Pensjonist Olav Holm, Kongens gate 93, fyller 85 år mandag 10. juni.  Han er født i Hegra og dro som tyveåring over til USA, hvor han arbeidet forskjellige steder.  Blant annet besøkte han indianerreservatet Sissytown i Dakota, hvor restene av siouxstammen levde et liv i gammer og jordhuler.  På et eneste rom levde hele familien, gamle og unge, og maten var ofte bedervede rester indianerne fant i søppeldunkene i de hvites landsbyer.  Atmosfæren i disse hulene var slik at blekansiktene raskt ble fordrevet derfra.  Senere dro Holm til hest den lange veien til Minneapolis og kom senere til Chicago, hvor han arbeidet ved et stort varehus.  En ny tid holdt sitt inntog og etter å ha gjennomgått en teknisk skole, dro han tilbake til South Dakota, hvor han i en prærieby etablerte et av de første bilverksteder.  — Da han vendte tilbake til Norge, var han en tid ansatt i Trondheim kommune, og i 1918 ble han tildelt håndverkerstipendium.  Han startet senere eget verksted som han drev inntil for noen år tilbake.

Pensioner Olav Holm, Kongens gate (King street) 93, turns 85 on Monday, June 10.  He was born in Hegra and went to the USA as a 20 year old (1898), where he worked in various places.  Among other places he visited the Indian reservation at Sissytown in Dakota, where the remnants of the Sioux tribe lived a life in turf caves and dirt caves.  In a single room lived the entire family, old and young, and the food was often perished leftovers that the Indians found in the trashcans in the villages of the white people.  The atmosphere in these caves was such that the pale faces quickly left.  Later Holm went by horse the long way to Minneapolis and later came to Chicago, where he worked at a large department store.  A new era was entering and after having gone to a technical school, he went back to South Dakota, where he established one of the first car repair shops in a prairie town.  — When he returned to Norway, he was employed by the Trondheim council for a while, and in 1918 he obtained a craft scholarship.  He later started his own repair shop which he ran until a few years back.  

823 – 16^th Wilmette Ill.  May 15

Dear old Pal’s Alma & Grace

I am thouroughly ashamed of myself, but oh boy are we ever going round in circles in this house hold – but they are getting along fine towards getting ready  they have the birth Certificates the pictures for pass ports and the pass ports are ordered  now they are taking the preperation shots and selling the furnature  it will take a month or 6 wks yet – then I am going to go see all the folks and then home to get the little home fixed up to be a realy comfy home for me  Dick was in Hong Kong last time he wrote  was going on to Shanghi then on to ports he has not been in before  he is surly getting around, and Jack wrote me  he was at wold?-Chamberlin at Minneapolis  run on to 2 of the fellows he was in service with  they had re-enlisted and of course wanted him to  he said now mom don’t be surprised if I do.  I told him I would be praying for him and what ever he does decide to do I am sure would be right, altho he is making good with the Soo? Lines Rail Road one can never tell when they will call a strike and throw him out of work and he thinks he can’t afford that  Well any way Im sure of one thing  he will have to make up his mind before June 30 if he wants to get back in on his old rank, and of course he will will if he goes back.  Well Ive still not heard what they did at the Easter meeting  no one has wrote me any thing so I guess I never did get anything – Well I’m so thankful you let them come to your house for the March meet.  I sure did hate it I couldn’t get there – but well anyway Ill be wherever?  Can come some of these days.  I had nice card from grandma Shieve? for Easter  enjoyed it a lot.  I get the Tribune but I know there is a lot of gossip they don’t dare print so you must write me all the news of that sort ha, ha, Hank I suspect your school days are about over, then for the fight with the big bad world all the rest of your life – Well I do wish you a lot of success as you go along the road of life and may God bless you abondantly in all you do – and don’t ever forget to thank mother for you owe it all to her – and God, for giving you such a grand mom.

Erma Blow(?) is still around here  she is in a beautiful home in Winnetka  gets $ 35.00 a week  they send the laundry out  she gets Thur after breakfast and Sunday after dinner off  the home she is in is a lovely big dutch Colonal and georgous  she said she never dreamed there were places like this out side of a story book.  I told her I tried to tell her the kind of place I had worked in but she say mom? well, it was hard to believe but it isent now for she is in one  Im glad for her  she wants to be here another 3 or 4 wks then will go on to Ky to Merritts (next word missing from page) but she hates to leave as long as Im here  she is so lost by herself  we go out a good bit togather and she just dont know straight up she is so turned around  says she would be afraid to start out alone if she hadent been there before.  I get a bang out of her  she is like a little kid at a circus  we do have fun.  She says why aint you afraid of getting lost  I told her as long as I could talk and ask questions I’d not get lost – I took her down in the loop and it just did me good to see how she did enjoy every minuet of it.  I am wondering how your mom has gotten  do hope able to get around by herself by now – its sure raining again now  it was (next word missing) Eastern? stor? – (could be: I was at Estern star, or store,  and they gave me etc.) and they gave me a red American beauty rose bud  I brought it home put it in the ground and its beging (beginning) to grow  Im so glad  hope I can keep it.  Well I sure hated it I could not get Windy the white pants but I seen where Sears have them now  maby if they would order them they might get them or better yet if they still want them I can order them to come here  they deliver out here  then I could send them on  maby I’d better do that as they may not have them in stock very long  I may even be to late now but I’ll try  Well I must get to my little bed so Ill say night to all and you too miss Grace  I love you so hope you dont for get the old pest  tell Inez Im still waiting to hear from her  loads of love your Pal Miranda  

4 i 4  1916

Kiere gamle venner

Yig vil hær ved sende dere nogle Linier saa di ser vi lever vi er gud være tak friske har været det i hele vinter og det Same ønsker vi at høre I fra dere vordan har di det i SD vordan gaar det med forrætningen har hat en kol vinter og meget Sne og ser ud til at bli sen vaar vis ikke sneen gaar fort bort men han som har al magt i Himmelen og paa yorden kan nok græie det naar hans tid Kommer er det ikke skrekeli vordan folk Raser i mod hvær andre og dræper alle de kan i den forfærdelige krig som nu raser over nesten hele Ouropa det ser du (mener hun “ud”?) som hele værden skal Komme i oprør det ser ud Som yesu ord og profeterne gaar i opfildelse at han er Snart for døren maatte vi da ha olie paa vore lamper Saa vi fik gaa ind med de kloge yomfruer saa vi ikke blev udestængt med de darlide ? de er farlige tider vi lever i da en Saadan sløvheds ?? vil intage hyærterne saa vi bliver Sløve og ligegildig det liger os Saa ? men han har sagt vi skal vaage og bede til en vær tid Saa han ikke kommer og finder os saavende da han kommer vordan er det hos dere er der mange troende og mange opbygelser har di mange gode predikanter her er det paa mang steder ganske mørkt bort i krogerne de er nok nogle faa Som lever for Gud men de er nok ikke mange ser det ud til desvære i yulen var jeg og hørte Anderson i fra minapolis han er den same ennu same Kraft til at predike han var paa yennemrisse til Dullut han saag han hade set mig før men viste ikke vor jeg spurte om han husket han var i vienna yo da kiente han mig med en gag han talte hos en fammile som jeg var hos vordan er det med dig Mrs. holm liker du dig i d R er du frisk i vinter taler du med yesus om dagen saa glem ikke mig bed for mig det er det bæste du kan giøre mig ieg trænger det saa væl ja nu bliver det snart Sommeren i gien og travelt vi har hat meget haart Arbeide siden vi kom hær men nu beginder det at sins lit vi har byget baade Barn og hus hær var ingen av delene bare et lidet laag hus som vi har levet i men nu er det nie hus færdig til plastring nedsed (mener hun nesten?) vi for 6 Rom naar det blir færdig saa vi for da plas nok vi har en triveli plas vi har to kuer to kalve og en del høns saa er der ??? i ?? (ser ut som Krimen i byen, eller kan det ha noe med bier å gjøre?) saa vi bringer did  Krimen(?) der (den?) betales got nu  Kommer di og besøger oss til Sommeren saa er di hyærtelig vælkommen det skulde være morsomt at se dere i gien ja nu blir væl mit brev for langt Saa de blir kyed av de for slute for denne gang med hyertelig hylsen til dere fra os bæige

Yohanne

Di er hyærtelig hylset i fra Hilda     Skriv snart er di Snille

4th of the 4th  1916

Dear old friends

I will hereby send you a few lines so that you see that we’re alive  we are thanks to god healthy  have been so all through this winter and wish to hear the same from you  how are things in SD  how is it going with the shop  we’ve had a cold winter and lots of snow and looks like it’s going to be a late spring if the snow doesn’t go away quickly but he who has all the power in Heaven and on earth can manage that when he thinks it’s Time  isn’t it awful how people are raging against eachother and killing everyone they can in the horrible war which is raging over almost all of Europe  it looks like the whole world will End up in a riot  it looks like the word of Jesus and the prophets are coming true that he will soon be at the door  may we then have oil in our lamps so that we can go in with the wise women (it actually says wise virgins) so that we wont be shut out with the …don’t understand next word-could be “bad ones’ -  we are living in dangerous times as such apathy can invade our hearts that we become lethargic and indifferent – don’t understand the next phrase – but he has said we must dare to pray at all times so that he wont find us sleeping when he comes.  What’s it like where you are  are there many believers and many ?  do you have many good preachers  in many places here it’s quite dark in the corners though there are a few who are living for god but not many it looks like unfortunately   at christmas I went to hear Anderson from minapolis  he is still the same  the same Power in his preaching  he was passing through on his way to Dullut  he saw that he had seen me before but didn’t know where  I asked if he remembered being in vienna  yes then he knew me right away  he spoke at the house of a family I was visiting  how are things with you Mrs. Holm  do you like it in d R  are you well this winter  if you speak with Jesus (she spells it Yesus) these days don’t forget me  pray for me  that’s the best thing you can do for me I need it so  well soon it’ll be Summer again and busy  we have had a lot of hard work since we came here but now it’s starting to show a little  we have built both a Barn and a house  there was neither here only a tiny low house which we’ve been living in but now the new house is ready for plastering almost  we’ll get 6 Rooms when it’s done so we’ll have plenty of room  we have a pleasant place  we have two cows two calves and some chickens and then there’s the ?? in town(?) so we bring there.  The ??? pays well now  If you’re coming to see us this Summer you are very welcome  it would be fun to see you again  well now my letter is getting too long So that you’re getting bored with it  will stop for this time with heartfelt greetings to you from us both

Yohanne (Johanne?)

You are much greeted from Hilda  (Anna Lovise’s daughter??)

Please write soon       

Kjære Alma!

Det er nu lenge mellem hvert brev du får herfra.  Vet ikke om brevene kommer frem.  Hvordan står det til med dere alle.  Her i Vesterålen er det et forferdelig stygt vær bare regn og storm.  Vi har havt besøk av en Norsk-Amerikaner i sommer.  Det er en god kamerat av min mand.  Han reste til Amerika for første gang strakst før vi gifta oss.  Altså har han vært i Amerika i 19 år og til nu i sommer han kom hjem en tur.  Ja, det var virkelig morsomt å treffe han igjen etter så mange år forløp.  Han bor i Mineapolis.  Jeg bad han at han måtte søke deg op å gå med hilsninger fra oss, og dette lovte han.  Han reiste herfra sist i september, og skulle være i Amerika omkring den 12 oktober, altså er han nu kommet frem.  Ja, nu er Gretha sluttet med sin skolegang og hun er nu hjemme og hjelper meg så nu har jeg da god hjelp av henne.  Vi har nu fått all avling i hus og er ferdig med sommerens strev.  Vi fikk svært lite høi, så vi måtte selge en masse dyr 2 livkyr 9 sauer 2 kalver, så nu er det lite fjøstell.  Jeg snakket med far i telefonen i går og han sa at han skulle reise en tur til Trondheim.  Edvart er ogsa reist en tur sørover helt ned til Halden.  Han er reist på arbeide.  Jeg skal koke rømmegrøt i kveld.  Gretha sier at du må ta deg en tur over Atlanteren og kom og spis med oss ikveld.  Det ser temmelig mørkt ut i værden idag.  Alt tyder vel på krig igjen.  Blir det nu krig på nytt, ja så blir det vel den siste.  Hvordan står det til med din mor? er hun frisk og rørig?  Det blei vel et stort savn da onkel John gikk bort. Har du barna dine hjemme, eller er dem borte noen steder.  Vet ikke noe særlig mer å skrive om for øieblikket.  Nu må du leve så vell.  og skriv noen ord snart.

Beste hilsener til dere alle i familien fra oss alle hjemme.

Ågoth

Veggemo 17-10-48

Dear Alma

The letters you get from here are few and far between.  Don’t know if our letters get there.  How are you all. Here in Vesterålen we’re having horrible weather just rain and storms.  We’ve had a Norwegian-American visitor this summer.  He’s a good friend of my husband’s.  He went to America for the first time just before we got married.  That is he has been in America for 19 years until now this summer when he came home for a while.  Yes it was really nice to see him again after so many years.  He lives in Mineapolis.  I asked him to look you up and bring you greetings from us, and this he promised.  He left here at the end of September, and was to arrive in America around the 12^th of October, so he should have gotten there by now.  Well, now Gretha has ended her schooling and she’s now at home helping me so now I have great help in her.  We’ve now gotten our crops indoors and are done with the hard work of summer.  We got very little hay, so we had to sell lots of animals 2 cows 9 sheep 2 calves, so now there’s little work in the barn.  I spoke with father on the phone yesterday and he said that he was going to Trondheim.  Edvart has also gone south all the way down to Halden.  He’s gone to work.  I’m going to cook sour cream porridge tonight (a traditional meal).  Gretha says that you must take a trip across the Atlantic and come and eat with us tonight.  It looks pretty dark in the world today.  Everything points to war again.  If we have another war now, it’ll probably be the last.  How’s your mother?  is she doing ok?  I suppose it got very lonely for her when uncle John passed away.  Do you have your children at home, or are they gone some place. I can’t think of anything else to write about just now.  Keep well and write a few words soon.

Best wishes to you all in the family from all of us here at home.

Ågoth

Veggemo 17-10-48