Arthur Siivo and Ida (Lehtinen) Allen [neeAlanne]
Hanna and Elmo Finish Family and Business Owners
Page by Bob Leathers with contributions from Randy Shipman and Gary Milliken
Arthur Siivo Allen was born August 10, 1882 in Hämeenlinna, Finland. He had a brother V. S. Alanne who lived in Superior, Wisconsin. His wife, Ida W. Allen was born September 15, 1883 in Finland. Arthur Allan's residence in 1910 was Sampo, Carbon County, Wyoming.
1910
Allen Bakery in Hanna
Allen Bakery in Hanna. Not Dated. ( Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
About 1910: The Arthur Allen bakery was located in Hanna near the Finn Hall which is visible in the background. The house to the right of the bakery was the Allen home. Pete Puro eventually took over the bakery from Mr. Allen and ran the business until he retired. The horse drawn wagon to the lift of the bakery was filled with baking goods and Mr. Allen made daily rounds to Hanna, Three Town and Elmo delivering baked goods. (Gert Milliken)
Left to right: Charlie and Lydia Siltamaki, Arthur and Ida Allen, Mary Siltamaki
Seated: Gus Siltamaki with Kathleen (Scarpelli) Siltamaki on his lap. (Terri (Siltamaki) Schreihart)
Allen's Meat Market
then the Sampo CO-OP Store and later Tripplet's Elmo Grocery
A. S. Allen Meat Market. NaKago, Hanna Wyoming Photo (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
A. S. Allen Meat Market. NaKago, Hanna Wyoming Photo (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
A. S. Allen Meat Market, NaKago, Hanna Wyoming Photo (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
Arthur Allen, disposed of his meat market holdings on front Street, in Elmo to purchase the Ruskenen's Elmo Garage. Mr. Allen operated the garage until about 1934 when he sold out to build the motel and store complex, known as the "Silver Cabins" at a site located o Highway 30 when it was routed through Elmo and Hanna. (Andrew Ruskanen, Elmo Garage Company, Hanna Herald, March 30, 1983)
Allen's Meat Market later became the Sampo Co-Op store then the Elmo Grocery owned and operated by Margerite and Laverne Tripplet.
1921
Allen's Meat Market. Elmo. 1921. (The Pioneer. 1921)
1962
Tripplet's Elmo Grocery (Hanna Miner, 1962)
Andy Ruskanen, Elmo Garage Company
I would to take this opportunity to clarify the actual beginnings of the firm which eventually became known as Fenimore Chevrolet.
The business was started by my father, Andrew Ruskanen, in partnership with several friends and associates, in 1920. My father constructed the garage building on what is now designated as "No Name" street. The Carbon County Redi-Mix now occupies the site and probably utilizes the original concrete floor of the garage building.
My father held the franchise or dealership for the Overland "Redbird' automobile and was also the dealer for the "Hubmobile" automobile. The Overland "Redbird was manufactured by the Willis Knight Motor Company, which eventually evolved into what is known as American Motors Company today.
The firm founded by my father and his associates was known as the "Elmo Garage Company" and was located just north of the Workingmen's Commercial Company store and south of the two story house occupied by the Gus Siltamaki family.
My father also constructed a house in Elmo, which was located next door to the home now occupied by the Fenimore's. He [Andrew Ruskanen] was employed by the Union Pacific Coal Company and continued in their employ while building the "Elmo Garage," with the view in mind that he would eventually give up his mining job and concentrate on making a livelihood operating the garage business.
However this was never realized as my father was fatally injured in a mine accident in the Union Pacific Coal Company No. 4 mine on April 4, 1925.
Subsequently, the Elmo Garage Company was managed by individuals chosen by my mother and other partners in the venture. Among these were Pat Russell and Bill Christensen.
Eventually the business was taken over by Arthur Allen, when he disposed of his meat market building on Front Street, in Elmo, directly across the street from the bar now operated by the Jim Poulos family. Mr. Allen operated the garage until about 1934 when he sold out to build the motel and store complex, known as the "Silver Cabins" at a site located on Highway 30 when it was routed through Elmo and Hanna. (Andy Ruskanen, Elmo Garage Company, Hanna Herald, March 30, 1983)
Elmo Garage Company (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
Elmo, Silver Cabins (Gert Milliken Collection from Gary Milliken)
In the early 1950's the Lincoln Highway - which initially ran in front of the Silver Cabins - was moved five miles south of Elmo and Hanna and passed the towns, the Silver Cabins were sold to Rob Warburton and Mark Jackson and moved to the Home Ranch located on Highway 30.
Silver Cabins Advertisement. (Donated by Patrick Geehan, grandson of Arthur Allen's brother. Hanna Basin Museum)
Arthur Allen Postcards From Finland
The Allen name appears to be A. S. Alanne when coming to America. Post Card postdated 8 XII 02 (December 08, 1902). This is the first post card I found addressed to Miss Ida Lehtinen – July 10, 1912. Envelope from Mr. Alanne to Miss Ida Lehtinen – June 04, 1912 – notice lots of kisses on the back flap!
Another envelope of June 15, 1912 from Mr. Alanne to Miss Ida Lehtinen.
July 22, 1912 - First time I have document of Mr. Alanne name spelling change to A. S. Allen.
December 23, 1914 - First Christmas postcard addressed to Mrs. & Mr. Arthur S. Allan from a family member Alanne.
The name went Alanne, Allan and finally Allen (to the Hanna Bakery) through the 1915’s.
Also found a “Fred” postcard from 1927 that appeared to be the same writing as the Fred who shipped over to France in 1918. (Randy Shipman, April 2021)
Many more postcards at: 1902-37 Arthur and Ida Allen [nee-Alanne] Postcards (Randy Shipman Collection)
Arthur S. Allen, Helsinki, 1902 (Randy Shipman Collection)
Arthur Allen Postcards - World War I
Arthur Allen, Hanna, World War II Postcard (Randy Shipman Collection)
Arthur Allen, Hanna, World War II Postcard (Randy Shipman Collection)
Hanna Basin Death and Burial Records
Allen, Arthur S.
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: "Aug. 10, 1882 - Nov. 30, 1955; Came from Finland, 1903" Shares a stone with Ida W. Allen
Plot: 443
Born: Aug. 10, 1882
Died: Nov. 30, 1955
Age: 73 y's, 3 m's, 20 d's
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: "Aug. 10, 1882 - Nov. 30, 1955; Came from Finland, 1903" Shares a stone with Ida W. Allen
Plot: 443
Born: Aug. 10, 1882
Died: Nov. 30, 1955
Age: 73 y's, 3 m's, 20 d's
and
Allen, Ida W.
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: "Sep. 15, 1883 - Oct. 12, 1960; Came from Finland, 1903" Shares a stone with Arthur S. Allen.
Plot: 443
Born: Sept. 15, 1883
Died: Oct. 12, 1960
Age: 77 y's, 27 d's
Cemetery: Hanna
Headstone: "Sep. 15, 1883 - Oct. 12, 1960; Came from Finland, 1903" Shares a stone with Arthur S. Allen.
Plot: 443
Born: Sept. 15, 1883
Died: Oct. 12, 1960
Age: 77 y's, 27 d's
(Image by Bob Leathers for the Hanna Basin Museum Website, 2021)