File:Maine in history and romance (1915) (14766431442).jpg

Identifier: maineinhistoryro00lccmain (find matches)
Title: Maine in history and romance
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Maine Federation of Women's Clubs
Subjects:
Publisher: Lewiston, Me. : Lewiston journal company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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e. Thus the State money served two purposes; it enabled theSwedes to live until they could secure their first crop, and it paid forwork on the roads and other public works which were of a lasting benefitto the State. In June, Rev. Andrew Wiren, an ordained minister of the Lutheranchurch, arrived in New Sweden, where he was pastor for several years.He won the love and confidence of his little flock, and all the Swedishpeople came to him when in need of advice or help. On the evening of June 23, the Swedes met at the Capitol to cele-brate Midsommars Afton (Midsummers Eve), which is always an oc-casion of national festivity in the land of Sweden. They erected a highpole with cross-bars attached. This was called a May-pole altho itwas the latter part of June. The Swedish word for May meansgreen leaf. And a green-leaf-pole it certainly was, for they haddraped both the cross bars and the pole with birch leaves and garlandsof flowers. At the top floated the yellow and blue flag of Sweden and
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> m New Sweden 237 the red, white and blue of the United States. All joined in the merry-making. They danced around the May-pole, sang songs, and played ringgames until nearly midnight. In the old country it is believed thatwitches are abroad on Midsummers Eve, and huge bonfires are built onthe hillsides to drive them away. There had surely been bonfires enoughin New Sweden, since the colonists came, to drive away all the witchesin the country. The first anniversary of this colonys sailing away from Swe-den fell on the Sabbath that Pastor Wiren conducted the first Lutheranservice in the hall of the Capitol. That summer a variety store was established at the Center, andshops were also opened up by a tailor, tin-man, shoemaker and black-smith. A sawmill was built on Beardsley brook, four miles from theCapitol, and the foundation for a gristmill laid. In September, a good crop was harvested, and State aid was cutoff from the colonists who had secured crops, also from all immigrantswho

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