The following oral history was recorded by Dr. Charles Vandersluis. Harry Carlson discusses the steamboat Ida, which his father built; early Bemidji; stumps in Third Street; eating wild meat and salt pork before the railroad came in; Gustav Hinsch's idea to build a statue of Chief Bemidji; Hinsch's disappearance and possible death; Hinsch losing everything in a fire at Phillips, Wisconsin; and when the village and county were organized. Earl Geil is also present during the interview. The recording jumps twice to unidentified musical performances. The recording, possibly from 1952, is continued from bchs104b.
