Olof had hoped to see Ester at the Petters’ job when they returned the next day to finish the porch, but she wasn’t there. He was disappointed. He had found himself thinking of her pale blue eyes and her fine light brown hair. She had a way of wrinkling her nose when she answered in English. He really wanted to see her again but the Petters’ job would be done today. He would have to think of a reason to come back.
“Johansson, get that hammer I left on the wagon”, William Carlson bellowed.
It startled Olof and he dropped the wood he was carrying to the porch.
“Hey, Johansson, where were you?” Carlson laughed, “Thinking about the Froken (Miss) instead of paying attention to your work, hey!”
Olof harrumphed as he picked up the wood and brought the hammer to William.
“Sorry.” Olof wrinkled his forehead in thought.
He asked, “Hey, Carlson, Isn’t your wife in English classes at the Svea Club in Chicago? Maybe my Froken is in the same class.
William Carlson lifted his cap and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Looking back at Olof he grinned.
“Oh, so now she’s ‘your’ Froken.” William teased.
But Olof would have none of it.
“Alright Carlson, you know what I mean. Just ask your wife, will ya?”
Olof and William finished the back steps at the Petters. They ate lunch before they went back to the Carlson Carpentry Company to review the next day’s work. Carlson’s was a small business William had started in his old carriage house at the back of his home on McDaniel Avenue in Evanston. When the big Carpentry Union jobs ended William had always been slow to get back to work again. His small company kept him working in between his Union jobs. More and more he did fewer Union jobs as his company’s reputation grew.
Earlier in the year 1908
Olof and William had met at the Carpentry Union office when Olof came looking for a job after he arrived in Chicago. Like many new immigrants with carpentry skills, the Union office was their first stop after they arrived.
William came to the office looking for a worker to help with a big job he had just contracted. The bell dinged as William entered the storefront Union office on Broadway.
“Hej, Good Morning”, William greeted the clerk at the tall counter. There were several men sitting around a makeshift waiting room in front of the counter. Olof was one of them. He had just turned in his application to the clerk as William entered. Olof was still standing at the counter as William came up to speak to the clerk.
“Hey, Mr. Carlson, what can we do for you today?” the clerk asked still holding Olof’s application in his hands.
William said, “I am looking for a carpenter who can assist me on a job.”
Olof spoke up in his broken English, “I am good skills in wood and building.”
William addressed him in Swedish, “I need someone who can do fine carving for a porch roof with corbels and trim.”
Olof took his application out of the clerk’s hand and handed it to William with a smile. The clerk attempted to take it back in protest but William held on to it and just grinned at the skinny, eager man.
Olof spoke directly to William, “My name is Olof Johansson.”
He looked over the application and said, “How long have you been in Chicago?”
Olof straightened up tall and said in Swedish. “One week. I must find work. I have apprenticed for 10 years.”
This impressed William. Most of the workers were day laborers who had no training except what they had learned on the job. They weren’t actually members of the Carpentry Union but just hoped to get any work available. Olof clearly had the skills he needed.
“Come with me Mr. Johansson.” William gestured to the door. He placed the application back on the counter and walked out the door. There was a grumbling of male voices as Olof followed William out of the Union Office.
Once they got outside and were walking along Broadway, William asked him to join him for coffee down the street at the corner restaurant. They talked over coffee with Olof telling William about his life.
Olof said he had arrived in New York Harbor in 1907. He crossed on the Baltic, part of the White Star Line. He was a third class passenger leaving Gothenburg on November 17, 1907 and arriving in New York on November 27, 1907 and then coming to Chicago on December 7, 1907. Olof told William that he liked to tell people he met his arrival dates since he felt like “7” “7” “7” in 1907 was lucky for him, although the trip hadn’t been that pleasant. Olof hadn’t been sure where he was going to end up, but he knew his carpentry skills would get him where he needed to go. On Ellis Island he met other immigrants heading for Chicago and their stories about the building boom there convinced him that was the place for him.
Olof had saved and planned for his move to America since he was a young apprentice in Kroppa, Varmland, Sweden. He was from a large family, 5 girls and 6 boys. Being one of the youngest boys, there was not much hope for an exciting life with his older brothers inheriting the family lands and his other brothers being sent to professional schools. Olof focused on learning an artisan skill to bring him up in the world. He started his apprenticeship with a local neighbor who was a furniture maker.
Olof remembered that Herr Lindquist always said, “Let the wood speak to you. It comes alive as you carve and sand it into shape. The legs of a table or the flat boards for a sideboard all have their own story.”
When Olof was 15 he was sent to Goteberg to continue his carpentry training. There was more opportunity for shaping his skills in the bigger city, as William knew.
During their long conversation, William told Olof of his small company and the new job his company had just acquired. He said he wanted Olof to work for him. They discussed wages and William gave Olof his address and they planned for Olof to start work the next day.
They worked together for several months over the winter and into the early spring and became friends. Olof met William’s wife Elsa and he often joined them for evening meal after a big job. One evening, in the late spring, William and Olof were in the Carriage House unloading lumber left over from that day’s work when Elsa came to greet them.
“William, are you ready for supper?” She asked. Seeing Olof she said, “Mr. Johansson, you should join us for supper.”
William responded, “Yaj, Yaj, Olof and I will be up to the house shortly.” Shooing Elsa back to the house so they could finish their work.
Later, as William and Olof entered the kitchen, Elsa stopped them and said, “Clean up downstairs, the table will be ready then.”
They sat down to a dinner of fish, cabbage and potatoes. The table was set in the kitchen, a simple cooks table. Tonight Elsa used her nice dishes from Sweden since they had a guest.
After the meal prayer, William asked Elsa, “Where did you get the fish?”
Elsa answered, “Old Mr. Yungdahl next door had a good catch in Lake Michigan today”
Elsa continued to talk while the men listened and ate. She told them about her English class at the Svea Club. She asked Olof, “Are you taking any classes in English?”
Olof said, “Nah, It’s mostly for women. I learn on my own.”
William spoke up teasing Olof, “Much better you should go since then you could meet a nice woman to marry.”
Elsa and William laughed. Olof only smiled and finished his dinner.
Elsa said, “One last piece of fish!” Both men shook their heads no. Elsa continued, “So I will save for my lunch tomorrow when I go to the planning meeting for the Swedish Old People’s Home (*) fundraiser.” She began to clear the dishes for coffee and sweet bread.
William said as he sat back to drink his dinner coffee, “When will that take place?”
Elsa answered as she poured Olof some coffee, “The Sunday after next.” “It will be a nice picnic with dancing and games. William will be leading the games.” she said as she looked up at Olof.
“What? Hej, Elsa not again.” William protested. He looked at Olof and said, “See what women in your life do to you.”
Olof laughed. Shaking his head as he finished his coffee.
Elsa chimed in, “Mr. Johansson can help you!” addressing William.
Then everybody laughed.
William pressed Olof’s shoulder and said, “I guess you’d better come to the picnic, right?”
Before Olof could answer, Elsa said, “Many of the ladies from my English class will be there.”
Leading up to the fundraiser a week later.
After much prodding from Olof, William finally did ask Elsa if she knew a Swedish woman who was a cook and who might be in her English class. Of course, William was happy to bother Olof about his interest in Ester but he still encouraged Olof to come to the Swedish Old People’s Home picnic and fundraiser. He even told Olof he was lucky since old Mr. Yungdahl, his neighbor next door volunteered to organize the games so he and William didn’t have to be responsible for them.
All week before the picnic, William would fill Olof in on the fundraiser planning progress as they went to their various carpentry jobs.
“Tonight, the ladies are coming to my home for the final planning meeting. Would you care to take dinner with me at the bar since Elsa wants me to be scarce?” William asked.
Before he even answered Olof about dinner Olof asked, “Will Froken Nilsson be there?”
“Easy, good man”, William laughed. “Yes she will be there but I just told you that Elsa said I should not be around so the ladies can work without distraction.”
Olof sighed but before he could answer William said, “You will see her at the picnic on Sunday.”
At home, Elsa was gathering the final details in her head about the planning meeting. She had her lists of the food dishes for the potluck picnic and who was bringing them. Mr. Yungdahl had given her a list of the games so she could assign ladies to assist with each one. Tonight the assignments would be made for covering the food tables and assisting with the games. Many of the youth whose parents were members of several Swedish Society associations were putting up the tables and chairs borrowed from their church.
Ester made her way to the Carlson’s home which was further west on Colfax Ave. from her employer’s home. She walked past the larger homes with the big lawns to the dirt roads closer to farm areas off of Green Bay Road. The Carlson home was one of the first worker houses built on an old Noyes estate abandoned after the railroad came through that area. The wealthy owners moved north to get away from the city and the university expansion. Only the carriage houses and some barns remained. Some of the streets were paved with bricks and there were some gas lights along McDaniel Avenue where the Carlsons lived. As Ester approach the Carlson home she saw other woman already approaching the house and Elsa was at the door welcoming them as they came in.
Elsa addressed the group, “Ladies, please make yourselves comfortable around the table.” She greeting Ester and asked her, “Ester can you help pour the coffee? It’s on the stove in the kitchen.”
There were at least a dozen or more woman gathered in the Carlson dining room.
When the woman had settled down with their coffee, potato and meatball pies and pepparkakor desert, Elsa said, “I have the lists of assignments on these pages I am passing out. Please put your name next to the game or food table you wish to work at during the picnic. We should all arrive at 1pm to make sure we can receive the food as people arrive and help Mr. Yungdahl with the games’ set up. The tables will be set up by the confirmation class on the front lawn of the building. Pioneer Street will be closed off for games and dancing. Two ladies will be at each end of Pioneer Street to collect the entrance fees.”
Conversation buzzed with an occasional trickle of laughter as the women discussed where they chose to work and who they wanted to work with. It took them a good hour before all the names were placed on the pages and everyone had decided their specific position. The lists were turned into Elsa as the ladies departed for their homes.
Ester gathered cups and plates and asked Elsa, “Can I wash these dishes for you?”
Elsa answered, “Oh, no just put them in the sink. William ate his dinner at the bar so I can wash them later while I wait for him to come home. Before you go I did want to talk to you about something. Please sit down with me at the table.”
Ester put the rest of the plates and food she was holding in the kitchen then came back into the dining room to talk with Elsa. She said, “What is it?”
“Ester, I know you have had problems and I want to make sure you are alright with something.” Elsa started to speak further but Ester interrupted.
“Elsa Elsa, What do you have to tell me?” Ester asked again impatiently.
Elsa blurted out, “William’s worker Olof has asked if you were coming to the picnic.”
Ester let out a little yelp before she covered her month and then giggled. Both women fell into laughter at each other before they could continue talking.
Finally, Ester took a deep breath, and said with a smile, “I guess I will have to wear my best dress to the picnic.”
The fundraiser.
Someone had brought a fiddle and there was another who brought an accordion. Dancers formed a circle on the blocked off road near the field where the Swedish Old People’s home stood. The fiddle began to play. The circle of dancers started spinning. The women then turned and twirled while the men circled them. A crowd formed around the dancers, clapping and laughing as they watched each new dance step in the traditional Swedish folk dance.
Olof took Ester’s hand and they joined the dance circle. Olof got to wrap his arm around her waist as he led her around the dance floor. When the music stopped he didn’t want to let go. They were both out of breath from the vigorous dancing.
Olof offered his hand to Ester while saying in Swedish, “Let’s get a drink.”
She took his hand and they walked toward the refreshment table in the field.
Ester said, “That was fun. I haven’t danced in so long. Not since…” and then she stopped talking and just smiled at Olof.
“I know what you mean, my sisters always dragged me into dancing with them when I was younger,” he said as he filled a cup of punch for Ester.
Ester smiled, “Tack. I have a sister, too. She is a lovely dancer.”
Olof filled a cup for himself. He toasted, “To more dancing.” He smiled warmly as he clinked her glass.
Ester smiled back as she drank her punch and watch Olof drinking his punch.
Disturbing the moment, William and Elsa approached the pair at the refreshment table. William slapped Olof on the back and smiled knowingly. Elsa also smiled as she poured punch into a cup to give to William.
“Didn’t know you could dance our folk dances, Olof Johansson,” William said.
Elsa chimed in as she sipped her punch. “We will expect to see you at the May Day dances from now on, Mr. Johansson.” Turning to Ester she said, “You too Ester.”
“Come Ester. It’s getting dark. We have to pack up.” Elsa said as she walked toward the other tables.
“I’ll be there shortly.” Ester said to Elsa then she looked back at Olof.
Olof took her hand again. Both hands this time. Looking into her eyes he said, “Ester, we both work all week but can I walk you home after church next Sunday?”
Ester smiled her agreement. “Yes, our service is over at noon. You can meet me at the Swedish Lutheran Church on the corner of Sherman and Lake Streets.
Olof walked Ester to the table where Elsa and William were packing up the picnic leftovers. He said goodnight to Elsa and William and then he just walked away. He had a long walk home since he lived in Chicago but he didn’t notice the distance since he could only think of their dance, his dance with Ester. He didn’t even think about asking William for a ride home.