30 years ago

NEGAUNEE – You don’t often hear “Silent Night” sung in English, Swedish and Finnish simultaneously. And most folks don’t get to see St. Lucia pass around the saffron bread. Both holiday happenings were part of the recent “Pikku Joulu” (“Little Christmas” in Finnish) celebration at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Negaunee. Conducted annually by the church’s Finnish-speaking Mary Circle, the event featured a presentation about Christmas in Sweden by retired Lutheran minister Robert Sutherland. Special guest St. Lucia was actually Jonelle Collins, an Immanuel member. While St. Lucia usually wears a crown of lighted candles, Collins’ headpiece featured the electric variety. “It’s a lot safer. I don’t have to worry about the flames,” she said as she passed saffron bread to the 80 people in attendance. The host Mary Circle was formed at the church as a sewing group in the late 1930s by the pastor’s wife, Effie Leppaluto, who attended this year’s celebration. The circle evolved to become a service and social organization for the Finnish-speaking women of the congregation. All Mary Circle business is still conducted in Finnish. The circle members invited Matt and Hilda Koski of Negaunee to sing a Finnish duet from their childhood, and enjoyed a solo by Darley Kemppainen of Ishpeming. The afternoon rekindled Christmas memories for everyone.

90 years ago

MARQUETTE – The Marquette Woman’s Club held its annual Christmas party Wednesday afternoon, in the Federated Women’s Club. The sunshine committee of which Mrs. E.R. Tauch is chairman had charge of the festivities. There was singing of Christmas carols and recitation of Christmas poems. The club made a generous response to the toy shower, the gifts of which were distributed between the Marquette Family Welfare society and the Michigan Children’s Aid society to be given to their families in town. Mrs. W. F. Morgan, president of the club, was presented with a handsome traveling bag in appreciation of her work as district president. The club members also brought Christmas remembrances for the elderly men and women at the infirmary; and made favors for the trays at Morgan Heights. Thirty women employed on the sewing project, their supervisor, Mrs. Emma Rouse, and Miss Augusta Primeau, were gests of honor at the club’s Christmas party. The tea table was in holiday array with its centerpiece of a Santa Claus on skiis, silver reindeer and gay red candles.