The Women at the Well

 This photo is from the early 1900s

This well was in the backyard of Nels Johnson, located on the NE

corner of Main Street & Central Avenue.  You can see the back steps of

the house in the far left.

The Johnson's well was shared with others in Dalton who did not

have decent drinking water.   By 1910, the Johnson well showed

signed of "giving" out and water drawn from the well was limited.

It is interesting to note that these women are getting water, but they

are each carrying a cup rather than a bucket to bring some home

to other family members.

Does anyone from Dalton remember the well out in the

back yard of the Johnson place?

Dalton had a "town well" but the water was of inferior quality

and residents were advised to boil the water before using it.

It was also reported that the water in Dalton contained iron to 

an "astonishing degree."   One resident said,

"Give me whiskey, give me kerosene, water rusts my stomach!"

[from an article in the Fergus Journal]

OLD PICTURES

This house in Dalton still stands.   The other day when I looked at this picture again, I noticed a large building on the left (north side)  Does anyone have any idea of this one?    I think it may be located where the fire hall used to be, and I also know that at one time there was a hotel somewhere in that vicinity.  Funny how you notice stuff!  And if you don't recognize the house in the picture, it is located on South Central, second house from the corner.

This house was located 1 mile west of Dalton - it no longer is standing.

Some of you may remember it as being the Weiby place - when I was young

there were 2 Weiby sisters who lived there.   

Notice the sod roof!   This is an OLD photo!

[Click on photos for enlargement]

The River Inn

On Thursday night, my sister Dodie and I went on a

"Mystery Tour" of Fergus Falls, hosted by the

Otter Tail County Historical Society.   

The tour began at the River Inn, which was of 

interest to us because our Mom worked there for a

short time before she was married.

The early photo above was in Mom's scrapbook from an

article in the Fergus Journal telling about the history

of the River Inn. 

 I don't believe she is on this picture, but it is

interesting to see what the restaurant looked like

in the early days.

The River Inn Hotel in Fergus Falls opened on Feb. 2, 1929.

It was a "plush" hotel and hosted many banquets,

especially at Christmas-time.

Politicians and performers,  including Adlai Stevenson, 6 Minnesota

governors, an opera singer, and a country western star came to stay at the hotel.

In the early days, The River Inn boasted of 100 beautiful rooms.

Then there was the coffee shop, Inca Room, dining room,

banquet hall, ballroom, dress shop, and beauty and barber shops.

The staff included bell boys in uniforms, a chef and two cooks,

a pastry cook, kitchen help, a salad girl, ten waitresses

and four maids.

During the depression, waitresses received $35/month.

The River Inn is now an apartment building,

and there is no restaurant on the main floor,

which is too bad.   It would make a nice 

restaurant with the view of the Otter Tail River

and the Fergus Falls in the background.

Wouldn't it be nice to bring back the "plush"

to Fergus Falls??

Dalton Opera House

Many years ago, Dalton had an Opera House

Many exciting & fun events were held there.

There were meetings and political speeches given there.

There were dances and movies.

There were many plays and the best actors & actresses in 

town took part in the popular presentations!

This is the cast from the play, "Between Two Lives"

presented in 1916

Another pose from "Between Two Lives"

Pictured, back:  L-R:  Ida Johnson, Noble Dahlager, Palmer Bergerson,

John Utne, Henry Johnson, Neola Skrove, Arthur Hanson.

Fromt, L-R:   Clifford Torgerson, Martha Skrove, Nels Fossan, 

Palma Rovang, Ben Johnson, Ada Torgerson

I think this one is from a little bit later, but I am not sure.

Nels Fossan is seated on the left, but I do not know who

the others are.

Here is the old Opera House, also known as the town hall,

photo was taken some years ago.

This is how the Dalton Opera House looks

today.  It has been restored and will

hopefully have some good concerts 

and maybe even some plays there again!!

Dylan's birthday

Yesterday, Amy and I traveled to Cumberland, WI to 

celebrate Dylan's 1st birthday.

Dylan was peeking though the porch rails,

getting reacquainted with Grandma!

The swings were a hit with the kids.

It was a great place for the kids - secluded,

no traffic - they were outside most of the time.

Dylan with his cousin Max

Drew was being silly, trying to avoid getting his picture taken,

but when I said, "don't smile" - of course he did.

Helping shuck the corn for the birthday dinner.

While Mommy & Grandma Shirley were preparing

dinner, Drew took us for a ride on the pontoon.

Dylan opening one of his presents...

He got a lot of fun things!

The birthday boy.

Dylan enjoyed his birthday cake!
His lips are blue from the frosting - it was not cold out! 

Melby Ancestors!

Finally!   I have pictures of each of my

Grandfather's siblings - Thanks to Stina!

This is Bernt Johannesen Melby - the oldest of the children.

He was born in 1850 and died in 1932.

He took over the farm of my great-grandparents

Johannes & Magnhil at Verdal, Norway.

This is Gunerius Johannesen Melby

My grandfather.

He was born in 1854 and died in 1929.

He immigrated to the U.S. in 1880.

He was a carpenter and a farmer.

Sefanias Johannesen Melby.

Born in 1857, died in 1906 of typhoid fever.

He was a tailor in Crookston, MN.

Mette and Inger Marie.

Don't they look happy! 

Mette (left) was born in 1863 and died in  1936

She married Oliver Olson, a very prominent citizen of Fergus Falls

who was a widower with 6 children.

Inger Marie was born in 1860, and she died in 1933.

She was married to Hans Olson.  Hans was a bricklayer.  He worked on the

Federal Building (Post Office) in Fergus Falls.  His last job was as a

bricklayer on the City Hall in Fergus Falls.

Martin Johannesen Melby - the "baby" of the family!

He was born in 1866, and he died in 1944.

Martin was a Master Carpenter in Norway.

Of the 6 children, only 2 (Bernt & Martin) remained in Norway.

Family

My great grandmother is celebrating her 75th birthday in this picture.

She is surrounded by some of her grandchildren.

This photo is from 1928.

My Mom is in the second row, second from the right.

I notice her siblings on the photo, but some of these children

I do not know.

Five years later, on August 20, 1933 the family had an 80th birthday party 

for Great-Grandma.  On this photo, Great-grandma is seated in the middle, 

behind the children sitting on the ground.  Her son John (my grandpa) is sitting next to her.    

My mom is on the end on the right, hanging on to Ernie, who was about a year old.

My Dad, just to the left, is keeping a watchful eye on things! {I think Evie

is sitting in the front row, the 7th one from the left}

 All of the adults shown in this photo are no longer living.

It is great to have these old photos!  Many of these people died long before

I was born, but  it is amazing to see the resemblances

between my ancestors and some of their descendants.

My great grandparents had  10 children,

My grandparents had 7 children,

My parents had 9 children.

Gotta love those big families!!