Don Johnson Letters and Journals
Captain of
“The Mando of Rainy Lake”
(and Check Writer for M&O Pulpwood Storage Yard)
Part 22

1/1/47 A cold blustery day but decided to start on ice. Boys had field already cleared off. Had one tier in by noon. Got second tier in by 4 p.m. but knocked off to listen to Rose Bowl game.
1/2/47 Had to keep moving to stay warm. Got fourth tier up by 5 p.m. and decided to finish last one because colder weather predicted for tomorrow. Put up last tier in jig time. Cut the 28 cakes then called for Layna. Buck and I in house, Byrne & Ed on line, Layna driving Chevy. 14 below zero when we quit at 6:30.
1/14/47 Sun came up clear but clouded up early and snow began in earnest — a real blizzard. For a while we couldn’t see any of the islands. I spent practically whole day sorting pictures — 1,283 of them. Snow quit as sun went down. Getting much colder.
1/15/47 Listened to Bing Crosby and Information Please. This is a regular Wednesday night entertainment for us. Charley McCarthy is only other program that we listen to regularly.
1/16/47 Planned to make road to landing with plows. Finally did, but it was one sweet job. Car kept slipping out of low gear just when it was going pretty fair. We raised Ford up and began to take out transmission.
1/17/47 I missed Andersons so walked to Olson’s. All our troubles are nothing compared with theirs. Price of mink has gone plumb to hell.
1/18/47 Stayed home and worked on Ford all day. Took transmission off then Byrne and I hiked over to Dahlbergs after one on old Ford. Put transmission on O.K. but bell housing wouldn’t fit on universal joint. Byrne went all the way back to Dahlberg’s after one.
1/26/47 A “company” day. Ernie came about 10:30 and stayed until we could see Byrne and his gang coming. He tells us he is leaving French’s for sure in spring but winds up by saying he must get Johnson motor repaired so he will have something for next summer! Ruth Place, Donna Steingas, Mildred Borg and Jimmy Gordon with Byrne. Kids went home early after helluva big feed. Ruth stayed until 9 p.m. when Buck took her in.
1/29/47 Andersons stayed in town so I rode to Crystal Beach with Fritz Hilke. Hiked from there home in 55 minutes. Not bad for an old man.
2/4/47 -22 Strong NW. A damned cold day - wind tough from NW so I decided to stay home. Did some work on folder and made plans for cabin.
2/5/47 Stopped at Wagness’. Heard all about Ernie deal. Also overjoyed at hearing ice job cost Major $70.00! Not such a bad world after all.
2/10/47 Layna and I had supper at Bruggeman’s and went to see It’s a Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart. Good.
2/11/47 All set to go home at 5 p.m. when Layna told me we were invited to stay at Lewis [Keyes] & Carol’s. Did. Went to hockey game. Fort 5 - Duluth 3. Our first game of season and we really enjoyed it. Karen sure makes a hit with everyone with her ready smile.
2/12/47 Lewis and I out to Holler to look at wreck of plane that killed Jim Hammond and seriously injured Jim Dilworth. A helluva mess. Buck and Leon [Sweeney] all set to start camping.
2/14/47 Had memorable trip home. Came out in Sheldon’s Ercoupe. It is true what they say about them. I’ll bet I could fly one right now. Made loop via Island View, Rocky Narrows, Sandpoint and home.
2/16/47 Got letters done when company came. Bruggemans, Paveks (with kids) and Agnes McIntyre. Had nice time. Gang left at 8:30. Byrne went along to help pull toboggan and kids as Burt and Hugh had hard time coming over! I guess we are a tough family - maybe only by comparison with the city softies.
2/17/47 A wild morning when I got up at 5:45. Temperature dropped 10 degrees in one hour. Sally and I out into it at 7 a.m. As we rounded Bever Island and got full force of wind in our faces, Sally shouted, “I wouldn’t miss these hikes on Monday morning for anything!”
[Although Don had been hired by the M&O as captain of the houseboat, it was a year round job. His winter assignment was as a check writer at the pulpwood storage yard between the Falls and Ranier.
2/19/47 Bert came to boat to tell me I was needed at Pulp Yard as Jim Robb’s wife had died. Really put in a busy session. 62 truck on our shift another 38 came in after we left. Buck and Leon here when I got home. Think they had a good time.
2/20/47 Stopped at Andersons Island [Gwanatchewan – later Holiday Isle] on way home for first look at layout. Wouldn’t have been more surprised if I had walked in on construction of Empire State building. Many rumors and predictions making the rounds, but I hereby make mine. The place will never operate at even 1⁄2 capacity this summer unless they get more help - and lots of it.
#[The facilities at Norway Island were expanded by the addition of a new guest cabin and a laundry/shower house.]
2/23/47 Whole family collaborated on plans for new cabin. Tired us out so we took 1 hour nap at noon. Just got up when Cliff & Lou came in. Wasted afternoon and played hearts till 10 p.m.
2/25/47 Back to the yard - and busy. I made out 62 tickets in 4 hours for an all time high for me. Made one bad mistake when I deducted 1 1⁄4 cords for rot - using Jim’s figures, which I misunderstood.
2/27/47 Went to Job’s Daughters installation in evening. Kids did well. Coffee at Stormo’s before started out.
3/9/47 Open house at the Johnson’s this Sunday. Lewis and Carol came first - we hiked to top of Keyes Island. Then came the Carpenters with Mrs. Vallad. Then the Bruggemans and Dr. Erle Thompson, then Carl & Pete. Big feed on porch.
3/22/47 I helped Jack on shower house. Everything went fine. Got foundation made and sills & joists in. Even laid 1⁄2 of floor. Figured from book how to lay out rafter with square.
3/24/47 There was an average of 6” of water on road and that had frozen down about an inch. Had to put chains on to make any headway. Made fairly good progress until muffler caught on ice and came loose. Had one helluva time getting it out. In p.m. hauled 2 loads of Insulite with Cleve Costley.
3/27/47 Got into a real discussion (not argument) on cutting rafters. Finally got a 2 x 4 solid full of marks but when we made the cut, it was the right one.
4/3/47 Went to Fort Frances and saw MacKellar. Seemed O.K. On to houseboat. Had lunch with Louie. Ordered reels from Noden.
4/5/47 Saw Albert for a few minutes at landing and he was plenty sore at Mabes. No money. Damn. Will sell my bill, for $60.00 worth of ice for $10.
4/8/47 Herman and I to Olson’s early and then on up lake to put up ice. Lawrence and Frank Kocinski rest of crew. Went fine.
4/13/47 Sunday. Finally hit a snag on the ice business as anybody with an ounce of brains knew we would. You just can’t go on having things your own way when dealing with that stuff. Too many uncontrollable factors involved. Ice conditions, weather, etc.
4/21/47 Drove Chevy back across ice. Probably last trip for her altho ice as good as ever. Rest of family seems to think we carry a good thing too far by putting car on lake at this time of the year - even tho we know there is still 30 inches of ice.
4/29/47 Had planned to take Ford and haul stove but worried about getting back in evening. Decided to put Ford away on Bever Island. Made run for it and altho front wheels made the shore, the hind wheels dropped in. Tied her to a tree and there she sits.
5/4/47 Got into long winded discussion with boys over dock. Very interesting but tiring.
5/5/47 First boat trip of season - altho I am sure we could still walk on ice on west side of island. Byrne, Sally and I in kicker. Broke ice out about 100 feet near island - open until small island between Keyes & Deer. Broke about 100 feet of loose ice then on to Manny Larson’s cabin.
5/11/47 Lake opened. Me to town early and we put Talbot in water. Quite an experience. She leaks like a basket. Home at dark - dead tired.
5/14/47 Mando up the lake by Hallet according to schedule. Trip uneventful. Beautiful day - beautiful job by Martin.
5/27/47 Snow. To Frog Portage with Paul Laurence to look over possibility of dredging channel. Snowed most of way. A helluva cold ride but Paul sure can take it.
5/31/47 Took whole party to Sand Island Falls. Just like old times. Big jacks really hitting. Hank Stormo landed 19 3⁄4 #. Two others landed over 12#. Several over 6. Walleyes pretty good. Lardy still going strong.