Baumann Family History
Written by Joseph John Baumann
Edited and published by +Sherry
Brink (Baumann)
Cornwall Avenue map - http://sbrink82.blogspot.com/p/cornwall-Avenue-map.html
Theresa Baumann, 03/1/1909 – 09/11/1997 – 88 (New
Hartford, CT) - St. Bridget’s Cemetery in Cheshire.
Julius M. Baumann, 102, of Cheshire and New Port Richey,
FL passed away on Saturday, April 5, 2008. He was the loving
husband of the late Theresa (Piller) Baumann for 69 years. He was born on
May 17, 1905 in Poppendorf, Austria, the
second youngest of 10 children to Josef and Theresa (Mayer) Baumann.
Prior to his retirement in 1955, he was employed by Scovill Manufacturing
for 33 years and was a poultry farmer in Cheshire. In 1995, he moved to
Florida. He was an active member of the Grange, AARP, The Senior Citizens
and a fourth degree member of the K of C in Cheshire and in Florida. As a
Knight, he donated much of his time to K of C charities. Julius loved
being with friends and family. His good nature and friendly manner will
be missed by all who knew him. In addition to his wife, he was
predeceased by his siblings, Mary Birchbauer, Anna Pandl, Angela Pandl, Julia
Pandl, Teresa Pelzer, Bertha Yanny, Celia Drauch, Stella Bayer and Joseph
Baumann. Surviving him are his sons, Jules Baumann and his wife Trudy of
Barkhamsted and Joseph Baumann and his wife Phyllis (Hine) of Cottonwood,
Arizona; his grandchildren, Jennifer Keefe, Melissa Judis, Eric Baumann,
Michael Baumann and Sherry Brink; and 11 great grandchildren. A mass of
Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at St. Bridget's Church
in Cheshire at 10 a.m. Burial will be held at the convenience of the
family. There will be no calling hours. Montano-Shea Funeral Home,
5 Steele Rd., New Hartford has care of the arrangements. In lieu of
flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Bridget's Church in Cheshire, Immaculate
Conception Church in New Hartford and/or a charity of donor's choice.
Visit an online guest book at www.montano-shea.com.
St. Bridget’s Cemetery in Cheshire (175 Main Street, Cheshire, CT 06410 (203) 272-3531).
Residence @ death: Torrington,
Litchfield, CT 06790.
MILITARY SCHOOL – FORT EUSTIS TRANSPORTATION OFFICERS
SCHOOL
I (Joseph John Baumann) entered active duty with a three
year commitment when I received my officer commission (September
1959-1962).
Dant is dialect for Tante, Aunt in German
I recall it was early fall and I was leaving early in the
morning. Gisi Dant, Terry, and Liz were also there. I had a black 1959
Chevrolet Impala pretty well loaded with clothes and uniforms. I was to
report to Fort Eustis on September 12, 1959. Karl Uncle was not there
since he was already very sick at that time. Since hypothetically, your
grandmother thought I would be gone for quite a while, she was pretty upset.
Anyway, I planned two days. It was 500 miles. I planned on
connecting to US 301 in Maryland and then to Route 17 in Virginia. It was
the Old South still then, small towns and a lot of woods, nothing like today.
I remember making it to a then small town, Rappahannock
County, Virginia where I stayed overnight. The next day was
Sunday. I changed into a uniform since I planned to enter the post that
day. I looked for a Catholic church; there was none. Most of
the south was strong Baptist or Protestantism at the time. I found
that they did have a mass in a town meeting hall which I
attended. Then I heard there was an army boat docked at the river,
so I decided to go there and see if they could tell me how much further I had
to go. When I arrived they offered me breakfast on board. Funny, I can't
remember if I stayed or left. It took me a lot more time than I thought,
but I did arrive at the post in the late afternoon. I checked in and
secured arrangements at the Bachelor Officers Quarters. They consisted of a
single room with a shared bath with another officer. I was to check into
the Transportation Officers School the next day. I remember going to
the officer's club for supper. I did not meet the officer rooming next to
me until the next day. His name was Nick Palermo. He was from New
Jersey. He was a lawyer and part of the Judge Advocate Corps on post.
Meanwhile, your mother started attending the school of
radiology at Saint
Clare's Hospital in the Bronx.
BACK AND FORTH – HOME AND SCHOOL
Once I settled in to transportation school, I discovered
that I could make it back to Cheshire on the weekends. There were a bunch
of guys that wanted to do the same. They were dropped off in Philadelphia
and New York City. So, around 4:00 p.m. on a Friday, we would all pile
into my Impala and hunker down the road. There was one pit stop (gas and
relief) other than when somebody got off. It was on Route 301 outside of
Delaware. The car was so loaded with guys that sometimes the springs were
drooping. It worked out for me because they paid the cost of tolls and
gas to and from. When we got to New York City, I would go the Bronx
and pick up your mom and head for Cheshire. We used to get in real
late, usually around 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. Sometimes your mom
stayed over at our house and sometimes she would go to her house. Going
back wasn't too hard, but returning was not easy. Your mom would go back
with me to get to school in New York City and usually we had a late
start. Then I would start out for Fort Eustis, Virginia, usually getting
in around 4:00 a.m. I would have to be in class at 8:00 a.m., so Mondays
were pretty tough. On one occasion, a state policeman caught me speeding
on Route 71 in
Delaware. That set me back in time. On another, a car hit me in the
rear in New York City while I was waiting to get into the Lincoln Tunnel.
I had to wait for the police and when I left for Fort Eustis it was real
late. I remember being tired and had to fight off sleep.
Starting in Maryland, I was nodding off continuously. I am lucky I
did not go off the road. Anyway, I got in to Fort Eustis around
5:30 a.m. I thought I would get an hour’s rest but I passed out.
I woke up about 9:00 a.m. and rushed off to school. The guys
in the Bachelor Officer Quarters
(BOQ) said they banged on the door and yelled to wake me up but I never heard
them. I got into a lot of trouble over that and had to appear before a
board. Luckily, Nick tried to pull a few strings for me and they left me
off easy. I used to call your mom about twice a week and see her on the
weekends. Her school was in a real tough section of the Bronx. I
remember parking the car to walk to where she was living and there was a car
parked on the side of the street and the wells in the rear seat were
filled with blood. Never found out what happened.
RESERVE TRAINING COMMAND AT FORT EUSTIS
I left off describing my initial assignment to Fort
Eustis. The Basic Transportation Officers course was about two months
long. I had duty assignments on the weekend and we trained reservists.
After about two months I graduated from the Basic Transportation Course.
It included all manners of transportation to include trams, amphibious
craft, all manner of trucks from 2.5 tons to 10-ton tractor trailers, and Ducks
and how the Transportation Corp interfaced with the other services. We
would get course work first and then have to qualify on driving or operating
all the types of equipment. However, the school was mostly Monday to
Friday and, therefore; I mostly completed the trek from Fort Eustis to Cheshire
every weekend. Just before graduating, I received orders to the Reserve
Training Command at Fort Eustis. The company commander and executive were
both pilots of the company I was assigned to so I was able to go on day and
night flights with them. Anyway, just before Christmas I purchased your
mom’s diamond at a jeweler in Waterbury, Connecticut and then asked your mom to
get married. From that point, we started to plan the wedding.
Shortly after settling in with the reserve command, I received orders to
report to Fort Rucker, Alabama for flight training. I continued my almost
weekly trips to pick up your mom and go to Connecticut. That is when we planned
the wedding. The date for reporting was about April 20th. So, we had about four
months to complete the plans, which were not easy since a lot was on remote
control.
At the time that my three-year commitment was up, I left
active duty and entered active reserve. Vietnam was starting to escalate
even though the public was not really aware of it at that time. If I
stayed on active duty, I most likely would have wound up in
Vietnam. In regard to my transfer, at that time, military were
transferred every two to three years. Usually one got a desirable tour
(stateside or peaceful foreign country) and you could take your family,
and then an undesirable tour where your family could not accompany
you. It is a little different today because it is an all-volunteer
army---less troops and two unofficial wars. Some have multiple combat
tours. When I left Fort Eustis I listed Nicaragua and Camp Drum as
possibilities. I got Camp Drum.
The reserve training command at Fort Eustis was set up to
train reservists in transportation units in their six-month active duty
session. At that time a person could join the reserve, and then be
obligated to six months of active duty and a certain period of active reserve
time. The training command was different in structure. Since
there were so many reservists scheduled for active duty, the size of companies,
platoons, were very much larger. The company that I was assigned to had
three platoons with 600 men per platoon. I was a platoon leader. At
Fort Eustis my work was to provide classroom training in transportation
subjects as well as basic administration training, and prepare them for a week
bivouac (temporary encampment often in an unsheltered area) at Fort A.P. Hill, VA
(named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose
Powell Hill) at the end of their training period. The company would
go to Fort A.P. Hill in military convoy. On arrival, they had to set up
camp which included tenting, mess, perimeter security, and operations.
The tents were cold and we slept on cots in sleeping bags regardless of
rank. I can tell you it was really cold in the morning. They would
go out in convoy in day and night exercises under combat conditions to train in
troop movement and supply. The roads in Fort A.P. Hill were curved at
the middle and they were slippery clay. They would drive the roads
at various speeds to build their ability. Normally we allowed about 20
feet between trucks. The trucks were interspersed with 2.5-ton vehicles
to 10-ton tractor trailers. If there was no rain, the roads were
made wet to enhance the slipperiness in the hope of improving driving skill.
This was true of night as well as day driving. If a truck
slipped off into the ditch, the convoy would keep on moving and the wreckers
and medics would take care of the issues after the last vehicle passed. I
will have to say that the most fun I had was driving a jeep through the woods.
It had four-wheel
drive with a winch and could go almost anywhere. One
just had to become proficient in dodging the trees.
COLLEGE
Before I entered active duty I enrolled in ROTC when I
started college (1955). My first two years was at the Waterbury Campus
and I stayed at the house in Cheshire. In ROTC you take basic
military courses. One can go up in rank from private to officer
much like the military. While at the Waterbury Campus I was in the
military drill team. The last two years of college was completed at the Storrs,
CT campus. There I took advanced ROTC. It was good because they
paid a monthly stipend which came in handy. Between the junior and senior
year of ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps), all cadets had to spend six
weeks of basic military training at a military installation. I spent my
six weeks at Fort Devens, MA.
During this period you go through physical and combat training, night field
orientation, weapons training, 12-mile full back pack hikes, etc. Two
weeks are spent in the field in tents. There are simulated combat
exercises where you have different command functions while in attack, day and
night, with explosives going off continuously and dummy rounds used in the
rifles. Things I most hated were crawling underneath barbed wire with
50-caliber machine gun rounds whistling over my head, having to
take the gas mask off in the gas tent for a specified time
period so you could experience mustard gas etc., and long hikes. The
hikes were not the issue but I tore the meniscus on my knee early in the
program but did not tell them because I did not want to repeat the
program. Needless to say my knee was in constant pain. I went
through dozens of bottles of Absorbine Jr., which would give some relief.
I am surprised that the other guys did not complain since it did not smell very
good. Anyway, I graduated from the program. During my senior
year I took flight training at the Willimantic airport and received my private
pilot’s license. The military paid for the whole program. I did not
have a problem with vertigo since I did not have to do severe maneuvers that I
had to do with the Grasshopper in the
military. All I had to do was a number of takeoffs and landings,
emergency landing training, weather courses, flight planning, and three
long-distance solos. Mine were to Portland ME, New Hampshire, Boston, MA
and over Cheshire. To pass this you had to land and take off at
each airport. At the end I was checked out by a federal
aeronautical pilot.
I was commissioned on graduation from UCONN (1959) and
left for active duty at Fort Eustis in September.
When I left active duty I joined the W. T. Grant Company.
COLLEGE AND DATING
From the first blind date with your mom (1957 I
think) until entering active duty, the following is a quick rendering of
how we got to decide on marriage:
After the first date we dated every weekend during the
school year. Of course I was at UCONN during the week. Jules
went to UCONN for two years attending the college of horticulture and I
believe he got a certificate for that. When I left the Waterbury Campus,
we both roomed together to do the last two years in Business Administration.
We stayed at a dormitory (Baldwin Hall) I became the
treasurer. The room was across from a church cemetery and we would hear
the church bells ring on a repetitive basis. The funny thing though was
that when the fire alarm went off in the dorm at night (was right next to our
door) we both never heard it. Roger was in the Navy but was released
from active duty at the same time Jules and I started the last two years
of college and he also enrolled in UCONN and stayed at Baldwin Hall. I
was also active in college business organizations and a military
organization. However, every Wednesday night Jules, Roger and I would go
into Willimantic to the local pizza joint for beer and pizza. The bottom
line of all of this (studying, organization participation, ROTC, etc.) is
that I was pretty busy during the week. That was also the time that I
quit smoking cold turkey. We would leave UCONN Friday about 3:30 p.m. and
get to Cheshire at about 5:00 p.m. Your grandmother Baumann
always had a lobster dinner waiting for us. I would eat and go to
work at Cruess's Supermarket (I worked there full time in the summer) leave
work about 9:30 p.m. and go out with your mom. Saturday I worked all
day at Cruess’s and then went out with your mom at night. I can't
remember if we went to church together on Sunday morning but we would leave for
UCONN about 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon. This was the routine during the
school year every week. As you can see it was pretty crammed.
During the summer I worked at the supermarket all week. Your mom and I
would see each other almost every night. At the supermarket I managed the
frozen foods, produce, checked in the groceries off the trailer trucks
amongst a lot of other things. This helped to defray college expenses
etc. There were a few times that I got the weekend off and your mom and I
would go on day trips. One time we went to Vermont. I
underestimated the mileage. We did not get back until very late.
Bertha was planning a party for me that night and I had to call her and
tell her we could not make it. She was very nice about it about I imagine
she was not too happy. Your mom however, still remembers the steak dinner
we had at a restaurant in Vermont.
I spoke to your mom and I made a few mistakes. I
was an hour late getting your mom home but it was supposed to be 11:00 p.m. and
she did not get home till 12:00 a.m. Your grandfather Hine's first
comment was even the bars close at 11:00 p.m.
MARRIAGE PROPOSAL
We used to have a place that we parked and talked etc.
I think I asked your mom to marry me then. I think I just asked
her. I think I knew your mom was the right one for me from the
beginning-----first date. After I started dating your mom, I no
longer dated any other girls. Of course, the relationship kept getting
closer as time went on. We almost always phoned each other every other
day regardless where we were. Remember no e-mail or computers then.
JOSEPH BAUMANN AND PHYLLIS HINE WEDDING
Every weekend when we were in Connecticut, we worked on planning the wedding. Of course, our families were heavily involved too and provided continuity while we were not there. The requirement for Pre-Cana classes was not as stringent then. I think we only had one session. The bottom line was that on the 18th of April it all went off pretty smoothly. One correction to my previous comments--Jules was my best man and Robert was an usher. After the wedding, your mom, I and the wedding party went to Hubbard Park in Meriden for photos. I recall it was extremely windy and cool. It was also the day after Easter. After that there was a dinner at the Weathervane Restaurant, I think in Cheshire or Hamden. All of the family attended that dinner. Then there was a larger reception at the church hall where all the family and friends attended. Most of the food and beverages were made or supplied by both families. The cake and cookies were purchased. The cookies were Italian, a big tradition then. Your mom and I went around to all the tables to say hello and distribute the cookies. It was a huge tray loaded to the hilt, very heavy. By the time we got top the last table I was exhausted and hungry but very little time left. The gifts, for the most part, were left at your grandparent’s house. We did open the gifts and take the cash as we needed it for the trip. We also promised to go see Carl Uncle. He wanted to see the bride in her wedding gown. We already knew he was seriously ill. Anyway, after seeing him we went to your grandparent’s house to change, finish loading the car, and go back to the reception to say goodbye. We probably left around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. We had reservation at a motel in New Jersey just after the George Washington Bridge. I had never seen it. We got in late. I don't know if I ever told you or not but the bed broke. So much for the first night.
Every weekend when we were in Connecticut, we worked on planning the wedding. Of course, our families were heavily involved too and provided continuity while we were not there. The requirement for Pre-Cana classes was not as stringent then. I think we only had one session. The bottom line was that on the 18th of April it all went off pretty smoothly. One correction to my previous comments--Jules was my best man and Robert was an usher. After the wedding, your mom, I and the wedding party went to Hubbard Park in Meriden for photos. I recall it was extremely windy and cool. It was also the day after Easter. After that there was a dinner at the Weathervane Restaurant, I think in Cheshire or Hamden. All of the family attended that dinner. Then there was a larger reception at the church hall where all the family and friends attended. Most of the food and beverages were made or supplied by both families. The cake and cookies were purchased. The cookies were Italian, a big tradition then. Your mom and I went around to all the tables to say hello and distribute the cookies. It was a huge tray loaded to the hilt, very heavy. By the time we got top the last table I was exhausted and hungry but very little time left. The gifts, for the most part, were left at your grandparent’s house. We did open the gifts and take the cash as we needed it for the trip. We also promised to go see Carl Uncle. He wanted to see the bride in her wedding gown. We already knew he was seriously ill. Anyway, after seeing him we went to your grandparent’s house to change, finish loading the car, and go back to the reception to say goodbye. We probably left around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. We had reservation at a motel in New Jersey just after the George Washington Bridge. I had never seen it. We got in late. I don't know if I ever told you or not but the bed broke. So much for the first night.
MERRY HILL LODGE
We left the next morning for the Merry Hill Lodge in the Delaware River Gap area in
Pennsylvania. The trees had not leaved yet but it was nice. It was
a place that catered to newly married couples. I remember that we met a
couple that I think came from New York City. I guess she had facial hair
on her lip and tried to get it off with a depilatory before the wedding.
The result was that it caused a huge sore, which of course was a problem for
her. We did get friendly with them. The place we stayed at
was a separate building and the tub was a Jacuzzi. We stayed there
two nights, I think, and then left to Fort Rucker, Enterprise, Alabama.
We had to leave because I had to report to Fort Rucker on a certain date, which
was a few days off. Don't remember too much more.
TRAVENUELING TO FORT RUCKER, ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA
I know we took the Skyline Drive heading
south. The one thing I remember most on that part of the journey was when we
decided to take an exit and trAvenueled down the mountain into a very
small town in the valley. The reason I remember it is that it was
like going back into old Appalachia.
There was a general store with rockers out front and some men were sitting
in them. They did not look too welcoming and were chewing tobacco.
We did not stay to explore since it did not look like we were welcome and your
mom was very concerned regarding safety. Anyway, we left and continued
south. We did not make advance reservations at that time and when we
decided to look for a place to stay we could not find anything because they
were having an apple festival. We decided to get something to eat at a local
restaurant. I think it was around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. They
told us where we could find a place to stay and it worked out. It was the
first time either your mom or I had chicken fried steak. The other thing
I remember is that stayed at another place further south. The place had
all knotty paneling with a restaurant attached. We had breakfast
there and it was the first time that we had true southern grits with our
eggs. Everything else is pretty fuzzy till we got to our destination, the
Barbara Anne Motel in April, 1960. This is where we stayed all the
time I was at Fort Rucker. The Barbara Anne Motel was in Dothan,
Alabama, about 30 miles from Florida. The next town was Enterprise,
Alabama. Both were fairly small towns and had a southern
culture. They were the peanut growing capital of the world at that time.
The motel unit had a bedroom, bathroom, small living room, and
kitchen. It also had a pool. It was off of US 231, which went to
Birmingham to the north and Florida to the south.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT TWO FRIENDS
Frank Schaefer was newly married as we were. He was
also in the same flight class as I. We had Red Caps with a number printed
on the front. I was Red 56 and I believe he was Red 58. It
was our call sign so that, for example, when we were landing, we
would announce to Ground Control. So, we would say Red 56 on Base
Leg, which is descending but flying parallel to the landing runway, and
then on turning toward the runway we would say Red 56 on Final. Ground Control would
call us with the same designation. Anyway, he was a good friend and we
spent a lot of time together.
Ed Giles was also a good friend. He was from Falls
Church, Virginia, which is just outside of Washington, DC. We had him
to our place for dinner several times. I am not sure how I met him
because he was in helicopter training and, of course, I was in fixed wing flight
training. He never made it through the course. When a helicopter
lands, if it is somehow not balanced correctly, the blade gyros become
unbalanced as they rotate. It causes a corkscrew effect and shakes the
blade/rotor off and then falls into the cockpit on top of the pilot. That
is what happened to Ed.
PHYLLIS BAUMANN (HINE) – X-RAY SCHOOL/SEGREGATION IN THE
SOUTH
Your mom was still interested in finishing X-ray school
and they had one at the Birmingham hospital. We made several weekend
trips to Birmingham researching and looking at accommodations for your mom. Of
course, that did not work out. The interesting thing was that Birmingham
was in the heart of segregation. If you remember, Birmingham was the
powder keg. Your mom and I took a bus one time and went to sit in the
rear. We, being from the north, were not too aware of the issues.
The bus driver stopped the bus and said we had to sit in the front of the
bus. Another time, we were in the hospital and I remember the water
fountain being labeled “colored’” as well as the restroom. I drank
from the “colored” fountain since I did not see the “white” fountain.
Luckily, there was no incident.
FLYING GRASSHOPPERS
Our day started at 6:00 a.m. and ended at 5:00 p.m.
The day started with calisthenics. Next was classroom work on aircraft
maintenance, weather, navigation, etc. After lunch, we boarded buses and
went out to the airfield and put in flying time. That consisted of takeoffs and
landings, long distance flights, and aerobatics, such as
Lazy Eights {later named Crazy Eights} - (The maneuver is flown much like a
timid hammerhead, with the airplane being pulled to a vertical line, and then
flown over the top to a vertical downline), 360-degree turns, 180-degree turns,
Stalls, Spins, emergency landings, communication etc. Emergency
landings would be where the instructor would cut the engine power and tell you
to find a place to land. Usually, you could find a field and glide down
in circles. Stalls are when the instructor would tell you to pull the
nose up to the sky and at some point the plane would lose lift and nose over.
The spins were the worst and it is what caused me to have vertigo. On
spins, you would do a stall and the do left or right rudder. This would
cause the plane to nose over and start spinning either to the left or right
depending on the rudder direction. As you went into the stall, you had to
pick a point on the horizon and then after the third spin you would have to
level out at the same point on the horizon. Every so often, an instructor would
go out with you and do a check. What he found was that after the spin my
head would be wobbling back and forth and I thought it was the plane’s wings.
The other troublesome issue was landing because the Grasshopper had a tail
wheel instead of a nose wheel and the engine was overpowered which created
engine yaw {Yaw moves the plane left to right as opposed to roll (spinning around an
axis running from nose to tail of plane) and as opposed to pitch which moves
the plane up or down. Flying involves movement on all three axes..x, y,
and z.} from the props (propellers). The landing had to be perfect
or you could go in to a rollover, which almost happened to me one time. I
landed too hot (fast) and not on runway center. It caused the plane to
veer to the side of the runway with the wing tip almost hitting the ground.
I was able to pull it out but overcompensated and the same thing happened
going to the opposite side of the runway with the opposite wing almost hitting
the ground. I pulled out and by then had slowed down enough to control
the plane. If the wing hit, the plane would have nosed over.
Needless to say, ground control was not too happy about that.
ON THE WAY TO CAMP DRUM
We left for Camp Drum, New York in
September, 1960.
During our stay there we also went to Panama City, Florida.
It was the first time we saw the Gulf Coast or the panhandle of Florida.
I remember marveling at white sand on the beach. We spent a couple
of weekends there. Also, we explored parts of Alabama. I remember
Alabama to be hot, humid and the roads being narrow and hilly. We left
Alabama in the fall of 1960 as I was reassigned to Camp Drum, New York, now
Fort Drum. I know I was real concerned about finances since I no longer
received flight pay. I was still a Second Lieutenant and received $220.00
a month. I am not sure how that would equate to today’s wages. The
one memorable thing we did on the way up was to visit Williamsburg, Virginia--the Governor’s
mansion, Jamestown, etc. At that time, everything was still rural.
I recall eating dinner one night at a restaurant called Chowning’s.
The food was broiled on barbeques outside, next to your table. The
waiters/cooks were all Negro, dressed in red uniforms. I don't think that
would be allowed today. Remember this was before the riots. I think
we stopped in Cheshire on the way up. When we hit Watertown,
we stayed at a small and not too notable motel and started to look for an
apartment. It was difficult to find one that would fit our budget.
We found one on Mill Street in Watertown,
New York. It was on the back of a house owned by an Italian couple.
It had a bedroom, bathroom, small kitchen and small living room. No
problem space wise though since all we owned were personal things, some
kitchenware, and a portable 19-inch black and white TV. I reported to the
post and started out as Post Transportation Maintenance Officer. My boss
was Major Zackeo. We became very good friends and they came to our place
and we to theirs many times. They were really good people. They never had
any children (don’t know why) but they loved kids, and when Mike was born, they
adored him. I remember having Thanksgiving with them. Anyway,
the owners of the apartment had the heat thermostat in their apartment so
we could not regulate the heat. It was always cold so we started looking
for another place. We found one in the city of Watertown, can't recall
the street. It was upstairs with more room but there was no door upstairs
as I recall. Your mom was not too happy with that because anybody could
come up at any time.
PHYLLIS BAUMANN (HINE) PREGNANT WITH MICHAEL BAUMANN
I forgot to tell you that your mom was pregnant with
Michael before the move. We usually went out to a restaurant for your
mom's birthday. It was a fancy restaurant. I don't recall the name.
Anyway, we were halfway through the meal and your mom became nauseated.
We had to leave the restaurant pronto. However, we did not know at
the time that your mom was pregnant. We also went to Cheshire for
Christmas, which was a chore because we had to lug all the gifts, etc.
Because it was winter, we decided to take the bus. Your mom also
was sick on the bus ride. When we got back to Watertown, she went to the
doctor and found that she was pregnant. I mentioned in the last email
about all the snow but I did not tell you about how the city marked the corners
of the streets. They would put poles with flags on the corners that would be
above the snow and this way one could see where the intersection was.
BROWNVILLE,
NEW YORK, THE LAST HOME DURING MILITARY SERVICE
Brownville was out in the boondocks. There was a
cow field next to the house on one side and an empty field on the other.
There was an old silo that had been demolished in the back of the house.
Unfortunately, they never finished the job and there were all sorts of
remnants and grain left on the ground. This, of course, was a
breeding ground for rats. They were also in the attic of the house and
one could hear them moving around at night. When we looked at the house,
your mom was very leery that the one wall space heater on the first floor
would heat the whole house, but I said that the owner, (paint foreman at Drum)
said it was configured to be adequate. It had a large kitchen that
looked out over the cow field (cows did graze there), a living room, bathroom
and hallway between the bathroom and the kitchen, a fairly large living
room with a window that looked out over a field and the demolished
silo. The stairs were in the living room and there were two bedrooms
upstairs. This allowed a room for Mike. Some of the notable events
that occurred were as follows:
Mike was born in the Watertown Hospital
and we set up the second bedroom with a crib when he came home. We
moved there sometime in the spring and purchased furniture from a department
store called Empsall's for the living room. Your mom worked at Empsall’s
part time while we were in Watertown. I can't remember how she got to
work because I used the car to go back and forth to Camp Drum every day.
The people she worked with were very nice and, after Mike was born, they
always wanted to see him and when we got there they made a big deal about
him. At least that’s my version. The summer was nice except for the
rats. The day that Mike was born we went to the hospital around 4:00 a.m.
as labor pains were getting closer. But after your mom was admitted,
I waited and waited but no Mike. Nobody was allowed in the delivery room
then. Finally, the nurse came out and said I should go back home. I
left and when I got into the house, the phone rang. Your mom had Mike and
I should come back. We were friendly with a couple, the wife also
being pregnant. Their name was Lajoie. He also was a first
lieutenant at Fort Drum. His wife went into the hospital to deliver the
same time your mom did and it turned out that they were in the same room.
Your grandfather and grandmother Baumann and Gisi Dant came up to help your
mom the week after Mike was born. I was back at work at Fort
Drum. Unfortunately, your mom was right about the heater. As the cold
weather set in, the house got pretty cold upstairs. In the dead of winter
it was pretty cold downstairs. The other problem was that at night,
if it was windy, the pilot light on the burner would go out and the temperature
upstairs got down to about 32 degrees. When we put Mike to bed, we put a
snowsuit and pull-over knit hat on him in case the furnace went out. On
top of that there was a 250- gallon propane tank outside and every fill-up was
$500.00. That was about every month in the winter. Since I only
made $200.00 a month it was pretty tight. I guess we were not too with it
because when we took Mike to the pediatrician for a checkup we told him about
the heat and asked him if he thought that would be a problem for Mike.
His comment was you might as well live outside or in the barn.
There also was an apartment next to us. They were on welfare. The mother
and her daughter, and the daughter’s kids lived there. I think there
were three kids. Anyway, several times when I came home at night, I
would find an extension cord plugged into our electrical outlet on the porch.
The power company had turned off their power. Even though I spoke to them
and gave them some time, it occurred a couple times more. Finally, I
talked to them and said stop and I was telling the landlord.
INSERT FROM PHYLLIS BAUMANN (HINE)
It wasn't Watertown, it
was Gouverneur, New York. Although, we
did live in Watertown for a while before you (Sherry) and Mike were
born. Mike was born at the hospital in Watertown. Then we moved to
Brownsville, New York and lived in a hell-house with hardly any heat, with
mice, and rats in the silo in the back. Sometimes the pipes would
freeze. I had no friends, there wasn't anywhere to go other than
church, nothing to look forward to except eight feet of impassible snow.
Luckily, you weren't born yet. Then we moved to Gouverneur.
The campus school in Gouverneur you and Mike attended was sort of good but
too experimental. Still, no car for me, no money, we were dirt
poor.
“MISERY, MISERY, MISERY” (Marcelle Hine)
When Mike was taken to the pediatrician, the doctor
noticed that your mom had a bump on her throat and suggested she see a
surgeon. Your mom did. This was already early winter. They
diagnosed and said she should have surgery, which she opted for. The
tumor was benign. Anyway, your grandmother Hine came up to help your Mom
out. While your Mom was in the hospital we had a real cold snap. All the
pipes in the basement froze and it got real cold in the house. I used a
torch to free the pipes. When I came up from the basement, your
grandmother Hine was at the top of the stairs. And so came the famous
quotation that she uttered three times, “Misery, Misery, Misery”.
Obviously, she was not too happy.
BROWNVILLE, NEW YORK 1961 BLIZZARD
On another occasion I was at work at Fort Drum. There was notice of a blizzard and everybody left work except me. At that point, I really did not have an appreciation of a northern blizzard. I left at the usual time, 5:00 p.m. It was snowing very hard and the wind was whipping, so sometimes it was a white-out. It was 16 miles from the post to Brownsville. I made to a mile from the house, at which point I managed to pull off to the side of the road. I had purchased a box of baby food at the post commissary. Luckily, I was wearing an army wool uniform but only had a fatigue jacket. I did have a wool cap. Also, I only had combat boots on which were no safeguard from the cold. I took the baby food and started out for home on foot. I literally had to climb over snow drifts. There was a neighbor’s house halfway to our house. I knew I could not make it with the baby food so I dropped the case off at their house and continued. When I got home, my toes and fingers were frozen. Your mom had made either spaghetti or lasagna, can't remember which. I could not eat. I placed my feet in a basin of water to thaw out the toes and kept rubbing my hands. The pain was awful. Anyway, the next morning the storm had subsided. In the afternoon I decided I would walk to the car because the snowplow might hit the car when it went through. There were snowdrifts in places as high as the telephone poles. When I got to the car, the snow had blown inside the car. The interior was totally encased in snow as was the engine well. Needless to say, it took some time to dig it out but I managed to do so and get the car started.
On another occasion I was at work at Fort Drum. There was notice of a blizzard and everybody left work except me. At that point, I really did not have an appreciation of a northern blizzard. I left at the usual time, 5:00 p.m. It was snowing very hard and the wind was whipping, so sometimes it was a white-out. It was 16 miles from the post to Brownsville. I made to a mile from the house, at which point I managed to pull off to the side of the road. I had purchased a box of baby food at the post commissary. Luckily, I was wearing an army wool uniform but only had a fatigue jacket. I did have a wool cap. Also, I only had combat boots on which were no safeguard from the cold. I took the baby food and started out for home on foot. I literally had to climb over snow drifts. There was a neighbor’s house halfway to our house. I knew I could not make it with the baby food so I dropped the case off at their house and continued. When I got home, my toes and fingers were frozen. Your mom had made either spaghetti or lasagna, can't remember which. I could not eat. I placed my feet in a basin of water to thaw out the toes and kept rubbing my hands. The pain was awful. Anyway, the next morning the storm had subsided. In the afternoon I decided I would walk to the car because the snowplow might hit the car when it went through. There were snowdrifts in places as high as the telephone poles. When I got to the car, the snow had blown inside the car. The interior was totally encased in snow as was the engine well. Needless to say, it took some time to dig it out but I managed to do so and get the car started.
COLONEL REMUS AT CAMP DRUM
Let me recount another incident at Camp Drum. The
camp commander was Colonel Remus. He was mostly disliked because he
really did not adhere to the morality of an officer. He used military
vehicles inappropriately, had his house on post renovated unnecessarily using
government funds, etc. The company that took care of post duties was Headquarters
Company. All the enlisted were part of this company. They
also had a company mess that provided meals for the single enlisted personnel.
Colonel Remus would go to the mess and get food to take home for himself
and his family, which of course is illegal and unbecoming of an officer since
it meant less food for the men. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas he
would ask the mess sergeant to provide a cooked turkey with all the
trimmings for his family and whoever he invited to his house. The
mess sergeant decided to get even on one Thanksgiving. He cooked the
turkey and trimmings but he left all the entrails in the turkey when he cooked
it. Colonel Remus had the turkey and trimmings delivered to his
house. You can imagine his chagrin when he, his family and guests were
seated around the table and when he went to carve the turkey all the guts fell
out. He was livid but could not say anything because what he did was
illegal.
MICHAEL JOHN BAUMANN, MILITARY BRAT
By the way did you know that Mike was a military brat? He was born in August, 1961. I left active duty in September, 1962. Since there were no hospital facilities on the post, your mom had a private physician and Mike was born in a Watertown, NY hospital, all paid by the military.
By the way did you know that Mike was a military brat? He was born in August, 1961. I left active duty in September, 1962. Since there were no hospital facilities on the post, your mom had a private physician and Mike was born in a Watertown, NY hospital, all paid by the military.
OPERATION SNOWBEAR
During the time spent at Brownsville at Hancock Field Air National Guard
Base in Syracuse, the air command and reserve army were to conduct a joint
exercise. The Air National Guard was to drop the army reservists
over Fort Drum for a winter combat exercise. What happened was totally
different. The day before the exercise it turned bitterly cold and
dropped heavy snow. The exercise was to commence at 10:00 a.m. That
is, the army reservists were to parachute into the Fort Drum combat zone at
that time. I was to have all the vehicles ready to go early in
the morning for the reservists. The previous night I shoveled the snow in
our driveway to get a jump start in the morning. The snow was a dry
snow because it was so cold. I had to chop the snow into blocks
and throw it as far as I could to allow for more snow that would
accumulate. I also got up around 3:00 a.m. and started shoveling
again. I managed to empty the driveway in time and the snow plows had
made one swipe on the road. I got to Fort Drum on time but there was
hardly anybody else there. The Air National Guard had not put the engine
warmers on the planes until the morning. Consequently, the planes did not
start. The first planes flew over Fort Drum at 2:00 p.m. - so much
for Operation Snowbear. Obviously, some heads rolled because of this.
CIVILIAN JOB
My tour of active duty was up in September 1962. We decided that we would leave the military since we knew that there would be a lot of times that we would be apart, there would be a lot of moves, and there would be a good chance I would wind up in Vietnam if I stayed in. They were pulling people to Vietnam at a rapid rate at that time even though the public was not aware of it. So, I started looking for civilian employment. I interviewed for sales, transportation, purchasing, and retail store management positions. One time Procter and Gamble wanted to interview me in Buffalo. Major Nick Zackeo told me to take a military car, which I did. Now that I think about it, if anything happened, he and I would have been in a lot of trouble. I also interviewed in Princeton, New Jersey with Dow Chemical. The bottom line was the best offers were with Kresge-Newark “Kresges” and W. T. Grant. I picked W. T. Grant and the first assignment as a trainee was in Gouverneur, New York, so we moved there, another cold place. When I left active duty in September 1962, I went into the active ready reserve and trained at Fort Drum. This consisted of one night a week and one weekend a month. The first assignment was a platoon leader of a munitions platoon.
My tour of active duty was up in September 1962. We decided that we would leave the military since we knew that there would be a lot of times that we would be apart, there would be a lot of moves, and there would be a good chance I would wind up in Vietnam if I stayed in. They were pulling people to Vietnam at a rapid rate at that time even though the public was not aware of it. So, I started looking for civilian employment. I interviewed for sales, transportation, purchasing, and retail store management positions. One time Procter and Gamble wanted to interview me in Buffalo. Major Nick Zackeo told me to take a military car, which I did. Now that I think about it, if anything happened, he and I would have been in a lot of trouble. I also interviewed in Princeton, New Jersey with Dow Chemical. The bottom line was the best offers were with Kresge-Newark “Kresges” and W. T. Grant. I picked W. T. Grant and the first assignment as a trainee was in Gouverneur, New York, so we moved there, another cold place. When I left active duty in September 1962, I went into the active ready reserve and trained at Fort Drum. This consisted of one night a week and one weekend a month. The first assignment was a platoon leader of a munitions platoon.
MIKE LOST AT THE OSWEGO RIVER BEACH
When we lived in Brownville, we went a few times to
the beach at Oswego River.
Mike was a toddler. If we did not keep track of him, he would always
wander off. Anyway, can't remember how it happened, one time all of a
sudden Mike disappeared. I looked all over the beach asking all the
people if they had seen him. Everybody remembered him but he had
already left. I had all kinds of thoughts, like what if he went into the
water. Also, during that same timeframe some gentleman lit his barbeque
fire with that charcoal starter. Unfortunately, he squirted it on when
the coals that were already started and the fire went up his arm. I heard
about it and ran over there thinking maybe Mike was there. Anyway, after
searching the beach I went back to where we were and, believe it or not,
there was Mike. He did a complete circle around the beach, with me always
just behind him. I don't know how he was able to find his way back
because he was so young.
SUBES / RALPH SKILLINGS / ANGEL
We found a little ranch house on a hill. The house next
to us is where the Sube's lived. We were pretty friendly with them. He
was the pharmacist and assistant manager at the chain drugstore in
town. His wife's name was Chris and she had only one kidney. They had a
little boy. They visited us when we were in Albany. Do you remember
him? I don't know if you remember much of it since you were born in
Gouverneur in November 1963; more of that later. My store manager was a
taskmaster. In that assignment, I was a trainee and had to learn the
merchandise in all the departments. The store was small with an upstairs and
downstairs. The manager’s name was Ralph Skillings.
I am curious, do you remember the Sube's? Chris
Sube acted as proxy for your christening. So, I am getting ahead of
myself. The house had two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and bathroom.
Mike was in one bedroom and, when you were born, the crib went in there
too. I should tell you about Angel (cat), which encompasses Brownsville
and Gouverneur. I gave Angel to your mom for an anniversary gift. I
bought her from a lady that sold purebred Siamese. There was a battle
between Angel and I the first night she was in our house in Brownsville.
She was a little kitten but already had a mind of her own. She
decided that she wanted to sleep on our bed with us. In Cheshire, we
never had animals in the house. So, she jumped up on our bed and I threw her
off. This went on for about an hour. Finally, I gave up and she
won.
Angel was only little in size. She had an
elephant demeanor and perseverance.
ANGEL STORIES (HEAT)
Shortly after Angel arrived on the scene and when she was no longer a kitten she went into heat. We did not think about that and at that point had not had her spayed. Well, when she got in heat, she started to screech and continued for two days. If you have never heard a Siamese wail, you have yet to have an experience. I have never heard anything like it. The shrill wail penetrated the house. Obviously, as soon as she stopped we brought her the vet and had her spayed.
Shortly after Angel arrived on the scene and when she was no longer a kitten she went into heat. We did not think about that and at that point had not had her spayed. Well, when she got in heat, she started to screech and continued for two days. If you have never heard a Siamese wail, you have yet to have an experience. I have never heard anything like it. The shrill wail penetrated the house. Obviously, as soon as she stopped we brought her the vet and had her spayed.
(GUARD CAT)
When we lived in Gouverneur, only one dog made the mistake of venturing on the house lot, which I guess she assumed was her territory. Angel took off after that dog with a vengeance. He did not stick around to find out what would happen and, strangely enough, no dog ever came into the yard again.
When we lived in Gouverneur, only one dog made the mistake of venturing on the house lot, which I guess she assumed was her territory. Angel took off after that dog with a vengeance. He did not stick around to find out what would happen and, strangely enough, no dog ever came into the yard again.
(IT’S A BIRD, A PLANE. IT’S SUPER CAT!)
Also in Gouverneur, on one occasion the washing machine broke so we called in a repairman. The washing machine was in the basement. When he came I went into the basement with him. Unfortunately, Angel did too. I think she considered him a threat. She ran around the perimeter of the basement twice and then took a flying leap onto the back of the repairman's neck. Needless to say, he was not too happy. It's a good thing we did not have to call him back.
Also in Gouverneur, on one occasion the washing machine broke so we called in a repairman. The washing machine was in the basement. When he came I went into the basement with him. Unfortunately, Angel did too. I think she considered him a threat. She ran around the perimeter of the basement twice and then took a flying leap onto the back of the repairman's neck. Needless to say, he was not too happy. It's a good thing we did not have to call him back.
(WHO DID THIS?)
And, of course you know that if we did anything that she considered an affront she would pay us back by doing something such as urinating or defecating behind the couch.
And, of course you know that if we did anything that she considered an affront she would pay us back by doing something such as urinating or defecating behind the couch.
Well enough about Angel.
BRUSH WITH DEATH
While in active ready reserve I was assigned to a reserve unit in Watertown, New York. Every year we trained at Camp Drum for two weeks. The second year Grandpa and Grandma Baumann drove to Gouverneur and returned to Connecticut with your mom, you, and Mike while I trained at Camp Drum. When you were little, you were very afraid of strangers, etc. Anyway, you cried and screamed on the way down especially when they stopped to eat at a restaurant.
While in active ready reserve I was assigned to a reserve unit in Watertown, New York. Every year we trained at Camp Drum for two weeks. The second year Grandpa and Grandma Baumann drove to Gouverneur and returned to Connecticut with your mom, you, and Mike while I trained at Camp Drum. When you were little, you were very afraid of strangers, etc. Anyway, you cried and screamed on the way down especially when they stopped to eat at a restaurant.
That year when I trained at Camp Drum, because Gouverneur
was so close, I would commute back and forth every second or third day.
We still had the black Chevrolet Impala. On one occasion, a rainy and
misty evening, I was driving back to Gouverneur, a two-lane country road, and a
fully grown Holstein cow
jumped out of the ditch and into the path of the car. The
cow weighed over a thousand pounds. I hit the brakes but just
skidded into the cow. I don't know at what speed I hit her but it was
dead on. The front of the car caved in and then the cow slid over the
engine hood and, by a miracle, slid sideways so the rear end hit the left side
(driver side) windshield supporter and caved it in. If the cow
had come straight forward, she would have gone onto the windshield and
ended on my lap. The car was almost totaled. The state police came
to investigate and declared it an act of nature. The cow was thrown into
the ditch on the other side of the road and had to be shot by the policeman
since the rear leg was sheared off and her stomach was perforated. The
cow must have gone through a fence somewhere to be in the ditch. I came
out without a scratch-another brush with death. The car was towed to
Gouverneur and USAA paid the complete bill. Another officer drove me to Camp
Drum that night and I completed the training. By the time your mom, you
and Mike came back, the car was repaired.
CHRISTMAS ROAD TRIP
Generally, we went back to Connecticut every Christmas
while at Gouverneur. We did the same the year you (Sherry) were born.
I remember the trip down and back very well. We left Gouverneur
right after I left work. The car was already packed and ready to go.
The weather was terrible and it was with great consternation on my part
that we left. You were between Mom and I in the front car seat.
Mike was in back in a car seat. It was raining ice and snow.
Mike was a head banger and that is what he did until he fell asleep,
which was pretty fast. You also fell asleep almost right away. Your
mom lasted a couple hours and she fell asleep. Not sure what we did about
food. Anyway, I was the only awake person. The car slid on the ice
twice between Gouverneur and Watertown, almost going into the ditch both times.
By the time we headed toward Utica, the snow in most places, especially
Lowville, was almost as high as the telephone poles. This was not only
because it was snowing so hard but also they used snow blowers on the trucks,
which built huge mounds of snow. I kept on going but it was pretty slow.
When we got to the border of Connecticut, it was raining ice again.
The long and short of it was that we made it but not until 4:30 a.m.
Your grandfather (Julius) waited up for us and when we came in, as usual,
your grandmother started coffee and sweets. I was exhausted. It was
probably one of the worst trips we made. The return trip was almost as
bad a nightmare. The weather was bad. We stayed an extra day hoping
it would clear up, and it did, but the roads were still slippery. We made
it to just before the Waterbury hospital on Route 84. Another car started
sliding and could not stop and hit our car. The damage was not too bad
but the police came and it hit the news. We decided to keep on going.
Your grandparents read the news the next day and, of course, called us
immediately because the article did not say anything about injuries etc.
Well I am glad that is all over. That was probably
the worst white-knuckle trip ever other than the blizzard in Watertown that I
previously told you about.
1,000 ISLANDS
In the summer we did make some trips to Canada with you
and Mike. You were both so young I doubt that you remember the trips.
I also forgot to mention that Elaine and Dennis visited
in Brownville and we took a boat trip through the 1000 Islands
and stopped at Boldt Castle.
A rich gentleman started to build it but died before it was completed.
Michael was with us but you were not born yet. We have photos of
that trip.
CUBAN MISSLE CRISIS
The other noteworthy event that occurred but you will not
remember was the Cuban
Missile Crisis. It started just before you were born and was settled
shortly after you were born. The townsfolk that I interacted with thought
I was privy to inside information and kept asking me questions. They
thought that because they knew I was in the active reserve. Of course,
what did I know was not much. It was, however, the talk of the town.
Of course, now that all the facts are known, they were right to be
concerned. It was probably the closest we came to nuclear Armageddon,
even during all the cold war period with Russia.
VACATIONS
During the time we were in Gouverneur, we did go the
local movie house once a week. We had a babysitter. I can't
remember her name but I do know she was very intelligent and mature for her
age. I wonder if you remember her. Terry and Andy Vernale were
married during that period and we went to Connecticut to attend their marriage.
Also, one summer we went to Connecticut. Your grandparents
(Baumann), us, and Jules went to Hammonasset
Beach State Park. You were still pretty young. I remember the
sand was extremely hot so your grandfather carried Mike around on his shoulders
all the time we were there because Mike wanted to play in the sand.
Both you and he had a very light complexion and both of you were towheads so we had to make
sure you both were shielded from the sun. Also, on one trip to
Connecticut, we went to see Plimouth
Plantation, (Plymouth Rock) with you and Mike. I have pictures of
this, don't know if I sent them to you. Also, we went to the 1964 New York
World's Fair with your Grandparents Hine. I think you and Mike stayed
with your grandparents in Cheshire. Your grandparents loved having you and
you and Mike loved being there. It was on one of the Christmas
visits that Jules spent time with Mike listening to a heart pumping on a tape
recorder. However, all Mike would say over and over again was, “I
love grandpa.” It was also during one of these visits you and Mike coined
the phrase “chieeken.” You and mike would stand in front of the chicken
house door that was open and screened in the summer. Of course the
chickens were in plain sight. You and Mike pointed to the chickens and
repeated over and over, “chieeken.”
DOWNTOWN ALBANY 1964 / SHERRY BAUMANN’S BAPTISM PROXIES
In January 1964 I was transferred to the downtown Albany
W. T. Grant store. I recall staying at a motel by the river and a few
blocks from the store. The motel was above with parking below.
It was extremely cold and I was worried about the car starting.
Grants allowed you a very short period of expenses paid to find a new
place to live and would not give you much time from work, so it was pretty hectic.
The pay was not much, even with the promotion, and the rents in
Albany were high for that time. I don't remember how I found out about
the place but I found the duplex on 4
Brashears Place in Castleton-on-Hudson. Castleton was right below us
and East Greenbush was to the east of us. The Hudson
River flows by Albany, New York. It was brand new and on a
dead end street. It was nice, had two bedrooms, a nice backyard and,
therefore, a good place for you and Mike to play. It was about nine miles
from the store in downtown Albany. We moved within a month.
This is where the Subes from Gouverneur visited with
their little boy. I believe I told you that they stood in as proxies at
your baptism as your godparents could not make it up to Gouverneur and
that she had only one kidney. They lived in the next house to us in
Gouverneur. You and Mike had bunk beds in one bedroom. I know the
Subes slept in the bunk beds. What I don't remember is where you, Mike
and the little boy slept. I seem to think the boy’s name was Jeffrey but
not sure. We put up a gym that had a swing and there was also a swing
that had horses. There was also a sandbox and a little plastic pool. You,
Mike and the boy played with them all. I have some pictures.
If I did not send you these let me know and I will send copies to you.
ACCIDENTAL TODDLER DEATH
The couple that lived on the other side was the
Rogers. The woman’s first name was Gena and she had a toddler, younger
than you or Mike. I am not sure if Gena fell asleep, or what, but
the toddler got into the medicine chest and ate barbiturates. When
discovered, she was rushed to the hospital, but too late, and she died.
Later, she and her husband opened a sporting goods store in East
Greenbush; not sure what happened after that.
HINE 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY / BIRTHDAY PARTY
Our house was a three-hour drive to Cheshire,
Connecticut. I know we drove through Pittsfield,
Massachusetts and then down to Cheshire but I cannot remember the routes.
Since it was a short drive, we visited Cheshire quite frequently.
This was also the year that your Hine grandparents had their 25th wedding
anniversary. Your mom, Elaine Hine, and Dennis Hine put it together
as I recall. Your first birthday was celebrated there and your Hine
grandparents came up for the party. Your mom put together a party
for both Mike and your birthday together. It was from here that we
went to the Catskill
Game Farm. I have pictures of you with the animals.
When I was assigned to the Albany, New York W. T. Grant
store, one of my tasks as assistant was the bargain tables at the front
entrance. When you entered the store, there was a staircase down to the
basement part of the store. The staircase was about 10 feet wide and the
bargain tables were lined on the sides and the back of the staircase. We
sold tons of stuff to include panty girdles, plastics, socks, nylons,
shirts, pants, aprons, etc. Anyway, we had a lady who ran the nylon
counter. She was not very intelligent or couth but she was nice and an
excellent sales person. You can't imagine how many nylons she sold,
by the box. One day, she said she had to go to the ladies room.
I asked if she could wait a few minutes because extras were coming in a
few minutes. She said she could. I left to go to another section
for a few minutes. When I got back, she had urinated on the floor and her
clothes. Amazingly, she just took it in stride. I remember well
that the Beatles were in top popularity then and we sold hundreds of their 45s.
We had Beatles music blaring over the sound system all day.
I was also in charge of ladies lingerie to include bras,
girdles, panties etc. The lady in charge of the department was a matronly
person and very conservative. One day, I got a call to rush to that
department. When I got there she was visibly upset. I asked her
what happened and she said that a gentleman came in to buy a bra, don't know
for who. When she asked what size, he took his hands, and cupped them
toward her chest and said this size and then left.
I was also in charge of housewares. The lady who was the
department manager was with the company at least 25 years. We had the old
push-down key registers. There was a shopping service called Willmark
that the W. T. Grant Company subscribed to. Lo and behold, they shopped
her and said she was stealing. I did not believe it but we set up a trap
and, what do you know, she did indeed steal from the register.
THURSDAY NIGHT BAR MEETINGS
Every Thursday night the store manager would get us all
together (supervisors) for a few drinks at a local bar down the street.
We would discuss what happened during the week. Your mom was
not too happy about this because I would not get home till about two hours
later. We worked until 9:00 pm on Thursday nights so I would get home
about 11:00. Anyway, the store manager sort of made it an expectation.
We had a brown and white goods manager (TV's and refrigerators) whose
name was Berrigan. He was a big motorcycle enthusiast. He had a Norton that
was the hottest bike in Albany. I and a lot of other Grant folks parked
down by the river, which was not far from the store. Anyway, one night
after leaving our meeting he asked me if I wanted to take ride with him on the
bike. I was kind of hesitant but he said he would not go fast (according
to his standards), so I said yes. Well, we rode all around Albany on
the bike. When we got back, I got into my car and he started down the
road on the bike, hit a pothole, and turned over. He got hurt very
badly. I put the bike in the back of the wagon and brought him home.
Anyway, Berrigan was pretty badly hurt and did not come
back to work for three days. As it was, his body was held together by
wire because of all the accidents he had. The bottom line is that it was
the last time I got on a motorcycle. Anyway, we lived there until
sometime in 1965. While we were there, we went to Cheshire for Jules and
Trudy's wedding also. I am not sure if you would remember any of it.
GLENS FALLS, NEW YORK
The store had a 70-stool
cafeteria. I don't know if you have seen them. It was a long
counter with stools and food was prepared and served from behind the counter.
We made ice cream sodas, malts, sundaes, hamburgers and hotdogs and sandwiches.
I still remember the manager. She wore glasses. She was a closet
lesbian and had relations with the store’s sign maker. We made our own
signs. During this period I had weekly reserve training at the center in Schenectady. There were four
of us that would take turns driving. Everybody except one drove sanely.
One of the guys drove like a mad man, speeding beyond control, following
on the bumper of other cars etc. I always was not happy when it was his
turn to drive. They picked me up at the store. After the store
closed I would change into the uniform and have a sandwich and ice cream soda
from the cafeteria. I arranged to leave the money in the cash register
where the manager would pick it up the next day. Funny how I remember all
of this.
In the fall of 1965 I was transferred to Glens Falls, New York as First
Assistant Manager of W.
T. Grant Company. The store was not yet opened. It was to open
right before Thanksgiving, so most of the time was spent ordering merchandise,
overseeing and receiving of more merchandise than you could believe.
It was one of the first W. T. Grant 6,000 counter foot stores, about
60,000 square feet.
BURNING MONEY
I left off telling you that we left Castleton on the
Hudson and transferred to Glens Falls, New York in November 1965. I also
told you about the store. We rented a small old bungalow on Dixon Road in Glens Falls. It was grey
and had a kitchen, living room with fire place and two bedrooms, one for you
and Mike and one for us. You had bunk beds. At that point, you
were three-years-old and Mike was almost six. The house was about a mile
from the store, down a hill and close to the Catholic Church that we went to.
I recall that one time the priest asked us to bring up the gifts. I
don't know who carried what but both you and Mike carried something. It
was kind of tricky because you or Mike could have dropped what it was that you
were carrying. At that time people still got all dressed up to go to
church and so you and Mike as well as us were all dressed up. Back to the
house. We used the fireplace two times. Once was at Christmas.
We opened all the gifts, some of which was paper money. The
fireplace was going. There was gift wrap all over as both you and Mike
tore into the gifts and just threw the paper to the side. Well, when I
picked up the gift wrap, I decided to put in the fireplace to burn it. Unfortunately,
some of the money gifts were caught in the gift wrap and burned also. The
other time it was used, apparently I did not set the damper right and there was
smoke all over the house. That was the last time we used that fireplace.
VISITING CHESHIRE, LAKE GEORGE BEACH
Shortly after we moved in, lo and behold, what did we see
but cockroaches. Your mom and bugs don't go well together, especially
cockroaches, silverfish, and spiders. That was before boric acid was
known to us. So, we had to call in an exterminator. A short
distance from Glens Falls and the house was Lake George Beach. We went
there with you a number of times in the summer. It was also not a very
long distance from Cheshire, about 150 miles. We, therefore, were able
to go to Cheshire for the different holidays. We have pictures of you and
Mike in Easter finery with your Easter baskets you found beside you. I
think both you and Mike enjoyed those visits. This is also where you got
into your mom's lipstick. When we discovered this, you had lipstick all
over your lips. I believe I sent you that picture.
TRANSFERRING TO INACTIVE RESERVE
It was in Glens Falls that I transferred to inactive
reserve since I worked at the store three nights a week, trained one night a
week and one weekend a month in Schenectady. It was just too much.
So I wound up with three years’ active duty and four years’ active ready
reserve. The difference between reserve and ready reserve was that the
ready reserve units would have been the first ones called to active duty if
there was a war.
MICHAEL BAUMANN AT POOL BOTTOM / TRANSFERRED TO
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK
We were in Glens Falls only a short while, from the fall
of 1965 till the fall of 1966, when I was transferred to Plattsburgh, New York.
Before I tell you about Plattsburgh I will tell you about
Mike and Upper Jay, New
York. Upper Jay is in the Adirondacks. We all
went for a short vacation there but I don't remember too much of it.
Anyway, we stayed at a motel, I don't know if it was one night or what.
We decided to go to the pool. We were sitting on lawn chairs by the
pool and Mike was standing by the edge of the pool. There was another little
boy there as well. For some reason, he pushed Mike into the pool.
Mike was around five at the time and did not know how to swim, so of
course he sunk to the bottom. I saw what had happened and jumped in the
pool and fished him out. I got him out fast enough so that he did not
ingest much water. He was, I believe, very scared because his eyes looked
like they were going to pop out of his head. I imagine he cried but I
don't remember. That was the end of that pool.
HILLCREST AVENUE, PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK
So, we moved to Plattsburgh, New York. I found
a house on Hillcrest Avenue. It
was a short distance from SUNY at
Plattsburgh and about three miles from the store. I think it had
three bedrooms, but I think you and Mike were in one room and one bedroom was
used as playroom for the both of you. I remember a big toy chest in that
room that I made. There was a family that lived across the street and
they had three kids who you and Mike played with. There was also a family
behind us that had one child that you both played with. Both of you went
to the State College Experimental School (you later), which was supposed
to be really good. It had a backyard where your outside toys were and
where you all played.
MICHAEL BAUMANN VOMITING IN MONTREAL, CANADA
One of the places we went to while in Plattsburg was
Montreal, Canada. We visited Saint Joseph’s Oratory
(Brother Andre). It was in the wintertime and it was very cold.
We have a picture of you and Mike taken there. Both of you were all
bundled up. I think that is the time we stayed overnight at a fancy
hotel. It had a very fancy restaurant. We ordered the meal, it came
and, just as we were going to eat, Mike started vomiting, luckily only over the
floor. Don't know if you remember that or not. Plattsburgh turned
cold in October. It started snowing in November, and then it
was icy and snowy all winter. I remember the store was across a
field from Lake Champlain. When we opened the doors, there was a big
suction effect in the store. One time, there was a young lady waiting at
the door to come in. The coat she had on was unbuttoned. When we
opened the door, it blew her coat open. She had nothing on
underneath the coat.
MICHAEL BAUMANN’S LIMP
You had your third birthday party in Plattsburgh, New
York. All the neighborhood kids came. I sent you a DVD that shows
that party. It was at Plattsburgh that you got your first tricycle.
It was there that Mike got his first two-wheeler. There is a story
attached to that. All of a sudden Mike developed a limp. It went on
for a while. We could not find any reason for it. We got really
worried and took him to the doctor. The doctor could find no reason for
the limp as well. Anyway, it happened to be around his birthday and he
wanted a two-wheeler. At the end of the party we took him outside the
kitchen door where a two-wheeler was waiting. Would you believe that he
got on the bike, zoomed down the driveway that was on a hill, and had no
limp thereafter?
JOSEPH BAUMANN FLU
It was also here that I got a really, really bad case of
the flu. I was flat on my back in bed for three days. Couldn't
do anything. My temperature was up to 103.0. Your mom was ready to
call the hospital. On the fourth day I started to get better. It
took me a week to go to work. I remember I was dead on my feet for a
month.
TREACHEROUS BUSINESS TRIPS
Plattsburgh, as I said, was extremely cold and
snowy. All our W. T. Grant merchandising meetings were held
in Albany, New York. I used to hate the drive to Albany because the
show went on regardless of the type of weather. The road from Plattsburgh
to Albany was particularly hazardous in bad weather. It seemed like in
the winter I would always catch snow or sleet on the way back to
Plattsburgh. I recall one meeting that was held in Massena, New York.
It was a dress meeting whereby we would order all the initial plan of
dresses for the season and place tentative orders for the remainder of the
season. There was really no choice of not going. The morning of the show,
I was to leave around 6:00 a.m., pick up the department managers, and
go to Massena. It had snowed all night and continued to snow when I
left. Almost nobody was on the road. There were many stretches
where I literally had to plow through the snow. I made it there about 30
minutes late. They had not started yet because others were late also.
However, all the store managers and department managers showed up and the
show went on. That night the process was repeated on the way home.
The W. T. Grant store was about 30,000 counter feet, a
small basic store. I completely relayed the store, added new fixtures,
and modernized it. It also had a pet department. I remember
one fall we had a bunch of field mice get into the store. We captured
them, caged them, and they had babies. We sold the babies. That was
a standing joke in the store. I had an assistant manager named Blynn
Reynolds. He was local and did a good job. The credit manager was a lady
by the name of Polly. She had an MG car which was the talk of
the store. She also lived in a mobile home and her water pipes would
always freeze, therefore, coming in late. There was a sporting goods
store next door and was owned by a private couple. They were real
sky enthusiasts. They were very helpful to me. Interestingly, at
the end of the shopping center was a store called McRory’s, similar to a
Kresges. Even though we were competitors, we were really good friends.
Funny, how I would remember these things.
PLATTSBURGH VACATIONS
While in Plattsburgh, we took several trips, some on the
way to or on the way back from Connecticut. We visited Howe Caverns outside of
Albany, Ausable Chasm several times
where there were animals etc., and North Pole as well as going through the
Adirondacks.
DENNIS HINE AND CINDY KAVANAUGH’S WEDDING
We were still in Plattsburgh for 1967. That was the year
that Dennis
Hine (brother of Phyllis Hine-Baumann) and Cindy
Kavanaugh were married so that was another trip to Connecticut. Also,
on another trip to Connecticut we stopped off at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont that
had spinning, weaving, 18th century displays and animals.
The trip to Connecticut from New York was a long one,
almost 500 miles. I never relished the drive. The road from
Plattsburgh to Albany was a designated scenic drive. It was very pretty
in the summer, spring and fall. Winter was something else.
Another remembrance is story-reading time in
Plattsburgh on the blue easy chair. You would sit on one side of the
armchair and Mike would sit on the other. I was on the chair and I
would read stories to you and Mike.
We also visited the World’s Fair in Montreal.
JULIUS AND THERESA BAUMANN’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY
We also were there in 1968. That was the year that
your grandparents (Baumann) had their 40th anniversary. I have
pictures of it but I can't remember the name of the restaurant where we
celebrated. For the occasion we bought you a beautiful blue dress at a
dress store. It had a sash on one side at the top. You looked real
cute in that dress. I sent you a picture of you in that dress. That
anniversary went well and a trip for pictures at the Rose Garden in Hartford
went well. Unfortunately, Jules and Trudy gave a hot dog and hamburger
barbeque at their house in Plainville,
Connecticut. You had hot dog I believe with mustard. The mustard went
on your dress and that was the end of that dress.
TROY, NEW YORK GRANT CITY
In late 1968 I was transferred to The Troy, New York
Grant City. I will cover that later.
THERESA BAUMANN’S SIBLINGS
Your grandmother’s sister's name was Susie. She was
married to a man by the name of Smitty. Not sure if that was the first or
last name. Both Susie and her husband were alcoholics. Her brother
was Joe Piller. Joe's wife's name was Rose. Joe and she were
alcoholics. They had a son named Richard who was asthmatic and afraid of
everything. When I was 16 to 17, I also drank a lot on the weekends and
hung around with a group of guys that were drinkers. They never amounted
to much. Anyway, during that period your grandmother was afraid I
was going to be an alcoholic. I guess I caused her a lot of grief in that
regard.
GREAT-GRANDMOTHER PILLER; RICHARD
I am trying hard to remember the streets. On
Cornwall Avenue, right after the railroad tracks, was a street going to the
left. I can't remember the name. It is the road that your great-grandmother
lived on. Warren Street is the street
that Bertha Dant and the Devylders lived on. They had a lot of
greenhouses there. Your great-grandmother and great-grandfather lived in
an old house. It had a big barn-like construction attached in the
back of the house. Your great-grandfather was not overly intelligent and
all fell on your great-grandmother’s shoulders. I remember in the
summer he would accomplish nothing in his spare time except walk around the
porch killing flies. They had an enclosed well about 20 feet from
the house and the water was really good. One thing that I remember well
is that my grandmother made fantastic, what she called in German, “krapfen” but
were really a form of jelly doughnut. She would make the dough from
scratch and had a big pot of oil. She would drop the dough in the oil and
fry it. After they cooled, she would stuff them with jelly and sugarcoat
them. Maybe that is one of the reasons that I was always pudgy when
young. On one occasion, she was standing on some sort of stool in the
barn-like construction to get something and fell, caught her wrist on a nail
and ripped it open. I don't remember how we found her or how it was fixed
but I do know it was pretty bad. She was a good woman and would give
anyone the shirt off her back. In fact she was too good. Her son
Joe and daughter Susie both became alcoholics. Joe had a son named
Richard that they did not care for. He was extremely asthmatic and
was afraid of everything. My grandmother took him in and cared for him
until she died. It is interesting because when she went to Hungary with
the kids to visit her parents, when she left, she left your grandmother to be
cared for by her parents until she was 16. Your grandmother probably
would have been an alcoholic also if her grandparents had not raised her.
Anyway, she had a good friend there by the name of Holzhauer, and I
recall your grandparents sending care packages to them during the war.
Your great-grandmother developed an illness, can't remember what, and she
had to go to the hospital. I remember she was so concerned of what would
happen to Richard. She said she would not leave the hospital. She
left detailed notes for your grandmother of what to do. In fact, Jules,
Liz, Terry, and I went to visit her in the hospital after the operation.
She seemed fine and was happy to see us. When we got home from
Waterbury, your grandmother was on the phone, talking to the hospital.
Your great-grandmother had passed away of a pulmonary embolism, exactly the
same thing that your grandmother died of.
JULIUS BAUMANN’S GRANDFATHER
Your Great-Great grandfather lived very poorly. He
lived with a stepfather that was very mean and did not want him to go to
school. When your Great-Great grandfather was young he wanted to go to
school but he had no shoes. He wanted to go to school so badly that he
put rags on his feet and snuck off to school anyway. When he
got home, he was beaten by his stepfather. In spite of this he became
educated and became a burgomaster (teacher). His stepfather's last name
was Drauch. When he was 19-years-old he defied his stepfather and told
him not to bother him anymore but that did no good. When he was 24 and
already married to your Great-Great grandmother, he was going to plow the
fields. He hitched the horses to the wagon. His stepfather saw this
and told him he could not use the horses or the wagon and to unhitch them.
Your Great-Great grandfather grabbed his stepfather and threw his
stepfather into the manure pile and told him not to touch or harass him
anymore. Your grandfather could not remember much of his grandmother
since she died three years before he was born. Your grandfather (Julius
Baumann) was born May 17th, 1905 and his mother died in 1902.
Her last name was Mier. Your grandfathers sister, Resi Dant, was
the second oldest in the family. It was custom as the kids grew and if
there was a large family that the oldest would take care of the youngest.
When he was in the United States, she told him this story and said she was
sorry since he was the only brother she had here. She remembered when
your grandfather was born. His mother straddled a large pan to give
birth. There was water in the pan. Resi Dant and a midwife were
there. When his mother gave birth, he dropped into the pan of water.
Because there were so many children that she had to help her mother with,
she did not want another child to care for. She told the midwife to leave
him to drown in the water (your grandfather was the second to the youngest of
11 children and she was disgruntled that another child was coming into the
family). Of course, that did not happen and here we all are today.
There were only two boys in the family, your grandfather
and my uncle named Bepple (Joseph). Your great-great grandfather was a
shoemaker. In those days, there was no shoe store and shoes were
custom-made for each individual. His last name was Drauch. Julius
Baumann’s sister immigrated to the USA, Allentown, Pennsylvania. She died
of tuberculosis and is buried in Allentown. Stilli Dant, the oldest
sister, married a John Drauch (John Uncle). They had two boys, Johnny and
Herman, which you knew. Resi Dant's first marriage was to a Drauch and
they had a daughter named Mary (Griffin). Resi Dant’s first husband died
in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
E-MAIL JUNE 17, 2013 FROM JOSEPH BAUMANN
Sherry,
You put in a piece on the Griffins. The husband was Christopher and wife was Mary. Mary was Resi Dant’s daughter. The Griffin's had four children, Margie lives in Denver, Colorado, Steven lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Christine lives in Florida and Madeline, who lived in Tucson, Arizona. Madeline passed away of pancreatic cancer last week. She was in her 60’s, I believe.
You put in a piece on the Griffins. The husband was Christopher and wife was Mary. Mary was Resi Dant’s daughter. The Griffin's had four children, Margie lives in Denver, Colorado, Steven lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Christine lives in Florida and Madeline, who lived in Tucson, Arizona. Madeline passed away of pancreatic cancer last week. She was in her 60’s, I believe.
Love, Dad
E-mail from Trudy Baumann 01/21/2013: After, Resi Tant
responded to an ad from a Mr. Pelzer who had lost his wife. He had a son
named Frankie Pelzer. I will have to ask Bertha Maddaloni if that is why
Bertha and Frank Uncle came to CT. When Opa came, Resi and Bertha
already lived in Waterbury.
ELIZABETH BAYER (LIZ)
Liz did not have children. Carla Vernale was always
at her house and was sort of her proxy daughter. When Liz worked at the travel
agency, she traveled a lot and took Carla with her when she could.
KARL UNCLE
Uncle Karl, we called him Karl Uncle, the German way, was
Terry and Liz’s father. Karl Uncle's last name was Bayer. He passed
away when your mom and I were at Fort Rucker, Alabama, shortly after we were
married. I am not sure how he and Gisi Dant (wife) met. Karl Uncle
worked for International
Silver in Meriden, Connecticut. He passed away in 1960. The
thinking was that it was toxic poisoning from bad teeth.
|
Name:
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Karl J Bayer
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|
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Death Date:
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8 May 1960
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|
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Death Place:
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Waterbury, New Haven, Connecticut
|
|
|
Age:
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54 Years
|
|
|
Birth Date:
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abt 1906
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|
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Marital Status:
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Married
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|
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Spouse:
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Gise
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|
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State File #:
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09935
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Residence :
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Cheshire, New Haven, Connecticut
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Gender:
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Male
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Race:
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White
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BEMIS’
The Bemis’ lived across the swamp from us. The swamp
is where the pipeline is and where there were oodles of snakes. Jules, I
Roger, Robert and I used to play there although I never liked it. It
is also where our smoke house was. They used to have a truck produce farm
but actually they did all the plowing with a big horse called Benito. Mr.
and Mrs. Bemis probably died before you were born (1963). They had a
daughter and two sons. The daughter's name was Molly. She
moved to Philadelphia, PA, and your grandma and grandpa used to communicate
with her. The son's was names were Fred and Joe. Joe lived across
the street from Terry Vernale (Bayer). Fred Bemis lived in the old
homestead across the swamp from us until he married Mr. and Mrs. Alden’s
daughter, Priscilla, and they had two daughters. They visited us often.
The Alden's lived across the street from us. They used to own/run
the variety store on Main Street in Cheshire. Anyway, there was a
big fire in the complex and his store burned down. They then opened a gift
store across the street from Strollo's gas station.
Email from Sherry Brink (Baumann) to Joseph Baumann:
From:
Sherry Brink
To: Joseph Baumann
Subject: Bemis
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:26:27 -0500
To: Joseph Baumann
Subject: Bemis
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2013 21:26:27 -0500
Why
was the Bemis’ home called the “old homestead?”
I am not sure. I think they were there before your
grandparents bought the house in Cheshire.
Dad
Dad
_________________________________________
LICE!
When I was around 12 I used to go the Bemis's house every
so often. If you remember they were the truck farmers, but used a big old
white horse named Benito who lived across the swamp from us to plow the fields
etc. They were friendly people. One time when I visited it was
onion shucking time, (taking excess peels of the onions before going to market).
The shucking was done in a three-sided barn with an open front. It
was a cold fall day and I was wearing a sweatshirt. The way it worked was
that they had a rectangular box with wood on all sides, about three feet by
three feet. The bottom had what was like chicken wire and the top was
open. It sat on top of two 2X4s. To shuck the onions one would
fill the rectangular box with onions and then push the box back and forth
rapidly. This would cause the unnecessary dried onion leaves to come off.
The onions were taken out and crated and the leaves were discarded.
Oh, by the way did I forget to tell you that as we made wine, the Bemis'
made hard cider that we would, of course, sample when we were there.
Well, we shucked onions all day. I guess I must have appeared cold
so Mr. Bemis said to put on this old leather, sheepskin jacket that
was hanging on the barn wall. When supper rolled around, he
invited me inside the house to have supper. I remember he made
pan-fried steak and potatoes on a coal stove. It was exceptionally
delicious and I still remember that. Of course, my favorite food at
that time was steak. So, here is the punch line, when I got home I must have
been scratching my head, so you grandmother inspected my hair. Would you
believe, lice, from the jacket! Your grandmother was so upset, but in
those days, neighbors were neighbors, and they helped each other, and retained
friendships. I do not think she said anything to them. I do
remember my mother washing my hair, buying some stuff, and putting it in
my hair for several days.
FRED BEMIS AND HIS UNFORTUNATE DEATH
Fred used to take me to some place in Waterbury and
taught me how shoot a rifle. He loaned his rifle to me. We used to
go target practicing once a week. Fred also had a private pilot's
license and belonged to the Civil Air Patrol.
Fred was a really nice person.
Unfortunately, later, when his kids were around 10 or so he became very
depressed. Nobody seemed to be able to help him. He became so
depressed that he committed suicide in the basement of their house.
Priscilla and the kids were there and she tried to call down and stop him but
he told her not to come down. She called her father who rushed right
over but it was too late. I guess I am getting off track.
VINCENT MADDALONI, FIRST TOWN POLICEMAN
I don't know if you know or not but Vincent Maddaloni was the
first town policeman. I was a member of the auxiliary police department
and used to ride with him at night, when possible, in the summer.
Reference, my time as an auxiliary policeman, there was one event that was
particularly noteworthy. Cheshire has a reformatory (or at least had) and
one day there was a breakout. Several inmates escaped. The
Auxiliary was called out. We had a 1950+ Chevrolet pickup. I was
supposed to meet Vinny and, on the way to meet him, a car coming in the
opposite direction was too far over on the road. I had to pull in the
sand shoulder and break which spun the truck and smashed the right front
fender. It cost me $328.00 to fix. Anyway, I finally met Vinny and
he had me check out a patrol car and set up a checkpoint at a location
where the escapees supposedly were heading. I did that. I used
Freddy Bemis's handgun when I went out until I got one myself. It was a
45-caliber magnum with hollow point shells which if I fired on a person it
would blow a really big hole in them. Luckily the inmates changed
direction and never came out where I was. So the point of all this is,
some of the crazy things I did. First I had paid $328.00 to fix the truck
and secondly, if the escapees came out where I was and I fired on them, I would
probably be in prison for killing them. I wonder sometimes how things
happen for the better or the worse.
Bertha (Vincent’s wife) used to help me with Latin in
high school.
WEISS HOMESTEAD
If you were looking at the front of the house where the
grape arbors were, to the right of the house was your grandmother’s garden.
Jules converted it to lawn later on. Anyway, if you were standing in the
garden, the house would be on your right and the house that was on the
left was the old Weise Homestead. They had all the land
that became used for the houses Crowe built. It was a chicken farm.
They sold to the Neumann’s from, I think, NJ. They did not farm the
land. They had a little girl named Nancy, about three-years-old at the
time. She would always walk over to our house, I think because she knew
she would get some sweets from your grandmother. She was a
precocious little girl. She would go down to the chicken brooder
houses. We used to buy 1,000 chicks at a time and raise them.
Many times she would take off all her clothes, I don't know why. This included
in the winter time. We would discover her walking around with no
clothes. She is lucky she did not get very sick. One time we came
back from church, in the winter, and she opened the chute doors and
all the chicks were outside. That is serious because we had to keep a
stove in the houses to keep them warm. We had three brooder houses.
I can't remember how many chicks in in each house. I do know that
the old chicken coop had all the old chickens, probably about 1,000. The
new chicken coop had the young chickens after they progressed from the brooder,
probably about 1000.
The house, where the cellar door is, the screened porch
was on the left. The garden was on the right. It is not where the
Willow tree was but where the Red Maple was. There is a picture that shows
you as a little girl (Sherry) with your Grandma Baumann and, I think, Grandma
Hine, with theirs backs to the side of the house I am referring too. If
you stood there with your back to the house you would look across at what was
the garden at the Crowe’s house. The ownership was Weise, then Newman’s,
then Crowe’s, and then Shanahan.
I guess I got sidetracked here. The Neumann’s sold
to the Crowe’s. The Crowe’s, Mary and Bill, had a contracting business
and they built all the houses on Cornwall Avenue and Oak Avenue
after our house, but not across the street. Bill was an alcoholic.
He used to come over, have one beer, and be drunk. Your grandmother was
so mad. Her brother and sister were alcoholics. In addition, if he
had to pee he would pee all over the floor in the bathroom. Nonetheless,
they were good friends. When all the houses were built, there was a
parcel of land left which we purchased. It is the land where the cows
grazed when they were not on Mountain Road and the new chicken
houses were built. Crowe built them for us also. The Crowe’s
had a vacation cottage in Maine next to a lake. Several times we would go
there with Mary Crowe and go fishing. This was the period about late
1940’s and early 1950’s.
I believe our land on Mountain Road was 14
acres. I do not remember who your grandfather purchased it
from. It was at the foot of a not very large mountain and woods. It
was adjacent to Gisi Dant's property. There was a spring up there that
fed the Bayer's well. Elizabeth, Terry, Jules, Roger and Robert,
Doris and Jean Deschesnes would hike up the mountain and catch the
Blue Ridge Trail and hike about 10 miles. We had a good time doing
that. The cows were walked to this property in the spring and the walked
back to the farm property in the fall, about two miles. The spring was
always nice but the fall was sometimes not so nice. We would put a chain
around their horns, why I don't know because they just followed along. I
recall one time there was an icy rain. I was drenched and so cold.
We would go there in the a.m. and p.m. to milk the cows and feed them
grain. I particularly remember the horseflies. To me they were
pretty large and when they bit to suck your blood it left an itchy red mark.
There were always lots of them swarming around the cows. We were not worried
about pesticides then, and before we sat down to milk the cows we sprayed them
with pesticide to repel the horseflies. It did a fair job. In
addition, the cows would constantly swish their tails which helped to keep
them off.
CHILDHOOD PLAY MEMORIES
On a number of occasions we would all go down to the pond
just before the railroad tracks to play. I remember I was always the last
one because I had my tricycle and they had two-wheelers. One time, we
went into the water to swim. I don't know about the rest of the gang, but
when I came out of the water, I had blood suckers all over my body.
Pulling them off was no picnic. Another time, Liz, Terry, Jules and I
went into the woods across the street from our house. Remember, that
was all woods then, no houses. We decided to build a fire which, of
course, was not too smart because the whole woods could have burned.
We put the fire out and all agreed that we would not tell our parents (the
Bayers and the Baumanns). Unfortunately, Liz squealed to Gisi Dant; I
don't know why. We all got in trouble. We still tease Liz
about squealing to this day. I also learned from Jules, just
recently, that I was also the last one to get to Gisi Dant's house on my
tricycle when we went to visit them. Jules told me he, Liz and Terry
would go up to the woods behind their house and hide from me. When I got
there, Gisi Dant would tell me she did not know where they went.
Jules told me he did that because he would get mad at me because when we played
ball that I would not make any big effort to catch the ball. I never
remembered this until he told me. You have a picture of Jules, Terry and
I just before we went on a fishing excursion to the canal by the railroad
tracks. We did this often. We would catch really big fish, about
three-incher’s, Yellow Perch; not even worth cooking, but it was fun.
Unlike most kids, we had a huge playground that not only
encompassed our houses and land but also the woods, railroad tracks, canal,
pond, mountain, etc. that was at least a five-mile square area. Our
friends were a fairly insular group, Terry, Liz, Roger, Robert, Doris, and
Jean. We even celebrated holidays together. I specifically
remember one Memorial Day. We were going to play ball at a field and then
have a picnic. While we were playing ball, I was sitting behind the
catcher, unfortunately, with my legs spread open. I don't recall who
made the pitch but the ball came in low and rolled into my crotch. I
can't recall such pain. Everybody laughed and thought it was funny.
I also remember all of us getting together to go Hartford to see a Joan Baez concert in the
1960s. It was a big thing because that was not done often.
We had a basketball hoop behind the barn and
the Deschesnes, and Terry and Liz would come over and we would shoot
hoops. Jules (Baumann) says that the manure pile was to the left of the
basketball hoop. It had a wooden backboard and the pole was a sawed
off telephone pole left by the telephone company. Often, the ball
would end up in the manure pile, interrupting the game.
In football season we would play football in the field.
So we mostly made our own entertainment when we were not doing our
assigned chores. Our parents, the Deschesnes and the Bayer’s would
also socialize. Their socialization usually involved their organizations.
The Cheshire
Grange was a big thing. Your grandmother was very active and had a
title but I do not know what it was. Every so often they would put on a
big meal (I think it was a fund raiser) and your grandmother and Gisi Dant had
a large part in it. I think they did a lot of the cooking of the main
course. A lot of grange people brought potluck dishes. When the
event took place a lot of the townsfolk would come. I remember the main
hall was set up in long tables and they were usually filled for the entire
period. I know that I, Terry, and Liz were conscripted in serving.
A large part of the town showed up for the meal. We were also conscripted
into clean-up, etc. One has to remember that at that time Cheshire was a
small town and almost everybody knew each other.
STRAWBERRY PICKING
In the month of May and June (strawberry harvest time), grammar school kids were conscripted (volunteering) by one of the Cheshire farmers. I don't know how the school was involved but they must have sanctioned it. All the kids who wanted to pick berries met at the side of Humiston School after school let out, probably 2:00-3:00 p.m. The farmer would come with his open stake body truck and the kids would pile in. The lure was a whopping 5 cents a pint pay and all you can eat berries. Of course, if you ate too much you did not earn much. We would arrive at the field in about 30 minutes, probably about 10 miles from the school. We would descend on the rows of berries and start picking. It was hot and dusty work and hard on the knees. Today’s migrant workers had nothing on us kids. Jules and I and the Deschesnes, and maybe Terry and Liz went. It would not be allowed today. First, the kids could have fallen out of the truck bed on the highway (safety) and the kids had no rights, which is against child labor laws. I can't even remember if they had a toilet. At about 6:00 p.m. we would pile into the truck and be brought back to the school. Sometimes we would get picked up at the school and at other times we walked home. We would make around $10.00 a week.
In the month of May and June (strawberry harvest time), grammar school kids were conscripted (volunteering) by one of the Cheshire farmers. I don't know how the school was involved but they must have sanctioned it. All the kids who wanted to pick berries met at the side of Humiston School after school let out, probably 2:00-3:00 p.m. The farmer would come with his open stake body truck and the kids would pile in. The lure was a whopping 5 cents a pint pay and all you can eat berries. Of course, if you ate too much you did not earn much. We would arrive at the field in about 30 minutes, probably about 10 miles from the school. We would descend on the rows of berries and start picking. It was hot and dusty work and hard on the knees. Today’s migrant workers had nothing on us kids. Jules and I and the Deschesnes, and maybe Terry and Liz went. It would not be allowed today. First, the kids could have fallen out of the truck bed on the highway (safety) and the kids had no rights, which is against child labor laws. I can't even remember if they had a toilet. At about 6:00 p.m. we would pile into the truck and be brought back to the school. Sometimes we would get picked up at the school and at other times we walked home. We would make around $10.00 a week.
THE DESCHESNES
Cornwall Avenue in the old days only had a few houses on
it. Once you hit the railroad tracks, there was the Bemis’, us,
Doolittle’s, Deschesnes, and Dane’s. Another little tidbit is that if you
lived below the railroad tracks as we did, you were considered “lesser-than”
compared to the people who lived uptown. Anyway, when we were kids, the
only other kids were the Deschesnes. There were five, Doris the
oldest, Roger, {
|
Name:
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Roger J Deschesnes
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|
Birth Year:
|
abt 1934
|
|
Residence:
|
Cheshire, New Haven, Connecticut
|
|
Age:
|
27
|
|
Race:
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White
|
|
Death:
|
First half of 2013
|
|
---------------------
|
|
|
Spouse:
|
Glenda T Birmingham
|
|
Spouse Residence:
|
Cheshire, New Haven, Connecticut
|
|
Spouse Age:
|
21
|
|
Spouse Race:
|
White
|
|
Marriage Date:
|
4 Jul 1961
|
|
Place of Marriage:
|
Cheshire, New Haven
|
|
Note:
|
officiator Roman Catholic Priest
Ancestry.com}
|
who was Jules’ age, Robert who was my age, then
Jean and then another little girl; I can't recall her name now. The
Deschesnes’ father's name was Oscar. His mother’s name was
Simone. Oscar died of stomach cancer. Don't know about Simone.
We used to play together all the time as well as with Liz
and Terry Vernale. I used to chum around with Robert, however, we all did
things together. The Deschesnes got a toboggan one year. We were
told not to go down a specific hill and, of course, we did. The little
girl sat in front. Unfortunately, we lost control and ran into a fence
post. The little girl had a wrenched back. I think we got into trouble
for that. I was Robert’s best man at his wedding. The Deschesnes
had a farm as well. They had a couple cows, Jersey's. I remember
the milk was loaded with cream. They had a big Farmall tractor. As kids, Robert and I
would drive the tractor all around. We used to see what we could do
with the tractor. Robert was into fixing up cars and he and I would
drive through the woods and smash into trees. Never bent the hard steel
bumper those cars had in those days. They also had a .22 caliber rifle
and we used to shoot woodchucks on their land. One time I did not close
the chamber all the way and the rifle backfired. I recall, my ears
rang for a day and I had powder burns on my nose. Late in life, we sort
of went somewhat different paths because I went to Sacred Heart High School and
he went to Cheshire High School. We did remain friends. Luckily,
since we went to different schools, we were not always together. I recall
on one occasion Vinny coming to the house and asking if I was with Robert on a
specific night. I was not, which was lucky for me because Robert and
several other guys took another kid after school and beat him up.
He was charged and the case went to trial. Robert received probation.
Roger now lives in Georgia and remains friends. Doris lives
in Cheshire and Liz and she get together sometimes. I am not
sure where the two girls are but Robert has disappeared from the face of
the map.
E-MAIL
FROM JOSEPH BAUMANN 06.17.2013
Roger
Deschesnes - He was Jules's best friend and lived in Georgia. He apparently changed his last name to
Deschayne or something like that. He
passed away about a month ago. His wife's name was Glenda.
COW’S STOMACH BLOWING UP
When we cleaned the coops on the Mountain
Road property, we used to take the chicken manure and spread it on the
field. The reason for this is that every so often Harry Nichols would
plow and harrow the field and we would plant clover and alfalfa mix. We
had a device that strapped to your chest. The top was open. It had a
handle that turned on the side. The seed would drop down and turning the
handle would cause the seed to spread on the ground. Viola, a short time
later seed would germinate and the grass would grow. Of course, this was
great for the cows, nutritious food and for us good milk. As an aside,
are you aware that a cow has seven stomachs? That is why the cow chews its cud.
What happens is the food is regurgitated, the cow chews it again and it
goes to the next stomach. The cow chews its cud when it is lying down.
Unfortunately, if the cow eats too much fresh wet clover, the stomach blows up.
The cow will die if it is not attended too. This happened to us once on
the Cornwall Avenue property. We had to call the vet. He takes a round cylindrical device
(cannulation), sort of like a tube and punches it into the stomach, which
releases all the gas. One does not want to be in front of the hole
because the smell is ghastly but it does the job. I guess I am off track
here. The issue with spreading the manure is that if the wind changed
suddenly I found myself with a face and body full of dried
chicken manure. Not too pleasant. Years later, we would just
haul it to the property and pile it at the tree edge of the mountain.
At the end, we had huge piles that turned into rich loam. In the beginning, we had an old truck, not sure
of the brand, probably a Ford, that had a manual spark and choke control.
It had a metal foot pad for the gas. I learned to drive on
this first truck. I sent you an old picture that showed
your grandfather with a load of hay, which is what the truck looked
like. I remember the first time I drove I drove through part of the
fence.
COPPERHEAD SNAKES
Since part of the property was mountain there were a lot of Copperhead snakes and one needed to be always be alert. I don't recall seeing many but the Bayer’s property was adjacent to ours and the mountain and Terry Vernale states she saw many Copperheads both on their land and when we walked the mountain trail. I also know that Karl Uncle killed several on their land and one was in their barn when he went to milk the cow they had.
Since part of the property was mountain there were a lot of Copperhead snakes and one needed to be always be alert. I don't recall seeing many but the Bayer’s property was adjacent to ours and the mountain and Terry Vernale states she saw many Copperheads both on their land and when we walked the mountain trail. I also know that Karl Uncle killed several on their land and one was in their barn when he went to milk the cow they had.
GRADE SCHOOL
Jules and I, Roger, Robert, Doris, and Jean Deschesnes,
Carol Harnet and her sister, Joon, used to walk to and from grade school
every day except during strawberry picking time. It was approximately one
mile. We used to cut through the Bemis’ vegetable field and then across
Cornwall Avenue into the Devylder vegetable fields and then up to the
school. On the walks from school, we used to talk and do a lot of
things. Two of the things I remember most were one time we had a
small disagreement and Carol threw her lunchbox. Unfortunately, I
happened to be in the way of the box and that is how my two front teeth were
chipped and broken. Your grandmother was really upset when I got
home. On another occasion we rearranged the empty wooden crates the
Bemis’ used to pack lettuce. We created a hollowed-out inside to set up a
fort. Again, unfortunately, we did not do a good job of building and the
walls caved in on us. Nobody was really hurt but I still remember the walls
coming down. I think old Mr. Bemis was not too happy either.
[From Elizabeth Miller, Terry Vernale’s sister – “Don’t
forget Raymond and Robert Coen –the bad boys-, Eleanor the older sister and
Margaret the youngest. Also, John and
Robert Quigley (horse riders).]
SLAUGHTERING
The land that extends beyond the barn and ends with the
old chicken house was the land that your grandparents purchased from Bill and
Mary Crowe. I remember the decision to buy or not to buy was agonizing
for them and there was a lot of discussion. That is where we kept
chickens free range for a while. That is also where we kept the dog
Duckey tied up to scare away foxes etc. to protect the chickens. We also
raised broilers and capons there. The old parcel just beyond the barn was
used to house the pigs. There was a pig house there at the edge of the
property. There was also a shed halfway from the house and the pig
house. That is where we dressed down the pigs. We butchered the
pigs just outside the barn but not in the barn. I remember Uncle
Karl (Bayer) used to help us. We would catch the blood to make blood
sausage. Then the pig was put in a drum of scalding water and then pulled
out and the hair scraped off. It was then pulled up (hung) on a chain I
think, and gutted. What baffles me to this day is that your
grandparents cut on the meat in the screened porch and yet it did not
spoil. It would stay there all winter and would freeze. My mother would
grind some of the meat and make all kinds of sausage. It was maybe
more like somewhat raw liver. I never liked it.
We also killed the chickens behind the barn.
They would also go in scalding water after being bled and the feathers pulled
off. The beef cattle were butchered by some man. My brother and I
tore down the shed. Jules used the hatchet on the roof, banging
upward. He made a wrong swing and bashed his head with the hatchet.
The cement pad was still there when you visited.
FOODS WE ATE - All made from scratch:
Breakfast:
Pfannkuchen - Thin crepes with cheese, jelly, powdered
sugar etc.
Pancakes
Eggs and bacon
Sometimes apple pie
Sometimes strudel
Sometimes sweets
Lunch
Boiled ham, cheese, pickles, bread, tuna, egg salad etc.
Supper
Hungarian Goulash
Chicken Liver and onions in a lot of fat
Krautnudeln - About 1/2 in
square pieces of thick noodles with onions cooked in fat
Paprika Hendl - Paprika
soup with chicken
Bean and noodle soup
Apple, cheese and kraut strudel
Backhuhn - Breaded chicken oven fried
Oven fried potatoes
Steak, veal, pork chops, roast pork shoulder
Lots of chicken made always
Sour egg and noodle soup
Beef roll ups
Desserts
Sugar Cookies
Swedish cookies Apple Pie
Strudel
Nut kipferl
Lemon song pie
Custard and custard pie
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY!
Terry Liz, Jules and I were together a lot. They
were more like sisters than cousins. Your grandparents, Gisi Dant and
Karl Uncle used to go every so often to the German Hall in New Britain, CT, to eat drink and be merry. At
first your great grandmother took care of the four of us when they went, but
when we got older we would all go. Your grandparents loved to dance,
especially the polkas, which the band mostly played. I remember that the
hall had long tables with a dance floor in the middle. The beer was served by
the pitcher. I do remember every so often there would be a toast,
"Eins, Zwei, Drei, G'Suffa." The phrase means "one, two, three,
drink!" I am not sure of the spelling. I don't remember if we
kids danced or not but we were allowed to have beer, not a lot. In
October, they had their annual Schlachtfest. The food was cafeteria
style. I still remember it because it was plentiful and so good. The meat
was pork shoulder, which when baked is a white meat like pork chops. It
was sliced for you as you went through the line. The potatoes were mashed
(real fresh, peeled and cooked potatoes) with gravy and Sauerkraut-Eintopf. I don't know how it
was cooked but it had a brownish color. It was how your grandmother
liked it. I can't remember what they had for dessert.
FANCY PASTRIES
At some point, around the late 1940s or early 1950s, a German/Swedish baker moved into town. He opened a tea shop with several tables for people. There was a big refrigerated glass case or it seemed to me. He made all kinds of fancy pastries with different kinds of dough. They were completely covered with special frostings and jellies with all kinds of fancy decorations. After church, we would stop into the tea shop and buy all kinds of pastries. It must have cost a pretty penny but I do not know how much. None the less, I remember coming home with the pastries. In the winter it was so cold, so the first thing we would do when in the house is put the pastries down and stand on the big furnace grate. It was about four feet in diameter and circular. The heat from the fire below would warm us all up. At that time there was no other heating source in the house. Then your grandmother would make coffee and we would all sit at the circular kitchen table and enjoy the pastries. I guess that was our weekly treat. After that we would read the Sunday paper, of course Jules and I would read the funnies. I seem to recall we always argued who would get what funny section.
At some point, around the late 1940s or early 1950s, a German/Swedish baker moved into town. He opened a tea shop with several tables for people. There was a big refrigerated glass case or it seemed to me. He made all kinds of fancy pastries with different kinds of dough. They were completely covered with special frostings and jellies with all kinds of fancy decorations. After church, we would stop into the tea shop and buy all kinds of pastries. It must have cost a pretty penny but I do not know how much. None the less, I remember coming home with the pastries. In the winter it was so cold, so the first thing we would do when in the house is put the pastries down and stand on the big furnace grate. It was about four feet in diameter and circular. The heat from the fire below would warm us all up. At that time there was no other heating source in the house. Then your grandmother would make coffee and we would all sit at the circular kitchen table and enjoy the pastries. I guess that was our weekly treat. After that we would read the Sunday paper, of course Jules and I would read the funnies. I seem to recall we always argued who would get what funny section.
LIMITED HEAT IN NORTHERN WINTER
There was only one furnace and that was the central coal
furnace. After the wood was burned, we then burned coal. I remember
when the coal was delivered it was just chuted down the cellar door and then it
was recarted to the back of the cellar where the freezer and recreation room
was. Your grandfather usually stoked the furnace day and night. The
ashes were put on the driveway. There was only one heater
downstairs. When it went out, which was every time the wind blew hard,
there was no heat.
COW BARN
If you look at the pictures I sent, you will see a
picture of the cow barn and the stations as well as a picture of the
chicken coop. The cows were kept in the cow barn in the winter in
the stations. There was a trough behind where they stood where the cow
flops dropped and as well as the urine. The cows slept on straw.
They ate hay with molasses, and mash. We would let them out on a nice day
but it was dicey because if they fell they could break a leg.
When they were let out they would frolic in the snow but after about
a half hour they were ready to come back in.
There was no garage. The “garage” was a barn.
There were stairs which was the hay section. It led to the lower floor
where the cows were in one section and the chickens in another. The pigs
were hung opposite the shed that was torn down. You would have only seen
the concrete slab (that was not demolished). I am not sure what
ultimately happened to the shed after your grandparents stopped having
chickens. Maybe Jules (brother to Joseph) would know.
___________________________________________________________________
E-MAIL REGARDING BROODER HOUSES WOOD
[I think the wood you have is from the brooder
houses. In the tape your grandfather states that he tore them apart.
I know he had wood stored in one of the old chicken coops.
Dad
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 08:57:01 -0500
Subject: I am not sure what ultimately happened to the
shed after your grandparents stopped having chickens. Maybe Jules (brother to
Joseph) would know.
From: Michael Baumann
To: joebaumann
I have some of that wood, I believe, or it might be from
a brooder house?]
__________________________________________________________________
You could smell molasses in the barn long after there
were no more cows. We used to feed the cows molasses in the winter on the
hay and it would penetrate the wood. I also shot a skunk in there but I
doubt that you would still smell that. I will send you a diagram,
hopefully tomorrow.
BECOMING A DAIRY FARMER
About the late 1940's I decided that I wanted to become a
dairy farmer. I got a $200.00 loan to buy a purebred Guernsey heifer from
the radio station WTIC. Bob Steele
was the commentator. It was a program for 4H kids, which I belonged to.
The loan had to be paid back in two years and you had to keep detailed
records of cost and milk production. Her name was 8 Bells Holly. I
had her bred and she had a calf. She was in a section by herself with the
calf. I was the only one she would let in the section. When she was
outside with the calf she even chased after your grandfather. The bottom
line of all of this is that once she started milking I was up a 4:00 a.m. every
day with your grandfather milking cows. We brought the milk in and your
grandmother would bottle it or run it through the separator for skim milk and
cream. I think we bought the bottles and recycled them from the
people. She made butter from the cream. I used to sell the products
to the neighbors, which is how I paid for Holly. I also started working
at Cruess's Market Supermarket when I turned 16. So my day was up at 4:00
a.m., deliver at 5:00 a.m., eat breakfast and go the high school from 8:00 a.m.
to 12:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart, catch the bus to Cheshire, eat lunch at your
great-grandmother’s house, and the walk back to the supermarket at work to 6:00
p.m. Then, eat supper at home do the chores and finally study until about
midnight.
MILKING INCIDENTS
1. On one occasion when
your grandfather was milking the cows, a skunk came up and he did not notice
until too late. The skunk leaned against the pail and drank his supper
from the pail. Your grandfather just had to sit motionless until the
skunk decided to leave. What I don't know is how long it took and
if the milk was used.
2. On another occasion when I was milking a
cow, the cow moved its rear leg for some reason and stepped into the pail of
milk. I must have been pre-teen. I decided I would bring the milk
home and not tell your grandparents. When your grandmother got the milk
to put through the separator, she noticed there was a brown color and, of
course, I was in trouble. This time I know the milk was not used.
HARRY NICHOLS
Way back, when wood was burned, Harry Nichols would come
to cut the wood. Harry Nichols had several tractors and farm
implements. When we burned wood, he cut the wood for us. It was
usually cut in the back of the barn. He had a leather belt that attached
to the tractor flywheel on one end and a saw on the other. The logs would
be slid through the blade to cut them in chunks for burning. After he cut
them we would load them on the truck and bring them to house. We would
throw them down the cellar hatchway. One of us was down there moving
them to where they were stacked for the winter. That was an all-day
job. He also had a grass cutter that attached to the tractor. It
was about 6 feet long and he would go up and down the field mowing the
grass. It was always a guess when to do this hoping it would not
rain. We would use pitchforks to turn the grass to help the sun dry it.
Once dry, he would bring a huge rake that was towed behind the tractor and then
rake the grass/hay in to field rows to further dry. We would use long
wooden rakes to do the finish work to get every last bit of hay. The best hay
was that which dried green color. The key was to have it totally dry
before it was brought to the barn. Before Harry Nichols had the
baler we would bring the hay in by hand. We had an old truck with a
long bed. Your grandfather and either Jules or I would throw the hay
up to the truck with pitchforks. Whichever of us was not pitching the hay
was on the truck bed pulling the hay to the center and walking back and forth
on it to hold it in place. When we had a full load, we brought it to the
barn and unloaded in left side section of the barn, revering the procedure
to place it in the barn. On one occasion when I was very little and your
grandfather and Karl Uncle loaded the truck in the field on Mountain
Road. The hay was too wet and on the way to the barn it started
burning. They had to put it out with hoses. I am not sure if the
truck burned. The baled hay would ferment and get extremely hot, and
I mean very hot to the touch. The hay was compressed, so if it
wasn't dry enough yet there would be spontaneous combustion. Some of
the hay in the bale was dry and some damp, enough to start burning.
When Harry Nichols got a baler, we used to bale the hay. He used to run
the baler through the wind rows and the 50-75 pound bales would pop out the
back end. We would follow with the truck. One of us would
drive the truck, one would throw the bale on the truck and the other would
catch the bale on the truck and keep stacking them. When the truck was
loaded, we would unload and stack them in the barn. One time we baled too
prematurely and the hay got so hot that it
looked like it was going to burn we had to take every bale out of the barn bale
by bale to let it cool.
Your grandmother stayed at a boarding house at got her
citizenship papers. She then went to work as a cook at Mr. and Mrs. Mark Leavenworth Sperry of
2d of Woodbury, Connecticut. They were extremely nice to her. They
purchased her wedding gown for her. When your grandfather arrived in
this country, he first worked for the Waterbury Clock Shop. Anyway, he
left the clock company and went to work for Scovill Manufacturing Company.
Mr. Sperry was the President of
Scovill Manufacturing Company. Mr. Frederick Starkweather
Chase was your grandfather's supervisor's supervisor. It was the biggest
factory in Waterbury and was successful for some time. In the war
time they made a lot of shells and fuses for the war. Your
grandfather was a working supervisor in quality control in this section.
There was zero tolerance for error. Scovill, at some point, started
to go downhill. Your grandfather’s immediate boss was Harry Dunn.
He and his son both worked for Scovill. They used to come out to the
house and spend hours, or it seemed, drinking wine with your grandfather.
Then they would buy some eggs and sometimes a chicken. Your grandmother
hated them sitting downstairs drinking wine. Scovill, at some point,
started to go downhill. Anyway, when the time came that some people had
to be laid off, Harry Dunn laid off your grandfather and put his son in his
place.
The people at Scovill put on a big retirement party
for your grandfather when he left. It started right after the
shift was over. Your grandmother was also invited. Because it was
right after the shift your grandfather had not eaten anything. I
don't know if they had food there but I assume they did. I guess
your grandfather had all those people to talk too and you know
how he liked to talk. Well apparently he also had a lot to drink, I
guess an awful lot. When your grandparents arrived home your
grandfather was more than a little tipsy. You know how your grandmother
felt about liquor and she was not at all happy. In fact, I am
surprised she let him drive home. It was the only time I ever seen him
under the influence of alcohol in spite of all the wine in the cellar.
RESI (THERESA) DANT
Your grandfather lived with Resi (Theresa) Dant when
he came to this country. She was his sister. He rented a room
from her and she sponsored him. He lived there for about four
years. After your grandparents were married, he still lived with the
Resi Dant and your grandmother continued to cook for the Sperry’s.
Their wedding was at my grandmother’s house in Waterbury at the time.
They cooked all the food. Anyway, after they saved enough money,
they purchased the house in Cheshire for $3,000 from a person I think by the
name of Hollar. Your grandmother then left the Sperry's and your
grandfather left Resi Dant's house in Reidville (part of Waterbury) and they
moved to the house in Cheshire. They were married in 1928 and they
purchased the house in the Depression about 1932.
HOUSE BUYING, ALL IN THE FAMILY
I believe that your grandparents were closest to
Gisi Dant and Karl Uncle than all his other sisters. We spent a lot of
time together and Karl Uncle helped us a lot on the farm. You might be
interested to know that it is my understanding that when they purchased their
house on Mountain Road, your grandparents loaned them the $3,000.00 needed
to buy the house. As I understand it, there was no paperwork or mortgage.
When your grandfather came from Europe, I believe Resi Dant footed
the bill, again, no paperwork. All the loans were paid off as fast as
possible. The same happened with all the other sisters. It is interesting
that this happened then with no paperwork.
Anyway, the bottom line of this is that in about 1950 he
was laid off. It was at that point that it was decided to expand the
chicken farm. He also worked for the button company in Cheshire at the
same time. So, as I previously told you, the chores were split up between
Jules and I with your grandmother doing some things. It did not change
since your grandfather was always working at a factory. Saturdays were
the day that we all worked together on projects such as putting in fence poles,
putting up fences, cleaning chicken coops etc. Lunch was always at
12:00 noon and everything was organic, our own chicken, pork, beef,
vegetables. That was because the radio station had the farm
hour on. Bob Steele was the commentator. They would ramble off
news, commodity prices etc.
THERESA AND JULIUS BAUMANN’S PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
As you know, your grandfather loved to talk. When
he delivered eggs, he would always engage in a conversation with the
people. We were always supposed to eat supper at 4:00 p.m. Your
grandmother always had supper ready for that time. Many times your
grandfather came home later because of his love to talk. I know it
was that time because while your grandmother cooked the meal, she always
had the radio on, tuned to Stella Dallas, which was a
popular soap opera at the time. Remember, no TV. She used to
get so mad when he was late and then there was silence for the night. Your
grandfather would go out to work in the coops after supper, which made her even
madder, and would come in around 10:00pm. I remember he would take a
sponge bath (no shower then and baths were once a week) and go to bed with the
newspaper. Within seconds he would be snoring away with the paper over
his head. Even with that they still loved each other. I don't know
how Jules and I came along because their relationship was definitely not
sexual, rather more platonic. Your grandmother was very prudish, always covered
up. They always kissed good night and good morning. When spring
hit, your grandfather slept out on the porch and did not move back in till late
fall. They both were very religious. We went to church every
Sunday, Good Friday's, all Easter services and all Lenten services. I
remember that we were always rushed. Your grandfather would come into the
house the last minute before leaving. Your grandmother would have all his
clothes, suit, tie, socks, shoes, etc. all laid out on the bed. He
would wash up, throw on his clothes and shoes and off we would go. Your
grandfather never gave a thought of what he would wear. Whatever your
grandmother laid out is what he wore.
GRANDPARENTS GETTING REALLY ANGRY WITH JOSEPH AND
JULES
The first is with your grandfather and I (Joseph).
When we were in grammar school, we used to go to the movies every
Saturday afternoon with the Deschesnes and the Bayers. It was in the
1940s, which was during and right after WWll. They used to show cartoons,
war news and a lot of times war movies. They must have had a
Marine movie and I became enamored with the Marines’ Hymn (From the
Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli). I remember humming that tune
incessantly. One time, when my father and I were in the cow barn, I was
doing that and who knows what else, but it obviously incensed my father.
He started after me and I started running away. He must have had
the coal shovel in his hand and he threw it at me. It hit my rear
elbow and sliced into the flesh. I do not remember much more but I
must have gone into the house and told your grandmother. I do recall
she was very mad at your grandfather for some time.
Jules’ turn was in the house. I have no idea what
he did but obviously aggravated your grandmother to such an extent that she
flung a wooden ping pong paddle at him. He ducked behind the cellar door
in enough time to let the cellar door get the paddle. To this day, or
at least until the house was sold, the dent still was in that door.
SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS
Your grandfather was a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus and
was a fourth degree, the highest degree. Your grandmother started the
Altar Society in the old Catholic church. That became the Daughters of Isabella and
she was the lead for many years but I can't remember the title. One year
she was their representative for the local convention in Minneapolis, MN.
CHICKENS
When there was only the old chicken coop (see diagram),
there was not enough room for all the chickens. So, some chickens
were kept under the barn next to the cow barn. Anyway the chores
were divided up between Jules and I. I had the barn chickens and one coop
of the old chicken house, and he had the other two coops of the old chicken
house. That meant keeping the hoppers filled with mash, feeding them
corn, feeding them shells, and picking the eggs. We all helped with
grading and boxing the eggs. When the chickens were outside we
would give them corn to eat, I guess it was Jules and I. We spread it in patterns on the ground and
the chickens would form the pattern as they ate.
We had a device that weighed the eggs. That was done so
we could separate between small, medium, large and extra-large
eggs. Of course, the bigger the eggs the more money per dozen.
Before they are weighed, and just before they are placed on the scale,
they are held against a light. Since the shell is translucent, it will
show up any imperfections such as blood spots in the yolk. Remember this
is all done by hand. Assuming 40 dozen a day, it took a long time to
candle, weigh, and box the eggs. Also, if the shell was dirty it had to
be washed. Then, after it was complete, they had to be bagged so that
your grandfather could deliver them the next day. Picking the eggs was
another terrible job, at least for me. I was allergic to the chicken coop
dust. So by the time the chickens were fed and the eggs picked I was
coughing, sneezing and my eyes were running. I hated the chickens.
In addition, chickens are cannibalistic. That is why we debeaked them.
If a chicken laid eggs and the laying stalk did not retract quickly
enough, all the other chickens would peck that chicken apart and leave her a
bloody mess. Debeaking was done with a machine, chicken by chicken.
Only the top beak was cut back, so one had to hold the chicken and
squeeze its beaks apart, and then bring down the cutting device. It was
also very hot so it would cauterize at the same time. I can still
remember the stench.
MANUAL CHICKEN PROCESSING VERSUS FACTORY FARMING
In factory farming chickens are in small enclosures and
everything is automated. Chicken droppings are automatically removed on a
conveyor belt as is collecting eggs. Our chickens were in the big coops
and could roam or were free range outside.
SAUSAGE MAKING
When the pigs were slaughtered, your grandmother and grandfather (mostly grandmother) would cut it up. I just remember the meat sitting frozen on the porch table in the open. That gives you an idea how cold it was then. Anyway, your grandfather purchased the casings from some place, not sure where. I remember the casings were soaked in a salt water solution. She had a hand grinder. The casing would be placed over the spigot. She then placed the meat in the grinder a little at a time and it squeezed out into the casing. I recall that she was real careful, because if the casing broke she would have to tie it off or start all over. The meat also had spices, etc. in it. I guess she fed that into the hopper as well. I will have to check with Jules on this. She made blood sausage, brat wurscht, garlic (Knovel) wurscht, etc. When the sausages were made, we, all or some of us, at the time would bring them down to the smokehouse that was in the back field close to the swamp. It was a metal enclosure with a metal door. The floor had damp sawdust. At the top were wooden dowels which ran from side to side. The wurscht was hung over the dowels by the casing. When your grandmother made the sausage, she would make one, tie it off and continue with another so that there was a short unused casing in the middle. We would start the sawdust burning, but since it was somewhat damp, it only smoked. The door would be shut and the wurscht would stay in there for several days. When we took it out, the casing was hard and the wurscht was preserved. I think that it also was kept on the porch for the winter.
When the pigs were slaughtered, your grandmother and grandfather (mostly grandmother) would cut it up. I just remember the meat sitting frozen on the porch table in the open. That gives you an idea how cold it was then. Anyway, your grandfather purchased the casings from some place, not sure where. I remember the casings were soaked in a salt water solution. She had a hand grinder. The casing would be placed over the spigot. She then placed the meat in the grinder a little at a time and it squeezed out into the casing. I recall that she was real careful, because if the casing broke she would have to tie it off or start all over. The meat also had spices, etc. in it. I guess she fed that into the hopper as well. I will have to check with Jules on this. She made blood sausage, brat wurscht, garlic (Knovel) wurscht, etc. When the sausages were made, we, all or some of us, at the time would bring them down to the smokehouse that was in the back field close to the swamp. It was a metal enclosure with a metal door. The floor had damp sawdust. At the top were wooden dowels which ran from side to side. The wurscht was hung over the dowels by the casing. When your grandmother made the sausage, she would make one, tie it off and continue with another so that there was a short unused casing in the middle. We would start the sawdust burning, but since it was somewhat damp, it only smoked. The door would be shut and the wurscht would stay in there for several days. When we took it out, the casing was hard and the wurscht was preserved. I think that it also was kept on the porch for the winter.
CLEANING THE
CHICKEN COOP
So, let me tell you about cleaning the chicken coop. Coops were cleaned once or twice a year. The manure cemented into a thick crust. When you lifted it up there was a terrible pungent ammonia smell. We backed the truck up to the doors and loaded the manure into the truck and then spread it in the fields. The floors were then scraped clean. When all was clean, the coop was sprayed with tar oil disinfectant. It was mixed with water and put into a rolling drum with a hand pump. The smell burned your lungs, nose, and eyes. Your grandfather was the sprayer and Jules and I were the pumpers. That was done to kill any bugs etc. Anyway, we pumped as long as we could stand it and then ran out of the coop to get fresh air. I am surprised I did not get asphyxiated. After drying, fresh straw was put on the floors for the new batch of chickens.
So, let me tell you about cleaning the chicken coop. Coops were cleaned once or twice a year. The manure cemented into a thick crust. When you lifted it up there was a terrible pungent ammonia smell. We backed the truck up to the doors and loaded the manure into the truck and then spread it in the fields. The floors were then scraped clean. When all was clean, the coop was sprayed with tar oil disinfectant. It was mixed with water and put into a rolling drum with a hand pump. The smell burned your lungs, nose, and eyes. Your grandfather was the sprayer and Jules and I were the pumpers. That was done to kill any bugs etc. Anyway, we pumped as long as we could stand it and then ran out of the coop to get fresh air. I am surprised I did not get asphyxiated. After drying, fresh straw was put on the floors for the new batch of chickens.
SELLING THE CHICKENS
We did not sell a lot of chickens to individuals for
meat. Instead, we sold them to an individual by the name of Clark.
I cannot recall the father's name now but he had two sons named Morris and
Benny. They were Jewish and had a live poultry market in Waterbury that
was Kosher. When our laying chickens were old hens they would buy
them from us by the pound. We would catch the chickens and place
them in a crate. The crates were all weighed first. The
net weight was the chicken weight and they paid us an agreed price per
pound. We had a scale that you might have seen in the feed house where we
did the weighing. They were always very fair. The way it
worked in their market is that on certain days the Rabbi was there. The
customer would come in and pick out a live chicken. It would be taken to
the back and put in a funnel head down. The rabbi would cut the throat
and the chicken was bled to death. It was then put in a sink with very
hot water. They had a machine that rotated with rubber prongs. The
chicken was taken from the hot water and the placed over the device while it
rotated. They held the chicken by the legs. In a matter of seconds
all the feathers were gone and the customer had a kosher stewing chicken.
I do not recall if they eviscerated the chicken or if the customer did.
The rabbi was paid 25 cents per chicken. Over the years they became very
good friends. When the father died, your grandfather was invited to the
funeral which was unheard of, i.e., a gentile invited to the service.
I do not know if you are aware, but Jewish custom was that the body had to
be buried before sundown on the day the person died. The friendship
continued with the sons for many years.
VACCINATING CHICKENS
Did you know that Jules and I are vaccinated for life
against coccidiosis, a disease
that affects chickens? I think we may also be vaccinated for New Castle
Disease, another fowl disease. It is important to do this since, if they
contract the disease, the whole flock is lost. One year, we lost about a
thousand chickens. When the chickens reach a certain age, but are still
in the brooder houses, they are vaccinated against the above diseases.
The way it worked is this. When it got really dark, the chickens tended
to roost together. So, the vaccinations would begin about midnight and
proceed until all the chickens were vaccinated, usually four or five in the
morning. It was Jules's and my job to catch the chickens and bring the
chicken to your grandmother or grandfather who were sitting next to the
brooder house door. I guess they had a flashlight for
illumination. There was no electricity. They had a device with two
little needles. They would put the needle end in the vaccine and then
stick it into the chicken’s wing. We would hold the chicken by the legs
and stretch out the wing where they would be vaccinated. Unfortunately,
as your grandparents got tired or if the chicken moved, we would get stabbed
instead. I guess your grandparents never worried about that. I do
remember that the whole thing was an exhausting process. We had to
vaccinate the chickens or take the chance of losing them which was economically
disastrous. For Jules and I there was no choice. That was life on
the farm. Both of us got an allowance of, I think, $10.00 a week.
However, the work for that was daunting.
CHICKEN FEED
In addition to what I told you already, we got a shipment
of feed at least once a week. It was delivered by Fred Ben, who lived at
the end of Cornwall at the junction of Cornwall and Mountain Road. I
can't remember how many bags of feed we would get but each weighed 100
pounds. Fred Ben would bring them to the tailgate and we would sling them
on our shoulder and carry them to where we stacked them in the barn. When
the chickens were on the hill (the land purchased from Crowe behind the barn),
I would load seven bags at a time on a wheelbarrow (700 pounds) and
push them up the hill to where the chickens were from the barn and then fill
the hoppers. It consisted of mash, corn, shells etc. When we
separated the milk, most of the skim milk was allowed to sour and that was
carried to the hoppers in pails and put over the mash. When there were
special projects, we worked many times to 12-3:00 in the morning. You can
see why I changed my mind about dairy farming.
BROODER HOUSES
I never did explain what the brooder houses were and
I don't think you ever saw them. There were small sheds
constructed of wood with a slant roof probably about 20 feet by 20 feet in
size. When the baby chicks were put in, we put in a stove. I think
it consumed coal because the ashes had to be taken out each day.
The brooder house was built on skids. Therefore it could always be
moved to different locations. There was a man by the name of Harry
Nichols who would come with his tractor to pull the houses to a new
location.
WINE MAKING
Every fall we would make wine. I don't know if the
kegs were still around when you visited your grandparents. We would make
wine from the grapes from the grape arbor in front of the house if we had not
eaten them. Mostly, we would buy 50 cases of white grapes, 28 pounds to a
case. They were sweet grapes but I can't remember the variety. We
had a grape crusher that was a drum with spikes in a vat. The grapes were trucked
to the cellar door. We would carry them down to the cellar case by case.
The equipment was lined up where the oil furnace is now. We
would feed the grapes into the crusher and then move the crushed grapes
into a press. This would squeeze all the juice in another drum and
separate the skins. The juice was then allowed to ferment. I
believe we added sugar to the juice but I don't remember if we added yeast.
Anyway, once the juice was totally fermented, it was strained but I can't
remember how. Once the juice turned to wine, we kegged it. We had
one 50 gallon and two 25 gallon kegs that were totally filled. It was
then allowed to stand in the wooden kegs for at least a month without being
touched. There was always some old wine left in kegs from the previous
year. When we first tapped the new wine it was your grandfather’s
crowning glory. It always met his standards. It was totally clear
(no sediment) when held to the light and had a high alcoholic content. It
was more like a table wine because it was very sweet. Once you had a
glass it was hard to stop because it was so good. Unfortunately, it could also
make you tipsy real fast. This is the wine that everybody had a glass of
when they came to buy eggs and chickens and which exasperated your grandmother.
However, she never put a halt to the wine making and at least 100 GALLONS
WERE CONSUMED EVERY YEAR. The wine making took at least a week and your
grandfather, Jules and I were at that all that time. There was a wooden
rack that the kegs laid on in the same room. Your grandmother never
touched a drop.
What I did not tell you is that all was by hand
labor. The grape crusher had a V-shaped hopper at the top and a
cylindrical shape at the bottom. The grapes were fed in to the hopper a
little at a time and, as explained, there was a drum with spikes where the
drum met the vat. There was a handle that connected to the drum. To
crush the grapes one would turn the handle which would turn the drum, drawing
them in and crushing them. When it was filled it was fed into the press
by hand. The press was round and wooden. It had a round flat
surface that fit into the circumference of the press. One would turn a
handle that screwed down the press on the crushed grapes. It would
squeeze the juice into another container. I am a little fuzzy on
that. Anyway, as I recall only the strained juice came out.
Once it turned into wine, it was fed into 25- and 50-gallon kegs. I
believe mold did not occur because it was dry in the cellar, the
temperature was not too hot, and it was turning into alcohol. I think we
covered the juice as it turned to wine. Once in the wooden kegs, it
was always sealed until use. The kegs had a wooden spigot at the bottom.
The wine was for general consumption only, visitors, friends, relatives,
us. We did not sell it. I must say I had my share.
FAMILY RELATIONSHIP
You asked about family relationships and also what did your grandmother do. First, I think it was a normal farm relationship. Everybody shared in the work in different ways. I told you some of the things Jules and I did, (more to come), but my father worked on the farm after his 40 hours in the factory and delivering eggs. He had a good relationship with most of the people in the factory, with the exception of a few. What I remember of those was during the war and they spit at your grandfather and called him a Nazi. Anyway, the factory had a gatehouse at all entrances. Your grandfather knew the guards very well and I think he gave them eggs for nothing. He brought eggs in cartons with names on the cartons to the guardhouse. They would distribute them as the designated people drove through the gate to go home. All the eggs were candled, placed in one-dozen cartons, washed where necessary, and packed the night before, so that was some of the work he did after the factory etc. He also worked in the feed houses on the farm keeping them organized and clean. He was usually busy till about 10:00 PM. I remember your grandmother was always irritated because he spent so much time out there; she called in German, butsing, which I think meant cleaning. When he came in, he would sit at his white desk to figure the budget, bills etc. You probably remember that desk. He also delivered eggs after he left the factory at 3:00 p.m. to a lot of people in Waterbury, and sometimes chickens on Saturday. On the weekends we did farming projects such as fence repair, cleaning coops, repairing pipes, electric lines etc. We would always work with him. I only remember him being extremely angry on a few occasions. He was always good to us and gave us whatever we needed. We were not the hugging and kissing type however.
You asked about family relationships and also what did your grandmother do. First, I think it was a normal farm relationship. Everybody shared in the work in different ways. I told you some of the things Jules and I did, (more to come), but my father worked on the farm after his 40 hours in the factory and delivering eggs. He had a good relationship with most of the people in the factory, with the exception of a few. What I remember of those was during the war and they spit at your grandfather and called him a Nazi. Anyway, the factory had a gatehouse at all entrances. Your grandfather knew the guards very well and I think he gave them eggs for nothing. He brought eggs in cartons with names on the cartons to the guardhouse. They would distribute them as the designated people drove through the gate to go home. All the eggs were candled, placed in one-dozen cartons, washed where necessary, and packed the night before, so that was some of the work he did after the factory etc. He also worked in the feed houses on the farm keeping them organized and clean. He was usually busy till about 10:00 PM. I remember your grandmother was always irritated because he spent so much time out there; she called in German, butsing, which I think meant cleaning. When he came in, he would sit at his white desk to figure the budget, bills etc. You probably remember that desk. He also delivered eggs after he left the factory at 3:00 p.m. to a lot of people in Waterbury, and sometimes chickens on Saturday. On the weekends we did farming projects such as fence repair, cleaning coops, repairing pipes, electric lines etc. We would always work with him. I only remember him being extremely angry on a few occasions. He was always good to us and gave us whatever we needed. We were not the hugging and kissing type however.
THE BEACH AND FRENCH FRIES
There were other things we did as a family. In the summer time, when it was real hot and humid, your grandfather would leave Scovill on the dot, 3:00 p.m. I am not sure how it was arranged. Anyway, your grandfather would make a beeline for home and your grandmother usually would have a picnic lunch made up. When he got there he would don his bathing suit, we would already have ours on, and then leave for the beach in New Haven. We would stay there till dusk. We always stayed at a certain place on the beach. There were two beaches divided by a canal. The main beach was on the other side of the canal. To get across to the main beach one had to swim the canal. When we got there, usually the tide was going out and the water in the canal was running real swiftly towards the ocean. I remember on several occasions I was concerned that I would not make it before being pushed out to the ocean, but always made it. It was interesting because your grandmother could not swim and was very afraid of the water. When I think about it now, I guess your grandparents gave Jules and I pretty much a free hand at most everything. Anyway, another treat besides swimming was getting french fries to eat with the supper. French fries were a big thing then and fairly new. We got them at a concession near the beach and would eat supper at the beach. Sometimes, we would just buy supper at the concession. Your grandmother loved scallops and would always have that and fries. One time they must have been bad because she became deathly ill and to the day she died she hated scallops and never ever had them again.
There were other things we did as a family. In the summer time, when it was real hot and humid, your grandfather would leave Scovill on the dot, 3:00 p.m. I am not sure how it was arranged. Anyway, your grandfather would make a beeline for home and your grandmother usually would have a picnic lunch made up. When he got there he would don his bathing suit, we would already have ours on, and then leave for the beach in New Haven. We would stay there till dusk. We always stayed at a certain place on the beach. There were two beaches divided by a canal. The main beach was on the other side of the canal. To get across to the main beach one had to swim the canal. When we got there, usually the tide was going out and the water in the canal was running real swiftly towards the ocean. I remember on several occasions I was concerned that I would not make it before being pushed out to the ocean, but always made it. It was interesting because your grandmother could not swim and was very afraid of the water. When I think about it now, I guess your grandparents gave Jules and I pretty much a free hand at most everything. Anyway, another treat besides swimming was getting french fries to eat with the supper. French fries were a big thing then and fairly new. We got them at a concession near the beach and would eat supper at the beach. Sometimes, we would just buy supper at the concession. Your grandmother loved scallops and would always have that and fries. One time they must have been bad because she became deathly ill and to the day she died she hated scallops and never ever had them again.
WISCONSIN TRIP / WHITEFISH BAY INN / PANDLS
We made several trips to Wisconsin when I was around 10 and older, at least as I recall. I remember two trips specifically. One was with your grandparents and Jules and I. Another was in a caravan with the Yaney's and Bayer's. Remember your grandfather’s sisters, Annie Dant, Julie Dant, and Ungella Dant, and Mary Dant. So when we went out there it was a big deal. The book you have tells a lot of Annie Dant's son George (died 2007, age 82) and their family. Annie Dant had another son Jack, and a daughter Angie. I think I have this right. Have to do more checking. Annie Dant was married to John Pandl and they started the Whitefish Bay Inn, in Whitefish Bay WI. When you read the book, you will learn that John died when the kids were young. Annie Dant had to run the Inn and raise the kids. Whitefish Bay is an ultra-affluent community. Annie Dant's Inn was the only restaurant they allowed in the community. She had a cook also by the name of Annie who was her right hand person and was extremely nice. She ran the restaurant through prohibition but served liquor. In the book you will read of the kids playing in the yard and the paddy wagon pulled up and took Annie Dant to jail. She was so well liked by the community that they all banded together and got her out jail. Her restaurant was all German cuisine. She and the kids lived over the restaurant.
We made several trips to Wisconsin when I was around 10 and older, at least as I recall. I remember two trips specifically. One was with your grandparents and Jules and I. Another was in a caravan with the Yaney's and Bayer's. Remember your grandfather’s sisters, Annie Dant, Julie Dant, and Ungella Dant, and Mary Dant. So when we went out there it was a big deal. The book you have tells a lot of Annie Dant's son George (died 2007, age 82) and their family. Annie Dant had another son Jack, and a daughter Angie. I think I have this right. Have to do more checking. Annie Dant was married to John Pandl and they started the Whitefish Bay Inn, in Whitefish Bay WI. When you read the book, you will learn that John died when the kids were young. Annie Dant had to run the Inn and raise the kids. Whitefish Bay is an ultra-affluent community. Annie Dant's Inn was the only restaurant they allowed in the community. She had a cook also by the name of Annie who was her right hand person and was extremely nice. She ran the restaurant through prohibition but served liquor. In the book you will read of the kids playing in the yard and the paddy wagon pulled up and took Annie Dant to jail. She was so well liked by the community that they all banded together and got her out jail. Her restaurant was all German cuisine. She and the kids lived over the restaurant.
THERESA AND JULIUS’ 20TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
IN WISCONSIN
One of the trips was your grandparent’s 20th anniversary.
Annie Dant closed the Inn which she never ever did and they had a big
party there with all the relatives. The thing I remember most about
the trip is the party but there are other memories as well.
While in Wisconsin, we stayed at the different relative’s houses.
What I remember about the party was George, because he and Jack
tended the bar---but George drank Grasshoppers all night and, of course, got
pretty tanked. He went all around showing all the relatives his green
tongue. Also, they had a big line-up of people and they danced around the
Inn to music. Emmerich Uncle, who was married to Ungella Dant,
had an extreme dislike for Jews and Blacks. Never knew why. Anyway,
he led the procession wearing garb that represented Jews and made all kinds of
antics. We have a film of that; it is at Jule's house. The other
thing I remember about staying at Annie Dant's house was a three-well ice cream
case and I was allowed to eat anything I wanted at any time.
JULIE DANT AND JULIUS PANDL
When we first arrived in Wisconsin we crossed Lake
Michigan on the ferry. I remember that well. The first place we
stopped was at Julie Dant's place in Milwaukee. She was married to Julius
Pandl. Julie Dant had one daughter, Lillian. Don't know
too much about her except that she was an artist of sorts. I think
we have a painting she did, packed away with all the art work. They ran a
bar in Milwaukee and had sandwiches. They lived in a small apartment
above the bar. When we went in, we ordered beer and Julius Uncle was not
sure what to do because he figured Jules and I were under age and he did
not recognize us. Anyway, once he realized who we were, I could have any
amount of beer. It's funny because your grandmother did not have a
problem with drinking when we were with the relatives. I remember the tAvenuern
having a beer smell.
UNGELLA DANT AND EMMERICH UNCLE
After staying with Julie Dant and Annie Dant, we stayed
with Ungella Dant and Emmerich Uncle (1904-1997). Their last name
was also Pandl. I am not sure about the relationship. I will have
to investigate. John Pandl (not Annie Dant's husband) (1907-1998)
lived in the upstairs apartment of Emerich Uncle and Ungella
Dant's house. Ungella Dant died many years ago of cancer.
Emmerich Uncle worked for Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co.
of West
Allis, Wisconsin, for many years. As I explained, Emmerich
Uncle was racially bigoted against blacks and Jews. They had two sons,
Emmerich Jr. and Bob. Emmerich Jr. had a girlfriend but never
married. Bob married a girl named Joyce who just recently passed
away. The Milwaukee Veterans Administration was one of the canteens I
supervised while working in Denver and I made several trips there. I
recall driving down the road one day with Emmerich Uncle and Emmerich Jr.
on a visit there and Emmerich Uncle blurted out “Look at that Schwarz,”
which means black in German. I asked Emmerich Jr. why Emmerich Uncle was
so biased and he said he did not know. Anyway, they lived in their own
home on a tree-lined street in Milwaukee. They were very family oriented
and extremely nice to us.
JOHN PANDL AND MARY
Emerich Uncle died several years ago. John Pandl
(not Annie Dant's husband - cousin to Emmerich Uncle and Bob Pandl)
lived in the upstairs apartment of Emerich Uncle and Ungella
Dant's house. John was a bachelor, but in later years (in New Port
Richey, Florida), he lived with his girlfriend Mary who also came from
Wisconsin. Interestingly, he was the reason that your grandparents moved
to New Port Richey. He had moved there many years before your
grandparents and he urged them to live in New Port Richey, instead of Venice,
where they lived. He lived in the same trailer park that your
grandparents did and visited with them on a daily basis. He was a
soldier in the Second World War. He died in a nursing home in New Port
Richey of cancer while your grandparents were there.
MARY DANT AND LOUIS BIRCHBAUER / LOUIS JR. AND LILLIAN
I can't remember if we stayed over at your grandfather's sister Mary Dant’s house. She married a gentleman by the name of Louis Birchbauer (Birth: about 1896 - / Residence: 1930 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin – from Austria). As far as I know they had one son, Louie Jr. They also owned a tavern in Milwaukee. I remember on one trip Jules and I had to bring our musical instruments (accordion, guitar). They were put in the back seat of the car and Jules and I were squashed in what remained of the back seat. I remember we had a number of disagreements because of that. The other thing I remember is that your grandmother had a very bad cold. So, there was a constant trail of Kleenex flying past our window from the front window. Anyway, getting back to the Birchbauer's, there were several parties there and Jules and I played our instruments with Louis Uncle who had a homemade instrument. It was what I think was a large metal trash pail. There was a hole drilled in the bottom. A string (I do not remember what it was made of), came out of the hole in the pail. The string was tied off inside the pail. There was also some device that held the string upright and taut. When he strummed it, it made a sound like a base fiddle. The beer flowed there also. Mary Dant and Louis Uncle were quite obese. They have also passed away but I don't know of what. The son, Louis, worked for a beer distributorship and lived in Waukesha, a community outside of Milwaukee. He married and I believe her name was Lillian. He is still alive, not sure of his wife.
I can't remember if we stayed over at your grandfather's sister Mary Dant’s house. She married a gentleman by the name of Louis Birchbauer (Birth: about 1896 - / Residence: 1930 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin – from Austria). As far as I know they had one son, Louie Jr. They also owned a tavern in Milwaukee. I remember on one trip Jules and I had to bring our musical instruments (accordion, guitar). They were put in the back seat of the car and Jules and I were squashed in what remained of the back seat. I remember we had a number of disagreements because of that. The other thing I remember is that your grandmother had a very bad cold. So, there was a constant trail of Kleenex flying past our window from the front window. Anyway, getting back to the Birchbauer's, there were several parties there and Jules and I played our instruments with Louis Uncle who had a homemade instrument. It was what I think was a large metal trash pail. There was a hole drilled in the bottom. A string (I do not remember what it was made of), came out of the hole in the pail. The string was tied off inside the pail. There was also some device that held the string upright and taut. When he strummed it, it made a sound like a base fiddle. The beer flowed there also. Mary Dant and Louis Uncle were quite obese. They have also passed away but I don't know of what. The son, Louis, worked for a beer distributorship and lived in Waukesha, a community outside of Milwaukee. He married and I believe her name was Lillian. He is still alive, not sure of his wife.
Yes, Lillian Birchbauer is still living and still is
working. She works downtown at the Pfister Hotel coat checking. She is working
again tonight from 4 to 1:00 AM. Alois (Louie) retired 2 years from bartending
because of foot surgery. Grandma Mary's daughter Stella died of cancer and her
husband is deceased also but their daughter Mary Francis is still living. Chris
Birchbauer } – www.sherrybrink.com
comment on Saturday, 01/19/2013.
ANGIE AND OTHER COUSIN
There also was Angie and another person who were cousins.
Angie was Annie Dant's daughter. They were fairly well-off and had
a gift shop behind their house. We visited them several times but can't
remember too much. I can't remember the other cousin’s name but that
cousin was also well-off and I remember your grandfather saying they were
worth more than a quarter million dollars, and that was in the late 1940s or
early 1950s. I remember going there once. They had a huge house. Angie
had two daughters, one was Camille and I don't remember the other. I
will have to research more.
The two things I remember with the cousins were: 1. Going
to Lake Michigan beach.
Jack had a red Buick convertible.
We played ball on the beach. I remember the water being ice
cold. 2. Going out one night with a second cousin, Peter. He also had a
convertible. Jules and I, Peter and I do not recall who else had too much
to drink. I remember going down the highway going 125 miles an hour in an
inebriated state. Everything else was a blur. I know I did not feel
too well the next day. When I think of it now, there were so many things
I have done in life where my life could have ended in a flash.
There must be a grand plan since I am still here.
TOURIST HOME IN OHIO
I also remember one thing about the trip back home. We had driven quite a while and could not find a motel. We saw a tourist home and decided to stay there. It was in Lima, Ohio. I think there were no doors on the rooms or something because your grandmother was petrified all night because she thought that the tourist home lady looked strange. I also remember that the water there had a high sulfur content and it smelled like rotten eggs.
I also remember one thing about the trip back home. We had driven quite a while and could not find a motel. We saw a tourist home and decided to stay there. It was in Lima, Ohio. I think there were no doors on the rooms or something because your grandmother was petrified all night because she thought that the tourist home lady looked strange. I also remember that the water there had a high sulfur content and it smelled like rotten eggs.
Well enough on this trip. The bottom line was that
it was always a big deal. The reverse was true when they all came to
CT.
WISCONSIN RELATIVES VISITING CONNECTICUT
The reverse is true of when the Wisconsin relatives
visited Connecticut. First, your grandmother always said that when they
about arrive everything your grandfather was supposed to do around the
house finally got done before they came and that was really true. Anyway,
when they came it was a lot of relatives. Generally, they congregated
during the day at your grandparent’s house unless we went someplace such as the
Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in Hartford. They
split up and some stayed overnight at the Yanny's, the Bayer’s and at our
house. Your grandmother did the lion’s share of the cooking each day.
The wine and beer flowed freely. I have several pictures (I think I
sent you one) of all the relatives sitting in chairs on the lawn spending the
afternoon talking, reminiscing etc. That was a trick because all the
daily chores had to still get done. The chickens did not stop laying eggs
and the cows did not stop giving milk. Usually the meals were out on the
porch on several tables that were set up. How your grandmother did all
that cooking of breakfast, lunch and dinner with her small refrigerator and one
electric stove, I will never know. I do know she made a lot of pastries
in advance. She worked from dawn to dusk. When the relatives
were there, all had a good time but your grandmother was slowly worn down.
Every time, after they left, your grandmother would get very sick and
said she would not do it again. However, the next time she did it all
over again. One time, just the cousins came and they stayed mostly at our
house. I remember the old cars. It looked Al Capone’s gang cars
there. Cousin George went to Cornell University to take
up restaurant management and chef school. Because it was so much further
to Wisconsin, he would come with his friend and stay at our house for all the
holidays. He used to have tickets for all of us to go see the Cornell vs.
Yale Thanksgiving football game. That is why George was fairly close to
your grandparents. You recall he came for your grandfather’s 100th
birthday.
JOE UNCLE/LINI DANT/BEPPLE/HERMAN/MARION JANISHER/MR.
JANISHER/MIA
Regarding Bepple (Joseph), I received some photo copies from Terry Vernale yesterday. They were from 1962 and 1966 I think. Anyway, the cousins were Violet and Angie. I will have to do more research on this. I will send you copies when I get the information. Anyway, on these photos were Joe Uncle and Lini Dant, your grandfather's brother-and sister-in-law who were visiting from Poppendorf, Austria. They had two sons, Bepple and Herman.
Regarding Bepple (Joseph), I received some photo copies from Terry Vernale yesterday. They were from 1962 and 1966 I think. Anyway, the cousins were Violet and Angie. I will have to do more research on this. I will send you copies when I get the information. Anyway, on these photos were Joe Uncle and Lini Dant, your grandfather's brother-and sister-in-law who were visiting from Poppendorf, Austria. They had two sons, Bepple and Herman.
All the brothers and sisters in the USA signed over their
share of the farm to Joe Uncle many years ago. He knows a lot of what happened
during the second world war from their perspective. He also knows more about
ancestry.
E-mail to Joseph Baumann 01/20/2013: “Bepple’s brother, Herman,
was born on December 1, 1930, and died on January 24, 2011. Herman took
over the farm, but his sons, another Bepple and Herman, have other jobs. Bepple’s
sister-in-law, Hedwig, still lives on the homestead.”
Joe Uncle and Lini Dant have passed away. Bepple
(junior) married Marion Janisher (Marion G. Baumann 04/25/1932 – 03/12/2006 –
Last residence 11354 Flushing, Queens, New York). State (Year) SSN issued: New York (Before
1951) (source – Ancestry.com).
Joe Uncle
and Lini Dant are Sherry and Michael Baumann’s great-great grandparents, parents
of Julius Baumann and Joe Uncle (Baumann).
Joe Uncle and Lini Dant Jr. were in Austria and had Herman and
Bepple as their children. Bepple, the
third, is in this country, married Marion (Janisher) and had a daughter, Mia.
Mia married Peter Drauch from Austria. I
am not sure about their children. I am
Joseph Baumann the fourth.
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Bepple in Austrian/German is Joseph. His name is Joseph
Baumann, actually the third. Your great-grandfather was Joseph Baumann
the first. His son, Bepple's father, was Joseph the second.
That makes Bepple the third and I am the fourth.
E-mail to Joseph Baumann 01/20/2013: T tried to email
you before we left but the computer froze and I don't know if you got it.
It was all in response of your email from 8-19-12. It was about
your cousin Bepple (Joseph). Marion, Janishers, Mia and her husband,
Peter Drauch, also from Burgenland, their two daughters Arianna and Lauren.
Mia, and Arianna, at 16, were Miss Burgenland. She is now a freshman
in college. She hopes to become a physician assistant. She
speaks German and the Burgenland dialect. They live in Queens, New York.
E-mail from Joseph Baumann to Sherry Brink 01/30/2013:
Trudy has made contact with Peter, his son-in-law to work with Bepple to get
the information. His father was the brother that stayed in
Austria. All the brothers and sisters in the USA signed over their
share of the farm to him many years ago. He knows a lot of what
happened during the second world war from their perspective. He also
knows more about ancestry.
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The wedding was in NYC where the Janisher's lived and was
huge. Anyway, Bepple was homesick because NYC was nothing like Austria
and, of course, his family was in Austria. Therefore, the Janisher's used
to come to our house at least once a month, sometimes more frequently
and stay the weekend. Mr. Janisher was an expert high-end cabinet maker
working for the ultra-wealthy people in NYC. They were extremely nice
people and lived in Queens at the time. You probably remember the recreation
room downstairs at the Cheshire house. Mr. Janisher, Bepple and us built
that room to include the wet bar. Bepple felt at home in Cheshire
and your grandparents were like second parents to him. That is why I
think he attended your grandfathers 100th birthday and at the funeral dinner he
was teary-eyed and said he couldn't help it because your grandfather was like a
father to him. The Janishers have since passed away and so has Bepple's
wife Marion. They had a daughter named Mia. She was voted Miss
Burgenland many years ago. Bepple now lives in the Catskills. I
believe his brother is still alive. I have to check on this.
1950s HURRICANES
I remember the hurricane that hit Cheshire in the
1950s. There was one shot of a reporter who was saying how bad
the rain and wind were. At one point he crouched down, stating that he
had to wait for the wind to stop. He was a wimp. I don't
remember the name of the hurricane that hit Cheshire in the 1950s or that they
even did name them then. I do know the wind velocity was the same
and the rain was just as drenching. When the hurricane hit, your
grandfather, Jules and I were on top of the chicken coop roof nailing down
shingles during the storm. The wind would have ripped up loose shingles I
guess. Anyway, there we were, the three of us. Things were flying in the
wind. The rain was so bad that every so often I would go to the house and
put on dry clothes. Somehow, I remember your grandmother giving us shots
of whiskey so we would not catch colds. Whiskey was used a lot then as a
medicinal, especially honey and whiskey for coughs and colds. I believe Jules did
the same thing but I don't recall your grandfather going in. I think he
stayed up there the whole time. I guess that sort of tells what farm
life is about, you do what you have to do. I think it taught me to
persevere regardless of the obstacles. I do not recall what else
happened. I guess I remember that because it was so vivid. The next
morning, after the hurricane, Bemis's barn, the one that I related to
you regarding shucking onions and getting lice, had blown partially
off its foundation.
There was a hurricane during the 1930s and your
grandmother had to make sure the animals were taken care of and the chicken
coop windows up etc. I am told she tied me into the potty chair so
that she could do all of that and I would not get into trouble.
THERESA BAUMANN’S HOMEMAKER DUTIES
From the time I was born to the time I was seven I was always very sick. You name it I had it - measles, mumps, pneumonia, whooping cough, high fevers. One time I had double pneumonia and went to the hospital since I nearly died. Remember, this was the time of few remedies. During that period your grandmother was the one to take care of me. I believe the same was true of Jules but he was not sick as much as I was. She had the vomit detail, sat by us at night when there were crisis's and provided all sorts of remedies. She put the Vicks® VapoRub on our chests and heated the rags in the coal stove to put over the Vicks® VapoRub. She took care of wounds and dressings. This also included your grandfather. She had the day shift and the night shift, contrast to us where your mom had the day shift and I had the night shift. Your grandmother was the one that washed the clothes using a wringer washer. Clothes were always hung outside on the clothesline between the barn and the house porch. In the winter it was so cold that the clothes froze. Ultimately, I do not know how they dried. The dryer came much later as well as an automatic wash machine. She bottled the milk and made the butter. The butter was made by a hand churn until an electric churn was purchased. Jules and I were sometimes conscripted to be the churners. She made our own cottage cheese in the basement. I remember it hanging in a white cloth on a nail while it drained. When the milk separator came it was she that put the milk through the separator, bottled it into skim, whole and cream. Then she had to dismantle it and wash every part. She took care of the garden, and at the right time canned all the vegetables. My grandmother used to walk to the house and help her. I still remember the smell of dill and the big steaming pots to prepare the veggies. She used melted wax to put on top of the glass containers to seal them. I still remember the scores of mason jars of vegetables in the cellar. She also made grape jelly from the Concord grapes on the porch. She did all the cooking and cleaning. She was the disciplinarian. I recall both my brother and I running through the closet connecting her room to my room. We ran in a circle through the house using this closet until she gave up or caught us. Your grandfather used to say he did not want to punish us because he only saw us after work. She also helped your grandfather with projects. That is how she cracked her ribs the first time.
From the time I was born to the time I was seven I was always very sick. You name it I had it - measles, mumps, pneumonia, whooping cough, high fevers. One time I had double pneumonia and went to the hospital since I nearly died. Remember, this was the time of few remedies. During that period your grandmother was the one to take care of me. I believe the same was true of Jules but he was not sick as much as I was. She had the vomit detail, sat by us at night when there were crisis's and provided all sorts of remedies. She put the Vicks® VapoRub on our chests and heated the rags in the coal stove to put over the Vicks® VapoRub. She took care of wounds and dressings. This also included your grandfather. She had the day shift and the night shift, contrast to us where your mom had the day shift and I had the night shift. Your grandmother was the one that washed the clothes using a wringer washer. Clothes were always hung outside on the clothesline between the barn and the house porch. In the winter it was so cold that the clothes froze. Ultimately, I do not know how they dried. The dryer came much later as well as an automatic wash machine. She bottled the milk and made the butter. The butter was made by a hand churn until an electric churn was purchased. Jules and I were sometimes conscripted to be the churners. She made our own cottage cheese in the basement. I remember it hanging in a white cloth on a nail while it drained. When the milk separator came it was she that put the milk through the separator, bottled it into skim, whole and cream. Then she had to dismantle it and wash every part. She took care of the garden, and at the right time canned all the vegetables. My grandmother used to walk to the house and help her. I still remember the smell of dill and the big steaming pots to prepare the veggies. She used melted wax to put on top of the glass containers to seal them. I still remember the scores of mason jars of vegetables in the cellar. She also made grape jelly from the Concord grapes on the porch. She did all the cooking and cleaning. She was the disciplinarian. I recall both my brother and I running through the closet connecting her room to my room. We ran in a circle through the house using this closet until she gave up or caught us. Your grandfather used to say he did not want to punish us because he only saw us after work. She also helped your grandfather with projects. That is how she cracked her ribs the first time.
THERESA BAUMANN, HOMEMAKER AND NURSE
I remember when I was sick your grandmother would have me stay in their bedroom in the daytime so she continue to do the work and care for me as well. There were two doctors in town, Dr. Edward Oxnard –
I remember when I was sick your grandmother would have me stay in their bedroom in the daytime so she continue to do the work and care for me as well. There were two doctors in town, Dr. Edward Oxnard –
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Death Date:
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3 May 2001
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Death Place:
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Cheshire, New Haven, Connecticut
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Age:
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91 Years
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Birth Place:
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Massachusetts
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Birth Date:
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1 Nov 1909
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Marital Status:
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Married
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Spouse:
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Pauli
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{Ancestry.com} and Dr. Moore. They were in practice
together. Dr. Moore came first and the office was at his residence.
Dr. Oxnard joined the practice later as the town grew. Dr. Moore
made house calls as did Dr. Oxnard but to a lesser extent. The doctor
visits usually were a last resort. The first effort was your grandmother
acting as the health care provider with all types of home remedies. If
that did not work, your grandparents called the visiting home nurse. She
would diagnose as best she could, do what she could. I do remember her
flushing my ears with warm water. I don't remember her name. There
was no charge for her visits as best as I remember. Finally, if it got
really bad, the doctor would be called. Now that I think about it,
the home nurse was the forerunner of today's nurse practitioner but
with a lot less knowledge. I am not sure if it was a money issue that the
doctor was called at last possible minute.
THERESA BAUMANN, SEAMSTRESS
It was before World War ll and just after the
depression. At that time the chicken feed came in white cotton
bags. Your grandmother used to make clothes for us out of those bags.
Jules and I joke of that period as that of Appalachia. So she did a
lot of sewing as well.
MOTHER COW WITH TWIN CALVES
Your grandmother always helped your grandfather with the
outside chores when she did not work inside. In addition, she had to ensure all
was taken care of when your grandfather was working his Scovill shift and
delivering eggs. The first time she
cracked ribs was when she was helping your grandfather cut wood with a two man
cross-cut blade saw. This is a saw that
is about four feet long and the blades alternate directions every other
blade. A person is on each side of the saw so that when one pulls, the
other pushes. It is quite effective
but requires coordination. My
understanding is that she fell backwards hitting a rock on one of the
strokes and so that was the first time she broke her ribs. The next time was in the cow barn. As explained before, two cows stood abreast of
each other. There was a cement wall on
one side and a wooden wall on the other side. Your grandmother was on the side of the cement
wall. I have no idea what she was trying
to accomplish but she was trying to push the cow (remember about 1,000 pounds
of bone and muscle) away from the wall but the cow did the opposite and crushed
her against the cement wall. Alas, the
second time she cracked her ribs. Then I
recall another time, a cow was about to calve. There was your grandmother
and I. Again, think a 1000-pound animal.
The cow was tied to the tree with enough
slack for her to move around. Anyway,
the best way for a cow to calve is sitting. To make matters worse, the cow had twins. I probably was probably around 10 to
12-years-old. The cow had the first calf
with your grandmother’s assistance. She
would reach in with her hands and help pull the calf out and give it to the
mother cow so it could lick it clean. The cow got up when we realized
there was another calf coming. To make
matters worse, it was in a breach position (should be head first and it was
rear first). I had to get the cow to sit,
which was no small feat. Your
grandmother had had to reach in and turn the calf around inside the cow. Time was of the essence since the bag was
already broken and the calf had slipped somewhat back in. Once the cow was down, your grandmother had to
turn the calf and help pull it out. Remember that a calf on birth is somewhere
between 50 and 80 pounds. Now that I
think of it now, I don't know how your grandmother had the strength to do it. Anyway, we could not do it fast enough and the
second calf drowned inside the mother cow. So one calf lived and another died.
FAMILY ACCIDENTS
I also remember well the time I fell down the stairs.
Those stairs were very slippery and I was playing upstairs at the
top landing. I don't know how I fell, but I do remember falling. I
know I knocked out a baby tooth and punctured my lip. I was bleeding
pretty heavily. Your grandmother got a towel and had me hold it tight
against my lip. I guess the bleeding stopped and there was no
doctor. I don't recall your grandfather ever being really sick. I
was told of two incidents. The first was when the barn was built.
It was an old-fashioned barn-raising. I don't know who participated but I
am told that your grandmother prepared all the food for everyone.
Anyway, your grandfather fell from the second floor and was hurt.
I don't think there was a doctor involved and he was back on
the project the next day. I don't know what your grandmother did to care
for him. On another occasion he was mowing grass in the field with a scythe. It had a long curved handle about five feet in
length. At the end it had a blade about two inches wide and about 30
inches long. The trick was to make even swaths in the grass to cut the grass.
I remember him sharpening the blade with a whetstone. Anyway one time he
unfortunately hit a hornet’s nest in the ground. My understanding
was that your grandmother saw your grandfather running toward the house, I
think with his pants off. The hornets had gotten up his pants and stung
him in multiple locations including his scrotum and penis.
I remember being told he was all swollen for several days. I
am not sure if a doctor was called. We would also do our own electrical
repair, fix our own plumbing, etc., so there was the usual cuts and scrapes
that were just ignored. Later we had a tripod tool that we used to cut and
thread the galvanized pipes. No copper. I think Michael (Baumann)
has that now.
CHRISTMAS TIME
Mike suggested I write something about our Christmas's
because of the time of the year. I already submitted some stuff. Anyway,
here goes.
First one has to remember that the chickens did not stop
laying eggs and the cows did not stop producing milk on the Christmas holidays
and, in addition, they still got hungry and had to be fed. Your
grandmother generally did all the shopping and buying of Christmas gifts.
We always had a real Christmas tree in the beginning. We had a red
and green tree holder and your grandfather set it up. The rest of
everything was left up to your grandmother. There was a clothing store in
the shopping center next to what was the Cheshire pharmacy. In that
center Fred Alden had his variety store (he used to work for Kresge), Heaths' Pharmacy,
(Ask me about sherbet Ice Cream Cones) and Cohnes clothing store. It was
small, probably about 100 feet long and about 30 feet wide but it served old
Cheshire well. Mrs. Cohne (spelling) knew most everybody in town and what
they liked. I used to go there and she would tell me what to get for your
grandmother. It always, at least, consisted of cotton blouses. Your
grandfather always got socks. Anyway, your grandfather would do all the
chores and then come in figure out where he was finance-wise. His
Christmas gift to us generally was money. After he figured out what
he had netted, he would give your grandmother and us cash in envelopes.
If it was a good year we got more, if it was a bad year we got less.
We always celebrated on Christmas Eve and opened our gifts then. I
can't remember what it was like when we were really little. Usually on
Christmas Day Carl Uncle, Gisi Dant, Liz and Terry, Herman and Helena and
her friend, sometimes Vinnie and Bertha, sometimes Bertha Dant and Frank Uncle,
would come for dinner. Your grandmother was busy the evening before and
the next morning preparing the meal, usually turkey and all the fixings, and
assorted cookies and pie. Our job (Jules and I) would have to get
all the chairs, set the table, etc. as well as help your grandfather since he
had to rush to do all the chores before dinner. There were two notable
Christmases. One was when we got one of the first television sets.
At that time there were few shows, however I remember well Ed Sullivan.
Your grandmother loved that show. The screen was probably only 15
inches diagonally and was circular. The shows were in black and
white only. I do remember us, Liz and Terry sitting around the set
watching Ed Sullivan. The TV was purchased from R. W. Hine Hardware
in Cheshire. It was the largest hardware store in the country at the
time. There were no big box stores. On another Christmas, your
grandfather bought your grandmother a Chinese Kid Skin coat. I believe it
was goat fur. She loved it. I do think, however, she was involved
in the purchase.
HOUSES ON CORNWALL AVENUE
When I was in grade school and even part of high school,
from the railroad tracks where the canal is to Mountain Road, the people that
lived there were the Bemis’ who lived across the swamp from us, the Weis’
across from us, the Doolittle’s who were about a half mile down on the
left side of Cornwall Avenue, then another quarter mile down on the right were
the Deschesnes, and then another quarter mile down on the right was old Mr.
Dane. His house was at the corner of Cornwall and Mountain Road. That’s
about a two-mile stretch. Past the railroad tracks and up the hill on the
left was the Egan's on the left and at the corner of Cornwall and Spring
Street, then the town constable further up on the right, and from there was
lots with houses, maybe about ten on either side of the road. The last
house on the right, the corner of Main and Cornwall was last owned by
Armbruster who was your grandmother’s and grandfather’s doctor after Drs. Moore
and Oxnard left practice. Below the canal was all farmland, Bemis,
Deschesnes, and Weis. The rest was all woods where we played and I hunted with
my Beebe gun, never got anything. I told you about the Bemis'.
Some other things I remember were that they had a wooden bench in the back
of the house and under an apple tree. Old man Bemis used to sit
there and smoke his cigarettes. I remember one time he had a burned scar
on his lips. I asked him what had happened and he said that it was burned
off by the doctor because it was cancerous. He continued to smoke and I
remember wondering how he could do that. At that time cancer was very
scary to me. I still do not forget the delicious hard cider I always had
when visiting. He had it in a big wooden barrel in one of the lower
sheds. Their land bordered ours at the swamp. Fred Bemis
planted probably about fifteen pear trees there later on. I remember
having pears from those trees. I don't remember much about Mrs. Bemis. I
remember she spent a lot of time in the parlor laying or sitting on the couch,
she was short and somewhat plump. She had cardiac problems and I think died of
a heart attack. I seem to recall that it was always somewhat dark in
the living room. They had three children, Fred and Joe, that lived across
the street from Terry Vernale later and a daughter named, I think, Mary.
She ultimately lived in Cherry Hill, Pennsylvania a suburb of Philadelphia and
I think were well off.
The Bemis’ property went up the hill to the constable's
house on the right side of Cornwall Avenue and they raised all sorts of
vegetables for market on that land. Across the avenue was Devylders
truck garden where they also raised all sorts of market vegetables. Their land boundary was with the Egan’s which
was residential property. I can't
remember what they did. Below Egan and
after Spring Street were the canal, woods, swamp, brook, and more woods
all the way to Deschesnes. Across the
swamp from Bemis was our land. After our
house was the Weiss’. They also were
poultry farmers and had about 15 acres.
Their land boundary was Oak Avenue going toward Mountain Road. After that there were more woods owned by the
Doolittle’s. They had a white wooden
house facing Cornwall Avenue. The land they owned before their house had a
small chicken house. I don't know if
they had chickens because all I remember was it being a ramshackle and woodsy. This part of their land was sold to the town
and Doolittle Elementary
School was built there, which you may remember. From their house to Mountain Road were all
woods. From the other side of Deschesnes’
house was farm land until you got to the Danes’ house on the right side of
Cornwall Avenue and the junction of Mountain Road. So you see, we had all that woods to play,
target practice, hunt woodchuck's etc. The
land across from us was later purchased by a contractor named Pettinicchi and
they built one house at a time. There
were only two of them building. The first
house they built was on the corner of Oak Avenue and Cornwall Avenue. Crow bought Weiss’ property and started
building on it. All the building started
when Jules and I were in late grade school and high school. I don't recall what the Doolittle’s did for a
living but he was an excellent drawer and rendered a pencil drawing of our
house on Cornwall Avenue and did one of their house, which was on a Christmas
card. I am not sure if they are still
around. Mr. Deschesnes worked at a
factory in Waterbury, CT, not sure where. I spoke to Jules two days ago (02/10/2013) and
we were laughing about Mr. Deschesnes and his cars. He was very short and he always bought big
cars. The last one I remember was an
Oldsmobile. When he was driving the car
and as it came toward you, it looked like there was no one driving the car. He would look out the windshield between the
steering wheel spokes. They had a Jersey
cow and chickens. The milk from that
Jersey cow was ultra-cream. Robert, one
his sons, raised Beagles for hunting. Mrs.
Deschesnes's first name was Simone and she was always tired. She usually slept every afternoon. When the kids left for school she was not up. When they got to our house and your
grandmother asked them what they ate for breakfast, they would always reply
Toastes's. I don't know much about Mr.
Dane. He was somewhat reclusive.
JOSEPH BAUMANN’S LOVE OF ORANGE SHERBET
JOSEPH BAUMANN’S LOVE OF ORANGE SHERBET
While in grade school I was rather chubby. I loved
to eat. Even though I worked very hard, I remained chubby until the time
I went to Fort Devens, Massachusetts for the basic training portion of
ROTC. I guess doing the daily dozen every morning at 4:00 a.m. before
breakfast as well as forced marches and push-ups did the trick. Anyway,
part of my desire for food was sherbet ice cream, specifically orange sherbet,
which was sold at the drugstore in the plaza across from the new St. Bridget’s
church. Of course, it was not there then. It was also in the part
of the plaza that became Alden’s Variety Store that was part of the big fire. (The
old St Bridget’s is on Route 10 adjacent to the center that has the farm shop
where Trudy used to work as a waitress a long time ago. The new St. Bridget’s
is the one you know about on Main Street.) They had an ice cream
fountain and sold the most best tasting orange sherbet ice cream. I was
addicted to it. I used to peddle up the hill on Cornwall Avenue and then
go right on Main Street to the store which was about a half mile from there.
I always got a double or triple sherbet cone. The problem was that
when it was warm it started to melt almost immediately. I would lick that
sherbet as fast as I could but to no avail. After I purchased
the cone, I would hop onto my bike and go down Main Street, a big hill, and
then turn on Spring Street which is the street that my grandmother lived on.
None the less, as I went down the hill the sherbet melted all over my
hand and clothes. Even so, I still can taste that sherbet today. I
never found any like it.
JULES BAUMANN MEMORIES 1-7
Grandma coming to visit and help (bus to Cheshire from
Waterbury), walked to our house; Ma watching for her walking up the road,
telling us, "Here she comes." One time, I remember she wiped
our bottoms after bathroom trips. Upstairs bathroom, no bathroom downstairs
yet; loved to take a bath in that old clawfoot tub, even when I was in high
school. Plumbing for old toilet always leaked, staining the kitchen
ceiling. Never liked the five-foot door into bathroom upstairs - banged
my head in later years.
Grandma Piller was a saint. She did everything, even
with her limited means. During the depression years Grandpa Piller was
one of many in the food lines. Later on, he worked in the dip room at
Waterbury Button Factory - never made much money. The dip room is where
they had barrel-type containers with various chemicals. The buttons were put in the dip and rotated
for various finishes. It was very toxic
in that room. Later in life, when your
grandfather left Scovill and was working the chicken farm, he also worked
for the button factory in Cheshire in their dip room. Jules worked there also as a second job when
he was teaching. He said he helped your
grandfather a lot lifting the heavy containers. Grandma Piller worked cleaning houses.
K-1: Mrs. Gulnack (sp) was kindergarten teacher
downstairs in basement of Humiston
School; playing in the playhouse with Evelyn Suhr and Mary
Bergamo. Liz was in this class also. Coats were hung on wall pegs in the big
alleyway leading to another room that had stairs going up to the first and
second floor - no elevator. Across the alleyway, which had bench seats
all around the walls, there were also gang lavatories for girls and boys.
The whole building used these lavatories. Jules made a drawing of
the building which I'll send. Don't have a scanner.
In 1st grade I had a teacher, Mrs. Columbie (sp). She
was very nice, but something happened with some of the boy's behavior. Roger Deshane was involved. He was made
to stay after school. We walked mostly in those days, but the weather was
bad and dad was to pick us up. Dad complained to the principal and he
dismissed us so we could go home.
Sometime in those early years, Trixie our 1st Collie dog, saved
me from getting hurt. I climbed up a high haystack. Trixie grabbed
my shirttail and wouldn't let me fall (according to Ma - I don't remember
this incident myself).
When there was inclement weather, a seventh grade teacher
would challenge the kids to fight. It
was held in the downstairs of the grade school. Jules remembers that one of the kids gave the
teacher a bloody nose.
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(08/2012) Where we live is high dessert. There is a wash across
the road from us. When there is a big thunderstorm (monsoon season) it
will fill with water. They are building houses behind us but that is at
least 500 feet away. It is a new development (Grey Fox Ridge).
There will ultimately be 99 new homes. Our street has four houses.
