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Karl Oskar Days marked its 60 year anniversary  in 2023,  and  over the decades, many symbols of Lindstrom’s celebration namesake have become landmarks.  

Karl Oskar may be a main character in the Moberg trio of novels called The Emigrants and book critics have declared the story of the Scandinavian emigration ‘comes alive’ in Vilhelm Moberg novels;  but the story is nourished and sustained by what people have done with the story—like creating Karl Oskar Days. 

Or, by the physical  Karl Oskar House in the county park south of Lindstrom.    

Tour buses bring international visitors here, and school field trips are common at the historic farmhome.  Community events and concerts occupy the grounds under the coordination and care of Friends of the Karl Oskar House.

Award winning novelist Moberg is said to have uttered,  when he viewed the actual house while doing emigration research in 1948, (spoiler alert) “here is where Karl Oskar will die.”  

The house helped Moberg to imagine his characters, and bring to life daily trials that Swedes arriving in Chisago Lakes would have encountered.  The K.O. House has a prominent place in archives documenting  Moberg’s creative process.

As for Karl Oskar manifestations, don’t overlook the boulder, positioned next to the Karl Oskar and Kristina statue on Hwy 8.  This is another nod to Karl Oskar the fictional character.  (The statue itself is from a 1960s community parade float.)  

A full 25 years have passed since the boulder in the front lawn of the Chisago County Press was hoisted off a flatbed, finishing its journey  from Sweden.  The international ITT Flygt corporation covered the gift’s shipping. The vintage photo, right, shows Mayor Sig Stene, Swede Ivar Karlsson and Chisago City’s Chuck Gramling.

In addition to these tangible objects that only exist because of Karl Oskar —  there are people residing in Sweden and Lindstrom-Chisago City-Center City, who have forged a connection, most recently on-line.  They call themselves simply the “working group” and  found each other first on Facebook. 

Local Sweden transplant Sven Sjostedt, lower right photo,  moved to the U.S. in 1980 and got active in the Friends of Karl Oskar House.  He launched his once-monthly Internet Swedish conversation group and synergy followed. 

On the second Monday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. anybody who wants to converse in Swedish is invited to find them on Zoom.   In 2020 the Algutsboda Historical Society connected with Sven and a focued smaller group now connects on “Jitzi”  They trade family tree lore and help one another with research on the emigration of the 1800s to 1900. 

In Algutsboda, which has been adopted as a sister city to Chisago City, the first week of July is  Homestead Week.   Locals celebrate native author Vilhelm Moberg and his legacy includes a “Moberg Cottage” and a statue— not very unlike the Chisago City statue of the Moberg the author, which was dedicated in 1996.  (The Sweden piece was placed by Moberg’s widow.) 

From the on-line chat group Sven recently learned and informed the Press that a formal program is planned this summer during Homestead Week.  The community there will feature stories of emigrants’ lives who journeyed to Chisago County centuries ago. 

 

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