From: History of Worcester County, Mass. with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men. Volume 2 Publish. 1889 D. Hamilton Hurd-- Supervisor Pgs. 1487+1657 Since 1880 a large Scandinavian population has been added to Worcester, probably not less than 6,000 or 7,000 men, women and children, of which about 3,000 are men and boys. They are thifty, industrious, capable and law abiding people, who have come to make this country their home. They are found in most of our shops and are employed exclusively in some of them. They support 5 churches, in which their own language is spoken. Their children attend the public schools; in 1887 the number of children was 574. The evening schools are invaluable in giving our large foreign adult population an opportunity to acquire sufficient education to become useful and intelligent citizens. An examination of the records shows that out of 691 who attended the evening schools during the past year (1888), 165 were Irish, 155 were Armenian, 153 were Scandinavians, 111 were French, 45 English, 31 Americans, 14 Poles, 12 Germans, 3 Mexicans, 1 Scot and 1 Portuguese. These schools are maintained at a cost for each pupil of $11.68 for the year. -------------------------------------------- Page 1487: SWEDISH CHURCHES-- By the census of 1875, there were then 166 Swedes and Norwegians in the city of Worcester. In 1888 the number was estimated to be over 6,000. For this rapidly growing part of the population 5 churches have already been provided. Two of these are Methodist, one is Baptist, one is Congregationalist and one is Lutheran. The oldest is the First Swedish M.E.Church. Work was begun among the Swedes in Worcester as early as 1876 by the Rev. Albert Ericson of the M.E.Church. By him a church was organized, to which the Rev. Otto Anderson afterwards preached. In the Fall of 1879 Mr. Ericson removed to Worcester, resumed his work and remained in charge till 1882, when he was succeeded by the Rev. D.S.Sarlin. In 1883 a church was erected at Quinsigamond at a cost, including the lot, of $6,700 and was dedicated on the 31st of March, 1884. In the same year the Rev. C.A.Cederberg was appointed assistant preacher and in the year following, the pastor in charge. In 1887 the Rev. Albert Haller was appointed to succeed him.

Hi all, > The oldest is the First Swedish M.E.Church. Work was begun among the > Swedes in Worcester as early as 1876 by the Rev. Albert Ericson of the > M.E.Church. The Church is now Quinsigamond United Methodist Church and we will be celebrating our 130th Anniversary in October of 2003. Some of our older members remember when we used to have our Sunday services in Swedish. We still do the Santa Lucia Bride at Christmas time. The church was originally 2 stories tall until a fire about 1977. Now it is one story and they used what they could salvage from the fire to build the church as it is today. Colleen McDuffie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marcia Payne" <ETexGal@webtv.net> To: <MAWORCES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2002 2:49 PM Subject: [MAWORCES] Scandinavians of Worcester, Mass. > From: > History of Worcester County, Mass. with biographical sketches of many of > its pioneers and prominent men. Volume 2 Publish. 1889 > D. Hamilton Hurd-- Supervisor Pgs. 1487+1657 > > Since 1880 a large Scandinavian population has been added to > Worcester, probably not less than 6,000 or 7,000 men, women and > children, of which about 3,000 are men and boys. They are thifty, > industrious, capable and law abiding people, who have come to make this > country their home. They are found in most of our shops and are employed > exclusively in some of them. They support 5 churches, in which their own > language is spoken. Their children attend the public schools; in 1887 > the number of children was 574. > The evening schools are invaluable in giving our large foreign adult > population an opportunity to acquire sufficient education to become > useful and intelligent citizens. An examination of the records shows > that out of 691 who attended the evening schools during the past year > (1888), 165 were Irish, 155 were Armenian, 153 were Scandinavians, 111 > were French, 45 English, 31 Americans, 14 Poles, 12 Germans, 3 Mexicans, > 1 Scot and 1 Portuguese. > These schools are maintained at a cost for each pupil of $11.68 for > the year. > -------------------------------------------- > Page 1487: > > SWEDISH CHURCHES-- By the census of 1875, there were then 166 Swedes and > Norwegians in the city of Worcester. In 1888 the number was estimated to > be over 6,000. For this rapidly growing part of the population 5 > churches have already been provided. Two of these are Methodist, one is > Baptist, one is Congregationalist and one is Lutheran. > The oldest is the First Swedish M.E.Church. Work was begun among the > Swedes in Worcester as early as 1876 by the Rev. Albert Ericson of the > M.E.Church. By him a church was organized, to which the Rev. Otto > Anderson afterwards preached. > In the Fall of 1879 Mr. Ericson removed to Worcester, resumed his > work and remained in charge till 1882, when he was succeeded by the Rev. > D.S.Sarlin. In 1883 a church was erected at Quinsigamond at a cost, > including the lot, of $6,700 and was dedicated on the 31st of March, > 1884. In the same year the Rev. C.A.Cederberg was appointed assistant > preacher and in the year following, the pastor in charge. In 1887 the > Rev. Albert Haller was appointed to succeed him. > > > ==== MAWORCES Mailing List ==== > Rootsweb list archiver: > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/