Interview with Harry Bedman. Bedman gives a history of the fishing resort his family owned from about 1880 into the 20th century. He talks about the trains bringing in tourists, shipping fish packed in ice by train. His father was named Charles Bedman and was the founder of the Alexandria Boat Works.
Interview with Bertha Black. She was "101 and counting" at the time of the interview. She was intervieweed for the Heritage column. She was born on June 9, 1882 in Iowa; and she settled in Hudson Township on a farm. Bertha became a teacher in Spruce Hill; and worked as cook at Shellfish restaurant.
Interview with Bertha Black. Bertha was born June 9, 1882 in Iowa. Her parents were Julia and Fredrick Hofer. They came to Minnesota in 1885 from Iowa. Her maternal Grandfather was Nicholas Michaels and he accompanied the family to Minnesota. They attended the First Methodist Church. Bertha attended school in District 16. Bertha also discusses her siblings.
Interview wtih Myrtle Blade (Mrs. Carl Blade). She came to Holmes City in 1926 and operated the Blade Store in Holmes City until 1969. The Blade Store was a hardware and grocery store. Myrtle discusses making stove pipes and putting screens in milk strainers as a large part of the hardware business. Her husband Carl was born in Sweden in 1891. They met at the Fergus Falls State Hospital where both of them were working.
Interview with Minnie Brakken (Mrs. Anton Brakken). Minnie was born in Carlos Township in 1901. Her parents were Ira Wheeler and Lena Engkvist Wheeler. She discusses life on a farm with 11 children, gardening, canning, and playing ball with her father. She also discusses the first Carlos, Minnesota Post Office of 1928 which was also the Brakken's family home.
"Reminiscing in West Central Minnesota" a Saturday KRMS News Feature. Harold Brundin, started running concessions at Lakeside Pavlion, Glenwood, MN, in 1933. Partnered with Tuddy Kaldahl in 1939. Had live radio broadcasts on WCCO. Nationally known bands who played at Lakeside Pavlion include: Louis Armstrong, Lawrence Welk, Sammy Kaye, Stan Kenton, Guy Lombardo, and Wayne King.
Interview with Miriam Cordes. Miriam was born in 1893. She recounts her memories of the Hudson Cheese Factory. Miriam attended District 6 school in Union Lake.
Interview with Mr. Covel. His parents were Sydney and Florence Steele Covel. His father worked in the Hudson Cheese Factory and his mother worked as a housekeeper for the owners of the Cheese Factory. His paternal grandparents homesteaded on Union Lake.
Interview with Luella Fjoslien. Luella was born in 1900 in Fargo, North Dakota, and May Engen. May recounts memories of life on farm in LaGrande Township. Luella Fjoslien recounts the life of rural school teacher.
Interview wtih Luella Fjoslien. Luella was born on January 27, 1899 in Lund Township (northeast of Evansville, Minnesota). Her husband was Olaf Fjoslien. Her parents were John C. and Anna Johnson. Anna was a midwife. Her father John C. Johnson served on the Township and School Boards and was the key instigator of getting Garfield Telephone Company organized, and was a charter member of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church. She recalls the Normal School at Moorhead, her teaching career, and her travel to Europe. She also discusses the World's Fair in both Seattle and Toronto.
Interview with Lou Hendricks. Lou recalls his memories of obtaining electricity first from the mill and batteries, then REA (Rural Electric Association). He also recalls using iceboxes and obtaining ice from Lake Osakis.
Interview with Charles Norman Hicks. Charles was born in 1906. His wife was Dorothy May Haines. He was the grandson of William Everett Hicks and Theresa Thomas Hicks, early founders of Alexandria, Minnesota. The Hicks family donated the land for the courthouse, as well as the land for the Methodist and Congregational Churches. He recounts his early childhood in Alexandria, Minnesota. He also discusses his later life events in California, including his education at UCLA, USC and his later teaching career.
Interview with Gordon Hobart and Walter Leuthner. They discuss the various businesses in town at the turn of the 20th century. They also discuss how people paid store bills. Businesses mentioned include Carlson Grocery, N.P. Ward, Gregerson, Culbertson. Walter Leuthner's father came up from St. Paul to buy a bakery. His children delivered bake goods to homes, restaurants, and hotels on their bicycles. They also discuss when the National Guard was called in to apprehend a murder suspect who was holed up in a local house. One of the National Guard soldiers was killed in the exchange of bullets. Walter Leuthner tells the story of gunshot wound to his arm when a firearm accidentally went off. They also discuss the loss of the bird population with the advent of DDT. Also discussed are the local Armistice Day celebrations.
Interview with Nellie (Jerry) Hoffman. She relates the history of her family at Indian Mounds, including the University of Minnesota excavation of second largest Indian Mound Minnesota and the history of woodlands Indians in the area.
Interview with Robert and Ruth Hunter Hultman. The Hultmans were wwners of the Viking Trail Resort. They purchased Camp Preston in the mid 1950s. Robert continued to work at newspaper while Ruth ran the resort.
Interview with Dr. Kai Hunt. Dr. Hunt was born in Shanghai, was raised in Hong Kong, and received medical education in China. Dr. Hunt immigrated to the U.S. in 1960s and then moved to Canada to join friends. He met his wife there. They moved to Alexandria, Minnesota in 1971. There were only 12 doctors in the entire community. Dr. Hunt has a family practice that also inlcudes acupuncture and psychiartry.
Interview with Esther Jensen. Esther was born in Geneva, Minnesota on March 8, 1894. Her father was Jens Christianson and he was from Denmark. Esther attended the Osakis school, District 111. Esther husband was John Jensen, (died February 9, 1968). John Jensen immigrated from Jutland, Viklum, to join relatives, including John Severson. Both John and Art Severson attended school in Austin. She married John on March 20, 1912. John was a surveyor. He dug drainage ditches and farmed near Osakis, Minnesota. Esterh recalls the Osakis band that played at the Douglas County Fair and local town band concerts.
Interview with Charlie Johanson, Alice Lindemeyer (his sister), Irene Larson (his niece). They lived in Evansville, Minnesota. His parents emigrated from Tuddal, Norway. His father was Hans Johanson and he was an implement dealer. They also discuss the history of Evansville from 1881 and onwards, the role of the train, and the schools they attended. Charlie attended the Fergus College.
Interview with Ann Johnson (Mrs. Harold F Johnson). Interview part 2 of 2. Ann was born August 30,1896 in Nelson, Minnesota. She recounts life in Nelson including working on a farm without electricity or running water. Ann also worked at the Dickinson Inn. She married Harold F. Johnosn on December 5, 1920.
Interview with Ann Johnson (Mrs. Harold F Johnson). Interview part 1 of 2. Ann was born August 30, 1896 in Nelson, Minnesota. Her maiden name was Annie Josephine Dorothea Olson. Her maternal Grandparents were Johanna and Johannes Anderson, who immigrated from Sweden in 1869 and settled near Nelson.
Interview with Art Johnson. Art was a banker in Almora at the Miltona State Bank during the Great Depression in 1932. He recalls his memories of bank activities, including a discussion of Rural Credit and 'barnyard' loans. Art bought a farm with milk cows and delivered dairy product to Tip Top Cove, Evergreen, Whitmore's along Lake Miltona. Art discusses the New Deal and the WPA. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church, which was organized in 1921. The church was built in 1923. Art's father immigrated from Sturup, Sweden in 1890. He mentions Knute Nelson of Garfield, Minnesota who made the first potato chips in his kitchen, which he then sold and delivered.
Banker Art Johnson discussing Miltona area resort business. Missouri Club, Chicago Club, Ideal Beach, Tip Top Cove. Tip Top Cove was started by L.M. Picha, from Omaha, MO. Also discusses first buildings/stores in Alexandria, Minnesota.
Interview with Everett Johnson. Topics discussed include: Olle Floding, maternal Grandfather from Dalarna, Sweden, 1867. Stories of School District 77 are also told. Johnson worked for Schuman & Company and built the Nelson School. He also talks about potato farming on Jundt Farm near Carlos Corners.
Interview with Lee H. Johnson. Lee was born January 23, 1894 in a sod house in Windom, Minnesota. He describes his life in the Army during World War I in 1918. He went to work for Coca-Cola in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1924. His first car had the Coca-Cola trademark painted on it. He later opened a Coca-Cola bottling operation in 1936 in Alexandria, Minnesota. In 1952, he opened Sun-Rise Corporation bottling company. He discusses the funding of the Runestone Museum in 1958. He was also involved in the establishment of the television station in 1958. Lee also served as the president of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in 1955.
