About 1905 my grandfather Anton voyaged from the small island of Harøy, on the west coast of Norway, to America - in order to make some money.
He was accompanied by his brother Olaf and several others from the island. Probable voyage:
Harøya - Bergen - Liverpool - Boston.
They left a barren and weathered soil..
..cultivated by toil and hardship
..and exhausting fisheries
They had made up their minds:
"Let´s go to America, boys..
..to friends and relatives
on the other side of the ocean
The town of Potlatch in Idaho was established in connection with
the great white pine activity
early in the 1900´s
Even a new railway line was
built for transporting the timber
The young norwegians
worked there
as lumber jacks
"One of our logging camps"
Tough body work and living conditions in settlers manner.
"The lumber jack at home.."
Pioneer homes in the woods lost ground..
The Potlatch Lumber Company
took over..
..and erected one of the largest white pine mills
in the world
The Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway Company, estb. 1905.
The young norwegians had
done well in the new world
As they arrived back home after some years a great reception was arranged
in the community center
..with local choirs
..a big celebration
...this is how my grandfather´s American adventure ended. After seven years as lumber jack, carpenter and fisherman in the new world, he returned to Norway, married and re-settled - he never visited America again.
...But the brother, Olaf Myers, settled in Portland - Oregon, married, established his own craftsman firm and lived in America the rest of his life.
