Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-07-05
STURDY SONS
OF SWEDEN
Celebration of the Founding of
Swedish Colony in Maine.
KING OSCAR C0NGRAFULATES
The Industrious Swedish Settlers Have
Prospcrcd In tho Forests of Maine
The Governor of Maine and Other Notn-
bio Mon Delivered Addresses Fruit
full Fields, Churches and Schools Have
Replaced the Forest WiIds.

bangor, Maine, June 33.-Thirty years
ago MIR. VIM. w. Thomas. Jr of Maine.
led little colony of :Swedcs; over the
ocean from their fatherland into the
deep forests of his native State. In
the North woods thereof he founded n
Swedish settlement. This settlement
he baptized New Sweden, "a name at
once commemorative OF the past and
suspicious of the future. The colony
consisted of tifty-one souls, all told,
men. women and children. Under the
supervision of Mr. Thomas the colon
lists went to work Telling trees, building
log houses. clearing land, bushing out
roads and building bridges Then there
was busy work in the woods of Maine.
The American forest rang with the
blows OF the Swedish ak. Extensive
clcarinGs opened out and log houses
were rolled up ON every hand. Odd bits
OIL board and the happily twistec.
branches OF trees were quickly convert
ed into needed articles Of furniture.
Rustic bedsteads. tables, chairs and the
omnlpreSent cradle made their appear
ance in every house and the Swedish
industry and ingenuity soon transform
cd the forest into the abode of man.
Mr.. Thomas everywhere shared the
tolls and privations of the new settlers.
foot or on horseback he visited them
all. and every day beheld something
tangible accomplished in the woods OF
Maine. After four years OF work the
colony was fast rooted ana had become
self-Sustaining. Bounteou., crops had
been harvested everywhere. and Mr..
Thomas was able then to take farewell
OF the colony, which has ever since pur-
sued II successful and independent ex-
Stencc.
t.tX
Since 1870 the little colony OF ffty-one
has grown to Il solid community of
over Two thousand. The Swedes have
| spread out through the woods from the
mother colony of New Sweden and on
adjacent townships have founded the
settlements of Westmanland. Stock
holm. Jemtland, Upsalu. and other
smaller colonies. The log houses have
given way to substantial two-story
| frame dwellings,. Large barns stand
near the frowinS crops. School houses
are placed al the cross roads. -Four
large. commodious churches have been
! built and ON every Sunday morning tho
| church bell rcsOunds through the forest
| All the coloniSts are Well-to-d do farmers.
Another remarkable fact is that this
colony Is the only successful agricultu-
raj community founded with FOREIGNERS
| from over the ocean in the New Eng
| l0nd states since the TeVolu tionarN WA.
The Swedish colonsts OF Maine
| TINS year. on Monday. 25th of June.
| celebrated the thirtieth anniversary OF
the founding Of the colony with speech
es and music and festivities approprj-
ate TO the day. Mr.. Thomas. now The
Minister of the United States to Sweden
| was the orator on the Ami
versary day. The American Min
| lister does not come back to his colo
| ny empty handed. on bidding good
| bye To King Oscar a few weeks ago. ar
| the palace at Stockholm, the King gave
TO Mr. THOMAS an autograph letter of
congratulations to the colony on the
| success they bad made i'm the virgin
| forest Of Maine, and of his best wishes
| Tor their future prosperity and wcll-
| being. The King presented to Mr..
| Thomas portrait photograph of him
! self clad in uniform OF General Of the
| Swedish army. and charged Mr.. Thcln-
rs TO present this portrait To the colony
| on their anniversary day ON arriving
| in America and paying his respects TO
President Mckinley at Washington, The
l'resident. III like manner gave TO Alr.
Thomas large and excellent portrait
| photograph of himself, signed hV the
Presidents own hand, to be presented
TO the colony at tho same tima Of The
| presentation of the portrait of Oscar
requesting Mir. Thomas TO convey 10
the colony an expression Of his kindly
regard and his best wishes for their
future welfare.
1'he exercises Of tho thirtleth anniver-
sary VIII be conducted in n large OPEN
ar auditorium. This Is situated in n
grove OF gigantic naples that crown
the crest of ono of the highest ridges
or the town Of New Sweden. Here the
american and Swedish flags will float
gahy out 1t is estimated that over
I'VE thousand people. principally
Swedes. will he gathered together on
that day The Governor and Council OF
MAINE; Senators Hale and Frye. and
me Represents tiNes OF Maine In tho
! Ccng1ess ~ the United Statss and oth.