The population of Riga, Latvia increased by one on Jan. 5 of 1930, when Elmars Kalnins was born to John and Janis Kalnins.
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The population of Riga, Latvia increased by one on Jan. 5 of 1930, when Elmars Kalnins was born to John and Janis Kalnins.
Riga was a large city of perhaps two million people, whose lives were over-shadowed by the presence of Russian soldiers, scattered throughout the city. As of 1934 Riga was a Russian-occupied city.
While living in Latvia Kalnins attended grade school in Latvia. Being a little rascal brought about frequent visits to the principal’s office, where he was known on a first-name basis.
Elmars’ father was a bricklayer, who provided a “medium income” for his family. A family garden provided food for the family of four. They attended the Lutheran Church, which was the liaison that helped connect the family with Mount Morris.
Childhood activities included “kick-the-can” as well as a little basketball and soccer with neighborhood kids.
When Kalnins was 9 his family saw the Russian army marching toward the Daugava River (about the size of the local Rock River) in Riga. At that time the family loaded their few possessions on a small horse-drawn wagon, the boys (Elmars and his older brother, Boris, rode horseback) escaped from the inner city of Riga to a remote, rural hiding area, where they lived for one year. Other than a few items of clothing, Elmars’ only memento of his homeland was a Latvian flag. A brick layer friend of John’s provided lodging, and the basic necessities for the escapees.
This article is from both a program presented to Dorcas Women’s Circle at Disciples United Methodist Church in Mount Morris and an interview with Elmars and Marion by Linda Black and is submitted with their permission.