Guest Bloggers: Dave Spooner and Katie DeHaas

In the most northeast corner of the country lies a little piece of history: Maine’s Swedish Colony. In the 1860s, William Widgery Thomas, Jr returned to Maine from Sweden, where he had been acting as a diplomatic courier to further the Union cause. He was named Commissioner of Immigration after campaigning to establish a Swedish colony in northern Maine. On July 23, 1870, after nearly a month-long journey, the 51 colonists arrived in what would become New Sweden.

The Swedish culture is still vibrant within the colony today with its foods and festivals. The colony is comprised primarily of the communities of New Sweden, Stockholm, Woodland, Perham, and Westmanland. The Swedish traditions are still upheld throughout the year with such festivals like Saint Lucia Day in December and “Midsommar” in June. Traditional Smorgasbords are very popular with people gathering and sharing wonderful foods. The traditional Midsommar meal includes foods like KÖttbullar (Swedish meatballs), Sill (pickled herring), grilled salmon, boiled new potatoes with fresh dill, sour cream and raw red onion. And for dessert, the first wild strawberries of summer, with cream. Many families in the colony still maintain correspondence with distant relatives in the “old country” and are happy to share stories told with others.

This year the Midsommar Festival is taking place June 17th, 18th, and 19th, and will include a multitude of celebratory activities. The Stockholm Museum will be open, with access to photos, artifacts and detailed genealogies. There will be a fishing derby, Kubb (Viking lawn bowling), Dala Horse painting, hair wreaths, Swedish dance lessons, and a traditional Majstång (maypole). Click here for a full calendar of events!

The Maine Swedish Colony is still thriving and celebrating its heritage and history! If you’re interested in learning more about Maine’s Swedish Colony, you can visit their website or their Facebook page.