Swedes of Greater Worcester

By the late nineteenth century, Swedish immigrants began arriving by the thousands in New England, attracted by the area's heavy industry. In particular, the steel and ceramic shops of Worcester provided a livelihood for many of them. As a result, new areas of Swedish settlements developed throughout the surrounding towns.
Swedes of Greater Worcester captures the area's Swedish heritage through a collection of images that displays everything from vintage weddings to ski-jumping events and stories known only by the families of the Swedes who first traveled to Worcester. These images represent a time when the Swedish element was a vital and vibrant part of the identity of the greater Worcester area.

Eric J. Salomonsson, William O. Hultgren, and Philip C. Becker are all active members of the local Swedish-American community. Salomonsson is a member of the Swedish National Federation, the Swedish Cemetery Corporation, Nordic Lodge No. 611, and a founding member of Nordic Heritage Trust. Hultgren is a member of the Charlton Historical Society and a founding member of Nordic Heritage Trust. He previously authored a history of Charlton, Massachusetts, through Arcadia Publishing. Becker is a member of Nordic Lodge No. 611 of the Vasa Order of America. He is also the Massachusetts district historian for the order. The authors hope this book will help to maintain and preserve the local Swedish culture.