There are more than 50 Estonians buried in the Union Cemetery. Most are in one section just east of the middle tree line. A search on Wkipedia showed that Estonians first started coming to the United States in the late 19th century, and continued until the mid-20th century. The beginnings of industrialization and commercial agriculture in the Russian Empire transformed Estonian farmers into migrants. The pressures of industrialization drove numerous Estonian peasants to emigrate to the United States continuing until the outbreak of World War I. In 1944, in the face of the country being re-occupied by the Red Army, 80,000 people fled from Estonia by sea to Germany and Sweden, becoming war refugees and later, expatriates. Some thousand of them moved on from there and settled in the United States. After the wars end, these displaced persons were allowed to immigrate to the United States and to apply for citizenship. Some of these refugees and their descendants started returning to Estonia at the end of the 1980s. Locally after many immigrated to Brooklyn and New York City After this time a few Estonians had bought summer bungalows out on Long Island. Many Estonians from the City would come and visit their friends out on the Island. Noticing how spacious, beautiful and unpopulated Long Island was at that time. They realized how much property they could own and how they would have much more privacy out here then in the city. They decided they liked the area and many more made their summer homes here. Later claiming these houses all year long. During the 1950s Another Estonian House was built in Middle Island. Which provided Childrens Summer Camp and daily swimming at Pine Lake. (Which is no longer swimmable) People frequented The Lake Store (Now The Pine Lake Deli) which at that time served food, drinks & candy through an outside window, ready to bring to the beach! The Estonian Hall is still in existance and is located on Middle Island Blvd just south of Whiskey Road. Those who settled here in Middle Island were very active as Carpenters, Masons and other jobs to help the community. A few also joined the Middle Island Fire Department including Vaino Kahara who was born in Estonia in 1905 and died in 1972, a resident of Middle island. he is buried in Union with his wife Impi, 1910-1993. (additional info from Longwood Journey and Julie Koello)
Posted on: Thu, 27 Feb 2014 17:23:13 +0000
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