Overview of the Collection
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Repository Name:
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Robert A.L. Mortvedt Library
Scandinavian Immigrant Experience
Collection
Archives and Special
Collections Department
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA, 98447
253-535-7586
Email:archives@plu.edu
http://www.plu.edu/archives
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Collection Number:
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t109
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Creator:
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Flones,
Edward
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Title:
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Edward Flones Oral History
Interview
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Dates:
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1981 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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3 file folders
8 photographs
1 sound cassette
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Languages:
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English
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Summary:
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An oral history interview with Edward Flones,
a Norwegian immigrant.
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Biographical Note
Edward Flones was born on April 8, 1907 in
Hustad, Romsdalen, Norway to Markus Flones and Ellen Erikson. Markus was a
fisherman and had changed his name from Peterson to Flones, "flo" meaning the
tides and "nes" meaning front. Edward had fourteen siblings, many of which
passed away. Edward attended school through the age of fifteen, and then he
began fishing from fall through spring. In the summers, he went into the
country and worked on various farms. In December 1929, Edward decided to
immigrate to America, where two of his brothers were already living. His
brothers liked America because the weather and fishing were better. Edward met
one of his brothers in Seattle and stayed with him for the first year. The
following year, he began fishing on a 10-11-man boat in Alaska. Edward fished
on a boat called the "Nort" for fifteen years, and when the skipper died,
Edward did the navigating himself. Eventually, Edward bought his own boat and
began fishing by himself. By the time he retired, he owned six boats.
In
1932, Edward married Inga Haugen, whom he met in Seattle at a card party given
by the Sons of Norway. Inga was from Stanwood, WA, and her father, Pete Haugen,
was from Norway. They were married in Everett and after renting for awhile,
they bought a house in Stanwood. Edward and Inga had four sons: Melvin, Magnar,
Richard, and Peter. The family was active in the Lutheran Church, and all of
the children were confirmed there. After attending night classes in Everett,
Edward obtained his American citizenship in 1942. He and Inga returned to
Norway in 1962 and 1971, and Edward thought the Norway that he left and the
Norway he returned to were like "night and day."
Lineage
Full Name: Edward Flones. Father: Markus Flones. Mother: Ellen
Erikson. Brothers and Sisters: Edward Flones, Severine Flones Nerland, Eddy
Flones, Ole Flones, Sophia Flones, Yngeborg Flones, Lars Flones, Martin Flones,
Sverre Flones, Hans Nerland. Spouse: Inga Haugen. Children: Melvin Flones,
Magnar Flones, Richard Flones, Peter Flones
Content Description
This interview was conducted with Edward Flones on October 29, 1981 in
Stanwood, Washington. It contains information on family background, work,
emigration, marriage and family, church, community activities, and Norwegian
heritage. The interview also provides photographs of Hustad, Edward's brother's
house, Ed and Eddie Flones when they first came to America (1930), Edward's
first and last boats, a fishing boat with a Caterpillar Diesel D342 Marine
Engine (1956), and Edward at the time of the interview. The interview was
conducted in English.
Administrative Information
Custodial History The Oral History collection
project was started during an experimental course on Scandinavian Women in the
Pacific Northwest. Students in the course were encouraged to interview women
and learn about their experiences as immigrants to the United States. The
project was continued and expanded with support from the president's office and
by grants from the L.J. Skaggs and Mary C. Skaggs Foundation, from the Joel E.
Ferris Foundation and the Norwegian Emigration Fund of the Royal Norwegian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project was directed by Dr. Janet E.
Rasmussen. The collection was transferred to the Archives and Special
Collections Department.
Processing Note The interview was conducted by
Inger Nygaard Carr using a cassette recorder. A research copy was also prepared
from the original. To further preserve the content of the interview, it is now
being transferred to compact disc. We deliberately did not transcribe the
entire interview because we want the researchers to listen to the interviewee's
own voice. The transcription index highlights important aspects of the
interview and the tape counter numbers noted on the Partial Interview
Transcription are meant as approximate finding guides and refer to the location
of a subject on the cassette/CD. The recording quality is good
The
collection was transcribed by Mary Sue Gee, Julie Peterson and Becky Husby.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access The oral history collection
is open to all users.
Restrictions on Use There are no
restrictions on use.
Related Information
Bibliography
Rasmussen, Janet Elaine. New Land
New Lives: Scandinavian Immigrants to the Pacific NorthwestTacoma, WashingtonUniversity of Washington
Press1993
Additional Reference Guides
Subjects
This collection is indexed under
the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials
about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these
headings.
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| Erikson, Ellen |
| Flones,
Edward--Interviews (creator) |
| Flones, Magnar |
| Flones, Markus |
| Flones, Melvin |
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Flones, Peter |
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Flones, Richard |
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Haugen, Inga |
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Haugen, Pete |
| Erikson
family |
| Flones
family |
| Haugen
family |
| Peterson family |
| Olaf
den Hellige (Steamship) |
| Sons
of Norway (U.S.) Leif Erikson Lodge No. 1 (Seattle,Wash.) |
| Hustad, Romsdal(Norway) |
| Romsdal(Norway) |
| Seattle
(Wash.) |
| Stanwood (Wash.) |
| Anniversaries -- Norway -- 17th of May |
| Christmas |
| Emigration and
immigration |
| Family--Norway |
| Fishing --
Alaska |
| Fishing -- Norway
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| Norway--Social
conditions--1945- |
| Norwegian-Americans--Northwest, Pacific--Interviews |
| Norwegian-Americans--Social life and customs |
| Ocean
travel |
| Oral histories |
| Farmers |
Detailed Description of the Collection
The partial interview transcription highlights important aspects of the
interview. Numbers may be used as guides to important subjects. Two numbers
separated by a slash indicate that the first number is for cassette and the
second for CD.
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Cassette Counter
005:
FAMILY
BACKGROUND
Born in Hustad, Romsdalen,
Norway on April 8, 1907.
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Cassette Counter
017:
PARENTS
Father was Markus Peterson. Father put the name Flones on
the farm when he bought it in Norway. Farm was by the ocean. "Flo" means the
tide goes in and out. "Nes" means front sticking out in the water. Father's
name was Markus Peterson Flones.
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Cassette Counter
036:
FISHING
Father was a fisherman in the summer and caught cod,
herring, and goldfish. Big fishing village where they lived. Mostly fishing
along the coast.
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Cassette Counter
046:
FAMILY FARM
Five acres, had one cow, and raised vegetables for
the family.
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Cassette Counter
050:
FISHING
Father fished with another man. Went out in the morning and
came back in the evening. Used sack nets. No motorboats. Used sailboats. Didn't
go far out in the ocean, 2-6 miles.
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Cassette Counter
064:
FATHER
Quit fishing and began repairing fishing nets and making
nets.
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Cassette Counter
072:
DEPRESSION AFTER WWI,
1920
When he left Norway in 1929 it was
hard to get work.
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Cassette Counter
080:
GRANDPARENTS
Maternal, Erikson. Paternal died long before he was
born.
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Cassette Counter
088:
MOTHER
Ellen Erikson from Hustad, Norway.
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Cassette Counter
095:
BROTHERS AND
SISTERS
Fourteen. Many passed away.
Oldest brother died before Edward was born by drowning. A sailboat capsized and
sank.
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Cassette Counter
111:
Sister Severine lived in Hustad and married Stephen Nerland.
He was a fisherman.
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Cassette Counter
134:
Brother Eddy came to the U.S. in 1910. He was a fisherman.
Died in 1952.
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Cassette Counter
145:
Brother Hans Nerland came to the U.S. Nerland is the name of
the place. He changed his name when he came to the U.S. He also fished. Lived
in Seattle. Died in 1971.
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Cassette Counter
160:
BROTHERS AND
SISTERS
Most are dead now. One brother
left, Martin. All brothers fished in Norway. Lars did some sailing, big oil
tankers. Martin lives on the home place.
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Cassette Counter
183:
SISTERS
Sophia died. Yngeborg died, her husband was a fisherman.
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Cassette Counter
195:
CHILDHOOD HOME
"Liveable," Never home all at the same time so there
was enough room.
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Cassette Counter
212:
SCHOOL
Eight years, through the age of 15. No high school, only
grade school. First year went five times a week for 4-5 hours a day. After this
they went every other day for two weeks then one week off. Teacher had many
classes. Big classes.
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Cassette Counter
235:
TEACHERS
Had many different teachers. Many died of the flu
epidemic (Spanish Flu).
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Cassette Counter
250:
Edward had the flu when he was 10.
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Cassette Counter
259:
CHURCH
Big, confirmed in church. Parents went to church every other
Sunday. Shared a preacher.
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Cassette Counter
273:
CHRISTMAS
Celebration not in church. It was in another place
Berihus. Many missionaries in the church.
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Cassette Counter
304:
CHRISTMAS DAY
Had a service in the church. Had a tree in the house
but not in the church.
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Cassette Counter
307:
CHRISTMAS
Describes what they do in the Berihus. Christmas in
Norway lasted three weeks. Something going on everyday, visiting, singing.
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Cassette Counter
330:
PRESENTS
Mostly homemade, socks and clothes.
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Cassette Counter
335:
CHRISTMAS EVE
Ate meatballs, gravy and bread. Lots of Christmas
cookies. Not much lefse or lutefisk. "Didn't want to spoil fish." Julekake.
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Cassette Counter
358:
CHRISTMAS DAY
Special dinner. "Went no place except church," stayed
home. Made decorations and candles for the tree. Place to put the tree called
"ungdomshus."
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Cassette Counter
385:
FOLK TALES
Not many folk stories. Some about Julenissen roaming
around during Christmas Eve.
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Cassette Counter
400:
CHRISTMAS
ACTIVITIES
As young kids of 17-18 they
went dancing after Christmas programs. Danced in big warehouses. Someone
playing the accordion. Could only do seven dances in one place. Government put
on this restriction.
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Cassette Counter
440:
FISHING IN
NORWAY
Big boats 70-80 feet went up and
down the coast. When they were through with herring fishing they went to
Lofoten and Finmarken in the northern part of Norway for cod fishing.
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Cassette Counter
457:
17TH OF MAY
CELEBRATION
Many people from southern
Norway up north in a small town. 10,000 fishermen up in a small town. Three
policemen to keep order.
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Cassette Counter
494:
Harbor full of boats, dance hall full, fighting, and drunk
fishermen.
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Cassette Counter
564:
Edward fished with another guy named Tommer Sander. The name
of their boat was the Havguller. They used nets and hook and line. Thirteen men
on the boat. Didn't fish in the summer.
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Cassette Counter
585:
SUMMER WORK
Went to the country and worked on farms.
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Cassette Counter
594:
REASONS FOR LEAVING
NORWAY
Two brothers in U.S. They liked
the U.S. Better weather. Fishing better. Made more money. Too many fishermen in
Norway. No system or union in Norway like in the U.S.
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Cassette Counter
632:
LEFT NORWAY
After Christmas 1929, Edward had the home place in
Norway. Father had given it him when he died. Brother Lars lived on the home
place too.
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Cassette Counter
670:
Edward gave to place to Ole, his oldest brother 15 years ago.
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Cassette Counter
SIDE II :
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Cassette Counter
011:
LEAVING NORWAY
Sailed from Oslo. Took a passenger boat from home to
Trondheim then took the train to Oslo. Passenger boat to New. It was called the
Olaf Den Helge. It cost over $200. It was a Danish boat.
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Cassette Counter
019:
BOAT TRIP
Nice, good food, entertainment, and no seasickness.
Edward was 20 years old.
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Cassette Counter
028:
Took the train from New York to Seattle.
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Cassette Counter
029:
LANGUAGE
DIFFICULTIES
Could only say "yes" or
"no." Describes an experience on the train when transferring in Chicago. Got on
the wrong train. Met a Swede that explained to him the situation. Met a
waitress that understood the language but couldn't speak it.
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Cassette Counter
135:
Didn't go through Ellis Island when he landed in New York.
Went through the American Consul in Oslo. All set to go.
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Cassette Counter
139:
TRAIN TRAVEL
Nice train, same as in Norway.
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Cassette Counter
144:
Met brother in Seattle. Met many people on the train,
"wasn't bashful." A man on the train that understood Norwegian helped Edward
out. Norwegian loggers to talk to.
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Cassette Counter
166:
IMPRESSIONS OF THE
U.S.
Nice place, never was homesick.
Liked Seattle.
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Cassette Counter
172:
U.S. RELATIVES
Had an aunt in Poulsbo. Edward stayed with his
brother in Seattle on 20th Ave., which is a little way from the bus depot.
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Cassette Counter
187:
Brother fished. Edward did fishing in Seattle the first year.
The second year he fished on a 10-11-man boat up in Alaska, a schooner.
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Cassette Counter
198:
Bought own boat. Fished himself. Had 5,6,7 boats.
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Cassette Counter
200:
Liked fishing better here. Had to cook on the boat here.
Mostly bread and butter in Norway. One main meal. Better money in the U.S. Made
$2000 a season which was from March-November.
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Cassette Counter
220:
Brother took him out with him.
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Cassette Counter
234:
WINTER FISHING
Fished for halibut and black cod.
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Cassette Counter
241:
GEAR
"Gear rigged different here" on the boats, hook and line.
Brother helped him learn. Norway used mostly net fishing.
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Cassette Counter
261:
FISHING IN
ALASKA
On a boat called the "Nort." The
skipper was Nils Rorvig and his partner was Johnny Johnson who was the chief.
Edward fished 15 years on this boat.
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Cassette Counter
270:
PAY
Paid in shares by how much fish was caught. Skipper died and
Edward did the navigation. Ten men on the boat.
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Cassette Counter
295:
Edward wanted to buy his own boat. Others learned to navigate
from YMCA navigation school in Seattle.
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Cassette Counter
332:
Bought a bigger boat. Wound up with six boats when he quit
fishing.
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Cassette Counter
340:
Lived on a farm in Stanwood, Washington when fishing. Lived
in Seattle for two and a half years until married. Met his wife in Seattle at
the Sons of Norway card party. Her name was Inga Haugen.
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Cassette Counter
353:
WIFE
Worked at Broadmoor, a place where rich people lived. She
was a cook for a family. Inga was from Stanwood. Her father, Pete Haugen was
from Norway.
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Cassette Counter
371:
Married in Everett at the pastor's house. Pastor's name was
Norvernd. Inga's brother and wife were witnesses. Married in 1932. Moved to
Stanwood after married. Rented a house in East Stanwood.
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Cassette Counter
388:
Bought a farm in Stanwood, Washington.
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Cassette Counter
395:
Learned languages by listening to people talk.
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Cassette Counter
398:
AMERICAN
CITIZENSHIP
1942 went to night school in
Everett.
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Cassette Counter
406:
CHILDREN
Melvin is logging and has two boys and two girls. One
son is logging and the other drives feed truck. Melvin lives on a farm in
Stanwood, Washington.
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Cassette Counter
420:
Magnar lives in Sedro Woolley, Washington and is married. He
fished with his father for 13 years. Bought a service station in Sedro Woolley,
sold that. He repairs cars now. Takes one fishing trip each year on his
father's first boat.
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Cassette Counter
441:
Magnar had three boys. One works on cars and the other is a
player for the Seahawks, Brian Flones. David goes to school in Sedro Woolley.
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Cassette Counter
462:
Richard works for the phone company as an engineer. Lives in
Kansas. Peter works for Ohio Oil Company. Lives in Walnut Creek, California. He
is an engineer. Describes in some detail what Peter does.
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Cassette Counter
524:
CHURCH
Active in the Lutheran church. The children were confirmed.
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Cassette Counter
531:
SONS OF NORWAY
Involved in this organization while in Seattle.
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Cassette Counter
535:
TRIPS TO
NORWAY
1961 and 1917. Took Inga. Changes
"night and day." Modernized, new houses, torn down old and built new. Family
house still standing.
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Cassette Counter
576:
NORWEGIAN
LANGUAGE
Keeps up the language. "Never
forget your mother language." Children didn't know Norwegian.
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Cassette Counter
588:
SPOKEN
NORWEGIAN
Edward speaks Norwegian.
Describes an incident while back in Norway.
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