Graue Mill

Since we stayed so close and the Graue Mill was such a big part of Mary Ann's retirement years, it just seemed like a natural for us to go to see it. My great grandfather Schoettler had a grist mill in Hallenberg so I guess the mill is in our blood. Mary Ann loved taking the school field trip groups around and showing them the mill. She especially enjoyed the spinning of wool into yarn.

The man who demonstrated the making of yarn showed how to card the wool and later how to spin the wool into yarn.

Even the grown ups got a lesson

Andrew is weaving on a hand loom.

The weaver showed how to make the yarn into woven cloth.

There was pioneer era clothing to try on. The top hat is too big for even Tyler's head!

Andrew gets to shell corn with a matchine.

Tyler helped grind the "grist" actually wheat.

We had to check outside to see the mill wheel go around.

Andrew's Viewpoint

Andrew had the camera before the wedding and at the reception. Here is his contribution to the picture collection.

Meet and greet at the front of the church on a beautiful summer day.

Some Good News from Illinois

News Flash - Its official now. Jessica will be taking a walk down the aisle in July. Kirk popped the question last weekend. I'll let them tell their own story so here is the link to their web site. http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/pwp2/view/MemberPage.aspx?coupleid=9808710167086511

Ohio News

Happy March to all you birthday people. I remember Mom telling me we were not to have any children born in March. Their budget was stretched to the limit with all the other birthdays already there.

Westlake has had some excitement on Friday (Feb 27) with a bank robber getting stopped about a block down from our house. He was shot when it appeared he went for a gun and a police officer was wounded in the foot. Traffic was all shut down on our street and Emma and Leah's school bus dropped them off several blocks away instead of on our corner. Two off duty security guards had followed him and were in contact with the police so that they could stop him. Not what we are used to in quiet Westlake.

The real heroine of northeast Ohio is the 70 year old lady who defended her purse and home from several teens who broke into her home. She was on the phone with her husband when they broke down the door so he was able to call the police. She was so upset when they dumped out her purse that she picked up and Emeril 5 quart pot and hit one over the head. The guy said, "Hey, why did you do that?" and she hit him again. The whole group ran out of the house and were caught. They have had her on TV and she demonstrated a full arm swing. I guess that Emeril sent her a new set of pots because the one she used is being held as evidence. Remember Grandma's iron pan? I may practice my swing before the women's self defense class on Tuesday night.

I found some Christmas cards in the letters that Mom had saved. The two had been sent the beginning of December 1941 to their parents in Germany. Mom had written to her family and Dad to his. The censors had returned them in April and May of 1942 as undeliverable. The note from the censors said they could send messages of not more than 25 words through the Red Cross. I thought it interesting that Mom had kept them all these years. The messages seem to speak of the longing to see them and be able to at least send a Christmas gift to them. It appears that they knew that Henry and Peter were not at home but Dad had some question about his brother Max.

The front had a poem that is loosely translated:

I cannot reach to shake your hand because I am so far away

And would so like to be able to return for Christmas,

So I must be satisfied with greeting and good wishes today.

A very happy Christmas time, a new year full of joy.

On the back of one Mom had written:

Dear Parnts and sister,

Now it is certainly time to send you, dear parents, Christmas greeting and hope that it reaches you. I would have sent a small gift, but it no longer permitted. Hopefully, my dear ones are still well. I think so often about you. Did you receive my last letter from September 1, a card from our vacation and birthday card for Pappa? Again Merry Christmas--Maria

On the back of the other Dad had written:

Chicago, 3 December 1941

My dear ones!

We are coming up again on the holidays and I will let you hear from me. Hopefully, from what we can understand, you are all well. I am close to buying a house in an area near Chicago. Hopefully I will have luck with this and settle the mortgage in the same way that Father did. We would have liked to have sent a package for Christmas, but this is no longer possible. We send greetings to all for Christmas and a Happy New Year. (How is Max?) Karl, Maria and children

There were several letters they got from Germany during 1941, but no other letters received until a German Red Cross note 1 September 1943. It was from mom's father, Peter Stoffel in Gelsenkirchen. This would have been written before Peter and Henry were prisoners of war. It said:

My Loved Ones

We are still all well, brother Heini and Peter also. Sister Elisabeth is at home not married. Many greetings, Your parents.

The next letters that were in Mom's collection were only 2 from 1945. Both of which were checked by the censors and most of the rest from 1946 were also checked by censors. I will try to get some of these translated as time goes on.

Betty

Winter now and then

We would like to invite you all to remember a good old fashioned winter. Cleveland is trying to set a record for the most snow in January of over 42 inches. With an Alberta clipper coming through tonight we just may make it. We thought you might like to compare some pictures of now and then. Chicago had a few heavy snowfalls also. I remember one in 1967 when the whole town shut down with 24 inches in as many hours. The above is not a picture from that storm. Amy was a baby and we were living in a building behind a mom and pop grocery store. They stayed in the store overnight and sold out everything on their shelves the next day because the Jewel across the street never opened and people wanted food. They retired soon after.

The picture on Woodrow was one that I think I took. I wanted mom to look out the door. She was yelling at me to hurry up because she was getting cold as I kept backing up to get the whole house in the picture. Do you notice the storm window on the second floor that was propped open? Mom used to get fresh air in each morning and would hang the pillows on the window sill to freshen them. That was a hold over from Germany where the feather quilts would be aired each morning. Only the lazy housewives would still have them out after 10:00 a.m. according to mom. This picture must have been taken before 10:00 :-)

Summer Reunion???????

There has been some talk about the possibility of doing some kind of reunion this summer. Its been a long time, and it sounds like it could be fun. Peg and I were thinking that one of the weekends in July may work the best. The where is another question. We were thinking somewhere out west may work or maybe finding a resort somewhere. I know the state of Kentucky runs some nice resorts that have a lot of facilities and are pretty reasonable. If anyone else has any suggestions, let us know. I know July seems like a long way away especially with all the snow. but it will get here quick.