Suomeksi - in Finnish

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THE SEARCHING OF ROOTS IN AMERICA - A FASHION-PHENOMENON?

about searching roots
Flinkman roots
journey to Finland
journey to USA!
journey to New Jersey
journey to Detroit
Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary
trip through Michigan

Look also at Elaine's mail to Tarja 22.4.2000!

As the matter of fact, the emigration is associated with strong feelings, which are working up attitude and they are to be seen also in thoughts of the later generations, consciously or unconsciously. The great emigrant wave in the beginning of this century was a consequence of the economic and political situation in Finland. That made an influence to the generation staying here in Finland as the generation moving away, only a few people from that time are surviving anymore. Now they are usually descendants of the second, third or forth generation, who are searching each other. They have noticed they have lost their knowledge about the history of their family with the death of their parents or grandparents. 

A person living here in Finland now usually knows his ancestors to the forth or fifth generation, often one remembers them from the childhood, knows their place of home, life-work, one lives relatively close to relatives. Cousins are close-by, because of the urbanization grand cousins are not so nearby, but the most part of them has met each other some day and at least they are known to be same relation.

In a stage of one's life, which unfortunately very often happens to be then when the most productive archives of family history, grandparents are not living anymore, many persons began to be interested to find more information of relatives and ancestors. Also then it's quite easy for a Finnish person to extend the knowledge of Finnish family-tree many generations backwards and it does not take much time one notice to have given a finger and almost a whole hand to the genealogy. 

Only emigrant branches of the family-tree don't grow so much, because making searches of them take more time and a spirit of investigation. It's possible to get quite soon notes of a group containing hundreds of relatives living here, the emigrant ancestor or other descendants easily remain to have a comment "...emigrated to America in the beginning of 1900, descendants there at least three children, one of them having five children..." That was the text I also had during a quite long time in my genealogical notes refer to the uncle of my father-in-law, Arvo Flinkman, (b. 1885 Rymättylä, Finland). 
 

In her letter to me 1988 she tells about uncle Arvo's wife, Fiina (d.1972 Michigan) and about the cousin, Fiina's son Ernest (b. 1924 Michigan): 
"... The mother of Ernest in America, born in East Bothnia in Finland, wrote me many letters when I was still working. In her last letter she told to be afraid losing her sight and can't write anymore. After that I don't know anything about them, because Ernest has not answered to my letters I ask him even in English, we'll translate them here. . . ." 

"...I've received the letter from my cousin Ernest from America. I've newer got before...I was very touch because of '...I can't remember being so happy receiving this information...',"as Ernest wrote to her. 

Enclosed there was also the copy of Ernest's letter, which was translated to Finnish by the wife of Irene's son: 

"...I know the mother used to correspond with relatives on the Flinkman side of the family, but I really did not know who until Lauri mentioned it in his letter and asked me to write..." 

This corresponding has continued regularly all the time. During first years we became acquainted through letters, cuts of newspapers, photos and Christmas presents. My knowledge to write English language improved inconspicuously after a letter to next one. In the summer 1993 it was my turn to understand of spoken English. Betty had a new video camera and she had made a film about the whole Flinkman-family in Detroit. Through this film we can make a visit to homes of their all six families. They really have made a big job when collecting this presentation video film of Flinkman family in Detroit. 

Journey to Finland!

I don't remember, when I at the first time made my invitation to Finland, 
but after this video film I hoped impatiently to meet Ernest and his family. 
In the next winter I received letters also from Betty and in the spring it was sure,
we'll have an honor to have
Ernest, his wife Florence 
and daughters Elaine and Betty 
as our quests here in 
Finland in August 1994!

How enthusiastic we, I and my husband Jorma, were when we planned, what kind of program for ten days would be so rewarding as possible. Both our quests and we waited with excitement for our meeting all the summer. And a couple weeks before journey Betty still phoned to me: " Everything is in order, we'll meet you at the airport of Arlanda in Stockholm, Sweden, I hope we'll recognize each other!"
 

The only right way to reach Turku town in Finland is of course by the ship cruise through our beautiful archipelago, where our ancestors have sailed from the ancient times. That's why we recommended to our quests to take a flight to Sweden, Stockholm, which is the former capital of Finland and suits very well as a start point of their genealogical visit. And at last was the big day: we recognized each other right away when seeing our relatives at the first time in our lives. We spent that day in Stockholm, which was full of people because of The Big Water Festival. The best moment of the day was, when The King of Sweden, Carl XIV Gustaf and The Queen Silvia winked to us(also to other citizens) when they passed us in the Royal Procession. "Oh, you have arranged the meeting of King, that's wonderful! We haven't seen real royalty before. Very nice! Thank you so much!"

After that Ernest and his family had a chance to visit the Itätalo(Westfarm) house, where Ernie's father was born in Hämmärö. We can't thank enough the hostess of the house, Annikki Rauhala (not a member of Flinkmans), who after a half hour of the Matti Rautsala's phonecall opened the doors of the house and introduced her home to us.

"I, Johan Flinkman, the farmer of the house and the trusted man of the Church, and my beloved wife, Eva, the daughter of Jacob, now owners of Westfarm in Hämmärö, leave and give as a present to you and everyone who after me will live in this Itätalo in Hämmärö, this blessed and holy and so much inside keeping present and The Main Book, this Holy Bible, to you as a comfort in sorrows . . . since he is living in the house, but after his death or by other ways leaving the house, he must leave it(The Holy Bible) in the house; and he must remember, that" who has lived vigorously, will have the peace and rest in their sepulchers, Ef 57.2" 

11.March Y. 1835...

When they saw the longiness of their beloved father and the with the help of our corresponding, they started to encourage their parents to make this journey. They succeeded to convince the father, who would have his 70-year birthday in the next autumn, about this possibility and now this dream had come true. Although the reason for the daughters to travel may be more need to be as a support to their parents during the journey, during it they could find a new extent to themselves. The Finland changed from a distant strange land to the real thing to them, in this country grandparents were born and lived, this country and relatives here got a special place in their thoughts. I believe, they left Finland different persons from they were before the journey; the interest of Finland and relatives here was perhaps more extensive to them as they could have expected. 

The most beautiful summer weather spoiled us during the whole week. At the boat tour to the Nötö island we got acquaintance with new far relatives. The Westfarm is the name of the farm, where our ancestors have had a place of home from the 1600-centuries. At the yard of this house we examined old genealogical notes with the old hostess of the farm. Also I got an address of a genealogical searcher from Sweden, with whom I have now made interesting comparisons of our researches. In Kustavi we spent a typical Finnish summerhome day as quests of Matti Laaksonen, the cousin of Ernest. The house is originally the home of Matti's wife Irma's grandfather, who worked as a merchant sailor. In the evening of course, we went to The Finnish Sauna and swam in the sea. Specially Elaine was surprised of the relaxing effect of the sauna, I think she liked it!
 

From many historical museums of Turku we had time only for The Cathedral from the 1200-century and The Castle of Turku from the same time. We could not expect, how interesting buildings those would be to our quests. After they had told to us there is no this kind of medieval historical building in America we noticed the point. It's so self-evident here we have those very old churches and other buildings, I've never thought the matter from this point. Also I noticed how much I've forgotten my history knowledge, so I felt to have the punishment lesson about the facts of my local town history.
 
 

Too soon was the day, when the luggage was packed and we must escort our quests to the bus, what would take them to Finland's capital, Helsinki, to meet grandmother Fiina's relations gathering there. We all wanted believe strongly to that this first meeting of us would not be the last. We are missing for their natural, positive and charitable company, what had given us so much during the week we spent together. I had lost my fear to speak English; it didn't matter, if I had no right words or they went to disorder. I feel the great pleasure about that I had not given up with my genealogical researches concerning to uncle Arvo " . . . emigrated to America . . . ". 

We have not met each other before. Ellen was left a widow and after all her seven children have moved away from home, she is living now with her mother in their beautiful house in River Vale. (*Hilma died 1997 at the age of 104 years)  We talk about Finnish relatives and other things, Ellen can speak Finnish quite well. She has visited in Finland several times with her children and grandchildren. 

When we watched the photoalbum, Hilma recognized better Finnish relatives than us! She is in very good condition. She was with us all the day, when we were at lunch in West Point and after that we visited Ellen's daughterMarion.There we were charmed by a little girl Amber; her pet name is Ämpäri, it's a Finnish word sound to us like Amber in English, but the meaning of the word in Finnish is the same as a pail or bucket. Anyway, Amber is a very slender and cute child, not a large dish at all.

When we moved to have a cup of coffee, Marion had a cake with candles and "Happy birthday to you." surprised me. It was my birthday today and I have not remembered it at all. Thank you so much! After our short visit Ellen took us safely through New York City to The Kennedy Airport from where we took a flight to Detroit.

In the evening Ernest, Florence and their five children with wives and husbands hold us a welcome-party in a Wild West styled restaurant. Because they love parties and surprises, so I have understood, my birthday was not forgotten. Suddenly waitress girls came and song "Happy birthday Dear Tarja...". Again they had proved, how to make you feel happy. We are not so used to compliments and we are shy to receive them. I think I am very lucky because my American friends have learnt me in this matter. I wonder I fall in sleep so soon after this exiting day, I think the comfortable bed in Ernie's and Florence's guestroom made it possible.

The next day was a lesson of American History. In the Museum of Henry Ford and Greenfield Village was very interesting place, I could have been there the whole week; because the weather was very hot, I think I could not make it even I would have time to do it. The most interesting place to me was the laboratory of Thomas Alva Edison, because I'm working in the clinical laboratory. Do you know, how first lots of Heiz Tomat Souce was made? If you don't, you must to go to the Greenfield Village in Detroit!

Elaine and I had already in last summer found a common hobby. We use to collect old things, Elaine is interested also about antics. Here in Finland we don't have "Garage Sales", we have fly markets but we have to take our things we want to sale to special marketing areas. So we spent a few morning hours by going to Garage Sales. We had a lunch at Denise's home also we could admire Eric's fine woodwork at his and Loretta's home. And still we went to see littleMatthew and his parents James and Olga to their home. Matthew is a real sunshine! Late in the evening we drove to Elaine and Ray's home, there we could admire Elaine's antics and Ray's arms collection, how many guns he had!

 Ernest and Florence use to go to The Church every Sunday, so it was also in this special day. When the time to go to the church came, to their house drove a very long white limousine, what took the wedding couple with other quest, also we had the honor to join them. 

Elaine had taken part to a competition of local radio "How nice it would be if..." She won the price and made possibly her parents could use that luxurious limousine on their Special Anniversary Day. The children of Ernie and Florence had made a great job planing and arranging for The Special Day of their beloved parents. There was over a hundred guests, relatives and friends from long distances of USA and Canada, and we from Europe, Finland among them all! 

It surely was a difficult task to find out addresses of Ernie and Florence's friends from many years backwards, without they knew nothing about that. The importance of a family, a warmth and a respect between parents with their children could be seen by a very touching way. It is the great thanks and gift from children to their parents to bring them happy.
 

This state is a little smaller than our country (Finland is really bigger than Michigan, Ron!), during the first day we drove straight to the north to Ron and Betty's summerhome. The nature and climate are very similar to Finland's, just in this week the temperature was unusual hot in Detroit, but it was much more comfortable in northern parts of the state. In the evening it was very dark and so many stars in the sky, we had a fire and hotdogs, it was rest we already needed. We also succeeded to see wild turkeys and reindeers, there they waited for the hunting season.

In the next day we went further and visited on the small Mackinac-Island, which is Florence's home island. It is situated in The Lake Huron, it seemed to us as a sea. There has never been cars on the island. All transportation on the island is made by horses. Now there is many summer home and many boats are carrying tourists all the time to the island. For transportation of tourists they need many horses, you can feel it before you have not seen the first one of a hundred horses. We visited at Elaine and Betty's ants in their beautiful house quite near the beach and after that we had very delicious and plentiful lunch at the very fine and large hotel.

On the continent we drove to the border of Canada and we could try in the Indian Casino how lucky we are. Not so lucky we were, but I think we already had so much lucky all the time we didn't need more. Our cousins had already taken care of it, we had so great time all the way. Only sad thing was, this fairytale is going to end soon. I didn't want to think about it at all. But it did not help, in the morning we started to Detroit, because our flight to Finland was tomorrow. So many things we saw and so many fine experience we had, here only a little part of them. When we said goodbye, I had already decided, it will came the third and the forth and so on time we'll meet again.