The following article was written by Gudrun Hallson (with the help of her daughter Gytha Ryckman) for inclusion in the history book, Memory Opens The Door, compiled and published by Lucy Lindell of Eriksdale. Unfortunately there is no date in the book to indicate date of publication but it was after 1967 and before 1996.
-- wither thou goest --
I never wanted to come to Canada. It is a hard thing to leave one’s homeland and loved ones. It seemed so far away! My husband’s family had come over in 1902 and returned to Iceland in 1906. It was then I met Oli and we were married. We had a lovely home in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland. Oli had a good job and our home was the meeting place of scores of relatives and friends. Life was good! We were blessed with two children; firs a son, Hallur in 1908, and then a daughter, Ingibjorg in 1909. Oli’s people had returned to Canada in 1908 after greeting their first grandson and Oli began to press for us to follow. I resisted for two years. I thought the world had come to an end! Never will I forget the heart-rending experience of leaving behind family, friends and possession – for there was little we could bring – and venturing to this new land with two small children and a third one on the way. We sailed from Iceland, July 20, 1910 and arrived in Montreal on August 10th. We were headed for the Interlake area. Oli’s people had settled at Silver Bay, 14 miles west of Ashern. We traveled by train from Montreal to Westbourne, on the west side of Lake Manitoba, and by steamboat from Westbourne to the Narrows, and then in a sailboat from there to Silver Bay. We visited there for three weeks, and an anxious time it was for we nearly lost Ingibjorg. She was only eleven months old and the change of water, milk and the heat proved too much for her and she developed dysentery. Nothing stayed in her stomach and she was quickly reduced to skin and bone. We were in despair. Then an old lady in the district suggested we try the raw white of egg and this she began to retain. When she was well enough to travel, we set out with a team of horses and a democrat for Oak Point. We left Hallur, 2-1/2, in the care of his grandparents. The railway along the east side of Lake Manitoba was under construction and had reached Oak Point. There I was to spend the winter and there our daughter, Kristiana, was born October 31st. Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910. In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
I never wanted to come to Canada. It is a hard thing to leave one’s homeland and loved ones. It seemed so far away!
My husband’s family had come over in 1902 and returned to Iceland in 1906. It was then I met Oli and we were married. We had a lovely home in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland. Oli had a good job and our home was the meeting place of scores of relatives and friends. Life was good! We were blessed with two children; firs a son, Hallur in 1908, and then a daughter, Ingibjorg in 1909. Oli’s people had returned to Canada in 1908 after greeting their first grandson and Oli began to press for us to follow. I resisted for two years. I thought the world had come to an end! Never will I forget the heart-rending experience of leaving behind family, friends and possession – for there was little we could bring – and venturing to this new land with two small children and a third one on the way. We sailed from Iceland, July 20, 1910 and arrived in Montreal on August 10th. We were headed for the Interlake area. Oli’s people had settled at Silver Bay, 14 miles west of Ashern. We traveled by train from Montreal to Westbourne, on the west side of Lake Manitoba, and by steamboat from Westbourne to the Narrows, and then in a sailboat from there to Silver Bay. We visited there for three weeks, and an anxious time it was for we nearly lost Ingibjorg. She was only eleven months old and the change of water, milk and the heat proved too much for her and she developed dysentery. Nothing stayed in her stomach and she was quickly reduced to skin and bone. We were in despair. Then an old lady in the district suggested we try the raw white of egg and this she began to retain. When she was well enough to travel, we set out with a team of horses and a democrat for Oak Point. We left Hallur, 2-1/2, in the care of his grandparents. The railway along the east side of Lake Manitoba was under construction and had reached Oak Point. There I was to spend the winter and there our daughter, Kristiana, was born October 31st. Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910. In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
My husband’s family had come over in 1902 and returned to Iceland in 1906. It was then I met Oli and we were married. We had a lovely home in Reykjavik, the capital city of Iceland. Oli had a good job and our home was the meeting place of scores of relatives and friends. Life was good! We were blessed with two children; firs a son, Hallur in 1908, and then a daughter, Ingibjorg in 1909.
Oli’s people had returned to Canada in 1908 after greeting their first grandson and Oli began to press for us to follow. I resisted for two years. I thought the world had come to an end! Never will I forget the heart-rending experience of leaving behind family, friends and possession – for there was little we could bring – and venturing to this new land with two small children and a third one on the way. We sailed from Iceland, July 20, 1910 and arrived in Montreal on August 10th. We were headed for the Interlake area. Oli’s people had settled at Silver Bay, 14 miles west of Ashern. We traveled by train from Montreal to Westbourne, on the west side of Lake Manitoba, and by steamboat from Westbourne to the Narrows, and then in a sailboat from there to Silver Bay. We visited there for three weeks, and an anxious time it was for we nearly lost Ingibjorg. She was only eleven months old and the change of water, milk and the heat proved too much for her and she developed dysentery. Nothing stayed in her stomach and she was quickly reduced to skin and bone. We were in despair. Then an old lady in the district suggested we try the raw white of egg and this she began to retain. When she was well enough to travel, we set out with a team of horses and a democrat for Oak Point. We left Hallur, 2-1/2, in the care of his grandparents. The railway along the east side of Lake Manitoba was under construction and had reached Oak Point. There I was to spend the winter and there our daughter, Kristiana, was born October 31st. Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910. In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
Oli’s people had returned to Canada in 1908 after greeting their first grandson and Oli began to press for us to follow. I resisted for two years. I thought the world had come to an end! Never will I forget the heart-rending experience of leaving behind family, friends and possession – for there was little we could bring – and venturing to this new land with two small children and a third one on the way.
We sailed from Iceland, July 20, 1910 and arrived in Montreal on August 10th. We were headed for the Interlake area. Oli’s people had settled at Silver Bay, 14 miles west of Ashern. We traveled by train from Montreal to Westbourne, on the west side of Lake Manitoba, and by steamboat from Westbourne to the Narrows, and then in a sailboat from there to Silver Bay. We visited there for three weeks, and an anxious time it was for we nearly lost Ingibjorg. She was only eleven months old and the change of water, milk and the heat proved too much for her and she developed dysentery. Nothing stayed in her stomach and she was quickly reduced to skin and bone. We were in despair. Then an old lady in the district suggested we try the raw white of egg and this she began to retain. When she was well enough to travel, we set out with a team of horses and a democrat for Oak Point. We left Hallur, 2-1/2, in the care of his grandparents. The railway along the east side of Lake Manitoba was under construction and had reached Oak Point. There I was to spend the winter and there our daughter, Kristiana, was born October 31st. Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910. In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
We sailed from Iceland, July 20, 1910 and arrived in Montreal on August 10th. We were headed for the Interlake area. Oli’s people had settled at Silver Bay, 14 miles west of Ashern. We traveled by train from Montreal to Westbourne, on the west side of Lake Manitoba, and by steamboat from Westbourne to the Narrows, and then in a sailboat from there to Silver Bay.
We visited there for three weeks, and an anxious time it was for we nearly lost Ingibjorg. She was only eleven months old and the change of water, milk and the heat proved too much for her and she developed dysentery. Nothing stayed in her stomach and she was quickly reduced to skin and bone. We were in despair. Then an old lady in the district suggested we try the raw white of egg and this she began to retain. When she was well enough to travel, we set out with a team of horses and a democrat for Oak Point. We left Hallur, 2-1/2, in the care of his grandparents. The railway along the east side of Lake Manitoba was under construction and had reached Oak Point. There I was to spend the winter and there our daughter, Kristiana, was born October 31st. Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910. In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
We visited there for three weeks, and an anxious time it was for we nearly lost Ingibjorg. She was only eleven months old and the change of water, milk and the heat proved too much for her and she developed dysentery. Nothing stayed in her stomach and she was quickly reduced to skin and bone. We were in despair. Then an old lady in the district suggested we try the raw white of egg and this she began to retain.
When she was well enough to travel, we set out with a team of horses and a democrat for Oak Point. We left Hallur, 2-1/2, in the care of his grandparents. The railway along the east side of Lake Manitoba was under construction and had reached Oak Point. There I was to spend the winter and there our daughter, Kristiana, was born October 31st. Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910. In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
When she was well enough to travel, we set out with a team of horses and a democrat for Oak Point. We left Hallur, 2-1/2, in the care of his grandparents.
The railway along the east side of Lake Manitoba was under construction and had reached Oak Point. There I was to spend the winter and there our daughter, Kristiana, was born October 31st. Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910. In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
The railway along the east side of Lake Manitoba was under construction and had reached Oak Point. There I was to spend the winter and there our daughter, Kristiana, was born October 31st.
Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910. In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
Oli had made plans to build a store at Eriksdale, or 4th Siding, as it was called then, and the lumber was waiting to go north as soon as the rails reached the 4th Siding. Oli opened the store, which was situated where W.A.B. Smith’s house now stands, on December 17, 1910.
In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come. Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
In March, the railway had reached Ashern and I went North to Ashern and thence to Silver Bay to wait for our house in Eriksdale to be completed. Early in May, I got word from Oli that our house was ready and I could come.
Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days. We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
Barney, Oli’s younger brother, loaded the democrat with our goods, and once again leaving Hallur with his grandparents for the summer, we started out for Ashern, a distance of 14 miles, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Ingibjorg was on my lap in the front seat and we had Kristiana, 6 months old, in a basket securely strapped high on the bak seat. We could not have the basket on the floor of the democrat as there were no roads, only trails and many ditches and mudholes to cross. As times the water splashed over the floors. It was a long and tedious journey and we did not arrive in Ashern till nightfall, only to learn that the work train was farther north and probably would not come South for a couple of days.
We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice. Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
We were tired and hungry. We needed lodging and there was none to be had. We needed food and the store was closed. We really were in a predicament. After much running around, Barney was able to get permission for us to bunk in an unheated Track Warehouse – where there were beds, which we were allowed to use. There we were to sit for two long nights and two days. We had no light and no heat. How I longed for a good hot cup of coffee! We still had some milk for the children and a few biscuits left from the lunch we carried, and this had to suffice.
Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff. We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
Early next morning, a big giant of a Scotsman came bursting into the warehouse, looked us up and down, and then looked all around the warehouse – and then left without saying a word. This continued at intervals all day. It turned out that he was keeping an eye on the goods stored there, which were Settler’s effects – some of which were his. By the end of the day, he decided we were honest, respectable people and he began to be friendly; and when the work train arrived on the evening of the second day, he helped us to the train with the children and all our stuff.
We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time. The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
We boarded the train (I use the word loosely, as it consisted of an engine, coal car, baggage car and a caboose) at 8:00 p.m.. It was pouring rain. The long benches along the sides of the caboose were all filled with railway workers and I had to sit on an apple box with Ingibjorg on my lap and Kristiana in her basket at my feet. The stench in the caboose was stifling – my stomach lurched – and Barney, perched on a bedroll on the floor, had to hold a window open to give me a little fresh air from time to time.
The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff. I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
The distance to Eriksdale was 27 miles and it took us five long hours to reach Eriksdale at 1:00 a.m.. It was pitch dark and still raining. Oli met us at the crossing at the south end of town, where the train stopped. He helped me off with Ingibjorg in my arms; then Kristiana in her basket was handed down and put on the ground at my feet; and Oli jumped on the train to help Barney unload our stuff.
I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified! Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
I stood in the rain in the pitch dark with two babies and waited what seemed an eternity! Before they were finished unloading, the train began to move, and Oli and Barney had to throw off the remaining luggage along the track in a hurry and then jump off the moving train. I was petrified!
Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good! The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
Oli led the way to the store. There he had hot coffee waiting – what a treat – coffee and crackers and cheese. Never had coffee tasted so good!
The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go. Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
The next thing was to get to our house, which was situated behind where the old Hallson store is now. It was still raining and there was water everywhere. We had to make our way down the track to where the station is now, where there was a trestle built over the ditch created by the railroad, and wade through water to the house. The builders of the railroad had neglected to put in any culverts and the townsite was flooded with water that had nowhere to go.
Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night. In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
Needless to say, my impression of this watery wilderness was anything but good, though I was relieved to be in our warm, snug house. Oli and Barney made several trips back and forth with our things, and then we lost no time in shedding our wet clothes and bedding down for the night.
In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor. The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
In the morning, with a pack of goods from the store on his back and a lunch, Barney set off down the track to walk back to Ashern, and the children and I began a three-week imprisonment within those four walls. The water rose higher and higher and was lapping just inches below the floor.
The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts. My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
The C.N.R. rectified their mistake but the damage was done. The mosquitos hatched by the millions and we were eaten alive. Oli brought home cheesecloth and I made canopies over the children’s beds and ours, but still the mosquitos penetrated. They raised huge welts on the children and me. To this day, I have never learned to tolerate the beasts.
My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years. We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
My entry into Eriksdale had been anything but auspicious and the honor of being the first woman on what was to be the townsite, living in the first private dwelling there, seemed to me a dubious honor, but Eriksdale was to be our home for 57 years.
We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913. Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
We lost twin sons at birth in 1911 and Oli was to quit the store business that same year, when the big Lake Manitoba Trading Store was built. He disposed of the stock and Jack Mills, whose son John still resides in Eriksdale, bought the store building, which he tore down and used for building on his homestead. Oli built a new shop which is the center core of the existing old store building on Railway Ave., and he went into the implement business. Our daughter, Gytha, was born in 1913.
Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States. In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
Oli did a lot of business in Eriksdale through the years, and while we never became rich in a materialistic sense, we did become rich in friends. Looking back, I can appreciate the great adventure and experience in human relations that was ours. At one picnic in the early days, I recall counting 26 different nationalities from all over Europe, Eastern Canada and the United States.
In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay. In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
In 1912, just after the first school was built, we were making our way with the children to the school for a Church service, and Oli said, “Just think, in about 25 years people will say – There go the old Hallsons to Church” and my replay was, “Heaven forbid that I should have to stay in this God-forsaken place that long.” – but the time came that I was perfectly happy and satisfied to stay.
In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives. We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
In our own small way, we have watched and helped Eriksdale to grow into a thriving, progressive community. We have seen many fine people come and go, but each leaving behind something of themselves to enrich our heritage and our lives.
We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers. Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.
We have worked with and loved the people who stayed. We have watched our children and grandchildren grow up, and the children, grandchildren == and yes, great-grandchildren – of some of the earliest settlers.
Eriksdale has been good to us. It is a community of which we can all be justly proud. It is home and we love it. Circumstances have made it necessary that we leave Erksdale for awhile, but we will be back. I can think of no better resting place.