This branch of the Austrian Hesch family is descended from Johann Hesch and his wife Marya (Schlinz) Hesch, who came to America from Oberschlagles, Bohemia with three sons: Paul, Mathias, and Anton. +++Johann & Marya settled in Buffalo County, Wisconsin but moved to Pierz, Mn in about 1885. .+++Mathias settled in Waumandee, Wisconsin and moved to Pierz in 1911. +++Anton never married but farmed with his dad in Agram Township, where he died in 1911.+++And Paul, my great grandfather, settled five miles away, in Buckman, Minnesota. He died there in 1900.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Buckman Minnesota in 1940

WOW!  This morning before I went to work, Larry showed me an amazing (and frustratingly non-intuitive) website from Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  Evidently, beginning in 1930, chunks of the state were mapped from the air. 
Of course, we tried Morrison county--nada in 1930, but  YES!  in 1940...this is the whole section--find the jog in Highway 25 to orient yourself, ok?  (The link above takes you to this page).

Now, on the actual site, click on the place you want magnified (like the village of Buckman...lol), and you'll find this:
Isn't it just magnificent?  Some buildings we grew up with were there in 1940 (St Michaels, the Hall, the Creamery, Zenners) and MUCH has changed since then...but to look back like this is stunning. 
Dad was 27 and hadn't left Buckman for the Army yet, the city hall was being built, the school had no addition, and look at the tiny pine trees on the north side of the church lot.  And WOW--no ballpark! 
The photo was taken in the early morning (see the shadows on the highway?)

Does anyone know who owned the farm in the upper right corner? 

A HUGE thank you to Larry.  OMG, what would we know without HIM?
Posted by Marlys Hesch Sebasky at 7:46 PM
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