Back around the turn of the century, Fort Wilkins had been abandoned, mining had long ago moved down the peninsula and the village of Copper Harbor was close to doing the same. However, in the center of town was a four building complex called simply The Swedes’. There was the saloon, behind that a boardinghouse, behind that the Piker Hotel and the blacksmith shop (now preserved). This “bed, board and booze” business evolved from the activities of two local Swedes — Fred Nelson and Pete Johnson — who sensed opportunity in serving the rest and recreational needs of the maybe two or three hundred loggers from the several camps on the tip of the Keweenaw. This combination of frontierism, hard works, hard times and basic recreation produced a saga of The Common Man of the Keweenaw. It is of such stuff as this that history is made.

Logging left and the mines to the south faltered. By the twenties The Swedes’ had also ceased. Pete dies on a visit to Chicago and Fred rests on the hill just south of town. All that remains is the saloon building, which, while retaining its name and reminiscences has reformed to become Swedes’ Gifts.

There was a unique directness and humanness in the daily endeavors of the people who passed through the Keweenaw that survives their buildings and machines. It is here for us to rediscover but never to relive.

The Art Gallery at the Swede’s Gift Shop features original paintings and stationary by artist Linden Dahlstrom who interprets the lakes, woodlands and history of the Lake Superior region. Scrimshaw on Datolite by artist Jim Billings offers engraved pieces of local and historic copper mining subjects.

In their 33rd year in business, the shop also has handcrafted jewelry, native gemstones, cooper/silver nuggets, decorative crafts, collectibles, books and maps and rockhound tools.

 

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