The Nylander Museum celebrates its 75th anniversary during this year 2013. Built in 1938 with the support of Caribou townspeople, the museum was established to display the collections of Olof Nylander and to provide him a place that would enable him to carry on his work. Interestingly, the museum’s records show that Nylander was hired as the first curator of the museum and was paid $25 per week with the understanding that his collections would eventually become the property of the town. On July 27, 1938, the Nylander Museum of Caribou, Maine was formally dedicated as a tourist and educational center.
Olof Nylander was 76 years old when the museum was established, the same year he received a master of science degree from the University of Maine at Orono. A well known geologist, botanist, and conchologist (shell expert), the museum built in his name houses an invaluable collection, with more than 50,000 specimens of rocks, minerals, fossils, shells and plants, representing the labor of 50 years of research.
Professor Nylander’s contributions to geology, botany, and conchology were immense. In 1893, he completely upset all former beliefs concerning the geology of Maine by his discovery of a sandstone deposit in Chapman Plantation which contained fossils not previously known to exist in North America. One of the most important discoveries in its field, the fossils were graptolites, an extinct marine animal that lived in former warm waters of the earth, when the earth had cooled enough for water condensation to fill the hollows of the earth to form lakes and seas.
The professor also discovered fossils dating back 400 million years in Mars Hill. In the field of botany, Nylander discovered two previously unknown species of orchids in Maine. He did extensive work in the Square Lake region, which resulted in the publication of “the Geological Formation of Square Lake.” Nylander expanded his collections as a result of research and study, as well as curiosity, from Florida to New Brunswick and Quebec, Canada.
Olof Olsson Nylander was born on June 14, 1864 in Oremolla, Skifvarps, Sweden, the son of Ola and Elisabet Nylander. His father was a shoemaker for the leading citizens of that district. As a young boy Olof Nylander was influenced by one of Sweden’s most noted geologists, Professor Svel Nilsson, who would visit the Nylander family’s garden to collect produce. Nilsson encouraged young Nylander to collect antiquities — flint tools, stones, and shells. Later Olof studied geology and botany with Professor Nilsson. Nylander immigrated to Boston in 1883 to live with his brother, Lars. His continuing interest in sciences and study led Nylander to become fascinated by the possibilities for research in geology, botany, and antiquities in northern Maine where another brother, Jacob, lived in Woodland.
Editor’s note: Members of the Nylander Museum’s board of directors plan to write an informational monthly column throughout the 75th anniversary year.
