Here is some historical reference in regards to the Estonian Gleason, Wisconsin community and church from 1900.

Last fall, Crick and I attended a missions conference in northern Wisconsin.  We met someone there who shared with us an incredible story about a group of Estonians who settled in Wisconsin in the early 1900s.

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Published: November 02 2013

The marjad (berries) in this jar are no longer whole, nor are they a "product of Greece", as stated on the label. Greece in Estonian is Kreeka.

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Published: October 24 2013

The Estonian Evangelical Martin Luther Church

Gleason, Lincoln County, Wisconsin  USA

History records this site in Gleason, Wisconsin, as being established beginning in 1907 to serve the faith of Immi-grants from the Baltic Nations that settled in this geographical area.
The land having been deeded to them by Sig and Tena Heineman in 1907 (#5969 Co. Reg), the founding fathers, Johan Wiltein, George Tutt and Albert Sommi, first known as the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC), deeded the property and church to the Estonian (Eesti) Evangelical Martin Luther Kokudus (church) on the 16th day of July, 1914. The very same church it is today.

Prior and during the building, the Reverend Hans Rebane of Boston made annual visits to preach to the Estonians in the Gleason area until his death in 1912, followed by the Reverend Konrad Klemmer in 1914 who came from New Jersey to serve the Estonians. A Latvian pastor came from Chicago to serve the Latvians until 1931 when Rev. Werner Kuhlberg came to serve both the Estonians and Latvians.

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Published: October 27 2013

Pillerkaar dancers – Sirli Hill, Age Landre-Robinson, Laila Oinas.     Photos by Anu Oinas

Pillerkaar, Estonian Folk Dancers of the Washington DC Metro Area, performed at the Washington, DC Global Language Network (GLN) Festival (G-Fest) on September 28, 2013. 

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Published: October 24 2013

The Broward County Council of Chamber, in Florida, bestowed upon Kiku Martinson, Director of Real Estate at Campbell & Rosemurgy, the Deerfield Beach 2013 Small Business Person of the Year award.

As a longtime resident, Kiku Martinson has put a lot of time and energy into Deerfield Beach where she has built a wonderful life for 34 years. But it was still a surprise and a thrill when the Broward County Council of Chambers honored her for her outstanding career and community service. Naming her Deerfield Beach Small Business Person of 2013 was no surprise to those who have worked and volunteered with her.

Kiku was born in America, spoke Estonian at home and married an Estonian Märt Martinson. They have raised a son and a daughter in the community, both of whom have graduated from college and are enjoying the challenges of their careers. They are all bilingual, as the family keeps the Estonian language alive at home.

Kiku has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Masters degree in education from Florida Atlantic University.

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Published: October 24 2013

Tuesday, November 19, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM (PST)
Stanford, CA

Although a small country, Estonia has rich culture and history, both of which will be celebrated through film at Stanford on Nov. 19. The free, evening event aims to bring together Stanford faculty, staff, and students, local Estonians as well as other people interested in Estonian heritage.

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Published: October 23 2013

NOTICE. OÜ Koikla Räägi dairy herd's barn needs a herder. URGENT.
Posted on a teadete/tahvel (bulletin board) in the village of Pärsama on Saaremaa island. OÜ = osa/ühing or limited liability company, while Koikla and Räägi are two neighbouring hamlets. Kari = herd and lüpsi/kari literally means "milking herd". To milk is lüpsma. Karjak is a gender-neutral term for a herder. However, more well known historically are karjane, or karja/poiss (herder-boy) and -tüdruk (-girl).
Photo and caption: Riina Kindlam

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Published: October 20 2013

Lembit Beecher is currently Composer in Residence of Opera Philadelphia, Gotham Chamber Opera and Music Theatre Group.

On October 15th and 17th in collaboration with the Scrag Mountain Music, he will present a concert of 20th and 21st century Estonian and Hungarian Music inspired by folk music including Béla Bartók, Zoltán Kodály, Veljo Tormis, Lembit Breecher and György Ligeti plus five world premiere “micro-commissions” based on Estonian Folk Songs.

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Published: October 20 2013