"MEET LINDY WITH NASH IN CAPITAL"

I know--that sounds like someone's playing Clue, but it was actually a headline in a Pennsylvania newspaper in June, 1927 (below).  If you're from Minnesota, you'll probably recognize that "Lindy" refers to our states' reluctant hero, Charles Lindbergh, and a-ha! 1927 as the year he flew non-stop to Paris...so yes, that's what this post is about ☺.
If you think about it, there would have been no advanced publicity planning around the flight, because a whole field of aviators were trying to prove transatlantic flight was possible. Charles Lindbergh just happened to accomplish it that May, and Little Falls became a center of the worlds' attention overnight.  So, how could the city fathers cash in on it?  
Possibly knickers and knee sox were one way, especially with matching jackets and hats, and a nice new Nash Special Six in the bargain. Read these clippings and see how four local guys got a free trip to Washington, DC because they knew Lindy way back when.  They were Mayor Austin Grimes, Kenneth Martin, C. H. Longley, and J. Sherman Levis (none of whom are familiar to me).

Here's something else Larry discovered:  the 1927 prototype use of Photoshop!  The "Real Photo" postcard on the right is for sale on ebay, and Larry noticed the lack of shadows and slight fake-iness in the outline of the two figures.  In looking around more, he found the original news photo (a-ha!) they were taken from.  I'm pretty sure that by 1927 the house on the river was no longer in good repair and surely wouldn't have served as "home" for Chuck to greet dignitaries in front of.  But look--what a good picture of Mayor Grimes ☺!

John Wetzel, Happiest Kid

We've mentioned Charles Lindbergh here before, but Larry found a charming collateral article in the Kingston Daily Freeman (NY) from August 29, 1927.

I really hope this became a legend in the Wetzel family, that John's kids, grandkids and neighborhood kids ALL heard about it.  Just look at that face ☺...


HAPPIEST KID

Happiest kid in America today probably is John Wetzel.  Little Falls, Minn, Charles A. Lindbergh's home town, selected John as its most representative youth, and named him guard of honor for Lindy on the latter's return home.  John registers genuine delight.

Looks like John was the son of Earl V and Frances Wetzel, according to the 1930 Federal census.  By then, John was 16, and probably still happy ☺.

Lindbergh and Little Falls

To a great extent, the Morrison County Atlas was a record of stuff that was important to the residents, and what distinguished them from other counties. The family photos, of course, and the church-link photos, the weddings and confirmation/communion pics, the tractors, cars, horses and farm photos--all distinguished Morrison County from Todd or Mille Lacs, Benton or Stearns.  But probably the most distinguishing Morrison county event was in 1927 when a local boy, Charles Lindbergh  flew solo to Paris from New York in May of that year. 

(Added in April, 2017): Something I never put together in my head is that 1926, when John Hesch died, was followed by major events in 1927.  The winter of 1926-27 saw huge snowfall all across the midwest, and lots of rain that spring, so Lindbergh's flight took peoples' minds off the devastating floods in the South that spring--all of which were explained on the new-fangled radio.  Smithsonian article

By August, Lindy was flying around the country, stopping in at least one city in every state, to promote aeronautics. 

There's an online article from Minnesota History Magazine (MNHS) that tells the story, including info about this photo from the atlases--the Brutcher farm?

 Mom often mentioned that her dad thought it was important that his family witness Lindy's triumphant return, so we know they were there at the Brutcher farm, north of Little Falls, that day.  Mom was 12 and remembered it as a sort of beginning to her ventures into the larger world.

The Brutcher farm was chosen because it had room for parking as well as a nice flat field where the plane could land.  Looks like Lindburgh's father owned some acreage nearby, and maybe that had something to do with the choice too.  
Mom said it was a hot day, but they had to have a parade too.  Click the pic to enlarge it--so you sorta have a feel for where this is, that's the Buckman Hotel in the distance.  The photo is looking NE.  
If you want to know more about the hotel, check this out:

From the Pierz Journal in 1927

It's 1927, John's died, and his widow has re-married. What to do with the store in Buckman? Sue found this ad:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I know you're asking yourself, "Why so MUCH stuff about John?" Well, because a cousin with pictures was heard from...lol She, of course, has researched her own grandpa, while we've researched mine.

Others (i.e., Laura, Louise and Irene) had pictures to share about their dad, so HE got a lotta space here.

I know...it's unfair! But trust that I'll post whatever pics you send, as long as they concern the HESCH family from my generation back in time...ok?