Robert Lundquist Kuhn

As a tot and very young boy, I had curly hair. I have a large lock of my hair in my scrapbook.

My elementary education was at the Washington School in Red Wing. It is still in use and located next to the high school and Industrial Arts Building. 

My brother, Art, and I were very close in age so we usually played together on Saturdays and after school. Usually it would include one or more friends in our neighborhood. In early years, it was tricycles. Later, we had coaster wagons. We made colored sand from Easter egg dyes. We would arrange layers of sand in small jars to make pretty designs. We found nice white sand at the base of a bluff about three blocks from our house.

Easter was a fun time for our family. On Saturday before Easter, we children would each prepare for the Easter Bunny by building a nest in the area between the house and the sidewalk on the south side of the house. The nests were made of colored shredded cellophane. As soon as we were dressed on Easter morning, we would run outside with great anticipation to see what the Easter Bunny had left in our nest. We would find colored, decorated eggs, chocolate or marshmallow bunnies and jellybeans. When we returned inside the house to the kitchen, Mother would ask, "How do you want your eggs prepared?" There would be a variety of answers, scrambled, fried over medium or maybe soft boiled. We would also have some of Mother's cinnamon rolls and coffee bread. Having eggs for breakfast on Easter Sunday was a tradition. We would check our nest two or three more times during the day in hopes that the Easter Bunny had returned. Usually we would find candy one more time.

May Day, or May 1st was also a special day. We would make baskets out of colored construction paper, then pin or paste a handle on the basket. In the basket, we would place some candy and one or more crocus flowers. The basket would be taken to a friend's home and placed by the front door. After ringing the doorbell, we would run off. 

A few years later, we were enjoying other types of play. We purchased kites and had a great time seeing who could fly their kite the highest. We began making our own kites of different designs. We had a game or contest with a wheel or rim. We cut two narrow boards, one a foot long and one at three feet and nailed them in a “T” form. We would push our rim or wheel on the sidewalk, or across a yard, into the street and jump curbs, up and down banks. If anyone's wheel or rim went flat on the ground, he would be out of the game. 

Our neighborhood was not fully developed, so we would play softball on one of the empty lots. There was a big hill across the street from our home on Central Avenue where we sometimes would ski and toboggan. Also on a hill behind our home, we would ski and toboggan. 

Central Avenue was a long hill that was excellent for sliding in the winter, either on a sled or a bobsled. There was not much traffic in those days, especially at night. Under excellent conditions, we could slide from the top of Central Avenue down to the county court house. Those with a bobsled could go as far as the post office. It was rumored that one group on a bobsled had made it down to the Milwaukee Depot. 

Boxrud Street, near our home, had a steep grade. One day, after a fresh snowfall, some friends and I decided to ski down Boxrud hill. Our skis were held on our feet by only a simple strap over our instep. We did not have the control over our skis that skiers today do. As each of us skied down the hill, we did our best to stay in the tracks of the first skier. We knew it would make us a faster run. At this time, one of my friends suggested we make a ski jump. So we went part way up the hill and made a ski jump by packing down the snow. Several of my friends came down the hill and off the jump. Two of them had minor spills. Now it came my turn. Although our ski jump was not high, I still was apprehensive. This would be my first experience off a ski jump. I started down the hill making a good ski run. Right ahead of me was the ski jump.

I thought I made a good take-off. In seconds, however, I was enveloped in darkness. I observed a galaxy of stars. I had landed flat on my stomach, which knocked the wind out of me. I struggled to my feet gasping for air. That was the first and last time I ever went off a ski jump. 

I wore long underwear during the winter. For play, I wore button leggings and four buckle overshoes. Also a stocking cap or a cap with ear flaps to protect my ears. We had a heavy jacket and mittens. If it was quite cold, I also would have a scarf. 

Our level lot at home extended about twenty-five feet behind the house. The slope of the hill began at that point. There was a fifteen by twenty foot garden plot on each side of a path leading up the hill. Beyond the left garden plot was an asparagus bed, about eight foot square. Small vegetables were grown in the garden. There were also rhubarb and chive plants. 

Above the garden plots, was an orchard with seven apple trees and two plum trees. Apple varieties included Wealthy, Dutchie, Greening and Whitney Crab. I do not remember the plum varieties. 

As the apples in our orchard ripened in the fall, we would pick them for storage for use during the winter. Sheets of newspaper would be torn into quarters and an apple wrapped in one of the papers. We would pack them into boxes and store them in the fruit room in our basement. The apples usually would keep for at least three months. This room was also used to store mother’s jams, jellies, and canning products. Also surplus canned goods purchased from the grocery store. The apples usually remained in good condition for three or four months. 

Swansons were one of our neighbors. Their home and driveway were on Boxrud Hill. However, their lot came across the top of our orchard. He also had an orchard. Many years he would pick a small number of our apple varieties and enter them in the State Fair under his name. Those entries won many premiums for him. Our family was unaware of it until some years later. 

Mother always did a lot of baking--cinnamon rolls and coffee cakes, bread, doughnuts, pies, etc. With the apples and plums from our orchard, she made jams, and jellies. When we would come home from school in the afternoon, we would make a sandwich from Mother’s freshly baked bread and apple butter. 

My grandmother, Nancy Lundquist, came to live with us when my grandfather, Andrew, passed away in 1930. My grandma Nancy and my mother made patchwork quilts. I guess my grandma spent most of the time on the quilts. There was a multitude of patterns and colors. They were beautiful quilts. My grandma was a big help before Christmas. With painstaking effort and a delicate touch, she decorated a variety of cut-out Christmas cookies. They were a work of art.  

My father built a one-string violin using a cigar box. Mother accompanied him on the piano. They received many requests to play at various functions and meetings of organizations.  

In the summer, our family would vacation with the Johnsons--Charlie, Anna and two boys, Kenny and Don. A week or two would be spent at Butternut Lodge at Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. The clean, sandy beaches were used a lot. Unfortunately, none of us could swim. Fishing was good so everyone enjoyed fish dinners about twice a week. We had fun on a swing. A heavy rope was tied to a high limb of a very tall tree. The swing seat was a grain sack partially filled (I would guess) with sand. Straddling the sack and hanging onto the rope, we could swing quite high. We were quite concerned one day when Mildred fell from the swing but was not seriously injured. Balsam Lake was only about eighty miles from Red Wing, MN. However, it was a long trip in those days. If our speed reached 40 or 45 MPH, we thought we were really rolling down the highway. The car had a running board on each side. My dad would mount a carrier on the right running board. That space would hold luggage, cooler, and some fishing gear. 

My brothers, sisters, and I enjoyed special traditions at Christmas time. It began after Thanksgiving, when mother would begin baking Christmas cookies. They were in many shapes and forms. Some of the favorites were Santa Claus, Christmas tree, and snowman. We would help frost the cookies and then decorate them with colored sugar and/or tiny colored candies. 

An old German custom came from our great grandparents, John J. and Christina Kuhn. and Christina;, then handed down to my paternal grandparents, Fred and Victoria Kuhn. My parents continued this tradition. Bellsnichol, a good man, but a frightening character, would come to our home early in the evening about a month before Christmas. Our father would dress up as this character.

I have a vivid recollection of one of Bellsnichol's visits during my early childhood. On an evening in early December, Mother called, "Mildred and Bobby come into the living room. I think Bellsnichol may visit us this evening." Mother was already seated in the living room with Art on her lap. "Am I going to like him?" I asked. Mother explained he was a good man but looked very old. "Remember," Mother said to all of us, "he wants your wish list for Santa Claus, and he will have a bag of goodies for each one of you." 

After a short time, we heard a mysterious thumping noise. Chills ran up and down my spine as I was overcome with fear. Mildred stood closer to Mother and Art cuddled up close to Mother. I thought it must be Bellsnichol. As Bellsnichol crossed the porch to the front door, the thumping noise became louder each time his walking stick struck the wooden floor. Then a knock on the door, Mother called out, "Come In Bellsnichol". As the door slowly opened, a half stooped figure entered our home. He wore small gold-rimmed glasses and had a long shaggy white beard.

His head was covered with a black stocking cap that partially covered his ears. His khaki colored pants were tucked inside his heavy boots. A braided black belt around his sheepskin jacket held a number of bags of goodies. 

In a gruff voice, Bellsnichol looked at Mildred and me and asked, "Do you have a wish list for Santa Claus?" We were too frightened to speak so Mother answered for us. Mildred and I walked slowly over to Bellsnichol and gave him our wish list for Santa. Then Bellsnichol asked, "Have you been good children?" With soft voices, we responded "Yes." Bellsnichol handed each of us a bag of goodies. With quivering voices, we both thanked him. We then turned and ran swiftly to the safety of Mother. Carrying Art, Mother stood up and went to Bellsnichol. Unable to look at Bellsnichol, Art held up his hand with his list. Bellsnichol thanked him and gave a bag of goodies to Mother to hold for Art. As Bellsnichol turned to leave, we all said goodbye, then eagerly opened our bags. Bellsnichol went out the door and disappeared into the darkness. 

The main dishes for our Christmas Eve supper were Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy, and Osta Kaka. We also had pickled pig’s feet and herring. Our dessert was decorated Christmas cookies. After we had eaten and the dishes were done, we gathered in the living room to distribute and open gifts from family and relatives.  

After all of us kids had gone to bed on Christmas Eve, our parents would place gifts from Santa under the tree and then retire. 

Early Christmas morning, our father would go downstairs, turn on the Christmas tree lights, blow loudly on a horn and slam the front door shut. Then he would holler that Santa had just been to our house. We awoke suddenly, jumped out of bed full of excitement and hurried downstairs to see what Santa had brought us. 

Our father and mother were members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. They attended church each Sunday while we were in Sunday school. My Sunday school teacher was a wonderful Christian man and was scoutmaster at our church. His name was Martin Veaux. When we were about 12 or 13 years of age, we attended confirmation class once a week at the church. When we were confirmed, we became members of the church. 

During the first few years of my education in the elementary grades, our class had a little party on special occasions such as Washington's Birthday, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. My mother would bake special cookies and decorate them and I would take them to school for our party. Example: hatchet, heart, turkey, pumpkin, and assorted decorated Christmas cookies. 

From first grade through high school, courses I enjoyed or was most interested in included, spelling, grammar, geography, math, science and manual training, especially woodworking. We still have two end tables in our home, which I built in wood shop class in the 1930s. From my metal shop, we have a center punch, nail punch, bread pan and dust pan. All items are as good as new. My chest of drawers I built in 1950 in night class. I enjoyed my physical education classes because I loved sports. I liked to play basketball best of all. The year that I played at the YMCA, our team won the league championship. I rarely missed attending a high school home game in football and basketball. 

In August, 1934, the Red Wing YMCA sponsored a five day visit to the World’s Fair in Chicago. Art and I and three other boys, Kenny Johnson, Dick Hawkinson and Don Seebach made the trip to Chicago on the Hiawatha train. In Chicago, we were joined by fifteen boys from Mankato. It was an interesting experience and enjoyed by all. 

Our family was stricken with scarlet fever in March 1935, during my senior year. My sister, Joan, was the first to contract the disease. Our home was quarantined. My sister, Mildred, two brothers, Art and Paul, and I went to live with our Aunt Ina and Uncle Andy. Joan recovered sooner that expected. I was the next victim. I became seriously ill and required a special nurse. Before I recovered, Art came home sick and finally, Mildred. Paul was the fortunate one and did not contract the disease.  

I do not remember how many weeks I was out of school, but I was unable to make up sufficient credits to graduate with my class. I graduated then in 1936 with my brother, Art. 

While in high school, I worked several summers in my father’s drug store, mostly at the fountain. In those days, beverages like coke and root beer sold for five cents a glass. Sundaes and sodas with flavored syrup were ten cents - with fruit, the cost was fifteen cents. Milk shakes were a dime and malted milks were fifteen cents. 

I gradually began waiting on customers who wished to purchase items in other areas of the store, such as cosmetics, dental needs, cold remedies, etc. I rapidly broadened my knowledge of life as I waited on some of my first customers. I was an innocent, naive young clerk. A lady I waited on asked for a box of Kotex. Boy, that threw me for a loop! I needed help fast. Another clerk, Harold Heglund, was nearby and came to my rescue. Then there was the man I waited on who wanted rubbers. The thought flashed in my mind, what is he doing in a drugstore? He noticed my puzzled look, then asked for a package of safes. I realized then what he wanted. Writing this in the 1990’s, I am sure that a young clerk today, male or female, would have no problem serving those customers.

My father did a good business with Garrot’s boxed chocolates. Sales were excellent for special dates such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Christmas. My father was a conservative buyer and sometimes had to phone in an order just two days before the special day. The Garrot Company, located in St. Paul, could send a special order by bus (Greyhound Line) to Red Wing. On other occasions, he would become nervous and concerned about large numbers of boxes still on hand a day or two before the special day. His famous remark would be that there would be candy left over for the Indians this time. But usually the candy would be sold out on the special day.  

There is an Indian Reservation on Prairie Island north of Red Wing. Some of the Indians came into my father’s drug store. He soon learned some Indian language so he could communicate with them.  

Sometimes my parents took the train to St. Paul so Mother could see the podiatrist. Then they would go to a Chinese Restaurant and purchase chow mein to take home. They returned to Red Wing later that day. The following day our family enjoyed a meal of chow mein. 

Because of the war, many items were rationed including shoes, meat, canned goods, sugar, coffee, gasoline, and tires. We did not have a problem with the tire rationing. However, our travel was limited because of the number of gas coupons allowed to us. On a few occasions, our friend at the gas station provided us with an additional number of coupons. He sometimes acquired coupons from his customers who did not use their vehicle on a regular basis. We traded food coupons with my parents. We did not need all of our coffee coupons so gave our surplus to my parents. We also gave them surplus meat coupons. They in turn, gave us ration coupons for canned goods and shoes. 

Some food items were not rationed but were in short supply. Example, marshmallows and bananas. When we desired either of those items, we would whisper our wants to the clerk in the grocery store. If the store had either item, he would turn and disappear in the back room. Soon he would re-appear with the item concealed in a paper bag. 

Sometimes Audrey and I, with Bobby, our first born, would drive to Minneapolis to visit Audrey’s parents. If Audrey and I wished to shop, we would leave Bobby with her parents, then drive downtown and go to Dayton’s store. If we saw a line-up in some department of the store, we would join the line, not knowing many times, what item was being sold at the head of the line. It could be paper products, nylons, or some other item in short supply. 

People in the Twin City area enjoyed the scenic drive to Red Wing or beyond. Many of those people stopped in the store for refreshments - a cool drink, sundae or soda. Also to purchase Red Wing pottery. My father stocked Red Wing Art Pottery, which was very popular with the tourists and travelers. 

In the summer of 1936, I made the decision to enter the pharmacy field. I entered Hamline University in St. Paul in the fall of 1936. I was there one year for my academic credits. I stayed in a private home just off campus. Another student, a boy from Hutchinson, Minnesota roomed with me. The people were very nice and friendly. On occasion, they would offer us some baked "goodies”. 

I worked for my board at a co-op dining hall on campus. The food was very good. Our duties changed from time to time. It was not hard work and did not require much time. I used a Greyhound bus to go home some weekends. 

In the fall of 1937, I transferred to the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota. I became a member of Phi Delta Chi professional pharmacy fraternity. I lived at the fraternity house each school term and graduated in 1940.