This home was built about 1920. August E. Ellison, salesman for Swift and Co., and his wife Inga lived here from about 1924 to his death in 1938. He was united in marriage to Inga Dullum at Brainerd in 1906. He traveled for Swift and Company for 36 years and was a charter member of the Bemidji unit of the United Commercial Travelers. He had been suffering with heart trouble for some time when he collapsed on Mar 15, 1938. He was piling wood in his basement as it was sawed outside. His wife and the sawyer, Charley Trodler, found him covered with wood. Dr. D. F. McCann was called, who in turn called County Coroner Dr. Charles Vandersluis. He was 60 years old. His wife Inga continued to live here until she remarried on August 6, 1945 to John A. Carlson.
Leo T. Kennedy and his wife Lillian, owners of Bemidji’s Nehi Bottling Company on Midway Drive, lived here briefly. They were the bottlers of Royal Crown Cola and Nehi beverages. Patricia, a daughter perhaps, was bookkeeper for Nehi Bottling. Did you know that In the early 20th century, the national advertising logo of Nehi was typically a picture of a seated woman’s legs, in which the skirt was high enough to show the stockings up to the knee, suggesting the phrase “knee-high”, to illustrate the correct pronunciation of the company name! These were the heyday years for Nehi beverages with many references in movies, and it was linked to some top names in entertainment like Bing Crosby, Joan Crawford and Bob Hope . When I hear of Nehi grape, I immediately think of Radar O’Reilly on Mash and the many episodes on TV that we enjoyed.
Albert Melvin Erickson and his wife Ella lived here from about 1950-1963. Mr. Erickson worked for the Bell Telephone Company from 1923 to 1963. He started with the telephone company in Thief River Falls, doing clerical work. He was promoted to installer repairman and then to manager of telephone offices in Wadena, Buffalo, Appleton and Grand Rapids. He completed his career in Bemidji where he held the position of service supervisor.
Adren Mann and Evelyn Mann lived here from 1963-1967. He was an insurance agent for Wausau insurance. Evelyn retired from Bemidji ISD#31 after 25 years in the lunch program. She and Adren were also the owners of Morell’s Trading Post until 2000. Evelyn loved the casino and bowled on Monday Night League for many years. Their children are Roxanne, Julie, and Sandra. They moved to 901 Minnesota Avenue.
David Farr lived here in 1967.
Another Bell Telephone company family moved here in 1968 and lived here from 1968-1983. Daniel Theodore Donahue served in the US Navy during World War II. He married Rosella Genette on October 8, 1949, in Faribault. He retired from Northwestern Bell after 35 years, having worked in Faribault, Owatonna, and Bemidji. They moved to St. Cloud in 1983. Children Diane, Steve and Benjamin. Steve was a pitcher for the American Legion team in the summers of 1970 and 1971.
Mrs. Donahue competed with her partner Miss Nancy May in the blind partner tournament of the Ladies Division at the Bemidji Country Club on June 23, 1971. Mrs. Donahue must have had a terrific temperament to be able to play golf only four days before her daughter’s wedding. Diane married David Collins in a nuptial high mass at St. Philip’s Catholic Church on June 26, 1971. I would have been a wreck! The next spring Steve came home for an Easter visit from Mayville State College in 1972.
Other owners were:
Thomas Larson, owner (1989)
Twyla Suomala, new resident (1995)
Changed owners in 2010
Geri Anne Ellison (2014)