Class of 1933 photo

Back row - Clarence Boerger, Joe Arling, teacher Margaret Mullen McCaffrey, teacher Jane Ambrose, teacher Martha Millette, Superintendent Thomas Burke.

Middle row - Louise Freytag Tebbe, Klyde Kiefer, Norbert Hilgefort, Valery Groff.

Front row - Margaret Inderrieden, Victor Drees, Zelma Rousseau Hilgefort, Helen Loy Tearnan, Margaret Lachat, Raymond Barhorst, Violet Marshall Monnin.

If you see something wrong let me know.

Newsletter

Reservations are filling up for the Christmas dinners. If you still want to sign up call Dorothy Quinlin at 937-295-2659. We can still use some help from adults and teens. You don't have to sign up for all 4 days. The greenery has gone up and the talented Larry Warren has decorated some of the rooms. Alice Barhorst bought new greenery for the country store.

Don Gusching had an idea to have a drop-off area by the front door so some of our visitors don't have to walk as far especially if the weather is bad.

The new history book is coming along nicely. We are working to have it ready for Christmas sales but we can still use some funding. We will let everyone know when it is ready.

Tom and Jan Busse donated a new freezer. The old one must have been at least 40 years old. It came from Montgomery Ward. And speaking of old, the roof is deteriorating badly and will have to be replaced. More shingles fall off every time we have a wind.

If you would like to donate for a specific project such as fixing the roof or setting up a proper website contact Jim Rosengarten at 937-295-3998. Donations are tax deductible.

If you have time on your hands and a tolerance for tedious tasks and would like to help Karen Anthony organize the funeral cards call her at 937-295-2353. Any time you want to help with anything at the museum feel free to volunteer. Don't wait to be asked. It's your museum.

Photo

The third grade visited the museum on Sept. 27th. There are more pictures on Facebook.

September newsletter

The Williamsburg Christmas dinners will be held again this year on November 29, 30 and December 1 and 2. If you attended last year you have received a letter. If not and you would like to attend you can contact Dorothy Quinlin at 937-295-2659 or at dmq5gc@nktelco.net. There are usually a few spots open late but if you wait too long you might not get the room you want to be in. This is our only money-making event. We can also use some help with decorating before hand and with the actual dinners. You don't have to make a huge commitment. There is always some small job that you can help with even if you do it only on one of the 4 days.

The menu this year will be Virginia Cream of leek soup, King's Tavern roast of turkey, giblet gravy, Colonial cornbread and Chestnut stuffing, sausage and corn stuffed onions, peas with pimento and pearl onions and Holiday sweet potato cashew bake. Also cranberry, orange and lemon relish and corn relish. Beverages are hot mulled cider, eggnog, banana crush, coffee and wine. The Renaissance Singers will perform throughout the evening.

Dick Richards who always helps Tom with the tables will no longer be able to do that. We would like him to know how much we appreciate his and his wife Anita's commitment to the museum.

German Heritage Days was well attended in spite of cold weather, serious rain on Friday night and wind on Saturday that blew over our display boards. As usual we coped. We gave away 2 free Christmas dinners that were won by Harold Stockslager of Greenville. Judy Prueter donated an afghan she made for us to raffle off at German Heritage. Names were drawn by a member of the German band and Jean Rosengarten won the afghan.

The Busse family has donated a book of bound copies of the 1936 Western Times newspaper. A sign will be attached to the Barney Krampe wagon box to show it was donated by Ernest and Charmane Fogt. Jim Rosengarten donated his old computer so we once again have a computer that works and also has all kinds of neat programs on it. Jeanne Prueter donated a copy of the 1883 Sutton History of Shelby County.

The third graders will be visiting us on Sept. 27th.

If you shop at a Krogers in the Cincinnati region which is where we are and have a rewards card you can sign up online for the Kroger Community Rewards program and they will donate some money to the museum. Contact Jim Rosengarten for details or go to Kroger's website. You have to have an email address. If a family member has their own reward card and doesn't have email you can sign them up for an address. They don't have to use it, just have one.

The new history book is coming along. We are hoping to have it ready for Christmas sales but we are not making that commitment just yet. We will let everyone know the instant it is ready.

From Mary Lou Reser Raterman

Hi, Catherine! My dad, Elmer Reser, bought the building from Al Gehring and we also had “The Wayne Trail Inn”. We lived upstairs and I spent my sophomore year in high school at Loramie. My mother was a Busse and my grandfather was Louis Busse of the famous sausage and meat market. Customers came from all over the country to buy his meat and I still miss his smoked sausage!

I remember my aunt Lauretta Wilkens was a Village Beautiful Girl and I have a photo of them—when they used to take care of the banks around the canal that ran through the center of town-- and we children watched movies from the bank outside. Loramie had charm back then and I have photos of Grandpa John Wilkens with us sitting in front of the Loramie Indian that used to be on the bank. Is the Indian still around?

I always wanted to buy the pie safe that was in the back room of the building. Is that for sale? Incidentally I also am a member of the Shelby Co. Historical Society in Sidney. Thanks again for contacting me.

Please send me your address and I will become a member. My dad bought Kings Café, which was next door to the Busse Meat Market, from Don King’s dad when I was in high school, sophomore year 1948. I was in college when he bought the Wayne Trail Inn from Al Gehring around 1951-52. I am in the process of going through old photos and will send you some photos I have and contact my cousin Joan Wilkens Hoying in New Bremen to see if she has anything.

Unfortunately I remember my parents’ generation throwing everything away when they cleaned out attics.

Mary Lou (Reser) Raterman

German Heritage needs help

The German Heritage Days committee is still in need of volunteers for the festival the weekend of Sept 21-23. The greatest need for volunteers is on Saturday through out the day and we also have some openings on Sunday for volunteers. If any one has some free time and is able to put in a couple of hours, please let us know. We can be reached by e-mail at ftlchamber@bktelco.net or hudatlife@hotmail.com or phone, Rob 937-295-2212 or Renee at 937-295-3813 (from 8a to 3p only).


Thanks!

Unknown family photo

Does anybody know who these people are? It seems to me the guy with the magnificent beard would be recognizable. It was taken by Taylor & Sons in New Bremen but that doesn't mean they are New Bremen people. It was found in a box of photos from the Raterman house. The second photo shows the Raterman house with the mill behind it.

The 39 star flag

The flag was found in 1955 by Cyril Bergman in the old Canal House in Newport. There are only a few such flags. This one is 10 ft. by 7 ft. They were made in 1889 by flag manufacturers who were gambling that Dakota Territory would be made into one state. In November of 1889 the Dakotas were split into 2 states. The Bergmans have had the flag all this time and son, Mark, recently took it to the Antiques Roadshow in Cincinnati. Unfortunately it won't be shown on tv.

Photo

I took this picture looking south on Main St. and I didn't notice the truck at the end of the street until later. Now the flags are gone and I can't do it over.

Newsletter

The museum will be open 2 more Sundays. Stop in and visit. There is always someone interesting to talk to. The barn is available for viewing. There are larger things in there including the Barney Krampe wagons.

Dues are $10.00 a year and we accept donations which are tax deductible. The roof will be needing repair.

Margie Barlage gave us a box of photos that she found in her house. Many are of the Raterman family. If you have photos you no longer want please do not throw them away. Even if you don't know who the people are or you think they aren't important the museum would love to have them. If you have photos you want to keep we can scan and return them.

Jim and Karen Anthony went to Europe this summer and while there they visited the grave of Pvt. Ralph Rieger who was killed in France in 1944 and buried in the Epinal American Cemetery in Epinal, France.

Harry Boerger is thinking of sharing his collection of old photos on line.

Christmas dinners this year will be November 29 and 30 and December 1 and 2. If you have attended before you have already received a letter. Otherwise you can contact Dorothy Quinlin. If you want to help you can contact anyone in the organization. We will begin decorating in October. Since the county isn't giving us money anymore this is our only money-making event.

German Heritage Days this year will be held on September 21, 22 and 23 in the middle of town. Don't worry about missing the football games. They have a large screen tv besides food and beer. As always there will be a German band. We will as usual have a tent so come in and view the artifacts and photos. There will be books for sale and we will be giving away 2 free Christmas dinners.

The community garage sales will be held Sept. 14 and 15. The Fall Festival at Lake Loramie will be the 14th to the 16th. Check the Ft. Loramie Chamber of Commerce website for information on community events. This is a busy time of year and a great time to visit historic Ft. Loramie.

A flag with 39 stars was found by Cyril Bergman in the old canal house in Newport. Does anybody know when it was and what happened to it?

The history book is moving along. We just need to generate some funding. If you were going to send an article to add the time is now.