02/09/2009

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Lynn Henriksen (64) Reply to Gary:

 

 

Hi Gary,

Thank you for your kind words about my site – I’ve worked very hard on it, to say the least. Yes, you can post my website on your blog (I’m so snowed under with getting my website platform robust, that I seldom get a chance to read your blog – sorry, but I just can’t do it all).

Thought you’d enjoy this bit of info: the picture I have up of the book cover I designed for TellTale Souls: Keeping Spirits Alive One Story at a Time is Mom on board the SS Aleutian on her way to Alaska, pregnant with my brother, Rick. You probably saw it when you looked at the site.

If you do link my site, I’ve found it’s best to just paste this:http://www.telltalesouls.com. Also, since I’m hoping to get TTS published this year, I’m beginning work on my next book, which will be the male voice on mothers. I’d love it if you’d write a bio-vignette about your mother or another important woman in your life.

I’d be pleased if you’d put it out there that I’d be interested in hearing from any or all of you reader with a story for possible inclusion in my next book. That would be so great to have Dunseith-rooted people included in my book – I’d be thrilled. Both Colette & Janet (Hosmer) and Dana (my sister), as well as Sam (Colette’s daughter) and both my daughters, Jennifer & Samantha, have stories in the current book.

It is important to note that when someone submits a story it needs to through my site – it’s easy by clicking on “Submit Your Story” so their “Mother Memoirs” won’t go to spam and I won’t lose them in the avalanche of daily emails!

Hope you’re well & happy! You always sound so positive and upbeat…

Keeping Spirits Alive,

Lynn Henriksen

Website: http://www.telltalesouls.com

Blog: http://www.thestorywoman.com

 

 

From LeaRae Parrill Espe (67):

Lloyd Awalt’s comments on the “smokers” made me think of Deer Heart Lodge.
 
I remember visiting there when I was quite young. There was a carving a four “frogs” in a poker game. The older folks seemed to know the inside joke that they represented certain town men. ( Maybe I have this mixed up and someone can shed some light on other details of what seemed like an enchanted spot.) Deer Heart Lodge was located on the Willow Lake Road and that place is currently owned by Kenny Hill. I remember alot of taxidermy, full size deer standing around the yard. Also, the furniture was hand made out of logs. I wonder what happened to all of the mementos that were there. Lots of tourists visited there and we would often have strangers drive in our yard looking for it, We had to tell them they were one mile off.
 
 
“Smokers” were used by the Jaycee’s in the late 60’s to raise money to buy bleachers for the gym. The Dunseith Jaycees of that era were very active and achieved #1 in the State Parade of Cities two years in a row under the presidencies of John Morgan and Terry Espe. The guys really pitched in on community projects as well as participating in state and national events. Rodney Armentrout flew a few members to the National Jaycee Convention in St. Louis. The convention was held under the “Arch” and one of the speakers was President Richard Nixon.

Reply from Gary Metcalfe (57):
 
On page 355 in Mountain Memories has a superbly written article about a 7 year old son of Oliver Decoteau who drown on a spring day in Willow Creek, in Dunseith. He crawled out on a branch and it gave way. Spring of 1960. Clarence Michael’s was the policeman on duty.
 
A few people have expressed some interest in the old stories. If a story seems a little to much to believe about the old days, don’t be too sure. My dad told the story about Jack Smith, that old rounder who brought wild horses from Montana for a big sale in Dunseith and what a celebration every 2 or 3 years. It was said he and one of the old Demery’s fought for 3 days, I think they took nights off. I likened that to something that I observed many times in the hills. You had smaller farms and I thought it was interesting to observe a bull and a neighboring bull, they would threaten each other for a day or so then fight for an hour and rest for an hour, this would go on for 2 or 3 days sometimes. Lots of times I’m sure people didn’t know what was going on.
 
I decided to share Ben Lagimodeire’s secret how to save yourself from a mean bull in an open pasture. We have some people living in Wyoming and Montana who may need to use this information. He took down his pants, put his hands under his knees and jumped backwards toward the bull in short sporadic jumps. It worked on that bull and he was a notoriously mean bull.
 
They had grand horse and foot races, does anyone know the name of the old Native American that had a long braid that stuck straight behind him on that fast horse? Did you know that Art Seim was a pretty fast runner.
Gary Metcalfe
 
 
 
 
Reply from Dick Johnson (68):
 
Gary and Friends,

Lloyd Awalt–I too thought the picture was of Dale Gottbreht standing by
the semi. It was the way I remember him, kind of all business. You
mentioned Marie’s Beauty Shop being south of the Althea theater. When
did she move to Charlie Wright’s building where she spent the last many
years in the business? How many folks remember the ‘soft serve’ ice
cream shop that was just on the south side of ‘new’ Marie’s beauty shop?
I remember some of the high school girls worked there. It must have been
in the mid to late ’50s, and wasn’t there for very long–maybe only one
summer, although I’m not sure. We got a few ice cream cones there and
sat in the shade by the Dakota Hotel and ate them. Lloyd mentioned the
‘smokers’ in the basement of the city hall and the preacher that tried
to shut them down. Gary Morgan commented about that back a while. He
mentioned the name of the pastor which I think was from the Methodist
church, if I remember right. If you saved these messages, it was in one
of them with the picture of the Methodist church (community) choir.
Lastly, Lloyd mentioned Dale Gottbreht’s manufacturing business making
whetstone sharpeners, etc. A few years ago I found a new piece of
equipment in a box, in perfect condition. The sticker on the device said
‘Made by Dunseith Manufacturing’. I gave it to George Gottbreht as I
thought it was probably more meaningful for him to have than me. It was
made in Dale’s shop. Thanks for the memories, Lloyd. Thanks Gary!

Dick

 
 
 
 
Reply from Mona Dionne Johnson (48):
 
Gary:
I, too, realized the pics were of Dale Gottbreht, that is like Lloyd
says. I remember riding in the truck with Dale on his way to Grand
Forks and him dropping me off in Emerado where he and my Aunt Alma lived
at the time, and me helping with their children.
That goes a long way back, but some memories stick with you. I ‘spose
at the time that was the farthest away from home that I had traveled.
And, of course, I lived with them in Dunseith my first year of high school.
Mona Dionne Johnson (48)