Swedish Historical Society

Mike Lunde, President, and Tim Krumland, site manager, spoke to us about the Swedish Historical Society which was founded 78 years ago.  According to them, Rockford has the third largest concentration of Swedish people in the country, at one time with about 80 furniture companies.  Some people may not know that many of the Swedes, travelling by boat from their native land, settled in Rockford in 1845 because of a Cholera epidemic in Chicago at the time.  Among other things, the Swedish Historical Society maintains the Erlander Home Museum, restored to its original Victorian décor and located in Haight Village, a national historic district. The Erlander home was built in 1871 by Swedish craftsmen, is a 12 room Italianate style residence and was the first brick home constructed for a Swedish family in Rockford.  Tours are available and visitors to the home will see many Swedish artifacts, furniture, carvings and dolls as well as paintings by the Erlander’s daughter, Mary, an accomplished local artist who lived in the home until 1951 when it was purchased by the Swedish Historical Society.  Additionally, the Society welcomes visitors to Rockford and hosts events that preserve their Swedish heritage such as Midsommardagen (Midsummer Day) in June in Midway Village.  Even the famous author, Carl Sandburg, visited and wrote something about the area.  Thanks, Mike and Tim, for an informative and entertaining glimpse into Rockford’s Swedish heritage.