Businessman Amos Heilicher (1907 - ) grew up poor and Jewish in St. Paul, Minnesota, during the Depression. As a teenager he started a coin-operated machine company that later blossomed into several successful businesses, including a national retail record chain, real estate, banking, restaurants and more. This interview focuses on the history of Heilicher's business ventures during the Depression and post-WWII years, with special attention afforded to the retail record industry. This interview was conducted by Dr. Linda Mack Schloff, former director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Alex Tankenoff (1905 - ) grew up poor and Jewish in St. Paul, Minnesota, eventually owning a successful brewery and brewery equipment company. In this interview, the discussion follows Tankenoff's life story, brewery business and involvement in the Bremer Foundation of St. Paul, Minnesota. This interview was conducted by Dr. Linda Mack Schloff, former director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This sound clip highlights the history of Polaris Industries. The Roseau County Historical Society prepared this radio script to share county history through broadcasts on KJ102 FM in Roseau. The topics highlight the history of Roseau County and the people that lived there.
Oral history of Cliff Noble, interviewed by Marlys Hirst. Cliff talks about his life in Baudette, Minnesota, where he spent the majority of his life, with a focus on the downtown area and businesses.
Alice Baldwin, interviewed by Florence Ferrier, talks about her father homesteading, businesses in Baudette, Minnesota, and her life in Baudette, Minnesota.
Oral history of Ted Klegstead, interviewed by Tom Imes. Ted talks about being born and raised in Baudette, Minnesota and describes a number of businesses in the downtown area in the first part of the 20th century.
Florence Ferrier interviewed Emmy Tangreen about her life, moving from Sweden and settling in Baudette, Minnesota in 1910, and living in Lake of the Woods County and Koochiching County the remainder of her life. Emmy describes her memories of the 1910 Fire, her teaching career, her husband's logging career, physicians and medicine.
Roy Bernard Oberg is of Swedish descent. His spouse (second) was Lorraine Stevens Oberg. He was interviewed aboard the Voyageur II between Grand Portage, Minnesota and Windigo, Isle Royale, Michigan, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Lorntsen, Conrad, tape 1, side2, narrator. He was of Norwegian descent. His spouse Fern Williams Lorntsen was present throughout the interview. Mr. Lorntsen is retired. He was interviewed at Mr. Lorntsen's home in Beaver Bay, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Christopher Tormundsen was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Mateld Smith Tormondsen. Mr. Tormondsen was 90 years old at the time of this interview. The interviewed was taken at Mr. Tormondsen's home a mile and a half north of Tofte, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Ragnvald Sve was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Ragnhild Jacobson Sve. They were married to each other for 51 year. He is one of several people presently allowed a license to fish trout in Lake Superior. He was interviewed at the Sve home in Two Harbors, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Milford Johnson Jr.'s spouse was Monica Wannebo Johnson. He is currently working at Reserve Mining Company. He was interviewed at Mr. Johnson's home in Two Harbors, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Hjalmer Louis Mattson is of Finnish descent who calls himself a Swede-Finn. He is not married. He was interviewed at his home in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Ingeborg Holte was of Swedish descent, spouse Edwin Holte (died in 1971) fished as did her father but Ingeborg did not fish; Mrs. Holte is Sam Johnson's and Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson's sister; interviewed at Mrs. Holte's home in Grand Marais, Minnesota; she is the sister of Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson, interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
George Torgersen was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Barbara Eggert Torgeson. He was interviewed at his home at Knife River, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The narrator is Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson of Swedish descent. His spouse is Myrtle Eklund Johnson. He is the brother of Sam Johnson who owned a fish dealership called Sam Johnson & Sons. His sister is Ingeborg Holte. Steve was interviewed at his home in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Of Norwegian descent, Aleck, his father and brother operated the H. Christiansen & Sons dealership started in 1898. His spouse's name was Minnie Wiggins Christensen. Betty (of Betty's Pies just north of Two Harbors, is Aleck Christensen's daughter. The interview was taken at H. Christiansen, Inc. Sporting Goods, in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Oral history of Ruth Aery and Anna Olson, sisters, interviewed by Tom Imes. The women talk about growing up in Carp, Minnesota, their father homesteading, and living and working in Spooner, Minnesota.
William Kenney was born in Park River, North Dakota in 1911. He went into business in Moorhead in 1938. He went into the Navy in 1942 until 1945. Mr. Kenney tells of his experience in business and of his ownership of a cage and hotel in Moorhead from 1945 to 1974.
Warren R. Peterson [1909-1991] discusses his family's businesses in Lake City, Minnesota including Peterson Grocery, Peterson-Sheehan Funeral Home, and the Lake City Opera House. He also discusses entertainment in Lake City, Prohibition, Zero King Coat Factory, B. W. Harris, and Munsingwear.
Roy M. Nordine (1904-1989) discusses his career working at the Jewell Nursery Company in Lake City, Minnesota, the Davey Tree Expert Company in the eastern United States, and at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. He discusses his collaboration with the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on cold-hardy plants, and the impact of tree pests such as Dutch elm disease.
Robert Howe discusses the history and operation of the Fairmont Foods Company in Moorhead completed in 1924 where he was an engineer. The company received the Navy E. Award in December 1943. During WWII, dried eggs were sent overseas to our servicemen. They hired 300 women to candle and break eggs. The Fairmont Foods Company building is now Fairmont East � a retirement home.
Paul Eidbo was born in Boden, North Dakota in 1927 and graduated from Concordia College (1946-1949). He gives the background of Eastgate Industries Inc., started in 1916, which he manages. A family corporation, he tells of the processes involved in the raising, extracting, and marketing of honey. Also, included is a background of his civic political activities.
Born 1911, Paul Euren has worked as a city salesman for Fairmon Foods Co. He also operated the Ben Franklin store and a lauderette-dry cleaning establishment in Moorhead. He was a city Alderman, a past exalted ruler at the Fargo Elks Club, and a past chairman on the Salvation Army Advisory Board. He also describes how his grandparents left Sweden and Germany to seek land in the U.S. in 1880.
Mary Nihart (1893-1990) discusses businesses in downtown Lake City, Minnesota. She also discusses traveling across the ice from Stockholm, Wisconsin to Lake City, working in a chicken processing plant, using ice boxes, making homemade ice cream, and the Great Influenza pandemic of 1918.
Hattie (Gross) Brown (1900-2003) discusses clamming on Lake Pepin and in Lake City, Minnesota during the 1920s and 1930s. She also discusses immigrating from Austria, her early life, the Depression, and her family's homes. She also discusses competition among clammers, types of clams, the cultured pearl industry, pearl button factories, and selling pearls.
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.
Ellen (Carlson) Jackson (1900-1989) discusses living in a neighborhood of descendants of Swedish immigrants, and the early businesses downtown. She also discusses the first car in Lake City and her education, social life, and recreational activities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Robert "Bob" Wallace (1923-2007) presents the history of the foundry in Lake City, Minnesota including its many name changes from H. Gillett and Sons to Gillett & Eaton and eventually to AE Goetz.
Henrietta Howatt (1917-2003) discusses clamming on Lake Pepin, and the pearl button manufacturing business. At one time there were two factories in Lake City, Minnesota where buttons were cut from Lake Pepin shells.
