Hanny Wright was born on the island Tjoeme on the west side of the Oslo Fjord on October 27, 1899. She came to the United States as an infant. Mrs. Wright describes her association with St. Ansgar Hospital Auxilliary, of which she was a president for many years. She has also helped organize the Moorhead Camp Fire Girls.
Gladys Westrum was born March 27, 1907 in Moorhead. Mrs. Westrum describes a typical homemaker' day in the age before modern conveniences and how the homemaker's tasks have changed as a result of technology. She discusses the Depression and WWII rationing. She also describes the changes in the attitudes of people toward women working outside of the home.
In an oral history, Charles Warnberg, a former sheriff of Crow Wing County, talks about the the old jail/sheriff's residence, the state of law enforcement when he was in office, and some the crimes that were committed.
In an oral history, Bill Van Essen talks about his family's restaurant, Van's Cafe, which was a Brainerd landmark. He also discusses other lone-gone Brainerd restaurants, and how eating out and the business community has evolved.
Interview with Vivian Tumoikoski. This interview discusses homesteading near One Pine Lake in early 1900. Topics include, dairy farm, chores, milking, bottling, selling, haymaking, and hired help. Vivian also discusses making ice and harvesting ice as well as recreation and family travels.
In an oral history, Herbert Frank Thiesse tells about how life was growing up on a dairy farm during the Depression years and what the family did to survive.
Margaret (Fobes) Tabbut was born in Glyndon, Minnesota in 1918. She describes her early life on a farm. She taught in the Fargo Adult Education Program and did a television program on WDAY until 1958 at which time she joined the faculty at Concordia College. She retired in 1983. She discusses the changes in homemaking that are the result of technological development, working outside the home, and social and economic changes.
In an oral history, Mrs. Burton (Clara) Stanley relates the tough times as a child, not being able to start school until 8 years old in 1903, and only going until the 4th grade because she then had to go to work. She also talks about what various things were like in the early part of the 20th century, her husband's place of business burning down, and wildlife that existed.
In an oral history, Burton Stanley tells of arriving in the Pequot Lakes area in 1900, riding on a logging train on a 50 below zero February day. He also talks about his work in the logging industry working with a team of horses, repairing early autos, harness making, and horseshoe making. He explains how he thinks that people were better off in the ""old days"" than they are in 1975, when this interview was recorded.
Interview with Frank and Stan Smuk. Frank and Stan were the sons of Yugoslav immigrant parents. The two men began work in the mines in 1941 and 1947 respectively. Stan worked with the mine credit union while Frank was a contract miner. They spoke of the pranks they pulled on other workers. Accidents were frequent. Rocks fell on workers and the tunnels collapsed. Even with broken bones men would go to work and be given light duty. The Smuk brothers did a lot of hunting and fishing. The whole family played the accordion. They also played on the city softball teams that competed against other towns. Frank belongs to the American Legion and the VFW. He had served in the Air Force during World War II. Stan was blind in one eye so was turned down for the army.
In an oral history, Lucille Shaw, a life-long resident of Brainerd, relates how she contracted polio as a child (which she recovered from) and her teachers would come to her home so she could get her education. She also tells about starting a successful book store business, and buying a house which she paid for by having renters in the upstairs. She speaks of her family history, life during the Depression, and old businesses of Brianerd.
Leveta Bryson was born in Illinois about 1913. In 1920 her parents lived on farm near Sabin, MN. Leveta graduated from Moorhead State Teachers College and began her teaching career. In 1938, she had to quit teaching because she married. Mrs. Scott describes her life as a homemaker on a farm in Borup, Minnesota from 1938 to the 1960s.
Laura Scherfenberg discusses her many years of activities with the Moorhead branch of Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). She describes the organization's goals, finances, projects, and its role in the community.
In an oral history, Ed Ruttger tells of his father, who came from Germany and was a machinist, got started in the resort business on Bay Lake near Deerwood, and his family's involvement.
In an oral history, Alec Ruttger discusses how his parents started a resort in Crow Wing County, how he took it over and expanded it, and that his three brothers also got involved in the resort business. As a family, they built up the very well known Ruttger empire of resort locations.
In an oral history, Mrs. Christine Rowland (nee Olson) discusses her family history and her memories and involvement with her church in Brainerd, of which she has been a member for 82 years.
Interview with Ben Richards. Ben Richards was born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin and moved to Ely in 1916 when he was 21. He worked for the Todd Stanbow Mining Company and then in the Xenith Mine in 1928 as a superintendent. He would go underground three days a week to inspect the work. He had mostly Finnish and Slovak workers and was responsible for more than 400 men. He attended the Presbyterian church. The population of Ely was around 6,000, so there were many students attending school. The mines provided 90% of the funding for the schools. He loved working in the underground mine. The draft during World War II took most of the younger men so they had to hire men in their late 50s early 60s. He worked in the mines from 1916 to 1959. Ben noted that he didn't see much of a future for Ely without mining.
Margaret Reed was born in Chicago in March 1916. Mrs. Reed speaks of her education and experience in social service administration. She also discusses her work for the establishment of a grant for a volunteer community service in Moorhead.
Interview with Julia Purdy. Julia was born in 1890 and taught school in Tower until she met and married her husband John. Most of her interview is on her husband and his job on the D & IR Railroad where he worked from 1905-1914. As his lungs weren't strong he wintered in California or Colorado where he worked as a switchman for various railroads. He as also the constable and town clerk for the Town of Morse. Julia then held that position for 25 years and she also worked as janitor a the DM&IR depot. When tourism was being developed they began a bait service and rented fishing boats on Shagawa. John died of TV at Nopemming in 1948.
Daniel Preston was born in Bangor, Wisconsin and spent his childhood there. Preston gives some brief information on the early activities of the American Legion in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
She came from Yugoslavia by ship to visit her brother, aunt and uncle, arriving in New York on February 16, 1913. She came to Ely by train and decided to stay. She met her husband in Yugoslavia. They were married in Ely by Father Buh. They had six children. Her husband as an underground miner earning $2.40 a day. She as a teacher in Yugoslavia but not in Ely. She spoke English and taught others English and helped with citizenship applications. Shipman Hospital. Dr. Shipman, Sutherland, and Ayres. 1918 Influenza Epidemic. The hospital couldn't handle all the patients so some were housed at the Community Center. The dead were taken immediately to the mortuary above the James Laing store and buried right away. Her brother was one of the first victims. one day there were so many deaths that the Catholic church suspended its tradition of ringing the church bells when a parishioner died. Depression. Job losses. Prohibition, making moonshine. Ely Ely, Camp Street, Sheridan Street, stores, wooden sidewalks. Fourth of July she marched in the parade with Lodge #2. There were four lodges. There were Lodge flags, bands, and dancing at Sandy Point.
Alice Polikawsky was born in 1904 in Moland township. In 1951, she joined the Moorhead Daily News Staff as their first full-time alumni director. From 1957-58, she was instructor of Home Economics at Concordia and became chairman of that department until her retirement in Nov. 1974. Mrs. Polikowsky discusses her education and teaching experiences in home economics.
Interview with Mrs. John Ostlund (nee Ellen Reko, born 1913 in Winton, Minnesota. In the interview Ellen discusses her parents- Finnish immigrants, William and Hilma Reko; father worked in the mine. He walked to work along the railroad tracks or rode a bicycle. Activities: Games- King of the Hill, Kick the Can, Hide and Seek, Run Sheep Run. Depression era picnics with crackers, butter and sugar lumps. Skating and bonfires on the frozen (glare ice) river; skating on Fall Lake using clamp-on skates, playing Crack the Whip. Rowboats and launches. Camping on the weekends, Winton power dam, site for fishing and picnicking on Fall Lake; Learning to swim at the sandy point across the lake from the power dam. Swimming in petticoats and underwear, no swim suits. Riding a flat car to Cedar Lake to pick blueberries. Waling to Section 30 to pick raspberries and have lunch. Waling to Ely in groups to go to the movies. Ticket price 15 cents. Silent movies. She remembers All Quiet on the Western Front. Favorite actors- Joan Crawford, Clara Bow, Rudolph Valentino, Gilbert Roland, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford. Bobsled parties with teachers. Winton sites: Bob Bedford's livery stable with carriages, sleighs with velvet tapestry. He had one of the early cars in the area. The ice cream parlor located whter the old post office was. A saloon located withe the playground is today. John (or Jeff) St. Marie owned a touring car and gave rides to local children.
Interview with Bob Olson of Canoe Country Outfitters. Bob Olson started the business in 1950 when there were no restrictions on traveling in what was the Superior National Forest. In the 1960s the environmentalists were beginning to get laws passed restricting travel in what became the BWCA. In 1964 the Wilderness Bill was passed with partial bans on motors and no cans and bottles could be taken into the area. Ely became known as "Canoe Town" and it was advertised that way heavily at sports shows and in magazines. Resentment was beginning to grow and even in 1979 Bob was aware of the resentment shown by local people towards the tourists. He goes on to talk about outfitters losing business at the rate of 3-5% per year since 1970 due to the quota system and other restrictions. he estimated that by 1980 it would be 20-30%.
Beulah Olson was born August 12, 1912 in Ortley, South Dakota. Her family came to Hoffman, MN in 1921. Mrs. Olson relates her childhood, early education, and life as a homemaker. She discusses the changing roles of women as student, teacher, housewife, mother, and finally as grandmother.
Interview with Harold Nelson. Harold volunteered for the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) during the Great Depression. He was stationed in Isabella and decided to stay there after his tour was done. The CCC men were paid $30 a month but $25 was sent to their families. When the CCC camps shut down he was left with out work but managed to get some work with the AAWPS and then worked for the Evergreen Mine for three years. When it closed he worked for the Zenith Mine and then the Sibley Mine where he stayed until World War II ended. Eventually he was hired at the Pioneer Mine where he worked for 20 years until he retired.
Interview with Frances Nelson. Frances Nelson tells her granddaughter what Ely was like in 1915. There were no sidewalks or cars but transportation was by horse and wagons. There was one grocery store. There were a lot of Finnish and Slovenians and many of them didn't speak English. Milk was 5 cents a quart. Her family used the wood for heat and cooking because they had no coal. They walked everywhere and carried their lunches to school. When World War I broke out there was a diphtheria epidemic and they were quarantined. Native Americans would come around and ask for work. She said her family was very poor with no changes of clothing. When World War II broke out all of her brothers were drafted. One brother came home with yellow jaundice. She felt people were healthier then though because there were no chemicals in their food.
Interview with Frank Muvich. Frank's parents were born in Yugoslavia, but they met in Michigan where his father worked as a stevedore on the boats. He had a cousin in Michigan. His mother came to this country because others were immigrating and life was so hard there that she felt it had to be better in the United States. They arrived in Ely in the late 1880s where he worked at the Chandler Mine and later the Pioneer Mine. Conditions were terrible as the only tools used were the pick, shovel, and dynamite. There were nine children in the family with Frank being the eighth child. His younger sister died. Frank started working at 19 and was given his father position when he retired after 35 years. He was glad to have the position as it was 1936 and during the Great Depression. He became a contract miner but the Pioneer Mine didn't play fair with the contracts and cut the price if they felt the miners were earning too much. He joined the union on day 1. They met at Pink Hall where the company would position people to write down the names of the men attending the meetings. The company tried to organize their own union for their favorites but as it was illegal they had to disband. Frank talks about mine accidents, acid rain in the mine, and of his relief when the Pioneer Mine closed for good. He liked the crew, but he hated the work. Happy and relieved, Frank went to work for the EPA and felt he had been let out of prison.
Mrs. Ruth Munn describes nursing in the 1920s and early 1930s. Her discussion covers training at St. John's Hospital in Fargo, costs, living and working conditions, and early salaries.
Wilbur Mortenson is a Moorhead native and a veteran of WW II. He has worked in the Moorhead Post Office and has been a member of the American Legion since 1946 and served in a variety of offices including Commander and Adjutant. Mr. Mortenson tells of the very beginnings of the Legion formed in 1919. He describes how the Legion clubs are organized into local posts, state departments, and on a national level. The goals and purposes of the Legion are also discussed.
In an oral history, Selena Molstad talks of her father coming to Brainerd from Norway, her childhood memories of her church, and getting her teaching certificate, and doing practice teaching in a country school.
This interview discusses the topic of immigration and Angela's parents, Rosalie and John, and their journey from Yugoslavia, circa 1890. Angela was born in Ely on August 17, 1900. She also discusses family life, Lincoln School, St. Anthony's Catholic Church, her marriage, mines, and life in early Ely.
Sara Nordlie McCormick was born in Minneapolis, MN on November 2, 1918. A member of the Moorhead Altrusa organization since 1962, McCormick describes the activities of Altrusa, including social service, fund raising and special projects. She was employed as a social worker by Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, Cass County Children�s Center of Fargo, Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and Independent School District #152 of Moorhead. She retired in 1981.
In an oral history, Henry Mattson tells about his father coming from Sweden to homestead near Brainerd about 1896. He also talks about things he remembers from his childhood up to World War I like life on the farm, his schooling, and cutting wood to sell. He also speaks of things concerning the 1920s and 1930s and how he help to build the telephone lines in the area.
Interview with Mary Anderson. Mary Anderson was born on Burntside Lake. Her mother was an Objiwe (sometimes called Chippewa) who was born on the Indian Reservation near Tower, Minnesota, the Bois Forte Indian Reservation. Her father, who was French and Irish, was born in Norway, Michigan. When her father was 14 his family moved to Tower. Mary said her parents each had to learn the other's language. Mary explained about how her father's family never accepted his Native American wife.
Interview with Mary Marsnik. Mary Marsnik was born in Ely in 1906. Her parents were married in Austria/Hungary and their first two children died and were buried there. Her father came to Soudan, Minnesota in 1900 and worked in the mine there. He meant to go back to get his wife but instead moved to Ely where he worked in the Pioneer Mine. His wife came in 1905 reluctantly and she never liked it here. She remembers her father coming home and changing clothes in a shed in the yard. His knees would be all dirty and bleeding as all his work was done on his knees as the drifts were so low. Mary would take hot water and a towel and bathe her fathers' knees. He was paid $1.50 a day. Later, the pay was raised to $2.00 a day. There were nine children in her family. As the oldest she had a lot to do and could bake bread by the time she was nine. They had a garden plot where Vermilion College is today. Mary married at 15. Five years later she was a widow with three children and a fourth on the way. Two years later she remarried and had nine more children. All finished school and four graduated college in the same year! In 1976 she was named Mother of the Year in Ely and the following year she was runner up Mother of the Year for the State of Minnesota.
Interview with Senja Maki. Senja Maki was born in Finland in 1888 and immigrated to the United States when she was 4. She moved to Ely when she was 16. Her parents divorced because her father was an alcoholic and her mother remarried. Senja moved to Ely where she worked waiting tables at a hotel. The hotel burned and she looked for a new job where she worked until she broke her knee. In 1907 she married Gust Maki who owned "Maki Clothing." They had five children and her husband died in 1964. Senja marched for women's right to vote and was part of the Delphin Society. The Delphin Society was a study group for women to learn about art, music, and literature. She has lived in the same house for 77 years. Her philosophy of life is to learn to live the proper way and always do what is right.
Millie MacLeod grew up near Larimore, ND. Mrs. MacLeod has been Vice-President and President of the National Board of Directors within the Camp Fire Girls organization. She discusses its history, goals, and activities.
Interviews with Mary Mackie, Mary Berrini, and Beatrice Masnari. They discuss immigration. Mackie's and Berrini's parents emigrated from Italy seeking better lives and jobs. Masnari arrived in 1931 to join her husband who had come to Ely some years before. Italian was spoken at home, but they learned English at school. They lived in the Chandler Location where the housing costs were paid by the owners. They discuss their chores, including hauling water in boilers on sleds or wagons, carrying buckets of water using yokes, and pumping well water. Lake water was used for gardens and washing clothes. Drinking water was dipped from a pail. Bringing in wood and hauling out ashes, shoveling snow, scrubbing floors (three times a week). Sense of community: People got along well, helping each other out. Groups of men would hunt together and share game. Families shared garden produce and people would help each other building homes. In addition to gardens, families had chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and cows. Many home remedies were used for illnesses. Making grappa (wine). Games and entertainment included Bocce ball, Briscola, and adult card game, movies, Duck on the Rock, making skimmers from barrel staves, rolling hoops, carnivals and circuses. Shops and peddlers: The Chocolate Shop, Mr. Bismark's candy store, grocery stores that delivered, Mr. Giacomo's ice cream cart, the door-to-door scissors sharpener who came to Ely once a year, the organ grinder and his monkey. They discuss their Christmas memories, when Italian traditions were observed with Italian foods. The Christmas tree was decorated with candy, popcorn, and candles. Christmas gifts included fruit, nuts, and candy.
A talk given by Lyle Klein, music instructor. He spoke on the origins of bands in Ely beginning with the first band of about 12 people known as the "Ely Cornet Band," or the Brass Band or the City Band, and sometimes all three names were used in the same newspaper article. Bands began in 1888-1889. Klein lists the various band directors through to 1967. Most school students were members of bands and Ely had an excellent instrumental music program. The school music directors followed closely the list of city band directors. Klein speaks of the Sampo Band under the direction of Charles Klemola a trumpet player and composer.The talk touches on the various ethnic bands as well.
Elsie Lee was born on a farm near Big Lake, MN on September 2, 1916. Mrs. Lee tells of her many years of experience as a homemaker and describes her life and activities in Moorhead. Elsie tells of her experience as one of the first homemakers to work fulltime while raising a family of 3 children.
In an oral history, Tarz and Virginia Larson realate the history of their families and their involvement and the activities of their church. Tarz's real name is John, but he got his nickname as a child. The Tarzan craze was going on at the time. John tried to emulate the character by climbing trees and pounding his chest, and the kids in the neighborhood called him "Tarz". The nickname stuck.
Interview with Cecil Kuitenen. He discusses his immigration from Finland in 1901 at 4 years old. Steerage class aboard the "RMS Umbria" through Ellis Island, New York. He also talks about Winton, Minnesota and sawmills, logging, jobs, boarding house, housing, schools, and Finn Hall including the plays, lectures, library, basket socials, apron socials, and the Winton church. He talks about mining at Section 30. He also speaks about his return visit to Finland and the social/political landscape of Europe. He relates his reasons for leaving Finland, Finnish/Swedish relations, Finnish/Russian relations, the Winter War. He also discusses the social/political aspect of Minnesota including U.S. citizenship, unions, socialists. Individuals mentioned: mill owners, Knox, Torinus brothers, Ely banker Mr. White, Sunday School teachers Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs. Johnson (Ruby Nichols Johnson).
Interview with Harlan and Bertha Krause. Note: This tape is very fuzzy and hard to understand. He talks about his parents moving from somewhere in South Dakota to Browns Valley, Minnesota in order to farm. His family came to Ely from Browns Valley in 1923 because they were sick of farming. His father was hired at the Pioneer Mine as a timberman to start with. Later he was a janitor in the shop buildings. He died in 1939. Harlan began working at the Pioneer Mine in 1926. He retired 41 years later when the Pioneer closed its doors. A religious man, he preached salvation wherever he could. When he was given the choice between joining the union or losing his job, he refused to join the union and he also kept his job. The same was true when he was offered group insurance through the mine. He refused the insurance even though it meant that the quota of insured men was too low for good rates. He felt his sustenance came from God, not the Oliver Mining Company.
Note: This tape does not begin at the beginning but jumps into the subject mid-sentence. Isabel speaks of being on the school board and the problems faced when the Superintendent was a Catholic and many on the board were Lutherans. She said that a man she had admired and thought most upright and decent remarked when a majority of the board were Lutherans that now they could "get" the superintendent. Women, for the most part, did not run for public office. Their husbands would not like having their wives in the public like that. In thinking it over she was proud that she had run for school board and served her term but wouldn't do it again. Talking about Ely's future (in the 1980s), she saw Ely as stuck with tourism now that the mines were closed. However more restrictions were being placed on tourism as well making it difficult to make a living as a resort-owner, too. In the mid-1950s, drilling companies were busy drilling along Highway 1 for precious metals, gold in particular. Now even those explorations were gone as the government put more restrictions on land usage. She speaks of declining populations citing how whole neighborhoods that once teemed with children now house old, single women. One thing, she said, is that as you get old you don't lie awake thinking of the things you shouldn't have done, but instead you think of the things you should have done. The children suffer, she said, when women try to have it all and their marriages pay the price as well.
Interview with Tony Klun, age 65, part owner of Klun's Meat Market on Central Avenue, Ely. He is not heard on this tape but it is a report read by his interviewer, Mike Petrich, concerning his method of making sausage. The store, which opened in 1922 was converted from a dry goods store owned by Tony's stepmother. The precise way of making sausage is very clearly explained, but there is no mention of the spices used nor the amounts.
Jacob "Jake" Kiefer is a native of Moorhead and returned to the community after military service in World War I. He managed Kiefer Chevrolet. His oral history concentrates on his memories of Moorhead at the turn of the twentieth century. He discusses his involvement in community's service organizations such as the Legion club, the Rotary, and the Moorhead Chamber of Commerce.
In an oral history, Mrs. Charlie (Esther) Jokela discusses various topics including growing up in a Finnish family near Brainerd, going to a country school, and life on the farm after she got married.
