Temperance Corner and the
Cokato-Finnish American Historical Society
Presentation to the Annandale History Club
October 3, 2005
Harvey Barberg 

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Harvey Barberg is the current president of the Cokato-Finnish American Historical Society.  His ancestors were Finnish pioneers northwest of Cokato. 

On June 22, 1865, four Finnish men walked from Minneapolis through the Big Woods to the shore of Cokato Lake about three miles north of Cokato (called Mooers Prairie at that time).  They were from Northern Finland, which was similar in weather and geography to this area. They came to find farm land.  Each man staked out a claim of 80 acres in Section 10, Cokato Township.  The four men were Elias Peltopera, Mathias Karjenaho, Olaf Westerberg and John Viinikka.  In 1866, more Finns came and claimed land in Section 18, Cokato Township.  A road was made between the two Finnish developments.  That road is now Wright County Road 100.  The Finnish Apostolic Church and Cemetery were later located on County Road 100.

In 1866, the first permanent cabin was erected on the Elias Peltopera land.  It was the shelter for the four pioneers and others until their cabins could be built. This log cabin was sold to CFAHS and moved from a farmstead a half-mile east to Temperance Corner in the 1970s.  A sauna constructed in 1868, called the Savu Sauna, was used by three Finnish families, the Barbergs, Selvalas and Salmonsons.  In 1976, this sauna was donated to the CFAHS and moved to Temperance Corner. 

The Onnen Toivo (Hope of Happiness) Temperance Society was founded August 2, 1896, as a branch of the Minnesota Temperance Society.  In 1896, Temperance Hall was built at the crossroads of present-day Wright County Roads 3 and 100, three miles north of Cokato.  The purpose was to provide recreation for Finns other than alcohol.  There were 40-50 people at a typical meeting.   Members made vows to abstain from alcohol consumption.  Temperance Hall provided opportunities to socialize and served as the recreational center for the entire area.  There was a stage for plays, programs and skits.  In 1910, an athletic club was started, complete with a boxing and wrestling ring. There were hooks in the ceiling for gymnastics.  Temperance Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

A school was started at Temperance Corner (District 117) in 1891.  There were 74 students, ages 5-19 in Grades 1-8.  On Saturdays and during the summer months, the Finnish language was taught at the school.  The first Temperance Corner School was destroyed by fire in the winter of 1921.  The Temperance Hall served as a temporary school, and by fall term a new school had been built.  The Temperance Corner School closed in 1971 and the schoolhouse was sold and moved in 1973.  In 1999, Jerry Bajari donated the Lee School (District 131) and it was moved to Temperance Corner and restored.   Lee School had been located in Section 17, French Lake Township, and was open from 1899 to 1971.   [Temperance Corner Monument]

1938 was the 300th anniversary of the year Finns settled in Delaware.  The Finns in Cokato also held a gala celebration on Sunday, June 12, 1938.  A monument was dedicated at Peterson Park in Cokato.  Renewed interest in Finnish heritage led to the formation of the Temperance Community Association.  Work was started to gather historical material about the early Finns in this community.  The Cokato Finnish-American Historical Society was started on November 28, 1939.  Members continued to gather historical material and articles used by the Finnish pioneers and to preserve early Finnish traditions and customs.  A pioneer memorial monument was erected at Temperance Corner in 1949 in memory of the Finnish pioneers.

Harvey concluded his talk with information about his ancestors.  Harvey and Heidi Barberg moved to the Barberg ancestral farm in Cokato in 1979.  Five generations of Barbergs have lived there.  The house is the oldest built by Finnish pioneers still in use in the Cokato community.  Harvey and Heidi showed copies of the Kotila Family History, the Barberg Family History, and the Lee School History.  Harvey also spoke a few words in the Finnish language.

The Cokato Finnish Historical Society has no funding outside of membership dues, donations and raffles.  Constant maintenance on the historic buildings is needed.  A fund has been started to restore the 1868 Savu Sauna.

Seasonal events scheduled by CFAHS at Temperance Corner include a Memorial Day celebration on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend; Mid-Summer celebration in June, including a bonfire; Fall Festival in October, including a program and bake and craft sale; and Pikkujoulu (Little Christmas) in December, including a potluck meal and a trip to the Finnish Pioneer Cemetery for the lighting of candles and singing of Christmas carols.

Notes by Secretary
Annandale History Club