The young Berg family not only faced the uncertainty with the war in Europe, but by January 1918, a viral pandemic was sweeping the world. Termed, the Spanish Influenza, this novel H1N1 virus killed millions of people worldwide. The relative isolation of rural central Wisconsin may have provided some shelter from both threats, but no doubt the fear was there. Antone and Ragnhild held their two young children close, told stories, sang songs, keeping a playful household, the laughter buoying their spirits while keeping the threats of the world far from their children.
1920 US Census Record excerpt - Town of Easton. The whole page is filled with so many familiar names!
A favorite pastime was baseball. Antone played for the local team, The Echo. Families gathered at the Eau Claire River Dells County Park for baseball games and picnics.
Years before, Antone’s brother Gust had moved to the northwest. He and Leona Odett were married in 1907 in Everett, Washington, where they started a family. Gust worked as a millwright. The brothers had grown up learning this trade from their father, working in his sawmill in Wisconsin. Gust encouraged Antone to leave farming, bring the family and join them in the Northwest. Sylvia, ten years old by this time, had a vague memory of the long train trip to meet her Uncle Gust, Aunt Leona, and cousins Evoy and Dorothy.
A picture from Mom's photo album. Must have been taken from the train on the voyage.
Antone and Gust worked together at the shingle company for about six months when their mother Hanna became ill. Antone and family packed up and moved back to Wisconsin.
Mom recalled that they were so delighted that the family dog, Hector, remembered them.
Hanna Berg died on 24 April 1924.
Shortly thereafter, Antone and his family moved to Milwaukee where jobs for carpenters were plentiful. Milwaukee City Directories help us track where the family lived.
Milwaukee City Directory excerpt - 1925
Here, the last entry sows Antone (a carpenter) and Ragnhild living on Leeds Place, near Jackson Park on the south side of the city.
Milwaukee City Directory excerpt - 1928
By 1928, Antone and Ragnhild had moved to an upper duplex at 1110 Hayes Ave, paying $35 per month.
Both the Leeds Place and Hayes Ave homes found enough room
for the four Bergs and a boarder or two. There is a Norwegian saying, “where there is room in your heart, there is room in your home.” The Bergs lived
by this saying. It was common practice during that time to take in boarders. It
was a way to help with income as the depression settled in. The boarders at the
Berg house were frequently Norwegian immigrants, finding a warm welcome
with this Norwegian-speaking family. Ragnhild kept them nourished with
traditional dishes and baked goods, reminiscent of their homeland, and Antone
nourished their hearts regaling them with songs and stories. Some boarders
remained friends for many years.
My mom, Sylvia Berg Lien is seen here with one of their boarders, Anna Swensen, a young Norwegian woman.
Author's note: Before WWII, Anna returned to Norway to care for her ailing mother, intending to return to Milwaukee. Anna stayed in Fredrikstad to care for her father after her mother's death. In 1977, I had the privilege of meeting, and staying with Anna in her home.
Sylvia and Bob attended high school at Milwaukee South High graduating the same year.
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After graduation, Bob secured a job in Chicago working at the Simond’s Saw and Steel Co. and Sylvia worked at the Boston Store in downtown Milwaukee. After a few years Antone, Ragnhild and Sylvia moved back up north to Wausau, renting a duplex at 609 ½ Chicago Ave. He was self-employed as a carpenter, making cabinets and furniture as the post-WWII economy was flourishing. Sylvia had several jobs working as a domestic for the Wausau Club and various families living on “East Hill” before procuring a secretarial position with the Marathon Corporation. And Ragnhild “kept house”.
1940 US Census - Wausau, Wisconsin
Once again, the world was engaging in war and on 7 December 1941 the US was thrown into the action with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In April 1942, Antone completed another Registration Card for possible service in World War II. He was 56 years old and about to become a grandfather for the first time. What would be expected of a recruit who was well into his middle years? But again, Antone was not called upon for military duty.
Within four years the war had ended, Antone was looking at retirement and the Berg family was expanding into the next generation.
