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March 24, 2010

Grandma's Sewing Machine


I like antiques that have stories behind them. This was my Grandma Irma's toy sewing machine, and it definitely has a story.

My Great-Great-Grandpa Jens came to the United States from Norway, settled in North Dakota, and started a farm. There was another Norwegian man who worked for him named Kallelious Broten (pronounced Kuh-daily-us). When my Great-Grandpa James took over the farm, Kallelious worked for him. When the Great Depression hit, my Great-Grandpa couldn't afford to pay him any more, but Kallelious loved my Great-Grandpa's family so much that he wanted to stay for just room and board.

My Great-Grandparents had five children, James, Glenn,Norris (pronouced Norse) Irma (my Grandma), and Anne Christine. They loved Kallelious, and he loved them. They also loved to look at the Sears catalog, and if there was something in it that they really wanted, Kallelious wanted them to ask him for it. My Grandma spotted this sewing machine, and told Kallelious.

He only had one reletive that they knew of, living in a town a few hours away. There was a Sears in that town, and then next time Kallelious visited his relative, he bought the the sewing machine for Grandma.

Doesn't Red Riding Hood look fetching in her German attire? And do you see the Big Bad Wolf's wicked grin?

Grandma gave it to me for my seventeenth birthday. I think Kallelious would be happy that it's still being enjoyed!

3 comments:

  1. Very nice!

    You're 17 already? Wow, time flies.

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  2. Yup, I'm 17. What's really scary is to think about how old our "baby" brothers are. Is Nathaniel (sp?) almost 13 too?

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