More about Frances Dengel

Leaving Buckman for Duluth

Grandpa's brother John Hesch had five kids, one of whom was Agnes, who eventually married Joe Suess.  When dad mentioned her, he almost always said Aggiesuess, not Aggie. (For SURE there were enough other Agnes's around).  


Anyway, when they were kids, Aggie had a playmate/cousin named Frances Dengel, who'd turned up in Buckman when she was 5.  Aggie must have known the story, but by the time Sue was curious about it, both women had passed away.


Now, all these years later, we have the answer.  Sue wrote to St Mary's Hospital in Duluth and the archivist at St Scholastica's Convent there IDd the roof of the hospital and sent this biography by Frances (Sr Carmelita) Dengel.  It's pretty cool, especially the first page:

 Sue sent the 3-page bio this morning, along with more of the pictures from Aggie's album.  One thing Frances mentions in the bio is the request to "come as you are, and if possible bring a black dress".  The pics are black & white, but it looks like Frances stocked up on black dresses...surprising  cuz I think Sue and I both assumed they went to Duluth to work, first.  Still, maybe Aggie went along because girls didn't do stuff like that alone in 1923.  Also, only 3 years before, a mob in Duluth had lynched three men on Superior Street.  It was just a bit scary there.


Frances talked about why she chose the convent in Duluth over the convent in Little Falls, but also, Duluth was where the Soo Line headed, from nearby Genola.  In fact, I think Duluth was the 'big city' destination to kids from Stearns thru the whole NE quarter of Minnesota.  The train also made it easier for friends to visit from home.


So, here are a few more of the pics from that album:

Looks like Aggie did something wrong...lol

Paul Hesch or Louie Gottwalt..?

This was marked "Homeward Bound".

No idea.

THANKS, SUE! ☺