Grads Letters

i Jerry,

Yes, we did do the U.P. bike trip, around the Keewenau, It was Sept, 2013. The ride leader was from lower MI, all the others on the ride were from other states. Since I was the only one with U.P. roots, the leader dubber me the Yupper ?. expert. After every day biking, I was to give a talk on U.P. customs, history, etc. So each day, as my legs were turning the pedals, my brain was turning over ideas to talk about. First night I handed out mom’s pasty recipe. Several bikers after that sought out pasty places to try different versions. I also talked about the nationalities that settled there. One day I made a mental list of all the Finish names on mail boxes we passed. No one in our group knew what a Finish name sounded like, so that was interesting. Other nights I talked about the Poles, Italians, Scandinavians; the history of mining, U.P. expressions. Near the end of the trip, I took them on a tour of Bessemer, past the Semmerling farm, Washington school where my mother taught kindergarten for many years, city hall, court house.  We were going to eat at La Panatela, but it was Labor Day weekend, and they were closed. Maybe our biking friend were just being kind, but they said there were impressed with Bessemer. 

My last talk was about the immigrants coming to Bessemer to find a better life. I read to them the words of Bruce Springsteen’s song, “American Land.” My 4 grandparents, all immigrants worked very hard, as did their children, all my aunts, uncles, and my parents, but it is my 24 cousins, all different, but living fulfilling successful lives, enjoying the fruits of that American Dream. Our children, fourth generation Americans, are removed from memories of that time and take living here for granted. As one of them told me, “the hard word has been done for us.” 

It was a memorable trip for me, thinking of what to talk about every night, recalling memories. After the biking, we spent some time in Bessemer and had our picture taken where we had our wedding reception, 50 years ago! 

 

This is a belated reply to your email, but I didn’t want you to think I’d forgotten you :-)

 

Claire 

American Land"
 
What is this land America so many travel there
I'm going now while I'm still young my darling meet me there
Wish me luck my lovely I'll send for you when I can
And we'll make our home in the American land

Over there all the woman wear silk and satin to their knees
And children dear, the sweets, I hear, are growing on the trees
Gold comes rushing out the rivers straight into your hands
When you make your home in the American Land

There's diamonds in the sidewalk the's gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard working man
Who will make his home in the American Land

I docked at Ellis Island in a city of light and spires
She met me in the valley of red-hot steel and fire
We made the steel that built the cities with our sweat and two hands
And we made our home in the American Land

There's diamonds in the sidewalk the's gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard working man
Who will make his home in the American Land

The McNicholas, the Posalski's, the Smiths, Zerillis, too
The Blacks, the Irish, Italians, the Germans and the Jews
Come across the water a thousand miles from home
With nothin in their bellies but the fire down below

They died building the railroads worked to bones and skin
They died in the fields and factories names scattered in the wind
They died to get here a hundred years ago they're still dyin now
The hands that built the country were always trying to keep down

There's diamonds in the sidewalk the gutters lined in song
Dear I hear that beer flows through the faucets all night long
There's treasure for the taking, for any hard working man
Who will make his home in the American Land
Who will make his home in the American Land
Who will make his home in the American Land

 

Name: Don  Voss
E-mail: dvoss001@centurytel.net
Telephone: 
Comments:
The reunion was a great time. Was glad to see some of the old class mates. Too bad more couldn't have been there.

I knew some but had trouble with others but as the party moved on the names came back.

Hope we can get together again sooner than 5 years. My email address is posted and would love to keep in touch with everyone.

  The old town has changed but so have we I guess.

  Everyone take care and stay safe and we will see you in a year I hope.

    Don

__________________________________________________________

Checked out the web site to see if it was still up and running and if anything new had been added.

Happy to see that it still was and not so happy to see the addition of Marge's obituary. Had no

idea she had passed away almost ten years ago. It's so sad, I have such warm memories of her.

She and I both went to Madison Wisconsin the fall of '58 and eventually met Air Force fellows,

got married then were separated by the service. Marge leaving with Ted to Minot ND and me

to Massachusetts when Ken was discharged. Corresponded for almost 10 years after the fact

then lost touch. Been wondering about her ever since this reunion thing came up and thanks to

your efforts with the web site know what happened.

 

Well hopefully the reunion was a huge success and everyone had a good time. We spent a quiet

day, usually we have a family cookout on the deck but this year we have some construction

going on and will have our 4th when it's finished. Won't be the first time that happened, one

year when we were up in the UP for a reunion we delayed the cookout to August and had

a great time anyway up at camp in New Hampshire. Did however get to watch and record my

fourth on the Esplanade in Boston. Locals get to see a much longer show. Network only

covers the last hour. We get to see another hour and a half and the best part in it's entirety

the playing of the 1812 Overture with live cannons.

 

Thanx again for doing the web site and maybe we can hear from some of those who attended

for a post party confab.

 

Jenny

Can you put me in touch with Marge's sister Debbie? Would like to get in touch with her and

share some memories but AT&T doesn't have her listed on the Directory site.

 

Thanx, Jenny

Hi Sheila,

 Looks like the RSVP's are gathering momentum.
 Seems the women are going to be outnumbered
 though. Just for giggles, how many were there
 in the graduation class? Thought I remembered
 72. I remember 26 coming over from Ramsay.
 So far nothing wrong with the memory banks.

 Have heard from three former classmates, one
 who left at the end of 6th grade and went to
 school in Ramsay. Enjoying the correspondence
 and the web site. Jer did a bang up job and
 it looks like he's been making improvements
 as well. Think it's great!

 Ken's got me digging way back to Plain Geometry
 today, trying to figure out how to build the
 ramp to get his power wheel chair in the Trail
 Blazer. I say the heck with that, put a hitch
 on it and tow it. NOT

 Take care, have a great time at the reunion.
 I realize the effort it takes to do what you
 do and I'm sure everyone appreciates it.

 Jenny

Edith Chovan Fritts (edes40@hotmail.com),

> I guess I have to respond and let you know that I will not be attending
> the reunion  I do not travel on the highway any more  alone that is   I
> just am so uncomfortable that I have had to give up that traveling  My
> children respond by taking me to the various places we go  However, a trip
> to Bessemer is not going to happen for them and esp with the gas prices  I
> am really very sorry about this  I just this afternoon had a phone call
> from Fran Walli and after taking to her (what a neat surprise and pleasant
> conservation) I was prompted to make this response  I know that you have
> my new address N78W17343 Wildwood Drive Apt 531 Menomonee Falls, WI  53051
> and perhaps you could update that on this web site  Also my phone no is
> 262-253-5516  I have three children  and six grandchildren  Susan and Russ
> Caroline 10 and Natalie 7 live a couple of miles from me in Menomonee
> Falls.  Janet and Joe and Matthew 4 (our wonderful gift an adopted Korean
> child) they live in Madison  and Fred and Genne Anna 3 Collin 2 and
> Shannon born 5/7/08 and just baptised last Sunday  They live in Woodville
> WI about 40 miles east of the Twin Cities  Both Fred and Genne travel to
> the Twin Cities for their jobs  I really have an amazing family  I would
> like to send a contribution to you or someone up there for the Class of 58
> gift for the school  Could you e mail me and let me know the best way to
> do that  Would like to hear from you and about your family also

Name: Shirley Kangas Cline
E-mail: sjcline@embarqmail.com
Telephone: 
Comments: Hi to everyone!

Sorry I can't make it to our 50th class reunion.  I hope to hear from some of the old gang.

Wish I could be there.
Shirley

 Jerry,

Just received a note from Roberta Carr, wife of our classmate Larry. Larry died August 13 of an abdominal aneurysm. I noticed that you no longer have obits on the web site. Remember he was Mrs. Oas' nephew, only with us for senior year. Hope you had a warm sunny T'giving In FL, or TX?? Claire