Gram and Grampa L. survived the liquor laws of the '20's and early '30's quite well. Gram was happy for the extra money Grampa made from his 'basement business' despite her fears he might get caught. Grampa kept working at the railroad, had merited a 'sharp pencil' job in the office instead of out in the yards, which made 'paying the rent' on their home and his car that much easier. They partied on the weekends. They made their own way through, unlike some others they knew who had ended up in the 'poor house', the county farm, and the sanatorium and sanitariums that served those who had 'lost their shirts' or their health.
But when Prohibition ended, things changed. Grampa loved his liquor. Paydays were particularly hard on Gram. Grampa would cash his check and 'stay out with the boys' at work 'til the bars closed, make it home, crawl up the stairs to bed, and pass out. Gram didn't just get mad, she got even. As soon as he lay sprawled across her bed, she'd search his pockets for the money, setting aside enough to pay the bills, and take a share of what she felt he owed her for his behaviour, then stash it in her underwear drawer. When he went to work and her daughters went to school the next day, Gram got on the streetcar, later the bus, to go shopping downtown for that new dress she'd had her eye on, then go out to lunch with other railroad wives and friends, always making sure she was home and had supper on the table when Grampa got home. She claimed that men were stupid, that she knew how to get the better of them until her dying day. Still, even after the verbal disagreements and tensions that arose from his alcohol abuse, Grampa was basically a good man who continued to provide for his family.
Grampa died of a heart attack in August of 1955. Gram, Mom, Auntie Barb, my cousin Gayle, and me were all there to watch it happen. He's been outside in the hot sun shoveling sand around his prized peonies and watering them, when he came in to lie down on the couch from exhaustion. He never rose to his feet again.
Once the sadness lifted, Gram reshaped her life again. She went to work at a department store downtown selling the dresses she's got even for. Then, for years, she worked for the Star Tribune with some other women checking Prizeword Pete puzzles a couple of days a week. She lifted uncancelled postage stamps from the envelopes containing the puzzles and gave some to her granddaughters so we could write to her if we went somewhere special. Because she got free train travel, she and her girlfriends took trips out west, sometimes to Las Vegas, sometimes to Seattle, sometimes somewhere else always making sure she sent a postcard from wherever she went and always coming home with photos taken on her Brownie camera for us to see where she"d been and what she'd done. Gram spoiled her grandkids and there was nothing better than for my cousin and i to go to her house for a sleepover. We'd wake up in the morning, have breakfast, walk over to Minnehaha Park for a Sytten ar Mai celebration, get pulled taffy at the Pavilion, watch the water spill over the Falls, then go home to take a bubble bath, go to the corner store for ice cream to bring home for sundaes, then watch Lawrence Welk and Dean Martin in front of Gram's TV. Gram loved to laugh and was easily tickled. If we were good, she'd sit down at her piano and play ragtime rags for us...wild, lilting, happy tunes as her fingers danced upon the ivories. We'd play cards, drink root beer floats on the hottest days, hear stories about what life was like, always knowing we were loved.
— jester
Upcoming Events ^
Tell Stauber He is a Sellout
Sign waving at Stauber's office in Chisholm
- When:
- May 5, 4:30–5:00pm
- Where:
- 316 W Lake St
Chisholm, MN
Kania for House Meet & Greet
- When:
- May 6, 4:00–6:30pm
- Where:
- Cook Community Center
TOWER, MN - Aaron Kania, a Lake Vermilion resident with a long history of public service, including a career in law enforcement, announced on Tuesday, Jan. 20, that he will seek the DFL endorsement for the hotly contested District 3A House seat.
District 3A is the largest House district in Minnesota, spanning the rugged borderlands from International Falls to Grand Portage. It encompasses Cook, Koochiching, and Northern St. Louis counties, along with parts of Lake County and Itasca County, and the Grand Portage and Bois Forte Reservations. The district is also home to the entirety of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Kania recently retired as the U.S. Forest Service Kawishiwi District Ranger in Ely, where he served for five years. He is a familiar face across the Iron Range and the Arrowhead, known for his leadership during critical regional crises. Kania was instrumental in managing the 2021 Greenwood Fire, the 2025 Brimson Complex, and providing front-line leadership during the 2024 flood events.
“After serving the public for nearly three decades, I’ve realized there is always more to be done,” said Kania. “Our rural communities face unique challenges that require a leader who understands our land, our economy, and our people. My background has prepared me to be the voice we need to tackle these challenges together.”
Beyond crisis management, Kania has been a key figure in the balance of recreation and industry in the Northland. His work has spanned:
Infrastructure & Recreation: Championing the Prospector ATV Trail and the North Country Trail.
Natural Resources: Overseeing active forest management and the preservation of the BWCA.
Economy: Engaging in the complex dialogues surrounding mineral development and regional growth.
Before his tenure as District Ranger, Kania spent over 20 years as a law enforcement officer in Utah and Wyoming, bringing a deep commitment to public safety and rule of law to his legislative platform.
Kania’s campaign will focus on rural advocacy, sustainable resource use, and ensuring that the residents of District 3A have a seat at the table in St. Paul.
Download poster
Training Opportunities ^
Reframing Our Message
A free virtual training workshop on Persuasive Political Messaging
- When:
- May 5, 6:00–7:30pm
- Where:
- Ely Community Center
Ely,MN
Political messaging is a basic skill used in all voter outreach and contact efforts. Scott Ickes, regional organizer for Upper Midwest Indivisible, will help us reframe our message to elect progressives in the 2026 mid-term election and beyond.
Scott will use the Race Class Narrative (RCN) and the Race Class Gender Narrative (RCGN) methods.
This workshop will consist of interactive zoom instruction followed by small group breakout sessions.
RSVP and register for this workshop at reachus@elyindivisible.org. Registration is limited to 40 participants.
Learn about Race Class Gender Narrative & Messaging Freedoms:
Callais Decision: Rapid Response Call
Recorded from April 30
"Join the No Kings Coalition as we break down the ins and outs of the Callais decision, what this means for you, and the future. You will hear from leaders from LDF, ACLU, and clients from the case."
More about the Callais Decision
US supreme court ‘demolishes’ Voting Rights Act, gutting provision that prevented racial discrimination
Voters have the right to pick their Representatives.
Representatives shouldn't have the power to pick their Voters.
Learn more about Trina Swanson
Affordability. Stability. Community.
CD8 DFLers just endorsed Trina Swanson, a Hermantown native and 25-year public servant who came home to fight for the nurses, miners, and working families that Pete Stauber has left behind.
Trainings and Briefings, Strategy & Policy Solutions
Rural Urban Bridge Initiative
"To preserve our democracy and rebuild our fractured nation, we need a broader, more united movement—one that lifts up working-class people across race and geography."
Indivisible Calls & Trainings
"Learn, organize, and take action with Indivisible. Join our calls and training to build power and defend democracy together."
