Part 1 of 2: Elderly residents of Pioneer Apartments in 1977. They discuss school memories from early 1900s including teachers, activities, and sports. They also discuss after school activities including their chores, outdoor games, winter sports, dances, picnics, and family life. Other topics include: boarding houses and boarders, the Pengilly Mine, and the Ojibwe families on Burntside Lake and Basswood Lake. Also discussed are the 1910 forest fire and the Vail Hotel fire. Part 2 of 2: Interview with former teacher Mrs. Evancho...? Teacher and principal at the 26-Zenith-Savoy location school which had two classrooms and two teachers. She taught grades 3-6. Mr. Burns, superintendent.
Interview with Frank and Stan Smuk. Frank and Stan were the sons of Yugoslav immigrant parents. The two men began work in the mines in 1941 and 1947 respectively. Stan worked with the mine credit union while Frank was a contract miner. They spoke of the pranks they pulled on other workers. Accidents were frequent. Rocks fell on workers and the tunnels collapsed. Even with broken bones men would go to work and be given light duty. The Smuk brothers did a lot of hunting and fishing. The whole family played the accordion. They also played on the city softball teams that competed against other towns. Frank belongs to the American Legion and the VFW. He had served in the Air Force during World War II. Stan was blind in one eye so was turned down for the army.
Interview with Hulda Koski and Mrs. Nick Korent. Note: this interview is transcript-only. There is no audio available. Together they discuss early life in Ely, life growing up on a farm, early Ely schools.
Interviews with Mary Mackie, Mary Berrini, and Beatrice Masnari. They discuss immigration. Mackie's and Berrini's parents emigrated from Italy seeking better lives and jobs. Masnari arrived in 1931 to join her husband who had come to Ely some years before. Italian was spoken at home, but they learned English at school. They lived in the Chandler Location where the housing costs were paid by the owners. They discuss their chores, including hauling water in boilers on sleds or wagons, carrying buckets of water using yokes, and pumping well water. Lake water was used for gardens and washing clothes. Drinking water was dipped from a pail. Bringing in wood and hauling out ashes, shoveling snow, scrubbing floors (three times a week). Sense of community: People got along well, helping each other out. Groups of men would hunt together and share game. Families shared garden produce and people would help each other building homes. In addition to gardens, families had chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits and cows. Many home remedies were used for illnesses. Making grappa (wine). Games and entertainment included Bocce ball, Briscola, and adult card game, movies, Duck on the Rock, making skimmers from barrel staves, rolling hoops, carnivals and circuses. Shops and peddlers: The Chocolate Shop, Mr. Bismark's candy store, grocery stores that delivered, Mr. Giacomo's ice cream cart, the door-to-door scissors sharpener who came to Ely once a year, the organ grinder and his monkey. They discuss their Christmas memories, when Italian traditions were observed with Italian foods. The Christmas tree was decorated with candy, popcorn, and candles. Christmas gifts included fruit, nuts, and candy.
Adele Johnson was born in Casselton, ND. She discusses her first teaching experiences, including private music lessons, after graduating from MSC. She later taught music at Concordia College and then Moorhead State. During this time period, her involvement in community affairs, politics, the Democratic Party, and also she worked for Congressman Bob Berglund. She is now retired.
In an oral history, Albert Bye describes his parents coming from Norway to Minnesota, his family life growing up starting with his birth in 1894, him being drafted during World War I, and his life as a young adult.
In an oral history, Alec Ruttger discusses how his parents started a resort in Crow Wing County, how he took it over and expanded it, and that his three brothers also got involved in the resort business. As a family, they built up the very well known Ruttger empire of resort locations.
Alice Polikawsky was born in 1904 in Moland township. In 1951, she joined the Moorhead Daily News Staff as their first full-time alumni director. From 1957-58, she was instructor of Home Economics at Concordia and became chairman of that department until her retirement in Nov. 1974. Mrs. Polikowsky discusses her education and teaching experiences in home economics.
This interview discusses the topic of immigration and Angela's parents, Rosalie and John, and their journey from Yugoslavia, circa 1890. Angela was born in Ely on August 17, 1900. She also discusses family life, Lincoln School, St. Anthony's Catholic Church, her marriage, mines, and life in early Ely.
Interview with Anna Camaish. Anna came to America with her mother in 1914. Her father had left Yugoslavia in 1906. The family came to Biwabik, Minnesota first where the father worked in the Bangor Mine. When it closed he worked in the Biwabik Mine and the Aurora Mine until they too played out. Then the family moved to Ely where he worked in the Pioneer Mine. Anna compares life in Yugoslavia with life in America and while they were poor in both countries, being poor in America was a lot better. People here helped each other. Not so in the old country. In Yugoslavia her mother would work weeding gardens for 15 cents a day and often the family went hungry. In America they had a pig, chickens, a cow, and rabbits. They sold eggs and milk, and raised vegetables. Anna remembers the Influenza Epidemic of 1918-1919 with all the schools closed. She compares the way women were treated in Yugoslavia to the way they were treated in America where it was the women and children first, not last. Anna met her husband Joe when working at the Chocolate Shop. She was 21 when they married. He was English and her mother felt inferior to him although he always treated her well. The Englishmen had all the top mining jobs.
In an oral history, Arvid Anderson describes his family settling near Garrison, Minnesota, his work as a heavy equipment operator for the Minnesota Highway Department, and his experiences as one of the first pilots in Crow Wing County.
Mrs. Donald G. Rusness was born July 4, 1913 in Moorhead, MN. Mrs. Rusness discusses her experiences in dance and her position as a secretary to the County Agent and Extension offices.
Beulah Olson was born August 12, 1912 in Ortley, South Dakota. Her family came to Hoffman, MN in 1921. Mrs. Olson relates her childhood, early education, and life as a homemaker. She discusses the changing roles of women as student, teacher, housewife, mother, and finally as grandmother.
In an oral history, Bill Van Essen talks about his family's restaurant, Van's Cafe, which was a Brainerd landmark. He also discusses other lone-gone Brainerd restaurants, and how eating out and the business community has evolved.
Interview with Bob Olson of Canoe Country Outfitters. Bob Olson started the business in 1950 when there were no restrictions on traveling in what was the Superior National Forest. In the 1960s the environmentalists were beginning to get laws passed restricting travel in what became the BWCA. In 1964 the Wilderness Bill was passed with partial bans on motors and no cans and bottles could be taken into the area. Ely became known as "Canoe Town" and it was advertised that way heavily at sports shows and in magazines. Resentment was beginning to grow and even in 1979 Bob was aware of the resentment shown by local people towards the tourists. He goes on to talk about outfitters losing business at the rate of 3-5% per year since 1970 due to the quota system and other restrictions. he estimated that by 1980 it would be 20-30%.
Interview with Ben Richards. Ben Richards was born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin and moved to Ely in 1916 when he was 21. He worked for the Todd Stanbow Mining Company and then in the Xenith Mine in 1928 as a superintendent. He would go underground three days a week to inspect the work. He had mostly Finnish and Slovak workers and was responsible for more than 400 men. He attended the Presbyterian church. The population of Ely was around 6,000, so there were many students attending school. The mines provided 90% of the funding for the schools. He loved working in the underground mine. The draft during World War II took most of the younger men so they had to hire men in their late 50s early 60s. He worked in the mines from 1916 to 1959. Ben noted that he didn't see much of a future for Ely without mining.
In an oral history, Burton Stanley tells of arriving in the Pequot Lakes area in 1900, riding on a logging train on a 50 below zero February day. He also talks about his work in the logging industry working with a team of horses, repairing early autos, harness making, and horseshoe making. He explains how he thinks that people were better off in the ""old days"" than they are in 1975, when this interview was recorded.
In an oral history, Carl Byers describes his early work as a lumberjack, working for the WPA during the depression, his dealings with Indians, and returning to the logging industry.
Carl Haima was born December 1900 in Raymond, MN. Mr. Haima describes his life as a child. He discusses his father's general store and his small businesses in Moorhead. Mr. Haima served several terms on the city council, a charter member of the Lions Club, and vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce.
Carrol Malvey reflects on his childhood days, his parents, his days at Concordia and teaching before entering into partnership in Malvey Service Stations with his brother and Mom. He relates World War II problems. Mr. Malvey was very active in Moorhead Civic affairs such as Lions, Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Fireman, Planning Commission, Concordia Board of Regents, and Trinity Lutheran Church.
Catherine Fossay was born and raised in Fergus Falls, MN. Mrs. Fossay describes her years as a student at Moorhead State, particularly her experiences as a student teacher at the Model School on campus, and as a teacher in the affiliated rural school at Oak Mound. Included in her reminiscences are student activities and productions.
Interview with Cecil Kuitenen. He discusses his immigration from Finland in 1901 at 4 years old. Steerage class aboard the "RMS Umbria" through Ellis Island, New York. He also talks about Winton, Minnesota and sawmills, logging, jobs, boarding house, housing, schools, and Finn Hall including the plays, lectures, library, basket socials, apron socials, and the Winton church. He talks about mining at Section 30. He also speaks about his return visit to Finland and the social/political landscape of Europe. He relates his reasons for leaving Finland, Finnish/Swedish relations, Finnish/Russian relations, the Winter War. He also discusses the social/political aspect of Minnesota including U.S. citizenship, unions, socialists. Individuals mentioned: mill owners, Knox, Torinus brothers, Ely banker Mr. White, Sunday School teachers Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs. Johnson (Ruby Nichols Johnson).
In an oral history, Charles Warnberg, a former sheriff of Crow Wing County, talks about the the old jail/sheriff's residence, the state of law enforcement when he was in office, and some the crimes that were committed.
Interview with Checker Hillman. Checker Hillman was born in Two Harbors in 1911. His maternal grandmother was Irish. His maternal grandfather, William LaBeau (LeBeau), was French and he left home in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as a young teenager. Family history claims a relative traveled the Great Lakes in "the big canoes," to Grand Portage and Fort William, possibly a voyageur. William and his wife traveled by wagon from Duluth to Tower, Minnesota where their son, William LaBeau, Jr., was born in 1883 - he was the first white child born north of Duluth. William (Sr.) worked for Bob Whiteside as a driller with a team of several men that traveled by canoe form Tower to the Ely area to explore for ore. William never worked as a miner, but he did work as a fireman, the chief of police in Ely, and a policeman for the Oliver Mine. Checker's father, who worked for the D & IRR, died of an unknown illness when Checker was very young. Checker, his two younger sisters, and his mother went to live with his maternal grandparents. Checker discusses early Ely. There was an influx of immigrants after iron ore was discovered in the Ely area, mostly Finnish and Slovenian with Cornish mine bosses. The adult immigrants segregated themselves, but their children later intermarried. Checker discusses mining. There were no unions in the early days. There were safety issues, i.e. workers wore soft hats, no hard-toed boots. The candles and later carbide lamps provided poor light. Conditions in the mines varied. For example, the Pioneer Mine had many mud slides due to the wet, soft, ground conditions. The Zenith Mine, which had harder ground, didn't have issues with mud slides. Techniques ranged from "drifing and slicing" at the Pioneer Mine to "cave" mining at the Zenith Mine. Augers could be used in softer ground (auger ground) instead of drilling with bits. Checker recounts two fatal accidents in the Zenith Mine. One man was killed when an overhead slab fell on him. Mines were like small communities with teams of men doing various jobs: drillers, tuggers, maintenance, electricians, and so on. Underground miners worked in two-man teams. Checker started working about age 15 or 16 at the Pioneer Mine stock pile for $2.50 for a 10-hour day. Older workers could make $3.50 per day. When he started working in the Xenith Mine in the late 1930s or early 1940s, there was no union. As the union began to organize he was reluctant to join because he had promised an uncle and the mine superintendent, Ben Richards, that he wouldn't. He was pressured by a union organizer, George Kochevar, to join, and did eventually - one of the last to sign up.
Interview with former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Peter Popovich as part of the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society's oral history project. Popovich was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1987 and was Chief Justice from 1989 to 1990. Subjects discussed: his early decision to become a lawyer; growing up on the Iron Range in the 1920's and 1930's; being the son of an immigrant; his experiences as a lawyer, a legislator, and a judge.
Life long Minnesota resident Dr. Clair Haugen has been the Director of the Concordia College theater program since 1960. He discusses the theaters history, growth and development, recollections of people and productions and the philosophy that governs the Concordia College theater program.
In an oral history, Mrs. Burton (Clara) Stanley relates the tough times as a child, not being able to start school until 8 years old in 1903, and only going until the 4th grade because she then had to go to work. She also talks about what various things were like in the early part of the 20th century, her husband's place of business burning down, and wildlife that existed.
Dr. Clarence Glasrud was born in North Dakota October 15, 1911. He attended Moorhead State and joined the faculty in 1947 as an instructor in the Division of Language and Literature. He received his MA and PhD from Harvard. He taught at MSU from 1952 to 1977 when he retired and was considered an excellent teacher. Interview 2 of 2.
Dr. Clarence Glasrud discusses his involvement with the Moorhead Rotary Club over the past several decaded. He provides background into the history and functions of the Moorhead Rotary Club. He taught at MSU from 1952 to 1977 when he retired and was considered an excellent teacher. This is interview 1 of 2.
Daniel Preston was born in Bangor, Wisconsin and spent his childhood there. Preston gives some brief information on the early activities of the American Legion in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
David Beauchamp served in the Minnesota State Legislature from 1974 to 1978. In his interview, he discusses his political experiences in local and state office, and the issues in Minnesota government during his career. Mr. Beauchamp also discusses his Peace Corps years in Thailand.
Dr. Delmar Hansen is director of the theatre program at Moorhead State University for 30 years, gives his assessment of a number of regional and local literary figures. He also describes some of the changes since he came to Moorhead State University in 1958 such as there was no real theatre program. He is the Chairman and a professor in the Department of Speech Communication and Theatre Arts.
Donna Mathisen Dosland was raised in northeastern Minnesota. She moved to Moorhead when she married Mr. Dosland. She has been associated with the Clay County Public Health Nursing Service since its formation in March 1969 and tells of the purposes and functions of the Foundation. Donna Dosland describes the history, organization, and the obstacles that needed to be overcome.
Doris Eastman discusses her experience writing for the Forum of Fargo-Moorhead from 1934-1979. She became women's editor at the newspaper in 1959. She also tells about her days working for the Moorhead Daily News. Now retired, she is working at the Episcopal Church and Clay County Historical Society.
Dorothy Kippels gave a background of her childhood days as well about the Kippels family. The Kippels family, Bruno Kippels, Joe's father, were early Moorhead settlers. Mrs. Kippels, describes the Waterman's Store which she and her husband owned from 1944 to 1967. She told the merchandise they sold and talked about credit, competition in Moorhead, and fringe benefits.
In an oral history, Ed Ruttger tells of his father, who came from Germany and was a machinist, got started in the resort business on Bay Lake near Deerwood, and his family's involvement.
Edward Gudmundson was born June 29, 1917 in Mountain, ND. He graduated from North Dakota State Universtiy (NDSU) in 1949. He joined the US Navy in 1942 and was discharged in 1945. Edward Gudmundson has worked as a pharmacist from 1945 to 1984. He describes his schooling, experiences, and compares drug stores of the 1940s with those of the 1980s.
Elsie Lee was born on a farm near Big Lake, MN on September 2, 1916. Mrs. Lee tells of her many years of experience as a homemaker and describes her life and activities in Moorhead. Elsie tells of her experience as one of the first homemakers to work fulltime while raising a family of 3 children.
In an oral history, Emery Dibble discusses several topics including moving to Crow Wing County via a covered wagon pulled by a team of oxen, a fire destroying all of his family's possessions, his mother having to work to support the family, his life growing up, and jobs he's had over the years.
Eric Martinson is 97 years old and was born in Moorhead. His Norwegian parents immigrated here between 1870 and 1871. Martinson discusses the coal and fuel oil business in the Fargo-Moorhead area from 1926 to his retirement in 1968.
In an oral history, Ernie Cate discusses his early family life near Brainerd, his elementary schooling, being in the service during World War I, and working with Indians in his business.
In an oral history, Mrs. Charlie (Esther) Jokela discusses various topics including growing up in a Finnish family near Brainerd, going to a country school, and life on the farm after she got married.
Florence Jenkins (Mrs. John) was born in Juanita, ND in 1914. Mrs. Jenkins began volunteer work and fund raising for the Red Cross during World War II. After the war she became an office secretary of Clay County Red Cross. She describes her work as a Red Cross volunteer and how it has affected her life. She discusses the goals and work of the Clay County Red Cross Chapter.
Interview with Frances Nelson. Frances Nelson tells her granddaughter what Ely was like in 1915. There were no sidewalks or cars but transportation was by horse and wagons. There was one grocery store. There were a lot of Finnish and Slovenians and many of them didn't speak English. Milk was 5 cents a quart. Her family used the wood for heat and cooking because they had no coal. They walked everywhere and carried their lunches to school. When World War I broke out there was a diphtheria epidemic and they were quarantined. Native Americans would come around and ask for work. She said her family was very poor with no changes of clothing. When World War II broke out all of her brothers were drafted. One brother came home with yellow jaundice. She felt people were healthier then though because there were no chemicals in their food.
In an oral history, Frank Gutz talks about moving to Pequot Lakes after his wife died during the flu epidemic of 1918 to keep his children from going into an orphanage. He also discusses what Peqout lakes was like during the 1920s and the Depression, his work as a painter, rationing during World War II, and various other things.
Interview with Frank Muvich. Frank's parents were born in Yugoslavia, but they met in Michigan where his father worked as a stevedore on the boats. He had a cousin in Michigan. His mother came to this country because others were immigrating and life was so hard there that she felt it had to be better in the United States. They arrived in Ely in the late 1880s where he worked at the Chandler Mine and later the Pioneer Mine. Conditions were terrible as the only tools used were the pick, shovel, and dynamite. There were nine children in the family with Frank being the eighth child. His younger sister died. Frank started working at 19 and was given his father position when he retired after 35 years. He was glad to have the position as it was 1936 and during the Great Depression. He became a contract miner but the Pioneer Mine didn't play fair with the contracts and cut the price if they felt the miners were earning too much. He joined the union on day 1. They met at Pink Hall where the company would position people to write down the names of the men attending the meetings. The company tried to organize their own union for their favorites but as it was illegal they had to disband. Frank talks about mine accidents, acid rain in the mine, and of his relief when the Pioneer Mine closed for good. He liked the crew, but he hated the work. Happy and relieved, Frank went to work for the EPA and felt he had been let out of prison.
Dr. Frederick Walsh discusses his years as a theatre teacher at North Dakota State University, Fargo. Dr. Walsh discusses his interests in outdoor drama, production at Medora, old and new theaters at NDSU, and his philosophy on the role of the theater in the lives of students.
