Otterstad discusses his family's arrival in the Turtle River area in 1900; the early buildings of Turtle River; the logging industry; the town of Farley; the Red Lake-Leech Lake Indian trails; and early Turtle River newspapers. This record contains parts of multiple interviews. Please refer to the transcripts for help understanding these.
The interview with Charles William Vandersluis (CWV) was conducted by his son, Dr. Charles Wilson Vandersluis, on an unrecorded date in an unrecorded location. Vandersluis describes traveling through northern Minnesota as a hardware salesman for Janney, Semple, & Hill Company starting in 1901. He discusses traveling by foot and train, including a description of a stopping place outside Little Fork, Minnesota. He describes selling to logging companies and mercantile stores. He also describes the early buildings and businesses of towns like Farley, Turtle River, Red Lake, Solway, and Redby, Minnesota. He describes the early days of Brainerd, including building the Central School and Episcopal Church. The interview continues in BCHS 029b.
Edna Dunham (Mrs. Jack) Essler discusses where she was born and how her family first came to St. Peter, Minnesota; her grandfather's livestock business; her first teaching jobs at Traverse des Sioux, Lake Washington, Kasota, and Cleveland; working at Kerr's Department Store in Minneapolis; going with her friend, Miss Lula Rickmire, to stay at her homestead claim in Itasca County; buying her own relinquishment in Itasca County; what Farley and Blackduck looked like when she first went through; going up to her own homestead for the first time; her and Miss Rickmire's encounter with a bear; meeting her husband; teaching a country school near her claim; buying her land; getting married at Blackduck; what Bemidji looked like in 1902; and early doctors in Bemidji. The recording is continued in bchs087b.
Elsie Mae Willsey discusses her father's life before coming to the area; her father's choice of homestead ending up far from the railroad; her first trip to Big Turtle Lake from Chicago in 1901; what they did for fun; mosquitoes and bedbugs; her friendship with Martha Miersch; their sock and stocking bazaar; early residents of Turtle River; the town water pump; the railroad coming to Turtle River; her father building boats; a description of her father; who cared for her father in his final years; her father catching 11 fish for dinner; their roothouse; salting fish; and how Movil Lake got its name. The recording, clearly dated September 19, 1952, is continued in bchs119b.
Four part interview with surveyor Euclid "Ernie" Bourgeois discusses the logging industry, S.C. Bagley, spur 75, Red Lake steamers, platting and civil engineering, recollections of Farley and Turtle River, histories of local railroads, Markham Hotel, and early Bemidji saloons' involvement with railroads. In part 2, Bourgeois discusses his early memories of Bemidji and Buena Vista, early Bemidji infrastructure, platting and civil engineering, Marcus D. Stoner, the town site of Turtle, and his work on spur 75. In later portions, Bourgeois discusses the evaluation of local land for dairy production and/or clover or seed; logging on Clearwater River; his experience with the Brainerd Lumber Company near LaSalle Lake and log unloading during winter; whether logs were driven on the Mississippi; spreading clover seed on drive to Baudette; name of cruisers for whom creeks might be named; knowledge of surveyor Thomas H. Croswell, plats of small settlements in the area; naming of Buena Vista and plats of Tenstrike, Hidewood, Kelliher, Funkley, and Dexter; the Red Lake Transportation Company; how Bemidji business owners chipped in to induce a railroad to come to town; surveying for a railroad near the Blakeslee farm; breaking out to survey on his own; recollection of the Delphine post office; the Red Lake-Leech Lake trail; early history of Lavinia; platted communities of Jens Opsahl; early history of Grand Forks Bay; and comparing old Nebish to modern Nebish.
George Kerr and Charlie Wight discuss railroad management; the railroad's engines; Pine Tree Lumber Company; the St. Anthony Lumber Company; a line to Moccasin Lake; a wagon road from Lothrop to Emily; various landing works; Spur 75; the Brainerd and Northern Minnesota railroad; railroad landings; area train wrecks; the railroad's survey through a residential area of Bemidji; Turtle River; and Tenstrike. Kerr appears to be reading from a document written by himself earlier. The interview is continued from BCHS120a.
The interview with Henry Kolden was conducted by Dr. Charles Vandersluis on an unrecorded date in an unrecorded location. Henry Kolden discusses toting goods and operating the Summit Mercantile Company in Blackduck, Minnesota in the early 1900s. He also describes early fraternal organizations, churches, schools, railroads, travelling salesmen, and musicians. He also describes photographer Louis Halverson, the Palace Hotel, and early newspapers including the Blackduck Times and the Blackduck American. He also describes interactions between white settlers and Ojibwe people, including interactions like hiring an Ojibwe driver, boarding on the Red Lake reservation, attending a dance, and disagreements over timber. The interview is continued from BCHS020a, and continues in BCHS 130a/b and BCHS 131a/b.
The interview with John Van House was conducted by Dr. Charles Vandersluis on an unrecorded date in an unrecorded location, probably Kelliher, Minnesota. Van House discusses living in Fosston, Solway, and Turtle River, Minnesota starting in about 1892, 1903, and 1906, respectively. He also discusses old village of Turtle versus the later village of Turtle River. He discusses early saloons, hotels, churches, and schools in those areas. He also discusses working in a livery barn and as a saloonkeeper. The interview continues in BCHS 059b.
