Grandma and Grandpa Mattson met at the one-room schoolhouse that Grandma was teaching at in the farm community they both lived in Falun, Alberta, Canada. Grandma lived in the small "teacherage" out back of the schoolhouse. A "teacherage" is a small house provided for the teacher to live in. Grandpa's family used to bring her fresh eggs, milk, and vegetables from their farm.
On Friday evenings people from the community would come together at the schoolhouse for a dance. The Finnish band, of whose culture Grandpa was, provided the lively music. The ladies would bring "boxed dinners" to the dances. The men would then purchase one of the boxes and dine with the lady whose box it was.
It was through these events that Grandma and Grandpa Mattson got to know each other.
Grandma liked Grandpa because she found him fun-loving, intelligent and kind. Even though he had to stop going to school after 8th grade to work on the family farm, he loved to read and share his ideas with others.
Grandpa was attracted to Grandma because he found her thoughtful,intelligent and hard working. They both loved the land.
Soon they fell in love and eventually married.
Interview by Grandson, Nathaniel Prophet, age 10 at the time.
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