SKANDIA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH- CHRISTMAS 1895
OH, IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK.
The Hanson Family history is deeply woven into every pew of this little church.
The photograph is an early confirmation ceremony in Skandia, Michigan performed at the church our great grandparents PEHR and KRISTINA HANSSON helped build. Great uncle CHARLIE (KARL) HANSSON and my grandpa AXEL HANSSON are the last two kids on the right. They were about 9 and 10 years old. This only a few years after the boys father had drown. The church stands in 2011 and is still active. My parents, RUDY and PEARL HANSON were married here as well as my brother DOUGLAS HANSON and his wife MELISSA. In the early days LEONA HANSON COPPO remembers Grandma KRISTINA being in charge of preparing the coffee (almost a religion in itself for swedes). She would make it in huge urns with egg shells in it to cut any bitterness. She also remembers grandma KRISTINA tugging at her braids when she was wriggling around at church and not paying attention. (I guess thats universal!) Both she and Verle recall OTTO HANSON (Leona's Dad) singing beautiful duets with his sister IDA (Verles Mom). OTTO was devasted when his big sis died too early and swore he would never do another duet and never did after that. This is the same church CLARA PETERSON WILSON recited a poem she had written about KRISTINA and PEHR's journey to America. She also sang at that 1985 family reunion. When the piano player at the church lagged a bit during the performance, she stopped singing, banged on the piano and said " comon' lets step it up a bit!" and continued right on singing her song.
I love the fresh greenery inserted with flowers at the alter, the old fashioned oil lamp overhead and those snappy hats the girls wore. The photo is somewhat sun faded, but my brothers look very much like my grandpa AXEL at that age.
