Sunday, July 5, 2020
Link to a picture of a 1913 Irvine Flats social gathering - George, Rose,and Harold must be in the photo!!
1913 IRVINE FLATS HOMESTEADER GATHERING PICTURE
Click on this link above to see the wonderful picture of the early settlers gathering at a country school (probable the Spring Valley School). The people used the Homestead Act to settle in the Irvine Flats area of Polson, Montana.
It is July 2020 and I did an internet search on Irvine Flats. And - there was an astounding picture. I may have seen it before - I can't remember, however, this picture is so clear and crisp. I'm going to take it to my dad and see if he can make out whether his grandfather, George, his grandmother, Rose, and his very young father is in the picture!
Update hopefully soon!
Link to info on the "four schools of irvine flats"
https://www.polson.k12.mt.us/community/community-resources/historical-school-districts-of-lake-county/the-four-schools-of-irvine-flats/irvine-flats
Irvin Flats homesteader fitted with a hook after a 4th of July accident on Flathead Lake
We, my family including Dave, my son Wesley living in Oregon, and my granddaughter, Seeley, were all visiting my dad, George (known as Georgie as a child) at his house across from Bonner Park on Ronald St. in Missoula. It was the 4th of July, 2020. My dad fixed us some lemonade and we sat on the patio surrounded by dad's flowers. Ken, my brother, was also there.
I asked my dad what he did as a child on the 4th of July. Here's what he said: There wasn't much going on, however, he told a story about a fellow Polson area/Irvin Flats homesteader, Cliff McBroom, and how due to a fireworks accident on Flathead Lake, lost his hand and had it replaced by a hook!!
Here's what happened. Cliff and some others were lighting some fireworks on Flathead Lake. In those days fireworks really packed a punch and were more powerful than many modern day fireworks. Cliff was holding a firework which didn't go off completely at first so he dunked it in the lake water thinking it would douse the firework.
Instead of the firework going out it exploded in his hand which was under water and blew his hand off!
The doctors did surgery and his hand was fitted with a hook.
Cliff was at times known to get into some fights and you could say he had an angry streak that surfaced every now and then. So...when he did get into a fight his opponents knew that Cliff had a hook on his one hand and that it may be used on them!
This is the story my dad told to us on the 4th of July many years after the incident. As I haven't looked into this story as far as checking newspapers or finding some relatives this account is just from my dad, an Irvin Flats homesteader, who has a very good memory!
I asked my dad what he did as a child on the 4th of July. Here's what he said: There wasn't much going on, however, he told a story about a fellow Polson area/Irvin Flats homesteader, Cliff McBroom, and how due to a fireworks accident on Flathead Lake, lost his hand and had it replaced by a hook!!
Here's what happened. Cliff and some others were lighting some fireworks on Flathead Lake. In those days fireworks really packed a punch and were more powerful than many modern day fireworks. Cliff was holding a firework which didn't go off completely at first so he dunked it in the lake water thinking it would douse the firework.
Instead of the firework going out it exploded in his hand which was under water and blew his hand off!
The doctors did surgery and his hand was fitted with a hook.
Cliff was at times known to get into some fights and you could say he had an angry streak that surfaced every now and then. So...when he did get into a fight his opponents knew that Cliff had a hook on his one hand and that it may be used on them!
This is the story my dad told to us on the 4th of July many years after the incident. As I haven't looked into this story as far as checking newspapers or finding some relatives this account is just from my dad, an Irvin Flats homesteader, who has a very good memory!
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Orville Bjorge - Garcon Gulch native featured on front page of the Missoulian for his service in World War 11
https://missoulian.com/news/local/end-of-an-era-montana-idaho-chapter-of-the-th/article_c80d3038-f561-5b59-a1e2-1c800d0569b8.html
Hello! Fellow cowboys and girls!!
Here is an article about a fellow homesteader, Orville Bjorge!! The article states he is from the Garcon Gulch area which is near the Irvin Flats area. It is over the hill from where our ranch house used to be.
Here is a reference to the ranch country of my family and his - "He's 97 now, retired from a life of cattle ranching and farming on his spread between Polson and Hot Springs."
Another quote about his family is - " Bjorge won't make it to Jakers on Saturday. He's living at an extended care home near the Flathead River in Polson, not far from the ranch his father homesteaded in 1910 on Garcon Gulch, between Hot Springs and Polson."
I called my dad, George, and he said he remembered the Bjorge family. There was some distance between the two homesteads so he did not know them well. My dad didn't know for instance that Orville had gone into the service. He said that the Bjorge family did most of their shopping in Hot Springs rather than in Polson.
Montana Homesteader Heritage would like to thank Orville for his service in WW 11. The article relays the story of his service - he was right in the thick of things that's for sure. Thank you, Orville!!
Hello! Fellow cowboys and girls!!
Here is an article about a fellow homesteader, Orville Bjorge!! The article states he is from the Garcon Gulch area which is near the Irvin Flats area. It is over the hill from where our ranch house used to be.
Here is a reference to the ranch country of my family and his - "He's 97 now, retired from a life of cattle ranching and farming on his spread between Polson and Hot Springs."
Another quote about his family is - " Bjorge won't make it to Jakers on Saturday. He's living at an extended care home near the Flathead River in Polson, not far from the ranch his father homesteaded in 1910 on Garcon Gulch, between Hot Springs and Polson."
I called my dad, George, and he said he remembered the Bjorge family. There was some distance between the two homesteads so he did not know them well. My dad didn't know for instance that Orville had gone into the service. He said that the Bjorge family did most of their shopping in Hot Springs rather than in Polson.
Montana Homesteader Heritage would like to thank Orville for his service in WW 11. The article relays the story of his service - he was right in the thick of things that's for sure. Thank you, Orville!!
Monday, November 11, 2019
A salute to some veterans in the Halverson family tree!
Montana Homesteader Heritage (Jeanne Halverson Joscelyn) would like to acknowledge some of the veterans in our Halverson family tree on this Veterans Day 2019.
As I'm just getting to know who is exactly in the Halverson family tree as a result of Ancestry DNA and my cousin Carol Damlos from Chicago who wrote to me a couple of years ago :). mhh doesn't know all of the veterans in our family so apologies for any veterans not mentioned here.
The veteran I know about the most is my great-uncle Ed Halverson from Chicago. Ed is the brother of George Henry Halverson, my great-grandfather on my father's side. If mhh remembers correctly Ed served in WW11.
Also, mhh would like to acknowledge our second cousin who died in WW11, Robert Sogge (I'm not sure if I have the correct Sogge name). He is the cousin of my grandfather, Harold and the second cousin of my father, George Ted Halverson.
mmh is quite sure there are names I haven't mentioned and apologize again for this oversight.
Again, mmh salutes our veterans in the Halverson ancestry.
As I'm just getting to know who is exactly in the Halverson family tree as a result of Ancestry DNA and my cousin Carol Damlos from Chicago who wrote to me a couple of years ago :). mhh doesn't know all of the veterans in our family so apologies for any veterans not mentioned here.
The veteran I know about the most is my great-uncle Ed Halverson from Chicago. Ed is the brother of George Henry Halverson, my great-grandfather on my father's side. If mhh remembers correctly Ed served in WW11.
Also, mhh would like to acknowledge our second cousin who died in WW11, Robert Sogge (I'm not sure if I have the correct Sogge name). He is the cousin of my grandfather, Harold and the second cousin of my father, George Ted Halverson.
mmh is quite sure there are names I haven't mentioned and apologize again for this oversight.
Again, mmh salutes our veterans in the Halverson ancestry.
Friday, January 5, 2018
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
My great-grandfather George Henry Halverson's family photo in Chicago from our cousin Carol
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| The Gustave Halverson Family in Chicago - George is my great-grandfather Our cousin Carol (Ed's granddaughter) sent me this wonderful picture of my great-grandfather's(George) family before he moved to Montana. My great-great grandfather(Gustave) immigrated to Chicago from Norway with his wife, Allethe. |
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Surprise! A phone call from a Chicago relative of the Halverson's, Carol Damlos!
A couple of weeks ago my father received a call from a Halverson relative in Chicago! My father, George Halverson, gave Carol my number and I later returned her call and we had a great conversation.
It seemed surreal to actually be talking to a Chicago relative as for so many years I had just heard stories of our Halverson Chicago family.
It was such a joy to talk to Carol. She filled me in on so many things I did not know about my great-grandfather's(George Henry Halverson) family.
Sadly, Carol's mother, Laverne Halverson Damlos, passed away not too long ago. Her mother had suffered a stroke prior to her passing away. The family was going through her belongings and found a box of pictures and letters left to Laverne after her father (Edwin Halverson) had died. The family found pictures of a ranch in Montana and some letters from Montana and other memorabilia such as a post card from George to his mother from San Francisco I in 1908,
Carol filled me in on a lot of the Halverson family history. She told me that Gustav Halverson (Edwin and George's and their many sisters' father) had immigrated to America by way of a steamship. from Norway.The ship stopped in New York and then Gustav traveled to Chicago. His wife, Althea(not sure of the spelling at this time) followed Gustav later sailing on another steamship and meeting up with him in Chicago. This is my understanding - I may be mistaken on some of the details.
I have always wondered where in Norway my Halverson relatives lived. Carol told me it was Oslo! I've heard of Oslo all my life and never knew this was the city of my ancestors. Carol told me that Oslo used to have a different name, however, I've forgotten what it was only that it started with a "C".
I can't write all of the interesting things about the Halversons that Carol told me about for lack of time, however, I plan on writing more about our conversation soon.
One last very interesting bit of info - our Halverson name was spelled differently in Norway! It was spelled: Halvorsen. The spelling was changed when the family came to America as I understand.
Thanks to my second(or third - not sure on this) cousin Carol for calling me and filling me about our Halverson family in Chicago. I am so thrilled as are my other family members to learn more about our Halverson family history!
Note: I have never been to Chicago, however, I know that Harold, my grandfather(whom I've never met) and my father, George(Georgie) did travel to Chicago. My father remembers quite a lot about his trip to Chicago when he was about 8 years old. My grandma Lilly, remembers that Harold went to stay with the Chicago relatives for about 3 months and he came back quite a bit heavier than he left - ha. Maybe because he got to relax a little bit more than he did on the ranch where he no doubt had a lot of chores.
It seemed surreal to actually be talking to a Chicago relative as for so many years I had just heard stories of our Halverson Chicago family.
It was such a joy to talk to Carol. She filled me in on so many things I did not know about my great-grandfather's(George Henry Halverson) family.
Sadly, Carol's mother, Laverne Halverson Damlos, passed away not too long ago. Her mother had suffered a stroke prior to her passing away. The family was going through her belongings and found a box of pictures and letters left to Laverne after her father (Edwin Halverson) had died. The family found pictures of a ranch in Montana and some letters from Montana and other memorabilia such as a post card from George to his mother from San Francisco I in 1908,
Carol filled me in on a lot of the Halverson family history. She told me that Gustav Halverson (Edwin and George's and their many sisters' father) had immigrated to America by way of a steamship. from Norway.The ship stopped in New York and then Gustav traveled to Chicago. His wife, Althea(not sure of the spelling at this time) followed Gustav later sailing on another steamship and meeting up with him in Chicago. This is my understanding - I may be mistaken on some of the details.
I have always wondered where in Norway my Halverson relatives lived. Carol told me it was Oslo! I've heard of Oslo all my life and never knew this was the city of my ancestors. Carol told me that Oslo used to have a different name, however, I've forgotten what it was only that it started with a "C".
I can't write all of the interesting things about the Halversons that Carol told me about for lack of time, however, I plan on writing more about our conversation soon.
One last very interesting bit of info - our Halverson name was spelled differently in Norway! It was spelled: Halvorsen. The spelling was changed when the family came to America as I understand.
Thanks to my second(or third - not sure on this) cousin Carol for calling me and filling me about our Halverson family in Chicago. I am so thrilled as are my other family members to learn more about our Halverson family history!
Note: I have never been to Chicago, however, I know that Harold, my grandfather(whom I've never met) and my father, George(Georgie) did travel to Chicago. My father remembers quite a lot about his trip to Chicago when he was about 8 years old. My grandma Lilly, remembers that Harold went to stay with the Chicago relatives for about 3 months and he came back quite a bit heavier than he left - ha. Maybe because he got to relax a little bit more than he did on the ranch where he no doubt had a lot of chores.
Joyce Carole Carlyle - Missoulian obituary for a long time Irvin Flats friend and classmate of Georgie Halverson
Click on the link below to read the obituary of Joyce Wigfield Carlyle. Joyce was a classmate of Georgie Halversons at the Green Mountain School, the little one-room country school on Irvine Flats. The Wigfields, John and Beulah, and their two daughters, Joan and Joyce, were friends of the Halversons for many years. The homesteaders did a lot together and were a close-knit community of farmers/ranchers.
My grandmother, Lilly, has fond memories of playing cards with several couples, with John and Beulah being one of them.
Joyce Carole Carlyle
My grandmother, Lilly, has fond memories of playing cards with several couples, with John and Beulah being one of them.
Joyce Carole Carlyle
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Bozen, Stadt im Kaisertum Österreich, Gefürstete Grafschaft Tirol
Click on the link below to read about Bozen, Austria. Now it is named Balzano and is in Italy due a War (either the WWI or WWII).
My homesteader relatives came from Bozen in the early 1900's to settle in Montana, Irvine Flats, specifcally, just west of Polson, Montana.
Bozen, Stadt im Kaisertum Österreich, Gefürstete Grafschaft Tirol
My homesteader relatives came from Bozen in the early 1900's to settle in Montana, Irvine Flats, specifcally, just west of Polson, Montana.
Bozen, Stadt im Kaisertum Österreich, Gefürstete Grafschaft Tirol
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Thanksgiving on Irvine Flats near Polson Montana
My dad, George (aka Georgie) told me a little about what Thanksgiving was like on Irvine Flats.
The family would have a dinner either by themselves or with other families.
I asked if they would eat turkey. He said that they would have beef or chicken, the meat that the family would eat on a regular basis. He remembered that the food was not too much different than other meals.
Georgie said that all food they ate came from the ranch execpt flour and sugar.
Now I will have to ask how my grandmother remembers Thanksgiving on the Kasseroler Irvine Flats homestead.
The family would have a dinner either by themselves or with other families.
I asked if they would eat turkey. He said that they would have beef or chicken, the meat that the family would eat on a regular basis. He remembered that the food was not too much different than other meals.
Georgie said that all food they ate came from the ranch execpt flour and sugar.
Now I will have to ask how my grandmother remembers Thanksgiving on the Kasseroler Irvine Flats homestead.
Click on the link below to read information posted from the Polson country schools collection including information on Irvine Flats history.
http://www.polson.k12.mt.us/phs/countryschools/irvineflats%20folder/irvineflats/Pages/irvineflats.htm
Some quotes from the compiled information include:
"Irvine Flats was named after William "Billy" Irvine. According to the book, "MONTANA ITS STORY AND BIOGRAPHY", Billy Irvine was "one of the acknowledged ranchers on good livestock, and every condition regarding the breeding, raising, care and marketing of stock in Montana."
and -
"The family were personal friends of Father Anthony Ravalli."
and -
"By 1886 Billy returned to the Flathead. He was staked to his first small herd, about 300 head, by Charles Allard, Sr. and located himself on 5000 acres on the west side of the river, about seventeen miles west of Polson"
and -
"Mrs. Irvine’s son Arthur Larrivee, who Billy raised, would later badly manage the ranch requiring the retired Billy to return and restore it to working condition."
and -
"Francis "Tat" Browne, a relative later managed and owned the ranch until the Swopes purchased 3200 acres of the original property."
To be continued -
Playing cards and having lunch was a favorite pastime for my Irvine Flats homesteader relatives
One story that comes up quite often when talking with my grandmother, Lilly Ryan, is that quite often some of the Irvine Flats homesteaders would gather together to play card games.
Every week they would go to a different ranch and have a lunch.
After the lunch they would play cards.
The seven card playing families were:
Lilly and Harold Halverson
George and Rose Halverson
Beulah and John Wigfield
Stumans (James and Laura - census)
Gottiebs (from census - Bernard and Clara and John- is John the adopted son?)
Burtons
Merritts
Some times the card games were centered around a holiday such as Thanksgiving or Christmas.
The card games they played were 500 and pinochle.
Lilly said that Rose and George also liked to play Bridge. Lilly
did not know how to play bridge. I'm not sure about Harold.
Lilly thinks that Rose and George would also play Bridge in
Polson.
Lilly said that they all had a good time.
Every week they would go to a different ranch and have a lunch.
After the lunch they would play cards.
The seven card playing families were:
Lilly and Harold Halverson
George and Rose Halverson
Beulah and John Wigfield
Stumans (James and Laura - census)
Gottiebs (from census - Bernard and Clara and John- is John the adopted son?)
Burtons
Merritts
Some times the card games were centered around a holiday such as Thanksgiving or Christmas.
The card games they played were 500 and pinochle.
Lilly said that Rose and George also liked to play Bridge. Lilly
did not know how to play bridge. I'm not sure about Harold.
Lilly thinks that Rose and George would also play Bridge in
Polson.
Lilly said that they all had a good time.
Pearl Harbor News on December 7, 1941, stirs emotions for Irvine Flats ranchers
How did Pearl Harbor affect people in the Irvin Flats area?
George (aka known as Georgie on this blog) Halverson remembers that on the day of December 7, 1941, the day the Japenese bombed Pearl Harbor. He was riding home from school on his horse and a car came zooming down the road towards him. It was the Merritts, homesteaders that lived above the Halversons, and they were telling George about the Pearl Harbor bombing and how terrible it was.
It is my understanding that one of the Merritt boys enlisted in the Army soon after the bombing.
George would turn 8 years old on December 11th of 1941.
George said that during the war the people would hear about all of the battles of WWII on the radio. He remembers quite clearly about what was going on as even though Irvine Flats was miles away from the WWII action it was prevalent in every one's mind.
In fact, George remembers having fears that the Japanese would fly over Irvin Flats and bomb the area.
George (aka known as Georgie on this blog) Halverson remembers that on the day of December 7, 1941, the day the Japenese bombed Pearl Harbor. He was riding home from school on his horse and a car came zooming down the road towards him. It was the Merritts, homesteaders that lived above the Halversons, and they were telling George about the Pearl Harbor bombing and how terrible it was.
It is my understanding that one of the Merritt boys enlisted in the Army soon after the bombing.
George would turn 8 years old on December 11th of 1941.
George said that during the war the people would hear about all of the battles of WWII on the radio. He remembers quite clearly about what was going on as even though Irvine Flats was miles away from the WWII action it was prevalent in every one's mind.
In fact, George remembers having fears that the Japanese would fly over Irvin Flats and bomb the area.
Monday, September 15, 2014
PAUL FUGLEBERG: Flathead’s east shore road built by convict labor - Article from the September 15th, 2014 edition of the Missoulian
PAUL FUGLEBERG: Flathead’s east shore road built by convict labor
Click on the link below to read about some Flathead history, the area of my homesteader ancestors.
Click on the link below to read about some Flathead history, the area of my homesteader ancestors.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Harold Halverson with his sled in the early 1900's on Irvine Flats west of Polson, Montana
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| Harold Halverson with his sled on Irvine Flats west of Polson Montana in the early 1900's The picture was taken by either his mother, Rose, or his father, George
This picture was made into a post card and has a post card format on the back of it. This is the reason the picture is crooked - it was crooked on the post card.
It looks like there is a river to the left of Harold. Perhaps this was not on Irvine Flats - I will have to ask my dad. It must have been close by if not.
Rose had a big collection of post cards which my dad still has in his possession.
|
Karl and Anna Kasseroler's wedding picture in Bozen, Austria
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| Anna Fortunata and Karl Kasseroler's wedding picture in Bozen, Austria before immigrating to the United States and Irvine Flats near Polson, Montana |
My grandma Lilly has this picture which she let me scan. Anna and Karl settled in the Irvine Flats area after spending some time in Kalispell.
Karl Kasseroler's family was in the orchard and fruit business in Austria. His family lived in a very fertile area of the eastern portion of Austria, I believe in Tirol.
Today Bozen has been renamed Balzano, as in a war the Italians took over Bozen.
It is my understanding that Karl had hoped to go into the fruit business on Irvine Flats, however, it is very dry land and the trees did not grow as well there as they did in Austria.
Anna and Karl had five children: Anthony (Tony), Charlie, Anna, whom were born in Austria, Rena (born in Kalispell), and the twins, Lilly (my grandmother who at the time of this writing is 98 years old) and Lena. Lilly has outlived her entire family.
Anna had two sisters who are pictured in another blog post and Karl had many brothers. One of Karl's brothers, Joe, came to America for a time and then returned to Austria (but missed America after returning) Karl had a couple of sisters, also. One sister was a disagreeable sort and ended up taking the inheritance of the Kasseroler children when both the parents died in Austria.
Many of Karl's brothers, if not all, died in a war - I believe the First World War.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Rose Halverson with her mother and their white dog in Chicago
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| Rose Halverson and her mother, Mrs. Nelson, at the apartment in Chicago with their white dog |
Monday, September 8, 2014
Green Mountain School - school of Harold and Georgie Halverson on Irvine Flats west of Polson
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| Green Mountain School - the schoolhouse which Harold and Georgie attended on Irvine Flats west of Polson, Montana |
It needs a coat of paint and we hope to help paint it next summer!
Georgie Halverson on tricycle in front of the ranch house with the family dog at his side
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| Georgie Halverson on tricycle by the family dog in front of the ranch house |
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