9.2 Sister Cities info from Mayors
Sister Cities
First, Minnesota and Kro-
noberg became sister states.
Then Duluth and ti'axjii (the
capital of Kronoberg) became
sister cities, And now, Lesse-
bo and, among others, Scan-
dia in Minnesota are in the
process of becoming sister ci-
ties!-
The sister city relationship
between Duluth and Vaxjo
has already resulted in a num-
ber of cultural and educatio-
nal exchanges.
The first Swedish immi-
grants to Minnesota came to
Scandia. Because of this, Ed-
gar M Carlson, Chairman of
Gammelgarden, an Ameri-
can -Swedish Heritage Mu-
seum in Scandia, wrote to
Governor Britt Mogard sug-
gesting a sister city relation-
ship between Scandia and a
community in Kronoberg.
Governor Mogird contac-
ted Lessebo and the munici-
pal council was extremely po-
sitive to the idea. Lessebo was
named the cultural communi-
ty of the year in 1988 in Swe-
den. Every citizen pays 825
Swedish crowns in support of
culture each year in contrast
to the lowest ranked commu-
nity which citizens -pay only
201 Swedish crowns each
year. In spite of this, taxes ha-
ven't been raised in Lessebo
for, 12 years and child care
fees are the lowest in the
country. Water and electricity
costs are the lowest in Sma-
land and Lessebo has more
available jobs than most of
the communities in Krono-
berg. There i`s also an extensi-
ve environment protection
program in the municipal di-
strict.
A three man delegation
from Lessebo is participating
in the large Kronoberg dele-
gation which will arrive in
Minnesota on April 23, 1988.
It includes the Vice -Chair-
man of the Municipal Coun-
cil, Gnsta Isa�n, the Muni-
cipal Administrator, Alf Nils-
son, and the Industrial Secre-
tary, Gunnar Hansson.
"We are going to look into
the Opportunities for a sister
city exchange with Scandia,
and hopefully, even other
communities such as Lind-
strom, Taylors Falls and Cen-
ter City'., says Alf Nilsson.
According to him Gammei-
garden has already been in
touch with different groups in
these communities so that to-
gether a sister city exchange
can be worked out.
Among other things. Gam-
melgarden will try to start a
People to people project plus
a pen pal exchange with
school children in Lessebo.
LESSEBO
- In the heart
of the Kingdom
of Crystal and the
Emigrant 'District
The Kingdom of Crystal -
A Glowing Attraction!
Nowhere else in the world will you find so many
glassworks packed into such a small area as in The
Kingdom of Crystal. Lessebo Municipality is one part
of The Kingdom of Crystal and here you can find
some of the best-known glassworks. With five glass-
works and several companies that work with glass -
painting, engraving and cutting, Lessebo constitutes
an interesting and meaningful part of glass manufac-
turinq.
The basic elements of beautiful glass are fire, sand
and chemicals; but most important are skill, knowled-
ge, feeling and a handicraft tradition. Glass art is the
result of interplay, the cooperation of designers,
foundry teams, glass cutters and engravers.
Here in The Kingdom of crystal you can find cry-
stal that is handblown,•designed, etched, engraved,
cut and polished by people — not by machines. A
glass piece that is made by hand has enduring value.
In Lessebo Municipality, glass handicraft can be ob-
served in many glassworks and glass -finishing com-
panies.
Sights and Culture
You'll notice quite quickly that Lessebo Minicipatity
is rich in genuine handicraft and cultural history. The
tradition of SmAland is preserved, developed and re-
newed in a modern community capable of apprecia-
ting the pure and genuine.
Many of our cultural traditions have been preser-
ved. A natural part of the glassworks community is
the band that performs when people gather on cere-
monious occasions.
Literature, art and poetry tell of the cultural inheri-
tance that we are happy to show visitors. One visit to
a few of these places may be worth repeating in the
near future.
Lessebo Handpappersbruk
(Handmade -Paper Mill)
Paper is handmade here in fundamentally the
same way as it was three hundred years ago. The
production capacity of Sweden's only handmade pa-
per mill is twenty-five kilos per day. A modern paper
machine spits out the same amount in a few se-
conds. But, this exclusive handmade paper has a
beauty and lifetime that no paper machine can emu-
late.
Emigrant District
Vilhelm Moberg grew up in the Sm&land countrysi-
de, among red houses, barren landscape and
wide stonewalls. In this district, he was inspired to
write the emigrant epic that has made Ljuder parish
known far over the Atlantic.
Karl Oskar and Kristina lived here at Korpamoen
and worked the barren land during the years of fami-
ne.
At the Akerby crossroads, they gathered to travel
to Kadshamn and the awaiting brig, the Charlotta,
which was to transport them further to America.
In the old church stalls preserved by the Ljuder
Church, horses rested while their masters went to
church.
The Homestead Museum in Ljuder has preserved
most of the time's everyday articles, supplying impor-
tant documentation of this phase of development in
Sweden's history.
For further information about Lessebo please get
in touch with us:
LESSEBO MUNICIPAL
P.O. Box 13,
S-360 50 LESSEBO
Tel (int + 46) 478 10610
FACEBOOK POST
Mayor Christine Maefsky - Scandia, MN
6-5-17
"Times have never been better for adding tourism to a small town's economic mix.
Here's why: For the first time ever, rural communities can become successful for being
exactly who they are." (Center for Rural Affairs)
"Swedish by Association"
If you live in Scandia long enough - and that could mean anything from 6 months to 45
years - and you take part in community life here, or maybe you just drive frequently
through the Village Center, you start to feel the vibes. You are part of a Scandinavian
community and, like it or not (but you will like it), you become what I have long
acknowledged being - Swedish by Association.
Now note that I make this statement as someone named "Maefsky" - an Ellis Island name
bespeaking Polish/Lithuanian -not Swedish - heritage. And while this is my husband's
family name, my own is "Bove" - from my father's Italian immigrant parents. On my
mother's side I am pre Revolutionary War English/Irish/Scotch, with a bit of
documented Native American in the mix. No Swedish there either.
However, I know that I am also "Swedish by Association" because of the town where I
live, which I have come to love, where I have raised my children and now see my
grandchildren growing up. I embrace that designation because of my enjoyment of the
proud, long=time Swedish residents who live here, of the people who founded our town,
and my happy association with its historical roots.
Now let's tie this into tourism - into what we have to offer visitors to our city. We are
the site of the first Swedish settlement in Minnesota - designated at the Hay Lake
Monument, as well as the site of a Village Center cemetery filled with Swedish names,
and the unique, historic Swedish museum at Gammelgarden. These are things that make
us Uniquely Scandia and help define us as a community. We need to embrace and
highlight this special heritage of our town, to draw in visitors and to give them
something wonderful to enjoy while here.
For tourism - How about a Swedish theme B & B? A Swedish pie shop? Or, a Swedish
Heritage Tour - by bus or maybe... by bicycle?
a��
This is a SZst e.r vit`t =tor y that• :7e gin- 4 _IeS.r= 5go on t..he _tree%.-''_. of
Lindstrom. But it also belongs to Scandia Chisago City, Center City,
Marine -on -St. Croix and Taylor's Falls. And it belongs to a cluster of
communities in the Lessebo Kommun of Sweden.
But the man who set the stage for what is happening this summer of New
Sweden '88 also deserves recognition.
His name was Vilhelm Moberg, a prominent and popular Swedish author
who came to to the Scandia-Lindstrom-Center City area in 1948 to
research for a trilogy he planned to write.
They were called "The Emigrants," "Unto a Good Land" and "Last Letter
Home."
The setting for the last two was this area around Scandia. The place
for the first book was the Lessebo Kommun in Kron#Oerg's Land,
Smaland. It was from Smaland that so many of the people came who
settled the Upper St. Croix Valley.
Moberg's books have become classics. Movies have been made of them.
Now one more milestone.
About a year ago, the Scandia area communities initiated a suggestion
by letter that they adopt some similar villages or towns in Smaaland.
The letter reached Britt Mogard; governor of Smaland, who was much in
agreement with the plan.
She chose the Lessebo K-ommun settlements because they were the setting
for Moberg's books as well as the jumping off place for the
immigrants.���
Governor Mogard the Scandia area to Z
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establish a personal relationship between here and there.( Suffice it
6r' P 0 6 � dT (-Rei Min, GOR06 NO,
to say that the visit will be reciprocated manyfold.
Thus the setting for Vilhelm Moberg's first book has a Sister City
relationship with the setting for his last book -the beginning and the
--A ref +ho +rl l M=r
LESSEBO KOMMUN
t
IIanti laggarc
P -A 1/AB
Er relerens
Darum
1987-08-06
En Jawm
Mr Edgar M Carlson
5320 Brookview Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55424
U S A
Hc(eekning
I r herecknnw
Thanks to the Governor of Kronobergs 16n/county,
Britt. Mogard, we have received information about
Your interest in establishing a "sister -city"
relationship between Scandia community and some
smaller town or community in the county of Krono-
berg.
We, in the administration of Lessebo community,
intend by this letter to inform You about our
positiv attitude to the idea and we really look
forward to a closer discussion in this subject.
Lessebo is a smaller neighbour community to Vaxjo.
From this district the people in V.ilhelm Mobergs
emigrant -novels emigrated. Here You still can find
names of places well known from these novels and
the Swedish emigrant history.
With this letter we also send You some facts about
our community.
Respectfully
Ro . Ni cklasson
K mmunalrad Per -Ake Lindstrom
(Chairman of the Executive committee)Kommunsekret era re
I_ESSEBO KOMMUN
June 27, 1988
Iii Nels,
Many thanks for the friendly visit G6sta Isaksson and I had
and the Gammelgarden committee.
with our visit with you / Minnesota gave us many rich memories.
At the meeting with my colleagues in the Lessebo community
last Tuesday, June 21st, I presented a report of the meeting in
Scandia. I also spoke about it at the community hall in Lessebo.
When we met in Scandia, June 28th, we talked about friendly
exchanges between Scandia Township and Lassebo Community and
discussing the following items:
1. Pen pals between students in the eight grades from
Scandia and Lessebo.
2. Exhibits of art and handmade items, etc.
3. Lessebo visitors in Scandia and visa versa.
After our return to Lessebo, I presented item 1, to the
school board and had a very positive response. The principal
said after the summer and when school begins in the fall, he
will approach the teachers on exchanging correspondence between
the students of Scandia and Lessebo.
How did the election go in Scandia regarding the townboard?
Which of the candidates were added to the board?
Would you send me the paper, The Country Messenger? Perhaps
you could also send me other reading material from Washington and
13hisago counties.
I would also like to know what the new Scandia Chamber of
Commerce is up to?
My letter to you is a little late but I promise to write more
often. I will send more later and if you want something special,
write and ask me. You can write me in either English or Swedish but
1 prefer writing in Swedish.
G6sta lsaksson and I send hearty greetings to your wife, Edgar
Uarlson, Lynne Moratzka and Harriet Johnson. (A couple of days ago
I received a letter from Edgar Carlson and 1 will write him soon.)
We hope we can arrange this exchange between Scandia and
Lessebo even though there is quite a distance between us. If we can
do something to contribute in keeping the Sjwedish heritage in the
Swedish buildings in Washington and Chisago counties, we will be
very happy.
hearty Greetings
Alf Nilsson
Lessebo Kommun Box 13
S-36050 Lessebo
Sweden
Note: Nels sent copies of the Country Messenger from January
through June. �
(6nnimpIghbrn
ult �jrriftlgr
Elim 46llfl1rran Clurr4
k�rnitbitl, Mintiriinta
55973
MiIHritIII
5320 Brookview Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 554 4
Feb. 23,1987
The Honorable Britt MogArd
Governor,Kronobergsldn
Landstyrelsen S-35186
Vaxi6 , Sweden.
Dear Governor:
I am writing at the suggestion of the Swedish Con-
sulate in Minneapolis, on a matter of interest to the town of Scan.
dia, and especially to its Gammalg&rden'Museum .
Scandia is the community closest to the point at
which the first three Swedish families entered Minnesota in 18509
beginning a long and large immigration to this State from all over
Sweden. A large number of those who came to this area came from
SmAland. The original church which was built in 1854 by these
immigrants has been restored as a part of this Museum, which also
includes a parsonage built in 1868, and other pioneer buildings
and a rather good collection of rural artifacts.
The thought has occurred to some people interested
in the Museum and the history of the area that the 350th anniver-
sary of the coming of the first Swedes to America in 1638 would be
an appropriate.time to see if some city representing the area from
which the immigrants came to this area might be interested in es-
tablishing a "sister -city" relationship with Scandia, representing
the other end of the journey. The Swedish Consulate in Minneapolis
thought that a letter of inquiry addressed to you would be an
appropriate first step in exploring such a possibility. We under-
stand that'Duluth,Minnesot a, has such a relationship with Vaxi8.
Scandia is a small town in a largely rural setting
on the northern edge of an expanding Minneapolis-St.Paul metro-
politan area. I should make clear that at this point this letter
is exploratory only. No official action has been taken or proposed
The idea of "sister -cities" , some city of Smaland and Scandia,
representing the beginning and the end of the immigrant journey,
seems to have a certain appeal.
Thank you for any advice or other reaction that
you would care to give.
Respectull
,�,I-i
Edg M. Carlson
Chairm of the Board