(1993 July, Rueping memoirs)
[Behind the Rueping cottages was the] Flag Flower Bed: foliage plants, red, white, and blue were used and kept trimmed evenly as the year went on; also flag pole in dark yellow. Father sent for the correct number of plants and set his best man at it. The flag was a replica of real one and a picture is in album of family pictures. I appreciate it more than I did at the time, realizing the math it took.
October 31, 2012
October 30, 2012
No sleeves
(1993 July, Rueping memoirs)
Over on the Ruepings' lawn, my father had a fine sand box built, and my brother Lyndon and I went and played too. One hot summer day, about 100 degrees I suppose, my father came home all excited, complaining to my mother: "Do you know that Carolyn is over there playing with no sleeves on her dress?" Mother said she thot it was OK as I was young and weather so hot, "but send her home, then." And that was the first time I ever felt self conscious. I was wearing a blue calico dress.
Over on the Ruepings' lawn, my father had a fine sand box built, and my brother Lyndon and I went and played too. One hot summer day, about 100 degrees I suppose, my father came home all excited, complaining to my mother: "Do you know that Carolyn is over there playing with no sleeves on her dress?" Mother said she thot it was OK as I was young and weather so hot, "but send her home, then." And that was the first time I ever felt self conscious. I was wearing a blue calico dress.
October 29, 2012
Mag
(1993 July, Rueping memoirs)
My father never looked at another woman all those years [when Minnie was sick], but at night he would go to Taychedah and have a beer and talk with pals. There was an old man who used to say to a spinster passing the saloon on her way home, "I know ya, Mag. With you little red petticoat. I knew ya Mag, years ago - I knew ya." And she would hurry past as fast as she could walk. And the men would all laugh, of course, at the window or outside.
My father never looked at another woman all those years [when Minnie was sick], but at night he would go to Taychedah and have a beer and talk with pals. There was an old man who used to say to a spinster passing the saloon on her way home, "I know ya, Mag. With you little red petticoat. I knew ya Mag, years ago - I knew ya." And she would hurry past as fast as she could walk. And the men would all laugh, of course, at the window or outside.
October 27, 2012
Our house
(1993 July, Rueping memoirs)
The Ruepings built our house for us. It had a porch across the front with big willow rockers. Downstairs: living room, dining room, kitchen. Upstairs: four bedrooms, one for the maid and a sleeping porch for my mother, who had TB and went to Wales WI to a San to learn how to take care of herself. She slept on the porch year around.
The Ruepings built our house for us. It had a porch across the front with big willow rockers. Downstairs: living room, dining room, kitchen. Upstairs: four bedrooms, one for the maid and a sleeping porch for my mother, who had TB and went to Wales WI to a San to learn how to take care of herself. She slept on the porch year around.
October 26, 2012
Peacocks
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
On our side of the road there were chicken coops with wire runways, including peacocks - which is why I can sound off like the male.
On our side of the road there were chicken coops with wire runways, including peacocks - which is why I can sound off like the male.
October 25, 2012
The big cheese
(1993 July, Rueping memoirs)
When my mother died [in 1919], the Ruepings sent over a big cheese, dark yellow American, thinking it was something we could use different ways.
When my mother died [in 1919], the Ruepings sent over a big cheese, dark yellow American, thinking it was something we could use different ways.
October 24, 2012
Art and the rabbits
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
Art was very well behaved and quiet, but not too bright. My father never got over a joke of his. He told Art if he wanted to shoot some rabbits, he should come out with his gun some day as there were plenty in the snow when cottages were vacant. So one day he drove out, parked his car, got out the gun, and said, "Well, Parsons, where are the rabbits?" FMP told that for years and always got a laugh.
Art was very well behaved and quiet, but not too bright. My father never got over a joke of his. He told Art if he wanted to shoot some rabbits, he should come out with his gun some day as there were plenty in the snow when cottages were vacant. So one day he drove out, parked his car, got out the gun, and said, "Well, Parsons, where are the rabbits?" FMP told that for years and always got a laugh.
October 23, 2012
The Old Lady
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
After dinner, old Mrs. Rueping went up to nap. I'll try to make you see her. There were no flies on her. She owned the house, and the three Sallees lived with her. She looked just a mite like the duchess in Alice in Wonderland. ... Often times on a summer afternoon Mrs. Frederick Rueping (the old lady) would walk over, with cane & cane, cross the road, up our front steps, and sit on the porch and visit in German with my mother. My father used to say if he could talk German, he could ask much more for his services.
After dinner, old Mrs. Rueping went up to nap. I'll try to make you see her. There were no flies on her. She owned the house, and the three Sallees lived with her. She looked just a mite like the duchess in Alice in Wonderland. ... Often times on a summer afternoon Mrs. Frederick Rueping (the old lady) would walk over, with cane & cane, cross the road, up our front steps, and sit on the porch and visit in German with my mother. My father used to say if he could talk German, he could ask much more for his services.
October 22, 2012
Lunch with the Old Lady
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
Mrs. Frederick (Old Lady) Rueping lived on Division Street (I think) in Fond du Lac, not far from the high school, and when she heard I was taking German, she insisted I take dinner with her every noon, where nichts but Deutch would be spoken every noon. So I went, but I am afraid I did not learn much. Around the table was Mrs. F. R. and Irene and her half-witted brother Art, all speaking Deutch. I too had to say, Bitte gibst mir die Buetter or Kartoffel or whatever. The maid came out at the stroke of the bell and cleared off and brot in the pie. I think we did say a short German prayer first. Then, after dinner, Irene and I and my German grammar went into the parlor where she skimmed thru my grammar lesson and I read and did some too.
Mrs. Frederick (Old Lady) Rueping lived on Division Street (I think) in Fond du Lac, not far from the high school, and when she heard I was taking German, she insisted I take dinner with her every noon, where nichts but Deutch would be spoken every noon. So I went, but I am afraid I did not learn much. Around the table was Mrs. F. R. and Irene and her half-witted brother Art, all speaking Deutch. I too had to say, Bitte gibst mir die Buetter or Kartoffel or whatever. The maid came out at the stroke of the bell and cleared off and brot in the pie. I think we did say a short German prayer first. Then, after dinner, Irene and I and my German grammar went into the parlor where she skimmed thru my grammar lesson and I read and did some too.
October 21, 2012
Irene
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
Irene Sallee needs a special paragraph. She had a barn fixed with a stall for her horse behind our house, and she was an excellent horseback rider; in fact, she was the instructor at Grafton Hall, an Episcopal girls' school. Her hair was combed back tightly with a big roll, and I never saw her adjust a pin, all tight and stayed put. ... She was very masculine but not rough. ... She came out every day and curried her horse and cared for hooves, etc., etc. My mother let me go out and watch and talk to her as I had so few people in the summer to be with. But I was never asked to ride etc. We just talked about the horse as she brushed or whatever.
Irene Sallee needs a special paragraph. She had a barn fixed with a stall for her horse behind our house, and she was an excellent horseback rider; in fact, she was the instructor at Grafton Hall, an Episcopal girls' school. Her hair was combed back tightly with a big roll, and I never saw her adjust a pin, all tight and stayed put. ... She was very masculine but not rough. ... She came out every day and curried her horse and cared for hooves, etc., etc. My mother let me go out and watch and talk to her as I had so few people in the summer to be with. But I was never asked to ride etc. We just talked about the horse as she brushed or whatever.
October 20, 2012
William
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
In a cottage beside [Fred's], fifty feet apart or so, was his brother William, a pleasant, well spoken person who had a son and adopted another, Stephen Lynch, so he would have a playmate. These boys were fine felows, and I used to play hide and seek with them. All spoke German.
In a cottage beside [Fred's], fifty feet apart or so, was his brother William, a pleasant, well spoken person who had a son and adopted another, Stephen Lynch, so he would have a playmate. These boys were fine felows, and I used to play hide and seek with them. All spoke German.
October 19, 2012
Florence
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
[Fred Rueping's] daughter Florence was sent to an expensive girls' school in the East. Once when they had picked me up walking home from school (2 miles?), she asked me about one of my friends and then said, "So she's your side-kick, huh?" and was reproved by her mother, and she laughed. I think my father had the Dance Hall built for her parties, but I can recall only one she had in that hall, with a small orchestra.
[Fred Rueping's] daughter Florence was sent to an expensive girls' school in the East. Once when they had picked me up walking home from school (2 miles?), she asked me about one of my friends and then said, "So she's your side-kick, huh?" and was reproved by her mother, and she laughed. I think my father had the Dance Hall built for her parties, but I can recall only one she had in that hall, with a small orchestra.
October 18, 2012
Fred
(1993 July, Rueping memoir
F. J. Rueping - Fred/erick, that is - was always stern, usually in grey town suit with bow tie and short grey mustache. He drove a little Ford with the metal polished brightly. Was it a Ford? I think so. His wife was rather large.
F. J. Rueping - Fred/erick, that is - was always stern, usually in grey town suit with bow tie and short grey mustache. He drove a little Ford with the metal polished brightly. Was it a Ford? I think so. His wife was rather large.
October 17, 2012
Maid service
(1993 July, Rueping memoirs)
The Rueping "cottages" were built like houses, and both families had maids who did washing and ironing. William Rueping had two maids and once told me how expensive it was to replace a glass goblet she broke. About $9 or more. I suppose better at the town house.
The Rueping "cottages" were built like houses, and both families had maids who did washing and ironing. William Rueping had two maids and once told me how expensive it was to replace a glass goblet she broke. About $9 or more. I suppose better at the town house.
October 16, 2012
Rueping estate
(1993 July, Rueping memoir)
The Rueping summer estate was bounded on the east by Lake Winnebago, on the west by the highway running north from Fond du Lac to Taycheedah; along the north and south sides was a four-foot prickly hedge to keep intruders out. The Ruepings lived in three "cottages," which were just like houses, painted grey, etc. They fronted on the highway, and a semicircular, graveled drive, neatly edged, ran from it around the back of the cottages and then curved back to the highway again. Our house was across the road; there was also a "dance hall" and a boat house on an artificial island in the lake, reached by arched bridges, like Chinese ones. Frank Parsons designed and built the hoat house. The motor boats and canoe were stored above, under the ceiling, in the winter.
The Rueping summer estate was bounded on the east by Lake Winnebago, on the west by the highway running north from Fond du Lac to Taycheedah; along the north and south sides was a four-foot prickly hedge to keep intruders out. The Ruepings lived in three "cottages," which were just like houses, painted grey, etc. They fronted on the highway, and a semicircular, graveled drive, neatly edged, ran from it around the back of the cottages and then curved back to the highway again. Our house was across the road; there was also a "dance hall" and a boat house on an artificial island in the lake, reached by arched bridges, like Chinese ones. Frank Parsons designed and built the hoat house. The motor boats and canoe were stored above, under the ceiling, in the winter.
October 15, 2012
Who were the Ruepings?
(1993 July, Rueping memoirs)
You asked me ... "Who were the Ruepings?" And I could use this whole new tablet and more trying to explain this Fond du Lac family to you. But just let me say they were a rich German family for whom my father worked while I was in high school. [They owned the "Fred Rueping Leather Co., tanners and curriers" (per business card) in Fond du Lac. They had several town houses, but in summer they shared an estate about two miles north of Fond du Lac, on the western shore of Lake Winnebago. In 1917 Frank Parsons became the caretaker and landscape gardner of their estate, when Polly had completed 8th grade in Green Lake, and he continued in that position well into the 1920s. Polly recorded her extensive memories haphazardly as they came to her; I have reorganized and tacitly amplified them.]
You asked me ... "Who were the Ruepings?" And I could use this whole new tablet and more trying to explain this Fond du Lac family to you. But just let me say they were a rich German family for whom my father worked while I was in high school. [They owned the "Fred Rueping Leather Co., tanners and curriers" (per business card) in Fond du Lac. They had several town houses, but in summer they shared an estate about two miles north of Fond du Lac, on the western shore of Lake Winnebago. In 1917 Frank Parsons became the caretaker and landscape gardner of their estate, when Polly had completed 8th grade in Green Lake, and he continued in that position well into the 1920s. Polly recorded her extensive memories haphazardly as they came to her; I have reorganized and tacitly amplified them.]
October 12, 2012
Dance hall
(1992 Memoirs)
when I was staying with Aunt Olga in Oconto, there was a dance hall two houses from her (on Main Street) and I would go there with a girl friend about my age and dance. Not waltzes -- perhaps a one-step. I do not remember how the music was provided or what it was.
when I was staying with Aunt Olga in Oconto, there was a dance hall two houses from her (on Main Street) and I would go there with a girl friend about my age and dance. Not waltzes -- perhaps a one-step. I do not remember how the music was provided or what it was.
October 11, 2012
Pleasing Frank Parsons
(1992 Memoirs)
Once or twice my father came to see how I was getting on, and we were both rather afraid of him. He came to eat and she [Olga] made a point of buying meat for noon dinner, but he slept at the hotel. I was obliged to write him once a week and saw one of the letters where I said, "It snowed and snowed, father." I guess news was scarce and I knew he would have no interest in the doll outfits Florence Fenski and I would make of Aunt Olga's scraps, when Florence said, turn it up there and put a feather right here, and it will be the cutest little hat you ever thaw."
Once or twice my father came to see how I was getting on, and we were both rather afraid of him. He came to eat and she [Olga] made a point of buying meat for noon dinner, but he slept at the hotel. I was obliged to write him once a week and saw one of the letters where I said, "It snowed and snowed, father." I guess news was scarce and I knew he would have no interest in the doll outfits Florence Fenski and I would make of Aunt Olga's scraps, when Florence said, turn it up there and put a feather right here, and it will be the cutest little hat you ever thaw."
October 10, 2012
Winter wear
(1992 Memoirs)
In the winter, Olga would open the oven door and warm my underwear and long black stockings before she helped me into them. I sat near the range when I tucked my long underwear in my long black stockings. My woolen dress went over my slip. I was ready for school, fourth grade, when I finished my breakfast, pulled on my galoshes, hood and mittenes, and of course coat.
In the winter, Olga would open the oven door and warm my underwear and long black stockings before she helped me into them. I sat near the range when I tucked my long underwear in my long black stockings. My woolen dress went over my slip. I was ready for school, fourth grade, when I finished my breakfast, pulled on my galoshes, hood and mittenes, and of course coat.
October 9, 2012
New dress
(1992 Memoirs)
One evening as we [Polly & Olga] walked, we saw a girl playing on a school yard. "Look at her, Carolyn, tearing around in her new dress like that!" Next day she came for a hole to be fixed and Aunt Olga said "Humph!" But she did it.
One evening as we [Polly & Olga] walked, we saw a girl playing on a school yard. "Look at her, Carolyn, tearing around in her new dress like that!" Next day she came for a hole to be fixed and Aunt Olga said "Humph!" But she did it.
October 8, 2012
Bags
(1992 Memoirs)
One time Olga got a job she loved. A man came with a stack of cloth, all cut, ready to be sewn into bags to be used by the woodsmen for holding -- I have forgotten what -- pine cones? wood chips? Anyway, easy work for her -- no fitting etc.
One time Olga got a job she loved. A man came with a stack of cloth, all cut, ready to be sewn into bags to be used by the woodsmen for holding -- I have forgotten what -- pine cones? wood chips? Anyway, easy work for her -- no fitting etc.
October 7, 2012
Oconto kitchen
(1992 Memoirs)
[The room after that [i.e. beyond the dining room] was the kitchen, which held her sewing machine at the window looking onto an alley. In the kitchen, the width of the house, next to her machine was the range, where a kettle was kept boiling and from which ashes were carried out in the back yard two or three times a week. Here was a large table, which when the leaves were up was plenty large enough to lay out pattern and cloth and cut the garment. On the wall opposite the window was a sink which had just one fawcet but only a drain to a pail under the sink. This when full was carefully carried to the back yard and dumped along with upstairs slops and ashes. In the woodshed was a pail where we pinkled before we went upstairs to bed.
[The room after that [i.e. beyond the dining room] was the kitchen, which held her sewing machine at the window looking onto an alley. In the kitchen, the width of the house, next to her machine was the range, where a kettle was kept boiling and from which ashes were carried out in the back yard two or three times a week. Here was a large table, which when the leaves were up was plenty large enough to lay out pattern and cloth and cut the garment. On the wall opposite the window was a sink which had just one fawcet but only a drain to a pail under the sink. This when full was carefully carried to the back yard and dumped along with upstairs slops and ashes. In the woodshed was a pail where we pinkled before we went upstairs to bed.
October 6, 2012
Vitriol
(1992 Memoirs)
One time officers, knowing her habits, came to question her [Olga] but she knew nothing and shaking in her shoes stuck to it. There were two women in love with the one man. ... When they met on the Main Street, the wife dashed vitriol acid in the other's face, burning it and disfiguring her for life. But no -- Olga had not seen that. She had been in the next room, the dining room with the big mirror where customers "tried on."
One time officers, knowing her habits, came to question her [Olga] but she knew nothing and shaking in her shoes stuck to it. There were two women in love with the one man. ... When they met on the Main Street, the wife dashed vitriol acid in the other's face, burning it and disfiguring her for life. But no -- Olga had not seen that. She had been in the next room, the dining room with the big mirror where customers "tried on."
October 5, 2012
The sitting room
(1992 Memoirs)
I shall explain the [Ellman] house to you. You came up on a half-foot porch which ran across the front of the house, gray in color. You came in quickly and right before you was the narrow carpeted stairs taking you up. To the left was an old door to the living room (called the "sitting room," not the "parlor"), furnished with a couch, dark green, with a raised head but no back. A large rocker held us both when, behind lace curtains, we watched the crowds go by.
I shall explain the [Ellman] house to you. You came up on a half-foot porch which ran across the front of the house, gray in color. You came in quickly and right before you was the narrow carpeted stairs taking you up. To the left was an old door to the living room (called the "sitting room," not the "parlor"), furnished with a couch, dark green, with a raised head but no back. A large rocker held us both when, behind lace curtains, we watched the crowds go by.
October 4, 2012
Lace curtains
(1992 Memoirs)
Uncle Fred and Aunt Olga, brother and sister, kept house on Main Street [in Oconto WI], the little house that was home to all of them. The front porch was nearly on the street, with two windows on the left with lace curtains, at which Aunt Olga and I sat in the dark and watched the passing crowd. "Hump," Aunt Olga would mumble, "look at her dress, torn at the hem, and I just finished it yesterday. Hump." I knew she was an excellent sewer, accurate and painstaking, and charged little for her pains.
Uncle Fred and Aunt Olga, brother and sister, kept house on Main Street [in Oconto WI], the little house that was home to all of them. The front porch was nearly on the street, with two windows on the left with lace curtains, at which Aunt Olga and I sat in the dark and watched the passing crowd. "Hump," Aunt Olga would mumble, "look at her dress, torn at the hem, and I just finished it yesterday. Hump." I knew she was an excellent sewer, accurate and painstaking, and charged little for her pains.
October 3, 2012
Learning German
(1992 Memoirs)
Although everyone told me what a great advantage I had to learn German [in Oconto], I never realy learned it. [But well enough to play cards, first as a teenager, with old Mrs. Rueping, then as a young married, with Rosa Kay, her grandmother-in-law.]
Although everyone told me what a great advantage I had to learn German [in Oconto], I never realy learned it. [But well enough to play cards, first as a teenager, with old Mrs. Rueping, then as a young married, with Rosa Kay, her grandmother-in-law.]
October 2, 2012
Aunt Minn & Uncle Albert
(1992 Memoirs)
There were several Ellmans who came "off the boat" whom I never really got to know in Oconto. There were the Ellmans "across the river," Aunt Minn and Uncle Albert, who never spoke English well. Uncle did more so than Aunt Minn because he mingled more with those who did speak it, the storekeepers and the neighbors, but for us and his wife always the mother tongue. One evening Aunt Olga and I walked over to see them. For some reason a bucket of water stood near the door and he bumped into it, spilling half. He jumped and swore but not with such a virile tongue as Aunt Minn. Aunt Olga, who of course took it all in, explained it to me later, omitting the swearing but pointing out to me how upset both were.
There were several Ellmans who came "off the boat" whom I never really got to know in Oconto. There were the Ellmans "across the river," Aunt Minn and Uncle Albert, who never spoke English well. Uncle did more so than Aunt Minn because he mingled more with those who did speak it, the storekeepers and the neighbors, but for us and his wife always the mother tongue. One evening Aunt Olga and I walked over to see them. For some reason a bucket of water stood near the door and he bumped into it, spilling half. He jumped and swore but not with such a virile tongue as Aunt Minn. Aunt Olga, who of course took it all in, explained it to me later, omitting the swearing but pointing out to me how upset both were.
October 1, 2012
Norwegian housekeeper
(1992 Memoirs)
Before she [Minnie] gave up [housekeeping], she hired a number of housekeepers, one of which was an aged Norwegian with blond hair long and gray and worn on a roll at the top of the head, very insecure. We got along fairly well although she was too lonely for her family to stay long. When I explained something to her, she would say when at last she understood, "Oh, daj but ee ay." "Yes," I'd say, "That's what it is."
Before she [Minnie] gave up [housekeeping], she hired a number of housekeepers, one of which was an aged Norwegian with blond hair long and gray and worn on a roll at the top of the head, very insecure. We got along fairly well although she was too lonely for her family to stay long. When I explained something to her, she would say when at last she understood, "Oh, daj but ee ay." "Yes," I'd say, "That's what it is."
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