Basket socials

I've heard the term "basket social" all my life, but never paid much attention to what it meant.  I knew it was a "Music Man" era kind of thing--a popular early 1900's fund raisers.  According to write ups in the Pierz Journal and Little Falls Herald, basket or box socials were a great way to meet, flirt, and socialize with the opposite sex, and only incidentally to make some cash for a worthy cause. So how did it work? 

Evidently, the girls made up 'anonymous' picnic baskets with dinner for two, trying to make them as irresistible as possible.  The baskets would be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and he would not only win the basket, but the right to eat with the girl who donated it.  No doubt much giggling ensued.  Hey, it actually sounds like fun! 

So, here's just one report of a successful event at St Michaels church in Buckman, in 1911.  (Looks like everyone knew that Pauline Beka and John Schmolke were already 'an item' ☺).

A 1912 Who's Who in Buckman

On October 15, 1912, Peter Beka and Elizabeth Dengel were married in Buckman, Minnesota, with a full compliment of friends and relatives attending. About 100 years later, their niece Liz Mueller identified some of the people who were there.

(If you recall, we originally IDd this photo as Nick Mueller and Lena Dengel, but according to this, the happy couple is Peter and Liz.  Ahh, yes!  There are Nick and Lena as guests, on the left.  They were married 5 years earlier, in 1907).

You'll be able to sleep tonight after all.

Surnames mentioned on the pic include Braun, Beka, Stepan, Denzen, Suess, Kappes, Schmolke, Kelzenberg, Theis, Hurrle, Sitzman, Brausen, Breigenzer, Kuesel, Hortsch, Gashott, Pansky and Vierk as well as Muellers and Dengels. 

(I know you can read em when you click the pic, but this way, they're google-able, natch ☺).

I love that we can find the original news clipping about it, too!

The Henry Dengel family:

It's obvious these two photos were taken on the same day.  

They're all there in the group pic, see?

THANKS, AGAIN, CHRIS!