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Katri Kempainen

Immigrant Exhibits

December 27, 2021 by Jill Holman

Recently, I discovered that the Minnesota Digital Library launched several online exhibits about Minnesota immigrants. In the one on immigrant experiences, something jumped out at me: Lars Fjeseth. You might recall that this is not our Lars, but the two have similar names and lived at the same time near each other: https://jillholman.com/genealogy/fjerestad-versus-fjeseth/

The new exhibits are:

  • Minnesota Immigrants: People on the Move
  • Minnesota Immigrants: Immigrant Experiences
  • Minnesota Immigrants: Preserving Culture

There also is an older exhibit called Farm to Table. Find all four exhibits here.

Next, I clicked through and explored some of the Primary Source Sets, which were very interesting. Here are three of my favorites:

  • Civilian Conservation Corps in Minnesota
  • Lumber Industry in Minnesota
  • Mining on the Iron Range

They have added a lot of resources since the last time I checked! Let’s see what they have for Chisholm.

Here we see that we get 151 items when we search for Chisholm in the Minnesota Digital Library.

There are several pictures of the mines and also the ruins after the 1908 fire. While few of the people are labeled, you can get an idea of what it looked like to be there in the early 1900s, which is when William and Katri Laitala arrived in Chisholm. I think these two pictures might be my favorite:

  • The livery in Chisholm around 1900
  • Lake Street in 1911

That could be my great-grandfather William standing there!

Filed Under: Immigration, Old Photographs, Resources Tagged With: Katri Kempainen, William Laitala

William & Katri Laitala – A Finnish Family in Northern Minnesota

January 1, 2019 by Jill Holman

William & Katri Laitala with grandson circa 1944 Chisholm MN

Hooray! The second edition of A Finnish Family in Northern Minnesota is available with lots of new information. Read about William and Katri here!

Please note: a PDF is available for printing on the book home page, but the links don’t come through that way. Use this version to link to the resources that are cited in the book.

The Basic Facts:
William LAITALA
b. 1 Jan 1878, Hapavesi, Finland
d. 21 Apr 1952, Virginia, St. Louis, MN

Katri Elizabeth (Kaisa Liisa) KEMPPAINEN
b. 17 Feb 1879, Paltamo, Finland
d. 29 Jun 1963, Virginia, St. Louis, MN
m. 6 May 1906, Chisholm, St. Louis, MN

You might also be interested in:

  • 1938 Photo Essay – Gertrude Middendorp & Sulo Laitala

Filed Under: Stories Tagged With: Katri Kempainen, William Laitala

The Laitala Farm through Time – A Photo Essay

October 8, 2012 by Jill Holman

In 70 years, a lot has happened and then again, not so much has changed. Many of the buildings have stood the test of time. I’m especially proud of the pole barn, standing so straight and true, because my grandpa built it! But alas, the house burned down and some of the buildings are succumbing gracefully to gravity . . .

Pic of The Laitala farm as it was in 1938
The Laitala farm as it was in 1938

 
Pic of The cow barn & pole barn in 1938
The cow barn & pole barn in 1938

 
Pic of The cow barn in 1988
The cow barn in 1988

 
Pic of The garage and machine shop September 1988
The garage and machine shop September 1988

 
Pic for The pole barn & blacksmith shop in 1988
The pole barn & blacksmith shop in 1988

 
Pic of The Laitala farm in 2008
The Laitala farm in 2008

 
Pic of The pole barn, cow barn & blacksmith shop in 2008
The pole barn, cow barn & blacksmith shop in 2008

 
Pic of The blacksmith shop with the chicken coop in the background in 2008
The blacksmith shop with the chicken coop in the background in 2008

 
Pic of The machine shop succumbing to gravity in 2008
The machine shop succumbing to gravity in 2008

 
Pic of the Inside view of the machine shop succumbing to gravity in 2008
Inside view of the machine shop succumbing to gravity in 2008

 
You might also be interested in:

  • William & Katri Laitala – A Finnish Family in Northern Minnesota
  • 1938 Photo Essay – Gertrude Middendorp & Sulo Laitala

Filed Under: Old Photographs Tagged With: Katri Kempainen, William Laitala

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