In 1899, Oscar Lundwall bought a violin, used. His father woudn’t let him play the violin in the house, and he was only allowed to practice the violin in the barn. The story is told that Oscar met Teckla Ekquist in the orchestra. He played the violin and she played the guitar, probably at social gatherings, dances, weddings, and even funerals.
“Young Davey” had seen this same violin at his Grandma Doris’s in Trout Creek when he was about 10 years old, and he marveled at that violin. In the spring of the year when he was 14, Grandma came from the front room and said “Oh Davey! I’ve been cleaning out the closet and I came across that old violin. I know you were interested in it. So you either take it home with you, or I’m throwing in in the dump!
Years later young Davey’s son Steven wanted a new violin when he was 14 years old. Since he already had an instrument, his father David D. DeVowe told Steven he would have to save his money. Then David remembered the violin he’d been given years earlier – Great-Grandpa’s violin that he had kept in his closets for years. David asked Steven if he was interested in his Great-Great-Grandfather’s violin, but Steven wanted a NEW violin.
A family friend and a violin maker told Steven that the older the wood, the better the sound quality. Steven changed his mind and invested his money into getting the “old and used” violin restored.
When the whole family went to pick up the violin, the violin maker said this was definitely a replica – probably sold to a somewhat wealthy father who most likely had it custom made, possibly for his daughter. He said it was definitely a girl’s violin – by the fancy design of the purfling on its back.
There were no cracks in the body and it was structurally sound. The pegs, the bridge and strings were replaced. They were told the the violin has a deep rich sound, and strong volume, deeper than most.
Steven was told that for his $185 investment, he now had an instrument estimated to be worth about $3,500.00. As far as I know, Steven DeVowe is still playing that violin.
We are all so proud….. And thank you to David D. DeVowe for documenting this.
We've asked Steven if he would bring his violin to the reunion and play for everyone and David can read his story about the violin called Making music Once Again.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the great family history lessons. This is great.
Yes, I will bring it! My brother Michael will also play cello with me.
ReplyDeleteSteven
I remember your story, David, and still have a hard copy of it. Did you write the story for a class you were taking? It's very good.
ReplyDeleteSteven, I am SO looking forward to seeing the old, now restored violin and hearing it played. I just can't wait to hear you and Michael play together.