After a pleasant visit with my wife’s relatives on the western
side of the country, we took a train over the top of the mountains and
down to the area where my grandfather came from in 1907. He lived in
the Veldre- Brumunddal area until he was 9 years old. The picture is of
me standing in front of the house where he was born in 1897. It is now
unoccupied but still standing. This farm is called ‘By’, which is
pronounced ‘BEE’ in Norwegian. Farms have names in Norway. Most are of
the families that have lived there for years. The current resident of
the farm is Eivind By. He is the guy leaning against his tractor in the
one picture. He let us look over the place and take some pictures. He
is in the business of rebuilding and repairing cars, mostly Mercedes,
but has a few old cars that he is restoring too and some were American
cars so we hit it off right away. The area around where my grandfather
was born is very similar to the Turtle Mountains. The hills are more of
the rolling type like here and even the trees and wild plants–weeds are
the same so I can see why he felt at home here in the hills of ND. I’ll
attach a few pictures from in and around the area of Norway where he
came from just so those of the readers who know the Turtle Mountain
landscape will see how much it looks the same as here. Thanks Gary!
Dick
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Blog (129) posted on June 11, 2008
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My uncle Cliff Johnson bought a Ford Model A fourdoor car when he was
going to highschool in Towner, ND. He actually bought it from Jess
Hosmer’s dad, Joe Selzler, in about 1948. He owned many cars after that
and the old Model A just sat in the yard at the farm, where it was used
once in a while, to go to the field or pasture where they didn’t want to
use a good car. It had sat for a couple years without running and in the
early 60s I got it going and drove it around the farm. One day some
people stopped in and asked if it was for sale. Cliff said it was if
they had $50. They didn’t and drove off, much to my relief! He told
Grandma not to let them take the car if they didn’t have all the money!
I said I would like to buy it, to which he held out his hand for me to
put the money in! He went back to wherever he was teaching at the time
and I told Dad what Cliff had said. Dad said to send him some money and
a letter stating that I would be sending the rest when I could. It took
several months but I paid him the $50 and it was mine. John Bogus and I
put in a set of rings and ground the valves and had it running great.
Then it was time to fix up the body. I sanded the car by hand from one
end to the other and painted it green with some leftover paint I bought
from Jim’s Body Shop for ten bucks. The top is fabric and was about
shot. Where in Dunseith can you find a piece of canvas big enough to
cover the top–MY TENT, I don’t use it anymore anyway. With it tacked
down, I needed to put some tar or coating on it so I went up to Gambles
to see Art Henning. I told him I needed some tar. He asked why, and I
said for the top of my old car. Art took me down in the basement and on
a shelf sat two cans of DuPont Top Coat– the real thing for car
tops–Art said it was there for 30 years and he gave it to me!! The
interior was shot but again, where in town can you find upholstery
material that looks like 1929? I used seat covers and Mom sewed some
black cloth together for a headliner and I needed some stiff composite
material for the wrap around in the back behind the back seat. John and
I made a trip to the most logical place–the dumpground! There we found
some linoleum that we reversed and painted and we were ready for the
road! To you Model A purists, yes, the car is a 29 and the wheels and
headlights are 30, but they were all I had at the time.I still have this
old car in my collection but haven’t run it for many years. It still
looks the same as the picture but needs a REAL restoration to be
presentable! Someday, maybe, when the world slows down!!
Dick
I’m guessing that the girl next to Gerald Lamoureaux is Marlene Schneider, the guy with the tuba is Jackie Spaeth and the band director must be Charlie
Erickson.
Gary Morgan
Class of 54
PLEASE ROUTE OR SHARE WITH OTHERS!!
Info below on the “Final Fauske Fiddlers and Fantasy Fiddler
Friends Reunion Concert at Sully’s Hill National Park near
Devils Lake, ND, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, 2008”
DETAILS BELOW:
I’ve put together a draft concert for Sully’s Hill, see the
attached Word document.
Melanie is going to bring her Ukranian costume and dance to A &
D Kolumaka.
Tyrell Witherspoon is going to dance to St. Anne’s Reel
Trent Turner is doing the Clarinet Polka.
Amberley A. is doing Amazing Grace.
Melanie O. is doing Listen to the Mockingbird.
Amberley A. and Ashley A. twin fiddling Everett Larson’s Waltz
Ty & Austin will do 2 Norwegian fiddle tunes and the first verse
of Ashokan Farewell and Lincoln’s favorite “Aura Lee.”
Sully’s Hill is leaving the front extended stage from Friday
night on so Mel and others can dance on the stage in comfort.
Citulsky’s cannot come now at the last minute. Evan is joining
the military. Fungs, Goertzens and Randall can’t make it either.
Mark Witherspoon is bringing his financee Carol with for us to
meet!
Amanda Bopp, Tyrell’s girlfriend, is joining everyone on stage
for four numbers.
Attendees that I know of (someone surprise us – come if you can
at the last minute!):
Tyrell F. – fiddle
Austin F. – fiddle
Trent T. – fiddle
Amberley A. – fiddle
Ashley A. – fiddle
Melanie O. – fiddle
Amanda B. – fiddle (4 songs)
Tyrell W. – drums
Mark W. – bass guitar
John H. – guitar
Dorothy G. – piano
Brian G. – sound
BRING YOUR CORLESS MICROPHONES!
DRESS: Black and white – any combination
AGENDA:
11:00 a.m. Optional Meet at Dale’s Cafe, Dunseith – Lunch
2:00 p.m. Check into Casino Hotel
3:00 p.m. Sound Check & Rehearsal – Sully’s Hill
5:30 p.m. Free Supper – Sully’s Hill
7:00 p.m. Show
ROOMS RESERVED
1 GIRL FIDDLERS – Ashley, Amberley & Melanie
1 girl fiddler – Amanda Bopp
1 boy fiddlers – Tyrell, Austin & Trent
1 room – Brian and Dorothy Granter
1 room – John and Pam Halone
1 room – Glenda and Russell Fauske
1 room – Joe and Grace Slewinsky
1 room available til Thursday night.
Mark, Ty and Carol must return home that evening.
I still have Citulsky’s room? Anyone need it? I’ll give it up
Thursday night if I don’t hear from someone.
We are all looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday!
Glenda
The Lazy RF Ranch (701) 263-4742
Russell and Glenda Fauske
RR 1 Box 139
Dunseith ND 58329
