Luck Remembered
The newsletter of the Luck, Wisconsin Area Historical Society Inc.
Volume 7, No.4
Museum Phone: 715-472-2030
December, 2012
Email [email protected]
Website http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wilahs/
Recollections of Neils Dueholm
Pioneer Given at age 94 as told to
Mary Lindsay Brosvee
My parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. N. Dueholm, came to Bone
Lake from Canton, South Dakota in 1882. I believe I was
the first white child born in Bone Lake Township – that
was in 1884. There were five sons and three daughters in
our family.
The first grave
in Bone Lake
Cemetery was
that of Ilard
Nelson, brother
of Peter Nelson,
who lived
where the
Hedlunds live
now. Dee, of
Dee’s café, was
the
Niels Neilson Deuholm,
granddaughter
father of writer
of Peter Nelson.
When Ilard
Nelson was buried, the dirt had been thrown around a
seedling. Chris Dueholm Sr. edged the dirt around with
his hand so as not to hurt the small oak. It is a big tree
now – just inside the gate. The cemetery was not laid out
at that time.
The north end of the lake was settled first. Chris
Dueholm Sr. lived at Dueholm corners (still shown on the
Texaco maps, I believe). He was the postmaster and when
he moved to the south he sold his property to John
Hansen. John Hansen had a beautiful dapple gray horse.
We lived farther to the east, on the northwest end of the
lake.
Oscar Dueholm, my brother, was an agent for the
Johnson Land people. Holmbergs bought from him.
Holmbergs had a beautiful flowing spring. Enclosed it in
a stone wall and cooled milk and cream there. Dandy wife
and three little girls.
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Pearl Held lived in the old Dueholm place – had a
brother, Earle. We used to have dances in the sawmill
where bone Lake Park is now. I really liked to whoop it up
– took Pearl dancing there – she was sure a good dancer!
A nurse at the Glen Lake Sanitarium later. I really loved
to dance! Nels Sorenson had a daughter, Florence – swell
dancer too. He worked for Jens Jasper.
Sorenson gave the land to the Pioneer School. The first
school burned down, too.
I recollect when Fred Nelson took the engine to the north
end to saw with. Bought it in St. Croix. It was in the
winter and the engine was too heavy to get across the old
wooden bridge at Taylors Falls. We had to take heavy
timber and reinforce it. The road up the St. Croix hill was
extremely steep and it was icy. The wheels started slipping
and the engine toppled over and killed a man helping –
think the man’s name was Johnson, if I’m not mistaken.
When we finally got the engine to the top of the hill we
put it on a sled and hauled it to Bone Lake – where the
park is now. Soren Larsen owned the land then.
Some years later I was going by -- the sawmill was
abandoned. Took a shot and put a hole right through the
boiler – in one side, and out the other. Later on some
fellow fixed it with bolts and nuts and used it again. I
never let on that I did it, but got a good laugh from it.
John Schandorf changed his name to Johnson, then back
to Schandorf. Thought Johnson would be easier, but too
much of a mix up. Joe sr. used to walk over the lake to the
post office every day in the winter. Always carried a
lantern even in the daytime – got caught in a blizzard
once.
I remember Nels Peter Nelson, grandfather of Art
Hansen. He was a real craftsman. Used to make wooden
shoes out of birch. Lots of folks used to wear them. He
came from Stillwater. The Polk County Museum has irons
and paddles he used. He had a nice ox team and made a
whole harness for them. Made a clock too, with all the
wooden gears for Chris Dueholm Sr.
Cousin Matt used to come and go hunting from our
house – Oscar Wappemaster always carried a gun so as to
be ready when he saw game. No hunting license in those
days. Fellow walked to Chris Sr’s home one day. Wanted
a ride – jumped on a horse and fell off the other side.
Pete Isaakson had a great imagination—came to our
house one day and said he shot three Indians. Though we
would kid along, so that night we told him he’d better had
for the swamp as the sheriff was looking for him. He took
out and hid for two days. Almost froze to death.
The Chippewa Trail was the only road to Luck. It was a
lonesome way, especially at night – real dark. Only one
farmer, Nels Nelson, lived on it.
Murdock Hill and Murdock Lake were named for old
Doc Murdock from Taylors Falls. Used to call it “High
Hill.”
Ott Olson used to stop at our house for coffee.
Jens Jasper owned a stud horse and threshing machine—
just move around where needed.
Chris Dueholm Sr. moved to Georgetown in 1896. He
was an excellent horseman. My father, N. N. Dueholm,
was not. He had a young mare – wonderful saddle horse
but nervous. He had a hard time riding her. He was Polk
County sheriff in 1903-1904.
Father went to visit Denmark and his sister died while he
was there. He felt real bad. Went to his old church and
watched the ringmaster ringing the bell. Father said, “Do
you remember me?” to the ringmaster. The man
answered, “That was my father you knew.”
We used to let our cattle run in the woods. While out
after our cattle one day, saw a man trying to led a young
heifer home. Had a reputation of being mean to animals.
He was beating and beating her. Willie and my brother
stopped him.
John B. Glover had a steam car – camped near our house.
Dug a hole in the ground and put some big bottles of beer
in it to cool. Also had muskmelon and watermelon. Chris
Jr. was there—first time he ever saw melons.
Boy drowned off Holmberg’s point. George and Charlie
Calderwood from Calderwood Lodge (the Shore now)
were excellent swimmers – dove for him. He fell off a
boat – water’s real deep there. Big drop off.
Lake was clear and pure. We cut ice from it and packed
it in sawdust—it lasted all summer.
Had another sawmill on our old home farm. Run by
fellows named Nelson and Stone—father gave them a
place to put the mill at Rosenbergs. The last boom on
Bone Lake – the dam broke Easter morning and some logs
sank. They called that place Dead Man’s Landing as two
men were killed trying to loosen the jam.
All our lumber had our own mark on it so we could
separate different owners. Our brand was the Diamond E.
My brother and I were out searching for lost logs and
found a big boom made out of our logs. Marks were
clearly visible. We didn’t know who had bunched them,
but tied a rope on them and were pulling them home when
a fellow chased us – claimed they were his. He couldn’t
explain how they had our mark—nor could he show where
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he had cut them. He had a bad reputation for shady
dealing. We always logged timber in the fall.
Men would come to our house for the road meeting—then
would portion out work for each one to do. Maintained
our own roads.
Abe Johnson had a stock farm near Stock Farm Creek—
Rest Point is there now. He had much land—also finished
left-over logs. Otto Olson sawed lumber for Abe, so did
Jens Jasper after he came back from Tennessee. Long
Nels Dueholm was working in the lumber yard one day—
saw a deer and shot it. I went to see him before he died—
he was so glad to see me.
Abe Johnson had two sons. They built a cottage—first
on the lake. When Abe died, Albert got the stock farm
and mill and Harry got the property in Maine. After a
while Abe’s will was found in a satchel in one of the horse
barns, and he’d left everything reversed. Albert got
Harry’s and Harry got Albert’s. This was around 1900.
They hauled lumber to Stillwater with horses.
There used to be a dam about 300 feet down Fox Creek.
Pioneer children were not allowed to swim at Indian point
as this location was sacred to the Indians. Indian Point is
north of the place Chris Dueholm Sr moved to in 1896.
On the east side of the old road to Milltown—near
Charlie Christensons, there used to be a blacksmith shop.
There was an enormous rock near there. Me and my friend
climbed it one day. There was a bottle of whiskey on the
top of the rock, but neither my friend nor me would touch
it.
East Bone Lake had a machine shop from 1918 until it
closed in 1951.
The cement steps from Sandy Hook School are still
there. Two sisters of Abel Jensen taught there. He used to
pick them up on Friday night and take them back on
Sunday evening.
We worked hard in those days but sure had a good time.
I’m 94 years old but it still seems as though these things
happened only yesterday. Wish I could go back and sees
some of my friends and family again.
Abe Johnson in Bone Lake Lumber
office—courtesy of MN Historical Soc
President’s Report, December 2012
This year, on Thanksgiving Day, I spent a couple of hours
stacking firewood in shirtsleeves; in 24 hours there were
three inches of snow on the ground and temperatures were
in the teens. Years ago I was told that northern Wisconsin
doesn’t really have climate--it has weather; there is a little
bit of truth in that. We had an enjoyable Thanksgiving
holiday with many in our extended family at our house for
dinner. Those old, predictable holiday gatherings I
remember have changed and become more complicated
with marriages, deaths and distances changing the family
structure; it’s always nice, though, to get together a few
times a year even if some are missing. Since I began this
report, Christmas has come and gone.
We spent
Christmas Eve at my niece’s home in St. Paul and it
occurred to me looking at happy faces as we sang holiday
songs, that our family now has representatives from all of
the Scandinavian countries, American Indian, African
American, Poland, India, Korea and Vietnamese ethnicity.
The “melting pot” aspect of America is a positive and
natural thing and might teach us to be a little more
accepting of the diversity within our country and around
the world.
Around Thanksgiving I spent a lot of time “making
wood”, and now have this year’s supply in the basement
with next year’s supply neatly racked up in the field.
Looking at a supply of wood gives me a comfortable
feeling---a lot like, I think, my mother used to feel when
her fruit cellar was full of sparkling jars of canned fruits
and vegetables. The wood project left me satisfied, but
with a sore back. I am back to normal, but with new
resolve to lift right and not too much; I hope I have
learned my lesson!
Luck HS students get a thank you ice
cream for helping out!
Because our normal November general meeting date
happened to fall on Thanksgiving this year, we
rescheduled the meeting for November 29. According to
our bylaws, November is our annual meeting at which
officers and board members are elected for the following
year. We are pleased to have new faces on the board, but
sad about losing others because of death or illness. After
the business meeting, we set up Ted Anderson’s holiday
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village. This 8X16 foot display shows holiday scenes
from around the country and includes a holiday electric
train that connects everything. This is the fourth year we
have featured Ted's display, and it never goes together the
same way twice. Thanks to Ted and Grace for loaning it
yet again this year. The exhibit will be put to sleep for
another year after Christmas.
As we mentioned in the last newsletter, we received a
generous donation from the Albert Ravenholt Foundation
earlier in the summer for a 450 sq. ft. addition and a
family resource center. Since that time, our consultants at
Cedar Corporation have drawn plans and advertised for
bids. When the bids were opened, construction costs were
within our projected budget. A contract was signed and
our contractor, Clarke Construction of Luck, plans to pour
footings yet this fall, build the addition and finally remove
the present west wall to create one large multipurpose
room. At this point the foundations have been poured, the
stud walls are up and sheathed, with the roof trusses to be
installed any day now. During the construction process,
we will move many stored items from our building to the
Natural Alternative Cooperative across the street.
This whole process gives us a chance to better organize
our artifacts so that we will know exactly what we have
and where it is located. It’s a little like changing houses
and gives us a chance to reevaluate what to show, save
and what might better be placed elsewhere. Sometimes
we find we have duplicates of certain artifacts. In the
event we feel an item is no longer needed, we will: (1) try
to locate the original owner to ask if they would like it
returned; (2) offer the item to another museum or; (3)
dispose of it at a public sale. A few have already been
temporarily loaned to other museums. Running a museum
is unlike a business since donated items often have great
sentimental value for donors. The Luck Historical Society
Board takes its responsibility to donors and the
community very seriously and we will always try to do the
right thing. Let us know if you have any concerns or
thoughts; we appreciate your suggestions.
Though winter is considered an off season at many
museums, the Luck Museum will continue to be open five
days per week. As of January 1, our 2s013 schedule will
be: Monday 1 PM - 4 PM and Tuesday through Fridays
11 AM - 3:30 PM. We will be closed over the weekend.
You can check any changes by calling the museum at 715-472--2030. We will also open by special appointment;
call 715--472--4378 to schedule a time and date. Free
classic movies will begin again with “National Velvet” on
January 4, “Babette’s Feast” on Feb. 1, “Fly Away Home”
on March 1 and “An American in Paris” on April 5. This
schedule may be expanded by popular demand. Movies
will begin at 7:00 PM and real theater popcorn will be part
of the experience.
We were all saddened to learn of Harvey Nelson’s
recent death. As you may know, Harvey’s wife Marilyn
worked as our museum greeter for more than a year.
Harvey was always willing to donate his time and talents
to repair damaged display museum articles and to
volunteer his time and truck when needed. With years of
experience in wood refinishing, Harvy and Marilyn
finished all the woodwork for the library and museum
building free of charge. Our thanks and condolences to
Marilyn and family.
Happy holidays to all of our members and friends. May
2013 bring you happiness and Luck.
Chuck Adleman
Harvey Nelson 1942-2012
A great friend and helper at the Luck Museum, Harvey
Nelson passed away on the 14th. He and his wife Marilyn
ran the furniture shop in Luck. Harvey always cheerfully
volunteered to fix our old museum items, to haul our
new acquisitions and was a genuine great guy.
Harvey V. Nelson, age 70,
of Luck, WI, passed away
on Friday, December 14,
2012, peacefully at his
home
surrounded
by
family and friends.
He married his wife,
Marilyn Louise (Berg)
Nelson of Luck, WI, on
October 2, 1965, and they
were happily married for
47 years. Harvey and
Marilyn resided in Blaine,
MN, prior to moving to
Luck,
where
Harvey
worked at the Luck School
District for many years. He opened up his shop, which
was his home away from home, on Main Street in Luck.
Harvey and Marilyn operated Harvey’s Woodworking and
Refinishing for 25 years; his love for woodworking and
refinishing antique furniture was known by his many
customers far and near. He loved having conversations
with customers both at the shop and at many antique
shows he would haul his furniture to.
His hobbies included bowling, woodworking, mowing
his yard, camping, vacations to Florida, Hawaii, Branson
and many other places with family and friends, playing
cards, listening to music at Skonewood, Luck music in the
park, Lewis Music Jams and attending many
grandchildrens’ events. He and Marilyn lived in Luck
from 1971 to 1996 and they built their dream log home on
the hill of Marilyn’s family farmland, which he loved so
much. He was a member of the Luck Lions Club, Luck
Lutheran Church, Planning Committee of the Luck
Museum and Library, Luck Community Club and Luck
Winter Carnival Committee.
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Abe Johnson at Bone Lake, WI
MHS
Ravenholt addition to the
Library/Museum is coming along!
LAHS Board members:
Chairman - Charles Adleman (retired) 2455 110th Street
Luck, WI 54853 (715) 472-4378 [email protected]
Vice-chair and Development- Jon Shafer (retired) 6020
Peterson Road Webster, WI 54893 (715) 866- 5016
[email protected] Cell - 715-733-0480
Secretary - Pedersen, Marlys (Retired) 815 Lakeview
Ave E. Luck, WI 54853 (715) 472-2528
[email protected]
Treasurer - Robert Dueholm (owner Cardinal Gift
Shop, Luck) P.O. Box 260 Luck, WI 54853 (715) 4728365 [email protected] Work - 472-2475
Collections Director - Jennifer Mishler 636-A 130th
Street County Rd. PP Amery, WI 54001 715) 268-4550
[email protected]
Public Relations - Russ Hanson (retired) 2519 285th Ave.
Cushing, WI 54006 (715) 488- 2776
[email protected] Winter phone (507)-3568877 1593 County 27 Blvd. Pine Island, MN 55963
Preservation - Judy Wester (715) 646-1447
[email protected] 901 8th Street Centuria, WI
54853
The Luck Area Historical Museum would like to
collect some winter sports items, clothes, pictures,
movies, and slides of the last 100 years of winter in
this area in order to display what it was like in
Winter Past.
Meetings are the 4th Thursday of each
month at 7:00 pm at the Museum.
Remember: What happens at the museum
depends on what our members and
volunteers decide to do! Please help with
your ideas!
Museum Hours:
By appointment and 1-4 Mondays, TuesFri 11-3:00 Call the museum at 715-4722030 for info. Monday afternoons staffed
by Genealogy Society
The Polk County Genealogical society is at
the Luck Museum each Monday 1-4 pm
They will help you do research on your
family history. No charge and no
appointment needed. Email us at
[email protected] or check our website at
www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wipolk/
The 1940 Census is out!!!!
“SHARE MORE TOGETHER”
Thursday, March 7, 1 – 3 pm 2013
Janet Seymour, Wisconsin Historical
Society Field Service
Representative, will once again be
our speaker. The topic will be
“sharing our objects,” and will be
covering loan agreements,
insurance and other bookkeeping
caretaking concerns.
We welcome audience participation, and
want to learn from your experience.
Hand-outs will be given on “Children in
Museums.”
Remember us in your will
With this simple sentence in your will you can
donate money to the Luck Area Historical Society
and Museum
I give the sum $
to the Luck Area Historical
Society. Our address is
LAHS P.O. Box 197 Luck, WI 54853.
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Coffee, tea, water, and light snacks will be
available.
For more info, check with Judy at
[email protected]
Luck Area Historical Society Inc. Membership Form
Send completed
form to
LAHS inc.
P.O. BOX 197
Luck, Wi 54853
715-472-2030
Name _____________________________
Address____________________________
City _______________State____Zip_____
Phone_____________________________
Email_____________________________
Annual Membership Levels
Individual
Student
Life (ind or couple)
$10.00
$5.00
$100.00
All memberships in excess of $10 as well as any additional
donations to the Luck Area Historical Society are fully deductible.
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Luck HS students haul items to
temporary storage while the new
addition is being built. Thanks!
Photos are from the family tree at
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/24618062/family/familygroup?fpid=5094125992
Niels N and Ane Overgaard Dueholm
Maren, Flora, Henry, Willie , Walter
Dueholm abt. 1930
The Dueholm Story written by Carter Dueholm from website http://www.henningdueholm.dk/
To read more about the Dueholm family go to
http://www.henningdueholm.dk/side3.html
http://www.henningdueholm.dk/PDF_filer/Jim%20Dueholm%20US.pdf
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