The Ager Newsletter The Waldemar T. Ager Association February -April 2012

Transcription

1 The Ager Newsletter The Waldemar T. Ager Association February -April 2012 Mike Huggins to Present Spring Program Current Events Board Meetings February 20, :30 a.m. March 19, :30 a.m. April 16, :30 a.m. Ager House Spring Meeting/Program Friday, April 13, :00 p.m. at the Senior Center Refreshments following Syttende Mai Celebration Thursday, May 17, 2012 Peace Lutheran Church The Waldemar T. Ager Association 514 W. Madison Street P.O. Box 1742 Eau Claire, WI Mike Huggins, former Eau Claire City Manager, will be the speaker at the Ager Association Spring Meeting on Friday, April 13, Mr. Huggins began working for the City of Eau Claire in 1985 and served as City Manager for five years before retiring in He will discuss the West Riverside District Plan and explain what it means for the future of the Ager House, which has been identified in the plan as one of the anchor properties. The meeting will be at the Senior Center on Friday April 13, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the plan, as stated in the draft, follows: The West Riverside District Plan was prepared by the City of Eau Claire as a guide for public improvements and regulations, an inspiration for private investors and owners, and a framework for further studies. If you wish to learn more about Mike Huggins presentation, google West Riverside District Plan, Eau Claire, and you will find the complete final draft. There will be a social hour following the program at the Senior Center, and refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited to learn more about the West Riverside District Plan and the future of the Ager House area. Page 1

2 Alf Hjemboe Remembered The Ager Association lost a faithful member in Alf Hjemboe, who passed away on Christmas Day, December 25, Alf and his wife Esther were two of the earliest Ager Association members and volunteers. They were at the house with helping hands at the beginning of the reconstruction. In fact, Alf and Esther, with at least thirty other members, sat amongst all the debris at the first meetings held in the Ager House. Alf was first exposed to the Reform as a young boy in Strum, Wisconsin, when each week the Reform newspaper arrived at his home and was read by his parents. He would accompany his father to the Reform office in Eau Claire and remembered meeting Waldemar Ager during these visits. So this led to Alf being a natural as a translator for the book The Reform Sampler. Alf s translating covered the period between wars from 1920 to In 2001 Alf also found time to teach a class in beginning Norwegian at the Ager House. Alf graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and accepted the call to serve the Elk Mound Parish, which included Elk Mound Lutheran, Barum Lutheran and Big Elk Creek Lutheran churches in After leaving Elk Mound, Pastor Hjemboe served congregations in Washington, Wyoming, and Wisconsin until his retirement in Esther and Alf returned to Alf s boyhood home in Strum, Wisconsin, at that time and then moved to Eau Claire five years later. For the past two or three years, due to waning health, Alf s beautiful voice has been missed on Advent Sunday at the Ager House as people gather around the organ to sing Christmas carols. The Ager Association would like to express its sympathy to Esther and their four children. By Borgny Ager Page 2

3 Rosemaling Workshop with Irene Lamont March 23-25, 2012 at the Ager House The rosemalers who meet regularly to paint at the Ager House are excited about having Irene Lamont, Vesterheim Gold Medalist, coming on March 23-25, 2012, to teach the Rømsdal style of rosemaling after the style of Gunnar Bo. The group is fortunate to have had many Gold Medalist teachers of various styles. Norway, being a country of mountains and valleys, developed different styles of rosemaling because the semiisolated painters in one valley region developed a style often quite different from another. An example is how the patterns of Rogaland (along the western seacoast) are symmetrical as opposed to the freer style of Telemark with its C s and S s embodied in the design. On your next visit to the Ager House, note the different styles of rosemaling on exhibit throughout the house. by Jan Etnier Santa Lucia Crowns and the Nisse Made Advent at the Ager Special in 2011! The 2011 Advent at the Ager Celebration brought many new faces to the Ager House. Nisse Don Etnier and a small Santa Lucia welcomed visitors while cookies were decorated and Santa Lucia crowns, paper chains, and Dala horses were constructed in the classroom. Photos by Borgny Ager Page 3

4 A StrAnge Story (Excerpt from the Reform, December 22, 1908) translated by John Peterson. Some time ago the authorities here in the city received an inquiry concerning an old person, Sam Williams, who died in Manhattan, Montana. The person concerned had worked as a cook, was rather well to do, had just taken steps to leave the place but was stricken by a heart attack and died suddenly. Then it was discovered that Sam Williams was a woman. When it was learned that she had lived in Eau Claire for many years, information was sought here. After a good deal of speculation it was decided that it must be Billy Cook or Cook-Billy, who in the old days used to cook in the lumber camps in the winter. Bit by bit the following story emerged out of it. Ingeborg Wikan was born in Hallingdal (Norway) about seventy-five to eighty years ago. In the 1850 s she came with her parents to Allamakee County, Iowa, where they took land. In Norway Ingeborg had been engaged to one Sven Norem, and when he also came to the settlement, it was agreed that they should be married and the day was set. Ingeborg had her trousseau ready; but then Sven s parents succeeded in getting Sven to break it off with her. It must have been early in the 60 s that she, disguised as a lumberjack, came to Eau Claire, and under the name of Billy Williams she worked for many years as cook in Anderson Brothers lumber camp and for other firms. She even owned a residence in the center of the city in her time. She lived completely among the lumberjacks and lived as one. She could take girls out dancing and stroll with them as well as anyone else, and many a wild drinking bout she took part in, but it was said in her praise that she never went too far. The old timers here remember Billy Cook in the city as an odd person. He spoke English, Norwegian, German and Chippewa and mostly lived at Ole Bruden s Boarding House. He owned, it is said, the corner where Hollen s Clothing is now, and also the house where Allan Hanson has his grocery store. Billy was strong. It wasn t often that a boy from the woods would crack a joke about his figure. No one seemed to remark that Billy was a female seriously until a Norwegian family moved here from Allamakee County, Iowa. They thought Billy looked a lot like old Mrs. Wikan, and knew the story about the daughter s disappearance. This was in 1878 or thereabout and the result was that Billy disappeared from Eau Claire and sank into oblivion, like so many others from those days. Billy still continued as a cook in the woods somewhere else and cooked the food for a long time for the workers on the large Dalrymple Farm in North Dakota. Then finally he ended up in Montana where death struck him. It was finished for Billy Cook; only Ingeborg Wikan s lifeless body was left. She left 320 acres of good farmland in Montana. (Continued on page 5) Page 4

5 (Continued from page 4) Many of the old Norwegians well remember Billy Cook. Old Mr. Lund knew him when he had a shooting gallery down on South Barstow St. Billy had a glass eye, which he took out to the customers glee, to show how ugly he was. Billy also used to be a cook on the rafts that went down the Chippewa River in the summer. But all knew of Billy s peculiarity: all contracts he made stipulated that he should have his own room and not room with anyone else. Everyone liked him and all were obliged to come to his defense. Those who had anything bad to say about Billy or tried to throw suspicion on him had to be careful. No one can remember that Billy at any time took part in the frequent fights in those wild times. This strange story is interesting because Ager included a character based on Billy in his novel, Sons of the Old Country, even calling that character Billy the Cook. Billy is presented as a completely sympathetic character in the novel. He gives advice to the newcomer lumberjacks in grooming and clothing, tells them what gifts to buy for a woman, and nurses them when they are sick or injured. In the novel Billy s secret is discovered when a salesman comes to the lumber camp. The salesman is a drunkard and a complete cad, telling jokes about all the women with whom he has fathered children. Billy explains that she had been betrothed to him in Norway when he suddenly disappeared and went to America. She came to America and started dressing as a man so she could work in the lumber camps and search for him. She is devastated when she learns what sort of person her former fiancé is. She realizes that he started the cruel stories told about her in Norway. A real example of art imitating life By John Peterson (Gamlelandets Sønner by Waldemar Ager was published in 1926 and later translated as Sons of the Old Country and published by the University of Nebraska Press, 1983.) Ager House Bustling With Activity The Ager House is having a busy winter season. Classes in Spanish, Swedish, German, and Hardanger embroidery are meeting weekly at the Ager. Two oil painting groups meet at the house each week, and Drop-in Rosemaling runs every Friday from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. It s a good place to be if a person wants to learn, have fun, and feel the warmth of a beautiful turn-of-the century Eau Claire home. The five-week session of Children s Swedish had seven students enrolled, along with their parents! They studied Swedish through culture, food, sports, and stories such as Pippi Longstocking. It was a great experience for everyone! The Ager House is also available for anniversary parties, birthday parties, baby showers, wedding showers, and many other occasions. Please contact Ken Ziehr if you would like to have your party at the Ager House or if you have a group that wants a place to meet. He will be glad to talk with you about your plans. Page 5

6 The Ager Association 2012 Board of Directors Officers Ella Fossum, President Ellie Paulson, Vice President Secretary (open) John Peterson, Corresponding Secretary Stan Hillestad, Treasurer Directors Carol Anderson Eric Anderson, Programing Miriam Hansen, Librarian Leon Salander, Education Frank Smoot Immediate Past President Ken Ziehr, Past President Webmaster Steve Loken, Webmaster A Fact from Agerhouse.org Waldemar Ager and his wife, Gurolle (Blestren) Ager, purchased the Ager House in They raised nine children there, and the family owned the home until Gifts and Donations to the Ager Association Donations to the Endowment Fund Ronald Mickel and Jane Pederson Leon Salander Donations to the General Fund Susan Avery John Best Frank Derge Thank you for your wonderful generosity to the Ager Association. Your gifts make it possible. Jan and Miriam Hanson in appreciation of Norb Wurtzel s work in the Ager House library Blanche Hosteland Marilyn Jones Betty and Ray Larson Leon Salander Memorial Donations Richard A. Hagen in memory of Harold and Genevieve Hagen Carol and Pete Anderson in memory of Alf Hjemboe Love Circle of First Lutheran Church in memory of Alf Hjemboe Helen and Norbert Wurtzel in memory of Alf Hjemboe Gifts to the Ager Association Borgny Ager Ager Association and Ager Family Photographs Eric and Erin Anderson Books Jan Etnier A book on Henning Engelsen Johanna Shager Hocker A wooden plaque, two pillow tops, and and books Jean Sivertson Two books by Waldemar Ager: Under Forvandlingens Tegn, which is dedicated to Ager s youngest son, Roald, and Ny Samling, which is dedicated to Ager s third daughter, Solveig Camille. Millard Sivertson A book Kathleen Smith Books Tom Tompkins - Books Again this year, the Ager Association will be a sponsor for the National Kubb Tournament to be held at the Eau Claire Soccer Park on July 14-15, 2012, and we need your help! Kubb Volunteers Needed More than eighty teams from all over the Midwest competed last year, and we are planning for an even bigger turnout this year. Contact Ager Board Member, Eric Anderson, for more information. Page 6

7 The Ager House 514 West Madison Street P.O. Box 1742 Eau Claire, WI PLEASE NOTE: In case you missed the recent membership renewal letter, we are updating and reprinting it here. We send our thanks to those who have already responded. Your donations are much appreciated. Once again we are asking for your help to meet our operational needs. YOUR donations help us pay for such things as lawn care and snow removal, heat and light, water and sewer, telephone, and insurance. Newsletters and programs also are benefits of membership and require members financial support. Our cash flow concerns are listed below: Membership Donations $3,775 House, Newsletter, and Program Expenses $8,346 Membership Donations (to date) $595 House, Newsletter, and Program Expenses (to date) $2,767 Difference ($4,571) Difference ($2,172) Three other things to note: 1. Our fiscal year begins on September 1 and ends August 31. Memberships follow the calendar year--from January 1 to December In addition to our checking account for monthly operations, we have endowment and general funds. We want to grow the endowment fund as investment for the future. We use the general fund to pay for anticipated expenditures, emergencies, and supplements to the cash flow differential. 3. On the outside of the Ager House, the paint is chipping, and the shingles are curling. Both must be repaired soon, and these projects will require serious funding. Please use the form below to send in your 2012 membership contribution at this time. We appreciate having your address and telephone number. We won t ordinarily contact you by or telephone, but we will use when emergencies arise or when special events occur. The Ager Association Membership/Renewal Application PLEASE MAIL YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO THE AGER ASSOCIATION. Name Address City, State, Zip Code Telephone Mail to: The Ager Association, P.O. Box 1742, Eau Claire, WI Annual Membership Levels: New or Renewal (Please check one.) Life Membership: $1,000 Supporting Membership: $100 Sustaining Membership: $50 General Membership: $25 Additional Gifts in Memory or in Honor of Other donations may be designated for the Endowment or the General Fund THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! 2012 Page 7

8 The Ager House 514 West Madison Street P.O. Box 1742 Eau Claire, WI Spring Program April 13 th... See Inside for Details! Docent s Notebook / Self-Guided Tour Now Available at the Ager House In the last newsletter we reported on the inventory of the contents of the Ager House. From this, a docent s notebook has been prepared. The notebook may also be used for a self-guided tour of the house. It is a wonderful addition to the history of the Ager House. Contributors to the notebook were Norb and Helen Wurtzel, Ken and Lynne Ziehr, Ev Krigsvold, Jan Etnier, Sue Nelson, Borgny Ager, Carolyn Barstad, and Barbara Culver. Many thanks to everyone who worked on this document. Syttende Mai Preparations Beginning The 2012 Syttende Mai celebration will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012, at Peace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. Norden Folk is the hosting organization this year. If you wish to volunteer for planning and set up, please call Ken Ziehr at , Deb Jarvar at , or Jerry Revelle at Page 8