Watchmaker John Arvid Carlsson from Högvakten
His growth in Sweden
John was born and raised at the croft Gröthög in Naverstad. When it was time for John to start school, the family moved to Övre Högvakten near Korsvägen. After graduation and confirmation, John went to Halden, Norway for vocational training. The four year long vocational training took place at Paul Johannesen’s watch- and glasses store. John caught pulmonary tuberculosis, a common and feared disease at that time. Since he needed sanatorium care, he went to Grefsen Sanatorium in Oslo. He later on moved to Svenshögen in Bohuslän for further sanatorium care. A few years later he married Olga Östlund who lived and worked in the general store at Korsvägen.
Longing for America
John went to America in 1928. As every other emigrant, he hoped to accomplish something in the new country. But John could not stay in America for very long since he carried the disease. He worked as a watchmaker in Los Angeles, California, being employed by a Swedish watchmaker named Frans Ahlqvist from Jönköping. The time John spent at Ahlqvist was probably the best time he ever had in America.
John and Frans Ahlqvist outside the store in Los Angeles where John was employed
Time passed, and slowly the pulmonary tuberculosis gradually became worse. John had to see a doctor. He was sent on an X-ray examination and the doctor could only say that the pulmonary tuberculosis had come back. John could do nothing else but to start thinking about his journey home. Being sick in America during the 30’s recession was even to think about, especially not as an immigrant.
He first travelled by car. He bought an old car together with another immigrant from Naverstad and they drove across America to New York, trying to get catch a ship heading for Europe. John’s travel mate was Carl Paulson and he was also going back home to Bullaren. Their journey right across North America was surely a great experience.
They travelled from New York to Bergen, Norway by s/s Bergensfjord. They then went by train from Bergen to Oslo through the Norwegian world of mountains. Then they took another train to Dals-Högen where it was time for passport control.
The last stage was by car. Johan Johansson from Ängehagen used his car to transport America-emigrants and their bulky luggage home to Bullaren. For John it was time for yet another stay at the sanatorium in Svenshögen. He later opened a watchmaker’s shop in Strömstad.
John and his friend Karl Andersson somewhere in Los Angeles.
This picture was taken the day after John´s arrival i US on Dec. 9, 1928 in Bel Air, Hollywood. Three of the men are from Bullaren, from right: Karl Andersson, John Carlsson, Karl Pålsson and a man from Norrland
John and Karl reading the newspaper.
We have received the information about
John from his son Ivan Carlsson in Skee and the translation is made by Maria Svenberg at Emigranternas Hus in Göteborg