Minnesota's Sesquicentenniel Stories

My great-grandfather, Charles Kleemola (pron. Clay'-mo-lah) arrived in the U.S. in 1896, from Kalvia, Finland, with his mother, brother and sister. They followed his father's immigration to Bessemer, Michigan because they no longer wanted to be living under Russian rule. Traveling by ship and train, they arrived in the Upper Peninsula and joined an existing Finnish community. Two years later, Charles and his brother Matt joined the Michigan National Guard during the Spanish-American War so they could play in the band.

There, they met Finns from Minnesota. Through them, Charles heard of a good cornet band from NE Minnesota (Winton, just outside of Ely). Being a cornet player, he decided to move there after ending his service. (Charles also took correspondence courses through the Musical Conservatory of Chicago.)

After arriving in Ely by train, Charles formed his own band, the Ely Sampo Band. This band played in Ely as well as around the Iron Range (see P. Niemisto, Finnish Bands in Minnesota). In addition to the Ely Sampo Band, Charles began the Ely School Band program in 1906 (with 6 boys!). He died of TB and heart failure in 1918, during the flu epidemic. Subsequent family members have been involved in music-nationally and locally-since then. At an Ely all-class reunion, band leader Lyle Klein conducted the band in one of Charles Kleemola's marches: it was a hit!

Teachers, musicians, pipelayers, and miners, the Kleemolas are fortunate to be here! We hope you support education and the arts so that future Minnesotans have the same advantage as we've had.