Dalarna, Sweden -- from the land of our forefathers

Cathy shared this photo that arrived on her desktop this morning.

"Brought to you by Long Zheng at www.istartedsomething.com

Images are copyright to their respective owners. Bing is a (funny) trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Some icons are by The Noun Project (Creative Commons)."

I must admit, it does look like "home" to me. No wonder those Swedes came to Northern Wisconsin, Northern Minnesota and Upper Michigan!

Thank you Cathy for sharing this with us! This is a truly beautiful photo.

Sending big hugs to all, and hope all have a wonderfully Happy New Year!

Just Some Family News

I wrote to Jay and Betty that I was doing much better because of pool therapy, and had a wonderful telephone call from Jay yesterday.

Jay too is having pool therapy, and he was down to see Madilene recently and she walks in a pool three times a week as well. Jay loves it as do I -- when we had our reunion, I was in the pool every morning for over an hour and discovered that I felt so much better for the rest of the day. On the two weekdays, first thing in the morning there were two physical therapists with clients in the pool at the motel -- probably the only heated pool in Iron River.

I came back and asked for a referral for pool therapy from my doctor and was able to get 7 weeks of pool therapy. Then Riana and I became volunteers at Courage Center here in the cities, so we've been in the heated pool each week. We work with people who live in group homes and have disabilities of one sort or another. Riana has enjoyed it so much, we will be doing two sessions a week after the first of the year.

In 2013, I will have a Silver Sneakers membership, and will be in the pool at least 4 times a week and I am looking forward to it.

Jay said that overall they are all doing well. They celebrated Christmas early because Jason has to work over the Christmas holidays and his whole family was together, including Marlin. Marlin was with them for several days and he is doing well too. Marlin is still hunting, and doing all the things that he loves to do. All the men are still playing in cribbage tournaments. Not too long ago, Jay and Terry won first prize.

It's so nice to get family news when we are all so far apart. Years ago, our families were writing "round robin" letters so everybody could keep up with each other. If you would like to share family news, I'm sure we would all be happy. Have a great day!

God Jul! A Swedish Merry Christmas

I found some old Christmas Cards in some papers of Aunt Nancy's, and some of these were illustrated by Carl Larsson prints.

Carl Larsson lived from 1853-1919, and painted happy family life scenes. He is among the best known Swedish artists. Carl Larsson and his family lived in Dalarna, the same part of Sweden as Andrew and Margareta Tagstrom Lundwall, our great-grandparents -- and near the homes of my mother's relatives as well!

Enjoy!

Santa Lucia Morning

Christmas Eve

Waiting for Christmas

 Left side of Christmas Morning

 Right side of Christmas Morning

And Santa comes to town!

On Monday night, Riana was one of Santa's elves wrapping presents for the youngest Courage Center clients. There were 72 little ones there last night for their annual Christmas party. One of the other volunteers said something in Swedish, and Riana perked right up and asked her in Swedish if she could speak Swedish -- she had found another person to practice on!

Last night, after all the little ones had their pictures taken with Santa and they had all received their presents, even some of the volunteers got to sit on Santa's lap.

May your Christmas be filled with the joy and happiness of children!

After a snowstorm -- plow-girl in training!

We had 13 inches of snowfall on Sunday, and our neighbor has been plowing out the neighborhood -- but didn't get to his whole driveway completely cleared off. Today the temperature was in the 40's, but we are supposed to get another storm this weekend and Terry's driveway needed cleanup.

Terry is Riana's "adopted" Grandpa, and he has taught her many things over the years since Jerry's been gone -- how to ride a bike, how to roller skate, how to make a birdhouse, how to do so many things, and he is incredibly patient  and helpful -- if her bike tires need air, or the seat needs tightening, or most any other problem -- Riana knows where she can get help!  

Riana was promised that this year she can learn how to help him plow, and I must admit she does a pretty good job!

Enjoy.

Terry stayed very close. 

Backing up is tough -- but sticking out the tongue helps.

f

Lucia Day at Gammelgarden

The celebration of Lucia in Sweden brings light to the very dark days of December. It marks the beginning of the Swedish Christmas season. Lucia, a 3rd century Christian living in Italy, was grateful that her mother's health was restored and in thankfulness Lucia spent her dowry money to feed the poor. Her fiancé' denounced her to the authorities and she was burned at the stake on December 13. Her story traveled to Sweden with Christian missionaries. Her example is celebrated in household and community settings with a young girl in white (purity) with a red sash (martyrdom) and a crown of candles (light) on her head bringing coffee and saffron buns to family members in the pre-dawn hours. Since 1927, the Stockholm Lucia is crowned at the palace and serves coffee to the Nobel prize winners, who are also bringing light to the world in the way of knowledge.

Gammelgården Museum's Lucia Celebration:

GammelKyrkan in the summer

Here in Minnesota, we began our Jul season with the celebration of Lucia as we followed the candles in the snow lighting the way to the GammelKyrkan (old church) for an early morning prayer service, all in Swedish. 

This morning, we were in the middle of a snowstorm, with perhaps 6" of snow already on the ground and lots more to come through the day.

We dressed warmly as the church is the oldest Lutheran Church in Minnesota, built in 1856, with no heat or electricity. and candle-lit, with candles at the front of the church, on wreaths hanging from the ceiling, candles in each window, and each person holding their own candle in a hand-held holder.

As each person entered this morning, a burst of cold air with snow also entered the church. Looking out the windows, snow was gently falling and blowing, a beautiful sight in this quiet rural setting.

This church service was followed by a Lucia Fest Breakfast smörgåsbord at the Scandia Community Center. The Minneapolis Svensgarnas Dag Girls Choir sang honoring Lucia and her ministry of bringing light into darkness. Gammelgården's large exhibit of Lucia artifacts was also on display at the Välkommen Hus (the Gammelgården Welcome House). Lucia Dagen is both a family and community tradition in Sweden, and celebrated each year in homes and in the schools each December 13th.

This year Riana was Lucia.

Although we didn't get good photos this morning, following are photos of Riana several years ago at one of our family Lucia celebrations.

Norene bakes the wonderful saffron rolls for our family celebrations (which were missing at the Gammelgarden breakfast -- the rolls at Gammelgården were in the shape of traditional saffron rolls, but plain sweet rolls with craisins instead of raisins. 

And on Thursday, December 13th, the official Swedish Jul (Christmas) begins! 

Here's wishing all of you a Joyous Christmas Season!

Earl Dishaw was at Pearl Harbor 61 years ago

Lin Dishaw, Larry's wife, posted this photo of Uncle Earl on Facebook. I've never seen this photo before and wanted to share it with all of you! Thank you Lin!

Earl Dishaw during World War II

I know we have other photos of family members who served during this war -- Lloyd, Bill and Kenneth. If others would like to share their photos, or others, we would love to see them.

From the Wednesday, October 15, 1958 Ironwood Daily Globe, Ironwood, Michigan

The following relatives visited recently at the David DeVowe home, Mrs. Teckla Lundwall, Mrs. Margaret Schubert and son, Roger, Mr. and Mrs. L. Lundwall and family, Mr. and Mrs. W. Curtis and family, Stambaugh, and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Dishaw and family of Flat Rock.

(Does anyone have photos?)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

And this from Roger:

Happy Thanksgiving. We miss all of you!

Our best,

Roger & Karen

Daisy Samuelson obituary from the Newspaper 

Falu Kuriren, Falun. Sweden

Daisy Samuelson in Minneapolis has died 8 November 2012 at the age of 94 years.

Related

Daisy Samuelson in Mora Costume, in a photo from 1997 when Vasaloppet in Mora, Minnesota, 25-årsjubilerade (25 years jubilee?). The Chief Sheri Douglas, left.

Photographer: Lars-Erik Klockar

She had roots in Litullgården in District Heritage on Sollerön and Hold Farm in Langlet Mora was born February 12, 1918 in America Dalarna, Isanti County, Minnesota, where she grew up on a farm.

It founded her interest in Sweden and the Swedish-American heritage and where she learned to speak Swedish and Dalarna by their grandparents. Their exodus took place in 1870 (the grandparents with three small children) and 1882 (grandparents and my grandfather's mother) and it was fascinating to hear Daisy 140 years later using their old language with many words and expressions that have long since gone out of use in Sweden .

As long as she could she worked voluntarily at the American Swedish Institute, where they often found her in the kitchen, where the cakes were baked for Christmas sales and midsummer celebrations and tempted visitors to the coffee house.

It was important to keep the Swedish traditions and in the Institute's women's guild, Idun Guild, she was an active member, as well as in the Twin Cities Dala compound, where she spread comfort around her at the monthly meetings and directed the table setups at Swedes' Day at Minnehaha Park every summer.

She was a good PR woman for Sweden, where she received visitors in her great grandmother’s costume. At Dala Days at the American Swedish Institute in spring 1998, which became a festive event with many participants from different parts of our landscape, she was one of the hostesses.

Daisy will be missed by many friends in Swedish circuits out there that one of the last among traditional carriers. She was proud of her origins and Dalarna had a special place in her heart.

Daisy was the widow of Mora emigrant Erick Samuelson with roots in Langlet and Utmeland.

written by Margaretha Hedblom

A tidbit from the past

Found this in a search for something else:

From the Daily Globe Newspaper, October 11, 1945, Ironwood, Michigan

The following people spent the weekend at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David DeVowe, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lundwall of Iron River, Mr. and Mrs. Ward Lundwall daughter Nancy and Donald Backstrom of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Mrs. Oscar Lundwall and son Marlin of Stambaugh.

I don't remember this particular visit or what the occasion was, but we spent a lot of time in Trout Creek!

Daisy Samuelson

For those of you who met or remember my father's companion, Daisy Samuelson, Daisy died on Thursday evening, November 8th. Following is her obituary:

Daisy Samuelson Age 94 of Minneapolis. Preceded in death by husband, Erick and friend, Ward Lundwall. Longtime member Idun Guild of A.S.I. Survived by daughters, Karin (David) Derfler and Karol (Bob) Underwood; 3 grandchildren, Lisa (Paul) Linder, Jennifer (Chris) Charbonneau, Matthew (Jeni) Underwood; 3 great-granddaughters, Katie Linder, Ana Underwood and Megan (Brandon) Zachman. Private family graveside at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Reflections on elections,  

I remember Grandma telling me she was over 30 before women could vote.

I remember Aunt Nancy telling me how when Social Security was enacted, her father told her to make sure she signed up for it immediately. She was always grateful for both Social Security and Medicare – and how grateful we were for Social Security after he was disabled and unable to work. 

I remember how grateful I was when I turned 65 and had Medicare – affordable health insurance and health care I believed nobody could take away from me any more. I just went through weeks of choosing supplemental health insurance and it was an agonizing decision trying to choose just the right one. I can't imagine being 10 to 15 years older, talking with sales reps, reading through insurance booklets, trying to make a fair and balanced decision on private health insurance policy to be paid for with a voucher.

I remember when women were paid less than 65 cents an hour for every dollar an hour men were paid. Why? At the time I thought I knew why -- their jobs were harder (the miners, the construction workers, the police, the firemen, the laborers in our world). But I worked in an office, doing the same kind of work as the men, working the same hours, with the same education, and they made more money than I did. I trained many of the men I worked for. Aunt Nancy asked the same question when she found out the men she worked with made more money than she did, and she was told "He is a man, and you are a woman." Aunt Nan told her boss that "I can wear pants too!"

I remember when women with college degrees were asked how fast they could type – the only degrees that were useful for women were teaching and nursing degrees – and very few women were accepted into medical schools. A girl's best job preparation at the time was taking typing and shorthand. Most men just needed a high school diploma. 

I remember Nancy telling me that Grandma told her she was going to be Teacher of the Deaf. Nancy wanted to be a stenographer, the most respected job for a woman at the time.

I remember in 1955 when a female relative married and could no longer hold her job at the power company because of their "policy". 

I remember when women were "let go" from jobs when they were 4 or 5 months pregnant, and there was no such thing as maternity leave. 

I remember being asked during a job interview if I intended to have more children and what my childcare plans were.

I remember when women at 3M received tuition refund only for classes that pertained to their current job, but men were offered tuition refund to work on degrees that would give them promotions. Thanks to the women’s movement and updated policies, I also was given tuition refunds for both a 4-year degree, followed by a Master’s degree. 

I remember when a good friend almost died from a “back-alley” abortion when we were 15 and in the 9^th grade. She didn't finish high school because of her "bad reputation." There were no consequences for the boy who got her pregnant. 

I remember when girls who got pregnant weren't allowed to finish high school.

I remember when modern birth control wasn’t offered yet and I had 4 children in my first six years of marriage.  None of these births were covered by medical insurance (we couldn't afford medical insurance). 

I remember when tubal ligations were neither offered, and certainly not covered by insurance, for women who decided they had had enough babies.

I remember being helped by Planned Parenthood.  Thanks to them I received one of the first six IUD’s offered in Minnesota, shortly after my last baby was born, at a nominal cost.

What do you remember? What laws enacted have benefited you? What President made the biggest impact on your life? What are you grateful for? How does your life story compare to your children's and your grandchildren's life today.

How far we've come since our ancestors made the choice for "coming to America!"

If you would like to share your thoughts in a posting with us, please send this in an attachment to an email (or just in an email) with "Time Will Tell" as the subject to nanr@aol.com. 

Have a wonderful day while I "wait and see" -- Time Will Tell.

Paul's lost and then found photo

I just received this photo from Paul. It makes me smile! Looks like it may have been taken at one of the last photo opportunities taken with all 10 surviving siblings. Thanks so much, Paul!

God bless!

Back: Alice, Ray, Doris, Margaret, Nancy and Kenneth
Front: Violet, Janet, Marlin and Ward

I then decided to see what I could do to work with the photo, 

Back: Alice, Ray, Doris, Margaret, Nancy and Kenneth
Front: Violet, Janet, Marlin and Ward

Back: Alice, Ray, Doris, Margaret, Nancy and Kenneth
Front: Violet, Janet, Marlin and Ward

Visit to Bjursas Sweden, Lundwall relatives

Margareta birthplace

Margareta birthplace

Lisbeth, Doug, Berit

Lisbeth & Doug by original foundation

Overlooking Lake Rogsjon

Museum grounds overlooking Bjursas

Museum grounds Maypole

top Maine, Bertil, Lars / bottom Norene, Berit, Vanja, Leif

Rexbo

Rexbo

Hi, this is Doug Lundwall I'm adding a post of our recent trip to Sweden (Norene and Doug) and the day we spent in Bjursas, the Lundwall ancestral area. We were invited to lunch and a lovely afternoon with relatives there. We went to Bertil and Berit's home in Bjursas, had a excellent lunch, their daughter Lisbeth joined us after that and they all took us on a family tour.. We went to the birthplace of Margareta (Great Grandmother, wife of Andrew) house is still standing, and there is still remnants of a foundation from the first dwelling that was built there. We visited their cottage on Lake Rogsjon (didn't get pictures, memory chip ran out of space and didn't have another one on my person) and then took a drive to a lookout overlooking the lake and surrounding area. Went to a local museum after that and met Leif, relative, there. He volunteers some of his time there. After that we went back to their home to have coffee and desert and meet more relatives. All of our relatives were very gracious and kind, we had a very nice time. Norene and I, with Berit, went to visit her mother Ester, who turned 100 in June, in a nursing home. She was very alert and remembered us from when she visited America in the 1970's... She is the last living member of that group that was here... It was a nice visit and one I will remember. On our way back to where we were staying, Norene and I stopped in Rexbo, village where Andrew came from, to take a few pictures there...

Relatives in the photo's are, top row: Maine, Bertil, Lars. Bottom row: Berit, Vanja, Leif.
At the old house are Lisbeth and Berit.

Leaving Sweden

Norene and Doug are on their way home from Sweden this morning, after two weeks with relatives! Torsten is bringing them to Stockholm, the car is packed, and they are leaving Mora.

The trip to America that took almost 3 months when Great Grandmother Louisa came from Sweden, takes one long day by plane now.

Stambaugh Christmas Sausage Recipe

from Mary Ann

Don't know if I sent you this recipe or not.  It was my grandpa Roberg's recipe.  He was a butcher in Stambaugh.  After he passed away, my dad gave the recipe to the Baker brothers who were good friends of my dad.  They made and sold it for years.

 

Getting ready to make Christmas Sausage. Many great Stambo memories around Baker's Store Christmas Sausage. Give it a try. Baker's Store Christmas Sausage Recipe: Makes 25# 8# 80% lean pork (ground) 8# 50% pork (ground) 8# Ground beef (not too lean) 1.75 qt. water (7 cups) 1/2 cup Red wine 1/2 oz. salt 1.5 oz. Allspice 3/4 oz. Pepper .2 oz. (pinch) Cloves 1/2 oz. Nutmeg Mix everything in tub (mix well). Stuff in beef casings cut approx. 18". Tie like ring bologna. To cook: Boil 45 min.

Lest we forget!

I don't know who wrote this, but it's from an email that has been  circulating and since this blog is about life in the United States after our great-grandparents immigrated from Sweden, and what has transpired since and, how that affects us as well, I'd like to share the following with you! Update: Here's more information on women's struggle for an equal vote, and this time it's a history of the vote for women in Tennessee: http://tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/suffrage/index.htm and goes from through introduction, the beginning, the struggle and the payoff.  And here's more about what the women who came before us did to get the vote! http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-2-a-how-women-won-the-right-to-vote ********************************************************************* I cannot think of anything, short of death, that forgives a person for not voting. The election coming up may be one of the most important elections in our lifetimes and we'd better know who and why we're voting for him or her.     A  TRUE STORY EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW!   This  is the story of our Mothers and Grandmothers who lived only  90 years ago.   Remember,  it was not until 1920 that  women were granted the right to go to the polls and  vote.   The  women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed  nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking  for the vote.    And  by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison  guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a  rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing  sidewalk traffic.'  (Lucy  Burns)They  beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head  and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for  air.    (Dora  Lewis) They  hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an  iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cell mate, Alice Cosu,  thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional  affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating,  choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the  women. Thus unfolded  the 'Night  of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917,  when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered  his guards  to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they  dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to  vote. For  weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their  food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with  worms.    (Alice  Paul) When  one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they  tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured  liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for  weeks until word was smuggled out to the  press.    \ Mrs Pauline  Adams in the prison garb she wore while serving a 60 day  sentence.  Last  week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's movie 'Iron  Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women  waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and  have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the  reminder.    Miss  Edith Ainge, of Jamestown ,  New  York  All  these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But  the actual  act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly,  voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege.  Sometimes it was inconvenient.     (Berthe  Arnold, CSU graduate)My  friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the  HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it,  she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought kept coming  back to me as I watched that movie,' she said. 'What would those  women think of the way I use, or don't use, my  right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger  women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The right to vote,  she said, had become valuable to her 'all over  again.' HBO released the movie on video and DVD. I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would  include the movie in their curriculum I want it shown on  Bunco/Bingo night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize  this isn't our usual idea of  socializing, but  we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a  little shock therapy is in  order.   Conferring  over ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution  at  National Woman's Party headquarters, Jackson Place ,  Washington , D.C.   Left  to right: Mrs. Lawrence Lewis, Mrs. Abby Scott Baker, Anita  Pollitzer,  Alice Paul, Florence Boeckel,  Mabel  Vernon (standing, right)    It  is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade  a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be  permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the  doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That  didn't make her crazy. The doctor admonished  the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for  insanity.' Please, if you are so inclined, pass  this on to all the women you know.  We need to get out and  vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very  courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or  independent party - remember to vote.  Helena  Hill Weed, Norwalk , Conn.    Serving 3 day sentence in  D.C. prison for carrying banner,'Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed.'    So, refresh MY memory. Some women won't vote this year  because - Why,exactly?   We have carpool duties We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining? I'm so busy...I've got so much on my plate! *****************************************************************************************   These women went through jail time, beatings, and so much more, for US! We can’t let their suffering be for nothing. Let's all make a commitment to vote in November!