Thanks for the memories 

To the Editor: from Marjorie Forslin (Mrs. Laurence)

The article about the Home Hospital in the Cambridge Star of Nov. 15 brought a flood of memories. I am her oldest grandchild and remember grandma Tynelius as a very special person. I just wish I had inherited her boundless energy. I remember it being said of her, "She never walks if she can run" -- and "By the time the rest of Grandy was getting up, Grandma Tynelius had her big garden weed free.

She always had a large garden with flowers, vegetables, berries, a lovely grape arbor. She also raised  chickens. 

I gave birth to her first great-grandchild at her home. I remember that March 8th or 9th, 1939, we had a very bad snowstorm. Someone had made it to Grandy by bus but no one could get in to town to pick her up. Naturally, she spent the weekend at Grandma's.

Grandma often brought the baby to me and she lay down on a nearby cot to take a quick nap. I became tired and being a first-time mother, I was afraid I'd roll over on the baby. I called and called but Grandma wouldn't waken. Soon the baby began to whimper and she was up in a flash. Her ears were tuned to a baby's cry. Several other of her great-grandchildren were delivered by her. 

Dr. Nygren of Braham was not the only Dr. who used her hospital. My Dr. was Dr. Richard Johnson of Isanti and he used her hospital often. Dr. Hedenstrom of Cambridge also used her hospital. Your article never did mention that her hospital was State-licensed.

In the earlier days when she went to the homes to help deliver babies, she also cooked, cleaned, washed clothes and often had to chop wood for the wood stove to cook and heat water for washing. There were no job descriptions or unions in those days. 

In her spare time she also did rug weaving on a big hand made loom in her basement. It was fascinating to watch her. She was a lady of many talents and was always available. She never missed a Ladies Aid meeting if she could help it and always took her turn at serving the lunch. In those days the husbands came for the late afternoon lunch which often served as the families' supper. I'11 never forget her great potato salad with her home-made salad dressing. 

She had Kraft beat. In the fall of 1948 she became ill and it was evident her days were numbered. Because she was so special I wrote to the columnist George Grim of "I Like it Here" and he responded with short article about her suggested that those 600 babies she had delivered send her a Christmas card to cheer her last days. What a response! She received over 200 cards, many with letters and about 100 handkerchiefs. 

She died about three weeks after the article -- and was buried on my· birthday, Jan. 10, 1949 not 1948 as the stated.

Her youngest child Mabel Hovinen is living at Ashland Place -- and doing well at 86.

Thank you for memories that have been revived.

Marjorie Forslin (Mrs. Laurence)