The New Sweden Farmstead Museum was an open-air museum in Bridgeton, New Jersey, United States. A recreation of a 17th-century Swedishfarmstead, it was located in City Park, and served as a historical remembrance of the history of the Swedish and Finnish people who arrived as part of the colony of New Sweden in early America. Originally opened in 1988, it operated as a living museum for many years. As funding and attendance declined, the log buildings at the complex fell into disrepair, requiring it to close.
Beginning in 2011, fundraising and restoration efforts allowed a partial re-open. Later, a decision was made to move the museum's buildings to Governor Printz Park in the community of Essington, Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania.[1] On June 1, 2019, the newly restored residence building was dedicated in the park, and the remaining six building were reconstructed during 2020.
New Sweden
Although not part of the New Sweden Farmstead Museum, the Mortonson-Van Leer Log Cabin in Swedesboro is a log building typical of New Sweden
The New Sweden Company, Incorporated was established in 1983 with the mission recreate a village to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the European colonists.[17] The project was originally intended to be built in Salem but after some controversy it was decided the locate it in Bridgeton.[18][19][20]
The museum was built in 1987. A team of experts associated with the Riksförbundet för Hembygdvärd (National Association for Homestead Care) from Sweden supervised the on-site construction of the log structures using traditional materials and methods to replicate a 17th-century farmstead, or gård. It comprised a farmhouse/residence, a blacksmith shop, a storehouse, a Granary (threshing barn), a stable, a barn with outhouse, a sauna and a Smokehouse. Furnaces, chimneys, and fireplaces were also authentically constructed. The collection included furnishings, farm equipment, and other artifacts genuinely of Swedish-Finnish origin[17][21][22] which by 2011 had been inventoried and moved from temporary to climate controlled storage.[23][24][25]
The farmstead remained a popular attraction in the area for about 10 years, but following a downturn in the local economy, funding and attendance declined and the attraction was closed.[1]
By 2011, the New Sweden Colonial Homestead Foundation was fundraising to restore and re-open the museum. The elements had taken their toll on the buildings; at the time, it was estimated that $10,000 per structure was needed for roof repairs.[27]
In September 2011, a fundraising reception was attended by the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, Jonas Hafström to draw attention to the foundation's efforts.[27][28][29] Various fundraising activities at the farmstead were done in collaboration with summer youth programs. The homestead received grants from Cumberland County and Swedish Council of America, among others.[23] In 2012 the foundation received $10,000 donation from owners of Bridgeton-based Whibco.[30] The Swedish Colonial Society was also enlisted to help with restoration efforts.[31] Eventually plans were made to permanently close and move the museum.
Relocation of farmstead buildings
In 2015, a move to Wilmington, Delaware (site of New Sweden's Fort Christina) was considered.[32] Later, a decision was made to move the buildings to Governor Printz Park in the community of Essington, Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania, the site of New Sweden's The Printzhof.[1] On June 1, 2019, the newly reconstructed residence building was dedicated in the park. In 2020, the remaining six buildings were reconstructed while the park was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[33] The first open house for the completed farmstead was held on June 12, 2021,[34][35] and the dedication ceremony held the following year, on June 12, 2022.[36]
^ abcMathews, Joseph (2017). "Resurrect The Farmstead: Buy a Log"(PDF). The Swedish Colonial Society Journal. Vol. 5, no. 7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Swedish Colonial Society. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
^Math Teacher (December 10, 2010). "First Colony of Settlers of Finnish Blood - Pennsville, NJ". Waymarking. Retrieved 2013-07-28. FINNS POINT Near Here 300 Years Ago and Later Lived the First Colony Of Settlers of Finnish Blood Upon This Continent **To Their Memory and To The Love of Freedom And Justice that They Handed Down to Their Descendants This Tablet is Erected June 30, 1938
^"Finns Point". Finnish Place Names - New Jersey. Genealogia. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
^Dunlap, A.R.; E. J. Moyne. "The Finnish Language on the Delaware". Genealogia. Retrieved 2013-07-28. Sinick Brour is called a Finn in a land record in Vol. XV (p. 61) of the Penn MSS (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). On the Finnish origin of the Sinnexson, or Sennecson, family see The journal and Biography of Nicholas Collin, tr. Amandus Johnson (Philadelphia, 1936), p. 227
^2 Towns Fight Over Past and Future, Jansen (September 4, 1987). "Donald". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-08-15.((cite news)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Mathews, Joseph (August 8, 2022). "The Swedish Farmstead at Governor Printz Park, Tinicum Township, Pennsylvania". colonialswedes.net. The Swedish Colonial Society. Retrieved February 11, 2023. Highline [Construction] began building in Spring 2020 and–with the park closed for Covid–by September of that year finished reconstructing all 6 remaining cabins.
^Tepe, Jr., John B. (Fall 2021). "Open for Business"(PDF). The Swedish Colonial Society Journal. Vol. 5, no. 15. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 2. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
^"The Swedish Colonial Society - Facebook Post". Facebook. The Swedish Colonial Society. June 19, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2023. More pictures from the Swedish Colonial Society celebration of the opening of the farmstead and presentation of the Fellow Awards on June 12, 2021.
^"Day 249 - Bridgeton". nordicway.com and Swedish Council of America. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2020.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
