MONDAY MORNING MUSEUM UPDATE – October 6, 2025 – Lindsborg Old Mill & Swedish Heritage Museum

In this week’s update: Pavilion hosting travel writers tonight, written commitments for Pavilion renovations needed by Oct. 25, Svensk Hyllningsfest events at the museum, 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 September 29 – October 5, 2025:

We are very pleased to be hosting Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) travel writers and representatives of the Kansas Department of Tourism this evening in the 1904 World’s Fair Swedish Pavilion! This will be a great opportunity for them to learn more about all Lindsborg has to offer and discover one of the great historic treasures of Kansas!
Our thanks to Steve Ahlstedt for preparing the meal for these special visitors and working on preparations today for this evening’s event. Aubrey also made preparations last week for this group to arrive.
Last week, we received three new contributions or commitments to the “Raise the Roof” portion of the 1904 Swedish Pavilion repairs fundraising campaign – totaling $5,500!
This now puts us at 83% of the tax credits grant used and remaining donation capacity of $40,589.75.
Tax credits are still available for the 2025 tax year for donations under this campaign, BUT we just 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 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 $47,000. 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 $198,701.40.
Learn more at www.oldmillmuseum.org/raise-the-roof.
We are pleased to announce our full schedule of involvement with Svensk Hyllningsfest – October 17 and 18!
-From 12:30-6:30 p.m. on Heritage Square on October 18 will be the inaugural Svensk Hyllningsfest Kubb Tournament! Details and registration at the link! If you haven’t played before, be sure to check out the “Intro to Kubb” course on October 17 behind 102 State St. downtown from 1-7 p.m.
-Our collections manager Lenora Lynam will be presenting a Swedish Genealogy Workshop both days from noon to 1 p.m. in Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School (SVVCS) (121 S. Main St.)
-Tom Holmquist will be presenting a brief history of the Old Mill at SVVCS at 1 p.m. on Oct. 17.
-We will have a booth at the “Bondemarknad” (farmers market) both days of the festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Stop by on Lincoln Street between city hall and the JO Sundstrom Conference Center to learn more about the museum and pick up a selection of homemade goods available from our gift shop!
-We will be running a half-price admission special to the museum on Saturday, October 18 of just $5 per person!
The next daylong Online Swedish Genealogy Workshop on Saturday, November 8 is open and available for registrations!
Aubrey attended a nonprofit fair at Soderstrom Elementary School hosted by the McPherson Community Foundation – our thanks to the foundation, the school, and all the students who put your support behind the Lindsborg Museum!
Aubrey submitted a Kansas Museums Association grant for $500 for minor Pavilion porch repairs.
Aubrey set up an upcoming meeting for planning on repairs on the main museum building roof.
Adam sent out a news release about the tax credits grant, and processed new contributions and commitments under the tax credits grant. He also updated numbers at www.oldmillmuseum.org/raise-the-roof.
Staff worked on end-of-year fundraising plans.
Adam continued working on organizing the group Svensk Hyllningsfest parade float.
Adam delivered more tourist rack cards for CVB.
Adam reworked some artwork for a possible new gift shop item.
Adam updated the website events page.
Aubrey contacted Menards about donations or sponsorship.
Aubrey contacted volunteers to give Old Mill tours during Heritage Christmas on Saturday, December 13.
Lenora attended coffee at Sunflower Terrace for continued community outreach.
Lenora worked on planning for a genealogy workshop planned for January 2026.
Lenora collaborated with Don Dunlap – great-grandson of mill owner Theo Teichgraeber – on research and planning for an upcoming online presentation scheduled for March 2026.
Lenora responded to two research requests – one who needed help with information about her Swedish family history and another looking for specific historical information about the Swedish Pavilion.
Lenora held a logistics planning meeting for an upcoming extended researcher vi
On Friday, staff were pleased to welcome a visit from the great-granddaughter of Charles Johnson – owner of the first mill in Lindsborg on the Smoky Hill River.
Tyler finished scanning the Chester Bruce history papers collection. He also started on digitizing additional historical publications. Watch here for an announcement when they are fully available to the public!
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? NEW in the museum gift shop, 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!