The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-24
III SWEDEN IN MAINE.
f4us0TYH,TH ANNIVERSARY OF A
PROSPEROUS COLONY.
rexnaed I'm 1870 by Minister Thorn /.
with FIffy-one souls, IL Has
& Orswn to over c,ooo-King Oscar
Il asa Mckinley Send Portraits.

BANGOR. Ne, June 23-Thlrty years
40 Mr. william w. Thomas, jr., of
HainA led a little colony of Swedes over
fbe ocean from their fatheriand into
he deep forests OF his native state. In
me north woods thereof he founded
} swedish settlement. This settlement he
Naptised New Sweden. a name at once
commemorative of the past and auspi-
cIous Of the future. The colony consist
al Of hfty-one souls all told-men.
women and children. Under the SUPER
vfsion OF Mr.. Thomas the colonists went
I 60 work Telling trees, building log houses.
clearing land. cutting out roads and
tuildyhx bridges. Then there was busy
vsfk in the woods OF Maine The Ameri-
"A forest rang with the blows of the
Swedish an. Extensive clearings opened
~ ana log houses were rolled up on
avery hand. Odd bits OF board and the
happily twisted branches Of trees were
quickly converted into needed articles of
furniture. Rustic bedsteads. tables.
tfAirs and the omuipresent cradle made
their appearance IN every house. and
Swedish industry and ingenuity soon
transformed tho forest into tho abode
Of man. Mr.. Thomas everywhere shared
tbe tolls and privatfona Of the new set
Hers Every day he was among them.
On foot or on horseback he visited them
nj and every day beheld something tan
sdb.s accomplished In the WOODS OF
Maine. After four years of work the
colony was fast rooted and had be-
come self-sustaining. Bounteous crops
had been harvested everywhere. and Mr..
Thomas was able then to take farewell
OF the colony, which has ever since Dur
sued a successful ana independent sxis-
tence.
Thirty years have now rolled by. Since
H7o the little colony of ffty-one has
grown into a solid communfty Of over
nAxu rs1H tu<11fft "
the woods from the mother colony OF
New Sweden. and on adjacent townships
have founded the settlements OF West
mainland. Stockholm. Jemtiand. upsaia-
houses have given way to substantial
two-story frame dwellings,. Large barns
stand near the growing crops. school
houses are placed az the cross roads.
Four large commodious churches have
been built, and on every Sunday morning
the sound of the church bell resounds
well-to-do farmers. Another remarkable
fact IL that this colony Is the only sue
eessful agricultural community founded
With foreigners from over the ocean In
the New England states since tho Revo-
The swedish eoionists OF Maine will.
this year. on Monday. Jun: %. ceieerate
OF she colony with speeches and music
end festivities Appropriate 70 the day.
Mr. Thomas. now the minister OF the
United States to Sweden and Norway
kas accepted the invitation OF the colon
lsts and has sailed over from sweden
10 b the orator of the anniversary day.
The American minister does not come
back to his colony efnpty-handed On
tsAdtag good by 10 King Oscar . few
the King saw, 20 Mr.. Thomas an auto
graph letter Of CONGRATULATIONS 70 the
coiony on the success they had made In
the virgfn forest OF Maine. and OF HIS
best wfDhes for their future prosperity
end wsllbeing. The king presented 20
Mr. Thosnas q portrait Photograph OF him.
self clad In tho uniform OF general of
the Swedish aruav. and ch1fsod Mr..