Fest magic

Nancy Lerdall of Simply Antiques (left) presents Gary Kruger with a Naval footlocker that belonged to his grandfather, Commander A. F. Fritchen. Decorah Newspapers photo by Sarah Strandberg.

This 2005 Copyright Decorah Newspapers story by Lissa Greiner, used with permission is a nice example of community spirit and Fest magic: 

The draw of Decorah is strong for some people. For many, it's the scenic Upper Iowa; for others, it's the Fest and time with family. 

For Gary Kruger of Nevada, it was a trip to find his roots - to rediscover the town where his family was from. Little did he know his visit would result in something magical - something he would later refer to like a "Rod Serling experience."

Kruger and friend Jane Carducci of Winona arrived in Decorah on Saturday, July 23 to "bum" around. Kruger is the grandson of the late Dr. Arthur Fritchen, who practiced medicine in Decorah in the 1930's and 40's. He knew that Fritchen has lived in the Ben Bear house at the northwest corner of Mechanic and Broadway, and wanted to see the place for himself. 

In addition to wanting to learn a little bit about the community, Kruger and Carducci decided to investigate some of Decorah's antiques. Kruger is an avid antique radio collector and decided to visit Nancy Lerdall's Simply Antiques shop at the east end of Water Street.

"We were in there looking for old radios, and she had a wall full of them."

Kruger wasn't too interested in anything he saw until he happened upon a "farm set," a radio that ran on a battery, which old-timers would rig up to charge via windmill.

"The interesting things about it is that it was a Dewey Tatro...It was not only the kind and style of radio I like, but it was in perfect condition." 

Kruger said the Dewey Tatro radio was manufactured in Decorah between the years of 1928 and 1945. The factory was located in Woolen Mill Apartment building, behind the Decorah Chamber of Commerce.

Although he was intrigued by the radio, Kruger refrained from buying it, but after a few days, something called him back. 

"I decided I wanted it, so I went down to visit Nancy," he said.

During the transaction, the two engaged in friendly conversation about Kruger's family connection to Decorah. 

"When I told her I was the grandson of Dr. Fritchen, she looked at me and said, 'I have something I want to give you - it belongs to you.'" 

Puzzled by Lerdall's comment, Kruger anxiously awaited her return. When she came back, she handed him a Navy footlocker, labeled 'Commander A.F. Fritchen.' 

Kruger couldn't believe it, "I still can't," he said, recounting the tale.

According to Kruger, his grandfather, a Navy doctor, was in charge of a surgical MASH unit during World War II.

Kruger was emotional as he processed the significance of the gift Lerdall had given him. 

"This trunk was at Pearl Harbor," he said in amazement. 

Preserving history
Strangely enough, Lerdall said she had the trunk in her possession since the early 70's. "I had a house in the historic district of Decorah. After the auction of Doc Fritchen's things, I saw this sitting on the curb for the garbage man to collect," she said.

Lerdall said she's not in the habit of taking other people's things, but she could not stand to think of something like that being thrown away. 

"I thought it had a place in Decorah history, so I took it and it has been in my house ever since," she said.

Lerdall, who makes her living selling antiques, couldn't say for sure why she never put the footlocker up for sale.

"It was upstairs in my guest room. I've always liked the fact it said Commander A.F. Fritchen. I knew he was a Decorah doctor. I just never sold it," she said

Aftershock
Carducci said after the incident, Kruger seemed to be in shock for quite some time. 

"We tried to eat lunch, but he was a little too freaked out," she said.

Kruger said he couldn't believe how events unfolded to lead him to the footlocker. 

"I'm still overwhelmed because it was all so serendipitous," he said, adding "It's been a whole odd day."

In addition to finding the footlocker, Kruger and Carducci had another interesting experience.

"We stopped in front of the courthouse and there were these two beautiful souls sitting on their porch, getting ready for Nordic Fest. We engaged them in conversation and found out Doc Fritchen had delivered two of their children. They obviously knew him. They said he liked to visit and he always talked about the war. They said he was never the same after Pearl Harbor."

From the heart
Kruger said he is grateful to Lerdall for all she did to save the trunk and for giving it back to him. 

"What's so profound for me is that I don't have anything from my grandfather," he said. "It's clear that the trunk was supposed to come back to me. Thankfully, Nancy was on a mission that this was part of Decorah history." 

"They said someone's trash is someone else's treasure, so it's going to back where it belongs, to the family," she said.

"The way I see it, she did two wonderful things. She saved a piece of Decorah history and then she gave it back to my family," said Kruger. 

Carducci said the entire experience in Decorah had been magical.

"And how wonderful that Nancy gave this to him It was a gift she gave from the heart."