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Vasa
Children's Home was also a school that taught its residents and nearby families in English and Swedish. Norelius taught four months of summer school starting in 1856. Augusta Carlson is listed as a teacher at Vasa Children's home in 1909. She was born in Minnesota to Swedish immigrants and died
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Despite tragedy, the orphanage and farm continued to find success. By 1876 Vasa
Children's Home was known as "a conference institution" and a source of pride for the village of Vasa and the regional Swedish Lutheran churches incorporated as the Minnesota Conference. A 1,400 ft barn and concrete
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who was known as "Aunt Brita" to her wards, cared for the children from 1865 to 1869. The community was poor and the operation was not well funded, so the staff and children frequently went hungry. Church members provided childcare, funds, and material goods. Residents observed morning and evening
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eventually moved away from the congregate disability home model between 2014 and 2016, which saw children and adults in their care moved primarily to private homes for more individualized services. Thus, Vasa
Children's Home was closed and the organization sold the property to private residential
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Need outgrew the church basement and
Norelius purchased ten acres near the church for the home's expansion for $ 150. A hasty small building typical of pioneer architecture described by Norelius as "a simple hut, yet warm" and as a "shanty" by a later surveyor dedicated to the care of orphans was
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In 2017 the privately owned and residentially-zoned 1899 building in Welch was slated to become a wedding and event venue. Again in 2017, Colleen and Steve Jensen purchased the home as a personal residence and business location. Their antique store Hoopla Junk now occupies the renovated barn.
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About the historical significance of the location, they expressed gratitude on their
Facebook page for the patrons who told them stories of when the home was still in operation. "We have had so many wonderful community members share their personal stories of Vasa Children's Home. We love our
519:. Graphic Arts Design and Engraving: Heathcote Mann. Four-color Process Halftones: Blomgren Brothers & Co. Cover and Title Page Designs: William G. Olson John L. Ellingboe. Foreward: Petrus Olof Bersell. United States of America: Augustana Book Concern. pp. 102–104.
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in 1851, which made a large swathe of what is today western and southern
Minnesota US land, including the future site of Vasa. While there had already been rapid growth in European settlement of the area largely against Dakota wishes, as US leaders pushed the
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in Vasa June 11, 1913. Her parents and five siblings attended the church as members. In 1910 Hortense
Bodelson served as principal and the 5th through 8th grade teacher. Grades 1 through 8 were offered in general and Lutheran education, with two months of
102:, the 1851 treaty further encouraged the wave. Between 1854 and 1880, Vasa grew beyond the original 10 families and the greater Goodhue County recorded more than 4,300 residents. During the 1800s, 19 buildings were built in the village center.
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as the Vasa
Historical District. It is the best preserved early Swedish settlement in Minnesota with architecture representative of the era, from which Swedish-descent Americans in Minnesota continue to draw cultural imagery.
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In 1954, the home's focus shifted from housing orphaned or neglected children to caring for children and adults with disabilities. Over 1,000 orphaned children had lived in the home prior to the shift to disability services.
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grain silo were erected in 1900 as well as several agricultural sheds in the years up until 1920. Far from its humble beginnings, the newest building had 1,700 square feet available, with 10 bedrooms, and several bathrooms.
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Eventually the school outgrew the orphanage, which at times housed 80 children, so a school building was constructed onsite. Resident children regularly attended the nearby Vasa
Lutheran Church as part of their education.
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and Vasa were quickly growing congregations in need of a minister, so
Norelius incorporated Swedish Lutheran Congregation in 1855. It later became known as Vasa Lutheran Church, and today Vasa Evangelical Lutheran Church.
86:, the first European to settle the area in 1853, who later encouraged many Swedish families to join him. When the number of Swedish immigrants grew large enough, it was renamed Vasa village after the local church.
41:. After 151 years of operation the home itself closed in 2016, though Lutheran Social Service continues to serve the same populations as one of the largest non-profit social services providers in the state.
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of 1923 as "a gift to the children." Construction began 21 April 1926 with Lutheran blessing rites from the Minnesota Conference vice president Dr. C. J. Sodergren and the cornerstone was laid by visiting
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304:. Over 1,000 people attended the groundbreaking ceremony. The new home officially opened 16 October 1926 with a second highly attended event and housed 50 children and resident staff.
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led the Vasa Lutheran Church from March 1906 and served as the president of the Vasa Children's Home board of directors during his tenure. He immigrated from the area of
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The home was entirely rebuilt after a tornado demolished it 2 July 1879 in which four children died, and again after a fire caused by a resident child 16 January 1899.
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in 1856. These first residents were recent immigrants whose parents Mikola and Anna Erikson had died of illness shortly upon arrival in the United States.
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The Vasa Children's Home began in one room of the basement of Vasa Lutheran Church in what was then Vasa village, today the city of Welch, when Reverend
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237:, who was first elected in 1881, served as a trustee for 12 years. Johnson immigrated from Sweden in 1858 at 18 years old and enlisted in the
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built. The remaining land was used for farming. This was the first orphanage constructed in Minnesota. Caroline Magny headed the home.
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253:. He returned to local business and social ventures including Vasa Children's Home when honorably discharged in 1865 at 28 years old.
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The fifth and last building, built in 1973, housed children and young adults with disabilities between the ages of 7 and 22.
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route until the 1950s when core businesses closed and growth became stagnant. Today the area is known as the city of
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in 1895 he led several midwestern congregations before settling in Goodhue County to lead Vasa Lutheran Church.
78:. When European settlers first arrived to claim land the community was referred to as the Mattson Settlement in
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292:, in 1926. Between sixty and seventy children were housed at the Vasa Children's Home during the early 1900s.
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Vasa Lutheran Church and later Vasa Children's Home were in what was then the village of Vasa, so named after
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Prof. and Mrs. A. P. Anderson of Burnside donated 400 acres of farmland for the new orphanage location on
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A promotional photograph of the agricultural buildings on the site of the former orphanage taken in 2008.
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In 1876, Norelius transferred supervision of the home to the Board of the Society of Mercy, part of the
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Vasa prospered agriculturally and was notable for hosting a US post office on the original Minnesota
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Eric Norelius immigrated to the United States in 1850 and after completing a course of study at
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640:"Goodhue County Assessor DOC#644097 NE1/4 OF SW1/4 OF NW1/4 SEC 15-112-16 ID# 42-0000-13700"
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A promotional photograph of the landscape surrounding the former orphanage taken in 2008.
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The fourth building of the Vasa Children's Home near what is now Welch, Minnesota, 1907.
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and the site of the original village, including the church and orphanage, is on the
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The fourth building of the Vasa Children's Home in Welch, Minnesota, taken in 2008.
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God Gave the Growth: The Story of the Lutheran Minnesota Conference 1876-1958
245:, for which he received commendation from Sibley for his involvement in the
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661:"Minnesota Historical Society Death Certificate Index: 1913-MN-004580"
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in 1926 residents attended the local Burnside Consolidated School.
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747:"Welch wedding barn approved: Goodhue County Board brief"
682:"Minnesota Historical Society State Census Index: 864172"
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community and want to embrace the history of our home."
709:. Minneapolis: T.S. Denison & Company. p. 234.
230:, in order to focus on his growing missionary efforts.
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Gustavus Adolphus College and Lutheran Church Archives
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Olson, Oscar Nils; Wickstrom, George W., eds. (1948).
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Buildings and structures in Goodhue County, Minnesota
598:"Full text of 'History of Goodhue County, Minnesota'"
546:"Social Welfare History Project Vasa Children's Home"
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was ordained by the Swedish Lutheran Church in 1855.
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538:
536:
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516:A century of life and growth: Augustana, 1848-1948
418:"A Single Gesture that Grew into a Shared Purpose"
568:"History of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota"
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166:Britta Nelson, a Christian school teacher from
147:Illustration of the first Vasa Children's Home.
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492:"Vasa Ev. Lutheran Church, Vasa Minnesota"
171:Lutheran devotions and attended services.
284:The home relocated to its fourth site in
51:Vasa Township, Goodhue County, Minnesota
790:"Dec 7, 2021 Hoopla Junk Facebook post"
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302:Crown Prince Gustaf Adolph VI of Sweden
155:elected to become the guardian of four
826:Collection of the Vasa Children's Home
268:and later its theological seminary in
115:National Register of Historical Places
71:, who ruled Sweden from 1523 to 1560.
828:is available for research use at the
439:"Wahpekute Territory, Native-Land.ca"
89:The United States government and the
74:The region was home to the Wahpekute
37:in 1865 and evolved into what is now
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820:Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
355:Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
326:Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
39:Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
619:"Our History, Vasa Lutheran Church"
159:Swedish children during a visit to
274:Swedish Lutheran Church of America
14:
239:8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry
888:Orphanages in the United States
389:"Historic Vasa Children's Home"
1:
288:, six miles west of downtown
95:Treaty of Traverse des Sioux
878:Historic sites in Minnesota
264:in 1882 and graduated from
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721:"LSS Vasa Children's Home"
272:. After ordination in the
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360:Swedish Americans#Midwest
233:Former Minnesota senator
80:Goodhue County, Minnesota
55:Goodhue County, Minnesota
893:Lutheranism in Minnesota
769:"Our Story, Hoopla Junk"
705:Johnson, Emeroy (1958).
210:When the home moved to
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280:Relocation to Burnside
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854:44.56694°N 92.63528°W
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270:Rock Island, Illinois
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27:. It was founded by
23:in the U.S. state of
463:"History of Vasa MN"
224:Minnesota Conference
168:Stockholm, Wisconsin
122:Vasa Lutheran Church
17:Vasa Children's Home
859:44.56694; -92.63528
850: /
290:Red Wing, Minnesota
286:Burnside, Minnesota
218:Changing leadership
212:Burnside, Minnesota
161:St. Paul, Minnesota
107:Rural Free Delivery
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256:Lutheran Reverend
251:American Civil War
247:Dakota War of 1862
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128:Capital University
100:Westward Expansion
91:Upper Dakota Sioux
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494:. 16 January 2015
266:Augustana College
262:Stockholm, Sweden
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111:Welch, Minnesota
69:King Gustav Vasa
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799:. Retrieved
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801:23 February
774:23 February
753:23 February
687:23 February
666:23 February
645:23 February
603:23 February
498:23 February
473:23 February
423:23 February
93:signed the
872:Categories
731:13 January
573:13 January
399:13 January
366:References
312:Modern era
49:See also:
32:missionary
845:92°38′7″W
842:44°34′1″N
194:Education
139:Inception
25:Minnesota
21:orphanage
795:Facebook
349:See also
329:buyers.
249:and the
157:orphaned
132:Red Wing
552:1 March
525:1363155
444:22 July
226:of the
45:History
29:Swedish
624:2 July
523:
82:after
824:The
803:2023
776:2023
755:2023
733:2012
689:2023
668:2023
647:2023
626:2023
605:2023
575:2012
554:2023
521:OCLC
500:2023
475:2023
446:2023
425:2023
401:2012
53:and
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