| Description |
: |
Edward vinje was a 1915 graduate of a Farm husbandry course from The North Dakota Agricultural College. He filed for a homestead in Montana and the patent was issued in February of 1920. Several months later Edward took his mother and visited Norway.
Thrine Bergithe “Trina” Skjei Hammer FAG# 153063124 accompanied them but returned separately in 1923.
Edward served in the US ARMY in France during WWI as a sergeant. During the time Edward was serving his country a catastrophic seven year drought began in Montana where Edward had his homestead.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
Read More
|
Edward vinje was a 1915 graduate of a Farm husbandry course from The North Dakota Agricultural College. He filed for a homestead in Montana and the patent was issued in February of 1920. Several months later Edward took his mother and visited Norway.
Thrine Bergithe “Trina” Skjei Hammer FAG# 153063124 accompanied them but returned separately in 1923.
Edward served in the US ARMY in France during WWI as a sergeant. During the time Edward was serving his country a catastrophic seven year drought began in Montana where Edward had his homestead.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
1917-24 CENTRAL MONTANA DROUGHT WHERE EDWARD HAD HOMESTEADED
""""The growth that occurred during Montana’s homestead boom was so pronounced, and so astounding, that when it all came crashing down, the enormity of the tragedy was almost incomprehensible. The bust’s beginnings were hardly noticeable. The rain stopped falling in the spring of 1917 in isolated places in northern Montana. Heat waves baked the brown earth black. Then the grasshoppers came in great dark clouds that settled on the landscape like a writhing blanket. Cutworms, wireworms, and grass fires followed. The Havre Plaindealer called the catastrophe “the worst in the history of the state.”
By the following spring, the drought spread over all of eastern and central Montana, where temperatures hovered between 100 and 110 degrees. Hot, brutal winds blew the soil the homesteaders so laboriously plowed. Ominous brown-grey clouds rolled across the vast horizon, denuding 2,000,000 acres and partially destroying millions more. By the fall of 1918—just as the War in Europe was coming to an end—the haunting face of depression appeared everywhere. And there was no end in sight.
Lacking food, seed, land, and savings, and with little or no help from state relief agencies, the homesteader left Montana even more quickly than he came. The exodus started in the fall of 1917 and by 1919, when the post-war drop in wheat prices created an even more impossible situation, they left in droves—one with a poetic sign on his wagon: “Twenty miles from water, forty miles from wood. We’re leaving old Montana, and we’re leaving for good.” An estimated 60,000 people left Montana during the 1920s, many of them moving to Washington, Oregon, and especially California. Other would likely have followed, but they simply didn’t possess the means. Montana was the only state that lost population during the “roaring” 1920s.
The extent of the disaster was staggering and grim statistics tell the story. Between 1919 and 1925, roughly two million acres passed out of production and 11,000 farms—about 20 percent of the state’s total—were vacated. Farmland prices fell by 50 percent, 20,000 mortgages were foreclosed, and half of Montana’s farmers lost their land.""""
http://www.distinctlymontana.com/montana-history/04/04/2007/frontier-homestead
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
TRANSCRIPTION IS COPYRIGHTED
Edward Vinje travel diary Volume I
Edward L Vinje was the oldest son of
Ellen Serine Eriksdastter Klev and Sivert Bendik Larsen Vinje
Sivert died in 1901 and in 1903 Ellen Serine married Anders Odegaard
Edward graduated from The North Dakota Agricultural College with a degree in Husbandry
Edward homesteaded near Havre Montana and was a sergeant in the US Army In WWI
In 1920 Edward took his mother Serine Odegaard to Norway where she was born
Thrine Bergithe Skjei (FAG# 153063124) accompanied them to Norway returning separately in 1923.
This is the detailed diary he wrote of their journey
May 8th 1920 - Left Bottineau 9:05 A.M. Stayed in Rugby where we had a lunch. Took local on to Grand Forks where we had a good supper and where mother enjoyed a good rest at a hotel. Was out and saw where excavation was started for state mill for North Dakota. Met Carl Christianson on branch train and had not seen him since 1916. Run across Pet Mcintosh whom I (#2) had not seen since I went to School of Forestry. Saw Harold Bachman leader of Million Dollar Band in Grand Forks. Started for Mpls from Grand Forks 10:25 PM. I slept more or less all night and woke up on May 9th. Where the grass was green and leaves appearing on the trees. Got to Minneapolis 7:50 A.M. After we had carried the suitcases until we were tired from the depot we stopped at the (#3) Seymour. At breakfast mother told me to have some more syrup on my cakes but I didnt care for any vinegar. In the afternoon we went out to the Ebenezer home a charity institution for old poor invalids that have nothing nor cant support themselves. There were 42 people there and the oldest was 92 years. The home was built last summer and seemed very comfortable. Took (#4) street car and went to St Paul where we saw the State Capital. Also the large flour mills. Mother seems to have enjoyed all the time but she misses her regularity of coffee. Today I have seen the largest man I have ever seen. A common man looked like a mere boy beside him. I was out looking for Electric Short Line Railway Station- I got up in the railroad yards and I found Alfred Odegaard who was with a girl out (#5) walking. It just seemed as though we were to meet there as he was the only man in sight. May 10th 1920 Got up six oclock and found Sharood Co. where I bought shoes and rubbers. Mothers pass had not come so I went to St Paul to find out about it. Trine had to go to the Consul Hobe (E.H. Hobe Swedish-Norwegian consul) and get back before train time. She was so excited over her pass and she hired a cab (#6) The cab man took her over where he ran into a street car and was fined. When Trine came out from council Hobe (E.H. Hobe Swedish-Norwegian consul) her taxi was not there and she had to take a street car back. When she got back to hotel the taxi man had phoned and he wanted $11.00 but she didn't pay more than $5.50 and she was so mad and excited that she couldn't do anything. The Train started (#7) 6:10 PM and I found out that I had bought three berths where I had only wanted a place for three of us to sleep. But I got a chance to help a woman that had a child for a lower berth. A man over 70 years got a chance to sleep with me. I lost my fountain pen which I had carried for 1 year that is why I am now writing with a pencil. (#8) May 11 1920 I spent a very good night and got up shortly before we got to Chicago and we left there about 8:45 AM stopping there a very short time. At 9:00 AM we went into the diner and had coffee and toast which cost me 30 cents. This was the first time in my life that I had anything from a diner car. Tho luck seemed (#9) to be against us yesterday. I think the luck is with us today as mother found my fountain pen and I have gotten another clip on it so I am going to try to keep it from here on. The coach that we are in are mostly women and a contented happy bunch. There are a few aged mothers but most of them are young and middle aged women. This also applies the same to (#10) the men. The weather has been rainy and cloudy since we left Mpls. The apple trees are blossoming and the stock is grazing on the green pastures. I bought a book for mother. The railroad that we are going over is the Baltimore and Ohio railroad of the Western Lines and is a special train running from Mpls to New York for passengers on the Stavanger of the (#11) Norwegian Americans line. Saw the factory in Akron Ohio from the train. There was something the matter with our lights so we had to go to bed in the dark and the porter had quite a time making our berths and I didn't get to bed before 11:00 PM. One young girl was seeing that the our ? was well in front of the berth. I wanted to show her ??????? hand so I (#12) promised to hold it for her and of course she consented to that. May 12th I didn't sleep very good was awake at one and got up at 5:00 AM and then we were in Cumberland West Virginia. You can tell my pen leaks. The porter said our lights were fixed Pittsburgh. My pen is bothering so I am going to use my pencil. The weather is still (#13) cloudy. With the leaves out full and the winter rye seems to be full length. The country is rough with lots of boulders in places. I thought this book got away from me this morning but the old man found it and gave it to mother. We are now going thru a tunnel and have just crossed into Maryland. Spring grain 6 to 12 (#14) inches long. Soil kind of yellow in color. Got to Washington DC around 9:00 AM where a Baptist convention was taking place having in the neighborhood of 17000 visitors from 17 states. As a class they appeared to be a good class of people. Had a lunch and proceeded to BUREAU OF PASSPORTS where we were told that mothers pass was sent yesterday to (#15) Hobe and co. at Minneapolis. I sent a telegram asking to have them send the passport to their company at New York. We saw the White House where sheep were grazing on the lawn. Went thru the US Capitol where we saw statues and paintings of prominent men. The biggest thing that I enjoyed in the US capitol (#16) was where we were let into the chamber where the senate met and were discussing allotments and insurance and that I was interested . In the few minutes I was there in looking down on the senators from above I noticed that the greater part of them were bald headed. Another thing I noticed was that (#17) there was not a single woman there in the senate. I just wonder how long that condition will last with women soon having National Women's suffrage? We left Washington for New York at five o'clock and I enjoyed the stop very much. Got into New York a little after 11 and there to the Pennsylvania railroad and there we (#18) met a big over grown boy that thought we were green to the ways of New York and we just went off and left him. I got a swell room for mother and Trine with two other girls in our company. I also got a good room a little cheaper. This is at the Grand hotel and it is now 1 o'clock and I am going to roll in. May 13 1920 Being that this (#19) is Friday the 13th I didn't expect to accomplish much. I woke up with a headache and kind of under the weather with a sore throat. I didn't get to do anything before 10 o'clock and then I had to move my watch ahead and so it was 11AM. I started on a wild goose chase to find the Red Star line office or Norwegian American line. I (#20) went over to Brooklyn but there I only found the pier for the Norwegian American Line. But I got my right information there where to go. I got back to the hotel 4:30 PM and mother was kind of worried that some pickpocket had gotten a hold of me. Traveling and living is fairly cheap here. Street carfare is 5 cents while in (#21) Washington DC it was 8 cents. I am tired tonite so that I am going to bed early. May 14th 1920 I woke up with my throat somewhat sorer and we went down to the Norwegian American Line Office and there we found a telegram stating that mothers pass had been sent from Minneapolis May 13th 2PM and I hope to God it is here in the morn (#22) ing. I thought the army was as bad as any for red tape but getting a passport and getting fixed out is worse than anything that I have ever heard or seen of. A man has to chase all over New York and then some in order to get the council (consul) and custom officers to sign it. Today I run across Isaac Lindstrom my No. 13 man in the (#23) gun squad the time we were in the army. We went to camp together and we were in the same section together most of the time and we were discharged the same time. It is a good thing to have a mother with one when one is out on a trip. Today mother bought me a sweater and got some iodine and painted one of (#24) my tonsils that is swelled some. Today it has been cloudy and raining all day. May 15 1920 Got up after having slept very little at 6 AM. We went to pier 61 of the Red Star line and then to the customs house waiting around for the passport but there was none that showed up and a good man at the Norwegian (#25) American line directed us to go to to the passport bureau and there mother got a duplicate passport. We now only had an hour and a half till the boat was due to sail. We went to the custom officer and had that fixed out. From there we stopped and had six pictures taken. Then we went to Norwegian Consul and had him Visa (#26) mothers pass. We didn't have time to go to the British consul but I thought when I had been there that was enough so we started to the dock. We got to the terminal of the elevated and there mother run away from me. There was an awful crowd of people but found her in a few minutes. We got to the dock in a (#27) very short time. I had to go to the main agent to find out whether I needed to have mothers passport visaed by a British consul. He said you are going thru England and you are are not going to stop any there. You dont need an English visa go and stamp your tickets which I was very glad to do. We walked up the gangplank about three oclock with no (#28) dinner and a very slim breakfast. The ship started to move 10 minutes after 4 by my time from New York. A pitiful sight that I saw was an old man that lost his ticket or at least claimed he did. He was an old foreigner and couldn't talk the American language. he seemed to be very much against it (#29) and was left off the ship at the pier with an old lady that looked like his woman. My first meal consisted of 2 slices of bread and all the butter and sugar that I could get on it with all the black coffee I wanted to drink. May 16th 1920 I slept very little last night as my throat was bothering me so (#30) I layed in bed practically all day. This was more than I expected as my previous experience on ships have been that someone has come around and ordered everybody on deck. Mother was so worried over me that she had to hunt me up. There has been a cold breeze all day but the ocean has been quiet so the boat has ridden very smoothly. ,(#31) About nine my throat started to get better. May 17th 1920 I spent a very good night with my throat improved considerably. I have not talked to any of my closest bunkies until my throat got better. My closest bunkie is a young Belgian about thirty years who has been in the US for 10 years and is now going back to see (#32) his aged parents. This young Belgian is now a US citizen and enlisted in the US army after the war broke out. His name is Alphonse Trekels and seems to be an intelligent man. All the single men got orders to go up in the forward part of the boat. I think there is practically every nationality of the white race in this part of the boat. Most of them are foreigners and (#33) the biggest part of them are Polocks. Some of the men have been getting their bunks wet by water coming thru the open port holes. The men that got their bunks wet have gotten new covers and pillows so they will not have to sleep in a wet bed tonite. Mother and Trine have a room in the aft part of the boat with two Belgian women. One (#34) of these Belgian women is already seasick. Mother spends most of her time crocheting but she thinks it will be a long time to stay on the ship for 10 days. .................. May 18 1920 The sea has been rough today and this morning. I was sea sick so that I didnt eat any breakfast and there were very few few that ate anything. I went on deck and fed the (#35) fishes what little I had left in my stomach from the last meal. While I was hanging around a foreigner fell down and got a blow in back of the head. He bled considerably. I wanted to help this man but I couldn't figure out how a sick man could help out a man that was hurt. Along came a kind hearted Swede as I met him last nite (#36) in the wash room where he shared a half a cup of soft water with me so that I could wash my face some before using using in the salt water. This Swede helped the hurt man to the Dr, and the Swede told the hurt man that he was not hurt as much as he thought he was. I don't know the name of this Swede but I know his face and I think there is a (#37) man with a good character and I am going to try to get more acquainted with him before I get thru with this voyage. I understand he is an ex serviceman. After being on deck I slept all of the forenoon and in the afternoon I went and visited mother and I found her sleeping. She told me she was the only woman that was to the breakfast table in her section. (#38) I told her I felt real proud of her the way she could stand the sea. Towards evening the fog went away and the storm quieted down. When we first got on the ship the stewards wanted 25 cents for 2 oranges then they came down to 10 cents a piece. Now they are selling them for 5 cents a piece. I have now stored up a few for the future in case I get sea (#39) sick again. May 19 1920 Today the sun is out with considerable breeze but there is not as much sea sickness among the immigrants as there was yesterday. Was back and seen mother this morning and she told of leaving her spectacles eye glasses in the wash room last evening. When she went there to look for them they were gone. She remembered an old lady was (#40) in the wash room at the same time she was. She hunted up this old lady and found her with the eye glasses in her hand and she gave her 25 cents for them as she looked so poor mother said. There is beer being sold on this boat and a Belgian said there is only the ships under two flags that are not allowed to sell intoxicating liquor and that is the United States and (#41) the Norwegian flag and I for one am proud of their ?stands? their flags. Today we have seen considerable sea gulls but just how far we are from land I don't know. This ship (The Finland?) has been making around 12 and 13 knots. Today I met a young Norwegian that is a going to Norway the first one that I have met and he was from Racine Wisc. (#42) Today I also met an old Dane between 50 and 60 years that had been in the United States for 5 months and is a going to Denmark. He has a son in California but he thinks Denmark is the only country for him and he said that the US is all right for young men. May 20th Today the sun was out and we had a side wind all day. Nearly all the people were on the deck. The children were playing and some ...(#43) of the young girls and women were a skipping the rope all seeming to be happy more or less. We have now made some over 1500 miles and the last 24 hours we made 318 miles. May 21 1920 The wind is blowing from the same direction and this morning I had a shower of sea water come over me. One thing that is a breaking the moral and (#44) service to the emigrants is the tips that some men give to the waiters and crew of the boat. In order that they get to the first table and a little better service while at the table. All the emigrants have paid to go on this boat and to be fed while on the same. But the service is the best for those that have the money and give the tips. What would be the best for all is that... (#45) the company pay bigger wages and allow no employee to get a tip. If necessary to the company to charge more for the tickets. The system on this boat is the poorest that I have seen on any ship that I have sailed on. Money seems to be what they are all after and service seems to come last. The ventilation in the hole that I am in is very poor as we have had to have the port hole closed (#46) since the first day. So far the place has not been mopped out yet and it certainly is a dirty place on the boat. The Corona was just as bad as this boat when we got on but there the soldiers cleaned the place up so it was fairly clean after a few days. We had to take this boat in order to go now but I hope we can get a cleaner boat back. The grub one meal with the other is (#47) is fairly good. Today noon we had soup corn beef and cabbage with potatoes bread and pudding. Also an apple. I have only tipped one man and that was an aged man working in the baggage room at the Pennsylvania station in New York. Mother wanted to get some clothes out of the trunk and also put some dirty ones back in. This man (#48) found the trunk for us helped to take the rope off also to put it back on again. He also found a man so that I got the trunk transferred to the pier. When we were thru I asked him what I owed him. He said this is what I am paid for doing everyday. I gave the man 25 cents as he was very accommodating. I am going to pay every man or woman that does anything for me but if (#49) there is anyone that thinks I am going to throw money at them for nothing they are badly mistaken. Some of the New York boys working on this boat are looking for easy money and some of these lads are not worth the salt. They get on this boat for the work they are doing. They are good to shoot their mouths off but they are easily bluffed. Today the wind (#50) has blown harder than ever and 9 AM it started to rain and it rained all day so that it has been very miserable. This boat was built in 1902 and has seen considerable service. Trine has a bad cold and mother also has a touch but I am feeling fine as a fish. To listen to these different nationalities talking it all sounds like a bumble bee..........(#51) Some play cards for a pass time some gamble with cards, Some sit around and discuss things of the day, While some sit around and look at others or are sleeping. But all and all we are mostly all happy looking for the time when we can get off this ship, ....... May 23 Today is Sunday all day with the wind calmed down and no rain with a slight fog . For (#52) dinner today we had chicken and beef soup potatoes bread ice cream and an apple. If we only had some music of some kind on this ship the time would of gone a lot faster. There is a swede on here going to Sweden and he entertains the Swedes every once in a while by singing to them. .....May 24th This morning the ocean is quiet with the sun out and the sky clear. For breakfast we had .... (#53) bread butter oatmeal liver bacon and coffee. The coffee and tea that we have gotten on this ship have been mostly spoiled water. One man had the wind take his hat overboard. A number of men have a string tied to their hats and fastened to their coats. Today the captain and the doctor of the ship came around about eleven o'clock and inspected quarters with the steward in charge of this section (#54) , The captain is a Norwegian and an aged man. He dresses very simple but seems a man that takes interest in his work. He seems very common in his ways and as far as I can find out he is well liked by the crew. It is no easy matter to satisfy passengers and the crew where the ship is crowded like we are on this boat. I have seen more kindness of the Swede that I met in the (#55) wash room and his name is Emil Monsen. He has been 16 years in St Paul Minn. Saw a woman have her cap blow off into the ocean and that was the last of that. The Finland weighs 12,222 tons. All the animals that I have seen aboard this ship is a cat and a dog. The cat was at liberty of the ship while a waiter of the ship was leading the dog around. (#56) May 25 I woke four O'clock this morning with a number of passengers getting up. I think they are beginning to feel the imagination of land. I got up and shaved. There is hardly not a wave to be seen on the ocean. Nearly all Americans like to keep their upper lips clean from a mustache while practically all the Austrians Hungarians and Serbians all have a heavy mustache They (#57) seem to take a great pride in it with the ends well twisted up. The sun was out for a few minutes in the morning but the rest of the day we have been a sailing in a fog at about half speed. An old sailor on this voyage says the water is greener now showing that we are in the channel. When we are on the ocean the water was more blue. This afternoon the crew have been taking trunks out of the (#58) bottom of the ship and putting them on the top deck where they are being sorted for different points in Europe. Since the fog started today the steam whistle of the boat has blown every three minutes or so in order to warn other boats that may be near by. We are hardly running half speed and safety first seems to be the slogan of the officers on this boat with the fog on. May 26 This morning the (#59) ship blew 6 whistles and in a very short time a pilot came on board. About 5:45 AM we saw what looked like an ice berg in the distance but on coming closer we discovered it was a white rock. On going farther in the channel the rock became darker and vegetation was growing. Also homes began to appear with green field here and there. I can (#60) not express the beauty of this scenery as it appeared to me. Tho there was a slight fog and rain. We got to dock at South Hampton 8:30 when we were on dock. To unload the baggage of the ship a chute is used where it slides into a store room. Went into town for dinner and the place looked pretty. Coming back I bought cookies and fruit to have on the train. The (#61) train started 3:00PM, At South Hampton I saw the Imperator a ship that used to belong to Germany but now belongs to England. This is the largest ship in the world and weighs 54000 tons. We got to London 5:45PM and on coming here we enjoyed the scenery very much. With the green and blooming pastures having the fat cattle grazing upon them. One farming operation that I saw (#62) was two steam engines at the ends of a field pulling a plow back and forth over the field with a cable. After waiting around for about 4 minutes at the depot an agent of the line had a cab take us to the Empress hotel where we are hanging out for the night. I got a cold one of the last nights on the ship and I haven't felt like seeing much of the berg. One thing I notice. (#63) in London is the public toilets that are under ground. The plan looks good and I think the public appreciates having them. May 27th 1920 I couldn't sleep much on account of my cold. But mother didn't hardly rest any at all because the bed they had was high in the center and was very uncomfortable. The bottom of the chair they had fell out. (#64) At 8 we walked to the underground railway and there went to the station, London is smokey and foggy today. We left London 9:50AM in company with some other Scandinavians. Our trunk is not with us but Trines is here. Got to New Castle about 4 PM and there we took a street car to the dock where we had to go thru red tape before we got (#65) on the ship Venus that started for the sea at 6:45 PM but did not get far on account of the fog so the boat was anchored for about an hour and we started again. May 28 The boat was crowded so that I had to sleep on the deck. I laid a bunch of raincoats and jackets that belong to the sailors. I laid myself down on the above and slept (#66) about five hours. I had to feed the fishes a couple of times during the night and morning. I ate a sandwich for breakfast and drank some coffee but it all went to the fishes. Also the dinner I ate and no supper. Mother mastered the sea as well as ever. May 29 I slept the night in the same place as the night before with a few hours sleep. I woke up 3:30 AM when the (#67) boat was in to Stavanger Norway. We are now sailing between the fjords and saw a few sailboats this morning. We stopped at Haugesump (sp?) and then we had sandwiches and coffee for breakfast. For dinner we had oatmeal soup fish and potatoes. The land that we sailed between was barren but a home here and there were seen. To farmers I couldn't see a (#68) living there but a fisherman along the water can see his living there. I want to mention here that mother in the third class was the only woman that was not sea sick and she acted as a nurse to the others. I hope we will not have to travel any more like we did on the last boat. (#69) The ticket man at New Castle took our tickets and I had to run all over Bergen to find out about getting a ticket for Trondheim which we had all ready paid for. I finally found the agent for the White Star Line and he directed us to go the Transatlantic hotel where the company stands (pays?) our expense till Monday. We will also be fixed out with tickets by that time. (#70) I took a stroll around Bergen and the people as a class look very contented. I walked into a Salvation Army meeting and I never saw as big a crowd at any meeting as this. Had a good shower bath at the hotel we are staying and I am already beginning to feel different from the voyage. Some of the passengers can still feel the rocking of (#71) the boat though we are on land. Trine vomited and acted as though she was sea sick last night. May 30 I slept very good and had breakfast at 7:00. Mother wanted us to go to church and I thought i would but I heard a boat was coming in so I thought I had better go and look for our trunk. The sun is out and the weather beautiful. (#72) I caught sight of a building on the high mountains and I took the Floebonen Star there and that cost me 15 cents. I got there when the sun was shining on a sunny Sunday when the church bells were a ringing and the scenery certainly was great. On the high mountain tops snow could be seen in the distance. Many homes were built on the sides of the mountain. I walked down and went past (#73) a place where a fountain had a pipe that sent a stream of water about 25 feet into the air. There are quite a few automobiles running around and they look good substantial cars. The children that I see playing look clean healthy and happy. The grown people look much the same way. The people move as though have no worry over the day tomorrow. The com- (#74) plexion is light with red cheeks especially have the women - some nice rosy cheeks. Today the main spring of my watch broke and that will have to be alright as long as my heart keeps a beating against all the trouble we run up against on our journey. Took in a moving picture show this evening and that cost 20 cents. May 31 I was up bright ...(#75) and early. It has rained all day. I run across a girl in Bergen that helped us out with a ticket and she seemed a mighty fine lady. As a class I have gotten more of a satisfaction from women on this trip than men so far. If we only had the trunk with us now I would feel first rate. We started 3:00 PM on the Mira for Trondjheim. The accommodations look mighty black with all the passengers (#76) There is about twice as many passengers on this boat. June 1 We had to sleep on deck and at 12 o'clock I woke up when we were at Moldven. Here a dozen or more Salvation Army girls got on deck they sang. Their swinging certainly was sweet. Since coming to Norway we have gotten lump sugar with our coffee and I feel right at home. (#77) At noon we stopped at Aalesund and that was a mighty fine place. Around six o'clock we got to Kristiansund and there I went on the pier where I bought three small oranges that cost me 23 cents. On board this boat we have an accordionist. His accordion cost $450 and was special made. It is a combination piano and base accordion. (#78) He was giving us some sweet music and woke a lad. This man went and complained. The music had to stop.- I was a resting on the floor of the first class alleyway and in a room next to me there was a racket going on. There was two well dressed men in there and they had one of the waiters of the ships officers with them. Along came a ship officer and (#79) bawled the girl out for being so low down and made her come out of there. To look at the three of them looked good but that is only skin deep. If we could only look into peoples hearts we would really know what they are. June 2 We got to Trondjheim 3 oclock in the morning and after getting our baggage off we went to Hotel Scandinavian. There we met a party that we went (#80) over the North sea with. Mother purchased a suit that came to about $38 and I bought an overcoat that came to $20. I made arrangements to go back to US on July 17 on the Stavangerfjord. Sent a telegram to Erik Viem that we are here. One sign that I have seen where the public goes is "Spitting in the stairway is strictly forbidden" June 3 I rested better last night than I (#81) had for a long time. Mother was up early as usual and she got sandwiches and coffee for us right to our rooms. This forenoon we went to the Domkirken - Norways greatest stone works. (cathedral?) An aged and crippled man gave us a lecture on the history of the building thru the many ages. A number of kings have been buried there. Saw St Olaf's as well. The church had been destroyed a (#82) number of times. Men were working on the structure now. The Norwegian people take a great pride in this structure. This forenoon I exchanged $150 to kroner getting 835 kroner. For every $1 I got 5 kroner and 55 ore. For dinner we went to the steam kitchen and there we got a big dinner for 35 cents or 1.75. In America this would cost at least 50 cents. When we came here a bybud met us at ....(#83) the dock and he took our baggage to the hotel. He wanted 6 kroner for to take the baggage to the hotel and then to the station. He also wanted some from the women but I overheard the conversation and I told them I had already paid for the hauling. This afternoon when we were out for dinner he was here and took my suit case and the trunk to the station. I did not know (#84) who took it till one of the chambermaids told me and I had to go to the station and get my suitcase in order to put some clothing in it that was left in the room. The place we stayed at charged us for 2 1/2days when we only stayed 37 hours. Some people think they can charge Americans anything at all. we started for Stenkjar 5:50 on the flier but it was a mixed train and (#85) a very slow one at that. We got to Stenkjer about 11 and the hotels were filled but I run across a kind hearted man and he went with me to a private hotel and there a good mother let us stay. I slept on a couch and they had a small bed. June 4 We rested very good and in the morning we had coffee. This is where we leave Trine as her home is about 7 miles from town. (#86) The people in Stenkjer are the most accommodating of any Norwegians that I have ever seen in Norway so far. The barbers name that helped us for a room last night is Hof A Hegle and I had him cut my hair pompadour (style). That cost me 35 cents and the hair cut was as good as any that I got in the states. I gave him 91 cents in souvenir money for the accommodation he showed us. I also (#87) gave the lady a 50 cent piece. The train came along 1:00 PM and in 20 minutes were at Sunan where we went on the St Olaf. Here I met Anfin Jifsta a man that I used to thresh with in North Dakota. I recognized him first. We went on the Snaasa (lake) water for 5 hours to Aldeness. From there we started out for Viem and about half ways we met Erik. He looked the same as usual. Mother soon (#88) got interested asking him of the different places. She recognized the faces of some of the people too. Also some of the rocks and valleys. June 5 This morning Mrs Erik Viem came with coffee for us in the bed. This morning mother washed clothes and I pressed my suit. When a Norwegian says whoa to the horses he says (Norwegian word illegible???) but the horse knows the language. Erik Viem is still feeding (#89) his stock inside and the sheep are longing to get on the green grass. Lars Viem walked two miles this forenoon and that did not seem to bother him at all though he is 65 years old. Saw an old woman make (flat bread) out of barley flour mashed potatoes and water. She baked the bread in a fire place and was put on a round sheet iron. This afternoon I and mother took a walk over the old (#90) playing and herding grounds. She said the boulders and mountains were the same. The trees had grown considerable. She remembered the lay of the landscape and the names of the different places. We went along the rivers that had some water falls and she said it was funny they didn't fall over the cliffs when she was a child playing there. After seeing the environment that mother was brought (#91) up in it is no wonder to my mind that she has and is such a strong husky woman. We went and visited an aged couple where mother herded the cattle. Mother said this woman was so kind and good hearted to her. June 6 Today Sunday we went to church where there was confirmation. In this church mother was confirmed and baptized. The church was built in 1869 and was a (#92) stone structure. At church I met Ben Jorstad whom I had not seen for a few years. Here I met Lornts Bruvold my uncle - my cousin Gustav and John Viem. I met the father of Pauline Hammer (sp?) Another old time acquaintance that I met was Ole Klev a one time shoe maker in Bottineau and Souris. There were a great number of people at church and all seemed well (#93) dressed and contented. They all seemed to spy the American and they looked on him as the natives spied Columbus. After church we went with Lornts Bruvold to his home. We drove along the edge of the Snaasa vandet and here the road was very narrow but the road was hard. We got to Bruvold and here a big dinner was waiting for us. First we had lunch then (#94) a four course dinner of meat and fish. Then a cup of coffee in a few minutes - after awhile we had chocolate to drink. To finish with we had bread and tea. We had a dinner and four lunches inside of four hours. Can you beat that? I surely ought to get fat in Norway Here at this place there are four generations all on the female side. The old lady is 90 years and her name is Marit Jorgensdatter (#95) Brovold. Her daughters name is Karen Johansdatter Brovold and her age is 58 years old. The above ladys daughter is Marie Lorensdatter Brovold and her age is 30 years old. Maries daughters name is Leiking Olsdatter Brovod and she is 11 years old. They are all good looking healthy and happy. In each family there has only been one child and that has been a girl. June 7 Nearly all the young (#96) men and women of the country have a bicycle . The women seem to can ride just as well as the men. Today I was out and seen where Bruvold is working up new land. There had to be a ditch all around the land in order to drain the water away. There is moss on top that has to be taken off before the plow can be used in places. There is considerable work (#97) in getting the land in shape for a crop the following year. A good deal of the soil is nothing but dead vegetable matter for a number of feet down. Took a picture of the four generations . Also a group of all present on the place. In the afternoon I and Ole went to Sem. On the way we loaned a bicycle so we each had a wheel to ride on. It was many years since I rode a wheel (#98) but I still knew how to peddle the animal. At the post office I got three letters for mother and there was a few lines from all at home to make her happy. She said tonite she will rest good after knowing that all is well at home. At Sem I met Mrs Lorents Vinje and talked with Lorents over the telephone. June 8 Today I took a picture of the new land and the hired man working. He has (#99) been on the place 46 years as a laborer. Also looked in the stabar and there I saw a large amount of (flat brod) dry bread... Here in this country they make flat bread in the spring and fall. Lorents and the little girl followed us on the way to Theodore Skavland. On the way we met Torold Berg and his wife. I used to know them in the states. People are now putting gravel 0n the roads (#100) and each year this is being done. Theodore Skavlan is mothers uncle. He is also a cousin to my father Sivert Vinje. Theodores mother was Sivets fathers sister. Theodore is uncle to mother and a brother to mothers mother. Was over to the (Lensmand) Sheriff and had him stamp our passports. I rode a bicycle there. Saw a saw mill (#101) run by water power. Also an old time horse power that had run the thresh machine but was now used for a straw cutter and for mashing of dry moss that is used for bedding. In the afternoon Skavland went with us to Gustav Viem and he has a nice place. His ground does not cover over 30 acres but he has considerable stock for the place. Here I go to see a (#102) a weaving machine and the first one that I have seen. June 9 Took a couple of pictures of Gustav Viems place. Was over and seen Ole (Almo) Agle a brother of Ben Agle. They have the nicest place that we have seen in the country. Their sitting room was the swellest that we have seen for sometime. On this place they were building a loft. After dinner Gustav (#103) went with us to Martin Berg and Martine Bergs place. Martin has a poor health but looked fleshy. From Bergs we went to Ben Agles home. In the homes that we have been in the furniture has been home made for the most part. In the homes we come to we have to eat or lunch every hour or two. We are certainly shown great accommodation where ever we go. The landscape is.... (#104) very rolly and hilly where we are now, There is not pastry here like it is in the states. But at each place we go to we generally get fatig man and two kinds of cookies. For supper we generally get graut with melted butter on it and bread with butter. I certainly like the Norwegian food. The cattle and sheep are still in the stable on most places. The cattle are on the grass (#105) three months of the year and the rest of the time they stand in the stable with no exercise. Practically all the cattle that I have seen are polled and of a dairy type. The Norwegians mostly uses one horse on a two wheeled wagon and it is a rare thing to see two horses being used together. June 10 I took a picture of the Agle people and Albert gave us a ride to Naglehus where we had coffee and visited for an hour. Grand (#106) mother Naglehus followed us to the old peoples home where mother met a couple of old people that she knew. Mother gave the matron 5 kroner and told her that she would try and remember the home sometime later on. I took a picture of the home. From here we went to Torald Bergs home and they were busy building a living house also making shingles. John Gran a man that worked (#107) a few years for Ole Crogen at Carbury. John was working the shingle machine and he was one Norwegian that I knew. But I didn't know that he was in Norway. We had dinner with the Bergs and then we went on to Ole Klevs and going by the church I took a picture of grandpa and grandmas Klevs graves. We found Ole at home and he passes (#108) his time by working at the creamery once in awhile,. Ole used to be a shoemaker in Bottineau and Souris. Ole has his home close to the village and the church. He has a nice home and I dont think there is a happier man in Snaasen. Wherever Ole is in a gathering one finds a jolly laughing bunch. June 11 This afternoon mother washed clothes and I cleaned my suit. Lars Viem came (#109) walking by and mother called him in. Lars is mothers oldest brother and is 65 years. he has never needed a doctor and today he walked 14 miles to the village and back. I gave Lars an orange and he said "that was the first one that he had ever eaten" I noticed he peeled the orange like we peel an apple but he said "the fruit tasted good" For dinner we were invited to Uncle Lorents Vinje's house where we were treated to fish (#110) caught in the Snaasen lake. Its 18 years since he came back to Norway and he hasn't aged much in that time. He hasn't a gray hair in his head yet. At the present time he is busy going around the community appraising the value of buildings for fire insurance. He also has a motorboat that he uses on the lake to carry passengers and freight. Mother left her parasol (umbrella) at Agles and a young man brought it to the village on his bicycle.
E L VINJE VOLUME II
Edward L Vinje was the oldest son of
Ellen Serine Eriksdastter Klev and Sivert Bendik Larsen Vinje
Sivert died in 1901 and in 1903 Ellen Serine married Anders Odegaard
Edward graduated from The North Dakota Agricultural College with a degree in Husbandry
Edward homesteaded near Havre Montana and was a sergeant in the US Army In WWI
In 1920 Edward took his mother Serine Odegaard to Norway where she was born
Thrine Bergithe Skjei (FAG# 153063124) accompanied them to Norway returning separately in 1923.
This is the detailed diary he wrote of their journey
June 12 We stayed with Ole Klev last night and 11:30 we went to church. There were very few people at church and three babies were baptized. After the meeting a funeral took place. From the church we went with John Sonnes a father of Erik Sonnes that lives at Westhope. Uncle Lornts Bruvold went with us and spent the day at Sannes. Sannes has one of the largest farms in the community and covers in the neighborhood of 60 acres (#2) On this place he keeps around 24 cattle 3 horses and 20 sheep. Clover and timothy is grown considerable for hay. Turnips are grown as a root crop. The grain crops are mostly barley and oats. The season as a rule is too short for wheat here. Saw the place where grandmother Clev was born and raised. Yesterday the sky was clear and the sun was out and warmed the atmosphere. June 13 (#3) Walked over to the Carl Froseths place and those people had lived in America over 20 years and one time they were a resident of Bottineau county near the southwest corner about 6 miles from Glenburn. Mrs Froseth was sick abed and her days in this world did not look to be many. The water on the lake was quiet and looked as smooth as glass. On looking down on the water from Sannes we could see the vegetation (illegible??)......... (#4) across the lake. Some of the vegetation that I have noticed are lilacs,red and black currants, gooseberries,rasberries and strawberries. Rhubarb. The trees are fir and spruce , black and white poplars. Some mountain ash and today I saw some box elder trees that had come from America as seed. John Lannes went with us to Prestmoen where my father was born and raised. The soil there was not very fertile and south of the house there was a (illegible??) (#5) that had been worked into a field. I took three pictures of the place and we took a look thru the house and mother knew some of the rooms. From Prestmoen we went to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Haugan and Carl Haugan has high blood pressure so that his health is not of the best. Mrs Haugan looks about the same as she always did. We had dinner with Haugens having wheat bread pork and for desert we (illegible???) (#6) This was the most American dinner we have had since we started on our journey thru Norway. It is a rare thing to see a calendar hanging on a wall and no toothpicks on the table. This afternoon I wrote some letters and in the evening I went to the post office looking for a word regarding the trunk but there was nothing there. If we only had the clothes in the trunk I would (#7) of enjoyed the trip much better. I could not have a better time in my life trunk or no trunk. This evening we went to Erik Wollan a cousin of mother and their mothers were sisters. Erik is a good dispositioned man. They have no children of their own but have taken a little baby belonging to his wifes brother. June 15 I lost track of a day somewhere but we are having a good time (illegible???) (#8) Wollan had told me that he had gone to school with my father and many a time he had wrestled with him but he was too long in the arms and too strong for him. Eleven o'clock we went to John Larsen Dahls place and there it was 2 brothers and 1 sister that have the home. They looked to be a contented happy lot. At Erik Wollans place there was a young man that had came there when he was (illegible???) years (#9) and now he is 26 years. He is still a laboring man there. He has a sister at Dahl that has grown up there and is still staying there. In this country when some people get settled down in a place they don't like to go to any other place to live. Today we had another good dinner with Mrs Carl Haugan and a pepper and salt shaker sat on the table. That was something Norwegians don't have on the table. This afternoon I saw an (Illegible???) hay (#10) meadow throwing out some kind of a commercial fertilizer. Considerable fertilizer seems to be used thru the land on fields and meadows. Practically every farm we go to have running water in the house and stable. The soil here is so full of springs and running water. In the afternoon I stayed at home at the Haugans and watched Carl while mother and Anna went and visited Ole Shule In the evening (illegible???) went to (#11) the Dahl home and we are having a good time with lots of courtesies shown us. June 16 Before we left Dahls Martine gave mother a big roll of spun wool. Mother is planning on knitting a sweater from the yarn. Mother used to be a hired girl for a couple years at Dahls before she went to America. We went to Carl and Anna Haugan. They followed us to John lovmoen and (illegible???) with (#12) them. Mrs Lovmoen is a sister of Erik Wollan and a cousin of mothers. Ole Vinje owned Lovmoen after he was back from America. On the Lovmoen place they had 2 milk goats and 2 kid goats. We were told a goat gave on the average of 2 quarts of milk a day. It is mostly the poorer class of a farmers that keep goats. From Lovmoen we went to Harry Svarva Moen and here mother used to be when she was 9 years old. She herded the (#13) cattle and drove the horse power. Here we had lunch and then we went to the cow barn. Here we saw 18 head of nice cattle and a pretty girl that was a tending them. She wore wooden shoes and was cleaning the manure away from the cows and into a gutter. The hay was thrown in an alley with a row of cattle on each side facing the alley and the cattle could be fed from the loft. (Illegible???)....... (#14) having seen the cattle and walking by a well mother remembers having carried water from that place. Of all the places that we have been to I have not as yet seen a musical instrument such as a piano or organ. I have been told there is something like 5 pianos in this country. July 17 Today has been a day of rest and I (illegible ????) (#15) help Ole Klev sprout his spuds and carry some spoiled spuds out of his cellar. This is the first work I have done in Norway. Mother went to Mrs Lorents Vinje to help iron some clothes today. Saw a herd of cows taken to the salteror. (sp?) July 18 Here on the Snaasen we are known as the (Americans) when we are talked of. This afternoon I went to Sjules (illegible) and had ... (#16) dinner with them. The foundation of Sjules barn was built up of brick and the first one I have seen here of its kind. His cattle had a good glossy color and I found he fed them cottonseed and oil meal. I stopped at Haugens and watched Carl while Anna got a chance to go to town. Anna got back 10:45 and I started for Clev but I met Erik Wollan and went to his place. July 19th I (illegible????) and (#17) had dinner. After dinner I took a stroll on a high mountain east of the village. I walked up where ski jumping is practiced in the winter time. July 20 Today we went to Pet Eggens and there we had a good dinner. Eggen showed us where he had planted 1000 fir trees on a dry mountain. In the evening we went back to Ole Clev. (#18) July 21 Packed the suit case and went to the dock. Here we took the Bondon to Aldenes. I lugged the big suitcase for a little better than a mile to where a cousin of mine lives. Line Wiems Telnes Line had started shearing a sheep and she had quite a time of it but we enduced her to finish the job. A river was close by and I went and had a swim. The water was cold but the wash felt fine. We had dinner and shortly after dinner (#19) I lugged the suit case to Erik Viems place. This is the first day I have really had a sweat up since I came here. A young swede boy came to Erik Viems place when he was 9 years old for to herd the cattle and he has been here ever since and he is now 19 years old. He has not seen his relatives and parents those 10 years and this evening him and two others started on their bicycles for Sweden. a distance of (illegible????? (#20) I helped Erik Viem to put some paper on a wall and we cultivated his turnip patch. In the afternoon I took the wheel and went to a small store and to Ole Telnes. Mother and Line had been out for a walk. I met them when I was ready to go to Viem. Going to Viem I noticed the rain come and got to the store shortly before it came and there was some hail in with it. Stopped at John Viem with (illegible???) (#21) mail and had lunch there. I and John Viem went to an auction sale and lunch was sold there. In America lunches are always given away at sales. The auction sale was held in a house on account of the rain. July 23 In the forenoon I helped Erik Viem move into the basement his cream separator table and stove. The basement is very cool and handy in (illegible???) for ..(#22) the women folks. While we were waiting for the stove to cool I cut Eriks hair. About 11 o'clock got Eriks bicycle and went to John Viems machine and wood shop. I went with John home and had dinner with him and his family. After dinner we went to an auction sale and there the sale was held outside as there was no rain. It seems to be a custom here for the sheriff or deputy sheriff to do the auctioning and doing (#23) the collecting Two men keep a check of the articles sold and the amount. We went home with Lars Viem and going thru a pasture I found some wild strawberries. Many of the farm homes are all painted red which is kind of odd. It seems that the Norwegians value pictures considerable sent from America. I have seen many pictures of both homes and people hanging on the walls. Most of the (#24) pictures being framed with glass. Today we walked over an area where a big battle was supposed to have taken place some centuries back. Small raises in the ground where the dead had been buried could be seen. No one was allowed to do anything with the mounds as to digging into the soil. July 24 Today we helped Erik Viem take some sheep to a place where they were going to fields. The sheep (#25) and cattle are trained so that they will follow people. When they are taken anywhere one goes ahead of the cattle or sheep and some go behind and chase them. Went to Signe Viem (Jonson) and she is the oldest of the Lars Viem family. She is 42 years old and her husband is 65 years but they look to be a contented couple. Her husband liked to experiment and had some tobacco growing for an experiment. When we got back to (#26) Erik Viems (by the way Lars was with us to Signes place) I went out and helped thin the turnips out. Got some mail with news that our trunk was not in Trondheim. Some more grief in that respect for mother. June 25 I have traveled so much that I have gotten the traveling fever and today I went to Trondhjeim. From Erik Viem to the place where I caught the boat it took an hour and a (#27) half. When I got off the boat at Sunnan I met Elert Berg a one time carpenter in Bottineau county. We went into the depot at Sunnan and had coffee and doughnuts. The doughnuts were the first ones that we had seen or eaten in this country. The small railroad station in this country have better stations than we have in the states. Left Sunnan 2:00PM and got to Trondhjeim 7:30. Went to one hotel and there they had no simple rooms. I could get (#28) a room there if I got a partner with me but that I did not care for so I went to another hotel the Nordcop. The first one I tried was the Frn Vognhilds Hotel. Went to the steam kitchen and had supper. Took a stroll around town and saw a water fountain that threw a stream about three feet high. In this stream there was a ball being kept in the air by the force of the water. If the ball would get out of its course and fall on the side there was a wire (#29) basket around so that it would roll back into the stream again. The rubber ball found itself most of the time in the air. The room that I have cost 4 1/2 kroner and is clean and comfortable. A boy came around to the rooms wanting to sell flowers for a bouquet. Was down to the custom house inquiring about the trunk but it had not come yet. Was in to the Norwegian American Line agent inquiring about the railroad route to (#30) Kristiana. Bought silver spoons to the amount of 70 kroner and 40 ore. One knife cost 8 1/2 kroner. Took a stroll thru the marketplace where aged men and women were a selling fruit candies and flowers. Went down closer to the water and there was a market place for fish of different kinds. There was some smoked fish that looked appetizing to me. Left films to be developed and got some more for to take pictures. Bought a handbag for mother to keep her knitting material (#31) in. Went out and had a lunch. Afterwards I took in a show at the world theater and that cost 75 ore. It was a wild west detective show from American films taken in the state of Texas. The theater was built backwards to the American style. When one come into the building one had to walk to the back end of the room in order to see the screen. After the show I took a stroll and one street that I came to there was quite a few (#32) drunk men. Going further down the street there was a policeman taking a drunk man into the police station. A few young men and children were a standing around taking in the sight and a laughing over it. To me it was a pitiful sight that a man should make himself lower than the animals on this earth by taking poison into his system so that his mind and body is paralyzed to what is going on in this world. (#33) This evening when I paid up my room it cost me 4 kroner and that was 50 ore cheaper than last night. Its kind of funny that the price should vary on two nights but it is a going the right direction for me. June 27 Took a stroll over the bridge to a park and thru that to a fort where a sentry was on guard with a rifle. Went to the steam kitchen and had dinner. After dinner went to my room and (#34) had a good sleep. In the afternoon I went out to see Norway as she is on Sunday in a city. First I went to a dog show and there I found every kind and description of a dog from the small poodle to the large Newfoundland dog. There were two dogs there that had wool similar to the Angora goat only it was black in color. there was also yarn there that had been spun from the wool. The dog show (#35) cost a kroner and it was well worth that. Some of the dogs were content and some were not content. Some were sleeping and some were cold. But there was an awful racket and barking of many of the dogs. A dog is a great friend of men and some women take more pride dragging a dog around than a child. The dogs were fed hard bread that looked similar to the hard tack we used to get in the army. After the dog show I went (#36) to the Circus Norbeck and that cost me two kroner for to stand in the gallery. They had a tent that would hold in the neighborhood of a 1000 people and their music was an orchestra. There was one circus ring and one large white horse was used for riding acrobatic stunts. As many as three girls would ride on the horse at one time. Another white horse was used for keeping time to the music and performing stunts. A black stallion a little smaller was (#37) used to show his intelligence in selecting colors. A red and white handkerchief being used. The horses were all well trained. The show also had a number of good athletes both men and women from a giant clown (sp?) to a small child 10 years old. The musical world was well represented from a man that could play a ???? different instruments and could mock a great number of birds. The show lasted (#38) a little better than an hour and a half. A bicycle meet was being held but that I did not take in except when I was going up town I saw four on bicycles that were a racing. They were all covered more or less with water and mud. The theaters are also open here on Sundays so its more free here than it is in the states many places on Sundays. I forgot to mention that at the circus there was two clowns and one (#39) of the clowns was a dwarf not much over 3 1/2 feet tall. His body and head was of a small sized man but his legs were so very short. For being a dwarf he was a fairly active man and acted a clown very well. In the month of June July and August the stores on Saturdays in Trondjheim close 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon so that the city people can get a chance to go out in the country over Sunday. June 28 Left Trondjheim (#40) for Snaasen 8:15 and coming to Levanger I met Petra Ness and her sister . Petra and another girl were in company with us from Washington DC to New York. Petra and her sister were on their way to Stenkjer. Had a dinner at John Viem and mother was there. From there we went to Erik Viems place. June 29 Helped finish clean the turnips and took a bath in the river. In the evening Erik myself and (#41) the hired man went fishing in a river. Before we went we gathered up a number of worms to use as bait and took line and hooks with us. When we got to the river where we wanted to fish we cut fishing poles. When we got thru Erik had 13 fishes -I had 3 and Kangvold had 2. The fish were small in size and what we call oret in Norwegian. Saw many waterfalls and one place I came very near sliding into the river. We got home 3 o'clock in the (#42) morning but it was great sport being out fishing when it is light all nite. Got a letter from Dave and we had for sometime been wondering where he was at after school was out. Saw a 6 foot deering binder and the first one I have seen since we came here. June 30 Helped getting the wagons and hay racks in shape for haying. The rest of the time I just lived. One thing I have not (#43) noticed here is screens on windows and doors. All I have seen is a cloth screen and many places they have not that even. July 1 This morning Erik Viem went with us to Aldeness and there we took the boat to Hammer, When i got to the dock I discovered I had left my camera at Viems. At the dock at Hammer we were met by Ole Hammer an uncle of mothers and a brother of (#44) mothers mother. Ole was also a cousin of Sivert Vinje and Sivert was Oles gusorn (sp???) on Norwegian. We had lunch with them and for dinner we went to Peder Brunes and his wife Pauline Hammer. They both had been in America and there we got pie for dinner. The first place we had pie in Norway. For supper we had bacon and eggs. That was the first I had in (#45) Norway. We also got honest to god cake for dinner and supper. After supper Bruness, Alphonse and myself went a fishing in the Snaasa lake. We caught four oret of fair size. July 2 Anfin Hammer told me that when a colt gets castrated here a chemical is used to take the pain away during the operation. Took the boat on Snaasa vandet and went to Uncle Bruvold (#46) new land 12 mor or 3 acres. - Open ditches on three sides about 3 1/2 feet deep to take surface water and underground water -Tile were laid thru the piece - Some were two inches burnt tile and others were 1 inch. The ditches and tile were first dug then the top layer of moss was wheeled and hauled off. Then the ground was plowed and trugs were used on the horses hind (#47) legs as it was too soft for bare hoofs. There were a few trees and stumps on the ground before it was turned over. When the ground turns dry they are going to furrow it. So far they figure the work has cost them 3000 kroner or $600. Next they will have to haul gravel on the land so that it wont be so open. Also they will have to put some commercial fertilizer on the land before it will produce. When it is ready for a crop which will be oats (#48) the first year. To get the land ready will have cost in the neighborhood of 4000 kroner or $800...………….
-CONTINUED AT - SELMA SOFIE VINJE FAG# 23636767----LINK BELOW |
