FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For additional information contact:
Swedish Heritage Committee co-chairmen
Martha Rogers or Aleasa Hogate .
As part of the 365th Jubilee of the New Sweden Colony, founded in 1638, a historic monument is being erected in Riverview Beach Park in Pennsville, NJ. Mayor Carol Wooten recently broke ground for the monument dedicated to New Jersey’s early Swedish and Finnish settlers. The site has a panoramic view of New Castle, Wilmington and the Delaware Memorial Twin Bridges, the world’s longest twin span suspension bridge.
Aleasa Hogate, who initiated this grassroots undertaking, received the 2003 Cultural Scholarship Award given by the New Jersey Swedish Women’s Educational Association. She is using this award to create one of two bronze plaques for the monument with an original motif. Dedication of the completed monument is planned for May 2004.
This project is being funded with private donations managed by the Pennsville Township Historical Society, a 501-3c organization. The monument will be engraved with the names of sponsors contributing $500 or more. Among these are the following organizations: the Pennsville Township Historical Society, the New Sweden Centre, the Delaware Valley Finnish-American Society and the Pennsville Women’s Club. Additional sponsors and private donations are welcome.