Archive Record
Metadata
Object ID |
C010-GUNN |
Title |
Gunnarson Family Collection |
Date |
circa 1930 |
Scope & Content |
This collection is arranged by subject, containing mostly family photographs from the 1930s. Photograph album contains images of Carl Isak and Jennie Alveda (Anderson) Gunnarson, as well as Elmer, Lousie, Rebecca, and Carl Stanley. Album also contains views of the Washington Depot railroad station, Bader’s Market, Benham’s drug store, and the Gunnarson home prior to the flood of 1955. The various ephemera in the collection mostly pertains to Rebecca Gunnarson childhood in Washington, including high school plays and other events. |
Admin/Biographical History |
Karl Isak Gunnarsson was born on September 14, 1872 in Breared (Hallands Lan, Halland) Sweden. Karl was the first of four children born to Gunnar Bengtsson and Johanna Christina (Petersdotter) Bengtsson. The family moved to Lofsbygget, Veinge (southern Halland) in 1880. Karl Isak moved to Slattakra on November 14, 1890 and worked making burlap sacks (for grain, flour, etc) in one of the many factories. Due to economic conditions in rural Sweden, Karl Isa left "without permission" in 1892 and arrived in America in June according to notes written by Jennie Aveda (Anderson) Gunnarson. Eventually arrived in New Preston, Connecticut Karl most likely stayed with the Karlson (Carlson) family who had no children but resided in large white house with the double porch located across the road from the town hall. At some point he changed his name to "Carl Isaac Gunnarson." Carl married Jennie Alveda Anderson on October 27, 1897 at the home of her parents, John and Mathilda Anderson, in New Preston, Connecticut. Their first five children – Evelyn, Louise, Elmer, Edith and Rebecca were born in New Preston. Their son, Carl Stanley, was born in Washington Depot. Carl and Jennie resided with her parents in New Preston until about 1912. Mathilda Anderson died on May 4, 1904. Carl purchased the old Methodist Church and moved it to a lot at the end of School Street on the Shepaug River. He redesigned the structure into a 10-room house. The architectural millwork, cabinetry, staircase and flooring were made of American chestnut (a very hard and well grained-wood) that Carl cured, hand-polished and installed room-by-room. He continued to work on the house until his death in 1935 twelve days shy of his 63rd birthday. Working as a wheelwright, Carl owned his own workshop along the Shepaug River. His sons Elmer (b. 1903, d. 1985) and Carl Stanley (b. 1914, d. 2010) would eventually take over the business, opening the Gunnarson Garage which offered car repair services, sold gasoline and later a home heating oil service. Both men were also active in the Washington Fire Department. Elmer, his wife Eleanor, and their two daughters resided in the apartment above the garage until the devastating flood of August 1955 destroyed the property. Evelyn Mathilda Gunnarson (b. 1899, d. 1986) was born in Washington, CT and graduated from Washington High School in 1917. She entered the Rochester School of Dental Hygiene in 1919 and relocated to New York City after graduation. She married William Mason Wallace, II in 1936. They then moved to Kentucky and later to North Caroline where Evelyn passed away in 1986. Louise Isabella Gunnarson (b. 1901, d. 1981) graduated from The Pratt Institute in 1928 and opened a dressmaking studio upon returning to Washington in the building behind the family home on School Street. She closed the business in the summer of 1935 prior to her marriage to Charles Moscarillo and moved to Torrington, Connecticut. Louise and Charles had two children, Beverly Louise and Charles Gunnar. Rebecca Jennette Gunnarson (b. 1910, d. 2013) was born in Washington, CT and baptized on August 21, 1910. She graduated from Washington High School in 1928 and would later marry F. Herman Engleman, also at the Trinity Lutheran Church. Rebecca passed away September 9, 2013 in Delaware. Edith Lorraine Gunnarson (b. 1904, d. 1926) was born in Washington, CT and graduated from Washington High School in 1922. She completed college courses for elementary education in 1925 but unfortunately passed away shortly after on August 4, 1926. The Gunnarson family plot is located in the Washington Green Cemetery. Source: Charles Gunnar Moscarillo, 2013 [edited] |
Search Terms |
Immigrants Swedish Americans Trinity Lutheran Church |
Copyrights |
Materials believed to be under copyright or other restrictions are available for limited noncommercial, educational and personal use only, or for fair use as defined by United States copyright law and with proper citation. Please note that the Gunn Memorial Library & Museum may not hold the rights to all items in this collection. Users assume responsibility for identifying all copyright holders and for determining whether permission is needed to make any use of the content. |
Access Conditions |
Due to the fragile condition of some items, physical use may be restricted. |
Finding Aids |
A complete finding aid is available upon request (museum@gunnlibrary.org). Physical copies are also kept in the Connecticut Room of the Gunn Memorial Library. |
Collection |
Gunnarson Family Collection |
Object Name |
Collection |