This is an interesting find. It looks like Kjell of Norway imported a lot of sportwear and furniture — maybe like a proto-Ikea. There were various stores around the bay area.

Does anyone know if Qvale owned this business?

Edit: So, it looks like Kjell of Norway was a division of Parrott & Co. which was an importer. They were headquartered at 550 Montgomery St. in San Francisco. Might be unrelated to Qvale.

From http://www.corporationwiki.com/Californ … 78962.aspx:
Parrott & Co. filed as a Foreign for Profit Corporation in the State of Florida and is no longer active. This corporate entity was filed approximately forty-two years ago on Monday, July 29, 1974 as recorded in documents filed with Florida Department of State. It is important to note that this is a foreign filing. A foreign filing is when an existing corporate entity files in a state other than the one they originally filed in. This does not necessarily mean that they are from outside the United States.

Ah, those damn Zynchronisities. I should have double checked who owned it and who worked there, but I was looking for a different link.

Anyway, thanks Barry for figuring it out.

It was a Kjell Reimers who lived in San Mateo, not Kjell Qvale. I guess Kjell must be a common name, and they like to import things. Perhaps they knew each other, like via a Norwegian business association or something? But any connection to Paul Stine would be a reach.

-m

EDIT: This info came from the SF 1963 Polk. I guess you can have a business before a corporate filing?

Hi-

The Kjell you’re thinking of was VERY aloof and only commiserated with people within his own social circles. I seriously doubt he would have in any way "buddied up" with a cabbie. He was all about driving, so I’d guess he rarely rode in a cab. Well, maybe he got a lift to his neighborhood just once.

Boy, those were more naïve times, right? They list the name of a huge executive and his home address for all to see, LOL. Can you imagine someone doing that today? It would be considered a catastrophe.

Mike

It’s even easier nowadays! http://virtualglobetrotting.com/categor … rity-misc/

The more things change….

Hi-

The Kjell you’re thinking of was VERY aloof and only commiserated with people within his own social circles. I seriously doubt he would have in any way "buddied up" with a cabbie. He was all about driving, so I’d guess he rarely rode in a cab. Well, maybe he got a lift to his neighborhood just once.

Boy, those were more naïve times, right? They list the name of a huge executive and his home address for all to see, LOL. Can you imagine someone doing that today? It would be considered a catastrophe.

Mike

I had thought about that, at least as far as him driving, but then again, maybe he didn’t want to mess up a vehicle, especially if he was a drinker- Idk on this.

I did, however, find a social club that still exists today (and I am sure any businessman with $ was in it)- http://www.norwegianclub.org
And it has been around a very long time. And I am not trying to beat a dead horse, but one last Zynchronicity- the club’s address is 1900 Fell St. And parking looked to be at a premium in that neighborhood.

And where Paul Stine moved in 1967 was 1842 Fell St:

They are less than a block away. Gotta love Polk! The original internet? Especially with its criss cross directory…

And I will say this all probably means nothing, so sorry for the distraction, but always best to have all the facts- especially because I feel Paul Stine’s death will hold some information yet to be gleaned to lead to Z.

-m

Hi-

It is interesting that there was a Norwegian club in the city. I had never stumbled upon that piece of info before. That might be an interesting piece of data with respect to further disproving KQ’s statement to me in 2006 that he really didn’t embrace his Norse heritage very much (as regards the sla letter, etc.) but then on his 90th birthday in an article in the Chron he "danced the night away dressed as a Viking." Seems contradictory.

The whole proximity thing to 1842 Fell reminds me of some message switchboard or something that Gyke was supposedly involved in that was close to Stine’s home. Same thing. Innuendo but not proof of anything. Just not as interesting because you can’t really prove that the proximity of the Norwegian club to Stine’s apartment implies that KQ had met PS. But its EXISTENCE is interesting to me.

Mike

I have been doing what research I could in Binghamton, NY (where I grew up/family still near there) on the Sullivans, and it occurred to me we have a Polish Club and an Italian Club, so I thought I’d look. They also have a Binghamton Club for, well, people who tend to have $. As I was doing research at their local genealogy/history center, I stumbled on many other social "clubs" that have since gone defunct, excluding those like the Elks, Lions, etc. Binghamton’s "little" history center had drawers full of folders or scrapbooks with info people had donated or newspaper clippings (I was trying to get info on the Y, suspiciously nothing for several years when the Sullivans were there), and would get distracted. I found things from many social clubs like pictures of parties, membership booklets, and even dance cards they used in the olden days filled in with people’s names of who they would dance with.

Given his business and social status, I would be surprised if he wasn’t a member, if for no other reason then it makes good business sense.

I don’t know where you are located, but San Fran has a Genealogy society and history archives. They may be a good place to start, rather than the club itself which may not be as willing to share. Or they may be. And it wouldn’t surprise me if he held a board position at some point as is usually expected (and if they were non-profit, would probably have to register it with the state). Membership might be easy to find, interesting things would be (for his exclusion as Z)- a dance card or attendance at an event the night of a Z killing. Obviously, inclusion as Z is harder, but could add evidence- like missing important club events on Z nights.

The local papers may have info on things like who was on their board (at least in Binghamton they often had nothing better to print than club elections) or events, but I think I have heard they aren’t really online much? And his name would probably just result in a lot of hits. Let me know, I may be able to help from NY as I live near a top University library with a lot of info or they know how to get it.

And yes, I agree with the Stine coincidence (and the switchboard was there, too), but just had to mention it as I never take anything off the table. I try to look at all the POIs people have with an open mind and share info I stumble on, that was how I recalled the name Kjell. I just should have looked more closely.

-m

It’s mad when you think of the coincidences.

Kjell Qvale lived near & was probably sighted near the Stine murder scene. Stine originally lived next door to 1228 Grant Ave which houses Kjell of Norway, whose HQ was based at Montgomery St. Zodiac wrote a letter to Melvin Belli at 1228 Montgomery St. You couldn’t make this stuff up.

Hi-

It is interesting that there was a Norwegian club in the city. I had never stumbled upon that piece of info before. That might be an interesting piece of data with respect to further disproving KQ’s statement to me in 2006 that he really didn’t embrace his Norse heritage very much (as regards the sla letter, etc.) but then on his 90th birthday in an article in the Chron he "danced the night away dressed as a Viking." Seems contradictory.

The whole proximity thing to 1842 Fell reminds me of some message switchboard or something that Gyke was supposedly involved in that was close to Stine’s home. Same thing. Innuendo but not proof of anything. Just not as interesting because you can’t really prove that the proximity of the Norwegian club to Stine’s apartment implies that KQ had met PS. But its EXISTENCE is interesting to me.

Mike

Most Norwegian emigrants settled in the Midwest, but many went elsewhere too, including California. I know one guy in particular who has plenty of (distant, by now, of course) relatives in San Francisco. The city has also been a major port for Norwegian sailors over the years – there’s a Norwegian church in SF, etc.

Anyway, the Norse point: I don’t know what KQ meant by not being too interested in his “Norse” heritage – but wearing some sort of Viking costume at a party doesn’t mean much. It’s very, let’s say, generic. It’s what Norwegians (or Swedes, or Danes, or Icelanders) are famous for – the Viking thing. And it’s played up whenever it can be. It doesn’t indicate any actual knowledge of Old Norse culture or language – and as I’ve said before, the latter is very different from modern Norwegian.

I’m probably more familiar with Old Norse than 90% of modern Norwegians, due to the fact that I’ve studied linguistics and literature – but my knowledge is limited enough. You have to take an actual, particular interest in the subject – it’s not something which goes with the territory, so to speak. A Norwegian (and this has been true for, literally, hundreds of years) has no more immediate connection to “Norse” than a modern German, or a modern Englishman for that matter.