Don Johnson Letters and Journals
Captain of “The Mando of Rainy Lake” and
Check Writer for the Mill Pulpyard
Living on Norway Island — Resort and Home
Part 29

1/1/50 Another year — and the start of another diary. Sometimes I think this is foolish, but again, it seems definitely worthwhile. It should afford some interesting reading for my old age and every now and again, I have occasion to look up such and such an event or date, and it is gratifying to find what I am looking for - so we will continue.

1/2/50 Don Dessin and couple of other kids out for afternoon and evening with Sally. Lewis and Carol, Rod and Gen Houska and Rube Julien out for drinks and supper. Layna fed our guests in living room with pancakes and sausages, Sally fed her guests in kitchen on Spanish rice and cake. That's entertaining on a big scale.

1/3/50 New government order says we have to make out slip and attach to each scale slip. Thought for a while that I was supposed to do the attaching, and got mad as hell. Too many doing nothing in department which got my goat. Another thing, it made me realize more how our “American Way of Life” is wrapped up in governmental red tape — I will probably live to see the day when we will all be choked by it.

1/4/50 No trouble starting jeep after I had fire under it for about 1/2 hour. Have rigged up a real smudge pot. A two pound coffee can with one of Karen's old dresses for a wick. I fill it up with fuel oil and let it go. When the car is warm, I pull the pot out and cover it with a water pail which smothers the fire, and it is all set for the next day. Traveling pretty tough. Have to run in second or low. Even got stuck once on way home when jeep got hung up on big, hard drift.

1/5/50 Not much to write about except fighting the cold and work. Jeep started fine after putting fire under for 1/2 hour. It is a cold rig to ride in but much more comfortable now that I thot of putting a blanket over my knees. Gave Jim DiOnne a ride home, and he was in fine form, telling me about Arden's love affair with young Barnes of St. Louis. He was much pleased over the fact that Gina wasn't taking it too well. Damned old gossip. Sally to sleigh ride party. It will be at least 20 below but I guess those kids can take it.

1/15/50 Wrote a couple of letters and played several games of canasta. Layna doesn't lose those games any more gracefully than she did gin or cribbage — maybe because I “smirk” when I win!

1/19/50 -35 Cold felt much better and no doubt but I could have forced myself to go to work. However, I knew Frankie Johnson needed something to occupy his time and my conscience didn't bother me too much.

1/22/50 Byrne and I finished throwing sawdust in — well done! To town with Byrne and Sally so Byrne left on 3 o'clock bus for Hibbing. I am happy to write that I feel better toward him today than I have for years. Had a vicarious wolf hunt this morning when plane swooped over island and gave chase to timber wolf off of Eight Mile. Learned later it was Louis Wietecha and Milton Tonn.

1/23/50 First trip on snowshoes and I hate to report that Old Man Johnson is soft.

1/28/50 -25. Ernie and Gertie stopped in on tractor. A cold job. Oscar snow shoed over and marked trail.

1/29/50 Ernie and Pappy here at 11 a.m. on the tractor. Ernie the coldest looking human I have ever seen. Face a solid mass of frost and ice, just a couple of peep holes at his eyes.

1/30/50 -44 Chevy wouldn't start — even with heater on for two hours. Walked on to Olson's and we couldn't start their car. I borrowed crank and came back to our car which took right off with crank. Said Harry “It was your own damned fault that you couldn't start your car — anybody who has monkeyed around with machinery as long as you should have bought a Ford in the first place. It says right on the radio that there are more Fords sold in Canada than any other kind!”

1/31/50 Another cold coming on so I called Carl for medicine. Got some anti-histamine pills which are the current rage for colds. Radio and papers full of ads. We shall see.

2/3/50 -10 Layna to town with me for the first time in 2-1/2 weeks.

2/4/50 Stopped at Olson's. Gladys said, “Come on in and tell me about murder out at the pulpwood yard!” ! Have known the Olsons for 20 years and it has ever been the same. It can't be possible that they hear only exaggerated versions of all doings. The exaggeration must be theirs!

2/5/50 +4 First above zero reading in morning since January 1.

2/7/50 George Dahl brought in spruce pulp ten sticks to cord. Dorr had load of poplar nine sticks to cord.

2/10/50 Cliff and Lou Moe hiked out with me after work. They are the only people from town who have spent an evening with us all winter.

2/11/50 Ernie and Gertie to and from island by snow shoes. Tough deal when you have $1600 invested in a tractor and have to walk.

2/12/50 Sunday. Many people threatened to walk out, but no one came. People we know are a bunch of sissies.

2/14/50 Waist 40”. Weight 174#. Layna and I started 1000 calorie diet. My belly is too big. Must be from sitting so much.

2/17/50 Weather: To date the month of February has been as good as January was bad. It has been ideal. No cold or snow.

2/20/50 Leo Prevost and son came out after dark to plow road. A helluva tough job which went further to substantiate what I have known for years - the best way to cross two miles of lake is on snowshoes. Byrne and I worked until 2:30 getting jeep out of slush. Marvelous display of northern lights. In many ways most spectacular I have ever seen.

2/21/50 Dock prospects look tough due to deep snow and water on ice.

2/22/50 John Carlson out early with Leo Prevost. Said he would see Clem Kusnerick and try to get M&O snow remover. He did! When I got home from work, they had cleared off almost an acre of lake where dock was to go which proves you can do anything if you have vision (and equipment) to do it. Now all we need is some cold weather to freeze the slush and water.

2/23/50 -26. We are getting the weather I asked for. Leo here at 9 a.m. with Oien boys. Said road getting filled with loose snow.

2/25/50 Layna and I to Masonic Dance. First public appearance since we came up here. Our trip on Delta Queen did much toward giving us necessary poise. Had a good time.

2/28/50 Crew came out in morning to work on dock but road partly drifted. I followed truck out with car and two hours later truck couldn't make it.

3/3/50 The tough luck that plagued our dock really came to a climax today. Con Darval, the helper on the city snow plow was run over and killed. Ernie and I started for town on foot and met plow near Thumb Narrows. It was stuck. We jacked up hind wheel several times and put gravel under it. Truck finally rolled about a foot and Darval called to Grover, the driver, “Go ahead and give'er hell back.” — and that is what he did. Darval ran back, stumbled in loose snow and in trying to get off road, the truck hind wheels ran over him. Ernie ran to Wagnesses and called ambulance. As near as can be ascertained, Darval was dead when we got him to road. A helluva mess, and almost certain to have repercussions because it was city outfit out of bounds. Mind full of thoughts, mostly unpleasant, rest of day.

3/4/50 First time we have fallen off diet wagon since Feb. 14. Have lost six pounds and 1-1/2 inch off gut. Mabes told Gladys that I was upset about accident yesterday. Now wasn't that damned unusual! The small talk of little people gets me down, but serves one purpose. I avoid it in my own conversation.

3/8/50 Wind still pretty rough so was surprised to meet M&O plow coming out. Thot they should wait till wind went down but they plowed road and all of pilings and timbers at island tonight. Truck worked until 11 p.m.

3/10/50 Ten pilings driven and now we have a fresh worry. Penetration only seven feet at west end but about eight and a half feet at east end. All we can do now is hope for best. At any rate, we are going to get some nice firewood from what is left from the pilings.

3/11/50 -15 The boys got in a full day on the dock and drove ten pilings without a hitch. Things are looking up.

3/12/50 Crew worked until 3 p.m. despite the fact that it was Sunday. Weather moderate, good road, all contributed to mass migration of neighbors to Johnson's. Layna fed lunch to 26 people. About a dozen more here that didn't eat. Andersons, McKennas, Wagnesses, Lords, Devereux, Retter, Bruggeman, Micknal — all here. Mabes and Arnold stayed after rest of crowd left. They are good company when there is no one around that Mabes is trying to impress.