museum

When George Nilsen contacted me and told me he would be in the area, I got excited. Here was a chance to meet one of Bergland’s authors, and I wanted to share the experience.

George was born at his home in Bergland on May 17th, 1925. After graduating, he joined the Marines and retired a Lt. Colonel. After his military career, he obtained his PHD in English Lit and taught in Colleges and Universities. After retiring again, he has settled down and found a couple of new passions in writing and golf, not necessarily in that order.

George’s first book A Synttende Mai Son (A man born on his Nations birthday) is about his early life growing up in Bergland during the Depression. The son of immigrant Norwegian parents who divorce seeks, by personal achievement, recognition of worth by himself, his family and peers.

As older brother, sisters and stepbrothers depart as soon as possible from a farm tension-riven by efforts to save it from tax sale by building a dairy farm to pay taxes, buy clothing for, at first, nearly a dozen family members. Efforts to grow not only sustenance food, but to trade cordwood and potatoes for grocery store credit creates more and more responsibility; sheer labor falls on that son, whose stepfather’s open hatred forces the son at sixteen to leave the farm on the edge of his beloved Ottawa National Forest.

A Syttende Mai Son is a fascinating book. It gives an in-depth detail of how life was during the depression era and what he had to learn without being shown how. He was expected to be a master at any task dictated to him. George watched and learned. It is my opinion, Mr. George Nilsen turned out more than just okay.

George’s 2nd book, a work of fiction, The Luna Light Gang highlights moonshiners, providing corn liquor to the community and ready cash for the members of the Luna Light Gang. It also shows what and how rumors and gossip do to a small town. The use of local names of people who have passed away has made this book somewhat of a controversy. I think that’s the reason it’s our bet seller. Personally I loved it.

A Cup a’ Kindness, the sequel to The Luna Light Gang continues with the life and times of Eunice Ryan (better known as Gallopin Lil) and Dutchy Schmidt. Again, this is another book of fiction.

The 4th book, A Distant Altar, includes the sacred altar on top of the Norwich Bluff. At the center of this riveting historical fiction is a native American tribe whose cultural identity was stolen and a tracker, a man named Dutch John, who finds the life he wants after an incredibly long journey of being a refugee on the run from Hitler’s Army and making his living on the hoof hunting others. As he tracks a murderer, he ultimately helps identify and reclaim the Ojibwe’s spiritual portrait of humanity; this novel describes fear and hatred as well as hope and loyalty. This novel is one of those small miracles that show readers what life was like on a reservation during the great depression and what sort of men and women each of us might become should be willing.

George’s 5th book is currently at the publisher. I asked him why he wrote the books of fiction the way he did using names the people in the area could relate to. His answer was simple. I wrote these books the way I felt they should come out. I can’t wait for his next one to be on the shelf!

We opened the doors to our Museum May 29th. Traffic wasn’t heavy, but steady. We conducted 8 tours in the 3-day holiday weekend. I originally had a book signing set up with Author Hans Feld. Hans had to cancel the book signing due to time restraints and reschedule it for the July 4th weekend.

Sunday, the 30th a couple and another fellow come in to check out our Museum. I gave the couple a tour while Marie Livingston talked with the other guy. After the tour, I poured coffee for everyone and we all sat talking of history and the area. It’s really nice and relaxing to just sit and share old stories and tales of our past. Marie mentioned she needed to pick up the book written about Matchwood for her daughter. It was then I told her about the author Hans Feld having to cancel his book signing this weekend. Now, picture this: This guy dressed in a faded camo hat and T shirt had been setting at the table for about 45 minutes not saying a word, just listening to the stories and enjoying them. He spoke for the first time, saying “Thank you.” Mystified, I asked him why. He replied, “Thank you for the book signing.” Bells went off in my head. It was Hans himself! He had slipped in with the others and sort of blended in, just grinning and drinking his coffee. Then, the stories really started. We spent about 2 hours talking and enjoying each other’s company.

Hans is the Author to that sought after book called My Compass Points North. It’s comprised of hunting tales and violating in Matchwood. This book is one hilarious read. The book is filled with the likes of the following passage; No sooner did they have the deer loaded on the back of the orange Suzuki than they found themselves faced with lights in their faces and voices stating, “DON’T MOVE. CONSERVATION OFFICERS.” Hans is currently working on another book. I hope he finishes it soon!

You will find all of the above-mentioned books at our Museum. I believe the Ontonagon Museum has them also. Our library is small compared to the One in Ontonagon. They still have a lot of “must have” books I have to pick up yet. Visit your local Museum and enjoy the history.