Open air museum hosts a number of events each year

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

While Finn Creek Open Air Museum has been a Finnish-American cultural staple of the New York Mills area for decades, the organization has remained fairly constant for the past 20 years. 

As the museum gears up for its 50th anniversary year, the small group of volunteers behind its operation are looking forward to branching out in the year to come.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic cancelled that museum’s annual Folk Festival in August of 2020, the organization’s activities have rebounded with expansions and collaborations including a cultural exchange, puppet pageant, pasty making, history re-enactments, Finland in a Suitcase activity and special chapel services, the group has made an effort to revitalize the Finn Creek project, which will turn a half-century old in 2025.

Finn Creek is officially a project of the Minnesota Finnish-American Historical Society Chapter 13, New York Mills and that organization’s history goes back much further, having began after an address on January 5, 1947 by E. A. Pulli, an organizer of the society. Oscar Paavola headed up the local chapter in its formative years as the first chairman of the organization.

In the mid- to late-1960s, the organization had a revitalization and began looking for a farmstead to renovate into a cultural museum to preserve the strong Finnish heritage of this area. In 1975, they finalized the purchase agreement of the property and began the work of cultivating a cultural time capsule out of the dilapidated Tapio Farm, which is now known as Finn Creek Museum.

Despite the closure of the museum during 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the small group of volunteers and board of directors are finding a revitalization in their work at the museum, especially as it closes in on 50 years of operation.

With the new year on the doorstep, the directors of the museum have already working on plans for the 2025 season for months. As much as the small group is able to pull off, however, they are actively seeking out new and return volunteers to grow the organization into the next 50 years of operation. A planning committee has been meeting since October, as well as regular input and forward-thinking from the board of directors to make 2025 a year to remember.

While 50 years is a significant milestone, the organization is looking forward, as its volunteers wants the museum to continue far into the future. They are also promoting new ideas, new events, and new cultural education opportunities.

“I’m hoping this 50th anniversary year can display various aspects of Finnish culture and history,” said board member Ruth Koehler. “We need volunteers who get excited about preserving the area’s history. Our Finnish heritage has been alive since New York Mills was born. Finn Creek represents a part of my Finnish heritage.

“Finnish heritage is foremost to me since my mother immigrated from Finland as a young girl,” she continued. “My father was also 100 percent Finnish and I spoke the language before learning English. Our area was founded by Finnish immigrants whose history begs to remain alive and vital to the community.”

Many of the volunteers have been around since Finn Creek was incorporated in 1975 and some have been active in the society’s operation since that time. One of the common fears in Finnish-American cultural groups across the state and nation has been the worry that the younger generation no longer finds value in their heritage. It’s been a topic of conversation in groups like the Minnesota Finnish-American Historical Society for decades.

“I don’t want to see our heritage slowly disappear,” said volunteer Susan Van Watermulen. “A lack of interest is eminent if we don’t celebrate Finn Creek’s 50 years. Many of us are aging and not as energetic as we were in the beginning and hopefully this celebration will help to bring in more interest in volunteering.”

For many, Finn Creek Museum has been a gathering point for families for different events including weddings, baptisms, family reunions, church socials, and even an annual tradition of visiting at the Folk Festival. 

Shirley Quist, treasurer, is a descendant of the original Tapio family who settled the homestead. She finds the parallels between Finn Creek’s purpose to be important in viewing the world through a historical lens.

“To me, Finn Creek is the foundation to bring families together to celebrate our beginnings and the hard work our ancestors put in to create a living in a new country for their family,” said Quist. “Finn Creek reminds us of how neighbor helped neighbor. I see a lot of that in New York Mills and Finn Creek is a glimpse into the past that brings us into today.

“We have a facility and museum of simpler times,” she continued. “I love having people visit and tell stories of days past at Finn Creek or times visiting with Grandpa and Grandma. Our 50th anniversary should be a time to celebrate simpler times with family. Life was not easy, yet it was rich with family, friends and good neighbors.”

Louise Amberg-Jokela has been a volunteer at Finn Creek for many years. She previously held the position of treasurer and still finds time in her busy schedule to help out throughout the year. She also enjoys the neighborly atmosphere at the museum.

“Finn Creek to me has been a fun place to gather,” said Amberg-Jokela. “Our family has wonderful memories that have been made there that will last a lifetime. The chapel services are divine and bring peace and comfort. A walk around the grounds gives peace and solitude to my soul. Finn Creek reminds me of the song, ‘This is My Father’s World,’ she quoted, “…and to my listening ears, all nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declares their Maker’s praise!’”

Alongside the natural elements of the museum, tucked away between Highways 135 and 106, the cultural aspects of the original Tapio homestead also remind people of their roots.

“Finn Creek is unique in that buildings can be visited individually, displaying insides kept as they were circa about 1915 and beyond,” said Koehler. “All people who love history are welcome to delve into their own heritage, all the buildings are historical while giving a vivid glance at Finnish history, but being Finnish is not a prerequisite.”

Amy Tervola Hultberg, longtime volunteer, has worn many hats at the museum over the past 40 years and remembers many eras of Finn Creek. She also agrees that the heritage site is one for everyone.

“Finn Creek is a place to find information and experiences of a Finnish American family settling native land at the turn of the century,” Tervola Hultberg said. “Their tenacity exemplified issue, while we still wonder and learn about life in the late 1800s-early 1900s. These experiences are not exclusive to a Finnish perspective. Finn Creek opens a local door to wonder about all the people coming before us and can spur dialogue for us to connect.”

Tervola Hultberg also looks forward in 2025 to the 50th anniversary year, one that is slated to have a variety of different events, both big and small, to celebrate and recognize the countless hours of work by generations of friends of the museum.

“As we celebrate 50 years of operation it is a wonder to contemplate the seed of curiosity many could see before it became a reality,” she said. “From saving the farmstead, caring for the land, and welcoming people to participate, many creative pioneers forged forward with an idea many others may have chuckled about. Finnish Americans and Finns have a unique brand of connection with each other and the world. Finn Creek is such an example.

“The world is a big, diverse, ever-changing place,” she continued. “By claiming and understanding our ancestral lineage, culture, and language, our empathy for others’ language and culture grows exponentially. I believe in volunteering for an idea larger than myself. My grandparents and parents shared their experience with me nearly 40 years ago. Finn Creek has been a part of our lives now into a fourth generation of our family.”

Tervola Hultberg’s husband, Adam, is a director on the board at the museum and is also heavily involved in the museum’s operation from year-to-year.

“I am involved at Finn Creek because it is a place that I want to be part of my children’s lives,” he said. “I want them to know who and where they came from. I look forward to the moments when a new visitor encounters the place for the first time. Often, people are shocked that this place exists because they had no idea it is nestled between the communities of Mills and Deer Creek.

“It’s important that we all know where we came from,” he continued. “Having a thorough understanding of the past might possibly cause us all to leave a stronger legacy for future generations.”

Adam and Amy Tervola Hultberg are doing their best to do just that as they have given their children, Heta and Niilo, the opportunity to become involved at Finn Creek. The two children look forward to the Folk Festival each year and Niilo especially likes the celebratory atmosphere where he can volunteer and share a piece of pie with his family.

Amy’s parents, Kenny and Karen Tervola, have been mainstays of the organization’s volunteers for many years. They have held different positions on the board over the years and have put in countless hours of restoration, maintenance, cooking, and many other hours of effort to make the museum the best that it can be.

“The restoration of Finn Creek has been a lot of hard work,” said Kenny, president of the board. “But as the late Einar Saarela predicted, one day the Finn Creek Museum project would be a great importance to the community. It will help preserve the heritage handed down by the pioneers of the early 1900s. It is now 50 years ago since this project was started and we invite you to watch for further aspects of the celebration we have planned for 2025.”

The Brent and Shell Tumberg family also find community in being involved at Finn Creek Museum, just south of their home. The family of six have been involved for over 20 years and enjoy seeing how the museum changes each year.

“I am involved in Finn Creek because even though I am not of Finnish decent, the atmosphere and heritage is founded upon reminds me of days gone by and helps me feel closer to my grandparents who are no longer on Earth,” said Shell. “My hope for 2025 is that Finn Creek will be a cornerstone in all families to feel like they have a place to hangout, learn, and fill their cups.”

Shell’s daughter, Clara, second grade, is involved in the museum alongside her parents and brothers. She helps out with the petting barn each year and is often seen during cleanup events and throughout the summer.

“My mom does it and it makes my heart happy,” she said of why she’s involved. 

Of what she looks forward to each year she commented, “The festival and watching all the people come out and see the hard work we did!”

Clara’s big brother, Gus, sixth grade, said that he too finds it important to remember where he comes from.

“It’s my heritage but also those of the community,” he said. “I never want it forgotten and hope to bring my own kids to work there some day.”

As Finn Creek finished out their season last Saturday with an Advent Candlelight Chapel Service, they are looking forward to continued planning in January and the first of their many events for their 50th anniversary year. They invite anyone interested of all ages, backgrounds and cultural heritage to join as they make 2025 their biggest year yet.