From the Archives - May 21, 2026

A young man, Hartvig Dahlen, from Norway immigrated to America in the early 1900s, following his two brothers, Carl and Olaf. He found employment at the Bonners Ferry Lumber Company on Swede Island east of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The 1910 census has him and Olaf staying at brother, Carl’s boarding house also on Swede Island.

In 1912, Hartvig was back in Norway for a visit and met Ingrid Johanson; and they both fell deeply in love. From the moment Hartvig returned to his job in Idaho, he was determined to have Ingrid join him and marry her. Letters began to “fly” both ways across the Atlantic. The letters were full of personal stories, dreams of their life together, sorrow and loneliness. They exchanged gifts, hers handmade and his jewelry and ribbons. Ingrid wrote that he spoiled her; and Hartvig would tell her about the house he was building for her on Swede Island.

Ingrid was heartbreakingly torn between staying in Norway with her family and joining Hartvig in the unknown in America. She was frightened to cross the ocean after hearing about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. It took her two years to make the decision to go. On her own, she left Norway in the fall of 1914.

Ingrid finally reached Hartvig in late February 1915. They were married March 2, 1915 in Sandpoint. Hartvig brought his bride to Swede Island and the home he built with lumber from the mill. Their American love story began. Ingrid gave birth to five children, but, sadly, became ill and died on February 23, 1924, only 34 years old. She is buried in Grandview Cemetery. Ingrid and her “dearest unforgettable” Hartvig had only nine short years together.

After the mill closed in 1926, Hartvig with his family and brothers moved to Newport, Washington.

Many years later, their daughter, Marie and grand-daughter, Ingrid found the letters Ingrid had written to Hartvig. He had saved every one of them. Written in Norwegian, they had them translated into English. With having only one side of the story, Marie and young Ingrid went to Norway in search of the letters Hartvig had written. No letters were to be found. It is believed Ingrid couldn’t afford the freight of the weight of the letters, and sadly destroyed them so no-one could read them. His letters would have been full of information of life on Swede Island; a story we all would love to read. However, their love is forever felt in the letters she wrote and he lovingly preserved.

The Boundary County Historical Society and Museum, 7229 Main, Bonners Ferry, Idaho sponsors this column. 

Visit the museum, Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or visit the website at boundarycountymuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page for historical photos and stories, and to see upcoming events. The museum can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 208-267-7720.