Two families lived above store

Between 1905 and 1909, my grandfater Joel Hokkannen and his brother-in-law Elias "Ed" Turppa operated a mixed items store on the southeast corner of South Avenue and Oak Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Drive). The store had living quarters on the second floor where the two families, each with four or five children, lived.

Joel and Ed both emigrated from Finland in the late 1800s and married sisters Ida and Emma Ahola in 1902. The sisters emigrated from Finland in about 1889. Both young girls attended school in Waukegan and South School on Liberty Street between Utica and Oak streets. Their children attended McAlister and Andrew Cooke schools.

» Click to enlarge image

Norma Hokkanen Mjelde's grandfather, Joel Hokkanen (in button-down sweater), poses with others in front of the mixed items store. The children on the steps are Ed Turppa's son Bill Turppa and Joel's sons Ewald and Onni Hokkanen (Mjelde's father). Others in the picture were not identified.
(Special to the News-Sun)

In 1909, both families moved from Waukegan -- Joel to Kingston, Minn., to farm and Ed to Ludington, Mich. Maybe the dual partners of the store had a falling out and each went their separate ways.

In 1907, Joel and Ida Hokkanen's 5-year-old daughter, Anna, died of meningitis. In 1908, Ida's father William Ahola died and his wife, Maditta, died in 1909. They are buried in Oakwood Cemetery on Sheridan Road in Waukegan.

It is reallly sad that we don't ask questions about our past ancestors and family histories while the older folks are still living.

Norma Hokkanen Mjelde