One of the most stunning displays at this year’s Scandinavian Festival in July was seeing two paintings by Swedish immigrant Albert Johnson.
Johnson was a self described “house painter of no particular merit”. He had no formal art training. He was commissioned to paint several murals for The Norden Club, which was described as a “galaxy of Swedish historical murals” in Saga From the Hills by M. Lorimer Moe.
The work on display at the Scandinavian Festival depicting Stockholm, Sweden, is from The Fenton History Collection. The Fenton records state that it was “saved” from the demolition of The Norden Club in 1958 and donated to The Fenton History Center in 1978. The second one on display, “Celoron”, was painted in 1907. It is in the collection of the Scandinavian Studies, Scandinavian Folk Festival Collection at Jamestown Community College Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.
According to Saga From The Hills, the largest Norden Club mural was on the rear wall of the auditorium’s stage which was his depiction of Leif Ericsson’s landing on Vinland. Other rooms in the Club featured Johnson’s works of Swedish landscapes. The billiard room walls were covered with a complete set of Swedish provincial coats of arms.
Mr. Johnson’s obituary stated that he also decorated the former Wintergarden Theater, did several paintings for the display room at the Empire Case Goods Company and had several paintings on display at the former Eagle Temple, which was sold to the Viking Lodge in 1924.
Born in March 1869, Johnson emigrated from Sweden at age 18 in 1887, arriving at Castle Garden on the SS Germanic on July 22. His sister, Amanda Johansdotter, also emigrated, arriving in 1891. She later moved to California. Two other sisters remained in Sweden.
Johnson had a sad ending to his life. After estrangement from his wife, he rented a room downtown in the Allen Square Building. Despondent over his poor health, he decided to take a walk near the east Jamestown City line. After being missing for several days, he was found in the woods, covered with snow, by two friends. He is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Section 5.
According to Saga From The Hills, The Norden Club was built from “fawn brick”. It was the setting for many notable events celebrating Jamestown’s Swedish culture. The Club membership was for Jamestown residents “who are either of Swedish birth or heritage.” The cornerstone of the building was laid with much fanfare on October 18, 1913, and was reported to be a community event. The completed building was dedicated on December 1, 1914.
For many years the Club was a community cultural center, showing Swedish motion pictures, Swedish art exhibits, Swedish musical programs and weekly suppers featuring noted speakers. In 1927, Prince Wilhelm of Södermanland was feted with a reception.
With financial difficulties during the Great Depression, the Club was sold in 1937, and in 1958, the “elegant Norden Club” was demolished to make way for the new Federal Building. Local historian Art Osterdahl says that some of Mr. Johnson’s paintings that were at the Viking Temple on Washington Street were moved to the Vikings’ new location on North Main Street.
