From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove
Hello All,
Sorry for not updating the blog for a few weeks. I'm backed up on posts and need to get a few out. There is no need to worry, all is well. Life has injected itself into the Fortress' day to day operations. Our cousin Camille got married a few weeks ago (a post will be coming soon). Aunt Linda (Luella's sister) came down from Idaho for the wedding. Uncle Marvin (Luella's brother) came for a few days right after the wedding.
The Mattson siblings (Luella, Linda, John and Marvin) enjoyed their reunion here in Utah County and are still good friends, even after having been together again for a few days. I was privileged to spend a few hours with them when they were all together. One of them would begin reminiscing about their life on the Montana ranch. A second sibling would butt in and insert a few comments to correct the first sibling's faulty memory. The third would jump in and take a side. The youngest (Marvin) worked to calm things down. You would have enjoyed it also.
Aunt Linda brought her photo albums for me to scan and include in this online family history. Today's post is a somewhat random selection from the albums coving the years 1912 to 1964.
Simply,
Victor
A postcard photo. Great Grandparents Albert and Ida Mattson on the right. Parents of Grandpa Walter Mattson Josefina and Charles Lidman on the right. Josefina was Albert Mattson's sister, our Great Great Aunt. Their Daughter in law Rose is seated.
Lead, South Dakota. 1912.
The back of the postcard.
The deed to John Albert Mattson's first homestead in Montana.
They moved to the ranch from Lead, South Dakota.
This land was later sold, then the new Mattson ranch was purchased.
School Picture 1950 / 51
Luella was 10 years old. It was Linda's birthday. Oct. 25, 1949 Linda was 8, John was 7 and Marvin was 6. The teacher was Mrs. Williams. It was a one room school house covering grades 1 to 8. Linda says Mrs. Williams never took a bath and wore 4 petticoats. Linda said she had terrible body order.
During the winter she always sat closest to the stove. She gathered everyone around the stove for their lessons. The school had an outhouse.
The boy next to Mrs Williams was Francis Rosencranz, then Jerry Rosencranz, Luella, Harvey Cambell. Front row left to right, Gladys Rosencranz, Linda, Marvin, John and Sally Cambell.
One interesting story Linda remembered about Sally Cambell's father Redd
"One day Reed Cambell was at our house. Mother (Violet) walked him out to his car. She had her 22 shotgun. She was going to kill a couple of chickens for that night's supper. As they spoke, two chickens darted out into the dirt road. Mother took aim and shot the heads off both of them from a distance. She was that good of a shot. "I'll agree with you all the time," Reed said."
Linda with her birthday crown of multi colored kleenex's. October 25, 1949.
Montana
Linda's 8th birthday. New Dress Oct. 29, 1949.
She is wearing shoes, but the soles were coming off so Violet made her
turn her feet so the soles wouldn't show.
Mattson Ranch House
Winter of 1949
Violet was outside wearing Luella's new mochassions. It was wet and muddy. She was jumping from dry spot to dry spot to get back into the house.
The Mattson ranch house was actually two grainerys put together. The center section started as a log cabin. The holes in the log walls were plugged with cloth. The tipped over barrel in the front yard was to catch rain water. The house had its own electrical generator - the gasoline generator charged a shed full of batteries. They also had a wind charger on the top of the house. The generator was installed in 1949.
The Mattson ranch house was actually two grainerys put together. The center section started as a log cabin. The holes in the log walls were plugged with cloth. The tipped over barrel in the front yard was to catch rain water. The house had its own electrical generator - the gasoline generator charged a shed full of batteries. They also had a wind charger on the top of the house. The generator was installed in 1949.
True Love Magazine. 1950
Linda said that Luella would hide in the outhouse to read her love magazine to avoid doing dishes. "True Love" was her favorite magazine. It contained fictional love stories. She hid her 'True Love' magazines under the mattress in her bedroom. Luella was all girl. Not one drop of tom boy in her.
Violet and Luella on a park bench. Belle Fourche
1951. Luella was 12 years old.
Belle Fourche Park 1951
Luella front. Linda middle left. Cousin to the right (daughter of Violet's brother Walter)
John top left. Marvin top right.
Summer of 1956
Buck Harris family with the Mattsons on a picnic.
Linda Mattson in black. Marvin with his tongue out. Water next to Marvin
Linda Mattson
Sophmore. Spearfish High School. 1958
School Year 1959/60
Spearfish High
Marvin Mattson
Linda Mattson
Junior in High School. Spearfish High.
1959
Linda Mattson
Spearfish High School Senior picture. 1960
After high school, Linda worked at a Spearfish restaurant. She went to the Black Hills State Teachers College in Spearfish for one year. She moved to Rapid City and worked at the Bennett Clarkson Hospital. She lived with us for one month before getting her own place. She married Brian Cole Dennis.
Marvin Mattson
Senior Picture 1964
Spearfish High School
Luella Mattson's Wedding Announcement in the
local paper.
1956
Wedding Invitation
Charles Williamson and Luella Mattson
1956
Kevin Williamson at 1 Month Old
39 East Signal Drive, Rapid City.
July 29, 1961
John Mattson, missionary picture
John Mattson's Missionary Farewell Program
December 27, 1964
