The Ager Newsletter The Waldemar Ager Association December 2015-February 2016 Advent at the Ager A Nordic Christmas Celebration Sunday Dec. 13 1-4 PM Featuring Coming Events Advent at the Ager, Sunday Dec. 13, 1-4 pm. Annual holiday party: Public welcome! Open House Tours available Through House and Library 2 nd & 4 th Saturdays, 10 to 1 Ager House Board Meetings, Mondays: Jan. 18, 2016, Feb. 15, 9:30 am The Waldemar Ager Assn. 514 W. Madison Street P.O. Box 1742 Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54702-1742 715.834.3985 www.agerhouse.org Crafts for Kids Traditional Desserts Tours of the House St. Lucia Procession for Children Christmas Music by Robin Fossum and Mary Elworthy Bring a Plate of Holiday Refreshments to Share All Are Welcome!! Admission Is Free! Ager Museum 514 W. Madison St. Eau Claire www.agerhouse.org
News from Doug Pearson, President of the Ager Association Recently I was looking through some Ager files and came across a document that summarizes Long Range Plans established at a meeting on February 16, 2013. Among the highlights were plans to reside the house, sustain our annual array of meetings and programs, develop language and culture courses, and provide regular access to our research library. We have been capitalizing on our strengths, taking advantage of key opportunities, and starting to address weaknesses and threats to the future of the organization. In 2015 we have welcomed more than 100 visitors at open houses on monthly second and fourth Saturdays. We have also provided tours for groups of various sizes, introducing another more than 100 visitors to the house and its resources. We are NOW acting like a museum. We are beginning to live up to the promise on our new sign, the gift of board member Marian Klish and her husband: And we are thankful to Norb Wurtzel for his donation of a flagpole and Norwegian flag to mark the front lawn and signal to the general public that this is a place of special historic interest and value in our community. In fact, several of the visitors at our open house days have donated cash to the association and/or become new members. We are trying some other new things to help people learn about the Ager Museum. Although we had a small turnout for our first Nordic Culture camp for kids, we expect this program to draw more students in 2016. Parents of youngsters are seeing the house and its events as a good thing for their children. We are focusing on Waldemar Ager and his achievements (a book discussion was held last March; Ivar Lunde is working on a documentary video about Ager; we may be nearer to digitizing the Reform). But we continue to look for programming and activities that celebrate Nordic Culture in general. We continue to support the development of Kubb as an activity for young and old in our community. Our outreach also includes our peer organizations. Both Norden Folk and Sons of Norway now hold their board meetings at the house. And we continue to be involved in the annual planning for Syttende Mai. What s next? First, we intend a broader access to the museum. We will extend the open hours, including in 2016 four afternoon/early evening hours one Wednesday each month, and an extra hour on the second and fourth Saturdays from 10 2. In order to provide the tours of the house 2
and the assistance in the library, we need more VOLUNTEERS to be docents throughout the year. If you are willing to be a docent, let me know (pearsoda@uwec.edu or 715 834 5204). If you are willing to coordinate the scheduling and orientation of docents, I would be most grateful to hear from you soon! (See below.) Second, we have some remaining structural issues to address for the house. We need gutters at two roof edges on the east side of the house. Run off from rain, snow and ice causes deterioration of decking and steps, but it also creates some unsafe conditions for foot traffic on the ramp or steps. The concrete that extends from the ramp around to the front sidewalk also is cracked and pitching into the foundation instead of away from it. Finally, we do need more parking and ways to expand. We might be able to make an offer on the house located to the north (511 Cameron). But the cost of purchase and renewal of the land for parking and/or a small structure could be prohibitive. BUT, as the planning group decided in 2013, MAKE NO SMALL PLANS! Help us think BIG about the FUTURE! Ager Museum Represented at the Annual International Folk Fair at UW-Eau Claire The annual International Folk Fair at UW-Eau Claire went well on Saturday Nov. 7. We were in the Dakota Room with Norden Folk (they sold fish soup and handed out wonderful booklets on the various Nordic countries) and Sons of Norway (they sold a boatload of cookies and other goodies even homemade bread and butter). Nordic Summer Camp veterans Clare and Graeme assisted me. Graeme was the book sales person. He had a great spiel about the Reform anthology. Clare, Forrest, Mary Ann, and Sue helped with the coffee and the transport of the displays. We quizzed at least 80 people about matters Nordic. The travelers" are getting better. Two people this year could name the capital cities of five Nordic countries. But we met a lot of people who are geographically challenged. We did our bit to get them oriented to the world of Scandinavia. Doug Pearson Watch for the Ager House winter class offerings to be available soon. HELP WANTED: We Are Searching For an Open House Volunteer Coordinator Currently the house is open to visitors on a regular basis on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. We think it would be good to add an additional opening every month possibly in the late afternoon, early evening. We also open the house for tours by appointment. We try to have two people for every open house date one to be a greeter and to initiate a tour of the house, a second to receive visitors when they get to the library and to tell them about the nature of the collection and the opportunities for research. The person doing the job of Volunteer Coordinator will have two responsibilities: preparing people to be docents, and getting volunteer docents for the year s open house events. If you are willing to serve for the 2016 calendar year, please let Doug Pearson know (715 834 4204 or pearsoda@uwec.edu). 3
Skamser Family Entertainers Appear on Poster with Waldemar Ager in Colfax, Sept. 1, 1929 Phil Skamser of Jewell, Iowa sent us a copy of the poster that hangs in his living room and describes his family connection to Waldemar Ager: One of my most treasured possessions is a poster that advertises my great grandparents, The Skamser Family Entertainers, appearance at a Sons of Norway Annual Picnic at the city park in Colfax on September 1, 1929. It's hung in my home for years, and recently I indulged my curiosity to find out more about the names listed as speakers. That is how I happened on your website and came to learn a little more about Waldemar Ager. My grandparents, who lived in Eau Claire, and my dad and brother who graduated from Eau Claire High School, were very proud of their Norwegian heritage and passed down that love to their kids. I will be reading more about Waldemar. It's crazy to know that Waldemar and my grandparent's paths crossed at a park in Colfax over 80 years ago. Phil Skamser Oct. 2015 See Skamser Family in insert. 4
What s New at the Ager Library? by Miriam Hansen Ager Association member, Jan Etnier, has donated two small paperback books that will fascinate those who are interested in Norwegian folk arts. Kister og Skrin by Peter Anker contains many black and white as well as colored photos of trunks and chests that are both carved and painted. Per Gjaerder s book, Esker of Tiner, is also a treasure; it s full of photos, some of which you may recognize if you own antique tine boxes or painted tins. These small books are in Norwegian, please contact the Ager Association if you would like help with translation. We ve needed a contemporary map of Norway, and thanks to new member Kathryn Larson, we now have one! Kathryn also provided the library with a pattern for the Five Generation Family Tree, which is published by Astri My Astri. Extra copies are available in the library. Thanks to Kerm Walker for several books. Of particular interest to those who claim Sognefjorden as their heritage is Bygsleheimar I Hafslo, in which there are records and photographs from the many farms in that area. (Since this is a well-worn volume, we will put it into our genealogy file instead of on the shelves.) Joyce Faaren donated the following titles in memory of her husband, Art: Kon-Tiki, The Viking Ship Finds, and Verdalsraset 1893. The latter is an account of the avalanche that wiped out the Verdal valley. Norb and Helen Wurtzel gave the library a copy of My Enemy s Child, a WWII historical novel, set in Norway by G. R. Revelle. Thanks to Mary Elworthy, we have added lots of new children s books to the Ager House Library. They include Who were the Vikings; The Terrible Troll Cat; The Tale of the Troll s Horse; Ivar, The Short But Brave Viking; What a Viking; Tree Trolls; Hang on if You Want to Come Along (a Norwegian Fairy tale adaptation); Folk of Røvere I Kardemomme By, and the well-known Swedish series by Lindman: Flicka, Ricka and Dicka. In addition, Mary also contributed several other titles for adult readers: Valdres: Diversity and Enchantment; Norwegian Peasant Art; and Norwegian Folk Art in America. Remember the library is open for use during open houses, 10-2 on second and fourth Saturdays or by special arrangement. God Jul og Godt Nytt År 5
Genealogy Notes from Miriam Hansen Did your family emigrate from Telemark? If so, you will be interested in another new acquisition here at the Ager House Resource Library. Thanks to Sharon Lee Gren Pheil of Maple Grove, Minnesota, we have a gift book: Hjartdalsoga, Gard og Ætt Tuddal (Hjartdalsaga, Farm and Family of Tuddal), written by Gjertrud Kleveland Karlsrud, and published in Norway in 1987. In fact, it looks like the Ager House may have the only copy in the United States! The information in this volume comes from the communities of Bondal, Viken, Reisjå, Kultan, Tweiten, Sletta, just to mention a few. Family information and some wonderful old black and white photographs, which depict farm scenes, furniture, and families, will be helpful for those who are looking for more information about their families. A separate, detailed, map of the region shows every farm, river, trail and road. One can even find out about the numbers of cows, chickens and goats on some of the farms! The text is in Norwegian, but if you know just a little bit, you ll be able to use this book for your research. Who knows? You might even find one of your relatives in the pictures! For more information on this area in Norway, visit Hjartdal Kommune on Telelaget of America: www.telelaget.com Please help us meet our operational needs for 2016. The Ager Association Membership/Renewal Application 2016 PLEASE MAIL YOUR CHECK PAYABLE TO THE AGER ASSOCIATION. Name Address City, State, Zip Code Email Telephone Mail to: The Ager Association, P.O. Box 1742, Eau Claire, WI 54702 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 gifts may be designated for the Endowment Fund or the General Fund. Thank you for your membership in the Ager Association. 6
The Ager Association 2016 Board of Directors Doug Pearson, President pearsoda@uwec.edu 715.834.5204 Vicky Finstad, Vice President vfinstad@yahoo.com 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, House activities ingridcoobs@yahoo.com 715.933.4105 New Members Brad and Kathryn Larson Ivar and Nanette Lunde Paul Wiersgalla Contributions Ken and Lynne Ziehr In Memory of Doug Jarvar Bill and Marian Klish Two gifts toward installing a new sign in front of the house. Doug and Sue Pearson Mary Elworthy In memory of Doug Jarvar and Helen B. Blanchard Walter C. Clark Two gifts Norb Wurtzel Purchase and installation of flagpole in honor of his wife Helen and in memory of their son Jeff and Helen s father. Recent Acquisitions Lois Missman donated Scandianvian jewelry and a map of Sweden. Marian Klish, Arts program, mklish@hotmail.com 715.831.8468 Mary Elworthy, Programming, elwortek@uwec.com 715.379.7491 Robert Fossum robertfossum@gmail.com 715.924.4111 Orv Bierman, Rep. from Norden Folk; biermaol@uwec.com Steve Loken. Webmaster bravo@sjloken.com Ella Fossum, Newsletter editor ellabeefossum@hotmail.com 262.554.6014, 262.664.3615 Miriam Hansen, Librarian (summer months only) YOU! Walter C. Clark The Curmudgeon s Compendium Mary Elworthy Kerm Walker Joyce Faaren (Note contributors to the library listed on p. 5.) Transitions Members and Friends 2015 Doug Jarvar Kathleen Rau Sylvia Lee James Homme Doug Pearson reports that a book club used the house recently. The group that was reading two Ager novels. After hearing the history of the house, they gathered around the dining room table for the discussion before Moving to the living room. 7
The Ager House 514 W. Madison St. P.O. Box 1742 Eau Claire, WI 54702-1742 In 1956 Gudrun Ager Bergh reminisced about skating on Half Moon Lake in Eau Claire with her brother Eyvind. They were probably middle school age EF I often think how we would skate on the rubber ice about Thanksgiving time. We never fell in either! I think of all the fun Eyv and I used to have skating and how smart I felt when we were both dressed in our white sweaters and caps ritzy, eh? I used to like to go skating with Eyv. He was pretty good at it, and he knew so many of the fellows so I would have a chance to skate with lots of boys. I still am of the opinion that a large rink for all of the kids to gather at is the thing for young people. Smaller rinks are fine for younger children but the sociability of the old-fashioned rink can t be beat. It was even thrilling to know that Mom and Pop were watching us from the dining room windows. Then when we got home they would tell us what good skaters we were Blarney, of course! 8
Picture Page: Nov. 15-Feb. 16. Pictured left is the September 27 th library presentation of The Troll With No Heart in His Body. From left to right: Mary Elworthy, Marilyn Skatrud, Jerry Way, Judy Brist, and Mary Sazama. Middle left: In October, Board members and the Wurtzels celebrated the new sign donated by Bill and Marian Klish and the flagpole, a gift of Norb Wurtzel. This marks the completion of our exterior makeover. Below is Phil Skamser s photo of the Skamser Family Entertainers who provided musical programs in the Midwest in the 1920 s and 30 s. Clifford with his banjo and other family members appeared at a Sons of Norway picnic in Colfax where Waldemar Ager was speaking on Sept. 1, 1929.