Morris, Minn. June 29, 1964.
Mr. Thoedare C. Blegen
Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul, Minn.
Dear Mr. Blegen;
Your letter of the 27th relative the Kensington Rune Stone.
As I remember it; the stone was brought in by as mention in my former letter the men named. The drove out in a sleigh, and it was no doubt in December. I doubt if any of the named men are now alive.
I do not remember anything regarding sending the stone but to the University of Minnesota. That statement by the Professor, it was a hoax, sort of was taken as a final solution, a that time. I do not know a thing about it being sent to Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. If they had it there must be a record when and by whom sent.
As stated before the color was dark, no doubt due to having been out in the weather. It is now, I would say, very dried out being rather light colored, when I last looked at it in Alexandria.
In my talk with the son of the old man Ohman, it seemed to me was not very bright. In fact I questioned if he knew any more about the stone than I did. We were both rather young boys at that time.
If you have never seen the stone it would be worth your while to make a trip to Alexandria and examine the stone and the other items since found at various places in western Minnesota. They are on view under glass with the stone and printed history of same.
Of course I have read the various paper articles on the stone and the Viking history about that time. In my mind the stone is real and all the finds and the white Indians of the Mandan tribe support.
If it were intended as a hoax, tha party making the story surely would never have put in the Latin AV. The two letters tie into the story that the King of Norway, a very ardent catholic, sent this outfit to Iceland and Greenland to see to they embraced the new religion. It is a fact now established without a doubt tha there was a settlement on the N.E. coast of the United States of Vikings. This outfit may have tried to reach this settlemetn. They must have gotten too far west an dgone down into Hudson bay and the outlet of the ReEd River, leaving the larger boat there and rowing up the Red River. You can even now go by boat from Breckenridge, Minn way east of Detroit Lakes in that river.
It is very interesting subject and I am sorry I can not shed any more light on the finding and sending of the stone in the very beginning of its late day life.
With kindest regards, beg to remain,
Very Truly
Ing T. Siverts.
(MHS - Blegen papers)
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