In 1870, Swedish settlers flocked to far northern Maine to farm – creating a unique colony where the Swedish language still is spoken in the 21st century. But the few who speak Swedish are dwindling, and the language will die out with the thirty or so older residents who still speak Swedish today. This film captures life as it was during this fascinating chapter of Maine history.

Old Maine Swedish Farms features six residents of Maine’s Swedish Colony recounting their stories in Swedish of growing up on farms in the area while they are left to tell their tales.

From the April Fool’s Day jokes they played to the sadness they express over the disappearance of their farms, this film captures the lives of the Colony’s Swedish speakers during this fascinating chapter of Maine history. Interviews areconducted in Swedish by Scandinavian scholar, Dan Olson. Subtitles for the interviews are provided in English, while the beauty of the numerous dialects spoken by the last of the Swedish speakers are featured on the sound track.

Old Maine’s Swedish Farms was produced by Brenda Nasberg Jepson of Crown of Maine Productions.

Purchase an Old Maine’s Swedish Farms DVD

[Old Maine’s Swedish Farms originally aired on MPBN Community Films April 30, 2011.]