own, but Trout Lake was slower: it originally supported the Bovey society and did not start on its own until 1914, but even so, it was slow work before a hall was built. However, following the big mining strikes, the area got many more Finnish farmers and thereby increased membership and support of the society in 1920 land was purchased from Jack Pauttila by a hall association and a hall was built in 1922, with Edward Pokela in charge of building. Dramatics activity was begun promptly, gymnastics followed later. However, failing to attract sufficient younger members brought a swift end to the society. When the young people attempted a society of their own, it also failed quickly, and the hall was unused most of the time and was finally sold in 1943. As it was, this was a longer life than that of the hall in Bovey, which was already sold in the 1920s.

There have been no other Finnish organizations in this region, with the exception of a Townsend Club in Trout Lake for a time and a Finnish relief committee in Calumet, which managed to raise $460 during 1940. A band, started in 1935 and directed by Hemming Hautala, managed to survive for a time, and in 1939 Bovey was host to the midsummer festival of the Finns of Northern Minnesota.

Local businessmen have included grocers Muotka, Matti Harju, Ben Mandy and Sulo Ylitalo; restaurant owners Kalle Kuukas, Matti Mattila, R. J. Liukkonen and Maunu Räsänen; clothers John Frantti, S. Komulainen, John P. Raattama and Hugo Ruuhela. A cooperative was established in 1917 but was in bankruptcy after three years, and later, when the Nashwauk cooperative opened a branch store in Bovey in 1931 it was forced to close within a year. Local postmasters have been G. F. Frantti and Matti Abell Mattila.

Wawina

South of the Bovey-Nashwauk region there have been Finns residing in smaller Itasca County communities, including Blackberry, Goodland, Cedar Valley and Wawina. Some degree of organizational activity has existed, with workers' societies in Blackberry and Wawina and a National church congregation in Cedar Valley. In addition, there was in Wawina a Cooperative Society, established in 1920, which joined the Cooperative Central four years later. A Finn, August Merikanto, was postmaster of Wawina for many years, keeping the office in his store.

Grand Rapids

Located just below a series of rapids in the Mississippi, the town which got its name from them was for some time an out

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