Chasing History: FLOM... Here We Come!!!

With a weather advisory alerting us to possible late afternoon /early evening tornado developing weather in the Northwestern part of the state (yup, where we were headed), we knew we would have to get on the road to see the farmhouse and visit Flom as early as possible in the morning. I was hoping that I would have enough time after waking up to allow some coffee to hit my system and keep me alert for the 80 mile drive after staying up late visiting and looking at photos. I made it a priority to copy/scan with my phone photos from an old photo album that used to be my Great Uncle John's. None of the photos had been ID'd. This was disappointing but I knew that my Great uncle probably wouldn't have held onto them unless there was some family connection. I realized this could end up being my only chance to get copies so I stayed up late making sure I copied them all. I also figured I would be able to take more time studying them once I returned home and could compare them to photos in my own collection and perhaps find clues as to whom they were!

We loaded up the car and away we went! My second cousin Lyle had offered to be our official Flom tour guide and advised us as what to wear. We learned that we would be trekking through acres of corn fields since there were no roads left that lead to the farmhouse. With this warning in mind, we packed our long pants, long sleeved shirts, socks and hats. We brought bug spray, snacks, water, a first aid kit and babywipes just in case we needed to do a quick wipedown since there would be no running water to wash our hands in. Needless to say, we prepared well!

First thing we did upon arriving in the town of Flom was SMILE! We finally made it! Here I was in the town that my Grandfather grew up in! The town I had heard so many stories of as a child when my grandpa would tell us about his life on the farm and playing baseball growing up. How he used to be a stinker in school and hold a pencil up to the cheek of the girl seated in front of him, then call her name and when she turned her head, her cheek would run right into his pencil eraser. He told stories about trying to knock down the glass telephone pole insulators with rocks as he walked to and from places. He told of sitting in a big old plum tree and eating sweet juicy plums and spitting out the pits onto the ground below. These were the stories I knew from Grandpa and here I was.. in his town and yes.. I smiled!

The smiling continued as Lyle showed us the co-op creamery and we got out to explore. This old building had been around a long time and was being used for storage now.

The Flom Co-Op Creamery

Details on the tin weather vane... Quite lovely

Tin tiles weathered and rusted through the years and the lightning rod to protect...

An old creamery door... Thinking about how many times my relatives may have walked through this door...

Next door was a sweet little house that one great uncle lived in for years. Now owned by someone else. It had a lovely charm about it..

On the other side of the little house was the community center or Flom Hall

FLOM is carved into the beautiful stone above the front door.

A marker out in front of the hall indicates Flom's Centennial. The schoolhouse on the marker is where my grandfather attended school.

Sadly, the Flom school no longer stands. There is an empty grass lot/park where it used to be.

My Grandpa Ole Haroldson is sitting front and center. He titled this photo "Flom Freshies"

My grandfather Ole Haroldson is on the ground at the base of the slide ladder. Not sure if he was not interested in getting his photo taken and playing in the dirt, or if perhaps he fell just before the photo was taken.

These photos are of the upper grade students and were taken in May, 1922.

The teacher was Miss Downes

Ole Haroldson, is the tall boy near the center of the back row.

Along the main street was the gas station and a hardware store and the Flom cafe. Everything looked closed that day. It was Sunday and in these small towns, businesses generally close on Sunday, even in 2015.

Ole Haroldson at the old gas station.

Some old street scenes of Flom...

This building is now the Flom Cafe, Flom Pub and post office.

Two of my grandfather's older brothers, my Great Uncles John and Hank Haraldson each owned a few businesses in Flom. Hank (Henry) ran the Viking Cafe for a time. John owned "John's Recreation". He bought a building known as the "John Brenden building" built in 1900 that had been used through the years as a store, a barber shop, and a storage building. Through the years some additions had been made including living quarters. The building was sold to John in 1946. In 1949 he remodeled it into the pool hall and confectionery called "John's Recreation" In 1959, he used the building for the office of 'Flom Mutual Fire Insurance".

John Haraldson, standing on the right, inside his store.

John Haraldson's Insurance business.

We decided to head over to the church. Aspelund Lutheran Church is where my Grandpa went to church and where many of his family members are buried. We hoped it would still be open, being Sunday and all, so we could take a look inside and walk around the cemetery. We wanted to find the family graves and pay our respects...

Aspelund church confirmation photo. Ole Haroldson is standing in the back.

We were in luck and the beautiful church was indeed open! I must admit that walking into that church choked me up. To be in the church where my grandpa grew up meant a lot to me. As I looked around, I felt a peace in my heart and while everyone else headed outside, I faced the alter from the back of the church. I truly felt blessed to be on this journey and so I said a prayer of thanks. Then with tears in my eyes, I said The Lord's Prayer...

Such a beautiful church...

After praying, I joined the others in the graveyard. There lined up together were the graves of the family and we paid our respects and took photos.

The Haraldson Plot

Bernt Haraldson - My Great Grandfather. Bernt died from injuries in the car/train accident. He was 49 years old.

Anne Marie Haagenson Haraldson - My Great Gandmother. Anne Marie died from injuries in the car/train accident. She was 42 years old.

Stanley Haraldson - My Great Uncle died in infancy. He was a twin with my great uncle Marvin Haraldson. 13 days old.

My great uncle Marvin Haraldson. Twin to brother Stanley. Marvin was killed when he was kicked in the head by a horse. He was only 8 years old.

Stanley Kermit Haraldson, my great uncle. Named after his brother Stanley who died in infancy. Stanley Kermit died from injuries in the car/train accident. He was 6 years old.

Gladys Marie Bennette Haraldson, My great aunt. Gladys died from injuries in the car/train accident. She was 11 years old.

Ole Haagenson - My Great Great Grandfather. Anne Marie Haagenson Haraldson's father. He was 75 years old.

Anne Haagenson- My Great Great Grandmother. Anne Marie Haagenson Haraldson's mother. She was 68 years old.

It was now time to head to the farmhouse and changed into our bug armor for going through the corn field! Yup! We did not want to get any of those nasty bugs like ticks on our skin as we trekked through rows of corn! We layered up our clothes and found ourselves quickly sweating like crazy in the hot, muggy July air and dressed like we were ready for winter almost!

We grabbed out packs, our water and cameras and followed Lyle through the rows of corn that almost swallowed Ryan right up, being the shortest in our party. Smacked in the face by corn leaves, We couldn't help but laugh at Ryan's expressions as we marched along in single file towards the long awaited farmhouse.

All the green corn... A beautiful scene.

We venture into the corn... It was a long walk in and we had quite a few laughs as the corn leaves smacked Ryan in the face!

The corn took forever to get through it seemed but the end finally did arrive and as we looked ahead, we no longer saw only rows of corn, but instead our eyes gazed upon the most glorious sight that I had been waiting years to see in person. The farmhouse!

Oh sure, it was tattered and worn, broken and weathered. Windows gone and paint was faded... tall grass surrounded this once beautiful picturesque home on a little hill. Very little white paint remained on the weather beaten wood.that now was old and grey. The house that looked so alone was not alone anymore. I imagine it was probably very glad to see us for we were family. Family that had heard it's stories. Family that did not want to see this home forgotten and alone. To see a grand house like this ready to give up and die is heartbreaking. There is so much beauty left in it and to have it restored would be the most amazing and wonderful thing! Oh yes! That is my dream... I fear I dream alone in that though and the house is not mine. Oh but to save her! My heart aches to try! For now, I count my blessings that I am able to visit and view her. To take photos and dream.. to wish there was a way that she could be saved!

We walked around her and I was able to stretch my "Selfie Stick" out to it's full length and take photos through the open windows and doors so I could see what it looked like inside.

It is hard to imagine why people think it is ok to vandalize property. This home had sadly been the victim of idiot vandals through the years. People with no thought or respect for the family who had lived here. The tragedy or the memories... no respect at all! It is so sad and truly makes me sick. To me, visiting this house was a dream come true. To those vandals, it was probably a place to party and be stupid with no concern for someone else's property. They should be ashamed of themselves for destroying this beautiful historic home. Thanks to my selfie stick, I got to take photos of the vandal's destruction and it made me very upset.
I would love to fix it... cover up the words. It just wasn't right to see it like that. So sad.

Even though the vandals did what they did, the house still looks like it could have potential to be saved. There is some foundation issues and sinking areas but the frame, walls and roof looked pretty fair - decent I thought. I am not a professional but honestly, it didn't look as bad as I had imagined after so many years of being alone without windows or doors and left to the elements.

Ryan exploring around the house

Jacob and I trying to figure out how to use a selfie stick for the first time. We didn't know we had taken a picture and it made us laugh once we saw it!

Selfie time! We figured out the stick!

Group Selfie...The boys and me.

We took lots and lots of photos! I did at least. The boys got to listen to Lyle tell stories of growing up there on that farm. They sure loved hearing his stories!

Thanks to my long selfie stick and so many windows and doorways that were open, I got to take photos of some of the rooms while standing outside of the building.

I just want to protect this home and not have the elements destroy it more... so much history... so beautiful of a home despite the destruction done to it.

It broke my heart to see the writing on the walls... This family went through so much tragedy and to see the words like this sprayed so disrespectfully was something that brought tears to my eyes and is incredibly hard to overcome.

The grainery

Such beautiful, aged red paint!

View along the side of an out building.

Oh beautiful house.... such beautiful land...This place stole my heart! I want so desperately to save it! I felt such happiness visiting this land. you would think I would be sad, but I was only sad to see the house so run down and vandalized. Being here was the best feeling for me. The boys and I truly fell in love with this place!

I love all the beautiful open farmland!

Soon it was time to say goodbye to the farmhouse and make our way back through the long walk of corn rows to our car. We finally got there and flicked a few ticks off here and there, wiped ourselves down with baby wipes and removed some of the layers of clothes.

We made our way out of town in time to hear tornado warnings and alerts come across our phones. We luckily were staying not too far away that night at Lyle and Deb's camper by a little lake. One of many lakes in beautiful Minnesota!

We arrived at the camper and lake just in time to hear an alert to go find shelter due to tornado activity nearby. This was the boys and my first experience with a tornado warning and we took it very seriously! Deb lead us to a neighbor's home where there was a garage shelter. She was so awesome and came prepared with games for us to play as we waited for the warning to lift and for it to be safe to go back to the camper for the night.

The warning was lifted and all was clear. We made our way back to the camper and were thankful the tornado decided not to come in our direction!
The wild weather brought to us a beautiful sunset upon the little lake and the boys and I enjoyed the view and reflected upon the day's adventures. This was definitely a day we would always remember!!!