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Jake and Chloe Clausen's wedding picture1909
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Jacob Clausen arrived in the Swift Creek area about 1917. He left his family in Minburn, Alberta while he looked for work.He returned to his family and brought them to the Valemount area in 1919. There were five children at this time: Stanley, Marion, Russell, Ethel and Alice. Helen would not be born until 1926. The family lived in one half of a log building owned by Frank Corpron. The cabin was rather rustic with plank floors.
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The Clausen children: Russell, Marion, Stan, Alice and Ethel1920s
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Swift Creek School outhouse1930s
Swift Creek (Valemount), British Columbia, Canada
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Valemount youngsters ham it up during the 1930's at the Little House Out Back.Ben Burgoyne and Herb Kelly are on the roof; Russ Clausen peeks through the window while Frank Burgoyne stands in front.
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Jacob Clausen bought some horses that were used for hauling and skidding logs. One of these horses was used to take the children to school.The family moved frequently to be closer to work. The children did janitor work at the school. Mac McLaughlin would come over and start a fire on cold school mornings, then take the kids to his cabin to warm up and have a treat.
During the depression, Jacob worked in Government road camps. The family bought what they could from Dave Henry.
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Jake Clausen's family at their home on 13th Ave1935
Swift Creek (Valemount), British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Helen Hansen
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Jacob Clausen's family at their home on 13th Avenue.Back row from left: Carl Lofgren, Ethel Clausen, Russell Clausen, Mrs. Clausen, Stanley Clausen, Alice Clausen, Marian Clausen, Jake Clausen, Helen Clausen is in the front.
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Alice and Ole Mortenson1935
Swift Creek (Valemount), British Columbia, Canada
Credits:Laura Hollis
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In 1937 Alice Clausen married Olof Mortenson. In 1941 Olof worked for a survey crew. He was employed in the forestry service from 1942-45. He also became a partner in Nels Dahlberg's mink farm.Alice and Olof Mortenson took over the general store where Alice was working in 1946. The store was a log building across from the CNR Station. It was built with lumber from a Japanese Internment Camp near Mount Robson. By 1947, Alice and Olof had three daughters: Betty, Shirley and Joan.
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O.A Mortenson's store - General Merchant Red & White Food Store1950s
Valemount, British Columbia, Canada
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The store was originally owned by Dave Henry, and in 1927 it was bought by Nels Dahlberg. The store was built across the tracks from the station, beside the old Valemount Hotel. The store was open from 8 to 8, and was run mostly by Alice Clausen. In 1937, Alice married Olof Mortenson, and continued to run the store. Mortensons took over the store from the Dahlbergs in 1937, in exchange for Ole's share in Nels' mink farm. The old store, built of logs, stocked groceries, clothing, hardware, feed, gas, and oil. The living quarters were originally in the back of the store, but they soon got crowded.Mortensons built a new store using lumber from a Japanese camp near Mt. Robson, and moved their stock into it in November of 1947. They later made three more additions to this store. In 1971, after 5th Ave became the main commercial area of town, Mortensons built a new store at the corner of 5th and Cedar, which is now the IGA building. At the old store, goods came in on the freight train, and were hauled to the store in the back of a Model A Ford that had been converted into a truck. Ole Mortenson used to show a movie every Saturday at the old store, and many older residents remember the wonderful service at the old store, as well as being able to get credit.
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Dahlberg family1945
Tete Jaune Cache, British Columbia, Canada
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Nels Dahlberg came to Canada at the age of twenty-three from Sweden, landing at Prince Rupert in November 1913. He worked on the construction of the railroad and then as a foreman in a tie camp operated by Olof Hanson. He stayed there for a number of years. Then he and Bert, a brother of Olof Mortenson, went to Sheraton and took up homesteads. Later Nels and Bert formed a partnership and went into the cedar pole business at Lempriere, B.C. They also had a logging and tie cutting operation at Tete Jaune Cache and on the McLennan River.They carried on until the spring of 1930, when the partnership was dissolved. Nels took over the logging operation here and started a small store. Marion Clausen worked in the store for about four years. She got a promotion when she married the boss in 1934. Her sister Alice took over the job in the store.
Nels built a lovely big house in which they lived for twenty-seven years, just across the road from where Mortenson home is. They had a boy named Roy.
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