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.

Old photo

Who is this handsome WWI soldier? Breaking news: Harry Boerger thinks this is Joseph John Barhorst.

Willman Store photo

100 years ago

100 years ago today Willman's Department Store on the corner of Park and Main burned down in a catastrophic fire. The fire did $50,000 in damage. At the time of the newspaper article the cause was not known but it looked like it started in the warehouse area.

Fire trucks came from Minster, New Bremen and Wynant (Newport) to help put out the fire but it was too late to save the building. The fire must have been visible for miles around. People came from Maria Stein and Egypt.

In order to continue business the Willman brothers leased space in the Tecklenburg building for groceries and the Knights of St. John Hall for dry goods.

A brand new bigger store opened Nov. 1, 1913 and the building still exists today.

Old photo

Does anybody know who any of these people are or what business this is? Also is it in Ft. Loramie? New information: Mary Oldiges says this is Minster Machine and the boss is Anton Herkenhoff.

July newsletter

We are open Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4 until the end of August. If you are in the area come in and visit with us. Ask to see the barn where we keep the wagons and other big stuff.

If you have a farm or know of a farm in McLean Twp. that has been in the same family for 100 years email me with the name and location. catw43@gmail.com. If you are planning to send something for the new book sooner would be better than later.

Jim and Jean Rosengarten drove to Cape Girardeau, Missouri recently and attended a celebration of the 200th anniversary of Peter Loramie's death. A crowd braved 100 degree heat in the Old Lorimier Cemetery to listen to speeches one of which was a brief one by Jim.

We will be buying some copies of a book called "Louis Lorimier in the American Revolution, 1777-1782" and will be selling them.

Linda Nash of Cape Girardeau has completed her book about Peter Loramie and it will be printed soon. We would like to hold a book signing here sometime next year.

Tom Busse has the museum floors shining. Lately he has been doing some work in the barn.

German Heritage Days this year will be held September 21, 22, and 23. As usual we will have a tent with artifacts and pictures.

I'm considering holding a one-time, beginning genealogy class for those who would like to know how to get started researching their family tree. Let me know if you are interested and we'll do it if we get enough interest. Alternatively, a class in interpreting funeral cards, obituaries, etc. written in German.

As usual scroll down to see what's new.

Romie Store photo

Richard Romie at work. Romie Sporting Goods is the oldest store in Ft. Loramie owned by the same family since the 1890's. It was begun by John Romie as a maker of harness for horses.