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Show Volume XXI Issue V The Ogden Valley news Page 9 June 15, 2013 The Reinold Coert Klyn Family of Huntsville – Part I Note: This article was contributed by Jane Salt Lake City. After seven days on the ship and then four days and three nights on the Bruce. This is Part I of a series. Reinold Coert Klyn and his wife Arendje Greyhound bus, the exhausted family arrived Cornelia Assenberg Klyn and their daughters, in Ogden, Utah. Orville Peterson was there to greet them Leny (age 13) and Jelly (age 7½) arrived in with a car he had borrowed to drive them to Huntsville, Utah on April 26, 1949. They were the first Dutch immigrants to arrive since the early Huntsville. The drive through Ogden Canyon 1900’s at which time Pieter Janse and his family was beautiful, frightening, and awe-inspiring. entered the valley. Pieter had been waiting for the The fast-flowing Ogden River and the steep mountains on either side of the road as they Klyns but died just two months before. drove around curve after curve made them hold The following is their story: In 1938 in Den Helder, The Netherlands, onto their seats. Relieved, they entered the two Latter-day Saint (LDS) missionaries Huntsville Valley. The lake, with Huntsville appeared at the Klyn’s door. One of them was in the distance, looked so peaceful and serene. They were finally J. Orville Peterson of “home.” Huntsville, Utah. It Bea Peterson, was a busy Monday with Faye, Lynn, morning when all Gregg, Karma, and Dutch women did Don standing by her their laundry. After side, welcomed them a short conversawith a smile and tion at the door, they probably wondered were asked to return how they would at a more convenient communicate with time. Four different this unique family. A missionaries came hearty meal had been over a period of a prepared and after year, after which the eating bread with couple was baptized cheese and bacon and their three-year for days, they were old daughter was grateful to have a hot blessed. meal. The Peterson This was during home consisted of the Depression and it three rooms. The was not long before kitchen was in the the call came for all middle with a parlor missionaries to return on one side and a The Klyn family home in Huntsville. to the U.S. as war bedroom on the other. was imminent. All the missionaries came to bid farewell but left The Klyns were to occupy the parlor and the their calling cards, which had a picture of the seven Petersons slept in the bedroom. The meals were taken in shifts and as the weather Salt Lake Temple and their home address. From 1940 to 1945 the family moved from was beautiful, much time was spent outside. place to place because of employment, and The women did the household chores while they lost contact with church headquarters and the children were outside or in school. Orville members as travel was nearly impossible and spent his day in the tool shed. The Klyns had mail was sporadic. They were always the only not known that he was not employed and sharpened saws and lawnmowers and did odd jobs to Mormons in town. After suffering many hardships and still make money. The first day was spent resting, getting recovering from post-war deprivation it was acquainted and unpacking the suitcases which felt the family could not go through such trials again and it was also a concern that the children had come with them. Later in the day, a smiling were growing up in a non-LDS environment lady appeared saying, “Hoe gaat het met U,” with no support system, as they were always how are you, in Dutch. They were overjoyed the only members in town. At that time the to know someone could speak their language. From then on, she was their main translator church was not well-accepted. As the missionaries began to return and as and friend. Her brother, Adrian, spoke a little they talked of immigrating to “Zion,” the mis- Dutch, also. What a relief! It was decided that the children would be sionary cards were retrieved from the Bible where they had been stored. Letters were written to all called Jane and Betty and the parents would those Elders and soon the mailman began to bring be Ren and Atie, as she had been called in postcards and letters from the U.S. Among the Holland. Not being prepared for the much letters came an offer from J. Henry Grimshaw of warmer climate, their wardrobe was inappropriCedar City, to sponsor the family and J. Orville ate and girls age 13 did not wear short dresses Peterson asked them to come to Huntsville. They anymore. Atie immediately found creative ways to lengthen Jane’s dresses and the sweatgratefully accepted both offers. It took three years to save money for the ers and coats were stored. Ren found a job cleaning the town ditch to passage and to prepare the necessary documents, complete the physical exams, smallpox prepare for summer irrigation. He was happy vaccinations, and chest X-rays. Furniture had to make money and to get a good meal to go to be sold and it had to be decided which items with it, but his hands were covered in blisters. During the day Atie learned how to use a were most important to take to Utah. Tears were shed as favorite books and toys had to be treadle machine and she explored the neighborhood thinking she could take a walk to “that left behind. The departure date finally arrived on April mountain,” not realizing that it was much 15, 1949. The family boarded the Nieuw farther than it appeared. The children started Amsterdam after saying good-bye to family school immediately. They liked school, espeand friends, knowing they would not see them cially the 15-cent hot lunches and the friendly again. With 90 other immigrants they began and caring atmosphere. The teachers were their journey to Utah, most of them going to helpful and understanding. Every day they looked forward to the wonderful new foods such as biscuits with honey and large peanut form Holland and immediately used them to butter cookies. The corn was not appreciated make some useful furniture and neighbors as in Holland it was considered food for pigs. either gave or lent them needed items such as Not speaking the language was especially a couch, tables, beds, etc. By then, the trunks difficult for Jane. She went to school with a new form Holland had arrived with linens, pots and composition book and a little dictionary. Betty, pans, favorite personal things and books. The who was in first grade could already read and write church contributed some quilts and a load of Dutch so she would write the English words the coal. Mr. Knapp form the general store sent a way they sounded to her. Jane did best in Math and chair, dishes and another colorful quilt. Some Geography as it didn’t require language. rag rugs covered the linoleum floors and a After a week, the work at the town’s irriga- school girl brought a large bouquet of fresh tion ditches ended. Adrian Janse drove Ren flowers form their garden to put on the large and Atie to Ogden to find a job for Ren in the oak table in the living room. A tin pie plate trade he had excelled in since he was 14. First covered with a cloth hung over the single light they went to a bakery owned by a man who bulb. had Dutch parents. He didn’t get the job as the The next project was to cover the old owner said that Dutch bakers were lazy. Atie stained wallpaper. With guidance from their understood the word “lazy.” The next stop new-found friends, they got a short lesson on was a bakery on Washington Blvd. He was how to go about this. When doing the ceiling, hired immediately and worked there for many it was discovered that there were many previyears, making many of their specialty cakes ous layers. The next morning the whole project and pastries. was lying on the floor. Undaunted, they did it With a steady job, it was decided it was again and with much success. In Holland these time to find a place to live and not impose on things were done by professionals so they had the Peterson’s hospitality any longer. It was no previous experience. not long until they found an old pioneer home on the edge of town which was for rent for $20 a month. It belonged to Louis Wangsgard who lived next door. It was on a very large property with space for a garden on either side of the two-story house, a big lawn and even a shed in the back for coal, firewood, tools, etc. Armed with buckets, mops and broom, they scrubbed and cleaned until the place looked clean enough to move into. The house had not been inhabited for many years, and needed much work and maintenance. When the drab brown window frames and doors were painted green and white, the landlord nearly had a heart attack. Those were colors they were not accustomed to. The inside was transformed into a “home” in a short time with help from neighbors and their The Klyn family on the day they left Holland in April of 1949. new friends. Ren Photo courtesy of Jane Bruce formerly of Huntsville.. had brought his tools From The Past . . . Jeffrey D. 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