January Brings Hope, Artifacts, and Pictures

With a new year comes hope and hopefully new artifacts, pictures and memorabilia to continue Finnish Heritage Museum’s quest to preserve the history and culture of Finns here and everywhere.

Last Summer, a Georgia State University psychology professor, Micheal Owren contacted our curator, Kathy Kuivinen with exciting news:   "My father, Leif Owren, was a Norwegian volunteer who fought as a ski-trooper with the Swedish-organized forces in the Winter War of 1939-40 (SFK 211).  I have hung on to various items from his service in Finland. I'm wondering whether your museum would be interested in receiving any of those items as a donation or loan?  I have his white fur coat, white skis, identity card, pay book, a medal issued by the Finnish government, a card from Finlandskommitten in Sweden, various pins, buttons and some other things with the Nordens Frihet symbol."
Needless to say, Curator Kuivinen arranged to have the artifacts donated and they are presently and proudly on display in the museum.  Of interest is the original white coat worn by the White Ski troopers during the Finnish Russian conflict, commonly known as the Winter War. 
Other items also add to the honored collection and all really need to be seen in person.  Plan a visit to our museum.  Directions can be easily found on our Contact Us page.

January Sees Reorganization, Re-energizement, and Plans

January is the month to re-energize our efforts for the year.  Planned are two leadership sessions for planning purposes.  Not only does the museum staff have to discuss, plan, and execute new displays for the year, but it also has to determine monthly programs and special events.  Some of these are already in the works.
The FHM website will continue its work in reporting, illuminating, and defining our established purpose of educating the public about the Finnish/American heritage.  Much interest has been generated about Fairport's history, about genealogy, and its people in general.  This will continue and the museum hopes to become a useful tool for people interested in preserving the heritage of Finns in Northeast Ohio. 
Shown here is the well known and often published picture of the Fairport to Painesville trolley that was going over the Grand River Bridge at St. Clair Street when it collapsed at 1:10 pm August 7, 1918.  "A car and a truck fell with the bridge when the middle span collapsed.  The car was northbound and was in the act of passing the motor transport's trailer when the two collided.  With the combined weight of the two, the shock caused the bridge (which was said to have been condemned for some time) to collapse. The trailer was drawn by two horses that succeeded in breaking loose and swimming ashore--one landed on one side  of the river and the other on the opposite side.  Eight people were injured." (text is from a book titled Images of Fairport Harbor.)
These are the kinds of pictures we seek. This picture was donated from a former Fairporter's collection (Lillian Autio Pouttu) to our museum by her grandson, Ted Webster.  Other pictures not published  here were also included in the gift.