in the post-World War II years there have been meetings al least once a month.

The Floodwood church dates back almost as far. The temperance hall served it for its first years of activity, but in 1908 a proper church was built. In 1940 it was destroyed by fire which also damaged the adjacent, new parsonage, but rebuilding was started as soon as possible. Although there has also been a small Laestadian group in the community, membership at the Suomi Synod church has always been high: after World Wax II it was still over 200. In the beginning, clergy from Hibbing carried out the pastoral duties here, but in 1927 Floodwood, together with two communities in adjacent Carlton County, formed a separate district of their own.

The next organization, chrono logically, was a workers' society The pattern in Floodwood follower the expected: programs, play pro. ductions, etc.; the transformation from socialism to IWW support Membership throughout hovered ire the range of 20 to 40. Also, in nearby Gowan there was a workers society.

In 1927 came the Kaleva Order

with a small chapter, the result of several years of preparatory work by Alex Kyyhkynen of Duluth, whc had been trying to arouse enough enthusiasm among his fellow Finn in Floodwood, Toivola and Elmer to make possible a start in at least

one of these communities. The first convert was Henry Kangas, of Elmer, who got enough of his friends sufficiently interested to meet in Floodwood, the most central point in the region: Henry Harrala, Andrew Hokkanen, Arthur and Herman Järvi, Henry Kangas, John Mustonen, Oscar Nygoord, M. W. Räihälä, Otto Siikanen, Fred Wain, John Ylitalo and John Saralampi were the founding members. Before the first year of existence had come to a close there were 18 members, and a decade later a dozen were still left. In the Ladies' chapter, founded that same year, there were 24 members in 1929. Among the founding members were Ida Aho, Matilda Johnson, Ida Järvi, Aini Kangas, Hilma

Suomi Synod Church in Floodwood.

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