More historic family photos!

Ahh, surprise, surprise: we cousins are getting older. We're  looking back and really appreciating our parents, grandparents, in-laws...and even our sibs, by going thru photo albums and memorabilia and trying to decide what to DO with it all.

(Dramatic pause)

Who else would appreciate this wealth of family lore?

How can it all be shared with family and friends who knew them?

And won't I feel better if the pics are stored in someone else's closet?

Well, it looks like "sending em to Marlys" is one solution 😊 This mostly tickles me.  I just got my scanner working again, so it's kind of a sign, and the packs of photos (mainly from Judy, Shirley and now Sue R) are waiting to be shared here.  I suppose, when I'm REALLY old, the actual pictures can be donated to the Weyerhaeuser Museum in LF, but in the meantime, I can publish em here, and you can copy em to your computer to show your kids to settle disputes about when Tony and Lizzie Hesch lived by the green schoolhouse.

Let's face it--this is way better than a dusty box in the attic.

Grandpa's sister Mary Hesch and her husband Joe Peterson.

Thanks, Sue!

Math writes about his sister Mary's funeral

Dad's cousin Laura emailed this morning.  She's going thru keepsakes, she said, and found this letter her dad Math wrote about the funeral of his sister Mary (Hesch) Peterson in Bruno, Minnesota. The photo below was from a year earlier at Grandpa Anton's funeral.  Mary's there in the middle.

Ever the reporter, Math used a handy newspaper form to chronicle the details of the funeral to his daughters who couldn't be there (but who still owed money for flowers ☺). Reading thru the letter, it's so distinctly Math talking, with his guard completely down, and a little of his heart showing...

"Pierz Mn, Thursday Dec 30th-65  10 AM
Well poor sister is layed to rest ___here at 11 AM service was in Bruno church, priest went to cemetery to bury her she looked so natural but thin which you can expect after what she went through. Puly bought $8.00 worth of flowers, 7 girls, $7.00, us one dollar total of 8 so you owe us one dollar. we went there with Reine Janson and wife, "Mate" Adeline also drove with us we were home at 4PM. Thank god it was a nice day yes for 20 miles roads were icey but otherwise nice water was dripping off church roof. those there were these besides us___ Mr Mrs Joe Suess Mr Mrs George Block 

wife Mr Mrs Paul Vincent Doyle Blacky & Mr Mrs Brother Theo Hesch, Theo Hesch 2 daughters Dorothy, Laura Dodds Klein son Kreg her Snooky her daughter and son Kenneth Mr Mrs Math Hesch from near Onamia Sr Laura Mr Mrs Henry Hesch, Rose Hesch Janish Yes there were quite a few there from Joe Peterson relations and friends how silly they also were sr. Mary friends & relation. Oh yes young Tony Hesch of Sandstone was also there I guess that covers it. Yes the ladys aid gave a nice free lunch after the funeral in the church. for shame I did not write down wha pall bearers were Dan Kulig was one Tony Mike and Math Hesch not I her nephew Math Hesch Dorothy Klein son and a Peterson man. Priest gave a real nice sermon about 30 of us went to communion. We left here around 6:30 AM Mate came here since Reine went through Foley East of here we got there about 8:30 AM had coffee break along the road in Hinckley the undertaker left Sandstone at 10 AM for Bruno tho we were by undertaker 1 1/2 hours but time was so short to visit Sr Laura. I lead the rosary once I took a Blessed Virgin medal from here and put it in poor sr Mary hand I put it inside of her oh so cold hand you could not see it in the palm of her cold lifeless hand I kit her cheek & also was so cold poor dear makes tears come to my eyes now. but after all we all got to follow her 70 years is a little more than the average life I guess it is 67 years the average.  Me Ma and I are still very tired tho we had a good nights rest after dinner I'll go to our Priest have a high mass read for Mary for next week. Believe you me Henry Hesch & Puly are two busy people to take care of all. way too much to write one thing for sure it looks there was very little money. so far no will has been found. we doubt if she made one Yes the house in Bruno will be up for sale but lucky if they get over $2,000.00 for it so many expense hosp funeral etc. maybe can give you more full detail later cuz Puly and Henry are running the show as of now. Henry it was always Henry you are administrator now Henry says I don't want no part of it ___ Puly will see the Kesick Banker today ask him to be administrator or mabe get a...."

Thanks, Laura!

Is that a ladder?

Funny, the pictures that survive....
This is grandpa Anton's youngest sister, Mary Hesch (who eventually married Joe Peterson). Even at first glance, it's a fairly odd picture. It could be from the year she spent at her brother Math's house while Holka was in the hospital. If it is, then that's the west or north side of the house, I suppose, because I don't recognize it...lolSo, WHAT's the pole she's standing under? There's a pivot-thing by her shoulder--which brings to mind...a birdhouse pole??
Naw. I'm thinking maybe it was wash day, and she'd rigged up a washline. That could be a clothespin bag at the bottom center of the photo. But then, we're talking a farmer and his seven daughters, so there HAD to be a more permanent washline in the yard!
When the pic's enlarged, you can see that the pole's been repaired with metal a few times. It was something permanent in the yard or they wouldn't have bothered, I think.

The only other thing I can think of is...Math was superstitious, according to his daughter Louise: did he take that picture BECAUSE Mary was tempting fate by standing under a ladder?

LOL

What do YOU think?