The Johnson Journals, Chapter 15

Don Johnson Letters and Journals
Norway (Hvoslef) Island
1944-1987
Part 15

[On November 26, 1944, Don wrote the following which turned out to be the resumption of diary keeping. He continued to write about 100 words a day with few significant breaks until August of 1987.]
Will try to give a blow by blow account of transformation from caretakers at Dahlbergs to resort owners on Hvoslef's island.
Have known for some time that Gilda wasn't improving but had hopes something might turn up. Pat Dowd, Sr. first to argue strong for our leaving. We combed shores of Rainy Lake for possible site but nothing suitable. Almost ran cruiser aground when first thot of Hvoslef Island. Bill Welsh and George Ray next encouragers. Can't miss, they said. Me more cautious - much to everyone's disgust. This all August - September 1944.
Talked with Lou and Burt [Bruggeman] next. Plenty of encouragement. Dr. Oliver next. Offered to buy boat. Ed LaFave gave idea on money. Carl not very encouraging at start. Maybe didn't think we were serious. Frank Weldon promised help on lumber. Emil help on building. Carl suddenly up with offer to back us no matter what. Nobody with cold water to throw. Finally old man Johnson got some guts. Layna's trip to California almost broke thread completely. Gilda's letter [see below] finished job. Almost forgot to mention that Layna stopped in and saw Hvoslef's in Minneapolis. They said they would deal.

[Excerpt from letter from Gilda Dahlberg to Don on November 17, 1944:]
Layna’s attitude was quite surprising to me as I recall when her mother was sick and we had only been at Red Crest a few days, I told her to go and stay with her mother as long as she chose. When her [mother] passed on, I then told her to stay with her sisters as long as she wished so that she could have the comfort of a reunion with them.
The night Layna arrived – with Bror sick in bed, my household torn up and myself worn out with this long, hard year – she told me [she] intended leaving immediately.
I can understand her feeling about Buck, but what I cannot understand is her complete indifference to my husband’s illness and to our difficulties at that time. She went to stay with her family and the next morning when she telephoned, she gave me to understand she was not going to do anything.
Her whole attitude was one of hardness and self centered and lack of affection for us. I have always loved you all and though at times we have had little flair-ups, you know, Don dear, that they meant nothing actually in our relationship. You know the affection I have for you and will always have – and I love the children very much. It comes as a terrible shock to me to realize how little, if at all, this is returned.
We could have sent Layna home on a day coach as Alma Lee, Lila, myself and other members of the family have frequently traveled. I think she had a very interesting and delightful trip out here, one that many people would have given a great deal to have. All in all, I am pretty hurt – so much so, that I am almost numb and I know that had you come here, things would have been different.”

11/26/44 Fresh NE wind - snow +25. Have been in quandary for some time as to how to place logs in cabin - horizontal or vertical. Many arguments both ways. Vertical much easier construction. Paddled over to see Emil Johnson at Ober's. He decided for me. Vertical it is.
11/27/44 Layna and I went up lake and cut ten logs. Skidded to lake. Latter job one for horse but we drove in the pickaroon and started pulling. Burned tops and can't see where we disfigured country much.
11/29/44 Weather looked favorable so decided to make a try at floating logs home. Rafted them up - eight to a raft - and got started towing with Carl's boat without too much trouble. Wind kept getting stronger from NE. and white caps greeted us on rounding west end of Dahlberg's Island. Lost two logs but landed others O.K. Fell in lake up to my crotch but stayed with it and got logs pulled out on shore. Retrieved one of lost logs but other floated against shore. May get it later.
12/2/44 Whole family pitched in and got 86 logs cut and piled by lake shore. Brush all cleared up and burned. A good days work. Kids got in pretty fair scrap this evening but all friends at this moment - 9 p.m.
P.S. That scrap ended by Byrne following Layna's suggestion of getting a book to read. It flared up mildly when Buck hit book with clay wad from blow gun. Really blew up when he cracked Byrne in back of neck with same weapon a few minutes later. Cup of cocoa all around and boys made up
12/6/44 Carl, Layna and I spent about an hour with Frank Keyes discussing business angle of island project. Very discouraging at first but Frank seemed to come around to our way of thinking toward end. We have a real friend in Carl. Must be careful not to take advantage of it.
12/7/44 Cruised cedar swamp for stringers and located some. Went to swamp in p.m. carrying axe, broad axe, hooks, saw and straight edge. Introduced myself to broad axe and from what I learned of it while hewing three stringers for ice house, I think we are going to get along fine. Got home 5:30 - almost dark - dead tired. Must be getting old. Layna tired too from doing big washing by hand. Saw flight of small birds - about as big as chickadees but more streamlined. They passed about 35 feet up. Hundreds of them - their combined chirping sounded like steam escaping from kettle.
12/21/44 Winter really hit in earnest. Only worry about ice now is whether snow coverage will keep it from getting thick enough for driving despite low temperature. Layna and I walked over to Hvoslef's in p.m. Pretty cold. Went thru place and found everything complete as Hvoslef’s said it was. Felt pessimistic as all hell in evening - war, business, everything looked gloomy. Talked with Layna until midnight. Felt more cheerful before going to sleep.
12/23/44 Byrne and I cut wood for couple of hours. Fixed water hole. Started work to get Ford working. One helluva job. Fingers froze, feet froze, car froze. Finally got it started about 3:30. Made rush for house to warm up and coffee. Sally and I cut Xmas tree. Buck went over and made fire for Ernie.
12/24/44 A good day. Worked on Ford - tires, chains, switch, platform - until noon. Hauled wood in p.m. Five loads with darn little trouble. Ice about 5 inches thick. Drove Ford over island by barn and went to French's to fix fire. Drove home in the moonlight – beautiful. Opened presents after eating. Slimmest Christmas ever on that score but a happy one - we are still all together and well - except Sally who had a slight bellyache!

[As the only family with children living on an island, the Johnsons had a long tradition of inviting the old bachelors on the neighboring islands to join us for Christmas dinner. This was the last one at their Dahlberg home.]
12/25/44 One of those days about as cold as it ever gets in this country. Twenty below most of the day and the wind swirling the snow down the lake. Cut wood for a while in the morning to work up appetite for dinner. At one o'clock decided it was too cold for Ben to walk over so went down and built fire under Ford. Got it started without much trouble. Found Ben at Sam's. Pretty well lit up but full of cheer. Sam wouldn't come along - afraid of thieves, I guess. Harry here when we arrived. Layna really put on a feed - after a couple of Tom and Jerrys. We then gathered in living room to listen to Ben's tall tales. He was in rare form. Stories about (1) Time he was dead three days and came out of it. (2) Woman 115 years old who broke casket glass to get out. (3) Experience with Irv Hunstable - with gestures. (4) Time he and Sam fell out of boat on way from town. We started Ford again to take him home and carburetor stalled car out in wind. Damn near froze fingers in gasoline before getting it fixed. Drove Ben home O.K. then on to French's for Ernie's fire. Had to stay some time as house was pretty cold. Drive home beautiful in full moon light.
12/27/44 Buck off for the day. Went to town to get Peetsie [Sharon Judy], Barbara [McDevitt] and Bill Murray. Byrne and I hauled four loads of wood. Buck's company stayed 'til 11 p.m. Layna put on two good feeds for them. We all enjoyed having them out. Buck had helluva time with car - froze up and ran in ditch. Finally home at 3 a.m.