Vasa Childrens Home and Hoopla Junk:

Hoopla Junk is a seasonal vintage sale held on the property of the historical Vasa Children's Home in Minnesota. This home has a rich history dating all the way back to the late 1800s. Colleen and co-owner/furniture lifter husband, Steven Jensen, stumbled across this property in 2017. As soon as they saw the home and property for the first time, they fell in love. This home is now a private home to the Hoopla Junk (Jensen) family with the barn on the property being the space for the Hoopla Junk sales. 


The History:

The Children's Home is a land full of beauty. Being the birthplace of Lutheran Social Services, the home has nothing less than a book worthy amount of tales and history.

According to the official Wikipedia page: "The Vasa Children's Home began in the basement of Vasa Lutheran Church in Welch, Minnesota by Reverend Eric Norelius in 1865 with four orphans. The homes first orphans were recent Swedish immigrants whose parents, Mikola and Anna Erikson had passed away. Norelius soon purchased ten acres near the church for the home's eventual expansion. A small building dedicated to the care of orphans was built, and the remaining land was used for farming. In 1876, Norelius transferred supervision of the home to the Board of Society of Mercy, part of the Minnesota Conference of the Augusta Synod. The home was entirely rebuilt after a tornado demolished it in 1872 and again after a fire in 1899." 

"The home relocated to its present site, six miles west of Red Wing, Minnesota in 1926. Between 60-70 children were housed at the Vasa's Children's Home during the early 1900s. In 1954, the home's focus shifted from housing orphaned or neglected children to caring for children with disabilities. The fifth and current building built in 1973, housed children and young adults with disabilities between the ages of 7 to 22."