Grandma's House

My grandparents bought this house in 1908

and moved in when my Mom was just weeks old.

I always refer to it as "Grandma's House"

because my Grandpa died before I was born.

My Mom used to talk about what a nice

place they had.

It was located just south of Dalton,

across the road from Hansel Lake.

There were beautiful pine trees in the front yard

and a white picket fence.

There were apple trees and berries,

such as currants, chokecherries and grapes

for making jams and jellies.

Going into the house through the back door

and into the lean-to

one was greeted with the aroma of

apples and plums.

This was noticeable all year long.

Coming into the large kitchen,

there was a pail of water with a

drinking ladle right next to the door.

The inside of the pail was caked with rust

from the iron in the water,

and the water had a distinct iron odor.

But, oh, the cold water still tasted good!

On the floor was a door to the cellar.

Grandma used to keep potatoes, carrots & onions

down there.

If there was a terrible storm that

threatened to turn into a tornado,

it served as a shelter for the family.

Grandma's treadle sewing machine sat in the kitchen,

and there was a long barometer on the wall

that had a picture of a ship on it.

There was no dining room, and a large

square table stood in the middle of the kitchen.
There were geraniums in the south window.

Grandma's living room was cozy.

The walls were papered and there was a Boston fern in the

northeast corner.

There was a big old upright piano on one wall.

The stove that sat in the living room was

the only source of heat for the home.

Grandma's bedroom was right off of the living room.

I remember her iron bed and the old dresser.

I remember old pictures on the wall--
One was the wedding picture of
grandma & grandpa.

We kids used to like to go upstairs.

Up the steep, narrow steps .....

At the top of the stairs was a

huge cabinet that was painted green.

I don't know what was inside of it.

There was a store room that we liked to go in.

There were boxes, and relics from

what we called the "olden days."

Aunt Esther's china doll was sitting on the shelf,

but we didn't dare touch her.

I remember a big old winter coat

hanging in there.

Esther's room was always so pretty.

It was bright and airy, with a white dresser

and white iron bed.

But what we liked was the vent in the floor.

We could look down the vent right into

the kitchen and see the ladies

bustling about, either preparing a meal

or cleaning up afterwards.

Oh, the memories of Grandma's house!

I found some old pictures of the home

and it brought to mind so many memories...

...too many to share.

I think my kids have good memories of

their grandma's house,

and I hope my grandchildren

will have good memories

of my house.

Grandmas are great,

and it's great being a Grandma!!



A Look into the Past!

This afternoon I was going through some old photos

of Mom's...writing on the backs of those I could identify.

I am sharing this one because I thought

it was just....plain....cute!

I believe this is my Mom with the calf,

but it could be one of her sisters.

This one was taken right here in Dalton.

My parents lived in the house where

the fire station is now located,

and these ladies are at the pump,

cooling off.

You can see the sign for the Hotel that

used to be across the street

where the community center now stands.

This is a picture of the students at the old District 4

I believe.   I am not on this picture,

but I think my brother Si is on here someplace,

since his name is on the back

Can you find him?

My Mom (left) and her friends.

I share this because my daughter Amy

often resembles my mom, and

I think it shows in this picture.

The Sarpsborg Sunday School.

I don't know what year this would be, but I

do recognize a few faces.

I do see:  Jerry Erickson, David Kvernstoen,

Linda Erickson (in front), Ellen Rovang,

Marian Jorgens Grage, Esther Dahlager.

Let me know who you see!

Long ago

My relative also sent this picture.

It is of me, my brother Jim and Mom.

Mom wrote on the back:

"My two youngest and myself--

sort of taken unaware."

I like some of these pictures that

aren't so stiffly posed.



Ladies Aid in Dalton, Minnesota 1922

Today I got this picture in the mail from a relative in southern Minnesota.

She thought I might be interested in it because on the back it says:

"Most of the people in Dalton, about 1922 or so, Ladies Aid."

I am thinking this would be the Ladies Aid of the

Zion Mission Society.

My relatives went to Sarpsborg at that time,

and I can't identify any of these people.

In 1922 my parents weren't even married;

they hadn't even met!

I don't know where this was taken;

it could be someplace in town.

Does anyone recognize any of the faces

or the house/buildings?

[click to enlarge]

Halloween Party

Today my brothers & sisters

and their spouses

came to my house for a

get-together.

Since it is almost Halloween,

I decided that it would be a

Halloween party. . .

Nobody was too scared of this hand coming

out of the couch!  In fact, Ernie sat down

and didn't even notice it! 

I had a couple of prizes in the two bathrooms!

This one said:

"Goblins are scary, witches make brew,

Since you came upstairs,

this is for you"

Here are Ernie & MaryJane

Si, making his political statement....

Here is the rest of Si's costume - a ring around his eye.

David came as himself .....

Dodie & John came from "south of the border!"

Deloris wore a pumpkin!

This little guy greeted the guests!

A fun time was had by all!!

October 19, 1930

They just don't write up weddings for the newspaper like they used to!

Popular Dalton Couple Married

     "Another autumn wedding took place Sunday, October 19, at the Parkdale church immediately after the forenoon services when Ralph Melby and Mabel Dahlager of Dalton exchanged marriage vows.  Services were read by Pastor Berlie.

     Lohengrin's wedding march was played by Miss Carrie Moen of Concordia College, Moorhead, as the bridal party entered.  The groom entered escorted by the best man, Orion Dahlager, a brother of the bride, and took their places at the altar.  They were followed by Miss Esther Berlie, maid of honor.   She wore a gown of pink georgette and lace and carried a corsage of pink roses.  Miss Esther Dahlager, a sister of the bride, was Junior bridesmaid.  She was dressed in pale yellow georgette with a corsage of yellow roses.  Oscar Lien acted as usher.

     The bride was charming in a white satin gown, ankle length and fashioned princess style.  Her long veil was held in place by orange blossoms.   She carried a bouquet of pink roses.   The wedding vows were spoken under an improvised arch of white and pink.  Miss Sadie Rovang of Fergus Falls sang "Love Divine," "Love So Tenderly" and "O Perfect Love."  Mendelssohn's wedding march was play for the recessional.

    The wedding dinner was served at the home of the bride's parents to about 40 relatives.  Miss Mildred Swendsrud and Miss Carrie Moen were waitresses.  Mr. and Mrs. Carl Peterson of Chicago, a sister of the groom also attended.   Two huge wedding cakes were presented to the bride as gifts; one from Mrs. Berlie and one from Mrs. Tom Bratvold, the groom's sister

    The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Dahlager   They left the same day for a wedding trip and after returning will make their home in Dalton where the groom is engaged in the oil business"  (From the Fergus Falls Daily Journal, Oct. 22, 1930.)

This was my parent's wedding write-up.  I just though it would be fun to share this as the date of their anniversary is almost here.   At the time of my dad's death in 1991, they had been married 61 years.  (Mom died at the age of 102 last November.)

Note.  . . 

1.  Dad's brother Joe was supposed to be the best man, but he had surgery for appendicitis and could not be there.   Orion took the best man's position, and Oscar Lien filled in as an usher at the last minute.  

2.  Sarpsborg Church was often called Parkdale Church.

3.  The last paragraph notes that "the groom is engaged in the oil business."    Well, not exactly in THE oil business!  Dad was part owner of the Skelly gas station in Dalton at the time - usually referred to as the "filling station" in those days.

Skeletons in the Closet

While researching my family history,

a little bit of "scandal" was

found.   When we first heard about

this scandal, my aunt Esther was

very upset and didn't want to hear about it.

But. . the following events happened

365 years ago (more or less) and

even though these men are somehow related,

it is very distant.  But none-the-less,

I will share the stories with you:

My ancestor, Laurtis Bjornson,

had been charged with murder.  

 At midsummer (St. Olav's Day, July 29),

Laurtis stabbed a man named Gudbrand Gudbrandson.

Since Gudbrand eventually died,

Laurtis was charged with murder.

But. . .On his deathbed, Gudbrand swore that

he was dying of tar disease, and not from the

knife wound.  Gudbrand's brother wrote the

testimony down and had it delivered to court
after Gudbrand's death.

Laurtis was then cleared on the murder charges.

The testimony was dated July 13, 1655.

Another ancestor named Lars Andrison

was a repeat offender - and it sounds like

he was a pretty violent man!

In 1632-33 he had to pay $12.00 in

blood money after he

"accidentally happened" to beat

Johannes Oelgorn to death at a

Baptism party at the Hamre farm.

(Really?  at a BAPTISM party???)

In 1641-1642 Lars  had to pay another fine

for stabbing Eivind Grovi with a knife

I guess some of those Vikings weren't so wonderful!

(This information was received from my niece, Lora,

who lives in Norway.)

Sorry, no pictures of Laurtis or Lars,

no pictures of the crime scene,

no DNA, no finger prints.

Great-great grandpa Ole Leikvold

Here is my Great-great Grandpa Ole Leikvold.

Now, doesn't he look like an old Norske!!

Ole Olson was born on September 12, 1830 on the Ode Farm

at Vang Valdres, Norway.

His parents were Ole Olson Ode and Sigri Knudsdatter Vik.

On March 28, 1853, Ole married

Kari Nilsdatter Svien.

They lived at Slidre, Vang Valdres, Norway.

My great-grandma was born on August 18, 1853,

which means they had their honeymoon

before the marriage!

(yes, it happened even in those days!)

Besides farming, Ole was a wood lathe operator

and carpenter.

He made fancy lefse rolling pins,

cupboards, benches,

chairs & spinning wheels.

One of the spinning wheels that he made was
for my great grandma Sigrid Dahlager.
Sigrid passed that spinning wheel down to
my grandma Elsie Dahlager,
and now my sister, Kathy, has it.

Ole & Kari were renters on the

Leikvollen farm from 1857-1869.

This is where the last name, Leikvold (Lakevold)

was taken from.

The family attened Slidredomen Kirke

in West Slidre.This church was organized in 1170.

The church was rebuilt  in the 1700's
and is still in use (shown above)

In 1869 my great-great grandpa, decided

to bring his family to America.

They arrived in Quebec on June 16, 1869.

From there, they headed to Iowa

and settled near Silver Lake in Worth County.

Ole & Kari had 8 children.

Their daughter, Sigrid was my

Great Grandma Dahlager.

On December 10, 1916, my

great-great grandpa died at the age of 86.

He is buried at the Sunset Rest Cemetery

at Lake Mills, Iowa.

If you ever go to Northwood, Iowa,

be sure to visit the museum there.

It is filled with artifacts from my

great-great grandparents

and some of their children.

Hayride

Today our parish had a hayride.

It was a beautiful day

and between 75 & 80 people attended!

There were 3 wagons--each pulled

by 2 horses.

Each wagon made 2 trips so

that everyone could get in on the fun!

The hayride started at Kvam Church.

You can see what a beautiful day it was.

Waiting to pull the wagon.

Lloyd Schuur lead his horses and this

covered wagon.

Ron Moe took some of the hay-riders on this hay rack.

This wagon was pulled by David Kaste

(this is the one I was in)
Well, David Kaste didn't pull the rack - the horses did!

The horses were quiet and the ride was so smooth

that Luke fell asleep on the wagon!

What a nice fall Sunday!