History of Temperance
Corner
Presentation to the Annandale History
Club
Date: April 7, 2014
Susan Keskey
Susan Keskey is a
longtime volunteer with the Cokato Historical Society and Cokato Finnish
American Historical Society. She is
secretary of the CFAHS board of directors and the editor of the CFAHS
newsletter. Susan is a member of
the steering committee planning FinnFest-Cokato, MN, scheduled May 24, 2014.
The following information was compiled by the Annandale
History Club secretary in conjunction with Susan Keskey’s Temperance Corner
presentation. Most of the
information is from articles Susan wrote for the Cokato Finnish American
Historical Society newsletter.
1864: The
first Finns in Minnesota arrived at Red Wing, lured by America’s Homestead Act
of 1862.
1865: Four men
in the third group of Finns to arrive in Red Wing went to Minneapolis and set
off on foot June 22 to stake homestead claims in the “Big Woods” in Wright
County. Each man claimed 80 acres
in Section 10, Mooers Prairie (now Cokato Township) and filed in the Greenleaf
land office in Meeker County. They were
Mathias Karjenaho Abrahamson (1835-1913), Elias Peltopera (Johnson)
(c.1835-1899), Olaf Westerberg (1816-1892) and John Viinikka (Wiinikka)
(1806-1888). Elias Peltopera sold
his homestead rights to Antti Lankki circa 1867 and moved to Pendleton, Oregon,
and later to Pullman, Washington.
1866: A second
group of Finns arrived in Cokato to stake their claims in Section 18.
They were Isak (Parpa) Barberg (1833-1883), Nils Selvala (1840-1909),
Adam Ongemo (Zakariasson) (1844-1927), Antti Sepponen, and Isak Branstrom, who
moved back to Finland in 1867.
1870s:
Finns who had immigrated in the 1850s to 1870s to work in the copper mines of
the Upper Peninsula in Michigan started arriving in Cokato.
The growing number of Finns in Cokato Township spread west toward Dassel
and Kingston and north toward French Lake and Annandale.
LOG CABIN
1866:
Peltopera’s cabin in the center of his claim was the first of four cabins built
by the Finns (excluding the temporary shelter built on Karjenaho’s claim).
The 12’ by 16’ cabin was home to as many as 11 people one winter.
(The one-room cabin had an attic where more people could spread out.)
Years later the cabin was used as a granary on Arthur Lankki’s farm.
1970s:
Peltopera’s cabin was moved from a farm site a half-mile east to Temperance
Corner.
2007: 50-70%
of the cabin’s logs need to be replaced.
General maintenance work will be done to preserve the log cabin as long
as possible.
FINNISH
APOSTOLIC CHURCH
1868: The
first Finnish church service was held at the Adam Ongemo residence.
Isak Barberg performed the religious functions, leading the services
until 1883.
1872: The
Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church congregation was organized.
1876: The St.
Paul, Minnesota and Manitoba Railroad Company donated 40 acres west of
Temperance Corner. A 24’x 40’ church was built and later expanded.
A cemetery was established east of the church.
There were earlier burials (now unmarked) in the wooded area north of the
church. In 1900, the Cokato Finnish
Cemetery was established a short distance west of the church.
1887: A
second Finnish Apostolic church, Crow River Apostolic, aka Riverside Church, in
French Lake Township, was built to serve members in that area.
Services were held until the 1950s.
The “tin church” was moved to Pioneer Park in Annandale in December 1975
and restored.
1894: Finnish
Apostolic Lutheran Church was incorporated.
1913:
A new Finnish Apostolic brick church was built to replace the frame
church near Temperance
Corner.
1973: 30
members left the Cokato Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church to organize the Cokato
Laestadian Lutheran Church. From
1973 to 2011, they met in a former Stockholm Township schoolhouse converted to a
church. In 2011, a new Cokato
Laestadian church was built in Cokato Township adjacent to the Cokato Finnish
Cemetery. The Finnish Apostolic Church
has a history of small groups leaving to start new churches.
1999: A new
Finnish Apostolic church was built in Dassel Township, Meeker County, near the
Meeker/Wright County line.
The church name was changed to First Apostolic Lutheran Church.
The 1913 brick church was sold and used for a time as a residence.
SAVU SAUNA
1868: The
first sauna was built in 1868 by three neighbors, Isak Barberg, Nils Selvala and
Peter Salmonson. The location of
the 10’x 12’ x 7’ high sauna was on the borderline of the Barberg and Selvala
homesteads. The savu (smoke) sauna was
used for multiple things besides getting clean, such as a place to treat
illness, wash clothes, and have babies.(CFAHS Newsletter, November 2007)
1885: The
boundary between the Barberg and Selvala farms became a county road (now Wright
County Road 100), and the sauna was in the middle of the road.
The sauna was carefully taken apart log by log, packed up on a wagon,
moved across the road and rebuilt on the Selvala farm.
Since the authorities refused to pay for moving the building, Nils
Selvala sued Cokato Township and won.
The Township paid $30 damages and $40 for moving the building.
As the years passed, a new sauna was built and the old one served as a
tool shed or granary. It was
covered with siding and a tin roof.
Other buildings were added to it as time passed.
1979: The savu
sauna was donated to CFAHS by new owners, Dick and Mary Ann Wuollet, moved three
miles east to Temperance Corner, and restored to its original appearance.
2008: Funds
were raised for a professional log restoration company to restore the savu
sauna. In 2008 the savu sauna was
fully restored. It is believed to
be the oldest savu sauna still existing in the U.S.
.
TEMPERANCE
CORNER BUSINESSES
Possibly the first business established at Temperance
Corner was the blacksmith shop located on land owned by Henry Sako.
It was rented by Ellis Forar.
1907:
Cokato Enterprise, January 10, 1907:
“Temperance Corner is wondering when it will get its telephone lines and
central, as that would help build up the town a little more.
Temperance Corner already has a blacksmith shop, temperance hall, store,
schoolhouse, feed mill, and watch repairing shop.” The watch repair shop was in
Henry’s Sako’s home next to the blacksmith shop.
Mr. Sako also owned a portable gas engine outfit that was able to cut
wood and grind grain for area farmers.”
c.1900:
Temperance Corner Store:
Circa 1900 a small store owned by Henry Hurula (Hurley) was located west
of the hall and south of the schoolhouse (where the log cabin now stands).
The Hurley’s son John was the main drawing card for many wrestling
matches at the hall in 1912 and 1913.
It is said that haircuts and several games of chance were available when
Norman Hurley, a barber, ran the store (CFAHS Newsletter, April 2008).
Mrs. Maria “Mary” (Lahti) Niva (1881-1953) was the last owner of the
Temperance Corner store. Mary Niva
lived in a 12x12 ft. addition at the back of the store.
There was a gravity-feed gas pump in
front, and she sold groceries, tobacco products, candy, etc.
There was a small table where customers could have a cup of coffee.
The store and living quarters never had running water.
Mary carried pails of water from the pump at the Temperance Corner
School. The store closed circa
1945. The store was moved to the
northeast side of Cokato Lake and was Mary Niva’s home until her death in July
1953 at age 72.
Other business
in the Cokato area. Cokato
is three miles south of Temperance Corner.
1892: The
Finnish Mutual Fire Insurance Company was formed in 1892.
Jacob Ojanpera, Adam Ongamo Zachariason,
Isaac Abrahamson, Jacob Peterson, Oscar Ingman, Peter Gunnary, and Erik Paava
are credited as being the founders of this organization.
1894:
The Cokato Creamery Association was established through joint efforts of
local Finns and Swedes.
The Cokato
Creamery ceased operations in 1967.
1910: The
Cokato Farmers Mercantile Association was organized in 1910.
The Association was a complete farm supply, grocery, and service store,
including petroleum. The purpose
was to provide savings for customers and distribute profits to the people.
Names listed as organizers were John Kursu, John Luekuma, Jacob Ojanpera,
Abraham Salmonson, Erik Kotila, Gustaf Olson, John Eklof, Erik Paavo, Nels
Haggberg, Andrew Anderson, August Tack, Peter Salmela, Alex Onkka, John Tapio,
Ole Nygren, G.F. Anderson, L.L. Wanha, John Stein and Otto Johnson.
The co-op store in Cokato closed in 1982 after serving the public for 72
years. (CFAHS Newsletter, Spring
2015)
TEMPERANCE HALL
1896: The
Onnen Toivo (Hope for Happiness) Temperance Society was formed August 2, 1896,
as part of the Minnesota Finnish Temperance Society.
Early records indicate John Ojanpera was instrumental in establishing the
society along with N. Wuollet, O. Wuollet, W. Kopsala, M. Onkka, A. Abramson,
Art Lankki and Ed Christopher. The hall
was built on one-fourth acre of land bought from the Davo family for $30.
Erick Kotila was chairman of the hall’s construction.
The multi-purpose hall had an elevated stage with winged
doors to each side for plays and programs. Plays
were staged by both local and traveling actors.
The upstairs had a pit and dressing rooms used for boxing and wrestling
matches. The main floor was used
for gymnastics and wrestling and assorted social gatherings, including basket
socials. There is a ticket window
in the lobby that was used when admission was charged.
1902: The
Happiness and Hope Temperance Club was formed to govern social and athletic
activities. Dues per quarter were
25 cents for males and 15 cents for females.
Attendance was as high as 44, a good attendance when transportation to
meetings was not easy and many came from miles away.
1903: Tobacco,
as well as alcohol, banned by the rules of the Temperance Society.
1910: An
Athletic Club was formed for both men and women for participation in gymnastics,
wrestling. boxing, and other sports.
A bicycle club was formed.
World War I:
The Helping Hand Society which met at Temperance Hall was formed to furnish
food, clothing and other forms of assistance to the people of Finland.
The society was especially active during the Russian invasion period of
1939 and 1940. The Helping Hand
Society made much of its contributions through the Red Cross.
The society continued its work until 1959, when there was no longer a
need for aid to Finland.
1929: There
was an arrest and fine for the organizer of a boxing exhibition at Temperance
Hall in violation of state boxing laws.
“There will be no more boxing exhibitions in Wright County,” said County
Attorney Welch. (Annandale
Advocate, June 13, 1929)
1939: Major
improvements were made to the building.
According to the Cokato Enterprise,
“A redecorated stage, ceiling, and walls, a painted and repaired floor, a new
roof and foundation, and painting of the exterior,” were all part of the
improvement project. A stage
curtain advertising Cokato businesses was painted by “Spill” Peterson. The
curtain is now at the Cokato Museum.
The Cokato Finnish Historical Society was chartered
November 28, 1939. The first
officers were William A. Nelson, president; Matt Leinonen, vice president;
Vernon G. Barberg, secretary; A.W. Nelson, treasurer, I.A. Barberg, newspaper
correspondent. Other charters
members were H.B. Abrahamson, Jacob Lantto, Mrs. Alex Tapio, William E. Onkka,
Emil Miller, Paul Karvonen, L.L. Waanha, Lauri Saari, Nels Raisanen, Wayne R.
Barberg, Hazel Barberg, Victor Laitinen, William Ruotsinoja, Jacob Kotila and
Peter Hill.
1950s: Plays
and programs were performed at Temperance Hall into the 1950s.
Temperance Corner school programs were held at Temperance Hall.
1967: The Hall
had fallen into disrepair. It was sold
to Pat Bajari for $500 at a tax auction.
In 1970, he sold it to a Twin Cities based church group, “Church of God
of the First Born,” which used it for services.
When the church closed, Pat Bajari got Temperance Hall back.
Early 1970s:
The CFHS bought Temperance Hall. The hall was cleaned up, repaired, and
repainted. On its land at
Temperance Corner, the Cokato Finnish American Historical Society also owns the
first Finnish log cabin, the pioneer sauna and the 1949 Memorial to the first
Finnish settlers.
1976: The
first Memorial Day celebration took place at Temperance Corner and continues as
a yearly event. Refreshments, a
bake sale, and a program honoring a local veteran are part of the celebration.
In September 1976,
Temperance Hall received National Register of Historic Places designation.
1995:
The first Pikkujoulu (Little Christmas) was held at Temperance Corner
Hall on December 16 and continues as a yearly event.
Lighted candles are placed at the graves of loved ones at the Finnish
Cemetery in late afternoon, and later a potluck meal is held at the Cokato
Township Hall.
1996:
There was a centennial celebration at Temperance Hall in May 1996.
TEMPERANCE
CORNER SCHOOL
1891:
Temperance Corner school was built on land purchased from Jacob Jacobson for
$15. The first schoolhouse faced
east on present-day County Road 3.
74 pupils, ages 5-19, grades 1-8, registered the first term. Teacher Carrie
Edgerly was paid $36 a month. Among
the pupils were surnames of Alama, Bajari, Davo, Eliason, Forar, Hannu,
Jacobson, Matson, Nelson, Sako, Tapio and Wanha.
1921: On
Wednesday, January 19, at 7:00 p.m. the schoolhouse burned.
The fire was caused by an over-heated wood stove.
The school bell, organ, some books and
the teacher’s desk were saved. The
students finished January through May in Temperance Hall.
The 1921-1922 school term was held in
the Hall.
1922: The new
schoolhouse was ready for fall term.
The new school had a basement.
1927:
Additional land for more playground space was purchased from Tobias Kotila for
$60.
1940: The
Armistice Day snowstorm trapped students and teacher, Miss Alice Nelson (Mrs.
Jake Hoikka), in the schoolhouse overnight.
1971:
Temperance Corner School consolidated with Cokato Independent School District.
Ellen Johnson was the last teacher.
She had 16 students.
1972: An
auction of school furnishings was held.
The schoolhouse was sold to Stanley Dahlman, who later sold it to a man
who took it apart and moved it away in pieces.
1973: The land
was acquired by the Wright County Historical Society.
1982: CFAHS
purchased the Temperance Corner School land from WCHS for $1.
1999: The Lee
School was donated by Jerry Bajari and moved to the approximate site of the
former Temperance Corner School.
Lee School (District 131), located four miles west of French Lake
Corners, was open 1899-1971. The
Lee schoolhouse survived being used as a school room, rented housing, and
storage shed. The original 1891
bell from the Temperance Corner School was installed in the restored Lee School
at Temperance Corner. The teacher’s
desk from the 1891 Temperance Corner School and a section of blackboard from the
1922 school are also at Lee School.
MONUMENT
1949: CFAHS
erected a monument at Temperance Corner dedicated to the memory of the first
Finnish pioneers. The monument was
designed and constructed by Charles Ruut and dedicated August 4, 1949.
For more information, see
Harvey Barberg’s 2006 Temperance Corner presentation notes.
Compiled by Annandale History Club Secretary