Interview with Lee H. Johnson. Lee was born January 23, 1894 in a sod house in Windom, Minnesota. He describes his life in the Army during World War I in 1918. He went to work for Coca-Cola in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1924. His first car had the Coca-Cola trademark painted on it. He later opened a Coca-Cola bottling operation in 1936 in Alexandria, Minnesota. In 1952, he opened Sun-Rise Corporation bottling company. He discusses the funding of the Runestone Museum in 1958. He was also involved in the establishment of the television station in 1958. Lee also served as the president of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in 1955.
Interview with Charles Norman Hicks. Charles was born in 1906. His wife was Dorothy May Haines. He was the grandson of William Everett Hicks and Theresa Thomas Hicks, early founders of Alexandria, Minnesota. The Hicks family donated the land for the courthouse, as well as the land for the Methodist and Congregational Churches. He recounts his early childhood in Alexandria, Minnesota. He also discusses his later life events in California, including his education at UCLA, USC and his later teaching career.
Interview with John Klukken. John was born in 1887 in Norway. His family immigrated in 1900 to Osakis, Minnesota. His wife was Helga Vangsted, Klukken. John served as pastor in Enderlin, North Dakota in 1916-1918. He discusses his reasons for leaving Norway, how he become a citizen, his church activities, politics, and Norwegian customs.
Interview with Bertha Black. Bertha was born June 9, 1882 in Iowa. Her parents were Julia and Fredrick Hofer. They came to Minnesota in 1885 from Iowa. Her maternal Grandfather was Nicholas Michaels and he accompanied the family to Minnesota. They attended the First Methodist Church. Bertha attended school in District 16. Bertha also discusses her siblings.
"Reminiscing in West Central Minnesota" a Saturday KRMS News Feature. Harold Brundin, started running concessions at Lakeside Pavlion, Glenwood, MN, in 1933. Partnered with Tuddy Kaldahl in 1939. Had live radio broadcasts on WCCO. Nationally known bands who played at Lakeside Pavlion include: Louis Armstrong, Lawrence Welk, Sammy Kaye, Stan Kenton, Guy Lombardo, and Wayne King.
Interview with Art Johnson. Art was a banker in Almora at the Miltona State Bank during the Great Depression in 1932. He recalls his memories of bank activities, including a discussion of Rural Credit and 'barnyard' loans. Art bought a farm with milk cows and delivered dairy product to Tip Top Cove, Evergreen, Whitmore's along Lake Miltona. Art discusses the New Deal and the WPA. He was a member of the American Lutheran Church, which was organized in 1921. The church was built in 1923. Art's father immigrated from Sturup, Sweden in 1890. He mentions Knute Nelson of Garfield, Minnesota who made the first potato chips in his kitchen, which he then sold and delivered.
Interview with Lloyd Sather. Lloyd's parents were (father's first name is unknown) Sather and Elnora Solem Sather. They were married in 1889. His parents settled near Nelson, Minnesota in 1881. Lloyd Sather married Ada Hanson in 1929.
Interview with Walter Leuthner. Walter was born on November 30l, 1894. His parents were Joseph and Versa Leuthner. His father had a bakery business. Walter started working as a fishing guide and began a fishing guide business in 1927, working out of Maryland Hotel. He discusses guiding on Douglas County Lakes and the tourists he guided.
Interview with Gordon Hobart and Walter Leuthner. They discuss the various businesses in town at the turn of the 20th century. They also discuss how people paid store bills. Businesses mentioned include Carlson Grocery, N.P. Ward, Gregerson, Culbertson. Walter Leuthner's father came up from St. Paul to buy a bakery. His children delivered bake goods to homes, restaurants, and hotels on their bicycles. They also discuss when the National Guard was called in to apprehend a murder suspect who was holed up in a local house. One of the National Guard soldiers was killed in the exchange of bullets. Walter Leuthner tells the story of gunshot wound to his arm when a firearm accidentally went off. They also discuss the loss of the bird population with the advent of DDT. Also discussed are the local Armistice Day celebrations.
Interview with Charlie Johanson, Alice Lindemeyer (his sister), Irene Larson (his niece). They lived in Evansville, Minnesota. His parents emigrated from Tuddal, Norway. His father was Hans Johanson and he was an implement dealer. They also discuss the history of Evansville from 1881 and onwards, the role of the train, and the schools they attended. Charlie attended the Fergus College.
Interview with James K. LeRoy, son of H.A. and Alice LeRoy. H.A. owned hardware, lumber and implement business on the corner of 7th and Broadway Streets. He was also a charter member of First National Bank which now stands on the site of hardware store. He also recounts stories of Alice Kellogg LeRoy and her home on Lake Winona.
Interview with Emery Ljung, born June 24, 1894. He was the son of John and Mary Ljung. His mother was born in Belle River Township. His father was born in Halsinglund, Sweden. He was raised by Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Severons (who came from Denmark). He recounts daily life on various farms in Douglas County. His last farm was northeast of Lake Geneva.
Interview with Everett Johnson. Topics discussed include: Olle Floding, maternal Grandfather from Dalarna, Sweden, 1867. Stories of School District 77 are also told. Johnson worked for Schuman & Company and built the Nelson School. He also talks about potato farming on Jundt Farm near Carlos Corners.
Interview with Ethel Cecil Lewis born in 1900 in Carlos Township. Her parents immigrated from Sweden. She recounts life on the homestead at Grygla in Marshall County until 1910, when the family returned to Douglas County. Ethel became a teacher for rural elementary schools in 1920.
Interview with Borghild Skrove and her husband Tony. She shares memories of her childhood and family. Her grandparents immigrated from Norway. Her father (Hammergren?) had an ice house and dray.
Interview with Andrew A. Urness, born in 1885. He was a son of the pioneers Andrew J. and Antoinette Jacobson Urness, early settlers of Douglas County, Minnesota. Andrew J. and Ole Urness were brothers and gave their name to Urness Township in Douglas County. Urness was the place they were from in Bergen, Norway. Memories of growing up working on farm. Recounts 1937 trip to Europ. Mr. Urness took home movies of Adolf Hiltler on parade in Germany.
Interview with Nellie (Jerry) Hoffman. She relates the history of her family at Indian Mounds, including the University of Minnesota excavation of second largest Indian Mound Minnesota and the history of woodlands Indians in the area.
Interview with Al and Inga Larson. They grew up in Urness, Moe Township, Minnesota. Al became a blacksmith with a shop in Brandon, Minnesota. He learned by watching 'Old Man Schultz'. Al also did horse shoeing work for Hammergren, dray man.
Interview with Dr. Kai Hunt. Dr. Hunt was born in Shanghai, was raised in Hong Kong, and received medical education in China. Dr. Hunt immigrated to the U.S. in 1960s and then moved to Canada to join friends. He met his wife there. They moved to Alexandria, Minnesota in 1971. There were only 12 doctors in the entire community. Dr. Hunt has a family practice that also inlcudes acupuncture and psychiartry.
Interview wtih Myrtle Blade (Mrs. Carl Blade). She came to Holmes City in 1926 and operated the Blade Store in Holmes City until 1969. The Blade Store was a hardware and grocery store. Myrtle discusses making stove pipes and putting screens in milk strainers as a large part of the hardware business. Her husband Carl was born in Sweden in 1891. They met at the Fergus Falls State Hospital where both of them were working.
Interview with Luella Fjoslien. Luella was born in 1900 in Fargo, North Dakota, and May Engen. May recounts memories of life on farm in LaGrande Township. Luella Fjoslien recounts the life of rural school teacher.
Conversation between Gordon Hobart and Walter Leuthner. Gordon Hobart raised turkeys. He also started and ran Interlachen. His father owned a meat market. Reminder that no frozen meat was available at that time; but every resort and farm had an icehouse. The iceman delivered to residential iceboxes. Refrigerators were not locally available until the end of the 1920s. Meat was only available from local farmers; but vegetables would come in on refrigerated railroad cars and were dropped off in each town. They discuss business local practices. The grocery store would pay they bakery at end of season since most local people bartered products at grocery store. They provide reminiscences about: Terry Weatherman, England Grocery, cigar factory, sawmills, ice cream man, fishing and "fish" stories, Minnissouri Club, fishing guides, school boy capers, duck hunting, and how the annual wheat crop determined Alexandria's prosperity.
Interview with Lillie Looker. Lillie was born on July 30, 1889. Her parents came to Douglas County from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1870 and settled in Spruce Hill Township, Section 4, Prettyman Post Office. In the interview she discusses wagon trains from Philadelphia to Fort Buford, SD. Her father was born in 1848 and he worked an Indian Scout from age 16 and onward on westward migration wagon trains. She mentions Minnesota towns that no longer exist: Joy and First Center. She also discusses life on the farm and visits by Native Americans to the farm.
Interview with Harland Steintl. Harland was born in Osakis, Minnesota on September 10, 1903. His parents were Vincent and Augusta (Kamp) Steintl. His father came from Austria and his mother came from Malmo, Sweden. His maternal grandfather was a Guard of Honor for King Gustavus Adolphus and his grandmother was a Swedish princess. His parents settled near Scriven and Spruce Hill. He recalls the boat, ""Tunxis,"" on Lake Osakis. This boat was used to transport wood from north end of lake to the train. This boat was later used for lake excursions. Harland goes on to discuss life on Lake Osakis and businesses in Osakis.
Interview with Esther Jensen. Esther was born in Geneva, Minnesota on March 8, 1894. Her father was Jens Christianson and he was from Denmark. Esther attended the Osakis school, District 111. Esther husband was John Jensen, (died February 9, 1968). John Jensen immigrated from Jutland, Viklum, to join relatives, including John Severson. Both John and Art Severson attended school in Austin. She married John on March 20, 1912. John was a surveyor. He dug drainage ditches and farmed near Osakis, Minnesota. Esterh recalls the Osakis band that played at the Douglas County Fair and local town band concerts.
