G.034.01 Window Glass Blowing in Port Allegany (1906)

WINDOW GLASS BLOWING.
Swinging & Turning Hall (reheated) to form Cylinder
Copyright 1906 by C. M. Williams Pub. Port Allegheny, PA.

 

To: Mr Gust Ekman, Galeton Pa., Box 113
From: CJ (sent from Smethport Pa, Oct 15, 1906, 4 PM)
(Arrived at Galeton Pa, Oct 16, 8.30 AM)

Smethport Pa.
Bäste Gust, jag vill sända dig några rader eftersom jag nu är på min plas [plats] ijän och många helsningar ifrån mig till dig. / CJ

Smethport Pa.
Dear Gust, I want to send you a few lines because I'm now back at my place again. Many greetings from me to you./ CJ

Sökningar på internet bekräftar att glasindustri liksom träindustri var viktig för Port Allegany i början av 1900-talet; och Smethport (varifrån detta kort sändes) var en annan betydelsefull plats för östkustens träindustri.

Online searches confirm that glass manufacturing was important in Port Allegany back in those days, as well as lumber industry; and Smethport was an important center for the East Coast hardwoods industry.

G.033.02 - Graded School, Port Allegany, Pa.

39B - Graded School, Port Allegany, Pa.

 

To: Mr Gustaf Ekman, Galeton, Pa
From: Hilda (Port Allegany, Jul 17, 1906) 

Hello Gust, hur stor det till med dig. Jag hörde att du var i Jamest. den 4 juli. Hade du trefligt der, det var annat än att vara i Galeton. Gina vill att jag skall sända dig en hälsning, hon skall snart sända dig ett vykort. Många helsningar från oss till er alla. / Hilda

Att döma av både namn och handstil så är detta samma Hilda som sände kortet från Couer d'Alene, Idaho (G.032.01), där hon då verkade bo. Om det kortet sändes före eller efter detta är svårt att avgöra, eftersom datumet på kortet från Coeur d'Alene inte går att utläsa. Det här kortet är dock tydligt poststämplat i Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, 17 juli 1906. Kanske klarnar tidslinjen om fler kort från Hilda dyker upp senare i albumet. 

Den korta texten på det här kortet ger i alla fall upplysningen att Gustaf tydligen tillbringade 4 juli (amerikanska nationaldagen - år 1906 en onsdag) på annan ort än i Galeton. Jag tyder "Jamest." som en förkortning av Jamestown. Det finns ett Jamestown, Pennsylvania. Enligt en websida om dess historia så fanns där år 1908 ca 1000 invånare, flera olika affärer, bank, hotell, och industrier av olika slag, inklusive sågverk och brädgård. Dess storlek jmf med Galeton på den tiden är jag inte klar över. Det verkar dock troligt att Gustaf kan ha känt någon där, eftersom sågverks- och brädgårdsarbetare verkar ha flyttat omkring en hel del under de här åren, utifrån var det fanns jobb att få. 

Hello Gust, how are you. I heard you were in Jamest. for 4th July. Did you have a good time there, that was a change from Galeton. Gina says hello, she will send you a postcard soon. Many greetings to you all from us. / Hilda

It seems this card is from the same Hilda who sent the card from Couer d'Alene, Idaho (G.032.01). On that card one cannot read the date, so it is unclear if that one was sent before or after this one, which was clearly posted in Port Allegany on 17th July, 1906. (If more cards from Hilda turn up later in the album, maybe we'll learn more.)

This card provides the information that Gustaf spent 4th July 1906 in "Jamest." There is a Jamestown Pennsylvania. A website about its history informs me that in 1908, it had 1000 inhabitants, several stores, a bank, a hotell, and various kinds of industry; including a sawmill and a lumber yard. Sawmill and lumber yard workers seem to have moved around quite a lot, so it seems likely Gustaf might have known someone there. 

PS. (2021-04-22)
In 1909, some cards written to Gustaf from Jamestown New York turn up, which make it seem more likely that this is the Jamestown that was referred to here as well. (G.041.02)

G.030.01 - Niagara Falls in Winter (1905)

 

American Falls in Winter- Niaga Falls, N.Y.

To: Mr Gust Ekman, Galeton, Pa
From: Gust F. [Franson?] Port Allegany Pa (21 Nov 1905)

Tjenis på dig Gust, hur tyks du må nu för tiden. Jag mår utmärkt bra. Jag lefver nu i en kåk här uppe i Skinnre bäck [Skinner Creek]. Jag hugger ved fortfarande, men här är det lika så bra som i Galeton tror jag. De ville ha oss att arbeta för dag när vi kom. De betalar två Daler om dagen i millan och i skogen, min [boss?] och jag har köpt oss en kåk och bordar oss sjelf. Carl och Conrad har gått till Pittburg till minfeld [kolgruvorna i Pittsburgh]. Min adräss Gust Franson[?], Bemis Mills, Portalagany [Port Allegany]

Hi Gust, how are you these days. I'm very well. I now live in a house up here in [Skinner Creek?]. I'm still chopping wood, but it is just as good as in Galeton I think. They wanted us to work per day when we arrived. They pay two dollars a day at the mills and in the woods. My [boss?] and I have bought ourselves a house and are boarding ourselves. Carl and Conrad have gone to Pittsburgh to the [coal] mine field . My address: Gust [Franson?], Bemis Mills, Portalagany [Port Allegany].

Kommentarer 

1/ Första året eller två i Amerika bodde Gustaf i Port Allegany, innan han flyttade till Galeton. Han kan ha arbetat ihop med Gust F. antingen där eller i Galeton. Det fanns sågverkindustri på båda platserna. 
2/ Pittsburg var/är en kolgruve-stad.
3/ Hittar ingen "Bemis mills" i nutida Port A., men däremot en dal med namnet Bemis Hollow, och en bäck med namnet Skinner Creek. Så fanns det ett sågverk i Bemis Hollow så kan det ha hetat Bemis Mills. 
4/ "bordar oss sjelf" - kan syfta på att han ordnat sin egen inackordering (boarding) genom att köpa ett hus tillsammans med någon istället för att hyra in sig på ett "boarding house" (medan Gustaf E däremot var "boarder" hos en familj i Galeton, enligt folkräkningsprotokoll från 1910)

Comments

1/ Gustaf lived in Port Allegany for a year or two when he first arrived in America, before he moved to Galeton (where he then seems to have stayed until he went back to Sweden in 1911). He and the sender of this postcard may have worked together either in Port Allegany or in Galeton (or both). There were sawmills in both these places.
2/ Pittsburgh, where "Carl and Conrad" had gone, was a coal mining town.
3/ I don't find any Bemis Mills in Port Allegany, but there is a valley named Bemis Hollow, and also a Skinner creek.
4/ Interpreting the text on this card is a challenge, besides the handwriting the writer is mixing Swedish and English and not very good at spelling in either language... But it seems Gust F bought a house together with someone (I read it as "my boss", but I'm not sure) at Skinner Creek, rather than staying at a boarding house, which was probably more common among temporary sawmill workers. (Gustaf E, the recipient of the card, was was one of several boarders with a family in Galeton in the 1910 US Population Census - cf. the previous post on this blog.)

G.022.2 Styrsö Hafsbad < 1902

December 1902: Gustaf and Gerda (brother and sister) are now both in the United States. Gustaf is in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania (and has got a postbox of his own now); and Gerda in Chicago, Illinois.

This card from Gerda to Gustaf was sent from Chicago, but the image is from a seaside resort in Sweden: Styrsö Havsbad (near Strömstad on the west coast)

As you can see, Gerda is using every available space to write on! and her handwriting is not the easiest to decipher... (Still a couple of words I haven't managed to work out.)

It can be concluded from the card that the two of them had been in touch by letter within the US before this card was sent.

I don't know if they travelled to America together on the same ship; but they were both there and had found somewhere to stay in December 1902.

To: Mr Gustaf Ekman, Port Allegany, Box 148, Pennselvania
From: Gerda (Ekman)
Sent from Chicago, Dec 20, 1902
Arrived in Port Allegany, PA, Dec 22, 1902

Tack skall du ha för brefvet som jag fick i går middag, det var roligt att få. Är ej detta ett vackert vykort, sådana har de också. Sverige är allt vackert. Jag skall skrifva bref snart så du får till julen. 

Jag fick bref från Oscar i tisdags kväll, så jag kan hälsa från honom och äfven från Elin hade jag bref o ... (?) hade lagt i en lapp(?) så det var ... (?)

Du har väl flyttat kan jag tro eftersom adr. är ändrad. skicka mig ett vykort ifrån Port Allegany till julen, det skulle vara roligt att få. Jag är kvar på samma plats till nyår. Skrif snart Hälsningar Gerda. - Kan hälsa från Frida, talade vid [henne?] 
Chicago den 19 Dec. 02

Thank you for the letter that I got yesterday at noon, that was nice to get. Isn't this a beautiful viewcard, they have those too. Sweden is really beautiful. I will write a letter soon so that you get it for Christmas.  /  I got a letter from Oscar on Tuesday evening, so I have greetings from him and I had a letter from Elin too and ... (?) had put in a note(?) so (that was?) ... (?)   /  You have moved I suppose as the address has changed. Send me a postcard from Port Allegany for Christmas, that would be nice to get. I will be staying at the same place until New Year. Write soon. Best wishes, Gerda.  /  I have greetings from Frida as well, spoke to [her]  /
Chicago 19 Dec. 02. 

G.021.3, G.022.1, G.022.3 - Happy New Year 1903

The spelling of Pennsylvania is a challenge...

To:

Herr Gustaf Ekman / Ben K. Andersson

Port Allegany, Pennselvania, Box 101

Nordtamerica

Happy New Year from [your] sister Ester

To:
Herr Gust. Ekman / Ren K. Andersson
Port allegany, Pellnselvania, Box 101
North Amerika

Happy New Year from Oscar Wilander 

On this card, the name of the sender is printed rather than handwritten - which indicates to me that he must have sent a lot of cards.

Who was Oscar Wilander? Gustaf's sister Emma was married to Brynolf Wilander, a country store owner. Did Brynolf have a brother called Oscar? I've been told that Gustaf's brother Oscar became manager of a branch store to the Wilander store. But it seems a bit far-fetched that he would also change his own surname? Besides, brother Oscar and wife Elin also sent a New Year card (in different handwriting): 

To: Mr. Gust. Ekman

Box 148, Port-Allegany

Pennselvania U.S.A.

Nort-America

Sent Dec ? 1902

Arrived Port Allegany Jan 19, 1903

Happy New Year from Elin and Oscar

K.B.! [Käre Bror]
Tack för brefvet! Skall snart skrifva men roligt om du vill skrifva snart igen. / Broder Oscar

Dear Brother,
Thanks for the letter. I will write soon but it would be nice if you'll write again soon. [Your] Brother Oscar

G.021.2 - Ladies With Bicycle, 1902

December 1902: Gustaf has moved to Port Allegany, PA, USA

To: Herr Gustaf Ekman

Address: Ben (?) K. Andersson, Port Allegany

Pennselvania Box 101, Nordtamerica
Sent from: Sörby, 17.12.1902

Arrived at: Port Allegany, PA, 29.12.1902

Grolanda

Käre broder!

Hoppas du mår godt. Jag väntar på bref.  Känner du igen någon här? Önskar dig en god och fridfull jul. Till nyår reser jag hem till Fristad. Kära hälsningar från din syster Ester.

Av Esters fråga att döma, gissar jag att en av kvinnorna på bilden kan vara hon själv.

Grolanda

Dear brother,

I hope you are well. I'm waiting for a letter. Do you recognize anyone here? I wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas. At New Year I'm going home to Fristad. Best wishes from your sister Ester.

From Ester's question, I assume that one of the ladies may be her. 

 Cropped and edited photo

Grolanda: Det har framgått av tidigare vykort i albumet att Ester bodde där 1902. (G.017.3)

Port Allegany: From the address on this and following postcards, I conclude that Gustaf emigrated to America in the autumn of 1902, and the first place where he settled for a while was Port Allegany, Pennsylvania. The first three cards he received there are addressed to hime care of a Ben K. Andersson, Box 101.  He soon got his own postbox, though (148). 

Originally known as Canoe Place, the town's name was changed to Port Allegany in 1838. - The town developed as a port on the Allegheny River and provided a place where travelers coming overland from the Susquehanna River could continue by boat. - This part of the state is rural and heavily forested. Before the arrival of the first European settlers, the area was densely forested with Eastern Hemlock*. Many of these sometimes massive trees were cut for lumber or sometimes only for their bark, which was used in tanning industry. /Wikipedia/ 

Gustaf E. ~1903

Gustaf, 25 years old, Port Allegany, Pa. (1902-03)

Vid genomgång av ytterligare en låda med foton och dokument som jag hittade förra veckan, fann jag detta ungdomsporträtt av Gustaf. Eftersom det är taget av en fotograf (A.J. Puhl) i Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, bör det vara taget under första året efter hans ankomst till USA, dvs sent 1902 eller under 1903. Poststämplar och adresser på vykorten vittnar om att han i december 1903 flyttat vidare till Galeton, Pa.

Porträttet har antagligen tillhört Gerda, och inte kommit i farmors ägo förrän efter Gerdas död (1973).

…

In English

Portrait of Gustaf, the postcard collector, from late 1902 or 1903. It is not dated but it was taken by a photographer in Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, where he spent the first year or so after his arrival in America. The postcards tell me that in December 1903, he had moved on to Galeton, Pa. The photo probably belonged to his sister Gerda, who lived until 1973. I can’t remember seeing it before.