CVIII EST. 1906 La Palma, California September 2015 Number 3 www.orderofruneberg.org Order of Runeberg Message Early Colonization of America by Swedish and Finnish Settlers The tall ship Kalmar Nyckel I became interested in “Early Picture of the painting by Inke Colonization of America by Swed- Sunila of the tall ship Kalmar ish and Finnish Settlers” after see- Nyckel ing the painting of the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel done by New Haven nial ships, a Mayflower of the Dela- lodge’s very talented Vice President ware Valley, yet her remarkable Inke Sunila. To view the painting story has never been widely told. and other pictures accompanying The original Kalmar Nyckel served this article in color, go to our “Or- as Governor Peter Minuit’s flagship der of Runeberg Lodges” website, for the 1638 expedition that click “Genealogy” on the main founded the colony of New Swe- menu, then “1638 colonization” den, establishing the first perma- from the sub-menu. Here is the full nent European settlement in the link: Delaware Valley, Fort Christina, in http://www.orderofruneberg.org/ present-day Wilmington, Dela- genealogy/1638colonization.html ware. She would make a total of From the Kalmar Nyckel four roundtrip crossings of the At- Foundation’s website lantic, more than any other docu- (http://www.kalmarnyckel.org): mented ship of the American colo- Map of Delaware River Settle- “The original Kalmar Nyckel was nial era.” one of America’s pioneering colo- ments in Year 1638 continued on page 3 WHAT’S INSIDE: Genealogy Corner..................................... 4 Lodge News................................................7 Finlandia Foundation................................13 Morton Homestead 2 September 2015 We need your help Helsinki 10th most livable city As we continue with the Lead- According to the list pub- position with Zurich, Switzer- ing Star we need your help in pro- lished by the Economist Intelli- land. viding news about events in your gence Unit (EIU) Melbourne is Second on the list is the Aus- lodges and communities. In this is- the best city in which to live. The trian capital, Vienna, with third, sue you can see we have a lot of pic- city, in the southern Australian fourth, and fifth positions all tures that go with the articles. Pic- state of Victoria, has now main- taken by Canadian cities— tures really help bring out the con- tained pole position for five years Vancouver, Toronto, and tent of the articles and with digital in a row. There was minimal re- Calgary, which tied with another cameras they are easy to take and shuffle in the top 10 year on year, southern Australian city, email to us. You don’t need to write with all seven of the top cities Adelaide. a lot when you have pictures to go retaining their 2014 ranking. Sydney and Perth, also Aus- along with an article. Perth and Auckland knocked tralian cities, came in at seventh Please note Stew Lyon’s article Helsinki down two pegs from last and eighth respectively, New on this page asking for volunteers year’s perch or 8th position. The Zealand’s Auckland in the ninth to write an article for the front page. Finnish capital now shares tenth spot. Please consider what you might be able to do. The Finnish American Reporter Also please notice the Christmas September 2015 Greeting article on the back page. Thank you and a reminder. The greetings are free and so I want to thank Annabelle Kergan for contributing the front page article in the we encourage you to send a June issue of the Leading Star, and to remind our lodges, including individual lodge mem- greeting this year that we can put in bers, of the need to provide front page articles and lodge meeting / activities articles for the December issue of the paper. future issues of the Leading Star. As Annabelle’s June front page article mentioned: “The success of the Leading Star’s continuation will depend on all the remaining lodges / mem- –DH bers being willing to contribute something to each publication.” Stew Lyons The Leading Star is published quarterly by the Order of Runeberg for its members and others interested in the Order at 7682 Tracy Lane, La Palma, California 90623-1501. The Leading Star / Ledstjärnan Dale & Mary Lou Hjort Editors: Dale and Mary Lou Hjort 7682 Tracy Lane La Palma, CA 90623-1501 Address all correspondence to: Postmaster: Send changes of address to: The Leading Star, Name:_____________________________________________ Attn: Dale & Mary Lou Hjort Street:_____________________________________________ 7682 Tracy Lane La Palma, CA 90623-1501 City:_______________________________________________ Telephone/Fax: 714-739-0932 Email: [email protected] State:______________________________ Zip_____________ Correspondents: Information received by the first Friday of the quarterly month or as noted will be Lodge & Number:____________________________________ included in that quarter’s issue. ___________________________________________________ To correct our listing of your address, fill in the requested information in the form to the right and send your old mailing label to: September 2015 3 Message continued from page 1 From the Delawareonline website: “Swedes and Finns are widely cred- Early Colonization ited with building the nation’s first The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation log cabins after their 1638 landing has an absolutely fascinating 48 at The Rocks in what became page guide book - “KALMAR Wilmington. Two reportedly were NYCKEL: A Guide to the Ship and built at Fort Christina, which Her History” - in pdf file format started the Delaware Valley’s first which can be downloaded from this permanent European settlement.” Kalmar Nyckel Foundation web page: Finnish Settlers Monument http://www.kalmarnyckel.org/ “Finnish Settlers Monument,” dy.asp?p=9. For example, the designed by Wäinö Aaltonen and guide, on page 24, lists the voyag- erected in 1938 as part of the 300th ers aboard the Kalmar Nyckel in anniversary of the ships Kalmar 1638, including national origins of Nyckel and Fogel Grip landing in the crew and colonists. Both ”Finnish Settlers Monument,” 1638. The monument commemo- Swedes and Finns were part of designed by Wäinö Aaltonen and rates the landing of Finns on this Kalmar Nyckel’s first voyage, since erected in 1938. The monument continent in 1638 and is located in Finland was part of the Swedish commemorates the landing of Crozer Park, Old Chester, PA. realm until 1809. Finns on this continent in 1638 and is located in Crozer Park, Delaware Colony of Old Chester, PA. Kalmar Nyckel Monument Swedes and Finns From Wikipedia (https:// by Swedish From the Finnish Genealogical en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ sculptor Society’s website: Fort_Christina): Carl Milles http://www.genealogia.fi/emi/art/ In 1938, to celebrate the 300th article229e.htm anniversary of the Swedish coloni- Because the colony of New Sweden zation of the area, the state of Dela- retained that name for only eigh- ware created a park which con- Declaration of teen years many students of Ameri- tained The Rocks and the site of the can history are but slightly famil- former forts. The dedication was Indepen- iar with the Finnish and Swedish attended by U.S. President dence signer settlements which grew up in Dela- Franklin D. Roosevelt, Crown John Morton , ware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey Prince Gustav Adolf, Crown Prin- descendant (this explains why there’s a cess Louise, and Prince Bertil. The of Finnish set- Swedesboro in southern NJ) sev- Prince presented a gift from their eral decades before the coming of homeland: a monument, topped by tlers. William Penn. The ships Kalmar a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel, de- Acquired and then renovated by Nyckel and Fogel Grip, landing in signed by Swedish sculptor Carl the state of Pennsylvania in the the spring of 1638, brought the first Milles. 1930s, the Morton Homestead in Finnish and Swedish settlers. The Delaware County is maintained as present nation of Finland was then First log-cabin structures a monument to Declaration of In- a part of Sweden, and the colony dependence signer John Morton, a was named New Sweden. built on American soil descendant of Finnish settlers. In Wilmington, the first settlement, An amazing and little-known fact, Morton was probably born was called Fort Christina in honor fact from the Kalmar Nyckel Foun- nearby, but the homestead has a of the Swedish Queen, daughter of dation website: rich history dating back to the 1660s Gustavus Adolphus who had “Fort Christina is rightfully famous and continues to evoke memories of planned the sending of colonists to as the home of the first log-cabin Finnish settlement in the Delaware America prior to his death on the structures ever built on American River Basin before the arrival of battlefield of Lutzen in 1632. One soil, a barracks and a warehouse William Penn and British Quaker branch of the stream which enters constructed by Finnish soldiers colonists in the 1680s. who were part of the original Swed- the Delaware River at that point Stew Lyons still bears her name. ish expedition.” New Haven Lodge #205 4 September 2015 Genealogy Corner and on this particular occasion, when he went to town on busi- ness, he sold his horse in town and bought a new one. The old horse knew the way home and how to continue on if grandfa- ther was tipsy and had dropped the reins. The new horse pan- arge Mattsson icked and drove the cart with my Beaver wrote this grandfather in it off the bridge, about her parents, June Pelo killing him. After the funeral, Johan Mattsson, A Dedicated Genealogist there was some insurance money 1875–1957, married left and it was divided among the Mto Sofia Abrahamsdotter children, including my grand- Bastubacka-Bast, 1878–1958. he was 15 and worked as a lum- mother.