STOCKHOLM – The picturesque village of Stockholm, Wis. received a timeless gift to celebrate its 150^th Anniversary in 2004 when a Swedish theater group came to present a musical play about how the town was founded. “They Sold Their Homesteads” tells the bittersweet story of why many of the townspeople of Bjurtjarn, Sweden decided to leave their homes and start a new life in America. The play resonated well with the audience, which included descendants of those original immigrants. The Swedish theater group from Bjurtjarn returned to give an encore performance in 2006, and then offered the script to the people of Stockholm so they could mount the play themselves.

After a number of delays – including the COVID pandemic – the pageant is once again coming to life for three performances on the first weekend in August. The sense of community ownership is reflected in a slight change in the title, which is now “We Sold Our Homesteads.” The homegrown cast of 43 actors and musicians includes performers from Stockholm, Maiden Rock, Pepin, Red Wing, Hager City, Nelson, Plum City, and Minneapolis – not to mention several from Karlskoga, Sweden. A special guest appearance will be made by Topper the goat. The play is under the direction of Nancy Lund, with musical direction by Merlyn Aude. The co-producers are Stockholm’s own Wally Zick and Connie Anderson.

“I’m especially invested in this play,” said Anderson, “because my great grandfather, Anders Anderson, was one of the townspeople who decided to immigrate.”

The action in the play takes place in Bjurtjarn, Sweden, where residents confront a fortunate mix of dissatisfaction and opportunity. Their troubles stem from economic hardships, rigid social structures and a particularly obnoxious local pastor. The opportunity for a solution comes from Erik Pettersson, one of three brothers who became forty-niners – they traveled to the California Gold Rush in1849. Erik also became involved in the lumber industry on the Upper Mississippi, where he invested in several hundred acres of prime farmland above the bluffs overlooking the eastern shore of Lake Pepin. Then he returned to Sweden to recruit folks to join him in Wisconsin.

The play chronicles the heartfelt deliberations of the townspeople, until a group of them decide to begin life anew in America. Nearly 200 set off in search of the American Dream, though half of them were felled by a cholera epidemic during the voyage. The survivors pressed on and founded Stockholm, Wis. in 1854.

“We Sold Our Homesteads” will be presented at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 at the Stockholm Village Park. There will be 100 chairs and additional bleacher seating (so you may want to bring a cushion). Some handicap parking will be available as well as a drop-off zone. In the event of much needed rain, the performances will be held at the Pepin High School Gymnasium (510 Pine St., Pepin, WI). The show runs approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, including intermission.

Tickets are available at the Stockholm General Store and Pie Shop, The Garden Pub and Grill in Pepin or online at Eventbrite. For more information check out WeSoldOurHomesteads on Facebook.

Submitted by Connie Anderson