Going to the Minnesota State Fair?

Here's a 1909 ad from the Little Falls Herald, and look--our familiar grandstand was brand new that year. Funny, I've never seen this view of the building, have you?
BTW, check the bottom of the ad--incredibly, the Civil War ended only 44 years earlier, so a "historical spectacle" of Minnesota at Gettysburg would have been seen by actual veterans.  I hope they got in free.

Tales of Fisticuffs and the Long Arm of the Law

 An amazing story from the Little Falls Transcript, November 12, 1909:

ARE FINED FOR PITCHING INTO MARSHALL
Two cases of assault and battery, in both of which John P Brown, the marshal of the village of Buckman was complainant, came up for trial in Justice Gerritz's court Wednesday morning. In one, Jos Otremba of Buckman was defendant. He pleaded guilty and was fined the costs of the case, $7.85.  In the other, Anton Hesch was defendant.  He pleaded guilty and was fined $5 and costs, a total of $12.85. They paid their fines and were given their freedom.
The above cases resulted from a quarrel and fight between Anton Hesch and the marshal, during the course of which Jos Otremba became mixed up in it, stating that he did so thinking that the marshal was reaching in his hip pocket for a weapon.

Grandpa Anton would have been 26, not yet married. Joe Otremba was his mom's brother.  Hmm...possibly, they were in a saloon at the time?  

I never thought of grandpa as a scrapper, and certainly haven't had an opinion of the Otrembas before this either.  From January 8th, 1897 Little Falls Transcript, here's something about another Otremba:

 A PARTNERSHIP SCRAP

_________

Christ Olson Polishes the Countenance of his Partner, Carl Otremba

_________

The firm of Olson and Otremba, proprietors of the saloon on First street near the German America bank, became involved in a quarrel Monday, which resulted in Otremba receiving a severe drubbing, a "shanty" being put over each eye, and a swing on the jaw gave his face the appearance of being much fuller on that side than the other.  
Otremba entered a complaint against Olson before Justice Shaw, and the latter pleaded guilty to the charge of assault and was fined $10 and costs.
The trouble between the two business partners has been brewing for some time. Olsom claims that Otremba appropriates the receipts and will not give up anything to pay the bills.
The collector for the Little Falls brewery was in to collect for the beer furnished and Olson demanded Otremba to disgorge from his "hold out" sufficient currency to liquidate the indebtedness.  Otremba refused and then Olson cleared off a portion of the floor and went after his man. His calculations were good for Otremba did not fall much outside of the space cleared, and although he received a hard whipping, he cannot bring an action for damage done to his clothing.
Those who frequent the place sympathize with Olson.
The firm has an application in for a renewal of their liquor license, and now each one of them has made an application for a license for the same building.  The outcome is uncertain.  Olson offers to sell his interest or buy his partner out, and the latter, it is said, will not consent to either proposition.

As far as Larry and I know, there was only one Charles (Karl) Otremba, whom we mentioned before, HERE.  Turns out Karl left Minnesota permanently a few years later ☺.

THANKS, LARRY!

The 1909 wedding of Angela Sand and Anton Gerwing

Pierz Journal, July 22, 1909

July 22, 1909

Remember my whining about German naming traditions before on HH?  The idea that the first son was named after his dad's father, and the first daughter was named after her mom's mother, etc...makes families easier to trace over the years, but MUCH harder to distinguish between 3 or 4 cousins all named John or Peter, or John Peter, or Anna, Mary or Angeline, all born in the 1880s.

We're talking about an Angeline Sand, daughter of Nicholas and Christina Sand from Meire Grove, Stearns Co, west of St Joseph, Mn.  Was her dad a brother to Michael, or a cousin?  Brother makes sense cuz of the names of their children but cousin makes sense too because the Nick I was thinking of married Katherine Didier.

Oh well, this'll get worked out and I'll change what I've goofed on.  In the meantime, it's 1909, and we have an account of a letter to Maud Berg, a friend in Pierz, from Anton Gerwing (the groom up there in the pics).  He says he married Angeline Sand from Meire's Grove in June (see photos!).  Apparently, Maud's brother (?) had also moved to California, and in July, sent a newsy letter home, along with his subscription to the Journal.  Luckily, this got him column inches and we find out about land prices and speculating on crops in California...not to mention explaining some lovely wedding pics from my files.

"Dig a canal" they said. "It'll be...useful" they said.

 I'm sure you'll recognize this map, compliments of Google.  At the bottom is the town of Onamia, Mn, at the top is Mille Lacs Lake, but nope, this post has nothing whatever to do with Sr Laura or the mission.


I found the following article in the Little Falls Herald in November, 1909. It's helpful to remember that it was the era of automotive horse power, electrification, promised train routes, and it was only five years after the St Louis World's Fair.  There were explorers at the north and south poles that year, and the first commercial and military airplanes were purchased.  Absolutely everything must have seemed within reach.  Projects didn't even really have to make sense:

ONAMIA AND MILLE LACS LAKES TO BE CONNECTED BY CANAL
Onamia, the "Soo" town, which is to be made the division point of the Soo road, is to have direct water connections with Mille Lacs Lake it is said, which, of course, greatly increases the prospect of that town.  Many thought that Rum river would be utilized for this purpose but it seems that the Soo road has a more feasible way of getting at it according to the following from the Mille Lacs Pioneer:
"The Pioneer is in receipt of information from a reliable source to the effect that the Soo railway company have been considering for some time past the feasibility of giving Onamia village, which is to be a division point, direct water communication with Mille Lacs Lake through the construction of a canal of about one mile in length, which would connect Onamia lake with the main body of Mille Lacs.
"Last winter, surveyors in the employ of the company took levels from the north shore of Onamia lake, along the section line between sections 19 and 20 in this township, to the south shore of Mille Lacs, the distance being but a little over a mile between the two lakes.  They reported the surface of Mille Lacs to be about seven feet higher than that of Onamia lake; that the strip of land separating them is but a sort of low sand bar, and therefore very easy to excavate; and that by the construction of a canal and ore lock, navigation between the two lakes would be made very practicable.
"The Soo company, it is understood, is about to ask permission from the government for this undertaking."

"What do you know about Flax?"

We received a challenge this week from my sister, just cuz we said we liked mysteries.  This is a case in point, too, that none of us was privy to all the family stories.  I'd never heard this one before:

"....Mom told a story about her dad once planting flax as a big risk crop. I thought that linen was its only use, but recently found out that linseed oil, from the root 'lin', also came from flax. How unusual was it to plant flax in the twenties, and how much of a cash crop would it have turned out to be?...."

When I think of flax, three things come to mind: one, reading "Red Earth, White Earth", a can't-put-it-down novel by Will Weaver.  It's a story set in northern Minnesota about a farm family on the White Earth Indian Reservation.  One plot thread is that the narrator, Guy, as a young man, decide he'll make it big by planting flax.  His grandfather ok's it, but extracts a promise from Guy that he'll always rest on Sundays, no working the field.  Of course the crop is perfectly ready on a Sunday, and there's a major storm approaching.  Guy has to decide if he'll keep his promise as they watch the black clouds rolling in...and in the end, he does.


Anyway, the flax is ruined, all the money he would have made is totally gone, and Guy leaves for Minneapolis.
. . . . .  The second thing flax-connected is the post we did in February of 2012 about our Hesch ancestors as flax growers back in Bohemia, about how it was harvested and processed in the villages then.
                                                                                 . . . . . The third flax connection in my head was the occasional mention of it in the Pierz Journal, one quick blurb from 1911 when John Dehler hauled "a four horse load to Pierz" and a pic of Uncle Leo and Aunt Fronie standing in a blooming field, possibly flax.  

But, why grow flax (Linum in the family Linaceae)? It was used for linen, linseed oil, a drying agent in linoleum and ink, woodworking products, edible oil and nutritional supplements.  BTW, the wiki article above cites Austrian (Bohemian) home remedies (in particular) made of flax.

Why not? A bushel of flax seed in January 1911 was over twice what wheat, rye, or oats brought.

 In December 1914 it was higher than wheat, rye or oats, tho not as much.  (I think prices varied depending on the time of year as well).

 By 1920, there were 5 grades of wheat in the $2+ range, but now flax was $4.37.  Part of the price would have been a growers' ability to hold it till March before selling, but probably that price alone would have enticed Little Grandpa to plant it.  

I wonder, did mom say whether growing flax was a success?

+  +  +  +  +  +  +

2 weeks later:  Woohoo!  Look what Larry found: September 12, 1919

Wow, huh?  That'd be $1,844 by March, a huge amount in 1920.

Innovation in church heating, 1907 style

Hmm...yes, we've seen this place before.  It's St Joseph's, the Catholic church in Pierz, Minnesota.  You're saying to yourself, "Good grief why, AGAIN?"

Vell.  Vee haf a nifty new mystery!

When you gaze at the pic, what part seems odd to you, or out of place?  Theres a church on the left, a school on the right, and a smokestack on the ground in the middle. Wha...?

That weird chimney is something cool that's probably totally forgotten, except for two obsessive researchers 105 years later who happened to pick up on a stray thought in the "Pierz" news in the Little Falls Herald. 

(For the life of me, I can't find the first article I saw that mentioned it, but St Joseph's tried an innovative idea for heating the place--a separate, central, underground plant with duct work running to the church, school and rectory. At the time, the church had no basement, btw.  That first article was a sort of editorial, mentioning civic mistakes--ideas that people originally thought would work, or would save money--but which cost considerably more in the long run.  That heating scheme lasted one winter because it didn't work at all. Damn I found it! See below ☺).  The Historic Places application we published awhile ago states that the basement was excavated to create a winter chapel, but it was also cuz the church needed a furnace UNDER (not beside) the area to be heated.

And here's a bonus article about the church, since you made it this far ☺

Travel, Blow snakes and Karo syrup

The Andersons probably went by way of St Cloud, making the trip 132 miles instead of 103 miles and an hour and 49 minutes now.   

 The western hognose snake (puff adder or blow snake) is primarily diurnal. If threatened (or perceiving a threat), it may flatten its neck (much like a cobra), hiss, and make mock strikes...Although it is more common that they will flatten their heads out, some individuals may puff up, filling their throats with air. This is more common with adolescent males.

Oh yeah, I was sure this was a pull-yer-leg story, but just for fun I googled "blow snake"--and, wow, there really is/WAS such a thing.  (With snakes, you react first, talk later).  There may have been a small benefit in seeing one if it meant your friends plying you with liquor as a cure, too. "...the snake blew it's poison into his face and poisoned him" was enough, even if there was no poison.

 Wonder if the side track in Elk River ever materialized?  Who knew there were mineral springs there? Stranger things have happened; it was an age of possibilities and mineral water was mineral water, right?

 Wow, just think--Paul's wife Mary (Otremba) Hesch came here when she was 12, and now, at 57, she went to see the big ships.  Course, this may have had something to do with Math & Ted talking about going to Europe (they did the following spring), and maybe Mary wanted to see for herself whether or not the were safer now.

What an odd ad, huh?  Corn syrup was better than honey?  But maybe honey was considered poor man's sugar, where Karo was manufactured.  

This next article blew us away.  We thought "Live long and prosper" was Star Trek...but no--actually, it was used to wish a happy life to newlyweds too.

(Everything old, etc)

Possible "Paper at Pierz!" re-post

Ack--every time I come across this clipping, I chuckle...and then wonder if I've posted it yet.  For a long time, I waited cuz it only pertained to the Pierz Journal, so I figured I'd wait till I had other similar stuff to accompany it. 

 Larry labelled it "pierzpaperpredictionprincetonunion6/24/09", and I've considered all kinds of alliterative titles to match--

Wait, I MUST have posted it before.  

But what if I haven't?  Ok, this time, I'll delete the original, so I won't publish it a tenth time...

New Pierz

It's really fun when a pic like this from one of the atlases coincides with a news item(s) we found in the Pierz Journal.  This particular instance needs a little background, tho:  Originally there was a town named Rich Prairie, which eventually became Pierz in honor of Fr Pierz, the priest.  

The towns' people evidently differentiated the north end (Upper Town) from the south end (Lower Town).  When the Soo Line railroad came thru south of town, they called the depot area "New Pierz", which, by 1910, became Genola.

We also know that John Schmolke built a store across from the depot...or was it Frank Otremba...or Peter Mueller?  

The mystery I found that got us started on Genola was a blurb in the PJ about broken windows in the new building.  After that, every mention of Genola businesses seemed like the SAME building. We still don't know, but it looks like we only have six buildings to choose from in the pic (and no, the business district never grew much beyond this.  The depot photo was directly across the road from these few stores. just so ya know ☺).

Trophy Hunting, 1909

When I first read this article, I thought it was a straight 5 W report--after all, who wanted bears that close?  But re-reading it, I think it was snarky, as the writer was trying to make a point.  What do you think?


"BEAR KILLED NEAR PIERZ
While driving to Buckman Monday afternoon W. Schreiner and Math and Nick Mueller encountered a black bear about four miles south of Pierz.  The party gave bruin the right-of-way and went to the farm of J. Otremba where they equipped themselves with rifles, knives, etc, and at once gave chase.  The bear was again found in a corn field where it was shot.  The proud hunters at once returned to Pierz with their quarry and it was placed on exhibition at Mueller's saloon.  The bear weighed 35 pounds".

Pete Mueller and the Bull

"A NARROW ESCAPE
If you wish to know how things look to a man up a tree ask Pete Miller [Mueller].  He has been there lately and can probably tell you all about it.  Up to the present time electricity has held the record for shinning tree and peeling off the bark but Pete has lightning skinned to a finish by his stunt of last Sunday, when he beat the record ascending a tree at the same time knocking the bark off both the tree and his shins.  Perhaps a large share of the credit should go to the pacemaker which, contrary to the usual custom, traveled behind instead of in front of him.  To make the matter a little plainer, we might explain that the pacemaker was a large sized bull which, objecting to Mr Miller's presence in Nick Hennen's pasture, proceeded to perforate him full of holes.  However, Mr Miller escaped serious injury by climbing a tree where the bull held him for an hour and a half.  We are informed that the bull has since been converted into beef in which condition he will be less dangerous".


--Pierz Journal, July 22, 1909

Answered Questions

Perennial burning questions ANSWERED by Math Hesch in his early "Buckman News" columns. 

 I think you've waited long enough!

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Did Cold Spring Beer advertise in area small town papers ?

====================

When was the basement for the high school building in Buckman dug, and by whom?

====================

Did Math happen to report the birth of  his niece, who was AA and Lizzys first child (before dad)?

July 29, 1909

====================

What other products did the Hamm's Brewers produce besides beer?

======================

How long was a normal fishing trip (honest!) in those years?

=======================

Did Math ever find occasions to mention himself in his column?

lol

========================

Did the state or county build roads and bridges back then, and if not, did people really do it this cheap??

==========================

Were people in Morrison county aware of the Mayo brothers clinic in southern Minnesota?

============================

Was the water pressure good in Buckman in 1909?

Extra credit:  what has always been the tallest building in Buckman? ☺