Depicted in this photo is Abraham Mallinen and his family, in of their farmstead, along with their horses. He was the first licensed minister of the Town of Thomson and served as pastor of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of Esko when it was first organized. He settled in Thomson Township with his family in 1883 on his farm, which was located west of the present day Thomson Road and north of the Palkie Road.
This postcard shows Albin Ruikka and John Ruikka in their Maxwell ragtop convertible. The Maxwell automobile company was formed in 1904 and ceased to exist in 1925. The back of the postcard has handwriting saying, "Albin Ruikka John Ruikka in old Maxwell."
Two young boys, Fred and Isaac Esko, stand in front of the home of Alex Esko and Eva Esko, their parents. Fred was two years older than Isaac, and is the taller boy, while Isaac is the one wearing a white shirt. The house depicted here is probably the third in a series of several expansions. The original log home was constructed in 1895 and was basically in the shape of a rectangle that was parallel to Highway 61, on the south side. If you look very closely at the lower left corner of the house, you can see a black line extending west from the corner. This represents the bridge that crossed the Midway River. To the right, the settlement of Esko would begin its development about a decade later.
At far right is teacher Aluise Knuti and her class at the Washington School in 1952. This was her first year of teaching, and she was only 21 years old. Some years later, the classroom pictured was named the Aluise Knuti Lounge in her honor, as well as being dedicated to Aluise as being one of the organizers of the active Esko Senior Citizen's group.
A typical logging camp scene from 1889 is depicted, with several men identified in writing on the photograph itself as John VaHaNiemi, Sackri Tan, and Eli Albertson, who was labeled as "The Boss" in the photo. One of the largest logging operations in the area, it was known as the Albertson Camp and was located on the west side of Church Avenue near its junction with the North Cloquet Road.
This photograph of the A.M. Miller sawmill and crew in front of the mill building shows water barrels on the roof. The barrels were used to attempt to put out fires. Some crew members are sitting on a lumber pile located there. Andreas M. Miller's sawmill was located approximately one mile north of the Village of Thomson on the Midway River.
This photograph depicts the A.M. (Andreas M.) Miller sawmill and a large crew on the mill grounds, with railroad tracks in the foreground. A.M. Miller's mill was located approximately one mile north of the Village of Thomson on the Midway River.
Local artist and resident Edgar F. Olson painted the Apostolic Lutheran Church and its cemetery in 1943, using oils. On the back of the painting was the following etching: "My apprecication to you, Rev. Michaelson, for making my mother's last moments happier. Edgar F. Olson, 1937. Old Finnish Cemetery and New Church, Carlton Co., Minn."
The little insert is the first Thomson Township Apostolic Lutheran Congregation's old Church, and the larger photo is the new Thomson Township Apostolic Lutheran Congregation's church building, in 1936. It was dedicated to its holy purpose on Sunday, November 22, 1936, as the Finnish caption says.
Pioneer Charles A. Marks, his family and horses, are depicted in front of their remodeled home. The Marks family settled in Thomson Township in 1878. Charles A. Marks was the second county commissioner of Carlton County to serve from the Town of Thomson, in 1901. His original Finnish surname was Markkus. He operated a productive dairy farm located on the Midway River. One of his dairy cows can be seen between the three unidentified ladies. Presumably Charles Marks is the person holding the horses. He was born in Finland in 1854 and died in Thomson Township in 1921.
This is a photograph of the farm home of Charles Gustafson, which he purchased in 1899 from John Kajander. Charles Gustafson sold the farm to Charles Kinnunen in 1925, and two years later he sold it to Victor Maki, who turned it into the Cloverhill Dairy.
Early settler Charles Marks is sitting in his horse-pulled buggy, with his family in front of their house. The Charles Marks farm was located on the south end of the Marks road (the west side thereof) and extended north from the Harney Road. The family's pet cat is sitting on Mrs. Marks' lap. It was photographed by a Moose Lake Photographer, Adry Carlson.
Lila Johnson was the Valedictorian and Ellen Suominen was the Salutatorian of their classes, and their respective speeches were printed in the paper. The commencement program was detailed, as was the baccalaureate sermon, given by Superintendent A. L. Winterquist. There was a small photo of the seniors, as well as their class history and a Who's Who of the Senior class listed with the organizations in which they participated by year. A Luther League meeting and program was announced. Also included was a senior class will and prophesy section. The 4-H Club presented a three act comedy play. There was 4-H Club Achievement Day in Cloquet. The senior class hall of fame was listed. Basketball players were given awards such as sweaters and letters. The seniors were entertained at a banquet given at the Winterquist's home, by the Winterquists, with a meal, games, and contests. The seniors motored to Cloquet to have their photos taken at a studio. Members of the Lincoln School orchestra were listed along with the instruments they played. George Kivisto won honors at an invitational track meet held at Cloquet, winning first place in the discus throw and setting a new record, as well as winning third place in shot-put. Seniors were honored at a banquet put on by the juniors. The girls' volleyball and indoor baseball tournaments were held at Lincoln School. A boys' and girls' track tournament was held at Barnum. Boys' track members attended an invitational meet at Cloquetd. Girls who participated in spring sports were named. There were advertisements by the following businesses: Juntti Bros.; Arrowhead Cooperative Creamery; and Cloquet Cooperative Society.
This photograph shows an early road leading to the Victor Sariin farm, located about a half mile east of the Erickson Road and north present day Highway 61. Note the barbed wire fence, rocks piled along the fence line, as well as the deep wagon ruts and planks crossing what was evidently a low and wet spot in the middle of the road.
Shown here is early resident and artist, Edgar F. Olson, and an unnamed man, pitching loose hay in the field. Edgar F. Olson, the son of Nels O. Olson, was born on the Nels O. Olson farm on July 25, 1896, and died as a life-long bachelor on August 18, 1974.
Depicted here are Kaisa Maria Sarkela and Erick Sarkela standing in front of their farm house, with a barn and outbuildings in the background. The boy's name is Jalmari Sarkela, and Jenni Sarkela is the girl in the photograph.
Depicted here are the members of the 1947 Esko boys basketball team. In the front row, from left to right, are manager Gerald Reponen, Stanley Gustafson, Curtis Guss, John Manisto, Dick Lovestrand, Armand Johnson, and Coach Les Knuti. In the back row are Merton Pykkonen, Leo Seikkula, Ray Barney, Roy Joki, Ernest McKibbon, and Bob Bergstedt.
This photograph shows the 1940-1941 school year Esko FFA basketball team. The first row has A.L. Winterquist; ? Davidson; ? Koivisto; Reynold Mattson; Bernard Koivisto; In the second row are Lauri Kortesmaki; Les Knuti; J. Joki; Walt Maunu; Ray Maunu; ? Juntti; and Seth Fisher.
This shows the John Marks' family farm that was located in section 14 on the Marks Road and bordering the Midway River. Pioneer John Marks brought the first steel plow into the area. Notice the hay rake and hay mower, as well as the plow behind the family and their horse. The family settled on the Midway River farm in 1874. Possibly what looks like a flag pole in the background is a Finnish type of well. It was photographed by a Moose Lake Photographer, Adry Carlson.
The family is taking a break in the field with their dog and puppies, as well as a small wagon and buggy. The woman holding the puppies is "Liisa of Kalajoki." In his "History of the Thomson Farming Area," written in Finnish in 1935, John A. Mattinen wrote that the Fred Johnson farm was also known as Liisa of Kalajoki's farm and that Liisa (who died in 1924) was Fred's mother.
This scene shows the pioneer home of Mr. and Mrs. John Niemi, located on the Stenman Road, as well as their large dog sitting in the chair next to Mrs. Niemi. Their surname had been Vanhaniemi and was shortened and simplified to Niemi.
This painting by W. Gillette depicts the First Pera family home that was built in 1900 but destroyed by the 1918 Forest Fire. Also in the frame is the Pera family's home built after the 1918 Forest Fire. W. Gillette was a relative through marriage to John Pera's wife, Mabel Kaanta.
This is a photograph showing the first storekeeper of the first general store in the area, Henry Ruikka, and his family on their farm located on the edge of the Village of Thomson.
This postcard shows a team of horses hauling loose hay, two men on top pitching the hay, and a woman watching them. The card has written on it in the lower left, "In the Good Old Summer time." The back of the postcard shows that it is number 492 of a series entitled, "Vacation Series Postcards." It was sent to Mrs. A.L. Winterquist from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
This photograph depicts a hay shed, with a brush-lined wagon road. It is thought to be the Victor Sariin farm. The Victor Sariin farm was probably located north of Highway 61, about a half mile east of the Erickson Road.