Saturday 10am-3pm
by Jovette Hiltunen
Independence Day in the United States is July 4 of course, but our members have much to celebrate as immigrants to the United States from Finland. We are so pleased to have had presentations by two of our members, Mrs. Anne Kalliomaa Pohto and Mr. Eric Lehti (Erkki Lehtiniemi) who had very different yet some interesting similarities.
Much preparation went into the journey from Vimpeli to America which was to take place in late February or early March of 1954 for the Lehtiniemi family. Eric’s father had made the trip to the United States in 1932 and 21 years later he was set to move his entire family across the ocean. The Lehtiniemis had relatives in the United States who were willing to be sponsors for them. This family of five was their father, Joeli, their mother, Aino, brother and uncle Mauno, Eric and his sister, Pirkko. After World War 2 Joeli worked as a headstone engraver in Vimpeli.
The travel plans included selling off almost all of their home goods. Only a few dishes, the copper coffee pot, spoon and coffee cups and saucers were kept. And of course they sold the home that their father had built. The last night was so emotional for Eric’s mother because she would be leaving behind her own father, three sisters, and a brother and did not know if or when she would return. A driver picked the family up in the middle of a very, cold, dark night and delivered them to Turku where they they took an overnight ferry to Stockholm. Next they took a train west across Sweden to Goteburg. In Goteburg they boarded the ocean liner SS Stockholm and began their trip to America. Both Eric’s sister and mother were unable to leave the state room as they were both extremely seasick until they arrived in the harbor in New York. Our relatives, two sisters, met us at the harbor and drove us from New York to Painesville, Ohio. We stayed in the attic of one of the sister’s homes as her house was too small to stay downstairs. Just three months later they moved to Fairport Harbor, Ohio where they found an upstairs apartment. Eric’s parents both got work and Uncle Mauno became a carpenter. Eric’s sister, Pirkko, started high school and he went to elementary school.
Anne Kalliomaa Pohto, pictured, and our resident genealogist, shared her family history next. Anne’s maternal Mummi, Ida Avist, was born on High Street in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1890 to Swedish-Finnish parents. When Ida was only 2 years old, the family returned to Finland. No one from the family came back to America except Anne’s mother in 1955. The family descended from Swedish boat builders on the Aland Islands. And fast forward to today where Ida’s great grandson Markku is a designer for Carnival Cruise Line ships. Anne’s 3 year old granddaughter Sadie recently went to the Bahamas on a Carnival cruise ship. It is only through our history of family that the Kalliomaa family can make these connections. But it’s time to go back to the 1950’s in Orismala, a small farm village in Isokyro (near Vaasa). Anne’s papa, Matias Kalliomaa, had been in Fairport three times working on the railroad and when he returned he regaled his family with stories of his travel. It was inspirational to the children. America was the land of HOPE and endless opportunities.
Anne’s great uncle Henry Kotomaki’s family immigrated in 1890 and built his home on New Street. Great uncle Matt Lahti settled on Fourth Street (you can see his Kaleva sword here at the museum. Great aunt Liisa Ahlquist came here in 1900 and settled in Ashtabula and so many more. It seemed there were more relatives in America than in Finland. Anne’s father, Sulo Kalliomaa was born in 1913, the same year his oldest sister Jenny (age 18) left to come to America with Uncle Jack. Anne’s Dad had never seen his sister until he arrived here in November of 1954 when he was age 41. Dad’s sister Tyyne and brother Jussi had been in Fairport in the 1920’s but decided to return to Finland. Tyyne’s marriage license is right here at Zion Lutheran Church. Aunt Tyyne returned to Finland with her husband, son, and a horsehair sofa. Opportunity for her dad and her family came when he found employment at the Diamond Alkali Company in Fairport Harbor. It was Anne’s dad’s dream to see America. He was the only one of his brothers or sisters who had not been here. Since dad was in America, it was up to Anne’s mother to take care of all the preparations and those included taking care of the children, the farm animals, farm chores, and all other business. Anne had just finished third grade, Maija-Liisa first grade, and Mauno was three. The family had to sell most of their belongings including the farm, land, and animals. The family would only have one trunk and two travel bags worth of belongings to take with them. It would be difficult to choose. Remembrance gifts were packed for the relatives, most of whom the children had never met. On June 28, 1955, the family said goodby to Orismala. The trip would take 14 days. They took a train to Turku, then boarded a night cruise across the Gulf of Bothnia to Stockholm. Next they boarded a cruise ship in Goteborg and enjoyed 10 fabulous days of dining, swimming, and exploring the shops and ship. They even celebrated Maija-Liisa’s birthday on board. Their cousin, Olga Ravi, met them in New York City and they spent the night in her apartment. The next morning they took the early train to Buffalo and then to Painesville, Ohio. On July 11, 1955, they arrived at their Aunt Jenny Sjo’s house in Painesville. Anne’s mom became the caretaker of the Suomi Zion Lutheran Church and her dad worked at the Diamond. Their first residence was 505 Eagle Street, Kaleva Hall in Fairport. The children started school in September and we had to learn to speak English. Of course there was homesickness, language difficulties, and some tears but when all was said and done Anne reports that she loved school. Mrs. Ruth Patterson spoke Finnish and worked with Anne before and after school and at recess to help her learn English. She even attended night classes for adults at Fairport High to learn faster. Anne became a teacher for 35 years so she reports the schools were successful in their task as was she as a learner.
Erick and Anne’s stories are just two of many. Everyone has a story and Anne, as our resident genealogist (one of our genies) is determined to inspire everyone to write their story and to pass it on to younger generations. The Finnish Heritage Museum wishes to preserve our members’ culture and stories and Anne keeps many file drawers full of family stories. If you’re ever able to stop in to the museum on a Saturday morning, you might even find a story starter of your own - who knows, maybe your family is in the files of FHM.
*photo - Anne Kalliomaa Pohto presents her family’s immigration to America in 1955.