Travels to Waseca

I recently became aware of a Waseca County Historical Society page that may interest you history buffs. It’s a listing of Waseca County oral histories with links to the recordings. You may even be surprised to see your own family members listed as contributors.

The oral histories range from railroads, to wars, to family history and personal recollections. I hope you find it as interesting as I did. Here’s the link:
http://www.historical.waseca.mn.us/genealogy/oralhistory.html.

The page is currently a public page on the WCHS’s paid membership site and is only available to non-members using the above link so take advantage of this now since it may not be available later.

Another thing. As you look at the list of oral histories, think of how great it would have been if your parents, or grandparents, or neighbors, or teachers, or coaches had recorded their oral history for inclusion in the WCHS collection. Is it time for you to arrange for the recording of your or your family’s oral history, or of your recollections of an important event in your life?

The Star Tribune published an article December 30, 2008, about Marian and Larry Fischer’s garden on a farm north of Waseca. The article, written by Kim Palmer with photos by Joel Koyama, is titled, “Marian Fischer is a garden category unto herself.”

Back in the 80s my mother, Mary Ellen, took me out to see the Fischer’s garden. Like Marian said in the article, many of the plantings were in rows in the early years but the gardens were already spectacular. From the photos accompanying the article I can tell the gardens are even more expansive and spectacular now. Congratulations to the Fischers for their extraordinary labor of love.

Here’s a link to the Star Tribune article: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/36880794.html?page=1&c=y

I remember Don well, and I remember his baked goods, too. Especially in the spring we’d skip lunch at the school and walk to the Preuss Bakery and buy a filled bismark and a maple-glazed long john with our lunch money. And brother Dale worked at the bakery during his high school years before school and during the summer. I also remember Don showing us his tricks for growing his early tomatoes after he retired.

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DONALD “FUZZY” PREUSS, age 84 of Waterville, formerly of Waseca, died Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at Waterville Good Samaritan Center.

Born in Waterville, Minnesota on May 7, 1924, he was the son of Otto and Lena (Kastner) Preuss. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waterville and graduated from Waterville High School.  He entered the U.S. Army during WWII serving from 1943-1945.  Don married Marcaline Ruth Wees on May 16, 1948 at the 1st Evangelical Brethren Church in Rochester.  He owned and operated Preuss Bake Shop in Waseca for many years.  He enjoyed gardening, fishing trips and going on trips in their motor home.  Don also served as the first “Frosty the Snowman” during the Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Festival.  He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lions Club, VFW, American Legion and gardening club all in Waseca.

He is survived by three children, Richard (Carol) Preuss, Timothy Preuss and Julianne (Bruce) Bock all of Waseca; eight grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; sisters-in law, Molly Preuss of Waterville, Marilyn Dallman of Albany, OR, Joanne McClure of Gresham OR; brother-in-law, Merrill Holmes of Waialua, HI;  brother and sister-in-law, John S. (Donna) Wees, Jr. of Rochester; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother-Lydia (Saemrow) Preuss, wife, infant son-David, one brother-Glenn, brothers-in-law-James McClure and Stanley Dallman, sister-in-law-Leone Holmes. 

Visitation will be held at Kinder-Dennis Home for Funerals in Waseca on Monday, December 22, 2008 from 4-8 PM and continue on Tuesday one hour before services at the church.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waseca with Rev. Terry Quick officiating.  Burial will follow at Woodville Cemetery in Waseca. 

Would you be more interested in being a member of WasecaAlums.com if it had a social networking feature like that offered by FaceBook and MySpace? Please comment.

Thanks.
Chuck

  While I was working out at the ‘Y’ today I caught some of the Oprah Winfrey show. They were talking about the need for more organ donors. I have a former work colleague who is on the waiting list for a lung transplant. She’s running out of time. I’ve never signed up to be a donor but I’ve discussed it with my wife. I think it’s time for me to sign up.

Here’s a link to a map they posted on the www.Oprah.com web site showing a state-by-state guide on organ, tissue and eye donation laws and how to become an organ donor: How to donate 

    Bob Halstead (WHS47) sent me this photo asking for help in idenifying some of the kids involved in the circa 1950 sleigh ride in a bobsled. Bob’s grandfather L. J. Sheldon drove the team and two of Bob’s siblings were in the photo. The photo was taken in front of Gordon Engel’s house on 2nd St NE, Waseca, adjacent to Trowbridge Park.

Some of the kids have been identified on the photo and I’ve included my best guesses for the others: (L to R) unidentified, Judy Hackett, L. J. Sheldon, Tom Engel, Susan Hackett, Alan Halstead, Ardyce Halstead, Larry Olson, Betty Engel, Carol ‘Cookie’ Olson, Mary Kaye McLoone (peeking through), Dale Lucas, Jim Geraghty, Jerry McLoone, Dick Loomer, Mike McLoone, John McLoone - but I could be wrong.

Among those of that era conspicuously missing from this neighborhood picture were Don and Judy Loomer, Chuck and Jane Lucas, Margo McLoone, Susan Engel, Tom and Jerry Geraghty.  One of these is probably the unidentified person on the left in the photo.

If you have better guesses or other guesses, make a comment – or just make a comment.

I went to Waseca Monday to attend a meeting of the Waseca 2008 All-School Reunion Committee meeting. While driving past Meriden, I recalled seeing a mention in Jurgen Peters’ column in an old Waseca newspaper that Meriden farmers used to grow a lot of asparagus in earlier days and that asparagus ended up being seeded in the ditches in the area. Sure enough, I spotted lots of asparagus stalks that were going to seed along Hwy 14 as I passed the Meriden crossing. So, if you’re an asparagus lover, you now know where to look for some wild asparagus.

Follow this link to a very interesting and thought-provoking slideshow at Glumbert.com.