Family Challenge

Ed's Day Wednesday

Dear FOLKS,

Here we are just a few days before Christmas and not long before we celebrate the arrival of the New Year --- 2017. My original plan for this week's article was to fill you in with all the events and records of the next person on cousin Ed Ostrom's Family Names List. A realistic look at that plan reminded me that this was a very busy time of the year. That you too would probably like a shorter, less detailed article to read.

So, I am setting aside the original plan and instead I want to suggest a challenge for you to participate in during the next few days. This challenge is a good item of discussion for you as you visit with family too.

The following is a photograph of Toline Ostrom née Paulson (1846-1934) while sitting at her spinning wheel. Toline was accomplished at using her spinning wheel and would use it for making clothes for her family. There are stories told by her descendants that Toline would collect sheep's wool that collected on the wire fencing of sheep's pen. This loose wool she would clean and then spin up into yarn using her spinning wheel. From this yarn she would knit socks, hats and mittens.

IMAGE: Toline Paulson at work making yarn on
her spinning wheel. Circa 1920. From the family
photograph collection of Edwin J. Ostrom.

Now as the story goes, Toline brought this spinning wheel with her from Norway. That is possible; but I have nothing to substantiate that portion of the story. I understand that this spinning wheel was handed down to someone in the family and that it still exists... but where?

Your challenge is to find Toline's spinning wheel, to photograph it and send this photograph to me or someone you can count on who will get it to me. I would like to post an updated color photograph of this family heirloom to share with everyone in a future blog article. Along with this photograph, information on how it came to be with its current owner is also hoped for. As an extra bonus, if any of you can add to the story of how Toline would come to have this spinning wheel, please share that with us too.

I am in general an optimistic individual... so I look forward to sharing with everyone the responses that I receive. Wouldn't it be fun to solve this mystery? I know cousin Ed and I have unsuccessfully asked here and there about this spinning wheel. A good word about it now would be amazing!

As I close this post, I would like to invite you all to have a very Merry Christmas, with emphasis on having a joyous time, enjoying family and friends. Hoping too that you will join me here again soon after. A few days away from the computer is anticipated, but I'll will be back after the holidays, with more documents and stories to share. Looking forward to 2017 with you right here.

--  --  --

The URL for this post is: http://homefolktales.blogspot.com/2016/12/family-challenge.html.

Please comment regarding this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then use the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Or contact me by email at dsteff4246[at]gmail[dot]com. Thank you. I am glad you stopped by today.

Copyright (c) 2016, Darlene M. Steffens