Tomena Thoreson-Whiting
McLean 1902
[Full image 45k]

Women as well as men often combined homesteading with other occupational interests. Sometimes this required leaving their homesteads for a few months at a time. It was common to live on the claim during the summer and "work out" during the winter. A number, however, were able to maintain careers while continuing to live on their claims. Teachers found homesteading compatible with their profession. Some held classes in their own shack, but more often they commuted to a schoolhouse. Skilled seamstresses would visit families for a few days or a week to make the necessary garments and then return to their shacks. Shacks could double as post offices, providing jobs for postmasters and mail carriers. Midwifery and general health care could also be practiced with the shack as a home base.

Tomena graduated from St. Cloud Teachers College. An uncle persuaded her to homestead a piece of land adjoining his. She taught her first class in her claim shack in 1904. A special area was set aside for a darkroom so she could pursue her interest in photography.
(Courtesy: Ruth Whiting-Bernsdorff, Max)

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