5th Finglish trip July 2007 #20
When Leila Lehto's grandparents came from Finland to Canada they shortened their name from Haapalehto to Lehto, as it was common at that time. Leila was born in Sault Ste. Marie in Canada and she moved to Aura Michigan with her family at the age of 16. She went to work in Negaunee Michigan and when retired moved back to Aura, to "the Paradise", as she says.
Now Leila is preparing herself for a dance with her Croatian "boyfriend". Aura is best known for the annual Aura Jamboree, a multi-day musical festival with a picnic and dance.
Finns named the place Aura (Plow), because someone had found an old plow on the land, apparently left by loggers. After the Copper Country Strike of 1913-1914 many jobless Finnish miners moved to the area to begin farming the land. The first settlers in June 1914 were Tobias Hilunen and his family. Other Finnish families arrived later that summer.
Next Helmi Lepisto Rock Michigan USA