The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-24
EN SWEDEN 5 BIRTHDAY.
THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY TO BE
A MEMORABLE 0CCA-
SION
KING OSCAR SENDS GREETING
Message TO His Former People, Now
American Citizens, VIII BE Rend
at the Anniversary
Celebration.

BANGOR. Me. June 23.-Thirty years
ago Mr.. William w Thomas Jr., of Maine,
led a little colony OF Swedes over the
ocean from their fatherland into the deep
forests of his native state. IN the north
woods thereof he founded a Swedish set
tlement. This settlement he baptized
New Sweden. name at once commemo-
rative of the past and ausplcious Of the
future. The colony consisted of hfty-One
souls, all told. men. women and children.
Under the supervision Of Mr.. Thomas
the colonists went to work Telling trees,
building log houses, clearing land BUSH
ing 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
clearings opened out. and log houses We're
rolled up on every hand Odd bits Of board
and the happily twisted branches Of trees
were quickly converted into needed arti-
cleS of furniture Rustic bedsteads. Ia
bles, chairs and the omnipresent cradle
made their appearance in every house.
and Swedish industry and ingenuity soon
transformed the forest into the abode Of
man. Mr.. Thomas everywhere shared the
tolls and privatlons of the new settlers
Every day he was among them. On foot
on horseback he visited them all. and
every day beheld something tangible ac-
compllshed in the woods of Maine. After
four years Of work the colony was fast
rooted and had become seIf-sustaining
Bounteous crops had been harvested ev-
erywhere, and Mr.. Thomas was able then
to take farewell Of the colony, which has
ever since pursued a successful and in
dependent existence.
Thirty years have now rolled by. Since
1870 the little colony Of ffty-one has grown
to a solid community OF over 1000. 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.
Stockholm, Jemtland. Upsala and other
smaller colonies. The log houses have
given way to substantial two-story frame
dwellings, Large barns stand near the
growing crops School houses are placed
at the cross roads. Four large commodi-
Gus churches have been built, and on ey-
cry Sunday morning the sound OF the
church bell resounds through the forest.
All the colonists are well-to-do farmers.
Another remarkable fact IS that this col
ony IS the only successful agricultural
community founded with foreigners from
over the ocean in the New England states
since the Revolutionary war.
The Swedish colonists Of Maine this
year. on Monday, June 25, celebrate the
thirtieth anniversary Of the founding OF
the colony with speeches and music and
festivities appropriate to the day. Mr..
Thomas. now the minister of the United
States TO Sweden and Norway, has ac-
cepted the invitation Of the colonists, and
has sailed over from Sweden to be the or
ator of the anniversary day.
The American minister does not come
back to his colony empty-handed On
bidding good-by to King Oscar a few
weeks ago, at the palace at Stockholm.
the king gave to Mr.. Thomas an auto
graph letter OF congratulations to the
colony on the success they had made in
wishes for their future prosperity and
well being The king presented to Mr..
Thomas a portrait OF himself. clad IN