Swedish Community of Worcester, MA

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Throughout Worcester County and northern Windham County, Connecticut, a vibrant Swedish community emerged. The success of the Swedish-owned Norton Company brought many to join the local grinding wheel and abrasive industry; miners from Central Sweden were employed in the steel mills.[vii]

John Jeppson emigrated from Sweden from the coastal town of Höganäs, Skåne, home of the Höganäs AB factory.[viii] Jeppson gained employment as a potter under Frank Norton, later purchasing the grinding wheel division of Norton’s business. It was at this time that Jeppson perfected the ceramic grinding wheel, resulting the rapid expansion of the Norton Company, which would remain managed by the Jeppson family for three generations.[ix]

In was John’s son George who transformed the company from a small grinding wheel business into the world’s largest abrasives company. George was educated in his father’s homeland, receiving technical training at the Royal School of Mines in Stockholm. In 1898, he returned to Worcester, serving as superintendent, factory manager, treasurer, vice president, president, and finally chairman of the board.[x]

Many residents of Höganäs sought work at Norton Company as a result. Similarly, the Indian Hill Village was based on the Höganäs AB worker community.[xi] Worker housing was built by Norton Company with each unit selling for $1,500. President Theodore Roosevelt was present for the dedication of the first community on Indian Hill Road.[xii] The community was tight-knit, publishing its own newspaper.[xiii]

Swedish communities developed in Trowbridge (now Hadwen Park),[xiv] Quinsigamond Village, Vernon Hill, Belmont Hill, and Greendale.[xv] Like other immigrants in Worcester, many Swedes found home in three-deckers across the county, which were preferred because housing costs could be dived among multiple families.[xvi]

As the Lutheran Church was the official church of Sweden, many Lutheran churches were established in Worcester, the first in 1881. However, as many non-conformists left Sweden to pursue religious freedom, other Swedish denominations were established as well. The First Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in October 1878.[xvii] Baptist, Congregationalists, and Seventh-Day Adventist Swedish churches also were established.[xviii]

Over time, Worcester became home to a cemetery, credit union, nursing home, and hospital for the Swedish population.[xix] Skandia Credit Union opened in 1915, later known as the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company.[xx] In 1921, the National Swedish Federation purchased the Norcross Estate, raising $70,000 from the community to do so. Within a year, Fairlawn Hospital opened, catering to the Swedish population.[xxi]

The first Swedish newspaper, the Nordostern, was issued weekly from 1883-1885. At least nine other Swedish-language papers emerged as well. The most popular of these was the Worcester Veckoblad, which released its first issue on August 21, 1886. Later known as the Skandinavia, the paper merged with the Svea in 1918, which as one time had the largest subscription of any Swedish-language newspaper east of Chicago.[xxii]

Swedes brought their culture to American, including music. Many social organizations in Worcester celebrated music.[xxiii] The Scandinavian National Singing Society (1873), Brage Singing Society (1890s), Swedish Glee Club, Thule Singing Society (1906), Worcester Male Chorus (1922), Swedish Veterans’ Male Chorus, Menelssohn Singers (circa 1920), TeDeum Male Singers, Jenny Lind (1922), and Chaminade Singers (1941) all had their origins in the Swedish community of Worcester.[xxiv]

Lake Quinsigamond was a popular center of Swedish life, reminding many of their homeland. Many Swedes built “villas” along the lake. Svea Gille (1888) and the Engelbrekt Club (1900) centered around appreciation and recreation on the lake.[xxv]

As the Swedish population and social organizations increased, the Swedish National Federation was started in 1903, serving as a central hub of Swedish culture. The Federation was instrumental in coordinating the visit of Prince Wilhelm of Sweden in 1907. The annual Midsummer Festival was coordinated by the Federation, preserving a Swedish tradition while raising scholarship funds for Swedish youth.[xxvi] Nine acres of land were bought in November 1885 to establish the Swedish Cemetery; an additional 18 acres were purchased in 1920. The cemetery was beautifully landscape along a small lake.[xxvii]

The Swedish Charitable Society was organized in 1900 to support many needs of Swedish immigrants. Members paid five cents a week, which was used to help new immigrants get settled in the community or others in need, like a supporting  a widow of Swedish men who passed in an accident. Later, governmental aid decreased the need for many of these services, but the Charitable Society continued to be a hub of charity and community for Swedes in Worcester for many years.[xxviii]

ASSIMILATION

As immigrants from throughout the world found home in America, intense ethnic rivalries emerged and assimilation became a goal. The Swedish-American community promoted their “inherent values” of Protestantism, Republicanism, and aversion to liquor.

During Word War II, Swedish-Americans assimilation accelerated as immigrants embraced American patriotism in the face of the war. Swedish communities began to dissolve; use of the Swedish language declined. The last reported Swedish language church service was held at the Salvation Army in the 1950s, leaving none of the 13 Swedish churches preaching in their native tongue.[xxix] Individuals and families Americanized their names. Second- and third-generation Swedish-Americans left Swedish neighborhoods for the suburbs and intermarried. This assimilation resulted in a declining interest and need of Swedish affinity groups and businesses.[xxx]

While many of the formal institutions have closed or changed hands, the memories and traditions of individuals remains central to preserving Swedish culture in Worcester County.[xxxi]