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This week is the final installment of the
emigration trip to the United States of Hans and Kari Hansen and
their two sons, Ludvig and Gunder. Ludvig’s journal account was
taken from “Here Come the Norwegians” by Carol Hanson
Schwinkendorf.
Ludvig ends the trip with the following entry,
“Soon it was time for last stage of our journey. There in Duluth
we parted with our travel companions from Norway. Some were going
to Wisconsin, others to Minnesota. We were going to Drayton,
North Dakota, so Father and I were alone on the train.
“At 3 o’clock in the morning, we were at Winnipeg
Junction, and we had to get off the train, with our boxes. The
train left and we stood there on the platform not knowing what to
do. It was windy and cold, and dark night.
“A man came, and asked, ‘Are you Norwegian?’ ‘Yes,’
we said. ‘Come in here,’ he said and took us through a doorway
into a warm room. ‘Where are you going?’ We told him, ‘Drayton,’
and he said, ‘The train will go at 7 in the morning, so we could
lie on the benches and sleep if we wanted. I will be here, and
help you get on the right train.’
“It was good and warm, and we dozed a bit, but
didn’t dare to sleep much. The man came again, and took us over
to a place where they sold coffee and bread. We got breakfast,
and thanked the man for his help. Then we were on our way to
Drayton, where we arrived about mid-day. Mother and Gune had
arrived just an hour or so before us. Here ends the story of our
journey to America.’ Ludvig was 23 years old and Gunder was 37
when they arrived in America.
“Kari and Hans were once again united with the rest
of their family. Dina, their daughter had died eight years ago,
and now for the first time they would meet her son, Dinal, a
bright eight year old.
“It must have been far more difficult for Kari and
Hans to make the adjustment to their new world than it was for
their children as they would not learn the new language or adjust
as easily to new and strange customs. They had a feeling of being
between two worlds, one was a world they had left and could not
return, and the other one a world in which their children had
entered but somehow they could not accept.”
We would like to expresses appreciation to Carol
for giving us permission to use the account from the book, “Here
Come the Norwegians”.
RCHS Footnotes
The historical society recently received a grant
from the Roseau Area Community Fund and the Northwest Minnesota
Foundation. Funding was received to help the museum repair and
replace items damaged during the flood. The historical society has
not been able to qualify for public assistance under FEMA funding.
The bridal review is well on the way to
development. Please contact the Mary Ross (218- 463-2676), Sandy
Flagstad (218-463-2680) or the museum (463-1918) if you have
clothing to share in this event. Bride’s maid dresses are also
welcome. The date of the event is April 12 at 2 pm at the Roseau
School.
Have you filled out and returned a military
personnel history form to the museum? If not the forms are
available at the museum, Greenbush Library, or from any Service
Club.
Listen to the Roseau County Historical Society’s
broadcast “A Look Back in Time” with Irene Olson on KJ102 Sunday
mornings.
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