Finnish Churches in North America - MississippiLast modified . |
Kreole-Pecan - Suomi Synod - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Swartwaut [sic!], Near New Orleans, had about 60 Finnish inhabitants in 1903. The
church was started by pastor A. Riippa Oct 1, 1903. The first Finns arrived in 1900. The
German stationmaster Taylor promised land if they built a church on the property. Pastor
A. Haapanen visited the place in 1910. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Gideon Laine was the first Finlander to come to Swartwout, later renamed
Pecan." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "Giedon Laine was the first to come from Finland ... Laine went just west of Pecan
and founded a new church for the Finlanders to worship, and the community was named for
him." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ""The father, Sami Siurua, was one of the founders of the Finnish Lutheran
Church in Kreole in 1903. This church's membership consisted of residents of Pecan and
Kreole, where a substantial number of Finns had settled. Suomi Synod, the Finnish Lutheran
Synod headquartered in Hancock, MI, sent Pastors annually to Kreole to conduct services
and hold confirmation classes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - "A colony of Finlanders settled at Pecan approximately 1900. They held church in
Pecan school house until 1905 a mission church was established. Gideon Lane, one of the
colony, donated the land at Kreole. The founder was Riipa." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Archival Sources: |