A surprising find…

You may be surprised to find out that in the past area residents around Stockholm had “clam” bakes.  Years ago, they walked through the shallow water near shore and felt for clams in the sand with their toes, a practice they dubbed “toe clamming.”  Although clam bakes today are rare, Lake Pepin once was home to millions of clams.  They laid on the muddy bottom with their faces turned upstream and their mouths open to allow the Mississippi’s current to bring food right into their mouths. 

Commercial clammers caught the clams using a crow foot, an iron bar ten to fifteen feet long with twenty strings attached.  At the end of each string was a sturdy three-pronged hook.  When the clammers pitched the crow foot into the water, clams closed their shells around each hook because it seemed a tasty morsel.  The clams were brought to shore and boiled in kettles, which opened their shells.  The shells were examined for fresh water pearls, a true treasure.  The meat was extracted and sold to farmers to feed their hogs.  The empty shells were sold to button factories in fifty pound bags.  Until plastic buttons came on the scene in the 1930’s, “Mother of Pearl” buttons made from shells were a major industry in the upper Mississippi that employed thousands of people.  At one time about fifty percent of the buttons in the world came from the Upper Mississippi River.

These were technically not clams but fresh water mussels.  Their future in the Mississippi River is uncertain.  Overfishing during the button industry, taking mussels in search of pearls, building locks and dams, dredging the river bottom, changing the river with pollution and siltation, and invading zebra mussels have all affected the population.  If you have an opportunity to dig up a clam or mussel, you will have discovered a rarity. 

We find this piece of Stockholm history interesting and hope that you do, too.

We’d love to see you again,
Stockholm Merchants   

Stockholm was founded on Erik’s dream…

Erik Peterson fell in love with the area that today we know as Stockholm.  In the heavily-wooded bluffs, he saw beauty reminiscent of his Swedish homeland and opportunity in lumber and cattle.  An immigrant working on the Mississippi as a lumberjack and rafter, he understood the need for wood to feed the fires that created the steam to move the riverboats.  Erik had a dream to establish a settlement along the river.  At the Stockholm site he discovered the perfect place to do so.

In 1852, Erik registered a claim to two parcels of land and then returned to Sweden along with his two brothers.  During the next two years, he married and convinced two hundred more Swedes to join him in “paradise” along the shores of Lake Pepin.  His brother Jacob arrived with the first group in the spring of 1854 and built a log house where everyone resided until each family could construct a home.  Eric returned with his wife in the fall just in time for her to give birth to their first child, Matilde, on the day of their arrival.

The next spring the settlers planted corn, potatoes, and other crops.  In 1856 the residents decided to establish a village and selected a name from their homeland, Stockholm.  The settlement prospered to such as degree that the nation’s economic downturn in 1857 did not affect them.  Erik was the community’s leader during these years and often referred to as “King Erik” or “The King of Stockholm.” 

In the March, 1857, issue of Hemlander, the author of an article echoed Erik’s sentiments regarding Stockholm. “The situation in Stockholm is not only romantic but also advantageous.  Being situated on the shores of Lake Pepin, the settlement has a good steamer connection with the cities up and down the river, and the sale of one’s products is thus very much facilitated.  The Swedes annually sell considerable quantities of wood to the steamers…  The lake yields fish in inexhaustible abundance.  For cattle-breeding this place is quite excellent as well as for agriculture.” 

The next time you come to Stockholm, remember that you are visiting the legacy of Erik’s dream.

We’d love to see you again,
Stockholm Merchants 

Take a rare opportunity this Saturday.

This Saturday at Abode Gallery take a rare opportunity to hear directly from Maria Kowalski, an incredible artist.  Her oil paintings and watercolors are exquisite.  For one hour starting at 2:30 p.m., she will be giving her artist talk, sharing her craft with you, and answering your questions.   

Find out how Maria has developed her own artistic techniques.  Inquire as to why she uses those techniques.  Ask her what inspires her. 

Your admission is free, and we’ll have complimentary hot beverages to warm you up.  Watch for upcoming artist talks, which we are featuring on a regular basis.   

We’d love to see you again,
Alan Nugent
Abode Gallery

Celebrate the season of love and hope with St. Lucia.

During the early morning darkness in cities, small villages, schools, businesses, and churches on December 13 throughout Sweden an ancient and beautiful celebration begins.  Wearing a white gown, red sash, and crown of lighted candles on her head, the eldest daughter of the family serves coffee and saffron buns to her family, awakening them as she sings a traditional song, Sankta Lucia.

Sankta Lucia, or Saint Lucia, is a Sicilian saint credited for saving the people of Värmland many centuries ago when there was famine. As legend has it, on December 13 a large white ship filled with food and clothing sailed into the harbor.  At the bow stood a beautiful young woman dressed in white with her head encircled by light.  The ship unloaded its cargo, and, once that was done, the ship vanished.  The grateful people believed that Saint Lucia, the saint of light, had come to save them.  Ever since, Saint Lucia found a home in the hearts of Swedes.  Her gift of light is celebrated on the darkest day of the year.  Go here to see an image of Lucia Julrader (Christmas Row) and members of the Svenkarnasdag Girls Choir.

Today, St. Lucia ushers in the Christmas season of love and hope both in Sweden and in Swedish-American communities. At Ingebretsen's av Stockholm, Saint Lucia ornaments, trays, coffee services, and electric Lucia candle crowns (perfect for young Lucias and safety-conscious parents) are available to make your celebration as beautiful as it is joyful.  Even if celebrating Saint Lucia isn't a family tradition for you, you can always start!  

For some families, Lucia day is a wonderful reason to have an open house.  We certainly feel that way at Ingebretsens.  We invite you to come to the store and join our St. Lucia celebration.  Make the holiday your own with light, food, family, and love.

We wish you and your family the very best Christmas season.

We’d love to see you again,

Diane

Ingebretsen’s av Stockholm