The Mattson cabin, built in 1872, was home to Peter and Anna Mattson. During their first winter in the house, Anna and daughter Maggie made jewelry using their hair. When his parents died, the oldest son Lorie and his wife Bina inherited the cabin. They had four children: Geneva, Hazel (who lived to be over 100), Morris and Rachel.
Located on the grounds of the Heritage Center (NW corner of the Isanti County Fairgrounds)
THE MATTSON-NORBERG CABIN BIOGRAPHY
By LaVerne(Norberg) Anderson
Great GrandDaughter of Peter & Anna Mattson
Peter Mattson and his sons, Louis (13) and Andrew (11) built our log cabin. The Mattson family left Sweden April 14, 1870. They filed for homestead and were given 160 acres in Springvale Township, Isanti County, Minnesota. The train only went as far as Anoka so after arriving in Anoka, they set out on foot to their new home. They had bought a big sled, and loaded it with their personal belongings, plus a stove, four chairs,a shovel, an axe, a saw and 100 pounds of flour. They took turns pushing and pulling the sled for the 38-mile trip from Anoka. There was already some snow on the ground so it was important to find shelter before winter. There was a steep hill facing south on their homestead property, so they started digging a hole the size of a room. They cut down trees to make the roof for the meager dugout house. They put a window and a door on the sunny side and the walls were propped up to prevent cave-ins. There was plenty of fuel to keep warm and cook with. The nearby lake and river furnished fish and in the woods were venison and partridge.
Logs were cut for a log cabin and in 1872 they moved into the three room cabin consisting of a large living room and two bedrooms. Some years after, they added a kitchen, and still later a pantry and a back bedroom.
The log part of the house was lived in for 122 years. Louis Mattson’s four children were born in the house, as were the eleven Norberg children. The large cabin living room has seen many gatherings,ladies’ aids, bridal showers, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners,as well as many family get-togethers such as the 25th Anniversary of my parents, Rachel and Alfonse Norberg.
We can’t help but admire the handicraft of our ancestors. Those logs were all shaped with a hand saw and axe; just look at those corners! What skills and determination they had in those years.
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