A Newspaper Clipping from March, 1940

In the previous post to this blog is a reference to a post card mesage sent home from a trip made by Linnea Gord in 1937 by train to San Francisco. One reason for her trip was to visit a heritage group in Eureka, California, so the post card was one of a group that included scenes of the Coit Tower and the California Redwoods. The trip raised interest in Eureka in participation in an Excursion to Finland the following year. The purpose of the Runeberg lodges was to maintain Swedish-Finnish Culture, specifically folk songs performed as choral music.

Linnea Gord traveled with the Swedish-Finnish Runeberg Chorus to Finland and to Sweden in 1930 as the piano accompanist, and in 1938 she traveled on the Excursion. In 1938 her family dance band performed on their ship to Finland as the Suomi Band.

This clipping in 1940 tells about Runeberg choruses joining to sing for Finnish Relief during the Winter War in Finland. The Winter War occurred when Finland was invaded by the Soviet Union when Stalin and Hitler were in alliance in the late 1939 invasions throughout Europe. This Relief Concert was held at the Normanna Hall in Tacoma.

March 31, 1940

CHORUSES WILL UNITE TO AID FINNISH RELIEF

Runeberg choruses of Tacoma and Olympia and the Normanna male chorus will join forces Sunday afternoon for a benefit concert at Normanna Hall, all proceeds to be presented to the Finnish relief committee.

The concert, announced for 3 o'clock, will present Maxine Johnson, violinest, and Vivian Peltier, soprano, as soloists, and Dr. Oscar A. Tinglestad of Pacific Lutheran college will give a short talk.

Songs to be given by the Runeberg choruses, whose directors are Mrs. Ralph Carlson, Olumpia, and Miss Linnea Gord of Tacoma, follow: "Alvens vagor," Madetoja, "Bjorneborgarnes marsch" and "Kallan," Lagercrantz, directed by Miss Gord, and "Lost Chord," Sullivan-Parks, "Pilgrim's Chorus," Wagner, and "Goin' Home" Dvorak, directed by Mrs. Carlson.

The Normanna Male Chorus, directed by George Johnson, will sing "Gud Signe Vart Dyre Fedraland," Wayse; "Stridsbon," Lindblad; "Suomis Sang" Pacius, and "Dear Land of Home," Sibelius.

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