Finnish library makes the move to Naselle

, 2009

On February 13, the Appelo Archive Center in Naselle became the recipient of the Finnish American Historical Society (FAHSW) of the West’s library formerly housed in the Finnish Room at Portland State University.

FAHSW members Bob Waine and Merle Reinikka delivered the collection of 451 books and periodicals to Archive Director Karen Bertroch, Librarian Steve Puddicombe and local author and staff member Donna Klint.

The FAHSW library had been established in 1984 in PSU’s Finnish Room, but recent renovation of the room mandated that there would be little space for the collection in that facility, so it was removed in October 2008 and held in storage until its delivery to the Appelo Archive Center. The collection consists, in large part, of books and periodicals, old and new, published in the Finnish language. Subject matter is varied, ranging in interest from immigrant, religious, genealogical and political history – to modern novels and travel in Finland. About one-fourth of the collection is published in English, containing many books about the Finnish American experience.

The entire collection had been donated to the FAHSW over the years by individual members.

The Appelo Archive Center, operated by the Wahkiakum Community Foundation, officially opened the new C.A. and Agnes Appelo Memorial Library on February 1. Located on the second floor of the Appelo Plaza in Naselle, the new library showcases over 1,000 books collected by members of the Appelo family for over 60 years. This collection, now enlarged by the FAHSW publications, is available to the public to be used for research and browsing.

The library is located behind the Archive Center’s main room, which is being developed into a display area as a local museum for the communities from Grays River through Naselle.

The library is named for C.A. and Agnes Appelo who operated stores in several locations for decades. C.A. and his son Carlton, were instrumental in bringing telephone service to the area, and Carlton remains active with Wahkiakum West, the telephone company established by the Appelo family.

Agnes worked in the stores and regularly traveled in the logging trains to sell goods to the women in the camps. She visited each house and shared news with the women who lived in the camp houses, while taking orders for the next delivery. Her well-known basket is on display at the Center. Agnes was an avid reader who collected books all her life and Carlton has also collected books on history and civics for most of his 87 years.

A desk has been set up in the library area for accessing Ancestry.com for folks to research their family histories. A full section with Finnish language books is also set up in a conference room that is available to community groups for meetings.