Henrietta Howatt (1917-2003) discusses clamming on Lake Pepin, and the pearl button manufacturing business. At one time there were two factories in Lake City, Minnesota where buttons were cut from Lake Pepin shells.
This sound clip highlights the history of Polaris Industries. The Roseau County Historical Society prepared this radio script to share county history through broadcasts on KJ102 FM in Roseau. The topics highlight the history of Roseau County and the people that lived there.
Robert "Bob" Wallace (1923-2007) presents the history of the foundry in Lake City, Minnesota including its many name changes from H. Gillett and Sons to Gillett & Eaton and eventually to AE Goetz.
Of Norwegian descent, Aleck, his father and brother operated the H. Christiansen & Sons dealership started in 1898. His spouse's name was Minnie Wiggins Christensen. Betty (of Betty's Pies just north of Two Harbors, is Aleck Christensen's daughter. The interview was taken at H. Christiansen, Inc. Sporting Goods, in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Christopher Tormundsen was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Mateld Smith Tormondsen. Mr. Tormondsen was 90 years old at the time of this interview. The interviewed was taken at Mr. Tormondsen's home a mile and a half north of Tofte, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Lorntsen, Conrad, tape 1, side2, narrator. He was of Norwegian descent. His spouse Fern Williams Lorntsen was present throughout the interview. Mr. Lorntsen is retired. He was interviewed at Mr. Lorntsen's home in Beaver Bay, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The narrator is Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson of Swedish descent. His spouse is Myrtle Eklund Johnson. He is the brother of Sam Johnson who owned a fish dealership called Sam Johnson & Sons. His sister is Ingeborg Holte. Steve was interviewed at his home in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Ellen (Carlson) Jackson (1900-1989) discusses living in a neighborhood of descendants of Swedish immigrants, and the early businesses downtown. She also discusses the first car in Lake City and her education, social life, and recreational activities.
George Torgersen was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Barbara Eggert Torgeson. He was interviewed at his home at Knife River, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Hattie (Gross) Brown (1900-2003) discusses clamming on Lake Pepin and in Lake City, Minnesota during the 1920s and 1930s. She also discusses immigrating from Austria, her early life, the Depression, and her family's homes. She also discusses competition among clammers, types of clams, the cultured pearl industry, pearl button factories, and selling pearls.
Hjalmer Louis Mattson is of Finnish descent who calls himself a Swede-Finn. He is not married. He was interviewed at his home in Duluth, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Ingeborg Holte was of Swedish descent, spouse Edwin Holte (died in 1971) fished as did her father but Ingeborg did not fish; Mrs. Holte is Sam Johnson's and Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson's sister; interviewed at Mrs. Holte's home in Grand Marais, Minnesota; she is the sister of Edwin C. "Steve" Johnson, interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Mary Nihart (1893-1990) discusses businesses in downtown Lake City, Minnesota. She also discusses traveling across the ice from Stockholm, Wisconsin to Lake City, working in a chicken processing plant, using ice boxes, making homemade ice cream, and the Great Influenza pandemic of 1918.
Milford Johnson Jr.'s spouse was Monica Wannebo Johnson. He is currently working at Reserve Mining Company. He was interviewed at Mr. Johnson's home in Two Harbors, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Ragnvald Sve was of Norwegian descent. His spouse was Ragnhild Jacobson Sve. They were married to each other for 51 year. He is one of several people presently allowed a license to fish trout in Lake Superior. He was interviewed at the Sve home in Two Harbors, Minnesota, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Roy Bernard Oberg is of Swedish descent. His spouse (second) was Lorraine Stevens Oberg. He was interviewed aboard the Voyageur II between Grand Portage, Minnesota and Windigo, Isle Royale, Michigan, by interviewer Barbara W. Sommer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Roy M. Nordine (1904-1989) discusses his career working at the Jewell Nursery Company in Lake City, Minnesota, the Davey Tree Expert Company in the eastern United States, and at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois. He discusses his collaboration with the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum on cold-hardy plants, and the impact of tree pests such as Dutch elm disease.
Warren R. Peterson [1909-1991] discusses his family's businesses in Lake City, Minnesota including Peterson Grocery, Peterson-Sheehan Funeral Home, and the Lake City Opera House. He also discusses entertainment in Lake City, Prohibition, Zero King Coat Factory, B. W. Harris, and Munsingwear.
