The story of Niels Weismore
My brother and I thought we had an ordinary dad. We were wrong.
My father, Niels Weismose, was born in Viborg, Denmark and apprenticed as a cabinetmaker. He perfected his trade in Milan, Venice and in Paris, where he met his future wife, Sigrid Simonsen.
In 1927, Niels immigrated to Canada and settled in Calgary. Within a few months he had his own furniture repair shop. He knocked on doors in Mount Royal to find work; lugging small items back to the shop on foot.
By 1929, Niels had enough money to send for Sigrid, get married and buy a house. By 1935, they had two sons. Within a couple of years they were in a larger house with room for a basement shop and front room store.
Dad's oft-repeated fantasy was to buy furniture wholesale, sell it for a profit and never have to work again. He expanded steadily, ending up with a16,000 square foot manufacturing shop and store. He also owned rental properties.
During World War II, Dad joined the Calgary Highlanders, a Reserve regiment. He always took credit for Nazi Germany's defeat, saying, The day I made sergeant, Hitler shot himself.
Man of Many Talents
Besides cabinetmaking, Dad had other interests that we boys took for granted.
Didn't all dads do these things? Niels was:
• an amateur astronomer
• a musician: violinist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and organist at Sharon Lutheran Church
• a gifted artist and woodcarver
• a steadfast volunteer with the Calgary Stampede, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Lutheran Welfare Society and Bethany Care Centre
Niels Weismose is best known for his beautiful woodcarvings, particularly altarpieces. You'll find his work in Calgary, at Sharon Lutheran Church and others; Bethany Care Centre; and Telus World of Science. You can also see it elsewhere on the prairies and in far-flung places like Illinois, Texas (NASA) and Bogota, Columbia.
Adapted from an article in the 2004 Heritage Book,with permission from the Federation of Danish Associations in Canada
More Immigrant Stories:
• Check out the altar and model ship at Dagmar Pioneer Church
• Niels' son solves the mystery of his surname
