Gerdas fotoalbum: På Åsunden 27/8 1933

21.7.2018

21.7.2018

Gerdas fotoalbum är en utmaning, eftersom korten inte är insorterade i kronologisk eller annan uppenbart logisk ordning, och mycket få av dem försetts med någon som helst uppgift om var, när eller vem. De tre bilderna från Åsunden 27/8 1933 är ett undantag - men för att inte göra det alltför enkelt, så är de i albumet inklistrade på sid 1, sid 18 resp. sid 34! Den fjärde bilden är från sid 35, och jag vet inte säkert om den är från samma tillfälle - men den ser ut att kanske kunna vara det.

Fotona är klistrade i ett album med spiralbindning, så svåra att skanna. Jag har därför fotograferat av dem med egen kamera istället. Medan jag höll på med detta ringde nån liten klocka mitt bakhuvud angående bakgrunden... Letade upp mina egna semesterbilder från ifjol (juli 2018) och hittade två foton som jag då tog nere vid småbåtshamnen i Ulricehamn. När jag jämför, så tror jag att fotona från 1933 nog också är tagna nära land - och att båtäventyret antagligen inte sträckte sig tvärs hela över sjön... :) 

Jag kan inte avgöra vilka personerna är, förutom att jag är ganska säker på att det är Gerda som sitter på klippan på det sista fotot. Hon arbetade vid det laget för Estelle och Folke Bernadotte sedan minst något år (kanske länge), och bodde i Stockholm.  Men jag tänker mig att bilderna från Ulricehamn togs på någon utflykt som gjordes medan hon var på besök hos syskonen i Västergötland. Den 27 augusti 1933 var en söndag. (Gerda fyllde 52 senare den hösten - och hennes helsyskon var alla äldre än hon.)

G.027.3 - Lanthandel / Country store, Odensberg (1904)

Nylund, Odensberg.

En julhälsning till Gustaf från hans vän Georg, 1904. Kanske blev kortet något fördröjt på grund av att Georg glömt lägga till Pa  (Pennsylvania) i addressen. Jag kan inte tyda hela texten i den röda stämpeln ("an address supplied by"?), men uppenbarligen har kortet vid ankomst till New York blivit lagt åt sidan för närmare utredning av i vilken delstat Galeton, Potter Co[unty] låg. 

En god och treflig jul 1904 önskas af Georg G...[?]
(Upside down:) Hälsningar från Odensberg.

I Odensberg bodde Gustafs bror Oscar med hustru Elin.
I ett mail från en släkting (Bengt W) för några år sedan fick jag veta att det fanns fotobevis på att Oscar år 1904 var föreståndare för en lanthandel i Odensberg - en filial till den som Brynolf Wilander (Oscars och Gustafs svåger, gift med deras syster Emma) drev i Floby. Det verkar därför troligt att detta är samma affär, och kanske rentav samma foto (?) 

På skylten ovanför dörren står "Speceri", följt av ytterligare text som jag inte kan tyda. Nedanför bilden står tryckt "Nylund, Odensberg." (Om Nylund ska tolkas som ett efternamn eller ett platsnamn vet jag inte.) På byggnaden i bakgrunden syns namnet Lundin  (det säger mig heller ingenting).

A Christmas greeting to Gustaf from his friend Georg in Sweden. The card may have been somewhat delayed because he forgot to write "Pa" or Pennsylvania in the address. I can't quite make out the full text in the red postmark, but obviously the card was put aside (at arrival in New York) for someone to figure out in what US state to find Galeton, Potter Co[unty]. 

Georg wishes Gustaf a Merry and happy Christmas 1904, and (upside-down) adds Greetings from Odensberg. The image shows a country store at Odensberg, where Gustaf's brother Oscar lived. This is interesting, because I learned some years ago (by email from a relative) that photographic evidence existed that in 1904, Oscar was keeper of a country store in Odensberg - a branch store to that in Floby, owned by his brother-in-law Brynolf (married to Oscar's and Gustaf's sister Emma). So it seems likely to me that this is the same store, and perhaps even the same photo. (?)

G.027.2 - Randolph Street, Chicago (1904)

Randolph St., east from La Salle St., Chicago

E.C. Kropp Publ., Milwaukee, No. 441.

To: Gustaf Ekman, Galeton, PA

From: Gerda, Chicago; Oct 25, 1904 *

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K.B. [Käre Broder] Hjärtligt tack för pengar o för v.k. [vykort] som jag idag fick. Många kära hälsningar från Gerda.

* 25 oktober var Gerdas födelsedag, så pengarna var säkert avsedda som födelsedagspresent. (Hon var född 1881; så 1904 fyllde hon 23.)

Dear Brother, Many thanks for the money* and for the postcard that I received today. Lots of love from Gerda.

* October 25 was Gerda's (23^rd) birthday; so the money was probably a birthday gift.

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Zooming in the street picture: 

The vehicles on this photo seem to be horse-drawn, except for the tram/streetcar/trolley. Checking up on this, I find that the first streetcars in Chicago were horse cars, but the companies began substituting cable cars in the 1880s. By the 1887, Chigaco had the largest cable railway system in the world. It was also in the 1880s that electric-powered trolleys first became practical. The Chicago companies hesitated at first to install these faster and more efficient systems, but by the mid 1890s most of them had begun the conversion to electricity, which was completed in 1906. [Source: Wikipedia - Chicago Surface Lines]

G.027.1 - Schiller Monument, Lincoln Park, Chicago (1904)

To: Gustaf Ekman, Galeton, PA

From: Gerda, Chicago, 1904 (June or July 28 ?)

Käre broder! Mycken tack för brefvet. Jag skall bara sända några rader för ro skull o tala om att jag mår bra. Jag skall snart skrifva mer. Kära hälsningar från Gerda

Dear brother, Many thanks for the letter. I'm just sending a few lines for no special reason to let you know I'm well. I'll write more soon. Love from Gerda

The Schiller Monument in Lincoln Park, Chicago, was installed in 1886. It is a recast from the original sculpture by Ernst Rau in Marbach, Schiller's birthplace in southwest Germany. The statue in Chicago is an example of donations made by immigrant groups to honor important figures from their homeland. Schiller's poem ”Ode to Joy” was used for the chorale finale of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

G.026.3 - The Three Cooks at Highgate, Mont. (~1904)

An unwritten, undated card from Gustaf's postcard album, with the text "The Three Cooks at Highgate, Mont." printed on the front. It sits in between other postcards from 1904 in the album. 

From the official website for the state of Montana, I learn that the discovery of gold brought many prospectors into that area in the 1860s; leading to boomtowns growing rapidly - and declining just as quickly when the gold ran out. Later, there was also silver and copper mining. And a lot of cattle and sheep ranches and wheat farming, as the gold-diggers and miners needed to eat... But the gold ran out (and perhaps silver and copper too); and post-WWI droughts and depression meant that a lot of farmers were forced to leave the state as well.

My best guess at the moment is that the "Three Cooks" postcard may be from a boomtown restaurant; and perhaps sent with a letter to Gustaf from some friend working in that area for a while. Whether the sender was one of the three cooks himself, or someone eating their food, I don't suppose I'm ever likely to find out.

G.026.2 - Union Square, N.Y. City (1904)

Union Square, N.Y. City - And. L. Lofstrom, Publ.

To: Gustaf (in Galeton)

From: Gerda (in Chicago)

Sent: May 20,1904

Käre broder Gustaf! Mycken tack för brefvet, roligt höra att du mår bra, jag skulle skrifva bref men har ej tid nu, jag skall snart skrifva. / Jag just skickar det här när du ej skall vänta mycket. Till måndag ha vi högtidsdag här, undrar om du har det.* Jag skall snart skrifva, många hälsningar från mig och Frida ... [hon var här igår] [?]

*20 maj 1904 var en fredag.

Måndag 23 maj 1904 var Annandag Pingst.

Dear brother Gustaf,

Many thanks for the letter, glad to hear you are well. I don't have time to write a letter now but I will write soon. Just sending this in the meantime. On Monday we have a holiday here, I'm wondering if you do, too.* Many greetings from me and Frida ... [she was here yesterday] [?]

*Monday May 23 1904 was Whit Monday.

G.026.1–La Salle Monument, Lincoln Park, Chicago (1904)

La Salle Monument, Lincoln Park, Chicago

To: Mr Gustaf Ekman, Galeton Box 113, Potter Co., PA
From: Gerda, Chicago
Arrived: Galeton, April 3, 8 AM, 1904

Mycken tack för brefvet och vykort som jag fick Gerda-dagen [23 mars]. Jag skall snart skrifva, jag skall snart skrifva bref och så får jag önska dig en Glad Påsk önskar Gerda / och många påskägg. / Tycker du ej här är vackert? Kommer du ej hit snart, jag bor nära denna parken.

Many thanks for the letter and the postcard I got for the Gerda day [Swedish name-day, March 23]. I will soon write, I will soon write a letter, and I wish you a Happy Easter, from Gerda / and many Easter eggs / Don’t you think this place is beautiful? Won’t you come here soon, I live close to this park.

La Salle Monument, Chicago
By Count Jacques de La Laing, 1889
Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (1643-1687): 17th century French explorer and fur trader in North America who explored the Great Lakes region, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. Sculpture installed in Lincoln Park 1889; moved in the mid-1920s, and again in the 1990s. (Which means this postcard shows its original position.)
Read more: Chicago Public Art

G.025.3 - Albany, N.Y. (1897 / 1904)

Copyright, 1897, by American Souvenir Card. Co.
127 Duane St., New York.

This is the first card addressed to Gustaf at his new address in Galeton, Potter County, Pennysylvania, at New Year 1903/04.

It was posted in Chicago on Dec 30 or 31 1903, and arrived in Galeton Jan 2, 1904. The sender is his sister Gerda.

As usual, Gerda is writing all around the image on the front. Her handwriting is always tricky to decipher, and writing in pencil does not improve it. On top of all, she uses very little punctuation, which does not make it easier!

Käre broder Gustaf,
Tack för brefvet jag idag fick. Roligt att du kommer. Kanske du får den platsen i st året [?] * om du kommer snart, de skall öppna det på lördag. Du är välkommen. Syster Gerda. / Om du kommer på lördag eller söndag är jag alldeles ensam på kvällen, kom hit då. / Jag hinner ej skrifva brev nu. / Telefon no. vårt är B 341

* ståret = försvenskning av "the store"  = affären, varuhuset ?

Dear brother Gustaf,
Thanks for the letter I got today. Glad you are coming. Perhaps you will get that place in the store [?] if you come soon, they are opening on Saturday. You are welcome. [Your] sister, Gerda. / If you come on Saturday or Sunday I am all alone at night, come here then. / I have no time to write a letter now. / Our telephone number is B 341

A Google search for "store opening Chicago 1904" takes me to a Wikipeda article about Sullivan Center, a commercial building at 1 South State Street, at the corner of East Madison Street in Chicago. It was designed by Louis Sullivan for one retail firm in 1899, sold by that firm to H.G. Selfridge & Co in 1904, but only occupied by them for a matter of weeks before sold on to someone else.

This may not be what Gerda is referring to on her card, but it may indicate that there could have been more that kind of thing going on in Chicago at the time (stores opening and closing, changing owners and re-opening etc). 

G.025.2 - Ring In the New Year (1904)

No. 3422 Ed. F. Ph. & co

Another greeting for the New Year 1904, addressed to Gustaf at Port Allegany, but sent on to Galeton.

Sörby, d. 16/12 1903

Ett godt nytt år önskas morbror Gustaf af Ella, Edith och Erik.
Hälsningar från Mamma och Pappa.

Sörby, 16 December 1903

Happy New Year to Uncle Gustaf from Ella, Edith and Erik.
Greetings from Mum and Dad.

(Mum and Dad = Gustaf's sister Emma and her husband Brynolf Wilander.)

Arrived at: Port Allegany Dec 28, 1903

Arrived at: Galeton Dec 30, 1903

G.025.1 - Happy New Year 1904

To: Herr Gust. Ekman

Portallegany Box 148, PA, North Amerika

Arrived at Port Allegany Dec 28, 10 AM

Forwarded to Galeton, PA; arrived there in the afternoon of the same day

From: Augusta (with Ester, Gustaf's sister)

Possibly sent from Grolanda, a location from where Ester wrote in 1902 - cf G.017.3

Godt Nytt År

Tillönskas dig af Augusta. Tack så hjertligt för kortet. Jag är hos Ester i kväll. Vi mår så godt. Ester ber om sin helsning. Skrif någon gång då tillfälle gifves. Må det kommande år blifva rikt med välsignelser och trefnad. Hjertliga helsningar från D.S. den 13/12 1903.

Happy New Year

to you from Augusta. Thanks very much for the postcard. I am with Ester tonight. We are both well. Ester sends her love. Write some time when you find the opportunity. May the next year offer an abundance of blessings and comfort. Best Wishes / 13 December 1903. *

* 13 December in Sweden is celebrated as Lucia, St. Lucy's Day. Before calendar reforms, it coincided with the Winter Solstice; so it was and is still celebrated as a mid-winter festival of light. 

G.024.3 - Christmas 1903

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) (French:  Union postale universelle), established by the Treaty of Bern  of 1874, is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. [Wikipedia]

It's a Christmas card to Gustaf from his (unmarried) sister Ester in Sweden.  Judging by the print on the back, it's not likely to be any of their own family or friends on the photo.

The card still provides some valuable information from family history research point of view, as it can be concluded from the writing and the postmarks on the back that in December 1903, Gustaf moved from Port Allegany to Galeton (also in Pennsylvania) - where he was to remain living until he returned to Sweden in 1911.

(The previous card in the album shows that he was still in Port Allegany at the end of November.)

The postmarks on this card show that it arrived at Port Allegany Dec 25, 1903, at 3 pm; and was sent on  to Galeton at 6:30 pm the same day; to arrive there the next morning (that postmark is a bit blurry but I think it says Dec 26, ?? AM). No Christmas holiday for those handling the postal services, it seems! 

(I do wish that the stamps on all these cards had not been removed by some fanatic stamp collector in the past... whether that was Gustaf himself, or someone else!)

G.024.2 - Odla vänskap / Cultivating Friendship

To: Mr Gust. Ekman

Portallegany, Box 148,
Pennsylvania, U.S.A. (Nort-America)

Sent: From Sweden, Nov 13, 1903

Arrived: (via New York) Port Allegany Nov 25, 1903

Gods Skola d. 12/11 03.

Undrar just om du känner igen detta ställe och dem som äro med. Detta kort togs här i somras.

B.B.! (Bäste Broder!)

Tack för senaste brev. Hur mår du gamle "hedersknyffel"? Jag mår godt. Skrif snart beder (?) vännen (Georg?)  [cf. card G.021.1]

[Kan inte tyda den extra hälsningen tillagd ovanför bilden.]

Först läste jag avsändarplatsen som "Guds Skola" och undrade om det var någon slags bibelskola. Men vad är det i så fall för redskap som kvinnorna t.v. håller i - och varför? Kom fram till att det nog i stället står "Gods Skola", som i någon form av lantbruksskola (?)

Hittar också en artikel om Trädgården som bildningsmönster och pedagogisk modell under 1800-talet (av Åsa Klintborg Ahlklo, Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet), som lyfter fram att det under 1800-talet, i anslutning till nya jordbruksmetoder på gods och gårdar, även växte fram ett intresse för trädgårdsskötsel som binäring till jordbruket; och att "trädgården som lämpligt område för kvinnans engagemang är ett ämne som återkommer hos de framstående trädgårdslobbyisterna under 1800-talet". 

Jag undrar om det är Georg själv som är med på bilden, med cykeln?

In English:

[Manor] [agricultural] School, Nov 12, 1903
I wonder if you recognise this place and the people. The photo was taken this past summer.

Dear Brother,

Thanks for your latest letter. How are you, old "brick"? I am well.
Write soon asks your friend Georg (?) [cf. card G021.1]

[I can't decipher the upside-down greeting written over the image.]

At first I read the Swedish name of this school as something to do with God (Sw. "Gud") and wondered if it was a Bible school. But then why were the women to the left holding that wooden tool thing... (I'm not sure what it is, but to me it looks rather like the grip of a scythe.) I arrived at the conclusion that it must be 'gods' as in the Swedish word for manor or estate; i.e. some kind of agricultural school. If the writer is the same as on the card G.021.1 (Georg) he seems to be a friend of Gustaf's living in the Swedish countryside. I wonder if he's the man with the bicycle??

G.024.1 - Is it better over there than here? (1903)

A.B. Oscar E Kulls Grafiska Konst-Anst., Malmö. 8357

To: Mr Gustaf Ekman

Portallegany Box 148, Pennysylvania, U.S.A.

Sent from: Sweden, Nov 5, 1903

Arrived at: New York, Nov 17, 1903 ("Due 2 cents")

Arrived at: Port Allegany PA, Nov 19, 1903

Saleby den 5 Nov 1903. Bäste vän Gustaf. Må så godt är min högsta önskan, undrar just hur du mår långt bort i fjärran. Hvad tycker du om det i Amerika? Hvad gör du för något om dagarna? Tycker du dät är bättre där än här? Jag är nu hemma, reste från Karlsborg den 31 okt. Är Gärda hos dig så hälsa henne så hjärtligt från mig. Tusen kära hälsningar från Axel Thyrén, f.d. Jansson. Skicka mig några rader är du snäll. Min adress är A Thyrén, Lanna, Saleby, Skb län

Saleby socken låg i Skånings härad, Skaraborgs län, Västergötland; numera del av Lidköpings kommun. Att Axel varit i Karlsborg betyder antagligen att han gjort sin värnplikt där. Värnplikten infördes i Sverige 1901. Axels byte av efternamn kan också ha med militärtjänsten att göra (soldater med vanliga 'son'-efternamn fick ofta byta namn i det militära).

Saleby, 5 Nov 1903. Dear friend Gustaf. I hope all is well with you. I'm wondering how you are over there, so far away. How do you like it in America? How do you spend your days? Do you think it is better there than here? I am home now, left Karlsborg 31st October. If Gerda is with you, please give her my best regards. A thousand best wishes from Axel Thyrén (born Jansson). Please send me a few lines. My address is A. Thyrén, Lanna, Saleby.

Karlsborg  is a fortress by Lake Vättern, not all that far away from where the writer Axel lived. Most likely he did his military service at Karlsborg. Conscription was introduced in Sweden in 1901. Soldiers were also often given new surnames in connection with military service (because too many of them had names like Svensson, Jansson, Eriksson etc.) 

G.023.3 - Från Sveriges Bygder (1903)

Från Sveriges Bygder. / From the Swedish countryside.

Axel Eliassons Konstförlag, Stockholm. No. 3113

To: Mr Gust. Ekman
Box 148, Port-Allegany, Pennselvania, U.S.A., Nort-America

From: Elin (sister-in-law)

Arrived: Mars 7, 1903

Tack för hälsningarne genom bref! Samtidigt med "gubbens" bref vill jag medsända min innerliga hälsning. Skulle vara roligt veta om detta vykort får troget följa brefvet till framkomsten. Gunnar hälsar äfven! Vänligen, Elin

Thanks for the greetings by letter! I'm sending my heartfelt greetings together with "hubby's" letter. It would be fun to know if this card gets to travel together with the letter all the way to the destination. Gunnar also sends his regards. Best wishes, Elin.

I'd like to know that, too! But I only have postcards sent TO Gustaf, and none of the letters or replies...

G.023.1 - Chicago Water Tower (1903)

Greetings from Chicago - Gruss aus Chicago

Water Works and Tower - Wasserwerke

*Koelling & Klappenbach Publishers, Chicago Ill. No. 36

Printed in Germany. Sepia O.L.M.  623:02

*(I found the publishers listed at Metropostcard .com)

To: Mr Gustaf Ekman

Port Allegany, Box 148, Pennsylvania
Sent from: Chicago, Ill., Jan 21, 1903
Arrived at: Port Allegany PA, Jan 22, 1903

Tack för senast. God fortsättning. Undrar hur det är nu med hälsan och trefnaden. Vi mår bra här i Chicago. Hälsningar från Gerda, hon sitter bredvid mig. Många hjärtliga hälsningar från Frida o Annie.

Thank you for last time. Happy New Year. How are things now with your health and well-being. We are well here in Chicago. Gerda sends her love, she is sitting next to me. Best wishes from Frida & Annie.

Frida was mentioned by Gerda on her card G.022.2 written in December 1902.

I'm wondering what "last time" was... Did they perhaps all travel together to the US? Both Gerda and Gustaf did emigrate in the autumn of 1902. Whether on the same ship or not, they must have arrived in New York before they went on to their respective destinations. Chicago is further inland than Pennsylvania; which makes it unlikely that Gustaf would have gone first to Chicago and then back to Pennsylvania. It makes more sense to me to think that they travelled together and then parted ways after their arrival in the US. (On the other hand: The postcard did not take more than one day to travel between the two places!)

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The Chicago Water Tower was built in 1869, and is the second oldest water tower in the US. It was named an American Water Landmark in 1969. Nowadays it houses an art gallery: The City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower, featuring the work of local photographers and artists. [Wikipedia]