The Ager Newsletter The Waldemar Ager Association August-October 2014 President s Report: Doug Pearson I am enormously pleased to share much good news with you in this newsletter. Coming Events Ager House Board Meeting, Aug. 18, 9:30 am. Ager house Library open 2 nd and 4 th Sat., Sept.-May. 10 Fall Program Oct. 5, 1:00 pm, Chippewa Valley Museum, Film: Babette s Feast. Rosemaling Sale Sat. Nov. 8, 10 am-4 pm, Ager House Advent at the Ager: Sun. Dec. 14, Ager House The Waldemar Ager Association 514 W. Madison Street P.O. Box 1742 Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702-1742 715.834.3985 Membership The response for renewals of membership, along with the addition of some new members, nearly doubled the number we had on record in June. We nearly doubled our membership from the low 50s to the low 90s. In addition, several donations have been received in support of Ager House needs. THANKS to all for your generous financial support. House ImprovementIt is also wonderful to report the improvements that have been made to the house because of current and past donations. To review: All the old siding on the main house was removed; the carpenters also renewed some failed sheathing. Then they wrapped the house with a weather-resistant barrier and installed new cedar siding that had been primed and coated with finish paint in a weather-protected environment. New corner trim was designed and installed to match the old, decaying corners. Then the painters came to prepare, prime, and paint the carved wood, the soffits and eaves, and the window trim. The painters also painted the upstairs window sashes. Next Tom Tompkins, Ingrid Coobs, Stan Hillestad, and Jan and Miriam Hansen prepared, primed and painted the trellises. Tom carried on by repainting the back doors and all of the back extension of the house. Then Tom, Bob Esse, and I worked on the lower level window sashes and started to repair and repaint the storm windows. What remains to be done is to paint the front porch and the deck and ramp and to finish the repair and painting of about 15 more storm windows. We are close to having a completely renewed house exterior. If you have time to help, please get in touch with Tom (ttompkins48@yahoo.com).
Syttende Mai 2014: Celebrated May 16 at Peace Lutheran Church, Eau Claire, by Nordenfolk, Sons of Norway and the Ager Association The program began with the parade. It assembled in the lobby while Ev Krigsvold prepared to greet the guests. The band from UWEC arrived and the weather cooperated so the parade moved outdoors. All Syttende Mai photos courtesy of Deb Jarvar. In the lobby Nordic activities were demonstrated, including all sizes of cross-country skimaking, information about the U.S National Kubb Tournament, arts and crafts, and book sales. Hors des oeuvres and sparkling grape juice were served. This year three door prizes were awarded: A watercolor painted by Mary Elworthy, a kubb set made by Jack Strayer and a rosemaling by Patti Goke donated by Pat Mattson. 2
The banquet followed the social hour. Everett Tillung was our chef, and Tim Hirsch enjoyed the meal. Kari Tauring brought us an evening program of story telling and songs in the manner of a strolling medieval performer. Ager House president Doug Pearson was master of ceremonies. Thanks to all who all who volunteered to make the evening a success. Note about the 1914 Centennial: In 1914 Norway s Centennial Exposition was celebrated in Kristiania (Oslo), and Waldemar Ager attended, sailing round trip from New York in May and returning in August. While he was there, America day was observed on July 4 th, and he represented the Wisconsin Committee from the U.S. with a Civil War exhibit of relics, maps and photographs of the 15 th Wis. Vol. Regiment as well as pictures from Eau Claire and Stoughton. It seems clear that his pride in America was just as great as his pride in Norway. The whole story is told in the NAHA Newsletter, v. 153, Spring 2014. Editor. 3
Hats Off! Midsommar June 14, 2014 By Miriam Hansen It s been a busy summer at the Ager House! Thanks to lots of helpful members, we had a wonderful Midsommar Celebration on Saturday, June 14 th. While Pat Tompkins and Ella Fossum scooped out ice cream for strawberry sundaes, Erin Anderson and Sue Pearson made lovely flowered crowns for the girls, and Eric Anderson kept folks busy throwing kubb sticks out on the lawn. Ev Krigsvold and several other hosts welcomed our guests, and pointed the way to the sale of the beautiful items donated by Marian Klish and painted by the rosemalling group who meet at the Ager House. Bob Esse provided an exhibit of some antique household items that early Norwegian immigrants had brought with them when they left their homeland. Johanna Shager Hocker added to the festivities with her wonderful accordion. While Doug Pearson managed the book sale, Ed Mattner conducted the raffle. In a surprising turn of events, three Norwegian filmmakers, guests of Jean Sievertson, spent the afternoon with us. Maybe we ll appear on Norwegian TV! In between the summer s frequent rainstorms, Tom Tompkins led the way on the porch, sanding and painting those (almost) endless trellises and other areas of trim. Ingrid Coobs, Stan Hillestad and Jan Hansen helped. Thank goodness, we have an Ager Board president who knows a lot about house maintenance! Doug Pearson has been repairing the storm windows as well as monitoring all of the other work that has been going on with the siding and painting. It takes many hands and heads-- along with a lot of money-- to keep an old house clean and in good repair. Hats off and many thanks to all who have been so helpful! Please call any one of the board members if you would like to add your name to the list of Ager House volunteers. You ll be welcomed! Important Ager House Library News! On July 21 the Ager Board adopted the following proposal for the use of Library. The The Library Committee recommends that the Ager House Library be open for several hours on alternating Saturdays, beginning on September 6, 2014. The schedule is 11 am to 2 pm September 6 th and 20 th, October 4 th and 18 th, November 1 st, 15 th and 29 th and December 13 th. The hours will be posted on the Ager House website and in the newsletter, and by notices to libraries, Scandinavian associations, and museums in the area. Our library is also open by appointment; please contact John Peterson at johnpet@charter.net. In order to facilitate this schedule, the Ager Board will provide a realtor s box for the library volunteers and install a doorbell for the house so that individuals working in the library will have a safe environment in which to work. USE the doorbell and use the library! This summer the Ager House lost the following members and friends: --Rod Johnson, a founder of the Ager Association --Jeffery Wurtzel, member and son of members Norbert and Helen Wurtzel --Arthur Faaren, member and husband of Joyce Faaren --Marlys Hammer, Vesterheim gold medalist, teacher and friend of the Ager House 4
Irene Lamont Teaches Rosemaling Class THANK YOU Irene Lamont for teaching the Rosemalers a Knute Anderson style of Telemark painting. The purpose of the class was to raise funds for the exterior painting of the Ager House. We had nine participants in the class that ran June 18-20 and met at the house. Irene taught a was a free style painting class without patterns with a wet on wet painting surface on a 12 X 24 inch panel. Among the participants were Marian Klish, Barbara King, Edith Kling, Carolyn Enger, Deb Jarvar, Joan Sponsler, Lynne Ziehr and Jan Etnier. Irene donated all of the class fees to the Ager House Makeover. She also gave the Ager House her Telemark painting (shown left). We thank her for her generous gifts. The 2014 U.S National Kubb Tournament held in Eau Claire July 12-13. This year Kid Kubb was introduced on July 11. Thirty-eight children signed up. The Ager Association is a strong supporter of the U.S. National Kubb Tournament and Kid Kubb. 5
Rod Johnson, beloved member of the Ager Association, passed away on June 8, 2014 by Tom Tompkins and Tim Hirsch In 1991, two years before the Ager Association was formed, Rod and others met with administrators of Luther Hospital to communicate the importance of preserving the Ager House. He was a key member of the restoration crew as he shared his construction expertise with us. Rod provided construction materials through his association with Habitat For Humanity and called on his Habitat crew to build the sidewalks and the handicap ramp. He designed and built most of the exterior ramp and back porch lattice work. Rod shared his carpentry skills to restore flooring and re-insulate the walls and attic. He sheetrocked the walls, installed doors, frames and windows and demonstrated the skillful art of installing wood trim. As a perfectionist, he was not afraid to reject work that was not perfect. Rod was a patient teacher who worked along side his crew, teaching them the skills of master carpentry. His expertise can be seen in every room of the house. Rod was a friend to all, and he enjoyed a good cup of coffee, a Norwegian treat and lively conversation. In 2003, he was awarded the honor of being recipient of the Ager Association Volunteer of the Year. His leadership, his willingness to share his skills, and his personal presence as a member of the Ager Association community added joy to all of our enterprises. We hope Association friends consider a memorial donation to the "Ager House Re-siding and Trimwork Repainting Fund" to help honor Rod's contribution to the restoration of the Ager House. Photo of Rod in his workshop courtesy of Tom Tompkins 6
The Ager Association 2014 Board of Directors Doug Pearson, President pearsoda@uwec.edu 715.834.5204 Vicky Finstad, Vice President vfinstad@yahoo.com Ella Fossum, Secretary, Newsletter Ed. ella_fossum@wi.rr.com 262.554.6014 Stan Hillestad, Treasurer hill33@charter.net 715.834.3749 Eric Anderson, Programing eem_anderson@yahoo.com 715.830.0122 Carol Anderson, House activities pcanderson6@yahoo.com 715.834.7891 Ingrid Coobs, ingridcoobs@yahoo.com 715.933.4105 Robert Esse, robertesse@yahoo.com Marian Klish, Arts program, mklish@hotmail.com 715.8831.8468 Ken Ziehr, Past President kenziehr@charter.net 715.832.0956 Orv Bierman, Rep. from Norden Folk; biermaol@uwec.com Steve Loken. Webmaster bravo@sjloken.com You! Use the doorbell and use the library! Ager Association Gifts Donations: General Fund Borgny Ager In memory of Rod Johnson Fred Ager In honor of his brother Waldemar Ager and sister Borgny Ager Joyce and Thomas Bruckner Signe Midelfort Dysken Don and Jan Etnier In memory of Jeff Wurtzel and Morley Hammer Helen Genskow In honor of Lois Missman Jan and Miriam Hansen In memory of Jeff Wurtzel Steve and Hildur Gleason In memory of Roald Ager Maren Harrison Ray A. Larson Endowment Fund Daniel and Carolyn Johnson Roger and Mary Tlusty In memory of Bob and Avyrl Osterhus House Restoration Fund Waldemar Ager Pete and Carol Anderson In honor of special memories of living in the Ager House at 429 Chestnut. Joyce Faaren in memory of Arthur Faaren Debra Johnson Ev Krigsvold In memory of Jeff Wurtzel Irene Lamont Donated instructor s pay for teaching rosemaling class, June 2014 Patrick Mattson Tom and Pat Tompkins In memory of Rod Johnson New Members: Mary Harrison, Rolf Peterson, Maria Raffel and Kathleen Rau Acquisitions: From Irene Lamont A painting by Irene in the Knute Anderson style of rosemaling as taught in her workshop June 18-20, 2014. HELP: Recently, new and very active Board member Patrick Mattson, resigned his position because he is taking on a new job. Patrick had already been pitching in at the Syttende Mai event, joining the Library Committee, and planning to coordinate publicity efforts for Ager House activities. We need a new Board member. Please let me know if you will help us through this year. Doug (pearsoda@uwec.edu) 7
The Ager House 514 W. Madison St. P.O. Box 1742 Eau Claire, WI 54702-1742 ---Christmas Ornament Fund Raiser--- We had a great first sale of the 2014 rosemaled Christmas ornaments at the Midsommar Celebration. We sold 20 ornaments with all the proceeds going to the Ager House exterior painting project. The next scheduled sale will be on Saturday, November 8 from 10 am till 4 pm at the Ager House. This fundraiser is organized by rosemaler Marian Klish. She also donated all of the blank ornaments that were painted by the Ager House Rosemalers. 8