Lundin’s Cooperative Grocery Store on “Swede Hill”

298 Hillside Avenue

In 1879 Miss Christina Anderson was the only Swedish born person living in Naugatuck.  During 1880, thanks to Mr. Whittemore & Mr. Tuttle’s need for skilled labor in their iron works, Naugatuck saw in influx of Swedish immigrants.  During this time families such as the Carlsons, Andersons, Olsons, Almquists & Lindgrens came to the borough.  In 1881, Mr.  John E. Lundin also came to town.

Lundin worked as a molder at the Naugatuck Malleable Iron Works from 1881 until 1894.  In July of 1894 he assumed management of the Naugatuck Cooperative Co. on Hillside Ave.  He managed the store until 1903 when he bought the business and renamed it Lundin’s Grocery.  A 1915 newspaper article about the store reported that Lundin’s “policy has always been to give full weight and measure and to handle nothing but honest goods of merit”. It also reported that Lundin himself was “of sterling qualities and is held in the highest respect and esteem”. Lundin’s story also reminds us of the mostly forgotten Swedish enclave of “Swede Hill”. Swede Hill was roughly defined as Park Ave, May Ave, Walnut St. Woodlawn Ave, & Hillside Ave between Millville Ave & Grove Street.  In this area there is also Svea St., most likely named for Mother Svea, the female personification of Sweden (much like our Lady Liberty or Columbia). On Salem St. there was Salem Lutheran Church, founded in 1886 with 56 members. Mr.  Lundin was one of its founding members.