A RIVERBOAT ODYSSEY
ASTRID'S FINAL JOURNEY
This book is "A Riverboat Odyssey". It is about
a woman who grew up in central Minnesota. The
story takes place starting in 1899 thru 1940.
She marries a Paddlewheel steamboat captain in
1922 and travels up and down the Mississippi
river between Brainerd, MN. and St. Louis, Mo.
She reads family letters to the passengers on
a daily basis. She has about 200 letters from
her family about growing up on a 40 acre farm.
Their boat, "The Northern Belle", becomes a
second home filled with Astrid's handmade quilts
and fresh flowers. For over 15 years, Astrid
and Hans work side by side, delighting
passengers with scenic tours, home cooked meals,
and Astrid's letter readings from her Ma and Pa
about life on the farm beginning in 1899.
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by Robert Nerbovig
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The year was 1928, and the iconic paddlewheel steamers that had once been the crown jewels of the Mississippi were in their twilight years. The era of rambling river travel and romantic overnight voyages was rapidly giving way to the accelerated pace of an automotive age. But for Astrid Hansen, the lumbering leviathans still held an irresistible allure. Six years earlier, at the age of 37, Astrid had embarked upon what seemed like a fanciful dream - leaving behind her family's humble Minnesota farm to become the wife of Hans Towers, a venerated riverboat captain. In the intervening years, her metamorphosis from rural farmgirl to lady of the inland waters was nothing short of extraordinary. Astrid has a petite frame and stands around 5 feet 8 inches tall. Her hair color is a dark brown. She has an oval-shaped face with striking features, including full lips, high cheekbones, and expressive brown eyes. Her husband Hans stands tall at 6 feet 2 inches, with a muscular and lean build. He has a thick, bushy mustache, piercing blue eyes and a weathered face that adds to his rugged and rough-around-the-edges appeal. His hair is often styled in a combed-back manner, accentuating his cowboy-like appearance. Astrid took to her new seafaring lifestyle with unbridled passion, embracing each new port of call and reveling in the kaleidoscope of souls that made their way aboard her husband's vessel. Whether soaking in the splendors of nature's forever-changing riverscapes or entertaining passengers with riveting tales from the tattered bundle of family letters detailing her bucolic upbringing, she belonged on these murky, meandering rivers. But the waterways that had been her home for over half a decade were rapidly shifting from romantic relics into commercial thoroughfares. The halcyon days of leisurely excursions were fading into the rearview mirror of American progress. Astrid could sense the hourglass counting down the grains of sand remaining on her singular odyssey. As the paddles slowly began to churn, ushering Astrid's anointed paddle wheeler away from the dock and into the murky unknown of the Mississippi's northbound currents, she stood defiantly on the deck. Clutching the faded packet of family letters, she transformed from an aimless farm girl-turned-accidental aquatic aristocrat into the defiant master of her own destiny. This was to be Astrid's defining odyssey - perhaps her last, whether she knew it or not. For the next seven years, she would chart an unparalleled course through uncharted waters of life itself. Armed with the wisdom and fortitude gleaned from humble country roots, she would brave heartache and hardship in pursuit of an all-too-fleeting American dream. Yet through it all, that tattered bundle of letters remained her lodestar. The fading family scrawls spilled across their timeworn pages would prove equally essential to her survival as the river's eddies and currents. They connected Astrid's path, rooted in a simpler era of farmland traditions, to the modernizing world taking shape around her. As described in a prior book, The Northern Belle was a vision from another era, its huge 30-foot waterwheel throwing up dazzling sprays of current as the large sycamore planks of her decks gently swayed with the river's motion. At over 200 feet long, with soaring white woodsides topped by elegant dark green awnings, the steamboat evoked romantic images of the river's Wild West heyday of the 19th century. Yet inside, the Northern Belle provided luxuries and amenities fit for the modern traveler. The passengers lucky enough to afford the lavish deluxe staterooms were treated to spacious quarters with polished wood paneling, plush red draperies and large beds with crisp corn linens. Personal washrooms and copper bathtubs adjoined each cabin. Every decorative detail exuded the warm ambience of a grand hotel. Those travelling in the second-class cabins were almost as comfortable, though their rooms were slightly smaller and they shared bathing facilities down the hallway. Even in coach class, all passengers had access to opulent dining halls where they could enjoy family-style meals included with their fare. What culinary feasts we sampled on the long voyages! The chefs took full advantage of the southbound routes to source fresh local delicacies. Breakfasts may include farm-fresh eggs, thick-sliced bacon, buttermilk biscuits and sawmill gravy. Luncheons offered crisp salads, fresh-baked breads and roasted quail or pheasant. Dinners were the pièce de resistance, with multiple courses bringing new delights like flaky baked catfish, thick smoky barbecued meats, corn puddings, and rich desserts like Southern pecan pie still warm from the oven. Accompanying wines complimented each dish perfectly as we dined in high style. The true highlight of the voyage was the ever-changing view outside the large picture windows that lined the ship's dining halls and promenade decks. Drifting lazily down the river's shining silver corridor, one could lose their cares watching the gradually shifting landscapes and abundant wildlife glide by. Thick forests of oak, cypress and willow bounced back our whistle's echoes, while further south the shorelines mellowed into lush wetland marshes where blue herons and snowy egrets stalked the shallows. In the fall, we witnessed trees ablaze in wild autumnal colors stretching to the horizon. Frequently, we spotted herds of whitetail deer tentatively coming to the banks to drink, while bald eagles and ospreys soared effortlessly above. At night, the riverbanks seemed to come alive with choruses of croaking bullfrogs and howling coyotes as we slipped through the darkness under canopies of glittering stars. Astrid decorated the ship with quilts she had made and displayed fresh flowers every day. Passengers loved browsing the gift shop and sitting on the deck watching the world drift slowly by. These are letters to and from Ma and Pa to their children and the responses they got. The letters contain language and punctuation in their own hand. Astrid has accumulated 200 family letters. She decides to read a few letters every night to entertain and educate the passengers about the early farm life in Brainerd, Minnesota. She gathers the passengers in the dining hall so they could enjoy the view as well as the letters. Astrid begins to read a few of the letters. She welcomes questions from the passengers. The date is June 11, 1928 Brainerd Wednesday May 14 1913 Dear Erik Well it is the dryest I ever saw it for the time of year the farmers are all down in the mouth no one around has his crop planted and that that has been planted can’t come up. No one has planted any peanuts. Our cabbage is no good. We had one little mess about a week ago they are all drying up. We had some thundering this afternoon but no rain. I hope It will rain soon. We had some fresh fish this week. Pa went down to the river Monday and got some Walleye Pike the latest we ever had any from the river. I am sending you Olafs letter thinking it might be some consolation to so you May send it back. In regard to Henriks proposition I surely appreciate the way he thinks about us but at the game time I think we are better off than you both are e We have got a place to call home and a few neighbors. Pa has a little ahead now and we might spend it and go out there and Olaf might die and then we would be no better off than before. and more Pa has worked hard here for thirty- seven years and has not got much and I don’t want you boys coming here and working yourselves to death and get nothing come not yet awhile 0 this is what I say I don’t know what Pa will say. the old cow is still living I think she is getting better. We are milking the old cow now. Thursday well we had a small shower of rain last night. Do you want me to make you anything If so let me know. Ma My dear son. We are having it the dryest I ever saw It for the time of year the water is nearly all dried up in the pasture I have not got anything up except about am a half- acre of corn. It looks very glumy I tell you, Some have quit work. Pa Brainerd, Oct 14 1913 Dear Erik Well the news Is about as usual plenty of work to do and no one to do much except Pa and the hand he skint before you left Is not well yet and in a day or two after he got home he skint the other in exactly the game place and very near as large and the next day he skint his thumb so he is wearing three stalls, Pa has sold most of his grapes. I sold baskets while he was gone to Mr Bob Allen 1 one dollar and twenty-five Cents for them he shipped six baskets last week got about the same for them it is cold today I think we will have ice tonight. Ma Brainerd Nov 16 My dear loving boy It has bin some time since I wrote you a line I have bin so strained up I thought I would get a little strait but cannot. I haven’t bin able to get any corn picked only what Nepelon and I have picked and I pick mighty slow Well my hogs are doing well my peanuts were good but some of them got damaged before they were dug owing to the bad weather, my corn was over half rotten. Well it seems to me that you are doing mighty well doing your own work and getting 18 dollars per week if I were getting that I would think I was getting rich. speaking about corn it is the greatest cry about pickers I ever herd Warren Munch gala this morning that he had but not but one row picked yet if it should come a storm we would lose It and It is raining now. We had some of the coldest weather last week I ever saw for the time of the year. Erik when will you know or find out anything about your degree do you expect to come home Christmas. Pa Brainerd Nov 16 1913 Erik I have looked every week in my paper for Miss Arbells marriage but have not seen It have you heard from her since you left home. I am wondering what has happened. Do you know where the bottom of your lamp is I was upstairs the other day and came across the box and thought I would fix it up and lend It to Pelum to study by this winter but could not find the bottom I thought it would be alright with you. I thought he could send it to St. Cloud by Bell and get the peace that was gone, of course I will pay the bill. Well one of my ducks have laid twenty eggs the other one has not laid yet but I hope she will soon begin. eggs are 30 cents per dozen. I would like to see that letter Henrik sent you, bring it home when you come. I went to church Friday and Saturday the week you and Pa left but the preaching was poor. I don’t think Roge can do as well as he used to do. We are having plenty of turnip salad but no roots they were sowed to late for roots like I said. Ma Brainerd, Thursday Dec 4 1913 Dear Erik Well I have been waiting for Pa to write but he don’t seem to get at it so I will try. Pa killed a pig today we had sausage for supper. I have one duck that has laid thirty-nine days in succession the little one haven’t laid yet. his hogs are pretty the fastest we have ever had at this time of the year. yes Pa got the watch some time ago but we forgot to speak of it and also the cloths. Pelum said tell you that he was much oblige to you, No Pa has hot done anything to the barn. Are you still in notion of coming home Christmas had a letter from Olaf last week said Henrik was still there yet and did not say anything about his leaving, It won’t seem right for you not to be here Christmas as you haven’t missed in so long, I am sorry about Miss Irma but it is like I expected long courtships don’t often turn out much. Ma Brainerd Jan the 4th 1914 Dear Erik Your kind letter came last night. We were as usual glad to get it, Yes I have gotten all the things that you have sent me check cloths for Nepelon tobacco pouch and all I think a lot of it to Olaf sent me a pipe and a case to it and I have bought some cheap tobacco at a sale. Well I killed my hogs last week some over 2500 lbs I have one to kill yet because she got to getting in the fence was no account and so she just got ruined. Pa Well Erik Miss Irma seems to want to get back to her old boy again. Did she send you any Christmas presents. You can remember me to her when you write again the young people around here seem to have enjoyed the holidays there has been so many Christmas trees and entertainment here all the time but I don’t go much and now I am suffering with my teeth and will go to St. Cloud as soon as I can get off I have two that ache one of them the filling has come out. Well we had a time to kill hogs we like never to get help Pa rode his mule all day last Monday and never could get any help so we hauled off the chittlings to the buzzards what will be done I don’t know Pelurn and Norman went off on a pleasure trip two weeks ago yesterday and has not come back yet. I suppose they are having a good time. We have had no letter from Henrik in several weeks now but I guess he will write soon had one from Olaf said Henrik was going to dinner with them Christmas. Ma Brainerd Sunday Jan 25th 1914 Dear Erik Well Uncle John began on the barn last Monday. he has got it raised. Pa moved the little shelter tore down the old barn and the hen house Yes we had it cold the days you spoke of but not so cold as it was with you I don’t suppose. No I could not find the bottom of that lamp I found the little piece you spoke of, I think you must have left it somewhere I have had two or three spells hunting it Have you got any specticle frames on hand that you don’t want. I stepped on my glasses and broke them I recon I shall have to go to St. Cloud and get me a pare I can’t see much out of any that are here Pa uses my gold frames I thought I would have two pair fixed up if I did go to St. Cloud, Let us know the news when you hear from Miss Irma Ma Brainerd Sunday Feb 15 1914 Dear Erik it is very cold today and Friday we had three or four Inches of snow the first we have had this winter. how are your eyes now can you sleep well. Duluth and St. Cloud is full of smallpox. do you expect to come home when school is up Ma Brainerd Feb 15 1914 My dear Boy We have both bin home all day with a hot fire What is Irma doing now have you heard from her of late I am afraid you lost your best girl have you anything in mind to do after you get through school does the man pay your bord bill My oats are looking fine guess I will stop. Your loving Pa Brainerd Tuesday April 7 1914 Dear Erik I guess you will not be surprised much to hear that Pa is In St. Cloud in Methodist hospital he was operated on Saturday March the 28. he is getting along as well as can be expected. Anders went to see him last Thursday they all Say he Is getting along fine, I have Just got a letter from him that he wrote he has not been up any yet he said tell you to stop In and see him when you passed through St. Cloud and he hoped to be able to come home with you. don’t tell Henrik and Olaf anything about it he don’t want them to know it said It would Interrupt them. I will tell you the news when you come Ma St. Cloud Va Hospital April 10th My dear son Erik I am now able to walk about the house but feel right sore owing to being bound up so tight with the ties I keep it very tight to keep the place from giving way from the stickers might give way though Dr Leigh says they will not. Well Erik I thought Saturday night that I began to think that I would not live to see another Sunday but thank the Lord I did pull through when I left your poor Ma I heard a little whimper but didn’t look around I did not break down but It was a hard pill to swallow I w111 go home tonight or tomorrow If nothing else takes place. Lovingly Pa Brainerd April 14 1914 My dear boy Erik I have gotten back home again found everything all right there is no telling when I will be able to do anything but I was so glad to get home and look around your Ma got along mighty well It keeps so wet has not done anything yet can’t even plant potatoes nor done anything else I have some little pigs have not but one little calf looking for two more anytime. Your Uncle Dave and Johnny was anxious for me to write to you and get your advice about going to the Hospital they were afraid I would never come back then they wanted me to tell you to come to the Hospital and attend to me I told them that it would reck your work to pieces and I had rather get through before I let you know anything about it they seem to have great faith in you. Pa Dear Erik No the barn is not done yet. I have not planted the seed yet it is so cold and wet I can’t plant them and it looks as tho it might rain today. Yes I have got some duck eggs I have fifteen young ducks seven of them are most grown they were hatched the last of January. I guess you have wrote to Henrik Pa wrote to Olaf yesterday. Ma Brainerd April 29 1914 My dear son Erik I have Just had my peanuts picked Saturday and the old engine got so it would not work so was bothered but got done after a while only got 66 sacks and the worse looking things you ever seen My Hogs are right fair my potatoes are all rotting. No the blame ducks haven’t layed yet. Pa Well Erik Mills Erickson was married last week to a girl in St. Cloud a niece of Mrs. Hetherton I have not seen her some say she is good looking. Pelum has hired himself to the widow White of Brainerd to run her farm, he is such a good hand I think he will get along with her all right he talked nice to us about it said he was not leaving us for anything but the money she is to give him twenty dollars per month and his laundering he told me he hated to leave Pa for he was getting old and needed somebody said we had treated him good and fed him good and I cooked the best grub he ever ate he left us the 19 of this month he had hired himself to her before you left but he never told us of it until the day he left you know he was a thinker said owing to the war and the present prices of crop stuff that Pa would be willing to pay that much. How are you getting along with your work have you seen that widow yet is she In the city. Ma Brainerd Dec 14 1914 Dear Erik It rained all day yesterday but it is fair today I had a chill yesterday but am up today Pa took calomel yesterday and is feeling bad today No my hens have not layed any yet the ducks lays a little the most eggs we get is six per day, No Pa had not said anything at all about hiring him until he was leaving then he told his plans he has been here several times since he left Pa hired him the day he thrashed off his peanuts. yes we have heard from Henrik since you left once he gent us two of his pictures much better than the ones he sent When you was at home. we did not get a letter from you last week I guess we will get it that is if you wrote if reports be true the girls around here are all going to be married or the greater part of them No we have not heard anything from that piece you wrote for Tom Trotter. are you sleeping well now. Ma 
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