Johan Alfred CARLSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1952-MN-021101
• Occupation: Tailor, Real estate speculator
• Confirmation: 1886, Kånna, Småland, Kronobergs län, Sweden

Notes:

Seems to be child #5 according to his birth record, which is incorrect, at least for Salomon’s children. However, Ida Mathilda also seems to be shown as child #5 which is correct.

According to the Kånna Household Exam, Al left for the U. S. on 25 February 1890, having first left Berghem Westregard -- where he had remained since his mother and siblings emigrated in May of 1881 -- for Kalinstad in September of 1889. A notation in the 1882-1891 Kånna Household Exam (p. 30), in which he and Oscar are listed as Salomonssen, indicates for both men “mother widow Emeli Lundberg in America.”

A Johan Alfred Carlsson departed Malmö, destination Boston, on 2 Oct 1890. His place of origin in Sweden was Urshult, Kronobergs län.

Alfred supposedly took the middle initial Z to distinguish himself in the telephone directory. At least through the 1925 Minneapolis City Directory, Al never was listed with a middle initial. However, from the 1932 city directory on, he did use the Z. The notice of his application for a marriage license (to Meta) in the 30 Apr 1933 edition of the Star listed him as Alfred Z. Carlson.

According to Cora: “Al's mother left him in Sweden at age 3, apprenticed to a tailor, when she emigrated with Fogelquist. Al learned his future trade sitting cross-legged on a table. He emigrated to the US in 1886 at the age of 14. He stayed with a cousin for a year in New York City before taking the train to Winona or Hastings and then walking to Cannon Falls where his mother lived.”

Al became a citizen before 1916 (when Cora came into the family); he had to send back to Sweden for his birth certificate.

According to Cora: “Al was about 5' 8" or 5' 9" tall. He got in fist fights and won. He didn't drink or smoke. He liked clothes and dancing, so much so that he went to dances with other women. Al was an extreme male chauvinist. He didn't believe that women should eat with the family. He didn't believe that a husband needed to clothe his wife. He didn't believe that a husband needed to stay with his wife.

“Al mostly was a real-estate speculator, buying and selling property, but eventually went back to tailoring. He bought an apartment across from Honeywell on 28th (street?). In about 1917, Al bought 10 acres with a big house on the east side of Highway 100 at 63rd Street near the country club. (Maurice didn't buy there because the water was too far down.)” [When Cora related this in the 1970's, she said that now there is probably another row of houses between Hwy 100 and the old house.] [The construction of the Crosstown Highway, Hwy 62, would have obliterated Al’s old place if Cora was correct about the location. It’s exactly at the modern-day intersection of the Crosstown and Normandale Road.]

Bess and Al had trouble getting to Maurice and Cora's wedding and had to ask directions from a farmer on how to get to La Crosse. They also had trouble negotiating a hill with their car and their radiator overheated. Al complained that Maurice should have married a girl from Minneapolis.

Cora remembers that Al especially liked Vivian.

In the 1895 (July 12th) Minnesota state census, Al (as “J.A.”), 23, and Bessie, 17, were living in Wabasha where Al was a tailor. They had been living in Wabasha for 2 months. Al claimed to have been in the state of Minnesota for 6 months but that may mean 6 years.

At the time of the 1900 census (June 9th), Alfred, 28, Bessie, 22, and Morris E., 4, were living on 28th and Riverside (perhaps #2824) in Minneapolis. Al and Bess had been married for 5 years. Bess had had one child, still living. Al’s occupation is “tailor.” Living with them, as a boarder, was an 18 (born December 1881) year old girl named Annie, born in Sweden, whose occupation is shown as servant. The census-taker did not enter a last name for her, implying that it was also Carlson. Al is shown as having emigrated in 1890, Bess in 1883. They are renting the house that they live in.

In the 1905 Minnesota state census, the family is living at 520 17th Avenue S. in Minneapolis. They had lived there for 6 months. Al had been in the state for 15 years, Bess for 20. The household consisted of Al, 33, Bessy, 27, Morris, 10, and Mamie Smith, 13. Al was a tailor.

At the time of the 1910 census (April 27th), Alfred, 38, Bessie, 32, and Morris, 14, were living at 38th and Chicago in a duplex that Al and Bess owned. (The tenants were a family named Jenson.) Al is a tailor of or in an outfitting establishment. Al emigrated in 1883 (?) and Bessie in 1884.

The 1914 Minneapolis plat map shows two buildings, with a common wall, on the lot that must have been 3805 Chicago Ave. The southeast corner of 38th and Chicago was the northwest corner of a four block subdivision (bounded by 11th Avenue, Chicago Avenue, 38th Street, and 40th Street, known as Chicago Avenue Park.

On January 5, 1920, the census enumerator found the Carlsons living at 3716 Elliot Avenue South. (Minneapolis enumeration district 127, image 5 of 36.) Al and Bess are living with Morris and Cora as Alfred, age 47, and Bessie, age 42. The dates of immigration and naturalization for Alfred and Bessie are listed but are not legible. Alfred is listed as a tailor employed for wages at a tailor shop.

At the time of the 1930 census, Al was living with Sandy, 48, and Clara, 38 (who, apparently, weren't married) at 3901 13th Avenue in a house worth $4500. Thus, Al and Bess were divorced by the time of the census. Al has no occupation listed. Al was a naturalized citizen; he emigrated in 1887. Al is shown as widowed. (?) Al was first married at age 23.

The following is from the Minneapolis city directories:

In the 1892-1893 directory, there is an Oscar Carlson, laborer, living at 1323 s 2d and an Alfred Carlson, laborer, living at 1311 s 2d.

In 1896, Alfred is a tailor for Isaac Kurtzman and was living at 435 27th Avenue South in Minneapolis. In the 1897 Minneapolis directory, he is probably the Alfred Carlson living at 2301 Riverside Avenue. In the 1898 directory, Alfred, tailor, is living in the rear of 1417 South 3rd Avenue. This is the address of Daniel Erickson for the two years previous so apparently Al and Bess moved into the Erickson apartment after Daniel and his family moved to the farm in Anoka County.

In 1899, there is no Alfred listed in the directory but there is the cryptic entry for Alfred Carlson: “moved to West Superior, Wisconsin.” By 1900, Al and Bess are shown at 2824 Riverside as the 1900 census entry also indicates. In 1901, Alfred, tailor, is shown to be living at 514 15th Avenue South. In the 1902, 1903, and 1904 directories, there are no entries for our Alfred. In the 1903, 1904, and 1905 directories, there is apparently another Alfred Carlson, tailor, this one living in North Minneapolis and working for F E Tallant.

Our Alfred shows up again in the 1905 directory at 520 17th Avenue South. He remains at that address in the 1906 directory. In the 1907 directory, Alfred has opened a tailor shop at 823 Cedar Avenue although he resides at 2120 Riverside Avenue. In the 1908 directory, the only Alfred, tailor, is at 1106 24th Avenue North so that is probably the other Alfred.

By 1909, our Alfred lives at 3115 Stevens Avenue South and has a tailor shop in the “55 Eastman Block.” In the 1910 directory, consistent with the 1910 census entry, Alfred has a business at 3805 Chicago although he apparently lives at 3113 Stevens. (That part does not agree with the census entry.)

In the 1911 directory, Alfred is shown as working as a tailor for Webster Tallant and still resides at 3805 Chicago. The 1912 directory does not mention the Webster Tallant affiliation. In 1913, Alfred has a tailor shop at 3411 Chicago although he still resides at 3805 Chicago.

In 1914, consistent with Cora’s writings, Al now has a hardware store at the 3805 Chicago location and also resides there. Alfred is back to tailoring in 1915 and still lives at 3805 Chicago.

In the 1916, 1917, and 1918, Alfred is still tailoring but in these three years goes by the name of Albert instead of Alfred. This may simply be a mistake on the part of the person preparing the directory. It may be an attempt by Alfred to distinguish himself from the other Alfred Carlson, tailor. Or it may even be a reaction to the German phobia during the war years: perhaps Albert sounded less Germanic than Alfred. Alfred’s address in 1916 and 1917 remains at 3805 Chicago but by the 1918 directory he is at 3720 Elliot Avenue. (There is an Albert, tailor, living at 3720 Elliot and an Alfred, no occupation, living at 3716 Elliot.)

The modern-day 3716 Elliott Avenue South is the correct building. In 1914, this was lot 5, with a house already on it, of the 3700 block of Elliott. This was part of the Chicago Avenue and Lyndale Addition subdivision bounded by 37th Street, 38th Street, Chicago Avenue, and the alley between 10th and 11th Avenues.

That address has become 3716 Elliot at the time of the 1919 directory. He is still a tailor. By 1920, Al and his son have moved to 1535 E. 39th Street. In 1920, Al is a tailor; in 1921, still at that address, Al’s occupation is listed as electrician. (At that point, he may have joined Maurice in the ill-fated Twin City Chandelier Manufacturing Company.)

Al was the informant for his mother-in-law’s death certificate. At that time, May of 1921, he was living at 4016 11th Avenue S.

In 1922 and 1923, the only entry for Alfred, tailor, resides at 4016 11th Avenue. This would be either next door to, or within a few houses of, Charles Hendrickson and Martha. The 1922 entry shows Alfred working as a tailor for A J Lofgren & Co. The 1923 entry does not show that affiliation. In 1924 and 1925, Alfred, tailor, is living at 4228 Minnehaha Avenue.

In the spring of 1931, Alfred Z Carlson was assessed for a lot he owned (east 24 41-100 feet, lot 7, block 17) in the Camden Oaks Addition to Minneapolis.

DHC’s research of the city directories shows the following for Al:

1926 Al’s occupation is real estate, his residence is 4228 Minnehaha.
1927 Still at 4228 but no occupation.
1928 Still at 4228, tailor.
1929 No entry for him or Bessie.
1930 Resides at 3901 13th Ave. S., no entry for Bessie.
1931 Resides at 4651 15th Ave. S., Bessie at 4228.
1932 “Alfred Z.” resides at 4651 15th Ave. S., Bessie at 4228.
1933 “Alfred Z.” still resides ar 4651 15th, now with a wife Maida (Meta L).
1934 “Alf Z” is a tailor at 4301 Chicago. Wife Meta.
1935 “Alfred Z.” is still at 4301 Chicago. Bessie is shown at 4230 Minnehaha.
1936 “Alfred Z.” is still at 4301 Chicago. Bessie is shown at 4228 Minnehaha.
1937 “Alfred Z.” is still at 4301 Chicago. Bessie is shown at 4228 Minnehaha as the widow of Alfred.

In the 1940 census, for which the 42 year-old Meta was the informant, Al and Meta live at 4301 Chicago, the same house in which they had lived in 1935. Al had no occupation shown in the main part of the schedule. However, he was one of the two form entries to be asked Supplementary Questions and in that he was shown as having been a tailor in a retail shop. Al had a sixth-grade education, Meta an eighth-grade education. Al did not have a social security number.

In the 1941 and 1942 city directories, Alf Z Carlson, wife Meta L, resides at 4220 12th Ave S.

In 1942, when his nephew Fred Jay Smith registered for the World War II draft, Fred gave Al as the “person who would always know your address.” Fred gave Al’s address as 4212 S. 12th Avenue, Minneapolis.

An article in the 6 Apr 1943 edition of the Minneapolis Star describes a hearing on divorce proceedings filed by Al against Meta. Al is described as a 70 year-old real estate dealer. He and Meta lived at 4220 Twelfth Avenue S. “Both husband and wife charge inhuman treatment. Mrs. Carlson said her husband not only had ordered her to leave the home several times under threat of physical violence but had shown a liking for younger women. ‘He told me plainly he thought a woman over 40 was just too old and that he intended to go out and pick up younger women,’ Mrs. Carlson testified. Carlson said that since the marriage in May, 1933, he had transferred property to his wife and had given her cash because of threats she had made to kill him. ‘It seems like all she was interested in was money,’ Carlson said. ‘A month after we were married she tried to get me to transfer all my real estate to her. One time she told me a fortune teller told her I was going to die shortly. Using that as a plea, she got me to transfer the house to her.’ Al’s niece, Eva Munn, testified at trial that when she and her husband went to taverns with the Carlsons, Carlson did not dance with younger women. The court held Mrs. Munn’s testimony was not material and remarked that if Carlson did dance with younger women, that was to be expected.

He lived at 3406 E 40th in the 1944 city directory, no wife or occupation listed.

In the 1948, 1950, and 1952 city directories, he and Emily reside at 3406 E 40th.

In the 1950 census, he was listed as Alfred Z. Carlson. He and his wife Emily C. lived at 3406 E. 40th Street.

Al had $28,000 when he died, mostly as real estate.

His obituary (June 9th Tribune), as well as his death certificate, listed his address as 3406 E. 40th St. Funeral services were through Barney Anderson & Son. His death certificate, according to Dr. Elvin Englund, says that he died from uremia complicated by arteriosclerotic renal disease and arteriosclerotic heart disease. Al had apparently been in the hospital for about 7 days. (Cora’s diary says that he went into the hospital on Sunday, June 1st.)

His son was the informant for Al’s death certificate. Al had been in the city for 65 years (implying that Maurice believed Al had come to Minneapolis in 1887) and left a widow named Emily. He died of uremia and renal disease.

DHC recalls that Al didn’t like children and that Vivian was the only kid that he liked. According to DHC, in the mid-to-late 1920s, Al and Bess had a farm cottage on Minnetonka Boulevard, the main road between Excelsior and Lake Minnetonka. That cottage was “mostly before” DHC’s time.

Al and Bess also had a cottage on Lake Minnetonka next to Maurice and Cora. DHC believes that Al may have brought his girlfriends out to the Lake Minnetonka cottage.

Birth:
His parents were S Carlsson and E Lundberg of Berghem. They had been married ten years.

Died:
Died in early afternoon according to Cora’s diary. Died at 1:10 PM at Fairview Hospital according to the death certificate.

Buried:
His obit was in the 9 Jun 1952 edition of the Minneapolis Star.

Johan married Brita (Bessie) ERICKSON on 31 Mar 1895 in Nelson, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, and was divorced in Dec 1929 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Brita (daughter of Daniel ERICKSON and Brita (Betsy) JONSDOTTER (JOHNSON)) was born on 12 Sep 1877 in Rättvik, Dalarnas län, Sweden; died on 22 Feb 1965 in Hopkins, Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 24 Feb 1965 in Sunset Memorial Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johan married Meta Lenore KORNDER on 5 May 1933 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and was divorced in Apr 1943 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Meta (daughter of John Matthew KORNDER and Babetta M KAMLEITER) was born on 30 May 1897 in Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minnesota; died in Jan 1983 in Arapahoe County, Colorado. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johan married Emily Cecelia HOLT on 8 Aug 1947 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Emily was born on 31 May 1896 in Minnesota; died on 19 May 1971 in Yakima County, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Death Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 1956-MN-005289
• Occupation: Entrepreneur

Notes:

His birth is entered as #39, on p. 209, of the Wabasha County Register of Births as Maurice E Carlson, born August 30, 1895, and registered, with many, many others, on January 1, 1896. His parents were Albert Carlson and Bessie, both born in Sweden. For Albert’s occupation, the entry is “Affidavit on file.”

An article in the Minneapolis Journal, 3 Jun 1906, lists a Morris Carlson in the 4th grade at the Jackson school. His teacher was Elizabeth Caldwell.

Maurice's name, although he was born Maurice according to his birth record, was commonly spelled Morris. Cora may have changed it. Their wedding announcement listed "Maurice." This spelling change also was noted on DHC’s birth certificate and on a 1941 copy of MEC’s birth certificate obtained from Wabasha County. In the Minneapolis city directories, he’s Morris through 1917 and Maurice thereafter.

He purchased the property on Minnehaha Avenue as Morris. In December of 1934, as part of getting a mortgage on the Minnehaha property, he had to clarify, in a sworn deposition, that his correct and true name was Morris E Carlson.

Maurice registered (as Maurice E. Carlson, and signed as Maurice Carlson) for the WWI draft on June 5, 1917, in the 12th precinct, 7th ward, Minneapolis. The registrar was Harry Martin. Maurice was living at 3716 Elliott and was a machinist with the Findley Electric Company at 216 South 5th Street. He notes his dependents and his occupation as reason why he claims an exemption from the draft although he notes that only his wife is a dependent. (Vivian was not yet born.) He is recorded as of medium height and medium build with grey eyes and light hair.

Maurice obtained a copy of his birth certificate from Luke C. Beaver, clerk of Wabasha County, on February 27, 1941. The copy noted that the birth certificate number was B-209-39. It also noted that the birth was registered in January of 1896 and that the parents were “Albert (sic) and Bessie.” The 1941 copy included the pencil notation “#1908.”

His eighth grade school graduation diploma (Grammar Department of Minneapolis Public Schools, January 27, 1911) listed him as Morris Carlson.

In the 1912 city directory, Morris is a clerk for M O Bordeaux at 1412 E 46th St. (In the 1910 census, there was a Marcus A Bourdeaux who lived at 4439 Blaisdell Ave. He was a hardware merchant.)

In 1913, Morris is a machinist living with his parents at 3805 Chicago. In 1914, he’s a clerk for his father’s hardware store. In 1915, he’s a tinner, still at 3805 Chicago. In 1916, he’s a machinist. In 1917, he’s still a machinist but his employer is listed as Findley Electric Co., Inc. and he’s still living, apparently, at 3805 Chicago. (DHC’s city directory research shows Maurice E.’s address in 1917 as 3716 Elliot.)

In the spring/summer of 1914, “Chicago Hardware” sponsored a baseball team. “Teams wishing games in the 16-17 year-old class phone Maurice Carlson, Grove 68.”

In 1918 and 1919, now Maurice, he’s working as a machinist for the Loe Machine & Tool Co. at 3020 East Franklin. Maurice is living at 3716 Elliot.

{According to DHC’s research, Syver Loe, presumably the owner of Loe Machine & Tool Co., lived at 3024 East Franklin. This is consistent with the 1920 census which shows Syver Loe, a 65 year-old widower, living with his son, Fred, 28, at 3024 East Franklin. Syver’s occupation is “inventor, machines” and Fred is the assistant manager of a machine factory.}

In 1920, Maurice was a “tinner” at the Northwest Bakers & Confections and was living at 1535 E. 39th Street where he lived until he moved to 4230 Minnehaha Avenue in 1924.

In 1921, Maurice worked for the Twin City Chandelier Manufacturing Co., a firm that also employed Edgar Hendrickson and, perhaps, Alfred. This didn’t last long.

(The Twin City Chandelier episode is probably what Cora refers to as the electrical business with, incorrectly, Arthur. In 1922, Charles Hendrickson had quit his job at Butler Manufacturing, where he had worked for at least 12 years, and joined Edgar in the TCCMCo. Charles only stayed a year there and went to work at Strutwear in 1923. Edgar stayed with TCCMCo through 1923. He was no longer listed in the Minneapolis City directory after that.)

In 1922, according to DHC’s city directory research, Maurice had formed Economy Sheet Metal with Alex E Fogelquist as his partner. The intent of the venture, at least in part, may have been to produce Sandy Fogelquist’s patented pie cutter.

In 1923, Maurice was still with Economy Sheet Metal but Alex Fogelquist was no longer listed as his partner. Maurice still lived at 1535 E. 39th Street.

In 1924, 1925, 1926, and 1927, Maurice was still with Economy Sheet Metal but now resided at 4230 Minnehaha Avenue.

In 1928 and 1929, Maurice was listed as the secretary-treasurer of Heating Systems, Inc.

In March of 1929, Maurice, with another man (G.L. Running), acted as a bondsman for the $10,000 bond for John P Ekberg, a former city alderman convicted of bribery. Ekberg had been sentenced to one to ten years of hard labor at Stillwater penitentiary. The bond enabled Ekberg to prepare his appeal. Later, in April, Maurice, Oscar Bergerson, and G.L. Running headed a Twelfth ward committee to plan a benefit dance to raise funds for the appeal of Ekberg’s conviction.

In 1930, Maurice was listed as the secretary-treasurer of Heating Systems, Inc., but Economy Sheet Metal was no longer listed for him.

{Instead, according to DHC’s research, the 1930, 1931, and 1932 city directories have Thomas F. Burniece associated with Economy Sheet Metal at 3725 Minnehaha Avenue. There are no entries for Burniece or Economy Sheet Metal in the 1933 or 1934 directories but it appears again in the 1935 directory, now at 5042 39th Avenue South.}

In the 1931 directory, Maurice is listed as the proprietor of Bonded Heating Company of 1818 Washington Avenue North. Heating Systems is also listed for him.

In the 1932 and 1933 directories, Maurice is still listed with Bonded Heating Company and Heating Systems is no longer listed for him.

In that 1933 directory, Maurice has Economy Sheet Metal at 3725 Minnehaha Avenue listed for him.

In the 1934 directory, Maurice’s listing is for Acme Beverage Wholesale at 3735 Minnehaha Avenue. His listing includes machinist.

In the 1935 directory, Maurice is secretary-treasurer of Acme Beverage Wholesale at 3725 Minnehaha Avenue. Cora is listed as president and Sam Blumbo is vice-president.

Maurice received an off-sale license, presumably for just beer, in April of 1935. Later in the month, he received a license for dealing in second-hand goods at 3727 Minnehaha.

In the 1936 directory, Maurice is now vice-president of Acme Beverage Wholesale and Sam Blumbo is president. Irving H Green is secretary-treasurer.

In that 1936 directory, Acme Bicycle appears for the first time. It’s at 2825 Hennepin Avenue. William Marsh is manager.

That 1936 directory also shows Acme Bicycle and Supply at the 2825 Hennepin address.

The 1937 directory lists Acme Beverage, now owned by Sam Blumbo, at 3746 Minnehaha. Acme Bicycle and Supply, of which Maurice is the manager, is located at 108 S. 4th Street. Acme Bicycle and Supply also has a store at 3725 Minnehaha Avenue. Vivian Marsh is the vice-president, William Marsh is the branch manager.

According to DHC’s city directory search concentrating on businesses:

Brunett’s was at 1818 North Washington. Started 1930, out 1933.
In 1932, Hall Supply moved to 108 South 4th Street and sold Stutz and Pierce bikes.
Acme Beverage appeared in 1934 and was out in 1937. Acme Bicycles appeared in 1935. Economy Sheet Metal was out in 1933 and appears with Tom in 1934.
Acme Bicycle adds wholesale business in 1936.
In 1937, Acme has three stores.
In 1938, Acme has two stores, Hall is out.
In 1940, Acme has one store.

Al and Bess threw a dance and reception for Maurice and Cora on September 9th, 1916, at the Odd Fellows Hall on 16th Avenue South and Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis.

Pastor Tenner Thompson spoke at Maurice's funeral. This may have been Tenner Thompson, Jr. Otherwise, it was the same pastor who baptized Don and confirmed Don and Vivian.

On January 5, 1920, the census enumerator found the Carlsons living at 3716 Elliot Avenue South. (Minneapolis enumeration district 127, image 5 of 36.) “Morris” is listed as age 24 with the occupation of “machinist” employed for wages at a “shop.” Cora is listed as age 23 and Vivian as 2 years and 5 months. Also living with Morris and Cora was Alfred, age 47, and Bessie, age 42. The dates of immigration and naturalization for Alfred and Bessie are listed but are not legible. Alfred is listed as a tailor employed for wages at a tailor shop.

In January of 1923, as M.E. Carlson, Proprietor, he runs Economy Sheet Metal Manufacturing Co. at 3725 Minnehaha. “Let is estimate your gutters, steel ceilings, ventilation, blow piping, manufacturing cornice work, skylights.” “Furnaces installed and repaired.” His home phone number was Drexel 6280 and his business phone number was Dupone (sic - probably Dupont) 5113.

An article (essentially an advertisement) in the Weekly Business Review section of Minneapolis Star’s 14 May 1923 edition discussed Economy Sheet Metal.

In the fall of 1923, M.E. Carlson was assessed on lot 2, block 3 of E.H. Dann’s Driving Park Addition to Minneapolis.

in the fall of 1924, M.E. Carlson petitioned the city for permission to build a frame addition to tin shop, 20x30, 30 feet from street line, at 3725-27 Minnehaha Avenue.

In February of 1926, M.E. Carlson was assessed on lot 18 of Confer’s Rearrangement in Edgewood Addition to Minneapolis.

In April of 1927, M.E. Carlson petitioned the city for permission to erect a private frame and stucco garage, 18x20 feet, 21 feet from the street line, 12 feet from the nearest flat, at 3901 Bloomington Avenue.

In June of 1927, M.E. Carlson, doing business as Economy Sheet Metal Co., 3725 Minnehaha Avenue, was granted a license for installing warm air heating plants.

In the 1930 census, Maurice's and Bess's house are shown as worth $7500 each. Bess is shown as divorced and was renting out part of her house at $35/mo to Arthur and Violet Nash. He was a school teacher, she was a hairdresser. Charley was living with Maurice and Cora. He is shown as having emigrated in 1867. Bess is shown as having emigrated in 1883. Maurice's occupation is in the heating industry.

In June of 1933, “Mrs. M.E. Carlson and others” asked the city to pave the alley from 42nd to 43rd between Snelling and Minnehaha avenues.

In the 1934 Minneapolis city directory, he is Maurice E Carlson, a machinist at Acme Beverage Co of 3725 Minnehaha Ave. He resides at 4230 Minnehaha Ave.

In June and July of 1934, M.E. Carlson had three short letters to the editor published in the Star, generally disparaging unions.

An article in the 24 Nov 1936 edition of the Star, headlined Carlson buys Hall Supply Co., has M.E. Carlson, manager of the Acme Bicycle and Supply Co., Inc., purchasing Hall Supply Co., 108 S. 4th Street. The article notes that Acme has branches on South Lyndale Avenue and Minnehaha Avenue in addition to “the new main office.”

In June of 1937, bicycle races were sponsored by the Star and the Minneapolis Park Board. Maurice was noted in an article in the Star as “planning the prizes” as well as being a drop-off point for filled-in entry blanks. The three locations for the Acme Bicycle Company were 108 S. 4th Street, 2825 Hennepin, and 3725 Minnehaha. Maurice said he would pick prizes and set them out in the window of his 108 S. 4th Avenue store for the racers to see. Later articles said that the prizes would include “swell” Stutz bicycles. The races held in July featured the prizes being handed out by George Grim, od the Star, and M. E. Carlson, of the Acme Bicycle Company at 108 S. 4th.

Races were sponsored again in the summer of 1939.

In the 1940 census, Maurice’s house is shown as worth $6000 and Bess’s as $3000. Maurice is shown as the owner and prorietor of a bicycle shop.

In the 1941 city directory, he’s an inspector with Northern Pump and is associated with/owns Acme Bicycle and Supply Co.

In the 1942 directory, he’s only with Acme Bicycle & Supply.

In the 1944 city directory, Acme Bicycle & Supply Co. is listed with his entry at 4230 Minnehaha.

Small want-ads for Carlson’s Sporting Goods started appearing in the Star in June of 1946. The phone number was DU 5113.

Carlson’s, with the fishing line logo, had a big add for sporting goods in the 5 Dec 1946 Star. Ads also appeared in January of 1947, then stopped, at least with “M.E. Carlson, owner” in the ad.

A December 7, 1941, ad (a notable date) in the Star, by Scott-Atwater Motor Power Equipment, listed Carlson’s Sporting Goods as an authorized Twin City dealer.

In the 1948 Minneapolis city directory, Maurice and Cora are still listed at 4230 Minnehaha.

An article in the August 3, 1948, edition of the Star had Bruce Morikubo says at the Carlson’s sporting goods store, which he represents, archery is second in sales to fishing tackle. Morikubo was probably an archery sales rep.

Carlson’s was robbed of a motorscooter in November of 1948.

Carlson’s was part of a story in George Grim’s column in April of 1948 about a little sparrow who supposedly lived near the store.

Carlson’s was robbed of $1,000 of weapons, fishing reels, ammunition, and $40 cash on 28 Jun 1949. It was the fourth burglary of the store in two years, the management reported. Thieves broke through a door, then bent an iron gate to enter.

Carlson’s sponsored an archery meet at Lake Nokomis on 17 July 1949.

In the 1950 Minneapolis city directory, he is listed as Morris C, wife Cora C, residing at 2255 E Old Shakopee Rd.

Thieves stole 15 fishing rods and a pump shotgun on 25 Feb 1950. Police arrested a five-man burglary ring in March.

Carlson’s was burgled again over the Christmas weekend in 1954. The thief only stole a pellet pistol but broke a rear window and a glass door.

A Carlson Sporting Goods, later called Carlson’s Sporting Goods, in Red Wing was advertising in the Star in the 60s. They sold refrigerators along with sporting goods.

Death Certificate:

 CARLSON, MAURICE E.  Minnesota Death Certificate ID# 1956-MN-005289   
 Date of Birth: 08/30/1895
 Place of Birth: MINNESOTA
 Mother Maiden Name: ERICKSON
 Date of Death: 06/17/1956
 County of Death: HENNEPIN

The Carlsons in Minneapolis

Maurice finished school in January of 1911 after the eighth grade. He was still working for his dad in the hardware store on 38th and Chicago in the fall of 1914 when he met Cora. (DHC says this wasn’t owned by Al.) Nevertheless, his trade was machinist and after marrying Cora he went to work for Strand Machinery Company in a triangular building on Riverside, five or six blocks from Cedar Avenue. He eventually became a foreman at Strand which was a wartime company. (This was one of the reasons why Maurice did not participate in World War I.) The Strand Company probably folded after the war. {The 1917 city directory shows Morris as working at Findley Electric Co. The 1918 and 1919 directory shows him working at the Loe Machine Tool Co.} On Vivian’s birth certificate, Maurice is a machinist.

At this time, Cora and Maurice were living in a house that they had been given (by Al?) at 3716 Elliot Avenue. Vivian was born there. Cora remembered it as an old house with three bedrooms and a bathroom. Cora didn’t like it. On Vivian’s birth certificate, the address for Maurice and Cora is 3716 9th Avenue S. (Elliot used to be called 9th Avenue.)

After Strand, Maurice worked at a shop that made bakery ovens. His father's half brother, Sandy Fogelquist, worked there and that probably had something to do with Maurice going to work there. It was at this shop that Maurice got interested in sheet metal work. {The 1920 city directory shows Maurice working as a “tinner” at “N W Bakers & Confec.”}

During this time, Maurice also got involved in an electrical business with Myrtle Carter’s brother (and Cora’s cousin), Arthur Hendrickson. This was a time when gaslights were being replaced with electric lights and the business wired the lights through the old gas pipes. Alas, Arthur was apparently a crook and stole from the business, driving into bankruptcy or close to it. {It wasn’t Arthur, it was his half-brother Edgar. The name of the company was the Twin City Chandelier Manufacturing Company. Maurice is shown as working there only in 1921. Alfred’s occupation is shown as “elec” that year so even he may have gotten involved with the venture. The TCCMCo is listed as Edgar’s employer through 1923. Edgar then vanishes from the city directories.}

In 1920, Maurice and Cora and Vivian moved to 39th and Bloomington (the street address was 3901). {That address is never listed in the city directories. The directories show that Maurice and Cora moved to 1535 E. 39th Street in 1920.} In 1924, they built a duplex on the vacant corner lot next door which they kept until 1938 or 1939. (They may have needed money at that point to build the resort on Cedar Lake.) In the 1914 city plat map, there is no construction on the lot. There is just one lot, on which both the residence and duplex were built. In an early photograph of the residence, the alley is not visible. When the alley was put in, the clearance between the house and the alley was only a few feet.

On March 2, 1922, when he was 26, Maurice purchased the property on which he would build the store building at 3725 Minnehaha Avenue to be used as a sheet metal shop. The ownership of Lot 18 of “Confer’s Rearrangement in Edgewood Addition to Minneapolis” was in Morris’s and Cora’s name (spelled “Morris”) and was purchased from “Thorp Bros.”

The first ad for Economy Sheet Metal Mfg. Co., at 3725 Minnehaha, was in the 29 Jan 1923 version of the Star.

Maurice may have borrowed the money for the building from Al but there is no mention of that in the abstract. The abstract does, however, mention a $2000 mortgage against the property that was established on September 29, 1927, and satisfied on March 15, 1928. Another mortgage, also for $2000, was established with the 4th Northwestern Bank on December 18, 1934, and satisfied on December 27, 1935. (It was the due diligence on this mortgage that led to the bank demanding the name clarification, mentioned above, in which, on December 21, 1934, Maurice asserted that his correct and true name was Morris E Carlson.) A $2500 mortgage, also with the 4th Northwestern Bank, was established on November 6, 1935.

A large ad in the Star on 13 May 1929 is for M.E. Carlson Heating Company at 3727 Minnehaha. The big feature was a Brunett’s system.

In May of 1929, Maurice received a license, perhaps renewed an existing license, for installing warm air furnaces and plants. He was dba Economy Sheet Metal Co., 3725 Minnehaha Avenue.

In June of 1929, Maurice won a prize in a fishing contest (“Witt Market fish contest”) for a northern pike he caught on Lake Mille Lacs. It was 42 inches long and weighed 19½ lbs.

A lengthy, well-stated letter to the editor of the Minneapolis Journal, by M.E. Carlson, published in December of 1930, argued in favor of teacher pay and that tax payers shouldn’t complain about that segment of their taxes.

By May of 1932, he was doing business as Bonded Heating Co., 1818 Washington Ave. N., when he received his license for installing warm air heating plants.

In the 1914 city plat map, the organized set of parcels on which the store building would be located is referred to as the Edgewood Addition. This was bounded by 37th Street, 38th Street, 34th Avenue, and Minnehaha Avenue. The Carlson building would be on lot 4 of that subdivision and the vacant parking lot, that Maurice wouldn’t purchase until the late 1940s, was lot 5.

The property abstract also records a curious ownership transfer, to and from Maurice’s mother. On February 3, 1931, the ownership of the Lot 18 parcel was transferred to Bessie Carlson and back again to Maurice on the same day. This transaction was not filed with the county clerk until nearly a year later, January 2, 1932.

On September 16, 1946, Maurice and Cora purchased the vacant parking lot (Lot 17) next to their Minnehaha store building (Lot 18). Lot 17 of Confer’s Rearrangement in Edgewood Addition to Minneapolis was purchased by Maurice and Cora from the Franklin Life Insurance Company.

Lots 17 and 18 were sold by Cora to Don and Elaine Carlson on January 1, 1978, in a contract for deed. The ownership change was filed on January 24, 1985, presumably when the contract for deed was satisfied.

His business was called Economy Sheet Metal (a name still used on the water bills into the 1980s). In the building boom after the World War, Maurice’s business put gutters and downspouts on new houses. Maurice was all by himself the first year but, being a hard worker, he could still do a job faster than his competition and, as a result, got a lot of business. In 1921, Tom Burniece was the first, or one of the first, employees hired for Economy Sheet Metal. (Eventually, the business grew to five or six employees, including Maurice’s uncle, John Erickson.)

On DHC’s birth certificate, Maurice (name was changed from Morris somewhere along the line) was in the sheet metal business.

In late 1923, Maurice and Al began building houses on adjoining lots in the 4200 block of Minnehaha Avenue in south Minneapolis. Maurice’s would be 4230 Minnehaha; Al’s would be 4228 Minnehaha.

On April 18, 1924, Maurice, 29, a pregnant Cora, 28, and Vivian, 6, moved into the Minnehaha house. (Cora, perhaps because she was pregnant, remembered a blizzard that happened three weeks before on March 28th.) Donald H. was born in the front bedroom of the Minnehaha house three months later on July 13th. Maurice and Cora would live in the Minnehaha house for 24 years.

In 1926 or 1927, Maurice and Cora bought a cottage on Gray's Bay of Lake Minnetonka west of Minneapolis. DHC remembers it on the channel between Gray’s Bay and Smith (?) Bay and that the cottage was next door to the one owned by Al and Bess. DHC remembers that Maurice and Cora had a grape arbor and a big garden. One of the “magnificent” events that DHC remembers is Maurice buying $100 of fireworks for a 4th of July celebration out at the cottage. From Cora’s diary, it appears that they didn’t sell the Lake Minnetonka cottage until August 23, 1938, when they sold it to their friend and Lake Minnetonka neighbor, Walt Spargen.

The likeliest location for this “channel” between Gray’s Bay and some other body of water is the currently exisiting channel between Gray’s Bay and the small lake called Libb’s Lake on the extreme southeast corner of Gray’s Bay. A 1914 map of the area around Lake Minnetonka does not show such a channel, nor does it even show a name for Libb’s Lake. In addition, the 1914 map shows no road to the area where the future channel would be. This apparently changed in the 1920s when Minnetonka Boulevard may have been extended to the Libbs Lake area. It would seem that the Carlsons would have gotten to their cottages via Lake Street and Minnetonka Boulevard, also called County Road 5.

While he was still in the sheet metal business, a man named Brunett persuaded Maurice to join him in the furnace business. They would build hot air furnaces, basically for homes, as Bonded Heating Co. (and Heating Systems, Inc.). Brunett had a patent on an economizer system he called the Utilizer. They built some furnaces at the Minnehaha store but eventually they had to rent a building at 1818 North Washington Avenue (phone number Cherry 4521). By this time, the furnace business was so good that Maurice sold Economy Sheet Metal to Tom Burniece who rented the building and continued to run it out of the Minnehaha store. Maurice’s and Brunett’s furnace company built the then–largest hot-air furnace in the world in what is now (as of the mid–1970s) the St. Louis Park roller skating rink.

The depression sunk the furnace business by the early 1930s after only a few years. Brunett may have kept the business but Maurice got out. At this point, a lot of people owed Maurice money. Maurice supposedly lost money in the furnace business.

In 1931 or 1932, Maurice bought a machine shop, with $10,000 worth of equipment, for $500 and set it up in the Minnehaha building. (The business that Maurice bought, and/or the new business he set up, was called Acme Machinery and Repair.) The machine shop had three line shafts running north-south from a large electric motor in the southeast corner of the building. [This would have been where the bicycle parts section later went; in 1931, the building was only half its present size.] There was a 12 foot display and office area in the front of the building. [See floor plan of the store building attached as a picture.]

There wasn’t much money in the machine shop business. In 1933, with prohibition over (Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison act on March 23rd), Maurice got into the beer distribution business, as Acme Beverage Co., with a partner, Sam Blumbo. (Blumbo had a chicken drive-in restaurant at NE Corner of Lake St. and Hiawatha.)

In May of 1933, Maurice and Cora sought a bank loan from the First National Bank, probably to develop the beer business. The application statement showed a net worth of about $47,000 made up as follows: cash and bank account $1828.42, accounts receivable $2000, merchandise ("50 furnaces") $5650, plant $6000, machinery $3000, real estate $23500 (duplex at 3901 Bloomington $7500, Lake Minnetonka property on Gray’s Bay $3000, 4230 Minnehaha $6000, and shop at 3725 Minnehaha $6000), 1931 Chrysler 8 Sedan $1000, and cemetery lots $4200. The application cited Maurice’s current business as “heating and sheet metal.”

At this point, he nearly doubled the size of the Minnehaha store building (to its present size) to store beer. He also installed an elevator near the southeast corner of the original building.

The machine shop co–existed with the beer distributorship until the fall of 1934. At that point, the machine shop is dissolved and removed to make way for the retail bicycle business. Maurice started out this business, known as Acme Bicycle and Repair, with three bicycles plus parts that he bought for a total of $500. His supplier at the time was Hall Supply at 108 South 4th Street. His line of bicycles at the time was Iver Johnson. Cora’s diary notes Maurice delivering bikes in April of 1935.

In June of 1935, he had obtained a license as a dealer in second-hand goods at 3725 Minnehaha Avenue.

Maurice had numerous ads and mentions in 1938 and 1939 regarding bike races. He had Acme Bicycle Co. at 108 4th St. S.

In the beer business, Maurice distributed the Old Heidelberg brand made by the St. Cloud Brewing Company of St. Cloud and Fleck's made in Faribault. (He had a Liquor Control Commission license to sell for St. Cloud dated March 26, 1934.) On June 21st, 1933, Maurice signed an agreement with Lewis Hamilton by which the two agreed to divide the Twin Cities into a north and south zone. Maurice would be the exclusive distributor of Fleck’s beer in the south zone, Hamilton would be the exclusive distributor in the the north zone. The agreement seemed to apply only to bottled beer and specifically excluded keg beer.

The beer sold would have been “3.2 beer”, 3.2% alcohol by weight, the strongest allowed by the Cullen-Harrison act.

The bicycle business co-existed with the beer business at 3725 Minnehaha for a couple of years until Maurice finally sold out the beer business to Blumbo in about 1935 or 1936. {He sold it on September 21, 1935, according to Cora’s diary.} (Maurice lost money in the beer business.) Sam moved the business across the street to the J H Foster building and went broke a year later. (A Nash automobile dealership moved into the Foster building after Blumbo went broke and continued there until World War II. Blumbo's main business was a successful drive-in chicken restaurant on the NE corner of Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue.)

At about this time (1936 or 1937), Maurice bought out Hall Supply and moved the wholesale bike business into what had been the beer area. The business was now called Acme Bicycles and Supply. Vivian entered the business at this point. She ran the Minnehaha store, Maurice ran the downtown store (the old Hall Supply facility at 108 South Fourth Street), and Bill Marsh ran a 3rd store on 28th and Hennepin. {According to Cora’s diary, Maurice got a lease on the Hennepin Avenue store on December 20, 1935. Maurice also bought a fourth store on Grand Avenue (near a theatre) in St. Paul. This store was mainly for the wholesale end but it had some retail upstairs. Jake Peterson ran this store. Bill and Viv worked there for a short while. {According to Cora’s diary, Maurice had a St. Paul store before he had the Hennepin Avenue store but both were obtained in 1935.} {Also according to Cora’s diary, Vivian started at the St. Paul store on March 16, 1936.} According to Cora’s diary, Maurice bought Hall Supply on November 6, 1936.

In the spring of 1939, Viv and Bill made the decision to go out on their own. In 1940, Vivian and Bill moved to the east coast (Ron was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in June of 1940). The Hennepin store was sold, after only being open about a year, then the St. Paul store (Jake bought that business for $500), then the downtown store. By 1941, only the Minnehaha store was left. {It’s not quite as DHC remembers it. Maurice sold the St. Paul store to Jake Peterson on January 4, 1938. Maurice moved out of the downtown store on August 31, 1940.}

Maurice’s interest in the business waned even before it shrunk back to one store. He played a lot of cards with men down on Washington Avenue during the winter and let George Moll run the downtown store. He also played cards in a lean-to shack off the restaurant building on Minnehaha south of the store. He let Bill Stedman, the road salesman for the wholesale business, run the whole business after the Marshes left and all during World War II.

In the fall of 1938, Maurice bought a farm (for $1200 with Cora’s money) on Cedar Lake near Deerwood. (He had originally stumbled upon this property when he went to see Eric Person’s relatives to go fishing.) He intended to build a fishing resort on Cedar Lake and got so far as building four cabins on the lake and a cabin for the family on a hill. (In 1938 {no, 1935 and 1936}, the family camped at Hufstrand's in tents.) Maurice also built a barn and sheep shed on the property, the barn being the last in the summer of 1942.

The back of Cora’s 2nd diary records these events at the farm and in Minneapolis.

“Built cottages 1939
Building caretakers house Fall 1940
Put in gas burners at duplex Fall 1940
Bought fencing for farm Summer 1941
Bought sheep October 3, 1941
Papered our place February 1942
Chairs upholstered March 1942
Bought Guernsey cow July 1942
Barn built Summer 1942
Chicken coop built Summer 1943
Bought cows, horses, and chickens Spring 1943
Our house shingled Fall 1944
Our house painted, both stucco and the trim, also garage 1944

Maurice painted stucco on house, June and July 1944. Maurice painting house, Fall, 1944.”

The resort was to be called "Woodcrest" and Cora had stationery printed up for herself that said:

Woodcrest
Mrs. M. E. Carlson
Deerwood, Minn.

One of the first meetings of John Everson and Maurice Carlson is recorded in the December 5, 1938, edition of the Brainerd newspaper: “Mr. Carlson of Minneapolis was looking over property here which he purchased recently. He spent the night at the John Everson home.”

In the early months of 1939, Maurice logged off the Deerwood farm, employing all the farmers in the area, including John Everson. He also constructed a sawmill on the site to turn the logs into lumber. He netted 100,000 board-feet sawed. Part of this lumber was used to build his Bloomington house in 1948.

The outbreak of the second World War ended the resort idea. In the fall (November 2nd) of 1942, Maurice went to work for Tom Burniece to help him make Navy chart boards and height verniers for the war effort. Maurice, Cora, and Don left Deerwood and returned to Minneapolis and Maurice and Don went to work at Economy Sheet Metal on November 2nd of 1942. (Don was a bookkeeper first, then a glue pot welder.) Maurice designed a machine to make reclaimed bottle caps. This effort was sponsored by Coca Cola. Maurice designed a punch press to reform the bottle caps. This production, called Economy Crown, was in the Franklin Creamery building.

Maurice eventually (actually in February of 1941) went to work at Northern Pump as an inspector in the lathe department for the duration of the war. Northern Pump made 5” cannons, naval pumps, electrically operated turrets, etc. Maurice worked 7 days a week, 12 hours a day initially and eventually got down to about 60 hours a week. {But Cora’s diary notes that Maurice got a new job at International Harvester on March 24, 1942.}

Published ads referring to 3725 Minnehaha pretty much vanished between the summer of 1941 and February of 1946. By that time, it was Carlson’s, and no longer Acme Bicycle, and Schwinns were mentioned in the ads.

Don was called into the service in May of 1943 and went in for good in November.

Maurice quit a job on November 30, 1943. Cora notes that he was “working again” in her diary entry for July 13, 1944.

When the war ended, Maurice sold the wholesale business to Stedman, who moved it to 273 Cedar Avenue, but not the Acme name. For the remainder of Maurice’s life, Carlson’s Sporting Goods, as it was now called, would get a 20% discount off of Stedman’s wholesale price.

The store building was completely remodeled in the winter of 1945-46. (No. 1946-1947.) The remodeling was to convert the building to a sporting goods store. When Don returned from the war in 1946, he took over the operation of the store.

Maurice and Cora looked for suburban property after the war and purchased 1 acre from Carl Zeck on April 11, 1946. This was the property on which Maurice built the Bloomington house in 1947. He and Cora, with Don and Elaine, moved into the house on Old Shakopee Road in January of 1948.

On September 9, 1949, Maurice’s neighbor, Carl Zeck died. On January 23, 1950, Carl’s widow, Mardelle Zeck, sold Maurice the rest of the Carl Zeck farm land. This would have been the land to the north and east (and, perhaps, to the southeast) of the original 1946 purchase. Maurice took out a $2000 mortgage with Mardelle for the purchase. That mortgage was satisfied on December 27, 1954. The purchase included the “berry house” of Carl’s berry farm which Maurice moved and it became the “berry house” of Carlson Berry Farm. The original location of the berry house, before Maurice moved it, was right next to the Zeck garage. The original slab of that old berry house site remained on the property through DHC’s ownership of the land.

Most of the 1950 purchase was sold to Independent School District #271 on December 18, 1961. Cora sold DHC the remaining north lot for his 2263 EOSR house on May 15, 1968, one day after the sale of 2239.

All of Cora’s remaining property on EOSR was moved to a trust on January 8, 1985.

Maurice bought thirty burial plots, in three separate areas, at Sunset Memorial Park when it was constructed in the mid-1920s. (A loan application statement in 1933 listed the value of the plots at $4200!) Apparently the developer approached many businessmen about buying plots. Maurice got a prime location near the bell tower. The first family member interred was Al in 1952.



His casket-bearers: Leonard Reiland, George Booth, Bill Stedman, Tom Burniece, Albert B. Nelson, and Frank Carter.

His SS#: 410-17-9303

Buried:
Funeral at 11:00 according to Cora’s diary. His burial plot was Lot 73, Lot 7A, Grave #9 according to the mortuary.

Maurice married Cora Christena ANDERSON on 2 Sep 1916 in Vernon County, Wisconsin. Cora (daughter of Carl Clarence (Charly) ANDERSON and Anna Clausdatter BOWE) was born on 7 Mar 1896 in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin; died on 19 Dec 1995 in Bloomington, Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 22 Dec 1995 in Sunset Memorial Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Birth Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1917-44924
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 2008-MN-010814
• Baptism: 21 Nov 1917, Nazareth English Evangelical Lutheran Congregation, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
• Confirmation: 24 May 1931, Minnehaha Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Notes:

Baptismal sponsors: Bess and Al, Charly and Anna. Baptism performed by Pastor Halvorsen.

Attended Miles Standish Elementary School.

She had a club called the Les Belles Amies in high school, 1933-1934, and was president in February of 1934.

She was elected president of the new James Henry Longworth unit of the Woman’s Relief Corps formed in January of 1934.

Confirmed by Tenner Thompson at Minnehaha Lutheran Church on May 24, 1931.



Viv and Bill were secretly married in Iowa nearly a year before their 1935 wedding in Minneapolis. That earlier marriage, solemnized by an Episcopal rector, took place on October 20, 1934, at St. John’s Church in Mason City, Iowa. Vivian claimed to be 19 years old although she was only 17. Bill claimed to be 21 although he was 19. At that time, Bill was living at 3344 Stevens Avenue in south Minneapolis.

Viv worked in her father's bicycle business in the mid to late 1930s and ran the Minnehaha store, and, indeed, the entire wholesale and retail business, for awhile. She and Bill moved to Wilmington, Delaware, in the spring of 1940. Ronald was born in June, shortly after they completed their move. Viv and Bill started a bicycle business (also called Acme Bicycle) in Wilmington. (Schwinn assisted them in setting up the Wilmington store.) The Wilmington store lasted less than a year due to supply constraints arising from wartime allocations. Bill and Viv then worked for Du Pont, first in Wilmington, later in other locations, during the war. Vivian was a confidential clerk and Bill worked in the personnel section, hiring construction workers. The projects they worked on were parts of the Manhattan project although they weren’t aware of that until after the war. They returned to Minneapolis for awhile but were transferred back to Delaware in May of 1943. Bill and Viv lived in Gary, Indiana, in November of 1944 when Maurice and Cora visited them on their way back from visiting DHC in New Orleans. Bill and Viv returned to Minneapolis in a couple of weeks later, in November of 1944 to work for Gopher Ordnance, also a part of DuPont.

From Cora’s 2nd diary, we learn of the addresses Viv and Bill lived at between the time they moved and the end of 1944 (at which point they had returned to Minneapolis):

633 Harrington
Wilmington Delaware

711 Villa Monterey
Wilmington?

7531 Blaisdell
Minneapolis

21 Oak Street
Salem, NJ

541 McKinley
Gary, Indiana

445 E. Ridge Road
Gary, Indiana

Their addresses in Minneapolis:

4321 43rd Ave. S. (built in 1932)
Mpls., Minn

Rt #3, Box 352
Hopkins, Minn.

Vivian and Bill and family moved into their Hopkins house on Williston Road on August 30, 1948. They moved to a new house on Idylwood Road in 1955.

She became director of Christian Education at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka Mills in September of 1958.

She and Bill celebrated their silver wedding anniversary on 27 Jul 1960 with an open house at their Idylwood Drive home. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Carlson and Mr. and Mrs. Reed S. Wold were hosts and hostesses. (Reed Wold was a neighborhood friend of Bill and Viv when they were high schoolers on Minnehaha Avenue.

As a reprise of her earlier days in the business, Viv and Earl helped out at the store (with Elaine) for several weeks in the spring of 1970.

Her obituary in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on April 5th:

Dahlberg, Vivian Carlson Age 90, of Minnetonka, died Friday at Methodist Hospital from complications of Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl and step son, Doug. She is survived by children, Ron (Doris) Marsh, Leslie (Marshall) Lewis; stepdaughter, Lynn Bauer; daughter-in-law, Carita Dahlberg; 7 grandchildren, numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; brother, Don (Elaine) Carlson. Vivian's career as Director of Religious Education began at St. David's Episcopal Church and continued on to Gethsemane Lutheran Church. It was Vivian's inner faith that continued to guide and support her which enabled her to be the foundation of our family. She was dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew her. Memorial service Monday 1:30 PM with visitation 1 hour before at the Washburn-McReavy Strobeck Johnson Chapel, 1400 Mainstreet, Hopkins. Private interment Grandview Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.

Birth:
4:30 AM. Attending physician, Dr. Witham or Wickam, would also deliver DHC.

Confirmation:
41st Street and Minnehaha Avenue

Died:
Methodist Hospital

Buried:
cremated

Vivian married William Charles MARSH on 3 Aug 1935 in Gethsemane Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. William (son of Francis Charles (Frank) AUGUSTINE and Frances Emily CARR) was born on 25 Jun 1915 in Hennepin County, Minnesota; died on 15 Feb 1964 in Hopkins, Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 18 Feb 1964 in Sunset Memorial Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Vivian married Earl Anderson DAHLBERG on 9 Jul 1965 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Earl (son of Oscar Frithiof DAHLBERG and Anna Josephine ANDERSON) was born on 31 Dec 1917 in Hopkins, Hennepin County, Minnesota; died on 5 Oct 2000 in St. Louis Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota; was buried on 9 Oct 2000 in Grandview Park Cemetery, Edina, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• MN Birth Cert Checked: Y
• Minnesota Birth Certificate: 1924-44185
• Minnesota Death Certificate: 2011-MN-008512
• Occupation: Store Manager
• Baptism: 3 Oct 1924, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
• Confirmation: 5 Jun 1938, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota

Notes:

Born at home. Attending physician was C.A. Witham or Wickam. He was the same doctor who delivered Vivian. Bess also attended the delivery. Birth certificate noted that “opthalmia neonatorum prophylactic” was administered.

Baptismal sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Al Carlson and Mrs. G.H. Deiters.

Confirmed at Minnehaha Lutheran Church, June 5, 1938, Pastor Tenner Thompson.

Minneapolis Roosevelt High School, June 5, 1942.

In an interview in his last year of life, when his memory was suspect, DHC recalled the 1938 visit to Viroqua which he found very boring because of all the visiting of relatives. He claimed it was a two-week trip, during which time they stayed at the Ekums’ Cozy Cabins. (It was only one week.) He remembers playing golf one day with his dad at the Viroqua golf course. He also recalls meeting one of Carl’s sons, who was about his age, showing him around Carl’s tobacco farm. DHC remembers that Carl’s farm produced especially good chewing tobacco. He also learned about trapping moles.

In that interview, DHC also recalled his appendicitis operation in 1940, after which he spent time (including his 16th birthday) in the hospital and watched the Aquatennial parade from the balcony of the hospital. (This is recorded in Cora’s diary.)

Registered for the draft on 15 Dec 1942 at the Masonic Temple Building in downtown Minneapolis. At that time, his employer was Thomas F Burniece of Economy Sheet Metal.

Inducted into the US Army November 24, 1943 at the age of 19. Entered active service December 14, 1943, at Fort Snelling. Service Number 37 582 663, clerk-typist, bookkeeper, radio operator. Left Minneapolis on a troop train on December 23, 1943. Discharged as grade T/4, Field Artillery. Trained at Camp Roberts in California and Camp Van Dorn in Mississippi. Went overseas January 15, 1945. Served in 63rd Infantry Division, Artillery Battalion, HQ Battery.

Discharge papers indicated that DHC served in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. He was awarded the American Theater Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was vaccinated for smallpox in September, 1943, Typhoid in November of 1945 and January of 1946, and Tetanus in January of 1945. He was an expert in “carbine.”

Total “Continental Service” was 1 year, 25 days. Total “Foreign Service” was 1 year, 3 months, and 26 days. “Longevity for pay purposes” was 2 years, 5 months, and 11 days.

Departure for the ETO (European Theater of Operations) was on January 5, 1945. Arrival was January 14, 1945, a transit of 9 days.

His ASR score was 39 so he was toward the back of the line when it came to returning home. His departure for the USA from Europe was on April 20, 1946. Arrival was on April 30, 1946, a transit of 10 days.

Separation papers indicated that discharge was through the Separation Center, Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, completed on the 4th of May, 1946. Papers were signed by “Neville B. Borzarth, Major AC.” These papers were filed with the Hennepin County Register of Deeds on May 7, 1946, at 9:10 AM. His honorable discharge was as a technician fourth grade, Headquarters battery, 63rd Division Artillery, service number 37 582 663.

Discharge papers indicated height 5-11, weight 154 lbs.

Addresses while in the service, according to Cora’s diary.

Pvt. Donald H. Carlson
37582663
Battery B, 56th Field Artillery Battalion
12th Regiment
Building 6315
Camp Roberts, California

Pvt. Donald H. Carlson
37582663
Headquarters Battery
63rd Division Artillery
APO 410
Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi

Pvt. Donald H. Carlson
37582663 Hq. Bty.
63rd Div. Arty.
APO 410
c/o Postmaster, New York, NY

Pfc. Donald H. Carlson
37582663 Hg. Btry.
6th Corps. Arty.
APO 46
c/o Postmaster, New York, NY

Cpl. Donald H. Carlson
37582663 Hq. Co.
6th Corps. 1 G. Section
APO 46
c/o Postmaster, New York, NY

Sgt. Donald H. Carlson
37582663
APO 46
Hq. U.S. Zone Constabulary
c/o P.O.N.Y., NY

In the 1948 Minneapolis city directory, he is listed as a salesman for Carlson’s Sporting Goods and residing at 4230 Minnehaha. Elaine is not listed.

In the 1950 Minneapolis city directory, he is listed as the manager of Carlson’s and residing at 2255 “Olk” Shakopee Rd.

In July of 1952, he and his family moved to 2239 East Old Shakopee Road.

DHC got a $10,000 loan, at 5% interest, from Mrs. Christine Larson, 1902 4th Avenue South in Minneapolis, tel. no. FE2-7966. The payments were to be $66 per month with the first payment due on March 1, 1956, and the remaining payments due on the first of each month. All payments were recorded in a small book maintained by Christine Larson. Not all payments were made on the 1st of the month. The last payment was recorded February 5, 1962, which left the balance at 7961.75. Presumably, the balance was paid off at that time because the entry of that February payment was made in the book by DHC. Also presumably then, with the loan repaid, Christine gave the book to DHC.

The official description of the 2239 property, for the 1967 Hennepin County real estate taxes, was:

That part of Lot 50 lying S of N 147 6/10 feet thereof and Wly of a line running from a point in N line of S 258 16/100 feet of Lot 49 dis 285 feet W from E line therof to a point in S line of N 116 3/10 feet of Lot 52 dis 652 feet W from E line therof.

Plat 70342, Parcel 7050, District 20, School District 271, Watershed 2. The taxes for that year were $1,102.93.

Don and Elaine’s phone number in Bloomington 854-6106.

Depression-based nervous breakdown in the spring of 1970.

Trans-ischemic attack (TIA) episode in the late 1980s.

Fell and broke his hip in the very early morning hours of May 12, 2010.>

Obit from the Minneapolis newspaper:

Carlson, Don H. 86, died March 15, 2011, at his home in Eagan. He was born on July 13, 1924, in Minneapolis to Maurice and Cora (Anderson) Carlson. He served with the U.S. Army in Europe in World War II and owned Carlson's Cyclery in south Minneapolis for over 40 years. He is survived by Elaine, his wife of 63 years; his son, Don (Mary) Carlson of Green Bay; and his daughter, Cheryl (Kevin) Fautch of Eagan, as well as three grandchildren and one great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Vivian Dahlberg. Funeral services will be at Grace Lutheran Church, 8700 Old Cedar Ave., Bloomington at 11 AM on Friday, March 18. Family will greet friends one hour before service. Interment will be at Sunset memorial Park in Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Grace Lutheran, the Fairview Foundation or the charitable organization of the donor's choice.

Official cause of death “cerebellar metastases, unknown primary.”

Birth:
4:10 AM at home. Minneapolis birth certificate #378, “Ward 12 of Minneapolis.”

Baptism:
Minnehaha Lutheran Church, 41st Street and Minnehaha Avenue, Pastor Tenner Thompson

Confirmation:
Minnehaha Lutheran Church

Died:
at home at 4:30 PM

Buried:
Funeral at Grace Lutheran Church in Bloomington.

Donald married Mabel Elaine EVERSON on 8 Nov 1947 in Aitkin County, Minnesota. Mabel (daughter of John Edwin EVERSON and Mabel Amanda LANDSTROM) was born on 27 Feb 1930 in Crosby, Crow Wing County, Minnesota; died on 25 Jun 2020 in Eagan, Dakota County, Minnesota; was buried on 30 Jun 2020 in Sunset Memorial Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]