From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove
Hello All,
A large fire is burning in the mountains above Alpine, Utah as I write this post. Alpine is a small town nestled at the base of the Wasatch Range, a ten minute drive from Pleasant Grove. The smoke is rising so high people can see it from Evanston, Wyoming . Homes along the mountain side are being evacuated. It will be a nasty fire to contain. The mountains are steep and thick with extremely dry brush and trees. We hope for the best.
The smoke, as seen from Jilane's home in Pleasant Grove
Today's post displays the contents of Grandma Violet Mattson's file found with her things when she passed away.
This is my mother's birth announcement sent out by Walter and Violet Mattson.
The newspaper announcement of my mother's birth
My mother's name tag from her visit to the Salt Lake LDS Temple
Notice my mother spells her middle name Mae. Somehow it changed from her
birth announcement.
The announcement of the birth of Jon and Janice Williamson in the Rapid City Journal
An interesting scrap of paper with with I believe is the signature of my Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg. The date is December 27, 1889.
The certificate of membership of my Grandmother into the Order of the Eastern Star.
The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible,but is open to people of all theistic beliefs. It has approximately 10,000 chapters in twenty countries and approximately 500,000 members under its General Grand Chapter. Members of the Order are aged 18 and older; men must be Master Masons and women must have specific relationships with Masons.
The front side of a mortgage contract signed by my grandfather Walter Albert Mattson. Grandpa had problems with the bank concerning a loan. This led to a situation requiring them to leave the ranch and move to Spearfish, South Dakota. This is the signing over of their livestock and truck to the new owners.
The back of the mortgage contract sign by both Walter and Violet Mattson
The Swedish Letters
I found the following letters in another section of Grandma Mattson's file. They are written in Swedish. I'm hoping our Swedish relatives will be kind enough to translate them for us.
Letter 1
Written 21 August 1882
Written by Josefina Mattsson,
Luella's Great Aunt, sister to her Grandfather John Albert Mattson.
Letter 1
Page 1
Letter 1
Page 2
Letter 1
Page 3
Letter 2
Date: Unknown
Letter 2
Page 1
I'm not sure this is the first page. It doesn't begin with a formal greeting.
We may not have the complete letter.
Letter 2
Page 2
Letter 3
Date: Unknown
Letter 3
Page 1
Letter 3
Page 2
Letter 3
Page 3
Letter 3
Page 4