Spring 2009 Vol
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America Letter Spring 2009 Vol. XXII, No. 1 Your Museum in the An International THE DANISH IMMIGRANT MUSEUM Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Protector Heart of the Continent Cultural Center BOX 470 • ELK HORN, IOWA 51531 ® Member of the American Association of Museums Across Oceans, Across Time, Across Generations®: The Andersen Family by Eva Nielsen Hans Andersen must have been a gutsy soul. Here’s an example. In the late 1800s Hans had faced some setbacks. For one, he’d lost his wife, becoming a single father to three young children. For another, an economic downturn and a fi re had destroyed his sawmill in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Nearly broke, Hans scraped together enough money to buy millions of feet of timber from a lumber dealer in Hudson, Wisconsin—a center of the timber industry in the North Woods. It was winter. The St. Croix River that divided Wisconsin from Minnesota was frozen. If Hans could fi nd a way to get the lumber across the frozen river to the train depot in Afton, Minnesota, the lumber could be shipped out for sale. There weren’t any bridges across the river there at the time. Boats, obviously, couldn’t run. And the ice was unreliable. Hans, however, meticulously studied the strong currents of the river and used long pieces of lumber to bridge the weak spots in the ice. Then, Hans Andersen and his three children (left to right) Fred, Herbert, and Molly, pictured around 1892. he slid the timber over the river to Minnesota. It worked. Hans regained his fi nancial footing. Hudson, Wisconsin was to become his family’s per- ing trees and clearing fi elds, working his way west manent home and the launching pad for the company to Chicago where he laid bricks. Wanting to fi nd a known today as the Andersen Corporation, makers non-Danish community where he could immerse of Andersen windows and doors – an international himself in the English language, Hans settled in company that employs roughly 11,000 people. Spring Valley, Minnesota. Hans Andersen was a Danish immigrant. He left There, Hans established himself as a jack-of-all- home as a 15-year-old in 1870 and it doesn’t seem trades, a contractor, an architect, a businessman. He that he looked back. started a construction business in Spring Valley and Hans spent several years on the East Coast fell- designed and constructed several buildings there, – continued on page 4 Director’s Corner By John Mark Nielsen January 3, with kings, queens and presidents, Seattle, Minneapolis, Solvang and 2009 was the as well as the most famous of Chicago. centennial of the entertainment world, he was Due to the generosity of Leman Victor Borge’s equally comfortable with “every USA, a Danish transportation birth. Begin- day folks.” Many experienced this, company, and its director, Steen ning in the even those in the communities of Sanderhoff, the expense of hosting 1930s in Denmark and then fol- Elk Horn and Kimballton. Fol- the exhibit has been dramatically lowing his arrival in America in lowing a visit to the two “Danish reduced; Leman USA is providing 1940, he charmed and amused villages,” he presented The Dan- logistical support in transporting audiences on both sides of the At- ish Immigrant Museum with his the exhibit. lantic Ocean, making him the most first piano as well as many other Finally, Consul and Mrs. Lowell well-known Danish-American of artifacts from his long career. B. and Marilyn Kramme of Des the 20th Century. Given this generosity, the mu- Moines, Iowa, have provided a Born Børge Rosenbaum, his seum was anxious to celebrate generous gift to restore one of the father was a violinist in the Danish Victor Borge and to share his story museum’s most prized posses- Royal Orchestra and his mother with as many museum members sions, Victor Borge’s first piano. was a gifted pianist. Børge, him- as possible. The opportunity came Since being damaged by Hurricane self, began playing the piano at when we began working with Janet Hugo when it struck the Borge age three! Trained as a classical Borge Crowle and her husband, winter home in the Virgin Islands, pianist in Copenhagen, Vienna and Jim, as well as with Ed Gallagher the piano has not been playable. Berlin, Børge made his debut on who is president of the American- Now, thanks to Lowell and Mari- the concert stage as a 17-year-old, Scandinavian Foundation (ASF). lyn, we can look forward to hear- performing Beethoven, Chopin Working together, ASF has ing the sounds of Victor Borge’s and Liszt. However, it was on created a wonderful exhibit that first piano echoing through our what could be called the Danish opened at Scandinavia House in museum as part of this centennial vaudeville stage that he was most New York City on January 24. On celebration. comfortable and enjoyed his great- May 22 this exhibit will open at I hope that you will be able to est successes. The Danish Immigrant Museum see this exhibit, in one of the many During the Nazi occupation and will be our main exhibit venues where it will be on display. of Denmark, before the United through February 2010. Both the As this exhibit makes its way States entered the war, Børge had Crowles and the Sanne and Vic- across the country, the visibility to flee Europe. This was due to his tor Borge Memorial Fund have of The Danish Immigrant Museum Jewish roots. On arriving in New provided very generous support increases. Already articles and York, he changed his name to Vic- to make these exhibits possible. pictures have appeared in both tor Borge. “Rosenbaum” was too Since many will not be able Danish and U.S. newspapers. German and “Victor” suggested to see Victor Borge – A Centen- As ever, it is you who em- success. This name change was, nial Celebration in New York or power us—through your inter- indeed, prescient: he went on to Elk Horn, The Danish Immigrant est, your membership and your many successes before his death Museum has created a traveling contributions—to preserve, share on December 23, 2000. His show kiosk exhibit. This has already and celebrate our Danish heritage. “Comedy in Music,” for example, been on display in Washington, Hopefully our successes will af- holds the record for the longest run- D.C. and at the Danish Church in firm your generosity. I certainly ning one-man show on Broadway Yorba Linda, California. It is also thank you even as I seek your and is not likely to be surpassed! scheduled to appear in Kentucky, continued support. While Victor Borge mingled 2 America Letter Published Three Times Annually By The Danish Immigrant Museum 2212 Washington, POBox 470 Elk Horn, Iowa 51531 A Conference sponsored by 712-764-7001 800-759-9192 the Danish American Heritage Society FAX 712-764-7002 Eva Nielsen, editor Radisson Plaza Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota www.danishmuseum.org email: [email protected] Board of Directors President – Marc Petersen, Omaha, NE Vice-President – Harriet Albertsen Spanel, SAVE THE DATES . Bellingham, WA Secretary – Dennis Andersen, Atlanta, GA Treasurer – John Molgaard, Atlantic, IA October 1-3, 2009 Carlo Christensen, Glendale, CA Lone Christensen, Brown Deer, WI Ane-Grethe Delaney, Wayzata, MN Mark Frederiksen, Falcon, CO Janell Hansen, Elk Horn, IA Kurt Hansen, Rosemount, MN Radisson Plaza Hotel, Mia Hansen, Tucson, AZ Vice Consul Anna Thomsen Holliday, Houston, TX Minneapolis, Minnesota Erna Jensen, Des Moines, IA Kurt Klarskov Larsen, Oneonta, AL Steven Lund, Yuma, AZ Cynthia McKeen, St. Paul, MN Discover new approaches to understanding both contemporary and Kay Esbeck North, Ames, IA Mark Nussle, Palos Park, IL historical Danish and Danish-Amer ican innovation in science and Benedikte Ehlers Olesen, Eugene, OR technology, architecture and design, social innovation, the arts and Lynette Skow Rasmussen, Johnston, IA Consul Eva Robinson, Butler, PA literature. Linda Sloth-Gibbs, Yuma, AZ Janet M. Thuesen, Sausalito, CA Ex-Offi cio Explore the unique advantages of a metro area made up of two mag- Kai Nyby, LaPorte, IN nifi cent cities. With its top-notch arts scene, exquisite dining, fan- Vern Hunter, Fargo, ND Nils Jensen, Portland, OR favorite teams and stunning views, Minneapolis-Saint Paul is a must- Dennis Larson, Decorah, IA visit destination. Staff Executive Director: Dr. John Mark Nielsen, [email protected] Hear Jørgen M. Clausen, a prominent Danish innovator in industry General Information, Group Tours, and education and past President and CEO of Danfoss, one of Den- Volunteering Opportunities:Terri Johnson, [email protected] mark’s large multinational corporations, and Chairman of the Board Development Director: Bruce Bro, of Sauer-Danfoss, a major global manufacturing company. [email protected] Wall of Honor, Donations, Memorial Gifts Join friends from around the country in downtown Minneapolis for & Memberships: Debra Christensen Larsen, [email protected] engaging talks Thursday through Saturday. Then, stay on for the Bookkeeping & Financial Inquiries: Jen- Sunday’s Twin Cities Marathon where runners will pass a half block nifer Winters, [email protected] Exhibit Questions: from the conference hotel on Sunday, October 4. Erin Harney, [email protected] Artifact Donations & Museum Loans: Program updates and registration on-line coming soon at www.dan- Angela Stanford, [email protected] ishamericanheritagesociety.org. Museum Shop: Joni Soe-Butts [email protected] Donation of Books & Library Questions: Michele McNabb, [email protected] Susan Jacobsen, Conference Chair » 515 5th Avenue S.E. #1 Minneapolis, MN 55414 Genealogical & Translation Inquiries: (+1) 612-378-2694 » [email protected] » www.danishamericanheritagesociety.org [email protected] Custodian: Tim Fredericksen Museum & FHGC Data Entry: Wanda Sornson 3 Andersen .