“Taget ombordstigning” Ester heard the station master announcement and jumped up from her bench.
She thought, It’s time to go! She picked up her skirt and climbed into the train giving the train porter her ticket as she turned into the car. Tonight she would be in Goteborg, the port city she had read about and saw pictures of but had never thought she could actually travel there. Her train ride companion was sleep or a view of her beloved countryside. She dreamed about how her life in Chicago would be and about bringing her child to America. Still lost in her thoughts she started to see new buildings in her view past the wooded landscape. The sky was bright with the long-day sun still up high in the late afternoon. First, in the distance she saw tall rooftops, then as the train slowed entering the city more doors and large windows, smokestacks, church steeples and water towers. Finally in the background the ship stacks sticking out from behind the clouds as the train approached the station. Ester’s stomach growled and she smiled and thought to herself, I’m going to have to find a place to eat before boarding the ship tomorrow morning.
The train screeched as it slowed more and more coming into the station. Steam rose blocking her view. “Goteborg” the train porter announced. She had arrived at last. Now to find the Chalberg’s. They said they would meet her at the hotel near the ship yard in the Haga. She walked out of the train station to find the street crowded with many emigrants. They all walked the main street filled with small shops, pubs, cafes, and overnight lodgings. These were their distractions while they waited for their ships to leave. Ester was looking for the Tullpackhuset, the Custom’s Pack House. Lars Chalberg had told her he would leave a message for her there.
Ester approached the cage-like counter where she could talk to a uniformed clerk.
“Hej! Finns det ett meddelande till Ester Nilsson?” She asked.
The clerk left the window while Ester waited for his return.
“Froken Nilsson?” the clerk asked.
“Yaj!” Ester responded as he handed her an envelope with her name on it.
“Tack sa mycket,” Ester said as she walked to a bench away from the window to read the message. The message told her to meet them at the Varv Stuga (hotel) down the street from the Tullpackhuset. Ester walked down the street toward the hotel but she decided to eat on the way and entered a café that had a sign for “Bakverk”. Ester had a sweet tooth and loved pastries.
She got her pastries and looked around for a place to sit but the café was very full. Looking around she noticed an empty chair at a table with a young woman sitting by herself.
Ester approached her and said “Far jag sitta har?”
The young woman looked up and smiled saying “Sit ner.”
Ester unburdened herself placing her plate of pastries on the table, her suitcase on the floor under her chair and her coffee cup next to her plate as she sat down.
“Jag heter Ester.” she said reaching her hand toward the other woman.
The tiny woman with blue eyes and Kewpie doll lips answered shaking Ester’s hand,
“Jag heter Anya.”
“Reser Du till Amerika?” Ester asked.
Anya answered that she was going to America with the first leg of her travel on a ship to Hull tomorrow.
Ester was shocked. “Jag med!” (Me, too)
This opened a flood of conversation about their travel plans. Later, Ester told Anya she had to leave to meet her traveling companions but she would meet up with her again on the ship tomorrow. As she left to find the Chalberg’s hotel she thought, How lucky that she had found someone to share her travels with. It made her feel less alone.
The hotel was a tiny accommodation where she shared a room with three other women. It was meant to be just an overnight stop for most emigrants on their way out of Sweden. The Chalbergs also had a small room with only two cots for their brief stay.
“I will be glad when we board the Caronia in Hull, the accommodations will be much better,” Astrid sighed.
She had spent much time shopping in the Haga while Lars had made their travel arrangements and stored their trunks to be delivered to the ship for their voyage in the morning.
“Ester are you ready for the voyage?” Astrid asked as they sat in the common room of the hotel that evening.
“Yaj, I met a young woman named Anya while I was on my way to meet with you. We agreed to meet on the ship to continue our conversation.” Ester said.
“We will leave the hotel at 7 in the morning to board the ship. Before we board we will be given a brief medical examination to ensure we are well enough to board.” Astrid explained.
“Ester your exam may take longer since this is your first voyage.” She continued. “The 3rd class passengers will board after the 1st class group so we will be separated for a time. You should find the young woman you met so you have some companionship while you wait. Your passage covers the train travel across Scotland to Hull, England where we board the Caronia and also your train travel to Chicago once we get to New York.”
Ester was overwhelmed by the travel plans. It was a long trip. She would just have to keep her spirits up with thoughts of how her future would follow. Astrid went on about her home in Evanston and what Ester will do when they arrive, but Ester was tired and anxious to get some sleep after her long train ride today.
She stood up and said, “Astrid, I must retire for the night. See you in the morning.”
“Gud Valsigna.” (God Bless) Astrid responded
On board the Caronia of the Cunard Line from Hull
“How can this be?” Ester mused. “I am to travel steerage while the Chalberg’s have first class accommodations.” Words she thought as they approached the shipyard in Hull to board the Cunard Line ship the Caronia. (*)
The trip across the ocean should take about 7 days then she would be in America. Ester did find Anya the morning they started their journal from Goteborg to Hull. She knew she would not see much of Astrid and Lars during their crossing. She guessed that the train from New York to Chicago would give her plenty of time with the Chalbergs before she got to Evanston. Her travel to America on the Caronia would give her an opportunity to meet other young Swedish immigrant woman traveling to a new life with the promise of good incomes. Ester made arrangements to share a cabin with Anya, the other Swedish woman she had met in the café in Goteborg. Anya Swansson, her full name, was from Malmo in southern Sweden. She was returning to America after visiting her family. Anya had worked in domestic service on the Northshore suburbs of Chicago last year but had to leave her position to go home when her father was taken ill. So now, like Ester, she was also looking for a new position. The young women discovered that they were going to the same area in Chicago. Anya lived in a boarding house on Clark Street just south of Evanston. It turned out to be a fair distance south from where the Chalbergs lived and where Ester would be staying until she found her permanent accommodations.
They got to their cabin after going down many stairs and hallways on board the ship.
Hej! Ester exclaimed as she opened the cabin door. This was a pleasant room. Not what she had expected after the berth on the ship from Goteborg and the uncomfortable seats on the train to Hull.
Anya looked in and was also surprised at the room also. There were 4 beds with a wash basin and a chest of drawers. Fresh linens on the beds. It smelled refreshingly clean. They were told the toilets were down the hall.
“We can at least be the first to choose our beds.” Anya said as the young women sat on the lower bunks across from each other.
“Anya, we are here.” Ester said excitedly as she gestured at the cabin and laid down on the bed taking off her hat.
“Yes,” answered Anya. “We even have lovely meals in a dining room and we can walk on the deck if the weather is good.”
“I wish I had more clothes to wear. I’m getting tired of my traveling suit with just my change of blouses. Ester said as she stood up and place her small suitcase on her bed.
“I understand they have a library in the dining area where we can find books to read on our voyage.”
“Are they in Swedish?” Ester asked. “I can’t read English.”
“Well, I guess we will find out. Come on let’s get ready to go to the dining room.” Anya tugged on Ester’s arm.
The women approached the dining area after walking along lots of never-ending hallways bumping into other passengers on their way. They found the dining room had many long tables with benches already crowded. The room smelled of their dinner and there was a buzz of conversations in what sounded like many different languages. They walked around the entire room together since Anya was looking for the ‘library’. There was only a small selection of reading materials, books and newspaper, but not all in English.
Anya said to Ester, “You could practice some English and learn some English words with these newspapers. I will help you.”
Ester just frowned and sighed with exhaustion thinking about the task ahead of her. She was glad to be going to a Swedish community in Chicago so she didn’t have to work too hard at learning English until she got more accustomed to her new home.
On their journey they talked about jobs and shopping for new clothes and finding boyfriends or even husbands. Fortunately, the woman had no other passengers sharing their room so they had much time to plan how their lives would be in Chicago. Anya told Ester about the job she hoped to go back to in the lunch room at the University in Evanston. Anya said she would help Ester find a job, maybe even in the lunch room where she worked.
They would get up in the morning and have breakfast in the dining room. Then they would walk up to the deck to get some fresh air and possibly see the sunshine. Just viewing the ocean on the crowded deck was so enthralling. Ester lived inland so she did not have much experience on the open seas. Anya was a more experienced traveler and in southern Sweden she lived close to the sea. They didn’t talk much with the other passengers. Mostly because of the language barrier, but also because they were young women on their own and feared drawing attention to themselves. After their luncheon they would go to their room and read to each other or just talk and talk.
At dinner there was more activity in the dining room. Often there was music and singing and dancing. Fun for the women to watch even if they didn’t know the language or the dance steps. Surprisingly the sea was calm and the voyage went fast.
One morning they heard the ship was approaching New York harbor for their departure and the next leg of their travels to Chicago. (**) Now they faced the Ellis Island medical examinations.
Ellis Island
The morning arrived when the ship entered New York harbor. Ester had hardly slept the night before. She was worried as Mrs. Chalberg had told her that since she was a third class passenger she would have to go through the ‘inspection’ on Ellis Island while Mr. and Mrs. Chalberg, being second class passengers, only had to go through a brief examination on board ship before they got off the ship in New York. Anya as well did not have the same process as Ester. She only had to show her medical exam card since she was a returning immigrant.
The Chalbergs left a message at Ester’s cabin that morning stating they would meet her at Grand Central Terminal in the main waiting room. It said they would wait for her to pass the inspection and be released into the city to board the train to Chicago. It would be nearly five hours before Ester would set foot on Manhattan Island. Third class passengers travelled a brief ferry ride from the docked ship and then stepped out on a wooden ramp that lead to Ellis Island’s Main building. Once off the ferry, the passengers were then directed to put their luggage on the side and go into separate areas for women or men. Fortunately, for Ester, Lars Chalberg took charge of her trunk so she only had her smaller bag which she had used for her shipboard travel. As Anya and Ester approached the waiting lines, Ester started making shrieking sounds with long deep breathes as if she was going to faint.
“Oh, Anya, Oh, look at that man!” Ester nearly screamed as she talked covering her eyes.
“Ester what is wrong. Why are you so distressed by that man?” Anya clutched Ester’s arm trying to understand her distress.
“He’s burned. He must be burned all over his body. Anya, Oh Anya, his face looks like coal.” Ester cried now falling to her knees.
And much to Anya’s surprise the man walked towards them. The man was dressed like a laborer with overalls and work shirt and heavy boots.
“Pardon me Madam, Is there something wrong?” The man asked taking off his hat and tipping his head.
Ester looks up and screamed covering her eyes. The man steps away in shock. Anya held her as she buries her face in Anya arms. Anya whispers in Swedish to her, “Ester, what is wrong with you. This gentleman is only trying to be helpful.”
Anya tried to address the man with her little English, “Sorry sir. My friend is upset because she believes you were on fire. She is Svenska. Anya hesitates to find the right words. “She’s never seen a negro person all her life.”
Ester is whimpering and looking away from the man. The man answered as he walked away, “You will see many more people like me here in America. You will get used to it.”
Anya said, “Ester can you pull yourself together? We have to go into the hall for the inspection. Everyone is looking us. We don’t want to bring attention to ourselves now.”
Ester stood up wiping her eyes looking foolish as she watched the man walk away.
Saying to Anya, “I didn’t know.” She straightened her hat and picked up her small bag walking into the line.
Ester thought, this was just one of many new experiences she would have in America. She hoped she would be better at handling herself as the fear and the shock of her new life became more and more real to her.
Although waiting in line for the medical inspection took longer than she thought Anya and Ester did not have any problems. They were finally released to board another ferry to the island of Manhattan.
“Ester hurry, we have to get a trolley to Grand Central Terminal if we are to make the train to Chicago.” Anya called to her friend as they got off the ferry.
The women ran out to the street to find the trolley they needed dodging crowds of people. As they approached each trolley Anya said to the conductor, “Grand Central Terminal?”
They were directed to at least three different trolley lines before they finally found the correct trolley. Anya had American money with her to pay the fee. They took their seats and got their bags situated. Then they viewed before them New York City’s crowded streets. Sidewalks filled from curb to storefront with men and women in black or dark colored suits and dresses moving swiftly along even among the crowds. The streets were also filled. Besides the trolleys moving at a steady pace along their tracks. Horses pulling carriages or wagons crossed in front of the trolleys. Other trolleys going the opposite way then theirs crossing under bridges and over the streets. People crossed the streets also without fear of the trolleys running them over. Some walking calmly others racing along to get to the other side. Everything moved. It seemed. They turned corner after corner and then saw ahead their destination, the Grand Central Terminal. Both woman giggled with excitement as the trolley pulled up in front of the terminal.
“Just one more, long ride then we will be in Chicago.” Anya said excitedly as they entered the large arched doors to the terminal’s main waiting hall.
“I hope we can find the Chalberg easily. It looks like a big place.” Ester said impatiently.
Walking into the main hall both women were shocked at how big it was. There were large windows and huge arched doorways covered by a domed celestial ceiling sparkling with constellations.
Anya looked at Ester and said, “Where do we begin to find the Chalbergs?”
Ester said, “Maybe if we find the Chicago train schedule we can narrow down our hunt.”
“Good idea!” Anya turned to view the hall again. She saw ticket booths at one end of the hall as did Ester so they both shook their heads to the other and moved toward them. Anya was first to reach an empty ticket line so she asked “When is the next train to Chicago departing?”
The ticket master said, Gate 29. Before he could finish both women were off in the direction of Gate 29. Their excitement rose as they passed endless number of travelers.
When they reached the gate they walked out to the platform to see if they would find the Chalbergs waiting. No one they knew was in site. They decided to sit on a bench nearest the gate door to watch out for the Chalbergs. It was now 4 o’clock in the evening. The women knew there were special immigrant trains which took immigrants westward from New York to Chicago. The trip to Chicago took 4-5 days with no less than 3 stops every day for meals. It was going to be another long train ride.