Hello,
My name is Adam Allington and I am a radio student at
the Salt Institute for Documentary Field Studies in
Portland.
I am contacting the Swedish Colony email group today
to tap everyones collective knowlege about the Swedish
Communities of Aroostook County. I am currently
researchinh topics for my upcomming field project in
Documentary Radio to be aired at a later date on Maine
Public Radio.
I have lived in Sweden myself for several years and
am very interested in Scandinavian culture and its
influences on communities here in America.
I am primarily looking for a "people piece" A story
about one person or family that in some way imparts
some unique aspect of your comunity to those who have
never been there.
One thing that I am very keen on researching is
Aquavit, or Swedish Schnapps and the role that it
plays in Swedish tradional/culinary life. My host
grand parents in Sweden made their own Schnapps and
the process has always been very interesting to me.
Is there anyone in the county who still makes
tradional schnapps?? There must be...
Other topics of interest would be such things as:
Interesting local characters, people who are a complet
product of your unique community. Maybe even
linguistic influences if there are any.
As Portland is very far away from Aroostook, I am
trying to get a few ideas before I make the long
drive. Since the subject or subjects who I end up
interviewing will probably not have email access
(although the might) I would be very grateful for any
tips and/or information that anyone might be able to
give me.
Thank you all very much for your time.
Warm Regards,
Adam Allington
__________________________________________________
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Dear Mr. Allington,
You should consider Dan Olson from New Sweden. although not a native,
he's married to a New Sweden girl and is a wealth of information. We also
are celebrating Midsummer June 21 -22 . Anyway, its a Saturday and Sunday.
While my married name is French, I would also be happy to help you in
any way. Local characters include Stan's home of the ten cent coffee, Ralph
Ostlund, who at the age of 70 + years still skiis.
Brenda Jepson who is also a member of this group, teaches at Caribou
High ?School where her video production class has produced at least 4 videos
about New Sweden and surrounding areas. She would also be a good contact
person.
Please let me know what else I can do for you. Anything to showcase this
wonderful town we live in.
Debbie
----- Original Message -----
From: "adam allington" <adam_allington@...>
To: <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 10:42 PM
Subject: [maineswedishcolony] Idea for radio story
> Hello,
>
> My name is Adam Allington and I am a radio student at
> the Salt Institute for Documentary Field Studies in
> Portland.
>
> I am contacting the Swedish Colony email group today
> to tap everyones collective knowlege about the Swedish
> Communities of Aroostook County. I am currently
> researchinh topics for my upcomming field project in
> Documentary Radio to be aired at a later date on Maine
> Public Radio.
>
> I have lived in Sweden myself for several years and
> am very interested in Scandinavian culture and its
> influences on communities here in America.
>
> I am primarily looking for a "people piece" A story
> about one person or family that in some way imparts
> some unique aspect of your comunity to those who have
> never been there.
>
> One thing that I am very keen on researching is
> Aquavit, or Swedish Schnapps and the role that it
> plays in Swedish tradional/culinary life. My host
> grand parents in Sweden made their own Schnapps and
> the process has always been very interesting to me.
> Is there anyone in the county who still makes
> tradional schnapps?? There must be...
>
> Other topics of interest would be such things as:
> Interesting local characters, people who are a complet
> product of your unique community. Maybe even
> linguistic influences if there are any.
>
> As Portland is very far away from Aroostook, I am
> trying to get a few ideas before I make the long
> drive. Since the subject or subjects who I end up
> interviewing will probably not have email access
> (although the might) I would be very grateful for any
> tips and/or information that anyone might be able to
> give me.
>
> Thank you all very much for your time.
>
> Warm Regards,
>
> Adam Allington
>
> __________________________________________________
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>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
Hi Bill,.......et al.
I lived in New Sweden for a number of years, and graduated from
the New Sweden Consolidated School, and then went to Caribou High
School, until my dad moved us to Connecticut, in 1974.
I've been back up, (now in my mid-fourties), a number of times
with my family, to visit friends and family in the area.
It would be nice to be able to talk of mutual friends and
places, and remember what New Sweden was BEFORE the migration of
folks from Massachusetts, (lol), who thought they had found their
new "Shangrala!"
There are soooooo many stories and memories that I could recite
that meant SO much to me as I was growing up in that area.
Best Wishes,
Steve Campbell
P.S. By the way, I am in the process of trying to edit my personal
data in reference to my e-mail address. Please re-direct all e-mail
to "campbell1978@..." and I will hopefully have the members
preference reflect this in the very near future.
P.S.:
I've added a Photo Folder into which I will put the photos, (of
which there are many), of my years in New Sweden and return visits
with friends, as soon as I can dig them out! (lol)
Steve,
It's great to see your photos! They made my day. You should put your name on
them.
I'll tell Alton to look them up too.
--
Bill Duncan; webguy, <duncan@...>
<http://geocities.com/maineswedishcolony> Website
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony> Email Discussion
Personal Mail:
203 South Madawaska Lake Rd.
HC 61 Box 547
Stockholm, ME 04783
207-896-3461
on 2.13.03 10:40 AM, Steve <campbell1978@...> at campbell1978@...
wrote:
> P.S.:
> I've added a Photo Folder into which I will put the photos, (of
> which there are many), of my years in New Sweden and return visits
> with friends, as soon as I can dig them out! (lol)
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> maineswedishcolony-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> To learn more about the maineswedishcolony group, please visit::
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony>
> To send a message to all members of this group, reply to this message or
> simply send email to: <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
> Please let me know if you run into any problems with this service. Bill
> Duncan, <duncan@...> (personal email) Sorry about the sleazy ads.
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Bill,
Thanks for taking a look! I'm sure Alton may not
even know what day it is, (sad to say), ....I heard
he was not really coherent. (Alzheimers?)
Alton must be about 85 years old, eh?
I've got MORE photos, (such as "me in the potato
field; Bryan Forbes and I on our way to a river
trip, etc.), that I'll put in later on.
Note of interest: My graduating class from New
Sweden, was the last class to have their graduation
in the building that had the gym in it, before it
burned down. It was next to the original museum.
I have LOTS of memories that might be of interest
should you want the stories. Like the Sunday that
Paul Bunderson(sp?) asked me to put fliers for "vote
yes for a 'wet' town" on the cars in the church
parking lot, and what happened when the folks came
out of church and found the fliers on their
windshields. (The funniest part of that story is
the fact that I am the preacher's kid from that
church!!)
Have a great weekend!
Steve Campbell
Your email is fateful. Just this week I was made aware of a collection of photographs of the Swedish Colony from the early 1900's. These photos were assembled onto display boards by a local naturalist Olaf Nylander and are part of a collection his artifacts in a local museum (Caribou's Nylander Museum). It seems to be a complete survey of the farms and homes of immigrant families. We estimate there are 150-300 images.
The museum director, Jeanie McGowan, speculated that the display might have been taken to Sweden by Nylander to illustrate the success of the colony. The photos haven't been shown publicly for some time and are showing signs of deterioration. A book was suggested as a way of preserving and distributing the images.
Send me your publishing information and I will share it with the local historical societies and the Caribou museum to see if we can generated some interest in a project.
--
Bill Duncan; webguy, <duncan@...>
<http://geocities.com/maineswedishcolony> Website
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony> Email Discussion
Personal Mail:
203 South Madawaska Lake Rd.
HC 61 Box 547
Stockholm, ME 04783
207-896-3461
on 2.25.03 3:23 PM, jengstrom@... at jengstrom@... wrote:
Hello,
I am the editor of Maine titles at Arcadia Publishing in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Arcadia is a trade publisher of local and regional histories, most famously, our "Images of America" series, which is a pictorial history series. I recently stumbled upon your Web site and it caught my eye because there seems to be such an active historical interest in the area and also because I am of Swedish descent myself (from the Duluth, Minnesota Swedes!) Anyway, I thought I would write to say hello and also ask you some questions to see if Arcadia might be interested in publishing a book on the area and getting the historical society involved as potential authors. I was wondering what the population of the area is and also whether there is a collection of historical photographs. Arcadia finances all aspects of book publication for book proposals we accept, and pays author royalties, etc. I would be happy to mail you some materials if this is at all of interest to you.
Thanks! I had a great time looking over the site. It made me homesick!
Hello: How about scanning, thus digitizing, all of those historic pictures.
Then they will be available to anyone either by printing or sending them as
an attachment to an E-mail. Scanning does absolutely no damage to the
originals and is a great way to preserve them and share them. Of course, the
originals will be kept, but would then not have to be handled to be seen.
Jean found this old photo for sale on the web. She thinks it is G.A.
Lutheran but I wonder if it is the Covenant church.
-----
Bill Duncan
E-mail: duncan@...
Mail:
203 South Madawaska Lake Rd.
HC 61 Box 547
Stockholm, ME 04783
Phone 207-896-3461
----------
From: jean duncan <jeanbduncan@...>
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 17:50:48 -0800 (PST)
To: duncan@...
Subject: new sweden lutheran church photo
http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/mainetique/iteml/RL0311-535N
It is not the Covenant Church-- the steeple is wrong, and the tops of the windows are pointed, instead of rounded like at the Covenant Church. It probably is G.A. Lutheran.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: maineswedishcolony-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com To learn more about the maineswedishcolony group, please visit:: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony> To send a message to all members of this group, reply to this message or simply send email to: <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com> Please let me know if you run into any problems with this service. Bill Duncan, <duncan@...> (personal email) Sorry about the sleazy ads.
I looked at the pictures in the most recent History of Gustavus Adolphus,
and while the steeple top looks similar, it is outside the main roof and the
windows are very different. I don't think it is either church, unless major
renovations to the exterior have taken place pre-1900. It also seems to be
on a hill.
Peter Bolster
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Duncan [mailto:duncan@...]
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 11:52 AM
To: Debbie Blanchette; Shelly Timber; maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [maineswedishcolony] FW: new sweden lutheran (?) church photo
Jean found this old photo for sale on the web. She thinks it is G.A.
Lutheran but I wonder if it is the Covenant church.
-----
Bill Duncan
E-mail: duncan@...
Mail:
203 South Madawaska Lake Rd.
HC 61 Box 547
Stockholm, ME 04783
Phone 207-896-3461
----------
From: jean duncan <jeanbduncan@...>
Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 17:50:48 -0800 (PST)
To: duncan@...
Subject: new sweden lutheran church photo
http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/mainetique/iteml/RL0311-535N
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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Please let me know if you run into any problems with this service. Bill
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ads.
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
An interesting interview at the Franco American Women's website! Marie
Lucie Gravel, was born September 20, 1917, and spent her childhood in
Stockholm. Her daughter Joyce Miller, Dallas Texas , has written a wonderful
account of her mother's life, including a description of what it was like to
live in
Stockholm in the early days. Check it out!
http://www.fawi.net/ezine/vol3no3/miller.html
Search on word "Sweden" gives an article on New Sweden in Maine, Roy Arndt
Chris Troy wrote:
The Brooklyn Eagle newspaper from 1841-1902 has a
searchable database
online. If you do a search on the word "Swedish" you will get more
than
34000 hits. As many Swedish migrants settled in this area some
of you
may find interesting information here.
The database is still under construction so there will be times when
it
is not functioning properly. They anticipate that it will be
finalised
in the summer of 2003:
It is amazing to find these old newspaper accounts online. There are many
fascinating entries, but one of interest to folks here in the Swedish colony
regards the 30th year anniversary in 1900.
http://eagle.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/Repository/ml.asp?Issue=BEG/1900/06/
30&ID=Ar01301&Mode=Gif
Thanks to those who have made this available to us!
--- In maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com, Roy Arndt <rarndt@m...>
wrote:
> Search on word "Sweden" gives an article on New Sweden in Maine, Roy
Arndt
>
> Chris Troy wrote:
>
> > The Brooklyn Eagle newspaper from 1841-1902 has a searchable
database
> > online. If you do a search on the word "Swedish" you will get more than
> > 34000 hits. As many Swedish migrants settled in this area some of you
> > may find interesting information here.
> >
> > The database is still under construction so there will be times when it
> > is not functioning properly. They anticipate that it will be finalised
> > in the summer of 2003:
> >
> > http://eagle.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/
> >
> > Happy hunting, Chris
> >
> >
> > ==============================
> > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records,
go to:
> > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237
I think it is the Covenant church..have some early pictures of GA and it
looks different. Arline
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Duncan" <duncan@...>
To: "Debbie Blanchette" <newswede@...>; "Shelly Timber"
<revshelly@...>; <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 11:52 AM
Subject: [maineswedishcolony] FW: new sweden lutheran (?) church photo
> Jean found this old photo for sale on the web. She thinks it is G.A.
> Lutheran but I wonder if it is the Covenant church.
>
>
> -----
> Bill Duncan
> E-mail: duncan@...
>
> Mail:
> 203 South Madawaska Lake Rd.
> HC 61 Box 547
> Stockholm, ME 04783
> Phone 207-896-3461
>
>
>
>
> ----------
> From: jean duncan <jeanbduncan@...>
> Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 17:50:48 -0800 (PST)
> To: duncan@...
> Subject: new sweden lutheran church photo
>
> http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/mainetique/iteml/RL0311-535N
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> maineswedishcolony-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> To learn more about the maineswedishcolony group, please visit::
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony>
> To send a message to all members of this group, reply to this message or
simply send email to: <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
> Please let me know if you run into any problems with this service. Bill
Duncan, <duncan@...> (personal email) Sorry about the sleazy
ads.
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Hi Arlene.
I purchased the picture so we can look at more and see if we can figure
what church it is....
Debbie
----- Original Message -----
From: "arline ferguson" <fergi@...>
To: <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 2:34 PM
Subject: Re: [maineswedishcolony] FW: new sweden lutheran (?) church photo
> I think it is the Covenant church..have some early pictures of GA and it
> looks different. Arline
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Duncan" <duncan@...>
> To: "Debbie Blanchette" <newswede@...>; "Shelly Timber"
> <revshelly@...>; <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 11:52 AM
> Subject: [maineswedishcolony] FW: new sweden lutheran (?) church photo
>
>
> > Jean found this old photo for sale on the web. She thinks it is G.A.
> > Lutheran but I wonder if it is the Covenant church.
> >
> >
> > -----
> > Bill Duncan
> > E-mail: duncan@...
> >
> > Mail:
> > 203 South Madawaska Lake Rd.
> > HC 61 Box 547
> > Stockholm, ME 04783
> > Phone 207-896-3461
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----------
> > From: jean duncan <jeanbduncan@...>
> > Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2003 17:50:48 -0800 (PST)
> > To: duncan@...
> > Subject: new sweden lutheran church photo
> >
> > http://www.rubylane.com/ni/shops/mainetique/iteml/RL0311-535N
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > maineswedishcolony-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > To learn more about the maineswedishcolony group, please visit::
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony>
> > To send a message to all members of this group, reply to this message or
> simply send email to: <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
> > Please let me know if you run into any problems with this service. Bill
> Duncan, <duncan@...> (personal email) Sorry about the sleazy
> ads.
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
> >
>
>
>
> Participate in Maine Swedish Colony's Egroup site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony.
> To send a message, reply to this message or send email to:
maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com
> Report problems to Bill Duncan, duncan@.... This list is
"unmoderated," sorry if unwanted messages slip through. To unsubscribe, send
email:
> maineswedishcolony-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
HI Swedish Colonists,
Attached is an illustration of New Sweden I am working up for Midsommar.
I am looking for some feedback on what I have so far.
Is it immediately clear what's what?
Are place names accurate?
Have I included all relevant sites? (I have just thought of the cemetery
chapel)
What else might we include?
Any errors?
Thanks.
-----
Bill Duncan
E-mail: duncan@...
Mail:
203 South Madawaska Lake Rd.
HC 61 Box 547
Stockholm, ME 04783
Phone 207-896-3461
Hi jean, the man with W. W. Thomas looks like a runner or some kind of a
sport player..
----- Original Message -----
From: <jeanbduncan@...>
To: "friends" <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 9:19 PM
Subject: [maineswedishcolony] postcard from jean duncan
> There is a postcard from jean duncan waiting for you at the Maine Memory
Network.
> please click on the link below to view your postcard:
> http://www.mainememory.org/bin/Cklb?vmo=10478675859.12445583276241
>
> The Maine Memory Network is the virtual museum of Maine.
> Visit us at <a href="http://www.mainememory.net">www.mainememory.net</a>
>
>
> Participate in Maine Swedish Colony's Egroup site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony.
> To send a message, reply to this message or send email to:
maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com
> Report problems to Bill Duncan, duncan@.... This list is
"unmoderated," sorry if unwanted messages slip through. To unsubscribe, send
email:
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>
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>
>
>
Adam and the Rest of the List,
As a current, albeit simultaneously happy and reluctant, Portlander
I hail from New Sweden. I'd be willing to help you out, esp. getting
you up to New Sweden (anything to visit home!) for a weekend. Please
feel free to contact me off-list, should you like about getting
together.
FOR THE REST OF THE LIST:
I'm doing a paper (for the American and New England Studies master's
program at USM) on New Sweden's Cultural Center (Bill, great map!)
and wonder if there's any way that I could get into the Historical
Society. I'd do it during the day and no heat needed, since I know
that it's closed until late May.
I wonder if there are minutes for the Historical Society meetings
and, if there are, might I have a copy of the last year's notes? I'm
very excited about the project and hope to continue working on it
throughout my degree.
Thanks!
Kate
(Quin-EASTER... Johnson Road, New Sweden and Wessex Street, Portland)
Hello Kate,
Thanks for responding to my post. I have already
gotten my story about nordic skiing in the swedish
colony in the bag.
However, I will be going up to Houlton to interview
someone about another story sometime in the near
future.
Let me know if you are interested
Regards,
adam
--- Kate <kquineaster@...> wrote:
> Adam and the Rest of the List,
>
> As a current, albeit simultaneously happy and
> reluctant, Portlander
> I hail from New Sweden. I'd be willing to help you
> out, esp. getting
> you up to New Sweden (anything to visit home!) for a
> weekend. Please
> feel free to contact me off-list, should you like
> about getting
> together.
>
> FOR THE REST OF THE LIST:
> I'm doing a paper (for the American and New England
> Studies master's
> program at USM) on New Sweden's Cultural Center
> (Bill, great map!)
> and wonder if there's any way that I could get into
> the Historical
> Society. I'd do it during the day and no heat
> needed, since I know
> that it's closed until late May.
>
> I wonder if there are minutes for the Historical
> Society meetings
> and, if there are, might I have a copy of the last
> year's notes? I'm
> very excited about the project and hope to continue
> working on it
> throughout my degree.
>
> Thanks!
> Kate
> (Quin-EASTER... Johnson Road, New Sweden and Wessex
> Street, Portland)
>
>
__________________________________________________
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I wonder if anyone has copies of Silver Birches and would be willing to photocopy them for me? Of course I'll pay postage and photocopy charges ... My dad said that he thought that the Caribou library had some, but the catalogue search is down so I can't check. No luck finding them in the Portland library and the Maine State Library. The UMaine libraries have various copies, but they seem to be mostly in Presque Isle.
Thanks for your help!
Kate
"Art is not something with which to reflect reality, but a tool with which to shape it."
Dear friends far away, but not forgotten,
In the midst of this Easter season of resurrection and life, it came as a
sudden shock to read the sad and disturbing news in section A of the
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yesterday and on the AP wire (below) today.
As many of you recall, my father, Rev. Hans Andrae, served the Northern
Maine Lutheran Parish from Oct. 1979 to Oct. 1985. We lived in the parsonage
next to Gustaf Adolph. I was 8 when we arrived, and 14 when we moved to the
Pittsburgh area, where I now serve as campus pastor for the LCMS in the
Oakland neighborhood of the city.
I remember Reid Morrill well--a kind man and friendly neighbor; as my father
said, "a real brother in Christ." I remember one summer I enjoyed feeding
their rabbits while they were gone on vacation.
How is Erich Margeson doing? Christian, his brother, was my best friend
those years in Maine and I spent many days and nights out in Westmanland
with the wonderful Margeson family.
My prayers and thoughts are with you.
In the Lord of Life,
Eric
**********************************************************
Pastor Eric Robert Andrę, VDM +
5700 Bunkerhill St. #1801, Pgh. (Highland Park), PA 15206. 412-441-2487
Church poisoning shocks town--by Kevin Wack (AP)
NEW SWEDEN, Maine (May 2) - Residents of this potato farming community pride
themselves on the safety of their close-knit town, many boasting that they
don't leave their house doors locked at night.
Now many are scared and shocked after a fatal arsenic poisoning at a church
function.
Homicide investigators said arsenic-laced coffee served at the church
reception following Sunday's service killed a 78-year-old man and made
several others sick.
``I just can't believe any of it. We watch TV and things like this happen,''
said Pam Landeen, whose uncle, Dale Anderson, was in critical condition at a
Bangor hospital. ``When something actually happens to you, it's hard to
believe.''
State police continued interviewing members of the congregation in the
community of about 650 people, including more than two dozen who had coffee
and baked goods at the church that has long symbolized the cultural fabric
of a town settled by Swedish immigrants in the 1800s.
Residents had held on to hopes until Wednesday that the poisonings would
turn out to be accidental, said Alton Ketch. Told that it was a homicide, he
said, ``That's what we were scared of.''
Following the death of Walter Reid Morrill, officials said the investigation
``has produced no evidence that ... the arsenic was introduced into the
brewed coffee accidentally.''
Two other members of the Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church in New Sweden
remained in critical condition Thursday, while the condition of a third was
upgraded from critical to serious.
The case was declared a homicide Thursday after laboratory tests confirmed
that the source of arsenic was in the brewed coffee. Arsenic also was
confirmed in samples from the victims, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman
for the Maine Public Safety Department.
McCausland said he did not know whether the tan stucco church, which sits on
top of a hill near a vacant parsonage, was locked before last weekend's
incident. But state police do know who had access to the building, he said.
``This case remains wide open,'' he said acknowledging that he did not know
whether investigators had discovered any disagreements among members of the
congregation.
Arsenic poisoning causes skin sores, organ injuries and has been linked to
cancers of the skin, lung, liver, bladder and pancreas. It is generally
odorless and tasteless.
Chief investigator Lt. Dennis Appleton, said he hopes residents being
questioned by police would not dismiss a disagreement they might be aware of
as too irrelevant to mention.
``I think my investigators and my interviewers can convince people that even
the smallest thing maybe should be brought to our attention and we should
evaluate that,'' Appleton said.
Several people reported feeling sick after last weekend's reception.
Morrill, a longtime member of the congregation who lived next to the church
and acted as a caretaker and head usher, died early Monday.
``We don't know what the motive is. We don't know who was responsible for
doing this, but our investigators' focus now is to find answers to those
questions,'' McCausland said.
05/02/03 03:21 EDT
_________________________________________________________________
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Dear Eric,
To think that this kid used to drive me crazy whenever I substituted for
Mrs. Espling!
Thanks so much for thinking of us... I have more bad news for you. Danny
Bondeson died this evening from a gunshot. We don't know how or why....just
more sadness for all of us.
Please keep all of us in your prayers tonight... love to all of the
Andraes and your wife.
Debbie Blanchette
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric Andrę" <ericandrae@...>
To: <maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com>
Cc: <RAndrae@...>; <christinaandrae@...>
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003 3:35 PM
Subject: [maineswedishcolony] greetings from an old (but still young) friend
>
> Dear friends far away, but not forgotten,
> In the midst of this Easter season of resurrection and life, it came as a
> sudden shock to read the sad and disturbing news in section A of the
> Pittsburgh Post-Gazette yesterday and on the AP wire (below) today.
> As many of you recall, my father, Rev. Hans Andrae, served the Northern
> Maine Lutheran Parish from Oct. 1979 to Oct. 1985. We lived in the
parsonage
> next to Gustaf Adolph. I was 8 when we arrived, and 14 when we moved to
the
> Pittsburgh area, where I now serve as campus pastor for the LCMS in the
> Oakland neighborhood of the city.
> I remember Reid Morrill well--a kind man and friendly neighbor; as my
father
> said, "a real brother in Christ." I remember one summer I enjoyed feeding
> their rabbits while they were gone on vacation.
> How is Erich Margeson doing? Christian, his brother, was my best friend
> those years in Maine and I spent many days and nights out in Westmanland
> with the wonderful Margeson family.
> My prayers and thoughts are with you.
> In the Lord of Life,
> Eric
>
> **********************************************************
> Pastor Eric Robert Andrę, VDM +
> 5700 Bunkerhill St. #1801, Pgh. (Highland Park), PA 15206. 412-441-2487
>
>
>
> Church poisoning shocks town--by Kevin Wack (AP)
>
> NEW SWEDEN, Maine (May 2) - Residents of this potato farming community
pride
> themselves on the safety of their close-knit town, many boasting that they
> don't leave their house doors locked at night.
>
> Now many are scared and shocked after a fatal arsenic poisoning at a
church
> function.
>
> Homicide investigators said arsenic-laced coffee served at the church
> reception following Sunday's service killed a 78-year-old man and made
> several others sick.
>
> ``I just can't believe any of it. We watch TV and things like this
happen,''
> said Pam Landeen, whose uncle, Dale Anderson, was in critical condition at
a
> Bangor hospital. ``When something actually happens to you, it's hard to
> believe.''
>
> State police continued interviewing members of the congregation in the
> community of about 650 people, including more than two dozen who had
coffee
> and baked goods at the church that has long symbolized the cultural fabric
> of a town settled by Swedish immigrants in the 1800s.
>
> Residents had held on to hopes until Wednesday that the poisonings would
> turn out to be accidental, said Alton Ketch. Told that it was a homicide,
he
> said, ``That's what we were scared of.''
>
> Following the death of Walter Reid Morrill, officials said the
investigation
> ``has produced no evidence that ... the arsenic was introduced into the
> brewed coffee accidentally.''
>
> Two other members of the Gustaf Adolph Lutheran Church in New Sweden
> remained in critical condition Thursday, while the condition of a third
was
> upgraded from critical to serious.
>
> The case was declared a homicide Thursday after laboratory tests confirmed
> that the source of arsenic was in the brewed coffee. Arsenic also was
> confirmed in samples from the victims, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman
> for the Maine Public Safety Department.
>
> McCausland said he did not know whether the tan stucco church, which sits
on
> top of a hill near a vacant parsonage, was locked before last weekend's
> incident. But state police do know who had access to the building, he
said.
>
> ``This case remains wide open,'' he said acknowledging that he did not
know
> whether investigators had discovered any disagreements among members of
the
> congregation.
>
> Arsenic poisoning causes skin sores, organ injuries and has been linked to
> cancers of the skin, lung, liver, bladder and pancreas. It is generally
> odorless and tasteless.
>
> Chief investigator Lt. Dennis Appleton, said he hopes residents being
> questioned by police would not dismiss a disagreement they might be aware
of
> as too irrelevant to mention.
>
> ``I think my investigators and my interviewers can convince people that
even
> the smallest thing maybe should be brought to our attention and we should
> evaluate that,'' Appleton said.
>
> Several people reported feeling sick after last weekend's reception.
> Morrill, a longtime member of the congregation who lived next to the
church
> and acted as a caretaker and head usher, died early Monday.
>
> ``We don't know what the motive is. We don't know who was responsible for
> doing this, but our investigators' focus now is to find answers to those
> questions,'' McCausland said.
>
> 05/02/03 03:21 EDT
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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>
>
>
> Participate in Maine Swedish Colony's Egroup site:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony.
> To send a message, reply to this message or send email to:
maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com
> Report problems to Bill Duncan, duncan@.... This list is
"unmoderated," sorry if unwanted messages slip through. To unsubscribe, send
email:
> maineswedishcolony-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>
Delaine,
Thank you so much for your concern. I am sending this to a small email group in the Swedish Colony.
----
Bill Duncan
on 5.2.03 10:31 AM, BJERKEDELAINE@... at BJERKEDELAINE@... wrote:
Hi! I saw the story on the ELCA church in New Sweden on the Today Show this morning. I am a member of the ELCA church, grew up in Minnesota in the Norwegian tradition. When hearing that the church is also between ministers (which is stressful in itself) and the tragedy of Sunday morning, I want to contact the church or a leading lay person to lend my support. Unfortunately, my search only leads me to historical sites or official townsites, which is where I found your address. Since the name Duncan showed up several times (yours along with Jean's, who seems to have found an old church photo) I thought you seemed well connected in the town and I'd try you.
Please send on my condolences and prayers to the people of GA (spelling unknown). Let them know that the larger Lutheran community is thinking of them and hoping for a quick end to the uncertainty they must feel at this time. A Beautitude keeps ringing in my mind, "Blessed are those who mourn". May they find comfort in their faith.
Also, my prayers for the entire town are sent with this message. All the lives in the community have been touched, I'm sure, and the disruption of daily life must be disturbing.
Thank you. I hope you will forward this, share it, whatever seems appropriate.
In Prayer,
Delaine Bjerke
Saint Peters, MO 63376
bjerkedelaine@...
Hello to all.
This is a time to show the world that it is HOW we in New
Sweden and surrounding areas respond to tragedy that sets us apart.
Also, I recently visited those in the hospital in Bangor and brought
to them the collective love and well wishes from the rest of their
community up here.
I want to use this forum to let you all know (if you don't already) of
the relief fund that is set up to help the families of all who are
hospitalized. Donations are now being accepted and 100% will go to
the families of those hospitalized by the poisoning. Administrative
costs will be born by the Ev. Covenant Church. It is being overseen
by three pastors in the New Sweden/Stockholm area.
Checks can be make out to (and mailed to):
"G.A. Lutheran Families Relief Fund"
P.O. Box 47
New Sweden, ME 04762
Distributions will be given to families, weekly while hospitalized,
and for two weeks following their discharge. (depending upon the
duration of donations coming in)
There is also a donation can at Northstar Variety and more will be
placed in similar locations around our towns.
Thank you and Peace to you all!
Rev. Shelly Timber
Hi there,
I know that there is still a lot of discussion around the area,
nation, and world about the tragic events of the past week or so. It
is strange to see our corner of the universe thrown in the spotlight
by something so awful. I hope that people who live outside the area
realize that it is an amazing place to grow up and to visit. It
seems as if more people (rather than less) people will be visiting
the area in interest of learning more about their Swedish roots and
taking in the beauty of Northern Maine... and maybe that is the
silver lining in the dark cloud over us... I am getting married on
Cross Lake this summer and will be bringing many people from Southern
Maine and other states (and possible one person from Sweden!)who have
never been to Northern Maine and I will be proud to show them around
our special communities. I'm proud to be from a place that does not
forget its roots.
My heart goes out to those who are still sick or in mourning... my
thoughts and prayers are with you. Take care.
:) Jess Plourde
jess_plourde@...
The New Sweden Historical Society Breakfast will be held on May 26
Memorial Day, Monday (not Saturday) morning from 6:30 to 9 at the Bridgade
Lodge in Stockholm. Hope to see you there!!
I am looking for a list of the Swedish name days. Does anyone have such a
list that could be E-mailed to me, or can someone tell me where I can obtain
the list. I am hoping that I will be able to find one, so that I can
incorporate it in my family history. I will appreciate any help that anyone
can give me.
Helen Nelson Jarvis
I am looking for a list of the Swedish name days. Does anyone have such a list that could be E-mailed to me, or can someone tell me where I can obtain the list. I am hoping that I will be able to find one, so that I can incorporate it in my family history. I will appreciate any help that anyone can give me. Helen Nelson Jarvis
Participate in Maine Swedish Colony's Egroup site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/maineswedishcolony. To send a message, reply to this message or send email to: maineswedishcolony@yahoogroups.com Report problems to Bill Duncan, duncan@.... This list is "unmoderated," sorry if unwanted messages slip through. To unsubscribe, send email: maineswedishcolony-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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