Bernt Thompson’s Christmas story from G. Arnold Grefthen’s book A Land of Howling Wolves will give those who remember earlier times some fond memories.

The Thompson’s homesteaded just NE of Wannaska early in the summer of 1895 the story for this week is their first Christmas in the new land of the Howling Wolves.

The days before Christmas were busy ones in the new settlement. The housewives busy from early morning till late at night scrubbing, washing and decorating for the Christmas Season to come. Huge piles of flat bread, lefse and various kinds of cakes and cookies were baked.
The men of the settlement hitched their horses to their sleighs drove their rigs to Roseau to make the necessary purchases, the main item being lutefisk and a few small gifts for the children, my Grandfather Bernt among them. He had told the children that morning that he would bring them each a sack of candy from town. The minds of smaller children were filled with visions of each receiving a grain sack full of candy. On arriving back from the trip to Roseau, the children were eagerly waiting for the horses to be stabled and for their Father to bring in a giant sack of candy for each of them, but who should enter the cabin but a total stranger.
My Grandfather, Bernt, usually wore a full beard and after making his purchases at the grocery stores visited the Barber Shop, getting a haircut and his beard shaved off. To add to the disguise he had bought himself a brightly colored woolen scarf, which he wore wound around his neck.
The younger children clung to their mother, they didn’t like this stranger who pretended to be their Father, besides their father had promised them each a grain sack full of candy not these little bitty paper bags of candy. They cried and wanted their own Daddy back.
The first Christmas Eve began with Bernt reading a chapter from the Bible, then after bowing our head in a prayer of Thanksgiving for all our blessings, everyone eagerly took their seats at the table. There was romegrot, lutefisk, and lefse as the main course, followed by sweet soup and cakes.
Then the gifts were handed out. The older children each receiving a mouth organ besides dress up hankies for the boys and necklaces for the girls. The smaller ones getting rag dolls and picture books.
By Christmas time we were snugly living in our cabin on our homestead. We had become acquainted with the nearest neighbors, besides the Indian family of Chief Mickinock’s who lived a short distance away to the East (1/4th mile). Other neighbors were Oslunds, Olaf Olsons, Kjallbergs, Nygaards, Peter C. Larsen and Amund Nelsen, a bachelor. Amund was a good accordion player, and he was in great demand that winter to furnish music for get together and parties in the new settlement.
These parties were enjoyed by both young and old. There were also get togethers in which the future of the new settlement was planned in regard to road improvements, schools to be established and townships to be organized, etc.
Wannaska celebrated their centennial in 1996, and many descendents of these first settlers were on hand for the great celebration.
We here at RCHS wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Newspaper Articles