BISMARCK, N.D. — A recent home renovation project for Jamee and David Huber in Bismarck took an unexpected turn, leading to a new friendship and a lesson in local history. While tearing down a basement wall, David Huber and his brothers discovered an old photograph, sparking a chain of events that reconnected families.
The photograph depicted Esther Olson holding a fish. David Huber recalled his younger brother picking up the image. Jamee Huber immediately sought to identify the woman in the picture, expressing a desire to return it to her family if possible.
Her efforts quickly bore fruit when Jesse Armstrong recognized the woman in the photo as her great-grandmother, Esther Olson. Jesse Armstrong stated she knew immediately it was her "Granny Esther" upon seeing the post.
The discovery prompted Jesse Armstrong and her father, Steve Armstrong, to visit the Bismarck house. This visit marked their first time inside the home since Myrt Armstrong, Steve's mother and Jesse's grandmother, passed away ten years prior. Steve Armstrong identified the photo as likely taken on Lake Sakakawea sometime in the 1980s. He described Esther Olson as a "wonderful lady" who "loved to fish."
For the Hubers, the experience has been a meaningful way to learn about their home's past. Jamee Huber shared that it was "really cool to hear the history on the house and people that lived here," and to reflect on raising her family in a space where another family had done so previously. Jesse Armstrong expressed confidence that her great-grandmother and grandmother would be happy to know the home is well-cared for and housing a new family.
The exact circumstances of how the photograph ended up inside the wall remain a mystery. However, Steve Armstrong speculated that family pictures once covered the walls of the house, suggesting the photo "was probably on the wall" at one point. He added that there would be "a lot of stories" to tell about the house and the women who lived there.
The photo wasn't the only unexpected find during the Huber's renovation. David Huber also reported discovering a magazine and a cowboy boot Christmas ornament in the walls. Jesse Armstrong confirmed her grandmother, Myrt Armstrong, had a passion for Christmas and collected ornaments.
Myrt Armstrong was a notable figure in the Bismarck community, having served for 25 years as the executive director of the Mental Health Association of North Dakota. She also dedicated her time to volunteering at Seeds of Hope Thrift Store, where she played a key role in developing and running the Christmas Store. Esther Olson was Myrt Armstrong's mother.
The Armstrong and Olson families also share a connection to state leadership: Myrt Armstrong was Governor Kelly Armstrong’s grandmother, and Esther Olson was the governor’s great-grandmother, linking the discovered photograph to a prominent North Dakota lineage.