The second generation Finns have also gone in for swimming, a sport which has gained popularity after the first pools were built in schools, from 1912 on. The names of Charles, Edmond and Lester Ketola, of William Lofback and Hugo and Verner Mattson deserve mention.

In the early years it appeared as if Finnish sports would remain constant and unchanging. The sports forms brought from the old country were preserved, even though they might not have been of interest to anyone but members of their own groups. Prevailing American sports patterns hardly influenced them at all. There was no ball throwing, and almost as little ball kicking. Baseball, for example, was a sport only young boys played, having learned it in the schoolyard. It was not until this generation matured that a change began to appear, and it was due to them that basketball also came into vogue. Lines were painted on the floors of Finnish halls, the windows covered with wire nets, lights were lifted up to the ceilings, and basketball practice got under way. So popular did it become that often there were not enough evening hours for everyone to get a chance to play. It was played in church groups, encouraged by the cooperatives. For years the Duluth Finnish-American Athletic Club team was the top one in the league. From 1927 to 1935 the team was coached by Jack Salo, and during his time the team won the local YMCA championship in 1929, the Duluth championship from 1931 to 1934, and the Mid-Western championship during the same years.

The Finns in Ely: Organizations for Finnish Aid: Ely has had represented in it all the kinds of societies and organizations which Finnish settlements have had, and of which numerous examples have been given. It has had its own Civic Club, its Delaware Committee, its Townsend Club, its Finnish relief organization. (The latter, with Jacob L. Pete as chairman, worked chiefly among the American population.) There have also been many other organizations, and a revealing cross-section of them is provided in the listing of the societies which sent delegates to a joint meeting on 11 February 1940 to organize Finnish relief, to which they had been invited on the initiative of the Ely Kaleva society. According to the minutes, the following societies were represented

Ely Cooperative Society: A. Tuomikoski

Kaleva Knights, Väinö Lodge: P. Martin, H. Pietilä, A. Saari and 0. Särkipato Kaleva Ladies, Vellamo Lodge: L. Kakkuri, M. Kivipelto, A. Leino and S. Ranta Temperance Society Vesi: K. Franti, H. Hakko, I. Koski, 0. Laakko, A. Mäki, A.

Perämäki, S. Pohjonen and M. Somero

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