In this week’s update: Last 6% of donations or pledges for Pavilion renovations needed by THIS Saturday, Svensk Hyllningsfest turnout, Upcoming genealogy workshops, and more!
In this update, keep up to date on what staff and volunteers at the Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum are working on to lift up the history of Lindsborg and the surrounding region. This weekly update both looks back at what happened and looks ahead at what’s coming.
For October 13-19, 2025:
- Last week, we received new contributions or commitments to the “Raise the Roof” portion of the 1904 Swedish Pavilion repairs fundraising campaign that now put us at 94% of the tax credits grant used and remaining donation capacity of $14,539.75.
Tax credits are still available for the 2025 tax year for donations under this campaign, BUT we recently received notification from the Department of Commerce that in November they will begin reallocating funds away from organizations that have not yet fully used their tax credits. This means that we need to present the department with at least written commitments or pledges totaling the remaining donation capacity by THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25 or we risk losing the opportunity to offer tax credits to those donating to the Swedish Pavilion renovations.
Proceeds go to help with a new planned Pavilion roof that will be more durable and with a more historically accurate look! There are also opportunities to have a “roof tile” with custom wording added to a permanent honor wall to recognize contributions to replace the roof! Details are at the link below. The total contributed to the new roof is now more than $74,500. Eligible donations may qualify for a 70% fully refundable tax credit on Kansas taxes. Current pledges and received donations under the tax credits grant are $226,001.40.
Learn more at www.oldmillmuseum.org/raise-the-roof.
- Our thanks to everyone who helped the Svensk Hyllningsfest celebration on October 17 and 18 be a huge success for us! We had about 400 visitors to the museum, bringing in several thousand dollars of income. Also:
-Saturday was the inaugural Svensk Hyllningsfest Kubb Tournament on Heritage Square on Saturday! The organizers had seven participating teams.
-Our collections manager Lenora Lynam presented a Swedish Genealogy Workshop both days in the Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School (SVVCS) downtown. Between the two days, 65 people attended and learned more about genealogy research and services offered by the museum.
-Tom Holmquist presented a brief history of the Old Mill at SVVCS on Friday.
-Folkdanslag Swedish Dancers invited the public to dance on Heritage Square on Saturday around the Midsummer’s Pole.-For the first time, we had a booth at the “Bondemarknad” (farmers market) both days of the festival.
-During the Grand Parade on Saturday, we had two parade entries related to the museum – one highlighting the many images and films available in the Historic Image Database and one being the return of a nearly 40-year-old historic float in the “Lutefisk” miniature boat – originally dating to the late 1980s. Check out these related pictures and video! You can also watch Smoky Valley Historical Association video of “Lutfisk” in the parade.
- The next daylong Online Swedish Genealogy Workshop on Saturday, November 8 is open and available for registrations! Also, we are excited to be opening registration for the first “Discover Your Past” Virtual Genealogy Workshop, set for Saturday, January 31, 2026!
Rather than the usual focus on Swedish genealogy research resources, this time the sessions will be able to apply to any genealogy or family research, regardless of country background! Museum members can register with a $20 discount. We hope you can join us!
- Much of the staff work last week was related to Svensk Hyllningsfest. Adam worked on final logistics related to the parade entry, sent an email invite to members encouraging them to attend Hyllningsfest, prepared price cards and signs for the museum and Farmers Market booth, and made extra copies of coloring pages and guide maps for the crowds. Lenora gave workshops and covered the Farmers Market table downtown. Aubrey covered checking in guests in the museum and running errands between the museum and downtown.
- On Friday, Adam gave an Old Mill tour to a Clay Center homeschool group.
- We will be hosting the McPherson County Chamber Connections meeting on October 30 in the Swedish Pavilion.
- Staff met with our grant writer contractor to review upcoming grants.
- Aubrey met with Pestinger about converting several interior outlets to exterior as a part of some renovations to the main museum building.
- Aubrey worked on two upcoming grants.
- Tyler continued working on scanning historic publications.
- Staff held their weekly team meeting on Tuesday.
- Lenora presented to a P.E.O. Sisterhood chapter about the history of Svensk Hyllningsfest on Monday, October 13.
- Lenora submitted a grant application to the Smoky Valley Community Foundation in support of the ongoing digitization project at the museum.
- Lenora met with one of our genealogy workshop presenters – Sue Schlichting of Pursuing YOUR Past – during an in-person visit last Wednesday.
- Lenora attended weekly coffee at Sunflower Terrace for continued community outreach.
- Lenora has continued working on an indexing project under contract with ArkivDigital.
- Need a great gift for the genealogist or history enthusiast in your life? You can now purchase a gift certificate good for a free registration to one of the museum’s Online Swedish Genealogy Workshops anytime in 2025 ($50) or a 2025 Pursuing YOUR Past presentation ($10). Your gift recipient will receive a one-time-use code by email or mail good to pay for the registration fee for one of these popular sessions!
Thank you to our weekly volunteers!
Last week, volunteers included Karmon Almquist, Pete Peterson, Leland Nelson, Jerry Hammerton, Tyler Hammond, Betty Amos, Julie-Ann Neywick, Teagen Miller and Kylan Lindquist!