Diary of Linnea Gord, June 29th, June 30th, July 1st, 1930

Some of the photos included in Linnea Gord Jensen's album also appear in Olga Malm Streeter's photo album. Olga Malm Streeter's album was scanned at the Pacific Lutheran University Scandinavian Immigrant Experience Archive.  It includes photos of visits Wilma, Tyra, and Olga made to their mother's family, also in Finland.  

SUNDAY, JUNE 29TH, 1930 -


Silgrund

Today we were dated up to go on a picnic with the Malax young folks.  We left home at 10 o'clock, boarded a boat at Åminneborg and arrived at Silgrund at about noon.  That afternoon was spent in drinking coffee, sailing, taking pictures, singing, laughing, and lying around doing nothing.  If there's anything I hate to do, it’s lie around doing nothing.  Olga and I went swimming, but it was so cold that we soon came out of the water.

Silgrund

We didn't leave Silgrund until about 7, and arrived home about 6:30.  At about 11 o'clock we all went to the hall--where a dance was just starting.  At first there was a violin and the organ for dance music.  Later Olga played violin and I played the organ.  They liked our music.  That was queer.

Silgrund
 



MONDAY, JUNE 30TH, 1930 -

The girls went to Petalax today to visit, but Auntie and I stayed home.  I got a big bundle of papers from home, so I spent most of the day reading them.  Spent the rest of the time writing letters.

 

TUESDAY, JULY 1ST, 1930
Today was rather a warm day, and we sat in the shade of the house and embroidered.  In the afternoon we worked for a while in the factory.

Diary of Linnea Gord, Nineteen-Year-Old Piano Accompanist, June 28th, 1930

Lauri Kristian Relander, the President of Finland, happened to be in Vasa, Finland, on the day Linnea Gord, nineteen-year-old piano accompanist, went to town to meet her friend Edith Somppi:

SATURDAY, JUNE 28TH, 1930 -     I got up at about seven to get ready for the eight o'clock bus.  I was half-sleeping and half-dressed when Mrs. Malm came to the door and told me I'd better hurry because the bus left at 7:30 on Saturdays.  Then did I wake up!  I caught the bus, too.  I got to Vasa at 8:30 and I had an hour to wait before I would meet Edith.  I went into a restaurant and got a cup of coffee and then decided to walk around torget to kill time.  There seemed to be quite a bit of excitement around there, and soon I noticed that there was to be a parade or something.  Soldiers came marching up the street from the railroad station, and the street was lined on both sides with children holding flags.  Then the President of Finland came marching up the street with a lot of other big bugs.  I had come in to town on the right day, I guess, as they don't have much excitement like that very often in Vasa.

I met Somppis at about 9:30.  Edith and I first went and bought some candy and then went to a music store.  I wanted to get "Ty Lysar de Stjärnor" but they didn't have it.  Then I asked for "När Brollops Klockar Ringar", but they asked 24 marks for it, and I thought that was too much.  Edith laughed at my attempts to talk Swedish.  I made them understand what I wanted, at least.

We spent the afternoon at Edith's uncle's place.  We had plenty to talk about and the afternoon was soon gone.  Mr. Somppi and Edith and Helen took me to the bus.  (They are leaving for Helsingfors on Monday, so I guess I won't see them until we get back to old U.S.A.)

Malm Farm 1930

When I came home, I found everybody out.  The girls were at Sjölunds and Aunti was in Åminneborg, so I decided to go for a bicycle ride by my lonesome.  That evening, after supper, we all worked in the limonad factory.  It was a lot of fun, because we all danced and sang and laughed.  After we were through working, which was at about 11 o'clock, we had tea a biscuits and then went to bed.

The Computer, Which Was Library Surplus, Goes To Green PC.

As viewed on display, 2007

Tacoma Public Library offered surplus computers in 2007.  These sat unclaimed on the first floor for several weeks, at last I decided it would be okay if I bought one for twenty-five dollars.  Tom Stenger, a friend from First Lutheran Church, drove it to the apartment and I plugged it in - it worked.  It has been in different spots in the apartment, and has been great. 

After some years of use, on to Green PC

Most places no longer use floppy discs, and the computer only wrote on floppy discs.  Today, the computer with monitor, keyboard, and mouse, along with three empty discs, went on a truck to Green PC.  I replaced the surplus computer but continue to think very well of the great twentieth-century "hummer".    

Diary of Linnea Gord - Thursday and Friday, June 26th and 27th, 1930

Google Translation of the Diary Entry below:  Torsdag, juni 26 1930 - Malax OCH VAS

 Torsdag, juni 26 1930 - Malax OCH VASA

Moster och jag tog 08:00 bussen till Vasa. När vi kom dit var jag angelägen om att se mina bilder som höll på att skrivas ut, så vi skyndade till Felix Westers. Men de var inte redo, så vi gick promenader runt Torget. Där träffade vi tjejerna och vi alla gick shopping. Vi köpte fyra av kopparkaffekannor. Jag blev ganska förvånad över att alla mina bilder blev underbart. (Och bäst av allt, bara det kostade mig 35 ¢ en rulle för att låta trycka och i Tacoma kostar 40 ¢. Scotch! Det är mig överallt). Vi stod på gatan tittar på bilderna, och en eller två av de förbipasserande var nyfikna och tittade över axeln för att se också.

Vi hade middag på Central Hotel och gick sedan för att besöka en kvinna som hade varit en vän till min mamma när hon (min mamma) var i Malax. Den vanliga sak hände det - vi hade så mycket kaffe som vi nästan blev sjuk. Men vi hade blivit vana vid det då. Dessutom hade de kaffe bröd nog för ett regemente. Mrs Wickmans dotter var en mycket trevlig sångerska, och hon hade tagit engelska i skolan, så hon försökte sjunga "Pagan Love Song" för oss. Det var inte dåligt alls.

Fångas 04:00 bussen tillbaka till Malax. Det fanns en hel del av våra vänner på bussen innan vi lämnade. Helen Somppi, Esther tillbaka från Närpes, Johnnie, Hulda och Werner var där. Vi hade en hel del att prata om.

Paulus tog Olga och mig för en åktur på kvällen --to Åminneborg. Där såg vi hur strömming är rökt. Helt och spännande kväll!

27 juni 1930 -

En av dagens höjdpunkter var när jag fick två brev från Amerika - en från Ruth Nyberg och en från Ruth Rasmux. Det gjorde verkligen verkar bra att få brev från Amerika.

Vi åkte för en cykeltur på kvällen, och gjorde inte mycket av något annat. Pojkarna introducerade oss till en gav de kallade "Krig". Det är en hel del kul.

 

Front row, Marie Malm
Note:  Runeberg Special on train
Minneapolis, Minnesota 1930

Auntie and I took the 8 o'clock bus to Vasa.  When we arrived there I was anxious to see my snapshots that were being printed, so we hurried to Felix Westers.  But they weren't ready, so we went walking around the Torget.  There we met the girls and we all went shopping.  We bought four of the copper coffee pots.  I was quite surprised to find that all of my pictures turned out wonderfully.  (And best of all, it only cost me 35¢ a roll to have them printed, and in Tacoma it costs 40¢.  Scotch!  that's me all over).  We all stood on the street looking at the pictures, and one or two of the passers-by were inquisitive and looked over our shoulders to see, too.

We had dinner at the Central Hotel and then went to visit a woman who had been a friend of my mother's when she (my mother) was in Malax.  The usual thing happened there -- we had so much coffee that we almost got sick.   But we had gotten used to it by then.  Besides, they had coffee bread enough for a regiment.  Mrs. Wickman's daughter was a very nice singer, and she had taken English in school, so she tried singing "Pagan Love Song" for us.  It wasn't bad at all.

Caught the four o'clock bus back to Malax.  There were quite a few of our friends at the bus before we left.  Helen Somppi, Esther Back from Narpes, Johnnie, Hulda and Werner were there.  We had quite a lot to talk about.

Paul took Olga and me for a ride in the evening --to Åminneborg.  There we saw how strömming is smoked.   Quite and exciting evening!

JUNE 27, 1930 - 

One of today's highlights was when I received two letters from America--one from Ruth Nyberg and one from Ruth Rasmus.  It certainly did seem good to get letters from America.

We went for a bicycle ride in the evening, and didn't do much of anything else.  The boys introduced us to a gave they called "Krig".  It is quite a bit of fun.  

(Note:  "Krig" probably translates to the card game "War")

Diary of Nineteen-Year-Old Piano Accompanist Linnea Gord Wednesday, June 25,1930

Translation by Google of the Entry below:  Vi var nu verkligen att vakna upp till det faktum att vi var verkligen i Malax , och även vi visste att vi hade massor av smutsiga kläder som hade ackumulerats under vår turné , så upp ur sängen fick vi ( tidigt vid 10:00 ) och proklamerade Washday . Som jag sa en gång , vi hade mycket att tvätta , så det tog oss nästan hela morgonen , men kläderna äntligen var ute på linjen torkning. Vid 04:30 på eftermiddagen , flickorna kvar för Vasa . ( De gick till en dans på kvällen och hade en stor tid och jag missade det . Om tolv av vårt gäng var där . Oh! Tja ! Det finns mer ändå att komma . )
Medan flickorna säkert glatt dansa , jag väntade och väntade på förbaskad el att komma något så att jag kunde järn mina kläder , men hör och häpna ! Bara för att jag ville att det skulle , gjorde el inte komma på alls . Om något sådant hände i Amerika , kraftbolagen säkert skulle ha tillräckligt med klagomål . Anledningen till att de inte slår på elen förrän sent i Finland är att en man som var roboten en gång medan du arbetar med trådarna , så nu vänder de strömmen helt för säkerheten först när de räkna det behövs inte .

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1930 - STILL MALAX

Front row, fifth, fourth and second
from Right, Olga, Wilma, Tyra Malm
(from their U.S. Train Ride)

We were now really waking up to the fact that we were really in Malax, and also we knew that we had plenty of dirty clothes that had accumulated during our concert tour, so up out of bed we got (early at 10 o'clock) and proclaimed washday.  As I once said, we had plenty to wash, so it took us nearly all morning, but the clothes finally were out on the line drying.  At 4:30 in the afternoon, the girls left for Vasa.  (They went to a dance in the evening and had a great time and I missed it.  About twelve of our gang were there. Oh! Well! There is more yet to come.)

Malax Store, 1930.  Marie Malm
Took snapshots on the trip

While the girls were no doubt gaily dancing, I waited and waited for the darned electricity to come one so that I could iron my clothes, but lo and behold! Just because I wanted it to, the electricity didn't come on at all.  If anything like that happened in America, the power companies certainly would have enough complaints.  The reason they don't turn on the electricity until late in Finland is because a man was electrocuted once while working on the wires, so now they turn the power off completely for safety first when they figure it is not needed.

The previous entry, a Translation by Google

Nitton år gammal piano ackompanjatör Linnea Gord skriver om den första dagen av vistelse i Malax efter resor med tåg för serie konserter i ett tiotal städer i Finland. Tre tjejer lite äldre än Linnea, Wilma, Tyra, och Olga, var döttrar till William Malm, bror till Linnea farfars far John Malm. Tre unga män sin ålder, Lars, Paul, och Bror, var kusiner på sin mamma Amanda och hennes moster Marie. Amanda och Marie emigrerade 1896 till Tacoma, Washington, med sin mamma, att gå med John Malm, så det hade varit trettiofyra år sedan Marie hade varit hemma. Linnea läser lite svenska, och bara förstår och talar lite svenska.

Tisdag juni 24th, 1930 - Malax

MidsommardagenDay! Vädret var mörkt och hotfullt, det regnade högafflar, och det fanns gott om åska och blixtar. Vi sov till klockan 10 och sedan reste sig och fortsatte att få upptagen, eftersom vi hade en hel del att göra den dagen. Tyra och jag tvättade håret och Olga och Wilma tvättade kläder.

Vid 02:00 på lotteri på Ungdomsforenings hus började. Vi anlände till om 2:30 och var omedelbart stoppas av några av lotteri biljettförsäljare. Vi köpte en del, men inte mycket tur. Du betalade en markering för en biljett och de som hade nummer på dem var bra. Jag köpte ca 45 märken värda och jag fick bara tre nummer. (Bror gav mig en, som gjorde fyra.) För dessa siffror jag fick en anteckningsbok, tre pennor, sko svärta och coffee såll. Det fanns tre program i hallen under eftermiddagen och kvällen. Det fanns orkester och bandnummer, duetter, recitationer och samtal, och vissa av dessa samtal var verkligen släpade ut. Det var verkligen tråkigt att sitta och lyssna på dem, särskilt som bänkarna var bara plankor - och det fanns inga ryggen till bänkarna. Om 04:00 på eftermiddagen Hulda och Amelia kom från Vasa. De sa att de hade gått på gatorna där och bara såg ett tiotal personer och fick så ensam att de tog en taxi till Malax. Vi hade middag på hall (risgrynsgröt och fruktsoppa) och senare på kvällen dansade vi ...

Diary of Linnea Gord in Malax, June 24th, 1930

Nineteen-year-old piano accompanist Linnea Gord writes of the first day of the stay in Malax after travels by train for the series of concerts in a dozen cities in Finland.  Three girls slightly older than Linnea, Wilma, Tyra, and Olga, were daughters of William Malm, brother of Linnea’s great-grandfather John Malm.  Three young men their age,  Lars, Paul, and Bror, were first cousins of her mother Amanda and her Aunt Marie.  Amanda and Marie emigrated in 1896 to Tacoma, Washington, with their mother, to join John Malm, so it had been thirty-four years since Marie had been home.  Linnea reads a little Swedish, and only understands and speaks a little Swedish. 

TUESDAY, JUNE 24TH, 1930 - MALAX

Midsummer Day!  The weather was dark and threatening, it rained pitchforks, and there was plenty of thunder and lightning.  We slept until 10 o'clock and then got up and proceeded to get busy, inasmuch as we had a lot to do that day. Tyra and I washed our hair and Olga and Wilma washed clothes. 



Lottery Clipping
Background typed transcript

At 2 o'clock the lottery at the Ungdomsforenings hus started.  We arrived at about 2:30 and were immediately stopped by some of the lottery ticket sellers.  We bought some, but weren't very lucky.  You paid one mark for a ticket and those which had numbers on them were good.  I bought about 45 marks worth and I only got three numbers.  (Bror gave me one, which made four.)  For these numbers I got a note book, three pencils, shoe blacking, and a coffee sieve.  There were three programs in the hall during the afternoon and evening.  There were orchestra and band numbers, duets, recitations and talks, and some of those talks were certainly dragged out.  It certainly was tiresome to sit and listen to them, especially as the benches were just planks--and there were no backs to the benches.  About 4 o'clock in the afternoon Hulda and Amelia came from Vasa.  They said they had walked the streets there and only saw about ten people and got so lonesome that they took a taxi to Malax.  We had supper at the hall (risgrynsgröt and fruktsoppa) and later in the evening we danced…

Previous Post - Translated in Swedish by Google

.This is the previous post, translated into Swedish by Google - .. vi som var på väg till Malax klättrade in i tåget , efter att ha sagt adjö till dem vi lämnar bakom . Omedelbart efter att tåget lämnat stationen vi bosatte sig för en trevlig lång sömn . Vi bytte tåg i Seinäjoki , men jag tror inte ens vill minnas att . 23 jun 1930 Måndag, 23 Juni, 1930 - Vasa och Malax , FINLAND Framme i Vasa ca 09:00 , vi såg hur vi skulle för att inte falla i sömn mitt på gatan . Vi lyckades dock att hålla ögonen öppna medan vi bummed runt torget och staden tills 02:00 . Sedan klättrade vi i Malax bussen som vi hade klättrat in i tåget på morgonen , nästan sover. Vi sov hela vägen till Malax , var och stödd på de andras axel. Vi vaknade när vi nådde Malax klockan 4 och klättrade av bussen med alla våra resväskor och buntar . ( ! . Ah Vilken lättnad Vi var åtminstone genom att bära resväskor för en månad ) Vi snubblat på vägen till Farbror Isaks plats - vår vistelseort . Där mötte vi att god herre själv - min farbror . Efter att ha hälsat alla runt platsen , åkte vi till vårt sovrum . ( Jag kan lika gärna sluta att förklara just nu att det fanns fem av oss - . Wilma , Tyra , Olga , min faster och jag själv ) Vi hade en trevlig stort sovrum , med en säng vardera . Det vill säga , tre av oss hade en säng styck , men Olga och Wilma sov tillsammans eftersom de var den minsta . Möblerna i vårt rum bestod av två enkelsängar , en utdragbar säng , en dag - och -natt- soffa , ett stort bord på vilket vi gjorde vår brevskrivning , en byrå på vilken vi spillde vårt pulver , en fonograf , en litet stativ , ett par krukväxter på läktaren, ett tvättställ , våra resväskor , och sist men inte minst , den cockelong ( jag vet inte om det är den korrekta stavningen ) . Detta var vår spis, en stor grön sak som nådde från golv till tak . Det var inte precis en spis inte heller var det en öppen spis . Det var bara en cockelong . ( Skrivet : Kakelugn ) Samma kväll som vi tömde ut våra resväskor , hängde upp våra klänningar och sorterade kläder som skulle tvättas - som var gott ! Vi skrev också brev , efter som vi var för trött för att göra något annat än att gå till sängs - som vi gjorde !

June 23, 1930 - Vasa and Malax, Finland - Diary of Linnea Gord

In 2013 blog entries at Spice Drawer Mouse were devoted to episodes of a diary from 1930 that describe Concerts given by the Order of Runeberg Choir from the United States in Finland.  Because a Facebook Group is posting beautiful old photos of Malax, Finland, the following episodes of the same diary can be of interest.

Blue - typed diary transcript
Tan - handwritten diary

In the diary of the choir tour to Finland my mother,the nineteen-year-old Piano Accompanist Linnea Gord, kept, her last entry about the Concerts they made,June 22,  ends as they took the train to Malax to spent the end of June and all of July with relatives. This entry was included in the blog entry in 2013.

...we who were going to Malax climbed into the train, after saying goodbye to those we were leaving behind. Immediately after the train left the station we settled down for a nice long sleep. We changed trains at Seinajoki, but I don't even seem to remember that.

June 23, 1930 

MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1930 - VASA AND MALAX, FINLAND

Arriving in Vasa about 9 A.M., we didn't see how we were going to keep from falling asleep right on the street. However, we managed to keep our eyes open while we bummed around the torget and town until 2 o'clock.  Then we climbed into the Malax bus as we had climbed into the train that morning, almost sleeping.  We slept all the way to Malax, each leaning on the others' shoulder.  We woke up when we reached Malax at 4 o'clock and clambered off the bus with all our suitcases and bundles.  (Ah! What a relief!  We were at least through carrying suitcases for a month.)  We stumbled down the road to Farbror Isak's place--our place of abode.  There we met that good gentleman himself--my great uncle.

After greeting everybody around the place, we went to our bedroom.  (I may as well stop to explain right now that there were five of us--Wilma, Tyra, Olga, my aunt and myself.)  We had a nice large bedroom, with a bed apiece.  That is, three of us had a bed apiece, but Olga and Wilma slept together because they were the smallest.  The furniture in our room consisted of two single beds, one pull-out bed, one day-and-night sofa, a big table upon which we did our letter-writing, one bureau upon which we spilled our powder, one phonograph, a little stand, a couple of potted plants upon stands, a wash stand, our suitcases, and last but not least, the cockelong (I don't know if that's the correct spelling).  This was our stove, a big green thing that reached from floor to ceiling.  It wasn't exactly a stove nor was it a fireplace.  It was just a cockelong.  (Written:  Kakelugn) 

That evening we emptied out our suitcases, hung up our dresses, and sorted clothes that were to be washed--which were plenty!  We also wrote letters, after which we were too tired to do anything but go to bed--which we did!