New Sweden Farmstead Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | circa 2015 |
The New Sweden Farmstead Museum was a special kind of museum in Bridgeton, New Jersey. It was an open-air museum, meaning its exhibits were outdoors. This museum showed what a 17th-century Swedish farm looked like. It was built to remember the history of Swedish and Finnish people. These early settlers came to America as part of the New Sweden colony.
The museum opened in 1988 and was a living museum for many years. This meant people could see how life was back then. But over time, it lost money and visitors. The old log buildings started to fall apart, so the museum had to close.
Starting in 2011, people began raising money to fix and reopen the museum. Later, it was decided to move the museum's buildings. They were moved to Governor Printz Park in Essington, Pennsylvania. On June 1, 2019, one of the main buildings was opened again. The other six buildings will be rebuilt when more money is available.
Exploring New Sweden's History
In 1638, people from Sweden and Finland came to the Delaware Valley. They arrived on ships called the Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip. Their goal was to start a new colony called New Sweden. It is believed that some Finns settled near Finns Point right away. One of these families was led by Anders Sinicka.
In 1643, the colonists built Fort Nya Elfsborg near Salem. They spread across South Jersey, building farms along rivers. These areas include parts of Salem, Cumberland, and Gloucester counties today. A famous early settler was Eric Pålsson Mullica. Many places in the region are named after him.
By 1649, villages like Sveaborg (now Swedesboro, New Jersey) and Nya Stockholm (today's Bridgeport) were established. Some historians think that the Forest Finns played a big role. They may have influenced how log buildings were made in the USA.
Several original buildings from this time still stand in the region. They are among the oldest buildings in New Jersey. Some are even among the oldest non-Spanish buildings in the United States. These include the Caesar Hoskins Log Cabin and the C. A. Nothnagle Log House. Also, the Mortonson–Van Leer Log Cabin was moved to Old Swedes Church in Swedesboro. The Swedish Granary and Swedish Cabin at Hancock House are also very old.
Building the Museum
The New Sweden Company, Incorporated, was started in 1983. Its goal was to build a village. This village would celebrate 350 years since the first European colonists arrived. The project was first planned for Salem. But after some disagreements, it was decided to build it in Bridgeton.
The museum was built in 1987. Experts from Sweden helped supervise the construction. They used traditional materials and methods. This was to make sure the log buildings looked like a real 17th-century Swedish farm, or gård.
The museum had several buildings. These included a farmhouse, a blacksmith shop, and a storehouse. There was also a Granary (for threshing grain), a stable, and a barn with an outhouse. A sauna and a Smokehouse were also part of the farm. Furnaces, chimneys, and fireplaces were built just like they were long ago.
The museum also had a collection of items. These included furniture, farm tools, and other artifacts. They were all truly from Swedish-Finnish origins. By 2011, these items were moved to a special storage area. This area kept them safe from damage.
The museum officially opened on April 14, 1988. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden attended. They were joined by Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean and his wife. The royal family even gave candleholders to the museum as a gift.
Why the Museum Closed and Moved
The farmstead was a popular place for about 10 years. But then, the local economy faced problems. This meant less money and fewer visitors for the museum. Because of this, the attraction eventually had to close.
By 2011, a group called the New Sweden Colonial Homestead Foundation started raising money. They wanted to fix and reopen the museum. The weather had damaged the buildings. At that time, it was thought that $10,000 was needed for each roof repair.
In September 2011, the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, Jonas Hafström, attended a fundraising event. This helped bring attention to the foundation's efforts. Many fundraising activities took place at the farmstead. These were often done with summer youth programs. The museum also received money from Cumberland County and the Swedish Council of America. In 2012, a company from Bridgeton, Whibco, donated $10,000. The Swedish Colonial Society also helped with the restoration work.
Eventually, plans were made to permanently close and move the museum. In 2015, moving it to Wilmington, Delaware, was considered. Wilmington is where New Sweden's Fort Christina was located. Later, the decision was made to move the buildings to Governor Printz Park in Essington, Pennsylvania. This park is the site of New Sweden's The Printzhof. On June 1, 2019, the main residence building was rebuilt and opened in the park. As of 2020, the stable and forge are also being rebuilt. The remaining four buildings are being kept in storage.
