personal interview by Maple Ismay Percival with Oscar Ivensen of Portage, July 6, 1938. Mr. Ivensen was the owner of one of the mills in Portage. He was not so successful as he had been before his mill burned in New Sweden, and he finally sold out to Fred Robinson of Robinson’s Mills in Blaine.”]

1896, ca; [re: telephone history in Aroostook; published Feb. 29, 1928, Fort Fairfield Review]: Dr. H. Lindley Dobson of Ashland ventured into the telephone game in 1896. He secured poles from Ashland to Portage and Oscar Iversen of Portage set them. . .

Oct. 8, 1896: Oscar Iverson, the lumber manufacturer, whose mill is at Portage lake, spent Sunday and Monday with his family in town [Caribou].

Oct. 15, 1896: On account of the low prices for shingles, Oscar Iverson’s mill at Portage lake is shut down. Mr. Iverson is now at work with a crew of men constructing a telephone line between Ashland and Portage lake for private parties. As soon as this work is completed, he will return to Caribou.

Nov. 12, 1896: Oscar Iverson, who is now in Portland, has made arrangements to start his shingle mill at Portage lake. Mr. Iverson is a worker and deserves success.

June 3, 1897: Mrs. Oscar Iverson and oldest daughter started for Portage lake, Monday, to remain for some time. It is with sincere regret we chronicle the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Iverson from Caribou.

Oct. 20, 1898: The shocking news has reached this town [New Sweden] that O. Iverson’s large mill at Portage lake was burned to the ground last Friday.

Nov. 9, 1899: O. Iverson, the lumber manufacturer of Portage Lake was in town one day last week.

April 2, 1903: For Sale: The Iverson house, situated in Caribou, ME. This place will be sold at a bargain. A part of the purchase money could remain on mortgage if desired. For particulars apply to Elmer Lowell, Calais, Maine.

July 1903, ca. [40 years ago, published July 1, 1943]: The Iverson property on North Main Street has been purchased by A. E. Wright. Mr. Wright will make several improvements before moving.

Feb. 9, 1905: Miss Ragnhild Iverson of Portage Lake has been engaged as teacher in the Grammar school and began her duties Monday morning. Miss Iverson is a recent graduate of R. C. I. at Houlton.

Sept. 7, 1905, Star Herald: Capt. O. Iverson has the cutest motor boat in Northern Maine. His nephew, Jacob Iverson, is the builder.

Sept. 24, 1903: Arthur Iverson went to Orono Monday to attend the U. of M.

July 5, 1906: Arthur Iverson U. of M. class, ’07, was in town Saturday on his way home to Portage.

May 30, 1907: Mr. J. C. Moir went to Portage Lake to attend the funeral of Arthur Iverson, who died the 26 inst, of consumption. Young Iverson was a son of Mr. and Mrs. O. Iverson and was a very likely young man. His deaths deplored. Funeral Tuesday, May, 28.

June 24, 1909: To the motorists in Caribou and vicinity. Finest motor trips in the County. Go to Portage via the Mapleton road, take dinner at Camp Iverson, and take steamer up the beautiful Fish river. All can be done in eight hours. Excellent roads and a lovely outing. Try it. Telephone ahead. O. Iversen

Aug. 1, 1918: [re: big lightning storm] Mr. Iverson who saw the storm coming, removed his canoes from the water, but the wind caught them as if so much paper and ruthlessly tossed them into the lake.

Dec 10. 1919, Houlton Times: Mr and Mrs Oscar Iverson of Portage arrived in town last week to spend the winter with her daughter Mrs. Nathaniel Tompkins.

Sept. 22, 1921, Star Herald: Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Iversen of Portage Lake, have closed up their home at the lake and gone to Houlton, where they will, as usual, remain until it is time to open their cottages in the spring at Portage. They will make their home with their daughter, Mrs. Nathaniel Tompkins, and family.

Aug. 31, 1922, Star Herald: Mr. S. C. Greenlaw and wife came down from Portage Lake Wednesday and will remain until Friday.
Mr. Greenlaw brings the news that one of the Iversen camps was burned Monday night. The cottage was unoccupied, having been vacated by its tenants, G. H. Collins and family, on Sunday previous. The fire started on the veranda, which was fully ablaze when discovered, and its origin starting as it did in the midst of the heavy downpour of Monday night, was considerable of a mystery.

Sept. 7, 1922: It is understood that Oscar Iverson will have a Public Park at Portage lake next summer, where people may go by automobile, enjoy a picnic dinner, and have access to the lake. This move on the part of Mr. Iverson will fill a long wanted and much needed retreat for autoists.

Nov. 8, 1923: Mr. Oscar Iverson has recently had a radio installed at his home on North Shore

July 31, 1924: Capt. Oscar Iversen, whose cottage is located on the bank of the beautiful Portage lake, should extend a vote of thanks to Henry Ford. The Star-Herald is authority for the statement that Mr. Iversen, who has walked from his place to the village and return whenever necessity required, has traveled over 10000 miles up to two years ago when he bought a Ford car.

Aug. 13, 1925: Captain Oscar Iversen, who is in a way a sort of barometer of how things are going at Portage, was busy Sunday last from morning until night, making trips, carrying passengers from his wharf to the “Hay Shed,” located several miles up on the Fish River, a stretch of perhaps the most beautiful scenery in Maine.

May 30, 1929: L. E. Berce has purchased a camp of Mr. Iverson at Portage lake.

Aug. 1, 1935, Star Herald: “Voyage days over Captain Iverson”

Sources:

ancestry.com

Aroostook Republican and News

Bangor & Aroostook Railroad, “In the Maine Woods,” 1910.

Fort Fairfield Review

Maple Ismay Percival, “An Investigation of the Mill Development of Aroostook County”, 1939.

Star Herald

Stella King White, “Early History of Caribou 1843-1895,” 1945.

Further reading:

A series of stories about life at Portage Lake was published in the Star Herald:

Aug. 15, 1918, “See Aroostook First,” No. 2.

July 28, 1921, “Camp Life at Portage Lake.”

Aug. 4, 1921, “Camp Life at Portage Lake,” No. 2.

Aug. 10, 1921, “Portage Lake Series.”

Aug. 17, 1921, “Portage Lake Series.”

Sept 1, 1921, “Camp Life at Portage,” N. 4.

Sept. 22, 1921, “A Spot of Rare Beauty.”

May 30, 1929, “First Camping trip to Portage.”

Gallery:

Swedish Colony Exhibit at Maine State Fair in Late 1800’s (?)

Marie Malmquist copied the following “whole account, word for word.”

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.”

____________________________________________________________

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]

Grange Organized in New Sweden, ME 1893

Reported in the Bangor Daily News, April 21, 1893 (from Charlotte Lenentine Melvin’s files):

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 unit dissolved at New Sweden 1966

Reported on March 4, 1966 by the Bangor Daily News (from the archived files of Charlotte Lenentine Melvin):

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.

Old Maine Swedish Farms

Old Maine Swedish Farms

It is sad to say but true. The Swedish language is slowly dying here in Maine Swedish Colony. Local filmmakers Brenda and Alan Jepson have recently released their lastest DVD which chronicles the importance of the Swedish language to the culture of the community. Several Swedish speakers are interviewed, including Floyd Jepson and Edmund Anderson, both no longer with us. Another interviewee is Lewis Peterson.

Dan Olson, narrator and language consultant for the film, conducts personal conversations with  local people in Swedish. The focus of the interviews centers on living on the farms in the old days and what life entailed in those times.

Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN) recently aired an interview with the filmmakers. Follow the link to read the transcription and to listen to the rich audio which includes Swedish music, the Swedish interviews, and English translations.

Crown of Maine Productions offers the opportunity to own your own copy of “Old Maine Swedish Farms.”

Wordless Wednesday: Founder of New Sweden, ME

W. W. Thomas Jr, about age 45-50 in Stockholm, Sweden

Anniversary of Death: Mildred Westin

Mildred Velma Barnes Westin

Mildred “Millie” Barnes Westin used to be my landlady. We lived in the upstairs apartment in her rambling old house on the edge of Collins Pond in Caribou, Maine. She used to sing in her deep alto voice while working around the kitchen downstairs and I would hear her through the hot air grates in the floor.

Millie had a table in the bay window facing east right next to our entrance. Among the plants was a huge Christmas cactus that always seemed to be in bloom. Her outdoor garden was filled with lilies, roses, and cultivated raspberries in the summertime.

I remember seeing Millie and Everett, her husband, sing the special music presentation in church at the Caribou United Baptist. I didn’t realize it then, but it really was very special to hear the Swedish hymns sung. (Everett’s father immigrated from Sweden. He served first as a minister at the First Baptist Church of New Sweden, Maine starting in 1895 and also at the Stockholm First Baptist Church as late as 1928).

As a teen, I was a junior church helper and sat in the tiny pews with the 4 year olds as Millie led them in learning to sing (with the hand motions) “This Little Light of Mine, I’m Gonna Let It Shine.”

One Thanksgiving, Millie came to our house for dinner along with my father’s cousin Olive Choate. She told stories about Everett during World War I involving lots of blood. I can’t remember the details now.

Millie died two years ago today at the age of 94. She was born in Caribou, graduated from Caribou High School in 1931, and worked for the telephone and telegraph company in their Caribou office. She and Everett were married November 21, 1950. He predeceased her in 1992 at age 91.

Kapitoleum Movie from New Sweden, Maine

Music by the Swedish Meatballs. Movie by Red Squirrel Productions (that’s me) from old images.