Questions about the literary history of Duluth: The Wordshed

David Beard Nov 14, 2021 4 Comments

Still working on building a literary history of Duluth. Has anyone information about “The Wordshed” as a Duluth publisher? I can only find:

Alaska: a man from Kanatak: the story of Paul Boskoffsky, by Paul Boskoffsky; Lloyd D Mattson; Harvey Sandstrom. The Wordshed, 2006. ©2002

Alaska: new life for an ancient people, by Lloyd D Mattson; Ruben Hillborn. The Wordshed, 1999. ©1999

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4 Comments

Mike Creger

about 3 years ago 

ELSIE MATTSON

Elsie Mattson, 86, died at Chris Jensen Health Care Center on Feb. 13, 2009.

She was born in St. Paul, on Jan. 13, 1923 to Katherine and Burton Heaton.

After completing grade eight, Elsie took work as a live-in maid. She supported herself at various jobs and enrolled in St. Paul Bible Institute in 1941. On Nov. 19, 1942, she married Lloyd Mattson and shared with him in Christian ministry through all their 66 years together. Their work carried them across the United States and Canada, with trips to Mexico, Austria, Japan, Hong Kong and the U.K. In 1996 Christian Camping International honored Elsie and Lloyd with the Lee Kingsley Award for outstanding service to Christian Camping.

At various times Elsie worked in retail sales and private duty care as a nurses aid. She served as pastor's wife in seven churches in Michigan, Wisconsin, Alaska, and Minnesota. For nine years she managed Camping Guideposts, a family publishing firm and served on the editorial team for Wordshed Books. In 1986 Elsie and Lloyd took early retirement and launched the Wordshed Mission, producing four books that told the stories of quiet servants of the faith, printing 27,000 copies for free distribution. The final Wordshed Mission books will be a memoir, From the Summit Looking Back, with an extended tribute to Elsie's 86 years.

In her mid-50s, Elsie became an avid golfer. She will be remembered as a witty, warm, outgoing Christian. She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church and North Shore Chapel, both of Duluth.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and four brothers.

She is survived by a brother, Ed Heaton (Marlene); Lloyd, her husband of 66 years; a daughter, Sally Rogers (Dale) of Duluth; four sons, Keith of Elyria, Ohio, Joel (Sue) of Renton, Wash., David (Lila) of Columbus, Ind., and Kevin (Tena) of Duluth; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, in Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1505 Eklund Ave., Duluth, Pastor David Mork officiating. Memorial gifts will be accepted to complete the work of the Wordshed Mission.  


Lloyd D Mattson, Age 98 - Lives in Viroqua, WI, (218) 525-3266
https://www.truepeoplesearch.com › ... › WI › Viroqua

wordshed @ hotmail.com 
lloyddmatts @ juno.com
lloyd @ lloydmattson.com
Previous Addresses: 127 E Calvary Rd, Duluth, MN 55803 ... Duluth, MN 55806

Bigfoot and the Michigamme Trolls
Lloyd Mattson
Published by Wordshed, 2005
ISBN 10: 0942684281ISBN 13: 9780942684285

Title: Two Nisse in Santaland
Author: Winifred Stanley
Format/Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Used - Good
Quantity Available: 1
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0942684214
ISBN 13: 9780942684216
Publisher: The Wordshed
Place Of Publication: Duluth, Mn
This Edition First Published: 2004-01

The essay "One More Anniversary," by Lloyd Mattson appears in the 2007 collection How I Met My True Love: Inspiring Real-life Stories of How God Unites Soul Mates.

Mike Creger

about 3 years ago 

My bad. Lloyd died in 2019.

Lloyd David Mattson, 96, died December 3, 2019. He was born August 29, 1923 to David and Beatrice Mattson in Duluth, Minnesota. He graduated from Duluth Central High in 1941 and Bethel Seminary of St. Paul in 1947. He served various Christian ministries for 60 years.

Lloyd’s interests included reading, writing, nature study and camping. He launched wilderness trips for men, boys and families from Maine to Alaska. He authored several books, slide shows, and audio books. Several of his books appeared in translations and he maintained his Hole News blog for over 15 years.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, older sister Hazel, younger brother John, and Elsie, wife of 66 years. He is survived by his brother Art, daughter Sally and sons Keith, Joel, David, Kevin, their spouses, 16 grandchildren, innumerable great-grandchildren, and special friend, Norma Leskela.

Lloyd lived by a simple rule: find something good in everyone.

A memorial service is planned at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Duluth, Minnesota on Saturday, February 8, 2020. Memorials may be given to:

Woodland Garden Library Fund in care of Jan Krabbe 127 E Calvary Rd, Apt 111, Duluth, MN 55803

Or to: Emmanuel Baptist Church Benevolent Fund, 1505 Eklund Ave, Duluth, MN 55811

Paul Lundgren

about 3 years ago 

I ate breakfast across the table from Lloyd Mattson in 2014 at the old Swamp Sisters summer restaurant. He was an incredibly sweet fellow. 

As the obit mentions, he had a blog about “philosophy, theology and tomfoolery” called Hole News, which was at holenews.org but no longer exists there. His son Keith also contributed to the blog -- they were “Young Grandpa” Keith and “Old Grandpa” Lloyd. The Internet Archive captured its last copy of it on Jan. 18, 2019.

Maureen M.

about 3 years ago 

The Duluth Public Library has five of this publisher's books as well as some articles about Lloyd and Elsie.  An item tucked into one of the books had this blurb


The Wordshed Mission

Over the years Elsie and I have encountered many remarkable people. Among them were quiet servants of God and mankind whose stories cried to be told. We created the Wordshed Mission in response to that cry. 

Our mission team includes artist Harvey Sandstrom and wife Donna Rae, son Kevin Mattson and wife Tena, and daughter Sally Rogers and husband Dale. We fund and publish Wordshed Mission books. We do not solicit support, though occasional gifts come from friends who share our vision.

Most of the books we give to those whose stories we tell. We give many books to friends and strangers. We offer books for sale on appropriate occasions to maintain the Wordshed fund. Like Longfellow's archer, we launch the books into the air and let the Lord determine their mark.

[signed Lloyd and Elsie Mattson]                                                       

For more information, send Duluth Public Library reference librarians a hello at duluthlibrary.org/ask-a-librarian and we'll share more details about what we've found.

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