1. Apparently, there was question in the Social Security Administration concerning Bergit Stadem's maiden name of Holbeck. For this reason Alfred typed out an explanation on the reverse side of a a Norwegian language document relating Bergit Wilhelmine's (no last name, Holbeck, given) ancestry and parentage, dated August 30, 1889.
On the other side is typed information to the Social Security Administration, by Alfred Stadem for Bergit Stadem, from Bryant, SD, Sept. 20, 1957. The information of chief interest is that "Holbeck was a placename from Denmark, attached to distinguish the family from other Anderssen's, in that vicinity. The notary that signed the official paper on the other side is mentioned for Bergit by Alfred thus: "Possibly the notary at Upsaker was familiar with this, and omitted the name Holbeck that was commonly used, around Mandal. I have an older sister and brother, who is a pastor, the before mentioned, who live in this country, that can verify the above statements too." 2. A "Mortgage with Power of Sale" state form bearing names of Alfred J. P. Stadem and Martin S. Stadem, dated Dec. 11, 1911. It is notarized and refers to land Alfred and Bergit Stadem are acquiring from Martin Stadem for the price of $700, comprising 80 acres "more or less according to the U.S. Survey thereof," at 6% per annum.
3. Inspection Card (Immigrants and Steerage Passengers) on the Hellig Olaf, a ship departing March 27, 1903 from Christiansand, Norway, with Birgit Holbak, Berth Number 2110, K40. The card is stamped Apr 10, 1903. On the back of the card is printed: "Keep this Card to avoid detention at Quarantine and on Railroads in the United States." The same instruction is given in Norwegian and some other Scandinavian languages. There is a section verifying Bergit Holbak was vaccinated, with the stamped name "O. Davidsen" in green, with title "Ships Surgeon" beneath.
Does that Bible verse refer to Christian schooling? You bet it does! We need to tell you that PVF was very much centered on Christian education! It began in the home, first and foremost! The family was taught reverence for God and knowledge of him at the Family Altar, as it was then called: prayer and Bible reading with everyone present. Then the family studied all week to be ready for Sunday School lessons and Worship come Sunday! They prepared themselves in every way for that event, so they were Berean-like, they were nore noble than most families who go to church today pretty much as they feel like going, without any preparation, with the "Just as I Am, Take Me" attitude. Yes, church will take you just as you are, but what spiritual gift will you be able to contribute to the others present? You will be just a taker, not a giver. You drain away the life at the church, you contribute nothing. The Stadems were givers, not just takers! And from the home schooling in things of God, they went on to attending (every son and daughter of them) Augustana Academy, in Canton, SD. What was this school, and why was it chosen? You can have the answers to those questions most easily, by going to:
Their nine children all were raised in this wonderful faith that their parents lovingly nurtured them with. It made a tremendous difference in all their lives, and it will still make a difference in yours! Check it out, and you will not regret the time spent! Far from it! You will want to tell others too what you have discovered here. Since the historic Plain View Farm farmstead has been given to a young Stadem family to use and develop for their maintenance and livelihood, the heritage collections will need a new home, The best option that seems most centrally located is, God willing and providing, in Heber City, a rural small town in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains of Utah, twenty miles from Park City, the international ski center where Stadem Descendants have lived for many years. Demographically, this is far more central to the Stadem dispersion than South Dakota, in fact. And it appears like the rural South Dakota terrain, except for the mountain slopes beyond the Heber valley. There is a large reservoir and dam, and boating and fishing galore and hiking and skiing and all kinds of shops for the gift items you may want to send to loved ones. Return for more information and pictures as we post them on-line.
Storage of the main part of Stadem heritage has been there for some years now, so it seems natural to showcase them there, rather than on the farm which has only 3 days every two years to showcase our heritage and then to a limited number of reunion attendees. In Heber City, that will not be the case, we believe, as the Stadem Heritage Center would draw out the huge number of Stadem and Lundring/Ronning families in California that presently have not attended the Bryant venue in South Dakota since it is too far and isolated. That isolation is not necessary, and this centralized location will eliminate the difficulty to attend that stops most all Stadems from attending our reunions. In addition, Sat Lake City is 30 miles away, and has a world-class airport and connections with the whole world. Rentals at the airport can whisk attendees to Heber City, on the main highway up into the Wasatch Mountains around Park City, and then it is just 15 minutes to Heber City, which has numerous motels and hotels and bnbs in the town and surrounding areas.
This move has been contemplated for years, as the venue of the Bryant farm venue has proved so difficult and isolated, and this would solve that problem that PVF has always had, and open up our heritage to the West Coast Stadem and Holbeck blood relations who have not been coming to Bryant, except for one or two couples now and then. We need the younger people to come! We need to pass the torch on to them! That is the main reason to re-located, as the homesteading of PVF has given only another reason to make a move that would change things for the better and help insure that our heritage will not devolve to a select few who can make it to the farm every two years for a 3-day reunion. That has never been enough. We must seek another venue, such as we can find in Heber City. We can easily rent a hall and facility for the venue at various dates when people can travel without encountering winter's big snowfalls, though I am told the snow plow crews keep the main routes cleared for the huge numbers of skiers who come every year to the many resorts. Please pray for this project, as this change has long been needed, and now it seems time to make it happen with God's leading and help.--Ed.
Please check out this page, for it tells about a most remarkable person. He, unlike many people, was a man of few words.
Calvin Coolidge was such a person. One woman wagered with another that she could get him to say more than two words. She told the President about this wager. "You lose," he remarked.