The Three Cooks at Highgate, Mont. ~ 1904 (SS 799)

 Reposted from 2019-06-11

 

An unwritten, undated card from my great-uncle 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  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.

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31 October 2025

When I saw the prompt photo for Sepia Saturday 799, the postcard above with the three cooks immediately came to mind for me, and I searched my blog for it. As the original post was not shared with Sepia Saturday (and I'm not sure anyone ever read it at all!), I decided to just do a repost.

Gustaf was an older brother of my grandmother Sally. He emigrated to America in 1902 and spent about eight years there; most of the time living in Galeton, Pennsylvania, working at a sawmill. In 1910 or 1911, he returned to Sweden - and as far as I know, he never went back to America again even to visit. 

Linking to Sepia Saturday 799

G.028.01-03 Christmas 1904 - New Year 1905

God Jul 1904 - Gott Nytt År 1905

To: Mr Gustaf Ekman, Galeton Box 113, Potter Co, Pa
From: Gerda  (Chicago 25 Dec 1904)

Glad och treflig jul önskas dig af syster Gerda
Merry Christmas from your sister Gerda

To: Mr Gustaf Ekman, Galeton Box 113, Potter Co, Pa
From: Gerda, Chicago,  Dec 31 1904 - via Patton Pa, Jan 2, 1905

"Missent to Patton, Pa" - "Felsänt till Patton, Pa"

(Seems I'm not the only one to find Gerda's writing hard to interpret sometimes!)

Godt Nytt År önskar jag dig o kära hälsningar o tack för julpresenten.
Skall snart skrifva. Syster Gerda.

Happy New Year to you and my best wishes and thanks for the Christmas present.

Will write soon. Your sister, Gerda

To: Herr Gustaf Ekman, Galeton, Potter Co, Pa, Box 113, Nort America

From: Ester (one of his sisters in Sweden)

Godt Nytt År 1905 tillönskas dig av syster Ester

Många kära hälsningar från oss alla

Happy New Year 1905 from your sister Ester
Warmest regards from us all

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.025.2 - 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.