The

Maine Finn

Finnish-American Heritage Society of Maine P.O. Box 294 • West Paris, Maine 04289 www.mainefinns.org Officers President ................................Dale Piirainen .................................207-674-5539 ............................... 25 Stearns Hill Road, West Paris, ME 04289 Vice President .........................Martha L. Wilson ..........................207-925-2972 ........................................4 Pleasant Point Rd., Lovell, ME 04051 Treasurer ............................... Barbara Payne .............................. 207-743-5677 ....................................... 7 Main St. Apt #10, Norway, ME 04268 Secretary ............................... Karen Bennett ............................... 207-674-3748 ................................... 295 Koskela Rd., Bryant Pond, ME 04219 Membership Secretary ..........Cynthia Immonen .........................207-743-2384 ............................43 Mountain View Dr., South Paris, ME 04281 Directors Tamara Cohen ............................................................................... 207-743-5367 ................................................ 24 Village Lane, Oxford, ME 04270 Barbara Honkala............................................................................ 207-824-2711 ......................................... 1262 Intervale Road, Bethel, ME 04217 Richard Suomela .......................................................................... 207-743-0953 .............................................. 6 Suomela Lane, Norway, ME 04268 Peter Starbird...................................................................................207-743-2246............................................104 Nichol St., South Paris, ME 04281 Natalie Parsons...............................................................................207-743-7742......................................................P.O. Box 209, Norway, ME 04268

Issue #125

Apr., May, June 2014

MEETINGS & ACTIVITIES

KALENTERI

April/May: The Finnish language classes scheduled for April & May had to be cancelled due to the instructor’s family emergency. We hope to reschedule for fall. April 20th started us off with our Annual Membership Dinner & Meeting. The Officer’s & Directors are listed at the top of the page. Auditors are Natalie Andrews, Becky Cummings, and Janet Gardner. Sunshine Lady is Betty Hertell and Membership Secretary is Cynthia Immonen. May 17th was our Public Buffett Supper. This was another great success, thanks to all of you who cooked, setup, served, cleaned up, and more.These have been great fundraisers for the Society and are well received by the community. May 18th Barbara Payne presented a program on the Italian Hall Tragedy, an important and little known part of Finnish immigrant history.

June 13 -15: We will not be holding our traditional meeting in June. With the visit of fifty guests from Finland we will be holding a special dinner at 5:00pm on Friday May 13th and a public performance at 3:30 on June 15, by the Kuhmon Keiketys, a Finnish Folk Dance Troupe and our own A’Chording to Kantele group. The Sunday event will take place at the High School forum. Please see page #6 for complete details. July/Aug: We will be holding our traditional Open House every Sunday (except Aug 17th) from 2-4. If you would like to help host one of these events please contact Dale at 674-5539. This is a great opportunity to welcome the community and summer visitors. Aug 17: Summer Social from 11 to 2. Cost is $3.00 per person for the cook-out. Members are welcome to supplement this cook-out with salads & desserts. This year we will be adding the popular Finnish game of Mölkky

Rodney Spiller, 81, passed away in Edgwater, FL on March 19. He is survived by his wife, the former Janice Erickson, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Sylvia Peiju Foster, 95, passed away on May 13. She was born in Greenwood, the daughter of Peter & Saimi N. Peiju and graduated from Oxford High School, married, and made Oxford her home. She is survived by a daughter, Barbara Johnson, son Norman, sisters Aili Wuori & Lahja DiBello, as well as several grandchildren, great grandchildren and greatgreat grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Stanley “Doc” Foster and her sister Helen Abbott.

Sunshine Lady, Betty Hertell # 743-6658 Please inform Betty if you know of any society members that are ill, grieving, or otherwise in need of ‘Sunshine”. IN MEMORIUM Our sincere condolences go out to the families and friends of the dearly departed members of the Finnish-American community. More extensive information may be found in our genealogy department.

Albert P. Frechette, 84, passed away on Jan 19, 2014. Native to this area he and his wife, the former Viola Erickson, were residents of New Smyrna Beach for the past 22 years, summering in Norway. Alvar R. Jarvi, 95, of Minot, passed away on March 4th. He was born in Woburn, MA, the son of Richard & Hilma Savela Jarvi. He is survived by his son, Alvar R. Jarvi, grandchildren & great-grandchildren. Ada O. Williams, 90, of Manchester, N H and formerly of Auburn, ME passed away on March 5th. She was born in West Minot, the daughter of John & Anna (Ervasti) Ojala and spent most of her life in the community. She was predeceased by her husband, Donald Williams. Olga Starbird, 90, passed away on Mar 23 at her home in S Paris. She was born in Greenwood, the daughter of Arvi & Lyyti Kyllonen and graduated as co-valedictorian from W Paris High School. She is survived by her children Nancy, David, Susan, Sylvia & Patricia, grandchildren, great grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild. She was predeceased by her husband Stephen, two brothers and her sister Aino.

MEMORIALS In Memory of Laila Piirainen Doughty: Milt & Eleanor Inman, Brian & Tricia Smith $60 In Memory of Eleanor S. Koskela: Milt & Eleanor Inman In Memory of Ada Williams: Kathleen & Miller Schuck $25. In Memory of Wayne Penley: Ed & Julie Daye $25.00

MEMBERSHIP & NEWSLETTER In order to streamline our process, and avoid extra steps, we request that all future memberships be mailed directly to: Finnish American Heritage Society of Maine (FAHSoM) P O Box 294, W Paris, ME 04281. All checks should also be made out to: Finnish American Heritage Society of Maine (FAHSoM). Dues are $10 a year and are now on a calendar year basis. Membership includes the newsletter which is published quarterly. If you are interested in newsletter only, without the benefit of membership, the cost is $6.00 a year. Cynthia Immonen will continue to be the Membership Secretary and will take memberships at the meetings. We certainly appreciate the dedicated service Cynthia has provided in this role for a number of years and continues to do.

The Maine Finn is published quarterly, in March, June, September & December. Editor: Barbara N. Payne #743-56777 Main St Apt #10 Norway, ME 04268 Printed by: Creative Media #739-2200 329 Main St Norway, ME 04268

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CALENDARS 2015

THIS & THAT

Our 2015 calendar will be available for our June events. It features Finnish-American veterans, mostly from WWII. There are several family groups that fill a page, or two, as in the case of the Leino family where all nine sons served in the Army. The cost remains at $10.00 per calendar. If you are unable to pick up your calendar at the Center you may have it mailed to you for an additional fee of $5.00. Make checks out to FAHSoM and mail them to P O Box 294, West Paris, ME 04289.

+++ It has been reported that Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon has Finnish ancestry. His great grandfather, Nils Johan Pajari emigrated from Kemi, Finland in 1907 and settled in northern Minnesota. He changed his name to John Paige. Matt’s grandfather, John Walter Paige, was born in Virginia Minnesota in 1916, the son of John & Impi (Nieminen) Paige. His daughter Nancy is Matt Damon’s mother. Matt has spoken publicly about Finland as a model for good education policy. (12/13 Finn Am Reporter) +++ Finns have managed to transform their school system from mediocre to topnotch, without batteries of standardized tests, long school days or competition among schools. Ironically, the secret to Finland’s recent success traces back to the United States, according to renowned Finnish educator Pasi Sahlberg. “It was an American idea in the beginning, coming from (Thomas) Jefferson: “equality of educational opportunity” Sahlberg said. “But we took it seriously … The dream was to have a good school for every child. We never gave up.” 1/14 Finn Am Reporter +++ Finland has one of the few remaining triple-A economies in the euro zone. Google is investing over the next few years in a data center in Finland, boosting a country struggling with Nokia’s decline and weakness in its paper and steel industry. There have also been some positive signs in Finland’s gaming industry led by Rovio of Angry Birds fame. Microsoft has said it will also invest in a new data center in Finland and Yandex, Russia’s biggest search engine, started building a data center in Mantsala, Finland. (12/13 FinnAm Reporter)

FINN FUNN WEEKEND 2014 Finn Funn Weekend will once again be held at the Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy, NH from November 14-16, sponsored by the Finnish-American Heritage Society of Canterbury, CT, The Finnish Park at Saima Park of Fitchburg, MA and Sovittaa Park of Rutland, MA. The weekend package includes 2 nights lodging, 6 meals, all workshops, demonstrations, tori, Friday & Saturday evening musical entertainment, registration fee, tax & gratuities, plus farm activities. FMI call 1-603-242-6495 or email: [email protected] or www.east-hill-farm.com

WEST PARIS GRANGE HALL The West Paris Grange recently disbanded and sold their building to the RingMcKeen American Legion Post #151. The Legion held an open house on April 26th to introduce the community to their newly renovated facilities which include a new kitchen and bathrooms. The original structure of this old stone building, which has stood for 100 years, was also impressive. Some of us still recall the time spent at the grange hall for a multitude of Finnish activities, from dances to wedding receptions. We also performed our play “The Immigrants” there in 1990, which played to a full house. Our best wishes and congratulations go out to Post # 151 and their Auxiliary.

DONATIONS The following items have been donated for our museum, tori and library recently. Our thanks go out to all the donors. Books were donated by Alvar Jarvi, Jr, Denali Barker, and Eleanor Inman. A Finnish folk costume was donated by Pixie Lamppu.

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people’s radar until he honed it. He brought the same work ethic to Minnesota, where he took over in 2003. His hard work paid off in national recognition. He has become something of a rock star there. At recent concerts audience members have painted their faces white and blue, waved Finnish flags, and cheered them-selves hoarse. He and the orchestra received a Grammy this year for a recording of two symphonies by Sibelius. Excerpted from Lewiston Sun Journal 4/21/14

NISSINEN & BOSTON BALLET Mikko Nissinen, the artistic director of Boston Ballet, affectionately referred to as “the Flying Finn” has renewed his contract with the Boston Ballet for another five years. The Helsinki native started his dance training at the Finnish National Ballet School before turning pro at the age of 15 with the Finnish National Ballet. He became Boston Ballet’s artistic director in 2001, cultivating a repertoire that ranges from classical to contemporary. “I look at the next five years and we already have a clear idea of exciting things for Boston,” said Nissinen. “We have to curate the past, stay revelent to today’s people, and pave the way into the future … I’m having a grand time and the Boston Ballet has amazing momentum at the moment.” Excerpted from Boston

GUITARIST/OUDIST REINONEN Jussi Reijonen learned how to handle culure shock at an early age. Born in Rovaniemi, a Finnish city on the Arctic Circle that proclaims itself the home of Santa Claus, he was transplanted at age 6 to the heart or the middle east. Proficient on Guitar and oud, a Middle Eastern fretless lute, Reijonen released a debut album this year that shows off his distinctive, jazz-laced synthesis of influences. “My childhood had so many different cutures”, says Reijonen, now 32, “that it took me quite a long ime to process all of that. And just on a personality level, to find out more about who I am and where do I come from and what is my culture and all that – I think much of the figuring out happened through the music. And it’s still happening through the music.” His father’s job as a telecommunications consultant triggered the globetrotting. Reijonen’s initial transition to Jordon was complicated by his enrollment at an Englishlanguage school before he spoke a word of it. Reinonen was self-taught until his early 20’s. He came to the United States in 2008 to study at Berklee College of Music, then went on to receive his master’s degree from the New England Conservatory. “I don’t feel 100% Finnish, although ethnically I am” he says “it’s a little bit of a contradiction because part of me really misses having roots and a sense of home. And the other part of me gets very restless when I’m in one place for very long. I’m pretty much prepared to go anywhere where the music is good.” Excerpted from Boston Globe 6/14/13

Globe 4/27/14

CONDUCTOR DISPUTE Osmo Vanska, the Finnish conductor of the National symphony Orchestra, a oncefrequent visitor to the Kennedy Center podium, recently came back, for the first time since 2007. Vanska is the public face of the longest and most acrimonious labor dispute in American Orchestra’s history … a lockout of the Minnesota Orchestra’s musicians that dragged on for 15 months and ended up costing him his job as music director. All over the country today, artistic achievement is coming into stark conflict with economic reality. The problem is that the organizations presenting it are struggling with declining ticket sales and donor bases, and rising fixed costs. Some organizations are adapting; others are citing these problems as a reason to close up shop altogether. For these organizations, business as usual, or as it has been, is no longer an option. Vanska, 61, is a musician’s musician whose main legacy is hard work. While some of his compatriots were embarking on big international careers, (Esa-Pekka Salonen comes to mind) he spent 15 years leading the orchestra in Lahti, Finland, hardly on many 4

The book is now ready. Its title is: Mikkosten suuperheiden matkassa Kuhmon kylillä (On the footsteps of the extended families of the Mikkonens in the villages of Kuhmo). It was publishe on 26th of Octobber in the presence of ca. 70 Mikkonens in Kuhmomusichall. The feedback so far has been very positive! The book is a 560 page collection of old photos and family stories of the Mikkonens. The focus is the period of 1850-1960, but the different family lines have been described from 1600-1650 in Kuhmo and Sotkamo too. Many connections between the Piirainens and Mikkonens can be seen from different time periods. The family tables are also included, but the main part of the book consists of texts and photos. If you or some of your friends of Finnish migrants families would be interested to get a copy, please let me know or write to the secretary of the Family Society of the Mikkonens (email: [email protected]). Because the society is very small and with no money, they can not send the book without any charge. The price is 42 euros + mailing costs, which in this case are considerable. It is a pity, that the text is only in Finnish, but someone might feel this an interesting exercise to revive his or her Finnish. Please tell them that there is a special section of 12 pages concentrating on the Mikkonens in Maine and the inhabitants of “Pikku Kuhmo” in Maine. The story of Jaakko Mikkonen’s extraordinary journey to Maine is also told based on the short memoirs of Erkki Mikkonen from Törmä house (tervamestari Törmästä), a son of the brother of Jaakko Mikkonen. Maybe it differs a bit in details from the story which is generally told in Maine. Once again, thank you for your help and the interest you have shown in my work! Yours sincerely, Juhani Tauriainen The writer of the family history of Mikkonen

SOCHI 2014 Those who followed the Olympics on TV realize that Finland’s Hockey Team beat out Russia in the quarter finals and the U.S. in the semi-finals to earn the bronze medal. The members of the Finnish Lions (Leijonat) also play for U.S. National Hockey League teams. They are: Teamu Selänne Aneheim Ducks Sami Vatanen Aneheim Ducks Tuukka Rask Boston Bruins Tuomo Ruutu Carolina Hurricanes (His brother Jarkko Ruuto was also on the Olympic team and attended Michigan Tech University) Kari Lehtonen Dallas Stars Aleksander Barkov, Jr Florida Panthers Mikael Branlund Minnesota Wild Kimmo Timonen Philadelphia Flyers Lauri Korpikoski Phoenix Coyotes Jussi Jokinen Pittsburgh Penguins Olli Määttä Pittsburgh Penguins Antti Niemi San Jose Sharks Sami Salo Tampa Bay Lightening Olli Jokinen Winnipeg Jets

LETTER TO DALE 10-12-13 Dear Dale Piirainen, We are mailing to each other concerning the data from the Mikkonen family in Kuhmo and the migrants to Maine belonging to the Mikkonens. This was more than a year ago. I am grateful and glad for your most valuable help, when sending the family data, which was in your possession. To me it was much easier to get the idea of the migration from Kuhmo in general and from the Mikkonens among those. You have done a tremendous job collecting all that data from the old “kuhmolaiset”, who moved to new country and worked successfully there. To me personally it was a joy to find even some of my mother’s “little cousins” among the migrants of Maine and Paris district. In short, my sincerest thanks to you for your contribution in my work among the Mikkonens in Kuhmo.

“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward” Danish writer Soren Kierkegaard

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SPECIAL JUNE EVENTS As we reported in the last newsletter, we are looking forward to a visit from Finland by members of the Piirainen Family Association and Kuhmon Keiketys, a troupe of traditional Finnish folk dancers and musicians. They will arrive on Friday, 13 June and leave on Monday morning 16 June. Our guests, numbering 50, will be very busily touring the area and visiting spots important to the Finnish-American community. There will be a number of opportunities to come out and meet the “cousins”, beginning with a reception and potluck dinner at the Finn-Am in West Paris at 5:00pm on Friday. Please bring a favorite dish (no fish!) to share with the hungry travelers! On Sunday the 15th they will attend services and enjoy a coffee social at Trinity Lutheran Church in South Paris. We are very much looking forward to a public performance by Keiketys and our local kantele group (A’Chording to Kantele) at the Forum in Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

The entertainment is scheduled from 3:30 to 5:00pm on Sunday, 15 June and is offered free to the public!

CUM LAUDE Jeffrey W. Newton, Jr, son of Jeff & Alison Newton of Turner received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from Husson University in Bangor, Maine on May 11, 2014 (Mother’s Day). Jeffrey is the grandson of Roseann and the late Richard G. Newton of Turner and Charlie and Alice Williams of Buckfield. He is also the great grandson of the late Salme Heikkinen Rucker and the great-greatgrandson of Aapeli (Abel) & Saara (Lena) Klemmetti Heikkinen. Congratulations Jeffrey.

MAINE STATE MUSEUM On a recnt visit to the Maine State Museum Tamara Cohen was surprised to find a pair of Finnish shoes, with wooden soles, and a picture of the West Paris Finnish Congregational Church, pastor and officials, taken in 1918.

Make checks payable to and send to: Finnish-American Heritage Society of Maine PO Box 294 West Paris, Maine 04289 Meetings are held at the Finnish-American Heritage Center on the 3rd Sunday of April through June and September through December. (Closed January, February, March) Open House is held every Sunday in July & August from 2 to 4, except for the 3rd Sunday of August when we hold our Summer Social. To check on specific events see the calendar on page one or go to: www.mainefinns.org Finnish Connection: ________________________________ E-mail: __________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________ Town, State, Zip: ___________________________________ Street: ___________________________________________ Name: ___________________________________________ ___ Newsletter subscription only, $6.00 per year. Annual Dues ___ Membership is open to anyone interested in the work to which this organization is dedicated. Dues are $10.00 per calendar year and include the newsletter.

Membership and Subscription Coupon

MAINE FINN FINNISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF MAINE P.O. Box 294 8 Maple Street West Paris, ME 04289