These stories can also be heard on Sunday mornings around 10 am on WILD 102’s “Look Back in Time” program. Each week’s radio story will be posted here on our website.
Weekly radio stories are researched, compiled, and read by Sheila Winstead, RCHS Board Member.
June 14, 2026
In 1976, attention was on the Bicentennial Celebration of the United States. A local couple made a big commitment to that event by joining a wagon train. In the April 22, 1976, edition of the Roseau Times-Region, a photo of Andy and Oline Erickson of Badger showed them in their pioneer clothing alongside their covered wagon with this story:
The Andy Ericksons left on their dream trip of a lifetime Monday morning, April 12.
At 8 a.m., four trained and polished palominos put their shoulders to the harness, and Andy, Oline, and Gus Erickson moved out for the first leg on a journey that will take them to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
The Ericksons were ready for the Wagon Train Pilgrimage – a three-month journey that should put them at the site of the Revolutionary War battleground on July 4.
Only the bare necessities were in the wagon – the result of months and months of decisions and preparation this past winter.
The Ericksons were fresh from a Sunday’s special programs and ceremonies at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, where friends and relatives had gathered to wish them well and God’s speed.
In May, a new article appeared, saying this: The following letter from Andy, Oline and Kent Erickson, who are wagon train-ing from here to Valley Forge, is reprinted courtesy of the Badger Enterprise. Oline wrote it, their first letter home since the trip began, to the Earl Ericksons of Roseau, and asked that it be passed around.
Thursday, April 29
Dear Folks:
Today we have a rest day at Fort Atkinson, Wis., so Linda (Silrum) Jeska and her new 6 weeks old baby came to our wagon yesterday and insisted I come home with her to stay overnight. They just moved here from Chaska, Minn., so I think she’s a little lonely. Anyway I had a good hot bath, washed clothes and had my hair done and Linda will take me back to the Wagon Train this afternoon.
When we were at Madison 2 days ago, a fellow came up to us to say hello. He and his wife had been up to our place with Lois one time, Rollie Jeans, he’s a veterinarian at Evansville, just a short way from Madison. He took us home with him, Andy and I had hot baths. While we slept she washed all our clothes and he took us in in the morning, supplied with cookies and bars. Just great.
Every day since we started we have had someone come over that knows us or about us (except 3 days), so it’s just great.
We are doing just fine, we seem to be right on schedule. The Wisconsin hospitality is really something. We go thru the different towns we are met by bands every day – sometimes twice a day. We drove right up town in Madison, in front of the capitol building for ceremonies.
Last week was very cold and rained every day, Saturday was especially bad, windy, and rained real hard all day and cold. So, we all had to get a motel room to get boots, gloves, etc., dried out. I was just fine. I sit in the wagon and it doesn’t leak. If you plan to come and see us, be sure you see the train moving, because that’s really beautiful to see.
We have about 30 wagons. That varies from day to day. Some join for a day or two and we have about 60 to 100 horseback riders too. I don’t have much chance to take pictures ‘cause we are in the first wagon and by the time we stop and unhitch so has everyone else.
In Madison, Laurette Schell stopped, so did Harvey Lilleman from Greenbush and Betty Elliot that used to room with Shirley in St Paul when she was in extension work.
The first three days were hard days, the men were nervous, so were the horses. Conversation was at a minimum, but since that time everything has been going real good. Andy loves every minute, lots of BS’ing. We’ve signed hundreds of autographs, hundreds of pictures have been taken. Andy’s picture has been in every major newspaper and on TV many times. We had a TV man ride with us 1-1/2 days from Green Bay, Wis. All this is quite exciting.
It’s too rough to crochet or read, so I just sit and look at the scenery and love every minute. Andy and I sleep in the wagon; Gus and Denise pitch tents. Most everyone else have trailers or campers that the women drive. I’m glad we do not. I would miss so much.
Can you pass this letter around. I get very little time to write.
Love, Oline.
Word was received that the Ericksons made at least one little boy happy on their trip. While traveling through LaCrescent, Minn., they picked up 11-year-old Duane Dahlgren and brought him along across the Mississippi to West Salem, Wis. Duane is the son of Donald and Judy Dahlgren, formerly of Roseau and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Dahlgren of Roseau.
Their adventure was just beginning. I’ll try to find more articles of their progress.
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for letting us share our county’s history with your listeners by donating air time, studio time, and production staff every week.