Dr. Toivo J. Forsstrom

Toivo Johannes Forsstrom was a popular and prominent physician and surgeon in Astoria. Born in Heinola, Finland on July 30, 1867, he came to Astoria in December 1905. He graduated from medical school in Helsinki, Finland in 1897 and completed post graduate studies in Berlin and Vienna in 1905. At the time, these were the best medical schools in the world. The family tells me he spoke five languages; Finnish, Swedish, Russian, German and English!

Dr. Forsstrom was conscripted into the Russian Army in Finland between 1890 and 1893. Family members stated he did not enjoy this experience.

He immigrated to the U.S. in December of 1905, arriving in Seattle, Washington. His final destination was listed as Astoria, Oregon.

He is first listed in the 1906 Astoria City Directory at No. 9 Page Building located at 549 Commercial. He quickly built a lucrative practice as a physician and surgeon. At various times, he had offices in Astoria, Portland, and Seaside. He was one of the first tenants in the new Spexarth Building at 8th and Commercial in 1910, Suite 201 and 202.

One of my favorite recollections about Dr. Forsstrom was from Paul Fellman. “Dr. Forsstrom was a highly successful physician and surgeon. He made a fortune practicing his profession among the Finnish population. His wife, Alli, spent it. She spent money like it was water.” This is an excerpt from a memoir by Paul Fellman published by the Clatsop Co. Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 41, No. 3, Summer 2021.

He purchased the 189,4 single story Victorian home at 7th and Grand from Captain Archibald Cann in March 1909. The newly wed Dr. and Mrs. Forsstrom moved into the home following a short honeymoon in Portland.

The current Craftsman style Modified American Foursquare was built sometime around 1916 by the Forsstroms. It appears Alli spearheaded the renovation. She spared no expense.

The couple divorced in August of 1926. There were no children. Alli Forsstrom left Astoria for Manhattan in 1925 or 1926. Dr. Forsstrom married Nelma Mattson Northe on 29 July 1933 in Astoria. She was recently divorced from her first husband, Matt Northe. Dr. Forsstrom was a generous and loving step father to Nelma’s children; Vivienne and Melvin.

Dr. Forsstrom retired from practice in May 1945 and passed away in his chair in the upstairs sitting room while reading the newspaper on 15 August 1945, VJ Day. He is buried in Ocean View Cemetery in Warrenton. Obituaries were published in all the local newspapers in the Lower Columbia, Portland and Seattle.

His widow, Nelma, lived in the Forsstrom House until about 1950. She sold the property with much of the furnishings to Ezra and Ona Macy c. 1951.

Photos courtesy of the families of Melvin and Vivienne Northe. They were kind to share photos and several of Nelma and Dr. Forsstrom’s 1933 wedding gifts. It means so much to us to meet family members of previous owners!