Museum Blog

The Koskela House Finnish Museum in Brantwood, Wisconsin, has acquired this wonderful wood carving of a moose by V. Nieminen of Kotka, Finland.  Also, by Nieminen in the Museum are some hand-carved bears.

Moose by Nieminen

Surrounding the museum is a beautiful blue and white flowered Finnish garden, the centerpiece of which is the Juhannusruusu or Midsummer Rose brought back from Finland many years ago by the late Helga Korpela, one of Brantwood’s most famous Finn’s. As colorful as Helga was, the rose is not. It is a beautiful, fragrant single white rose that blooms within a day or two of the summer solstice or first day of summer.  Because of the early spring the rose is blooming about three weeks early.

Juhannusrussuu/Midsummer Rose

The Koskela Farm was carved out of the wilderness in Brantwood, Wisconsin, in 1902 by Peter Koskela, an immigrant from Finland.  Now, over a century later, Leipajuusto is being produced from the raw milk of Holstein cows grazing on the same pastures that Koskela created.  The cheese is made by hand the old-fashioned way.  This organic cheese contains no growth hormones or preservatives.

Leipajuusto is a mild, low sodium, buttery-flavored, flat, squeaky cheese which has been made in Finland for centuries.  Leipa is Finnish for bread and Juusto is Finnish for cheese.  It is also known as Finnish Squeaky Cheese.  The cheese is baked to create a sweet caramelized, toasted crust similar to brown bread.  It is served warm or cold.  The cheese is a favorite in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  Many Finns drop a cube of the cheese in their coffee to heat it.  The cheese can be warmed in an oven or microwave and served for breakfast or dessert with jam, honey or syrup.  It is great as an appetizer–warm or cold.

The public welcome to stop by and taste a free sample of Koskela Farm Leipajuusto.  By appointment only.

The Koskela Farm is located in Brantwood, the center of Finnish settlement once known as Uusi Savo, in north central Wisconsin.

Leipajuusto

The Koskela House Finnish Museum at Brantwood, Wisconsin, has acquired this Finnish wood carving of a blacksmith.  Note the puuko knife at his side.  Another great addition to the museum’s folk art collection.

Blacksmith Wood Carving

Italian Auction…in Finnish…Priceless!

italian_auction

The Koskela House Finnish Museum at Brantwood, Wisconsin, has acquired this Finnish wood carving of a savusauna (smoke sauna).

Savusauna

I have returned from a trip to Finlandia University and the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock, Michigan.  While there I viewed their only original oil painting by the Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931).

Akseli Gallen-Kallela

New residents have moved into the Koskela House Finnish Museum at Brantwood, Wisconsin.  Eastern Phoebes have built their nest of moss under the front eave.

Eastern Phoebe Nest

The opening reception for the Finnish Folk Art exhibit at the Koskela House Finnish Museum at Brantwood, on June 20th, was a huge success.  Susie, one of the attendants, wrote:

“What a fun time we had yesterday at your ‘event’ - we all enjoyed the exhibit, the visiting, the food and of course, the music.  Finn Power is sooo special and we are truly blessed to have them in the area.  We sure lucked out with the weather!!”

Thank you, Susie, it is always nice to hear such compliments.

Susie admiring a piece of Finnish Folk Art

Mr. James N. Kurtti, Editor, The Finnish American Reporter, was the guest speaker at the 30th Anniversary of the Central Wisconsin Finnish American Club held at the Palmquist Farm in Brantwood, on Sunday, June 7th.  Sitting in the background is Judy Korpela Schoch.

James N. Kurtti