Please Note: The Open Mike program was substituted for Dr. Paul Hilston's program the Geology of Finland. That program is rescheduled for November 14, 2011.
Finnish Heritage Museum tells great tales.
Celebrating the acquisition of a new speaker system, provided by two donations from FHM members, we had an open mike program at Finnish Heritage Museum on Monday evening. It was fun. We will share the remembrances with you!
Linda Penttila reported that in August, 2010, Erica Penttila was a participant in the construction of the "Shaman's Haven" Conference Center, a building inspired by the "Kalevala", the Finnish national epic, on the island of Seurasaari, in Helsinki's harbor. On the pristine natural site at the water's edge, the building was constructed of Finnish wood, glass and stainless steel.
Participants were from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, Pratt Institute in New York and Aalto University, an innovative new Finnish university that encompasses Finland's leading school of design. Erica was invited to participate by the project coordinator at the Finnish Embassy in Washington, DC. The project is a major reaffirmation by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, which has designated Helsinki as World Design Capital 2012, that Helsinki's reputation as a city is defined by innovative design.
Erica works as an architect in Washington, DC. She often attends cultural events at the Finnish Embassy, which includes frequent "Sauna Night"(s). The sauna at the embassy is four levels below ground, but we're told it is quite beautiful and large.
Linda McAdams whisked the memories way back to the 1950's to her pappa and mumma Valimaki's jobs of serving the prestigious family of Robert and Lee Marshall, (of Marshall Field & Co.) who lived on Bank Street in Painesville, Ohio. Seth Marshall, who originally built the house, was involved in the freedom of slaves back in the Civil War days. Linda's grandfather, John Valimaki, who worked at the Diamond Alkali, but chauffeured and butlered for the Marshalls on the weekends, would take the Marshalls shopping or to the Union Club in Cleveland. Linda's grandmother, Vieno Valimaki served as the Marshall's Finnish maid for many years during the 50's, 60's and into the 70's.
Linda McAdams also read some facts from the book: Mentor-The First 200 Years. It shows some interesting Finnish connections.
In 1948, a rally was held at Mentor High School where residents were asked to support "adopting" a town in Finland and Suolahti (translated means: marshy bay) was chosen because it desperately needed items such as powdered milk, food & clothing. The Zion Lutheran Church choir performed creating a neighborly attitude in Mentor towards Finland.
Committees were formed with Mentor's Mayor Fred James & Urho Toivonen who was in charge of transportation of the shipments. Seven tons of food and clothing were collected and shipped to Suolahti, which to them seemed like Christmas. Anne Pohto recalled being in elementary school in Finland and receiving packages from the Red Cross.
John Ollila who usually relates his many tales of Lake Erie, this time recalled the O’Janpa house on New Fourth Street, in Fairport. His grandparents built the original house which burned down in the early 1900's and it is now being rebuilt for the second time, since it was one of the houses burned in the January gas fires in Fairport. John relates that his grandfather John Victor O'Janpa could pick up a coal shovel "with a man standing in it."
Veikko Malkamäki recalled Linda McAdam's mum, Vieno Valimaki, who sang in (Suomi) Zion Lutheran Church choir for 53 years. Veikko's wife, Laura, acquired a 27-string kantele from Vieno. This kantele was made in Finland by Vieno's uncle in 1932. Laura and Veikko also purchased a 15-string kantele in Leppävirta, Finland in 1996, while on their honeymoon. When they got back to the U.S., they noticed that this kantele had a date on the inside, Feb. 8, 1995, which was the very date Laura and Veikko met each other for the first time. Laura later formed the Kantele Players of Lake Erie, a kantele-performing group, and has performed at FinnFests and other venues in the U.S. and Canada.
Anne Pohto instructed the group about Finnish surnames. When people came to the America during the 1880's, often they came with the father's middle name as their first name and the last name being shortened or completely changed.
Pohto related stories about Finnish names. When people came to America in the 1880’s and 1900 they came with the father’s middle name as the first name, dropping the last name such as Johnson or Mattson, shortening it to Macki, Hill, Mackey, Makee, Cooper, Sandhill, or Kallio. Hyphenated names Yli-Juuti and Nurmi-laakso would be broken down to provide other parts to the name. Helen Kasari told of going to school with having her last name Nurmilaakso broken down to make Nurmi her middle name. An attorney decided this. Ala suggested the lower, or southern part of the area, yli suggested the upper part or perhaps the northern part of the area, mäki the hill, suo the swamp area.
Linda McAdams reported that the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival is celebrated every year in Kaustinen, Finland. It is the biggest folk music and dance festival in all of the Nordic Countries.
Dick Lehtinen related a very funny story that Tommy Luoma fell in the lake along with his fishing line, but was able to be saved.
Vickie Salonen and Janine LaBounty provided cakes, cookies, lemon squares, along with the ever-present Finnish coffee for desserts.
© Photo by Lasse Hiltunen 2011 © Text by FHM members
