For the Gazette
It was about the middle of August when I returned to Hancock, Michigan, and Suomi College. It was a couple of weeks before my first year of teaching at the college would begin, but I needed time to settle in, to learn about the area and to become acquainted with the teaching staff. I needed to prepare lesson plans, become familiar with the various buildings of the school and learn about Hancock and Houghton. In addition, I needed to introduce myself to the local clergy and learn about the stores and restaurants in the area.
Suomi (which I learned was the Finnish word for Finland) was a two-year junior college, affiliated with the Finnish Lutheran Church. (Since my time at the college, they have grown into Finlandia University. I’d like to think that I had a small part in making that happen, but it seems that I am the only one that knows that fact.)