Sovinto Hall in Ashtabula

Sovinto Hall was built in 1897, and was then the largest wooden structure in Ohio. It was first used to house a temperance society, and then became a cultural and recreational center for first-and-second generation Finns. By the 1960’s, membership had dwindled to such an extent that it was no longer feasible to maintain the structure and it was demonlished by the city in 1961.

This image shows the original Sovinto Hall and the current cabin that was built on the same site.

Sovinto Male Chorus 1934

1st Row
Martin Hakala, Chas. Bewler, Onni Mackey, Kaarlo Mackey (Director) Milton Jordan, Paul Hakala, Carl Borklund,

2nd Row
Bill Tienvieri, Ed Taano, Duffy Haytcher, Laurence Miller, Nat Lehtinen, Jerry Niemi, Emil Koski, Jack Mackey,
Babe Narhi

3rd Row
Marvin Taano, Arvo Klemola, Heimo Lehtinen, Paul Parnell, Jalmer Kantar, Melvin Klemola, Emil Pakkala, Carl Herlevi, Jake Maunus

4th Row
Milton Lundi, John Haytcher, Evald Lundi, Ray Koski, Melvin Pokky, Vaino Jokilehto, Hugo Mackey, Albert Herlevi

SOVINTO MEN’S CHORUS, traveled extensively in the northeastern Ohio area during its heydey. The choir remained active up to WWII and then formed the Town Choir after the war to include other nationalities with Kaarlo Mackey as its director before and after the war. Mr. Mackey, who died in 1967, was the brother of the principal speaker at the 100th anniversary celebration, Wayne Mak, a Cleveland radio personality.

Humina Band Program

January 4, 1914 band performance program printed on a post card.

Photograph was taken in the early 1900’s. The band was a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 107. Founded in 1896 the A.F. of M. still exists today.

Humina Band from Ashtabula Harbor

HUMINA BAND as it was pictured in the early 1920s with Teppo Jalkanen as its director and Tynne Wallo as soloist. The Humina Band presented concerts in many states and areas of Ohio and became one of the Finnish people’s greatest displays of talent and ability. It became known as the greatest band in the city and northeastern Ohio. One of the trips carried the band to Finland and another was to the Tercentary Day festival near Wilmington, Delaware. in 1938. (that was the 300th anniversary of the Finns arrival in America)

Humina Band in 1925

Humina Band on tour in Lahti, Finland

This back of this photo was signed by some of the members including: Director: George Einar Wahlstrom Lauri Koykka, Veli Tuominen, Edwin Laatu, E. H. Kajander, Veino Mackey, Kaarlo Mackey, E. Kamppinen, Oscar Japilehti, Andrew Haapala, Herb Gray, Kaarlo V. Kalervo, P. Geadain, Elmer Ladvola, Waino W. Ranka, Pellervo Kangas “Pell”, H. Kippola, Ellis Haapala, Einar Hilstrom, Victor Siimes, A.K. Peterson, M. Farman, Fred Jylha, Evert Johansson, E. Luoma, William Nordman, Maanus, Walt Sorrari, William Niskanen, John Nevaupera, Edwin T. Karhu, E. Karbacka, Aura Koykka, Laura J. Topky, Vera Turrs Naytta, Matthew E. Kippola, Wiljo Uttonen, and Elis Rosted

The Humina Band was organized April 18, 1894, and in 1900 it affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians. Tahti (Star), a small band organized in December, 1900, merged with Humina late in 1902. Of Humina’s many conductor’s (the first was a non-Finn), two names stand out: J.F. Jacobson and George Wahlstrom. Short-term leaders included John Ronnberg, Emil Rasanen, and Victor Taipale. J.F. Jacobson, born in Finland in 1872, received his training in the Battalion Band and in a Russian naval band. He immigrated to America in 1895 and joined Humina as its conductor in April 1897, a post he held, with several short interruptions for several decades. Both as an excellent teacher and conductor, he became the first major builder of the band, raising it to national prominence.

Elevating Humina to even greater heights was the achievement of George Wahlstrom. Born in Helsinki in 1883, he also received schooling in a military band-the Uusimaa Battlalion Band. He came to the U.S. in 1902. His career in the New World, as the following capsule biographic sketch indicates, was as distinguished as that of any immigrant musician. First settling in Maynard, Massachusetts, which gave him widespread fame. In 1905 he became conductor of the Monessen Louhi Band, the Conneaut Pohjan Aalto Band in 1906; the Calumet, Michigan Humu Band in 1907; the renowned Red Lodge, Montana, Military Band in 1909. In 1910 he went to Berlin for additional study. In 1911 he conducted the Ishpeming, Michigan band and directed the well-known Calumet, Michigan, Sointu Mixed Chorus; he then traveled widely with carnival bands. In 1915 he once again took over leadership of the Monessen Louhi Band, and reached a peak of great activity as teacher, conductor, and leader of numerous concert tours, including one to New York City in July, 1918, and to Finland in 1920. In 1922 he came to Ashtabula harbor to direct Humina. While greatly strengthening the already famous band, Wahlstrom also became interested in public school music, becoming instructor in the Ashtabula Harbor schools. The Harbor High School Band became in effect the child of Humina. In 1927 the Humina Band made a successful tour of Finland. Among the listeners were the President of the Republic and the composer Jean Sibelius and his wife. At the age of fifty-three, Wahlstrom passed away August 26, 1930. Later a new Wahlstrom Band Room was dedicated in the high school. As the foregoing sketch reveals. Wahlstrom’s influence was not merely focused on two great bands, Humina and Louhi, but it spread from New England to Montana. Indeed, his name and his musical organizations were known throughout the immigrant world and in the Old Country as well.
– –Linda Riddell

Early Members of the Kaleva Ladies
C. 1911 – 1940s

These signatures are in a membership book, with addresses. For More Information: contact Linda Riddell.

Senia Koykka
Alma Marie Brant
Sandra Hamalainen
Jenny Makynen
Sophia Ronberg
Josefina Mansikka
Allilisa Lehtinen
Eena Kava
Jenny Korkatti
Hilda Branny
Ylilta Niemi
Hilda S. Ronnberg
Senia Lysia Syvajarvi
Sofia Hukari
Emilia Ollila
Hilma Farman
Sigrid Salgen
Ida Lindell
Ida Keramaki Ollila
Josefina Haapala
Tekla Nurmi
Ida Alvari
Ida Narhi
Lydia Johanson [Johnson]
Aina Lehtinen
Eufasyne Raisanen
Maria Sadell
Ida J. Aronen
Hilma Wuori
Helmi Juhola
Ida Lindell Haapala
Sanna Asunmaa
Maria Lofgen
Sanni W. Klemola
Attilia Lahnanen
Elma Mursunen
Aino Makinen
Maria Klemola
Sofia Hakola
Eufemia Rinto
Aino Mellin
Sanna Maunus
Olga Maittala
Wilhelmiina Kuivinen
Katriina Stenroos
Ella Aho
Mari Sarell
Emilia Salgen
Mari Lampela
Lisi Lindberg
Sanna Ylitalo
Maria Kautiainen
Sandra Tiitto
Lempi Larson
Wera Mateson
Ida Pasanen
Telee Kaippaanen
Impi M. Sahlstein
Senja Peura
Senja Herttua
Hilma Rintala
Sophie Koykka
Hilda Lydia Kotila
Hilma Wahlstrom

Kaleva Ladies of Ashtabula Harbor Tupa

This photograph was gifted through the Bollman-Koykka Estate

Kaleva Kodissa K.R. Lemmin Maja
No. 34, 341 Lake Ave., Ashtabula, OH

Their lodge was in the harbor that conducted meetings at an old Episcopal Church, still standing. It was in use for the Kaleva people, men and women for 33 years. They disbanded in 1976. A small Kaleva Park still exists in Saybrook Twp. on the lake. Their are a few cottages on that drive, and is near the Ashtabula Elks Club.

If anyone is interested in viewing the book to please contact Linda Sippola Riddell Ashtabula/or call at 440-964-2519. The book has addresses and the year they joined as well as their signatures.
Ida J. Koykka in back on left hand side, Aune Luoma in front and center.

Picture – c. 1938 The signature book has these names in it at that time.

Aino Lydia Walli Lehtinen
Mary Aho
Lillian Lintala
Anna Aliina Pohjola
Amanda Edixon Nokari
Minnie S. Kaura
Carmen Mackey
Helia Orqvist
Hilda Laine Ingers
Hilma Hill Lehtimaki
Ida Lahti
Johanna Parkomaki
Jennie K. Hakala
Fanni J. Minken
Ellen A. Pohjola
Siiri Myllamaki
Minnie Hietikko
Aili Lehtimaki Ida J. Koykka
Sigrid Ronberg
Hanna Koski
Josephine Kallstrom
Sanna Jokilehto
Ida Marie Karsikas
Anna Wuorimaki
Fanny Syvaluoma
Olga Ritari
Hilma Sofia Renko
Jenny Sillantaus
Ida M. Huskonen
Hilda Masalin
Tynne E. Rauhala
Hilma M. Polkki
Senia Talikka
Sylvia K. Farman
Sylvia F. Sinkkonen
Lilja Lehtimaki
Eva Into
Hellevi Nurkka
Eeva Roivas
Vera J. Airaksinen
Tellervo Sebell
Laina Smith
*1950’s
Jenny Vasti
Ingrid M. Kihlstrom
Jenny M. Vasti
Olga M. Mankinen
Aune Salo
Julia Airaksinen
Lempi Lamberg
Kaija Pesonen
Tuula Luoma
Martha Sinkkonen
Senia J. Jarvi

Finnish Dock Workers 1938

EARLY ASHTABULA: Harbor dock workers were a sturdy lot. Most of the early arrivals had settled in the harbor area working at the docks and boats that plied Lake Erie. It was said that lakefront activity was revived in the coal and iron ore industry with the influx of Finns. Many of the Finns who came here from their mother country wanted to make money before returning to their homeland, but most of them stayed on.

Men of Bethany 1920

Kaleva Hall Building

Photo taken May 8, 2009

Originally an Episcopal church the old Kaleva Hall is located at 431 Lake Ave., Ashtabula, Ohio

Kaleva lapel pin or button c.1935 Ashtabula, Ohio