Day 6: Photo Time!

I began taking pictures of the Swedish sites today with the help of my co-intern Kate. We stayed local, only along N. Clark and Foster. Many of the sites, such as Cafe Idrott and the Calo Theater, were converted to completely different businesses. Sadly, a couple of them were closing (Lyman Trumbull Elementary School and Nelson's Funeral Home). Others, such as Ann Sathers and the Swedish Bakery, were taken over by non-Swedes who upheld the Swedish heritage of their businesses successfully. Several sites are still owned by Swedish-Americans, who display their heritage proudly. Take, for example, Simon's Tavern and the Svea Restaurant, which are both owned by the same family. Each one is adorned with photographs and other artwork depicting the history of Andersonville's residents. Svea had more Swedish paraphernalia, but the structure of Simon's Tavern was more fascinating. Outside is a blue and yellow neon sign with a herring holding a martini glass (pickled herring is a Swedish delicacy). A stained glass depiction of this fish mirroring each other can be found inside. Also inside was a mural depicting a hunting scene. The bartender explained that in the early twentieth century, many of the people in the are went hunting up north. To add a more historical touch to the tavern, the artist spent seven years painting this lovely mural that spans the entire tavern.

Simon's Tavern has been around since the 1920s. At first it had been intended to be a cafe; it was the Prohibition after all. However, at some point, Simon Lundberg was encouraged to add a little alcohol into the menu, turning it into a speakeasy. The bartender explained that during the Great Depression, Simon's also maintained a functioning "bank," which is still present today. Looking inside the small window, one can see a trapdoor in the ceiling. Simon's wife used a bell-pull through this door to transfer money from above the tavern, where they lived. In this way, they cashed in checks on the spot. Simon's is also one of the few places that has alcoholic Glogg, a spicy punch that includes raisins and orange zest.

This is Glogg. 

I will begin adding the new pictures to the titles and descriptions of the Swedish sites while I continue to visit them. I realized today that it would be beneficial for me to contact these institutions earlier to see if I could take pictures on the interior of the buildings as well as the outside. Perhaps talking with the owners or associates would help provide information not found through published research, as was the case at Simon's Tavern. In addition, if the owners happened to be Swedish, they could be interviewed for the Oral History Project.



Update: I found a great video of Scott Martin, the current owner of Simon's, telling a scary ghost story connected to the bar and the Lundberg family.