Julius & Theresa Baumann Audiotapes
Transcript
Transcribed by Joseph John Baumann
POPPENDORF GOVERNMENT EARLY 1900s (FROM AUDIO RECORDINGS)
Your grandfather remembers that there was very little food and he was always hungry, especially during WWI. Even though they had four or five cows all the time and various fields of flax, wheat, rye and corn, the government took most of the crops and milk etc. for the soldiers. Government representatives would come to the farms and make an estimate of the number of bushels of yield for grain and pounds of milk that would be produced. It did not matter if nothing was left for the family; the farmer had to give that amount to the government. If there was extra, by some chance, it would be hidden. One time your great-grandfather fudged the yield and brought the extra to the mill and fudged the tickets, thinking he would have food for the family. Government representatives went to the mill and discovered what he had done. He was sentenced to jail for three weeks. He spent one week in jail and developed severe dysentery so they cut the term short and let him out. Another time, when there was extra flour, your great-grandmother baked eight loaves of bread. When it came out of the oven (schmortopf), it was set out to cool and was planned to be used over time. Your grandfather found it and ate a whole loaf by himself because he was so hungry. When his parents found out, they gave him a whipping because it took food away from the rest of the family. You have to remember there were eleven children. Even with the whipping, another time he went into the root cellar and found some bread and some sour cream. He remembers putting the cream on the bread and the joy of eating it. To quote him directly, he said it was oh so good. Conversely, they did always have beans and turnips since they grew so fast. They ate so many turnips and beans that he said he does not eat them to this day and hates them. However, I remember your grandmother making bohnen-nudelsuppe (beans and noodles), and we all, including your grandfather, loved it. You might have had some also. She made it especially during the depression because it was not expensive and they always had beans--explain more about this later. Your grandfather remembers loading the horse wagon with all the food and delivering five miles away to the railroad terminal for delivery to the government.
He also remembers an incident when he was about two-years-old. His parents were working in the fields and Mary Dant, one of his older sisters, was responsible for watching him. She was about eight or nine at the time. She was not too happy with this because she could not play with the other neighbor's children. Then, for some reason, your grandfather started to cry. Mary Dant became so angry that she picked him up and threw him against the cherry tree that was there. Your grandfather thinks that his nose was broken and, therefore, he had the crooked nose most of his life.
SCHOOL DURING THE WAR
He remembers his first days in school. He thinks there were about seven to ten children in class with him. The first thing he was taught was to draw a straight line. They had a blackboard and there were vertical lines on the blackboard. He had to draw vertical lines within the lines that were already there. He also remembers learning letters by sounds such as the “s” sound by leaves falling making a swishing sound. He did not receive much formal education. Normally, the children would get six years of education in Poppendorf but, because of the war, he only got four.
SCHOOLTEACHERS
Your grandfather’s (Julius Baumann) first teacher had been a teacher in Poppendorf for 36 years. He was your grandfather’s teacher for about three years. There were about 100 children in the school. The older kids had to help teach the younger kids but your grandfather does not elaborate on this. He does say that he had to help teach also. The teacher died of tuberculosis. He remembers that people from all the surrounding towns came to the funeral to show respect. He remembers also that there were several bands that played at the funeral.
The next teacher, according to your grandfather, was his father’s brother's brother-in-law. His wife’s name was also Lini. His brother’s name was Sepple (Joseph), who was Bepple’s father. Bepple now lives in the Catskill Mountains with his daughter Mia and son-in-law, Peter. Bepple’s mother’s maiden name was Koenigshoffer. Sepple was your grandfather's teacher for only a short while. Your grandfather remembers that Sepple was also a beekeeper. He had a number of bee houses (hives). The houses had a little hole in the front where the bees could go in and out. In the back of the house there was a door on hinges. There was a glass divider between the front and back. Therefore when the beekeeper would open the back door the bees could not come out and bite the keeper. When the honeycomb was filled, the beekeeper would open the back to allow the smoke from burning charcoal to enter the hive. This would force the bees to temporarily leave the hive through the front whereupon the keeper would remove the honeycomb and honey from the hive. Your grandfather remembers the teacher/beekeeper tell all the children to bring a slice of bread to school the next day. The children did and the beekeeper had bowls of honey laid out on a long table. The children could eat as much honey as they wanted or I guess until it was gone. Your grandfather does not say what would happen if the parents had no bread to give the children. His comment however, was that all the children had a feast of honey and bread. I think this teacher was called into the war. The next teacher was a man by the name of Klaus. The teacher’s father was a baker in the town. Your grandfather comments that he was a kind man and a good teacher. He was a teacher there for only six weeks and he was inducted into the army. He was killed in action and therefore never returned. Your grandfather remembers that the teacher's father made a special bun called a Schnecken. It was sort of like a croissant. Both your grandfather and grandmother remarked on that tape, at this point, how good these buns were. Your grandfather also remembers that when there was school the children had to pick raspberry leaves which the soldiers dried and used for tea leaves. The teacher’s father had a bakery in town and he sold bakery products from the bakery and also sold from house to house. After Klaus went into the army there was no teacher for about two years.
JULIUS BAUMANN’S FIRST FIGHT
Your grandfather’s first fight occurred during a school recess. There was a boy named Unger who was a big bully. He was older than your grandfather, who was about seven at the time. Unger pushed you grandfather into a ditch. Your grandfather became really angry, picked up a small stone and flung it at Unger. Unfortunately, the stone hit a well instead, bounced off and hit his best friend by mistake, cutting his eye.
The teacher heard the ruckus and called your grandfather into the schoolhouse and up to his desk. He asked your grandfather, “Why did you throw the stone?” Your grandfather told him the story and that he really wanted to hit Unger. The teacher then gave Unger three lashes with a bamboo stick and told him not to bother your grandfather again. Then he gave your grandfather two lashes and told him never to throw a stone again. Your grandfather commented on the tape that he was always a good boy. When he got home, his father was waiting for him. He also gave your grandfather whipping.
JULIUS BAUMANN SENT TO UNCLE KLOIFER’S HOUSE AT 8-OR 9-YEARS-OLD
During the interim and when there was no teacher your great-grandparents sent you grandfather to Uncle Kloifer’s house for a period of about 18 months. They lived in the next town, Wallendorf. It was about five miles from where your grandfather’s family lived and was across the Sauer River about 50 feet wide. Remember that all travel was on horse and wagon so five miles was a long distance then and he got to see his parents about once every six months. The uncle was married to your great-grandmother’s sister. They had two sons and a daughter. Your grandfather was sent there to help the aunt because the two sons were called into the army and then the uncle was called into the army. Your grandfather was to work the farm. During this time the aunt died which left your grandfather and his cousin, their daughter to work the farm. Your grandfather was about eight or nine and his cousin was one year older. Your grandfather remembers having to plow the fields with the horses with him walking behind. His comment was that the ground was a white clay-like substance, very hard. They both had to milk the cows, feed the animals, plant and harvest crops. They also had to do all the housekeeping. Your grandfather remembers that since he was short he had difficulty harnessing the horses. He said he had to set a stool between the horses to get it done. To quote him, “The horses were so trained and tame that one time he fell off the stool and the horses stood motionless so not to step on him.” He also remembers that the horses would lower their heads to make it easier for him to put the halters on their heads. He said that his cousin and he pretty much subsisted on sourdough bread that his cousin baked and the milk from the cows. When his uncle returned from the war your grandfather went home. His clothes were in tatters and when his parents saw him they asked him what happened to him. He said that at that point he started to cry. His first cousin was Giselle Mayer. She also immigrated to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where she died.
FOUR YEARS OF SCHOOL ONLY
After coming back home from his aunt’s house, he worked on his father’s farm helping for a few years, according to him. During this time there was a very short time when the town had a female teacher who was very mean. Your grandfather attended school during this period. Your grandfather remembers that she was always angry and mean. Early on, she had each child bring a bamboo stick to school. When she was angry, which was frequently, she would whip the children. Eventually, the townspeople became upset and the town fired her. That was the end of your grandfathers schooling in Poppendorf short of his graduation. He relates that he was an honor student and he remembers his graduation. It was a formal ceremony and, since he was an honor student, he was picked to give a geography presentation to the attendees. He recalls that since he was short, he had to have a stool to stand on by the blackboard. His assignment was to talk about the continents. He comments about three continents, Europa, North America, and Australia, in German) and then asked the interviewer for the audiocassette if that is correct.
He remembers getting a loud applause for his presentation and receiving an award, a bag of candy, which made him very happy. The graduation was in May and he remembers he was about twelve at the time.
PANHANDLER
Your grandfather remembers a man coming to town on a recurring basis and also the various townspeople’s houses. He was called a panhandler, not in the American term ([C19: probably a back formation from panhandler, a person who begs with a pan” - Dictionary.com. He repaired metal pots and pans. Your grandfather remembers the panhandler and his dog were harnessed to a wagon and they pulled the wagon that way from town to town and house to house. Your grandfather remembers that the dog was so well trained that when the panhandler called him, he would run in front of the wagon and wait to be harnessed up to the wagon. The panhandler had a wife who traveled with him. She would use the kitchen of whatever house they were at to cook their food but they would eat outside. Your grandfather said that they slept outside on hay in the yard. The panhandler would take the pots and pans that had holes and would insert a piece of metal in the hole and then pound out the metal with a hammer. Your grandfather said that after the panhandler fixed the holes that way they did not leak. He remembers that all the roads were dirt and, I believe, he said that because he thought that it must have been hard for the panhandler and dog to pull the wagon. Interestingly, he did not say whether the wife rode in the wagon or walked alongside the wagon, nor did he comment on their age. When done, they would go on to the next town.
FREE DENTISTRY
I remember another story your grandfather told me. Your great-grandfather had a bad tooth, I think abscessed. He did not want to go to the dentist, so he asked your grandfather to go to the barn with him, whereupon he tied a string onto the tooth and the other end of the string to the barn door handle. He then told your grandfather to slam the door shut. Walla, the tooth came out. I guess that was as good as old-time dentistry.
WORKING THE FARM
While your grandfather worked his uncle's farm with his cousin, His brother Joseph and some of his sisters worked on the farm at home. Bertha Dant and Stilli Dant worked in the silk mill. Gisi Dant, who was then six-years-old, also worked on the farm. During this period, there was no school since there was no teacher due to the war. Even when there was school, it usually stopped in the beginning of May and did not resume again until October. This allowed all the children to help work the farm through harvesting.
GUGELHUPF
Your grandfather also remembers some of the things that his mother, Lini, did. He said that she did a lot of baking in an oven that was in a corner of the kitchen. It was called a gugelhupf. He likened the oven to those that were in Spanish and Mexican homes. It was made of cement and stone and had several openings to bake in. He said that somehow she knew when the oven was the right temperature and then put the bread in. He mentioned she had a paddle that she used, similar to what pizza bakers use today. The heat source was wood, which was at the bottom of the oven. They also used the oven to dry the corn and bake the apples so as to conserve the heat. He mentions no other heat source in the house. I remember him saying that they heated little pans with handles and put them under the bed for warmth when they got into bed. He states they started the fire by rubbing stones together.
JULIUS BAUMANN’S MOTHER MAKING CLOTHES FROM FLAX
Your grandfather remembers his mother making cloth from flax. He states in the interview that she soaked the flax in water for four or five days. She then put in the oven to dry. After taking it out of the oven she would hammer it so all the shaft would fall off. Then she would spin the flax and weave it into cloth. I think she had one of those hand operated machines that you weave the yarn in and then push it together to make cloth. She would then sew clothes for all the family with the cloth. Your grandfather remembers how the cloth was rough and for the rest of his life he would never wear jeans because it felt like the clothes woven from the flax.
CABINET MAKING TRADE
Your grandfather worked on the farm (in his terms, very hard) until he was thirteen. He then went to Vienna to learn the cabinet making trade. He remembers having to learn to saw by hand evenly with no errors. The wood they used was from a barn that had burned. He does not describe this but I assume they planed the wood even and took the burn marks off. Note, he made a lot of the tools he used on the farm in Cheshire, to include planes and saws. I still have some saws here in Arizona that he made. He also made detailed designs and I remember one that he still had and it was a bed he had made. I think Mike has this design in his possession.
Upon your grandfather's completion of his apprenticeship as a cabinet maker, he returned to Poppendorf. He did not cover what happened during that period regarding work. He elaborates on the following:
Girlfriend:
He states that he had a nice girl a girlfriend during this time, as nice as Oma. Oma interjected in the commentary saying AS NICE AS ME!!! He said she worked as a day worker for the town.
Sometime just before your grandfather turned sixteen, Ulie Dant, who had already immigrated to the USA, returned to visit the family. He said she was the nicest, but I think he was referring to looks, because he then remarked about how nice her complexion was. She was married to a Julius Pandl, as already stated. They had a son, Henry, which I did not indicate. They also had a daughter, Lilian, which I did mention. When they arrived in Poppendorf, Henry was about five-years-old. He remarks that they came to Poppendorf on a carriage on Ascension Day in May. Henry had never seen large fields and ones that were covered in wild flowers. He said that Henry dashed out of the carriage and ran into the fields that were covered with dew. He remembers that Henry had long golden hair. He remarked that Julius Uncle yelled to Henry Come Zurich (German for come back), but Henry did not and continued into fields. Your grandfather said that these fields were used for hay for the cows. He remembers that the grass was really high because it was just before it would be cut. He said that spring comes earlier there, comparing it to Cheshire. Anyway, when Henry returned he was soaking wet from the dew. He remembers that Henry's long blond hair was soaked and he shook it, in all his glory. The next day your grandfather was to leave for Vienna to find a cabinet maker’s position. He and his mother were talking and his sister Ulie Dant overheard. Ulie Dant said to their mother in exclamation, he is not going to Vienna. He will come to the USA with us. His mother said she was so happy for him to be able to go to America and be with all the sisters that went there before. At that time six sisters were in America, Stilli Dant, Annie Dant, Ullie Dant, Mary Dant, Resi Dant, and Bertha Dant. Julius Uncle paid for his fare. Please note here that I previously told you that Resi Dant paid for his fare but that was incorrect. Another sister overheard this conversation and said if he goes to America, I am going too. Ulie Dant said, you are and I have a job for you working at the Inn. I am confused here because Annie Dant had the Inn with John Uncle and Julius Uncle and Ulie Dant had a tavern in Milwaukee. You remember I previously described that in a visit to Milwaukee. Anyway, they did all go back together and included a person by the name of Koenigshoffer, who was the son of one of his teachers, and a person by the name of Drauch. He did not say which Drauch. He said there were twenty seven of them on the boat and they were like a family. He said that Bertha Dant, Frank Uncle, her husband, and Bertha's father also came over in the same year which left only Joe Uncle and Gisi Dant left in Poppendorf, two children out of eleven.
Your grandmother was born on March 1, 1909 in Parabutsch, Austria, Hungary. [Its old name in Serbian was Parabuć (Парабућ). In German, it was known as Parabutsch, and in Hungarian as Paripás or Parabuty -Wikipedia] I have to research this but there was a point when they were one. Her grandparents and parents immigrated to the USA. She does not elaborate when or why. When in America, they became homesick and went back to Europe. Your grandparents stayed in Europe but her parents went back. She was left with her grandparents and aunt. They raised her until she was 16-years-old. She did not elaborate why she was left behind but the intent was for her parents to come back to get her. Unfortunately, this was when the First World War broke out and it was not possible to come back to America.
EMAIL FROM TRUDY BAUMANN TO JOSEPH
BAUMANN
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 22:09:13 -0500
Subject: Re: FW: Info/blog Grandmother B
From: Trudy Baumann
To: Joe Baumann
Hi Joe and Phyllis,
I'm starting out to respond to the very first email of October 2, 2012. I had sent this to Liz Miller and Theresia Vernale, and they discussed it with Bertha. I believe they replied to you. We'd like to see what they wrote, if possible. Thanks.
Great-grandmother Piller, Richard, their grandson from your grandmother's brother Joe Piller, lived with them on Spring Street in Cheshire.
Ma's birthday was on March 1, 1909, and she was born in Parabutsch, East of the Danube. (I have two books about Parabutsch that I took from Florida when the house was closed. They are in German and tell the history of her people. They have names and the streets of Parabutsch. The town is on a diagonal from NW to SE between Sombar and Novi Sad. Jules thinks it is what is now Serbia. I will look it up after I stop typing for tonight.
We think she probably left Ma there because things were difficult here too. Can Sherry or you find out when great-grandmother Teresia (nickname Reis) and Bernhard Piller and Ma and probably Susie first came to the USA? We have some immigration papers and passports in the safe in the bank, but I haven't gotten there. Will try to go there soon. When great-grandma Piller went back it must have been 1913, if Ma was 4-years-old, and it must have been 1924 when she was able to bring her back.
As far as your great-grandpa Piller is concerned, he was not completely useless, even if great-grandma yelled a lot at him. He worked in a dip room on south Main Street in Waterbury, probably making buttons. He worked long hours. He also helped in the garden by the house. He cut the grass and tended his grape arbor which was over a cement slab. The house on Spring Street was very small. You walked in a tiny living room, bedroom and kitchen. Next to the kitchen were a bathroom and another room. Upstairs there were two little bedrooms. The barnlike structure was like a shed, and then there was an outhouse beyond that. They originally had more land up to Warren Street, but that land was sold because money was scarce. The women in the neighborhood had regular Koffee Klatches, get-togethers, and your great-grandmother probably provided most of the baked goods.
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2012 22:09:13 -0500
Subject: Re: FW: Info/blog Grandmother B
From: Trudy Baumann
To: Joe Baumann
Hi Joe and Phyllis,
I'm starting out to respond to the very first email of October 2, 2012. I had sent this to Liz Miller and Theresia Vernale, and they discussed it with Bertha. I believe they replied to you. We'd like to see what they wrote, if possible. Thanks.
Great-grandmother Piller, Richard, their grandson from your grandmother's brother Joe Piller, lived with them on Spring Street in Cheshire.
Ma's birthday was on March 1, 1909, and she was born in Parabutsch, East of the Danube. (I have two books about Parabutsch that I took from Florida when the house was closed. They are in German and tell the history of her people. They have names and the streets of Parabutsch. The town is on a diagonal from NW to SE between Sombar and Novi Sad. Jules thinks it is what is now Serbia. I will look it up after I stop typing for tonight.
We think she probably left Ma there because things were difficult here too. Can Sherry or you find out when great-grandmother Teresia (nickname Reis) and Bernhard Piller and Ma and probably Susie first came to the USA? We have some immigration papers and passports in the safe in the bank, but I haven't gotten there. Will try to go there soon. When great-grandma Piller went back it must have been 1913, if Ma was 4-years-old, and it must have been 1924 when she was able to bring her back.
As far as your great-grandpa Piller is concerned, he was not completely useless, even if great-grandma yelled a lot at him. He worked in a dip room on south Main Street in Waterbury, probably making buttons. He worked long hours. He also helped in the garden by the house. He cut the grass and tended his grape arbor which was over a cement slab. The house on Spring Street was very small. You walked in a tiny living room, bedroom and kitchen. Next to the kitchen were a bathroom and another room. Upstairs there were two little bedrooms. The barnlike structure was like a shed, and then there was an outhouse beyond that. They originally had more land up to Warren Street, but that land was sold because money was scarce. The women in the neighborhood had regular Koffee Klatches, get-togethers, and your great-grandmother probably provided most of the baked goods.
From: Joseph Baumann
To: Sherry Brink; Trudy Baumann
Subject: RE: Dip Room
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 02:34:00 +0000
To: Sherry Brink; Trudy Baumann
Subject: RE: Dip Room
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 02:34:00 +0000
The dip room is where they had barrel
type containers with various chemicals in them.
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.
I am sending this to Trudy and Jules. They can correct anything I told you here.
Dad
I am sending this to Trudy and Jules. They can correct anything I told you here.
Dad
______________________________________________
Early memories:
SNEAKING BREAD
Your grandmother, as your grandfather, was always hungry. She tells of sneaking bread, dipping it in well water, and putting paprika on it. She remarked that it was so good. She remembers that some soldiers stayed at her house and they always had coffee. They always had coffee for her. One of the soldier’s wives visited and she gave your grandmother a doll dish set. She remarked that one was broken, but she still had one at the time of the interview.
AFFIE, BEST FRIEND
She had a girlfriend; I believe her last name was Holzauer, and she was always over at their house. The girlfriend lived three blocks over on Second Street, from where she lived. The girlfriend’s name was Affie. She remained friends for a long time and I remember her sending care packages to her and family during the WWII. When they went to Europe in 1973, they looked her up. She was living in the communistic zone. She also went to look at her house but they would not allow her to take any pictures. I specifically remember that the packages were wrapped in some type of white cloth. Anyway, one time the father of her girlfriend said to your grandmother, you are over here so much I am going to use you as post to hold up the house. Of course, he was kidding, but she remembers she was so scared that she did not go over there for a long time. She remarked that Affie got married at the age of 15 and before your grandmother left for the USA so that your grandmother could attend the wedding.
CEMETERY
She remembers that that the town had a cemetery that had mausoleums. Once a year they would open the mausoleum for relatives. Your grandmother went to the cemetery with her girlfriend and sneaked into one. Apparently, the bodies were not interred in a casket and she remembers seeing the body with the extra-long hair and fingernails that had continued to grow. She got the impression it was like a ghost. They got so scared they ran all the way home.
LINKA
She also remembers climbing a white Mulberry tree to pick and eat the berries. She remarked how good they were. She talks about two cousins she had in Europe but, specifically, she remembers one. Your grandmother said that she loved that cousin so much. Unfortunately, there was an accident when they were killing a pig. Her name was Linka. As your grandmother states, Linka slipped and hit her head on the axe. She started to convulse and died three days later. Your grandmother said that she would not let anybody touch her for the funeral. She states that she pressed her clothes, dressed her and put her in the coffin.
LICE
She also remembers the time that her grandfather went to the Gusthouse (I think literal translation is happy house, but I believe it means tavern). I presume she went with him because she states that she danced with her Opa so much that he got dizzy and fell on the floor. She then caught heck for this. She also remembers a time when she got lice in her hair. She was about 8- or 9-years-old. She states that they shaved her head and washed it with Kerosene.
Another remembrance is a time when soldiers came to the house. They were looking for food. Your grandmother was very young at the time. Apparently, hiding food was a norm, since I told you about the same issue with your grandfather. I guess everybody was hungry at the time. Anyway, your grandmother's grandparents had hidden grain in a barrel, put a cover on it and then put hay on top and had a hen sitting on eggs on top of the hay. When the soldiers asked for food, the grandparents said they had none. Unfortunately, your grandmother, thinking she was doing the right thing told the soldiers that there was grain in the barrel under the hen and they uncovered it and took it. I imagine the grandparents got in a lot of trouble but your grandmother does not elaborate. She does say that she got into trouble. She states that she lived with her grandparents from the time she was four to the time she was fifteen, at which time her mother went back to Europe to bring her home. She remembers the boat trip. She states that the name of the boat was the Cleveland. She states that she was on the boat during Thanksgiving and was very seasick. She said every noon they would serve tea and crackers for the passengers, and when she smelled the crackers as they ate them, she became sicker. She said that they traveled second class. I am unsure who paid for her fare. Your great-grandmother worked at a boarding house where there was a wealthy lady. Your grandfather remarked further on the tape that her fare was $220.00 and that she paid it back to a rich lady she worked for.
THERESA PILLER (BAUMANN) ARRIVING AT ELLIS ISLAND / MARY DANT & UNCLE ROHRBACHER / MARY & HELEN
Your grandmother arrived in New York in 1924, I think. They landed at Ellis Island but were able to go right through because they were second class. This is somewhat confusing because she states on the tape that your great-grandmother said they went right through customs because they were first class. She said that her first impression of New York was not good. She said there were papers flying and fires, I guess in garbage cans for people to keep warm. She does not say why. They went to Waterbury, Connecticut directly but she does not say how. I should remark here there are Kundle’s in her family. Kundle is the last name of your grandmother's relatives. A side note, she said she loved bananas and her Uncle Max had some bananas. She remembers her first meal there, which was soup with carrots, onions and parsnips and knedle. Also as an aside, as I now think about it, the reason food was such a big thing in their lives is because they both were always starving in their youth. They lived on Grandview Avenue in Waterbury. Dande (Mary Dant) and Uncle (Rohrbacher), as we called him (don't know his first name), lived there also. I do not know if it was a rent or if they owned it or who owned it. Dande and Uncle had two children, Mary (Jarneese) and Helen. When Helen was very young, Mary picked her up and accidentally dropped her. She became partially paralyzed and had some cognitive issues. Later in life she had to go in a nursing home. Dande was your great-grandmother’s sister. They all lived together in that house for a while. Your great-grandmother later lived in Bucks Hill Nursing & Rehab Center, North Main Street, Waterbury, Connecticut, I think, but I have to check this out. Dande later lived in another location in Waterbury, I think on the north side. I remember they had a big barn, garage or whatever in the back. I remember that Uncle always had a smoking pipe in his mouth. I remember visits there every so often. I used to spend time with Helen, talking to her but I remember it was difficult. Even then, I recall she needed help going from place to place. Dande was like your great-grandmother, mild mannered, quiet and a good person.
I researched Ellis Island and can find no info regarding your grandmother on the SS Cleveland in the years 1923-1925.
THERESA BAUMANN’S EMPLOYMENT
“I worked in a Boarding house for teachers
in Naugatuck. There were twenty four
teachers. I spoke no English at the
time. The manager was a Miss Glander. Aunt Minnie was the cook and
was a very nice lady. I stayed there for
a year. I met Louise there. She was responsible for me getting a job at
the Sperry’s. I also attended night
school at the same time. There were
several friends I made at night school.
They were Joseph Arnold, a German girl and some Swedish girls. They went to the Swedish church. They introduced me to pumpkin pie. The first batch of cookies I made at Sperry's
I burned to a crisp. Mrs. Sperry was
very nice and she bought me a cookbook.
The Sperry's had two children.
Their names were Allan and Carolyn. I loved those kids. Mrs.
Sperry pointed out what she wanted made in the cookbook. One year later I met Opa. Mrs. Sperry was so good to me. When I was to be married she bought the whole
wedding outfit. She said I could pick
anything I wanted but I was conservative and picked a Georgette Crepe Dress so I could wear it afterward. Mrs. Sperry came to the wedding which was at
my mother's house. The house later
became a funeral home. Opa went to
Buck's Hill to get 17 broilers one day before the wedding. My mother and Mary Dant did the work. The marriage was sort of an arranged
one. My mother took me out to Resi Dant
where Opa lived to meet him. Before
we left, Opa asked to me go out on Monday.
I said, maybe not.”
JULIUS BAUMANN’S ARRIVAL AT ELLIS ISLAND IN 1923
Your grandfather arrived at Ellis Island in December 6, 1923 on the ship the SS George Washington ocean liner. His fare was $212.00. When they got off the ship at 4:00 a.m., the buildings were all lit up. It was windy and dusty and your grandfather saw a lot of papers flying. He thought to himself, this can't be the USA. In Europe there were no papers flying, in fact there were no loose papers. He asked his sister, is this America? She replied, yes. He states that they got on the train to go to Waterbury, Connecticut at 6:00 pm. I am confused here because he does not say that they spent the day in New York City. I think maybe they got in at 4:00 p.m. Anyway, they arrived in Waterbury at 9:00 p.m., taking three hours to get there. The next day his sister sent him and Frankie Peltzer downtown to buy three loaves of bread (Frankie Peltzer was Resi Dant's son by her first marriage). They walked. It was three miles to downtown from Reidville. Your grandfather remembers that the bread was $.06 a loaf and he thought it took forever to get there. You may not remember Frankie. He became a policeman and usually directed traffic downtown. He was kind of a boisterous person but nice. I remember a story your grandfather told me of a time that he and your grandfather killed a snake, I guess with a knife, and Frankie then licking the blood off the knife blade.
JULIUS BAUMANN’S NATURALIZATION
Nick Uncle (Resi Dant’s second husband) took your grandfather right away to the county court house and Nick Uncle filled out all the papers for naturalization because your grandfather could not read, write, or speak American. Later in the tape he said it took five years to become a citizen and that it took him four more years to become a citizen and he did in 1929. He remarked that when he became a citizen, the judge shook his hand and that he was proud of him to become a citizen. So Ulie Dant in essence kept the promise to her mother, that he would become a citizen of the USA like all his other sisters. He states that he went to night school 75 nights a year for three years. He then also stated that your grandmother also attended night school during part of that time and that they were already married, but I don't think that is correct. He said that he only missed three nights in all that time.
EMPLOYMENT AT THE WATERBURY CLOCK COMPANY
Nick Uncle went with your grandfather to get your grandfather a job at the Waterbury Clock Company (1854-1944). His apprenticeship for cabinet making was invaluable since they hired him and put him to work making the rough cabinets for the clock. Another section did the finishing. His foreman’s name was a Mr. Roberts, and your grandfather said that he was like a father to your grandfather. Julius Baumann:
I went to work at 6:30 a.m. to start at 7:00 a.m. I would work till noon, at which time I would go to a close by German restaurant and wait tables for 30 minutes. For this I would get a free lunch. The owner of the restaurant was an individual by the name of Schroeder. I would then go back to work at the shop till 6:00 p.m. and then went back to the restaurant and worked waiting tables for another 30 minutes. This would give me a free supper and this way I saved $1.00 a day since the meals were $.45 each. From the restaurant I went to naturalization night school that went to 9:00 p.m. After school I caught the trolley back to Reidville and got home about 9:45 p.m.
PRANK ON JULIUS BAUMANN
The foreman, Mr. Roberts, was originally from England. He guided your grandfather by showing what to make and then your grandfather made it. There were two young men that worked there that thought they could do anything because their father was a foreman of the section with big saws. They played a prank on your grandfather. They smeared his work with stain, glue and paint. Your grandfather, at that point, could not speak or understand English so he did not know what to do. He said I was so upset I cried. Mr. Roberts saw him crying and asked what was wrong but your grandfather could not answer. The foreman sent for a Mr. Riel who worked in the boiler room and also spoke seven languages including German. When he came up he acted as interpreter and Mr. Roberts was able to find out what happened. Your grandfather told him in German and Mr. Riel translated to the foreman. The foreman fired both the brothers, Jean and Lionel. However, because their father was the foreman in that other section, he took them back three days later. They never bothered your grandfather again. However, two months later, your grandfather states that he had two dollars in his pocket and they stole it. I am unclear what your grandfather did because on the tape he said he was nice to them.
ANOTHER PRANK ON JULIUS BAUMANN
A short time later two other young gentlemen tried to play a trick on your grandfather. They told your grandfather to tell a certain old man in the finishing department to “kiss my ass.” Your grandfather did not know what that meant and thought he should do what they said. So, he went to the old man and told him “kiss my ass.” The man just looked at him, but your grandfather did not know why. The next day the same gentlemen told your grandfather to go back to the old man and say “You are a dumbbell” and your grandfather did. This time the old man told the foreman who again called the translator up from the boiler room. He asked your grandfather what had happened and your grandfather told him in German. When the foreman heard what had transpired he fired the two gentlemen. The good side for your grandfather was that it forged a relationship between the two and the old man started to teach him how to count. Your grandfather said that he started with 1-10. He would say the numbers and have your grandfather repeat after him. When they got to 11, your grandfather said the number as 1-1. The old man corrected him and had him say eleven. The old man did this all the way up to 100 and that is how your grandfather learned to count in English. Your grandfather states that he told the old man that he honored and appreciated him and that he was sorry for what happened. The foremen liked your grandfather so much that every weekend he would take your grandfather to his farm. The foreman told him to pick as much fruit as he wanted to bring home. He said that Bertha Dant and Resi Dant could not believe all the fruit he was bringing home.
FROM CLOCKS TO BRASS
Your grandfather states that when he went to work for the Waterbury Clock Company he started out at $.30 per hour. He said that after five weeks he received an increase $.35 an hour. Then five weeks later he received an increase to $.40 an hour and after another five weeks he received an increase $.45 an hour. Bertha Dant and Ungella Dant were working at Scovill at the time. The foreman there told Bertha Dant and Ungella Dant he could use another good person and that he could use their brother, Julius. So, your grandfather went down to see him, and after speaking with him asked him what the pay was. The foreman said he could pay $.50 per hour. Your grandfather accepted the job and then told Mr. Roberts that he was leaving to go to work for Scovill. Mr. Roberts said he was sorry that your grandfather was leaving but he could not match the pay of $.50 per hour. He wished your grandfather good luck.
PROMOTIONS AT SCOVILL
Your grandfather's first job was piecework making mirrors. He was making $.65 an hour and to quote him, I thought I was a millionaire. He also worked 55 hours a week instead of the 50 hours a week he worked at the Waterbury Clock Company. I thought, since I was making $30.00 to $35.00 a week, I could pay my fare back in no time. At that time he was paying $10.00 a week board. His foreman was a man by the name of Charlie Poffert. The timekeeper was a woman who was let go for stealing and the person that was a squealer also was let go. Charlie Poffert's wife was an Irish woman who worked with your grandfather at the Waterbury Clock Company as a timekeeper for two years. Your grandfather, at that time, was sent to toll setting. One day he saw the general foreman come into the department and was speaking to your grandfather’s foreman, Charlie Poffert. The general foreman’s name was Bill Black and lived in Cheshire. As it was, they were talking about your grandfather but of course he was not aware of that. Then Charlie Poffert introduced your grandfather to Bill Black. Charlie was promoted to foreman of three departments and would be working from another department. He went on to say that Charlie had recommended your grandfather to take over as assistant foreman in the department he was working in, and he is the man for the job. So he was still reporting to Poffert but as assistant foreman of one department. Your grandfather said he would try to do a good job and Bill Black said that is what he wanted to hear. From there he became a supervisor. Your grandfather said that he always made money, even during the depression, and was never out of a job. In Christmas week he remembers he made $16.00, which was the lowest he ever made but he at least had a job during the deepest depression. He was then a salaried worker. He states the depression lasted five or six years. He then makes a comment that he and your grandmother bought the Cheshire house in 1932 during the deepest depression.
JULIUS BAUMANN’S VERSION OF HOW HE AND THERESA BAUMANN MET AND THE WEDDING
He states that your great-grandmother was very acquainted with German friends and people in general. She was friendly with my sis and her mother (I am not sure what is meant here. I think he means Resi Dant, Tante?, and I am not sure what he means by “and her mother”, but it could be your great-grandmother and Resi Dant speaking to your great-grandmother). She said there is a nice German boy and why don't you bring out your daughter and introduce her to him. He goes on to say that he was going out with another girl at the time. Her name was Ann Davis. This was called off abruptly just before the introduction. When he was asked why he was hesitant to say why, he then said for religious reasons and did not want to say what Ann’s aunt said. When I stopped going out with her she cried and cried like anything. Then your grandfather states in a low key that Ann’s aunt was a Catholic hater. Then he whispers, I don't want to say here because people will think I am prejudice but I am not. He goes on to say that people today are different, smarter, and mingle more but not then. The girlfriend lived with her aunt, sister and brother. They were not married. He said that he told Resi Dant and she said to buy her a nice religious book. He did that and when the aunt found out she was very angry and threw out the book. The girlfriend said, “Why don't they go away?” Your grandfather said, you have your family here and I have my family. She said, I don't care, let’s go away, but your grandfather refused. He said I know what time it is and this is finished. He said he felt sorry for her. He then went on to say, that he met your grandmother via the introduction mentioned before. He said at first sight he fell in love. She was a cute girl with waffle waves in her hair. She was just 18-years-old. He mentions in the interview, he can still remember the dress she had on. He said it was April when they met. When your great-grandmother and your grandmother were ready to go, he walked with them up top where they would catch the trolley car. That was maybe a mile or two. It was where the then Reymond’s Bakery was. It later became Sunbeam. It is also close to where Blackie’s is today. Before they left he made a date with her.
JULIUS BAUMANN AND THERESA PILLER’S FIRST DATE
She worked for rich people (boarding house for teachers) in Naugatuck. I asked her if she wanted to go out tomorrow night. She said, Maybe I do. Julius sad, I will ask if I can get off. Your grandfather says there was a very nice lady working there by the name of Aunt Minnie. Your grandmother asked her if she could have the time off and Aunt Minnie said yes, that she would do the dishes and her other work when she finished her cooking and work. So the next day, your grandfather does not say what day but I assume it is a weekend, your grandmother took the trolley to Waterbury and transferred to go to Hamilton Park. They met at the rose garden in the park. The Elizabeth Park Rose Garden is located at this link (on Web site). Your grandfather goes on to say that he was tired and sleepy. He states that they walked around the park and then sat on a bench. Your grandmother states that he fell asleep on the bench and a policeman told them to move but he states that was another time. He said they talked and that he was not fresh. At the time, he was boarding with his sister Bertha Dant. After leaving the park they went to Reidville to Bertha Dant’s house and she made supper for them. Then he took her back to the trolley and she went to downtown Waterbury and then transferred to downtown Naugatuck. When she got off the trolley, she had to walk up a big hill and through a schoolyard. Anyway, he said that the next time he would go to meet her.
“So, the next time I met her (Theresa), I took the trip to Naugatuck. She had set up a wooden bench (a piece of wood nailed between two trees) and we sat on the bench and listened to the choir rehearsal at the Swedish church that was close by.” Your grandfather also mentions that they loved it up. After a time period your grandfather remarked, “Gees, I think I hear the trolley coming” and your grandmother replied, “yes.” So he gave your grandmother a kiss, said goodnight and ran down the long hill going through the schoolyard. He states that, unfortunately, he got lost and then all of a sudden he saw the trolley car go right past his face. That was the last trolley car of the night and he had to walk to six miles to Waterbury in the middle of the night. He also must have missed the last trolley to Reidville since he states that he also had to walk all the way home to Reidville, three miles, arriving home at 6:00 a.m.
He was living with Frank Uncle and Bertha Dante at the time, and when he walked in the door, he was approached by Frank Uncle who was like a proxy father to him. Frank Uncle looked at your grandfather and said, Where have you been all night? Your grandfather said, I was out with my girl. Frank Uncle said, "Is this the time you come home? Good people come home before midnight." Your grandfather retorted to Frank Uncle, "Let me tell you what happened." Frank Uncle exclaimed, "No alibi, don't do this anymore." Your grandfather went on to tell Frank Uncle that he missed the trolley, anyway. Frank Uncle said, "It serves you right." Then he said, "You know what, go and get washed up and get dressed, we are going to the German Church." So your grandfather, without any sleep, walked with Frank Uncle to the German Church which was two and a half miles away. Your grandfather remarked that after that he always left earlier, when visiting your grandmother, so that he would not miss the trolley.
BLACK DOG BLURB
On another occasion, a black dog,
similar to Michael's (Baumann), followed me all the way home from visiting
Oma. At first, I thought he was going
grab me and bite me. However, all
he did was follow behind me. I
don't know if he was lonesome or what.
When we got to Reidville and I went into the house he laid down
outside. When I awoke in the morning he
was gone.
JULIUS BAUMANN’S VERSION UP TO AND INCLUDING THE WEDDING
We were planning for the wedding and did not have a car, so we walked all over. We saw the priest, went to the photography place and a fancy dress store. I remember sitting in the dress store for three hours while Oma tried on dresses. She had the dress, veil, and shoes picked out and I remember the dress was beautiful. At this point, Oma already worked for Mr. Sperry. This was the time of prohibition and there were no restaurants like today, only speakeasies. Instead we would go to Bertha Dant and she would make us supper.
“When Mrs. Sperry found out that Oma had picked out all the wedding clothes, she changed everything and helped Oma buy the outfits and paid for everything. After we were married, she continued to work for Sperry's. Mr. Sperry’s father was the president of Scovill and he, the son, Oma's employer, was vice president. In the winter they lived in a house on Willow Street in Waterbury. The trolley went by there and it was now easier to visit Oma or for her to visit me. In the summer they lived in a summer house in Middlebury, Connecticut.” Your grandfather pauses and states that Mr. Sperry died young, and then continues, “One day Mr. Sperry asked me if I wanted to see to see Oma on the weekends when they were in Middlebury. I told him that I did not have a car. He arranged for the chauffer to pick me up every weekend, to and from Middlebury so that I could visit Oma. They were really nice people. Mrs. Sperry came to the wedding but Mr. Sperry could not because the factory was so busy. We had 42 people for the wedding reception. The reception was at her mother’s house. The house was long and had a living room, dining room, and kitchen with sliding doors. The house is now a funeral home, and it is the funeral home that Helena was buried from. We had lots of chairs and a band. The members of the band were all men that came from our home town. We were dancing until 2:00 a.m. I made a barrel of wine. Some was to be used for the wedding and some to be saved for the first child. That part that was to be saved I put in a five-gallon glass jug and sealed it with a plug and wax. The wine was a good wine, nice and sweet from Muscatel grapes. I bought 18 live chickens and Oma's mother and Oma’s mother’s sister, Dande (Mary Rohrbacher), helped me clean them and they cooked them. They and Oma made all the other food as well as did all the baking. We had a wonderful time. At least 25 people came from the shop at 6:30 p.m. and stayed until midnight. They ate all they wanted and all had a good time. In the morning, we got up and started to dance again and eat until 4:00 p.m. Then we packed everything up, got dressed and took the trolley to Reidville, where we stayed at Bertha Dant's house for 10 days. That was our honeymoon. Mrs. Sperry gave the time off to Oma. Then I went to work again at Scovill and Oma went to work at Sperry's. I still lived in Reidville and Oma stayed at the Sperry's. By the time we were married, I had saved at least $2,000.00 which was a lot of money at that time. I only earned $65.00 a week for a 60-hour work week. I saved $1.00 a day by eating at the restaurant where I waited tables. At the time, I spoke limited English, and when I waited tables I had to recite what was on the menu. For example, I would say we have Hungarian goulash and stuffed peppers. I would pronounce peppers as “papers.” Years later, friends would say, “Julius, what do you have today, stuffed papers?” At this point he laughed.
JULIUS BAUMANN’S VERSION UP TO AND INCLUDING THE WEDDING
We were planning for the wedding and did not have a car, so we walked all over. We saw the priest, went to the photography place and a fancy dress store. I remember sitting in the dress store for three hours while Oma tried on dresses. She had the dress, veil, and shoes picked out and I remember the dress was beautiful. At this point, Oma already worked for Mr. Sperry. This was the time of prohibition and there were no restaurants like today, only speakeasies. Instead we would go to Bertha Dant and she would make us supper.
“When Mrs. Sperry found out that Oma had picked out all the wedding clothes, she changed everything and helped Oma buy the outfits and paid for everything. After we were married, she continued to work for Sperry's. Mr. Sperry’s father was the president of Scovill and he, the son, Oma's employer, was vice president. In the winter they lived in a house on Willow Street in Waterbury. The trolley went by there and it was now easier to visit Oma or for her to visit me. In the summer they lived in a summer house in Middlebury, Connecticut.” Your grandfather pauses and states that Mr. Sperry died young, and then continues, “One day Mr. Sperry asked me if I wanted to see to see Oma on the weekends when they were in Middlebury. I told him that I did not have a car. He arranged for the chauffer to pick me up every weekend, to and from Middlebury so that I could visit Oma. They were really nice people. Mrs. Sperry came to the wedding but Mr. Sperry could not because the factory was so busy. We had 42 people for the wedding reception. The reception was at her mother’s house. The house was long and had a living room, dining room, and kitchen with sliding doors. The house is now a funeral home, and it is the funeral home that Helena was buried from. We had lots of chairs and a band. The members of the band were all men that came from our home town. We were dancing until 2:00 a.m. I made a barrel of wine. Some was to be used for the wedding and some to be saved for the first child. That part that was to be saved I put in a five-gallon glass jug and sealed it with a plug and wax. The wine was a good wine, nice and sweet from Muscatel grapes. I bought 18 live chickens and Oma's mother and Oma’s mother’s sister, Dande (Mary Rohrbacher), helped me clean them and they cooked them. They and Oma made all the other food as well as did all the baking. We had a wonderful time. At least 25 people came from the shop at 6:30 p.m. and stayed until midnight. They ate all they wanted and all had a good time. In the morning, we got up and started to dance again and eat until 4:00 p.m. Then we packed everything up, got dressed and took the trolley to Reidville, where we stayed at Bertha Dant's house for 10 days. That was our honeymoon. Mrs. Sperry gave the time off to Oma. Then I went to work again at Scovill and Oma went to work at Sperry's. I still lived in Reidville and Oma stayed at the Sperry's. By the time we were married, I had saved at least $2,000.00 which was a lot of money at that time. I only earned $65.00 a week for a 60-hour work week. I saved $1.00 a day by eating at the restaurant where I waited tables. At the time, I spoke limited English, and when I waited tables I had to recite what was on the menu. For example, I would say we have Hungarian goulash and stuffed peppers. I would pronounce peppers as “papers.” Years later, friends would say, “Julius, what do you have today, stuffed papers?” At this point he laughed.
COURTSHIP/WEDDING; THERESA BAUMANN’S
VERSION
Resi Dant got them together. Opa (Julius) had a birthday party and she was invited. She refused because she already had a date with a person by the name of Joseph Arnold. She did not tell your Opa why she refused. The next day your great-grandmother brought your grandmother out to Reidville to meet your grandfather. It was a Wednesday because she was off on Wednesdays and Sundays. They made a date for the following Sunday and met at Hamilton Park. They walked around the park and sat on a bench holding hands. Your grandfather dozed off and a policeman came by and told them to move. In regard to the question of how your grandmother felt about your grandfather, she did not indicate that it was love at first sight as your grandfather did. In fact, she commented that in those days there were arranged marriages and that was how it started off. She comments that they started dating on June 18th and your grandfather gave her a diamond engagement ring on Christmas. She remarked that it was small ring but a good one. Obviously, she accepted since she states that one year later on June 18th they were married. She did not add any other comments.
Resi Dant got them together. Opa (Julius) had a birthday party and she was invited. She refused because she already had a date with a person by the name of Joseph Arnold. She did not tell your Opa why she refused. The next day your great-grandmother brought your grandmother out to Reidville to meet your grandfather. It was a Wednesday because she was off on Wednesdays and Sundays. They made a date for the following Sunday and met at Hamilton Park. They walked around the park and sat on a bench holding hands. Your grandfather dozed off and a policeman came by and told them to move. In regard to the question of how your grandmother felt about your grandfather, she did not indicate that it was love at first sight as your grandfather did. In fact, she commented that in those days there were arranged marriages and that was how it started off. She comments that they started dating on June 18th and your grandfather gave her a diamond engagement ring on Christmas. She remarked that it was small ring but a good one. Obviously, she accepted since she states that one year later on June 18th they were married. She did not add any other comments.
We later took a rent in Waterbury on
Oak Street. The landlord's name was
Sherrelo. Four of her family died of
tuberculosis, two of which died while they lived there. I think your
grandparents later were looking at another rent because he stated on the tape
about paying $25.00 a month for four not very big rooms, but then they decided
to look to buy a house. They looked all
over the nearby towns and then looked in Cheshire. He did not say how they did that because
there is no indication that they had a car. They looked at a house in Cheshire
that was owned by a man named John Petrowski.
Your grandfather said he was a drunk and did not take care of the house. Your grandfather liked the house and went to
the Cheshire realtor by the name of Frank Rice.
He was the big realtor in Cheshire even when I was a teenager. When they asked Petrowski how much he wanted
for the house, he said $4,800. Your
grandfather said, “sold,” and he bought the house for $4,800 (Please note that
in a previous blog I stated the price was $3,000 which was my
understanding). The house included five
acres. Your grandfather states that they
had to fix everything up. He said the
ceiling was hanging down and the wallpaper was hanging off the walls. At this point, your grandmother was pregnant
with Jules.
MORE HOUSE PURCHASING CONVERSATION
Your grandfather talks about purchasing
the house in Cheshire. He said that to
borrow money from some people, the interest rate was as much as 3 percent. He said the banks charged 1/2 of 1%. He decided to go to Scovill Credit
Union. He could pay $1,500.00 down and
get $2,000. He said he went to Dicky
Tice' grandfather (I never knew this until I heard the tapes) who had the
mortgage and told him he will pay him off (the mortgage). Mr. Tice asked
why. Your grandfather said, “Because I pay you 5 percent interest.” During this same time, Resi Dant
asked your grandfather if he needed money.
She said, "Julius, do you need money for the mortgage?" Your grandfather replied, “I could use
$1,000.00.” She asked, “Could you use
$1,500.00?” Your grandfather said,
“Sure.” So, he paid off Tice's
grandfather and secured the money for Resi Dant at 3 percent. That was more than she would get at the bank
and he would pay 2 percent less. He
indicated that he was quite proud of that because it helped him and Oma. In his previous conversation, regarding the
purchase of the house, he did not mention this percent savings.
At this point, Jules makes some comments about memories during the war on this tape
At this point, Jules makes some comments about memories during the war on this tape
BUILDING THE BARN/ACCIDENT
Your grandfather continues by saying
that your grandmother did all the cooking for the workers and he provided the
beer. He said that the workers would help until about 9:00 p.m. and then
they would eat, drink beer and sing. He goes on to say that a gentleman
by the name of Oscar Habbel was the foreman of the carpentry shop in Scovill.
There were about 60 workers in that shop. Your grandfather states that
Oscar laid everything out. He talks about a German man by the name of
Mutter who was one of the workers. He indicates that a lot of the workers
from the carpenter shop helped build the barn. Your grandfather digresses
at this point to state that there were only four houses on Cornwall Avenue from
their house to the corner of Mountain Road. I know that Carl Uncle, Frank
Uncle and other relatives helped also. He goes on to say that these
workers came out on the weekend and sheeted all the sides and one half of the roof
in one day. This was when your grandfather fell. He states he was
not satisfied with the smoothness of a board, and leaned over to plane the
wood. He does not say, but I think the scaffold tipped and fell.
All he said was that the scaffold came down and he fell 17 feet to the
ditch (I think was the trench for the foundation). He then said on the
tape, “I cut my thing off here,” but he does not say what and then states he
could have been dead. He said it was on a Sunday and they always went to
church on Sunday. He also digresses that they did not have much money but
would put something in the collection box even if it was only a quarter.
He then goes on to say that he was bleeding heavily and they took him to
see Dr. Moore but the doctor was out. He states that poor Oma kept
putting towels on the cut to try to stop the bleeding but it did not stop.
He goes on to say that Carl Uncle and Frank Uncle were there and
they helped. He then states that they played cards after dinner and
he laid down on the lawn. He said he could not stand up anymore and was
dizzy from the loss of blood and almost passed out. At 7:00 p.m. they
went up to see if Dr. Moore had come back in. He came down right away,
looked at your grandfather, put something on to stop the blood and put in 22
stitches. The doctor said about a ¼-1/2 inch more and his jugular vein would
have been cut.
BUILDING CHICKEN COOPS
So I and Oma did all the fixing and
then we built the first chicken coop. Jules was 10 pounds when born and
your grandfather said that she used a tool to hold her up (not sure what that
means). He said that even though she was pregnant she helped him on the
chicken coop roof until 2:00 a.m. Your grandfather said that your
great-grandmother said to your grandmother, don't be lazy or your kids will be
lazy. They started building the chicken coop in 1934 and finished in
1935. I am not sure if he was referring to the barn which included a
chicken coop below and a cow stall or the first separate chicken coop. He
goes on to say that they put the cow on one side and 150 chickens on the
other. Your grandfather also states that they made $150.00 profit on
those chickens the first year and had their own milk, eggs, cheese, butter and,
therefore, they saved on food. He then said that 10 years later they
built the second coop. Again, I am not sure what he refers to since the
next coop to be built was the first half of the long chicken house next to the
fence and boundary to Weiss. Then they added on the next chicken house to
double the size after they purchased the additional ten acres from Crowe.
He also said that they built the barn in 1936 so I believe he first is
referring to the first half of the long hen house but I do not remember cows in
there. He said people bought eggs, butter, and milk from them and they
made money. In their spare time, they made the barn cement floor and
cement walls all by hand.
SHINGLES ON THE VERANDA/ACCIDENT
So, your grandfather goes on to say
that he strained the ligaments in his ankles and legs so he bathed them in
Epsom salts as much as he could and continued working. He also remembers a little later when Jules
was older, in 1936 or 1937 (Jules would be three-years-old), he wanted to put
some shingles on the veranda on the house.
He propped a ladder up to the roof and started up the ladder. He got about three-quarters of the way up and
the ladder spokes broke and he fell down hitting the cement below. He remembers that all the fingers on his hand
were dislocated. He states that he went
to Dr. Moore’s office. He does not elaborate how. I assume your grandmother took him since it
would be hard to steer with dislocated fingers.
He said Dr. Moore snapped them all back into place. He said the next day
he went back to work but did not use that ladder. He sates he was about 32-years-old at the
time and said it was 1936 or 37.
BUYING/SELLING CHICKS/CHICKENS
He then starts talking about the farm and the animals on the farm. He states that the most chickens they had at one time was 2,000 and the most eggs picked in one day was 2,300 (think about it--that not only means collecting the eggs, but candling them, weighing them and boxing them.) A side note, he does not mention it, but sometimes if we had too many eggs we would box them in cardboard crates (I think it would hold 60-dozen eggs) and we would bring them down to the auction in Hamden to sell. Hamden was about 15 miles from Cheshire. While it is not mentioned, I remember that we would buy our baby chicks from them. They used to incubate the eggs there. I also remember that I was so allergic to the dust in the chicken coops, and by the time I was finished picking the eggs in the coops I was responsible for, I was sneezing and coughing and my eyes would be tearing. Well, enough for digressing. He said that when the chicks were big enough, the old hens in the coops were sold to Mr. Clark. The chickens coop would be cleaned, disinfected (to get rid of any lice), fresh straw laid down and the young chicks were put in the coops. A side note, I already elaborated on the wonders of asphyxiation while pumping the disinfectant, smelling the pungent ammonia in the chicken manure while cleaning the coops, and the thrill of spreading it in the fields and having it blow back into your eyes. He goes on to say that Mr. Clark was a Cossack and came from the Poland side. He goes on to say that the Clarks had two sons, Benjamin and Morris. They were the same ages as your grandfather. Benjamin married a French girl and Morris married an Italian girl.
He then starts talking about the farm and the animals on the farm. He states that the most chickens they had at one time was 2,000 and the most eggs picked in one day was 2,300 (think about it--that not only means collecting the eggs, but candling them, weighing them and boxing them.) A side note, he does not mention it, but sometimes if we had too many eggs we would box them in cardboard crates (I think it would hold 60-dozen eggs) and we would bring them down to the auction in Hamden to sell. Hamden was about 15 miles from Cheshire. While it is not mentioned, I remember that we would buy our baby chicks from them. They used to incubate the eggs there. I also remember that I was so allergic to the dust in the chicken coops, and by the time I was finished picking the eggs in the coops I was responsible for, I was sneezing and coughing and my eyes would be tearing. Well, enough for digressing. He said that when the chicks were big enough, the old hens in the coops were sold to Mr. Clark. The chickens coop would be cleaned, disinfected (to get rid of any lice), fresh straw laid down and the young chicks were put in the coops. A side note, I already elaborated on the wonders of asphyxiation while pumping the disinfectant, smelling the pungent ammonia in the chicken manure while cleaning the coops, and the thrill of spreading it in the fields and having it blow back into your eyes. He goes on to say that Mr. Clark was a Cossack and came from the Poland side. He goes on to say that the Clarks had two sons, Benjamin and Morris. They were the same ages as your grandfather. Benjamin married a French girl and Morris married an Italian girl.
JEWISH CEREMONY ALTERED
So, Benjamin married a French girl and
Morris married an Italian girl. Remember that they were Jewish. Benjamin
had three daughters (I don't believe that I ever met the wife of Mr. Clark or
the wives or children of Bennie and Morris).
Your grandfather states that the Clarks were like family to us. He
goes on to say that Mr. Clark said, “Julius, I wouldn’t mind if he married
a gentile, but what am I going to do?”
Your grandfather said, “I don't know.”
Anyway, Mr. Clark, senior, became sick and went into New Haven
Hospital. Your grandfather went to visit
him there accompanied by Morris. Your grandfather remembers the old Mr. Clark
saying, “I wish I could get out of here. All they feed me is rice and
more rice.” He had high blood pressure.
He said that Mr. Clark was happy to see your grandfather. After that, when the Clarks came to get the chickens,
he told your grandfather, "you do it all, weigh the chickens, tell me how
much, and I will write out a check to you. After the father died Bennie and
Morris ran the business. When he died,
Bennie went to open the casket for your grandfather to view Mr. Clark. The
Rabbi objected since it was Jewish custom for a closed-casket ceremony and that
the person had to be buried before sundown on the day they died. He said the Rabbi almost had a fit. They put a white sheet over the person and
the Rabbi sits there and prays. Both sons told the Rabbi, they
were going to open it anyway, that your grandfather was a good friend. Your grandfather remembers that he was all
purple.
Your grandfather states that being able
to view the body was a real honor. He goes on to say that both he and
your grandmother had to wear yamakas.
He then states that they did business with both Bennie and Morris until
they died. He mentions that Benny’s wife
had a child from someone else but does not elaborate on this.
TEAMWORK
Your grandfather then starts talking about early life in general. He continues that the whole family worked hard as a team (maybe he developed the teamwork concept?). He states, "We delivered eggs and made money. That's how we came up. Hard work, but we made it. "
Your grandfather then starts talking about early life in general. He continues that the whole family worked hard as a team (maybe he developed the teamwork concept?). He states, "We delivered eggs and made money. That's how we came up. Hard work, but we made it. "
JULES’ HOSPITAL BIRTH
He talks about children’s births. He said when Jules was born, Oma said to Dr. Moore, "I wish I could get out of here (hospital). I am going to die from heat.” A side note, I remember visiting Waterbury Hospital as a child and the heat was suffocating. I think they kept the hospitals a lot hotter then. Anyway, Dr. Moore replied “thank God you are in here. Do you know how cold it is outside, 26 degrees below zero.” It was January 1934. There was a huge snow storm at the time as well. I guess it continued to snow off and on until February 19 because your grandfather remarks that Mike Sudo, a neighbor, came with the horses but he stops there and does not say if it was to plow. He goes on to say that the trolley cars were stuck and the town ran out of food. He said that the snow was six to seven feet high and it took three plows together to move the snow.
He talks about children’s births. He said when Jules was born, Oma said to Dr. Moore, "I wish I could get out of here (hospital). I am going to die from heat.” A side note, I remember visiting Waterbury Hospital as a child and the heat was suffocating. I think they kept the hospitals a lot hotter then. Anyway, Dr. Moore replied “thank God you are in here. Do you know how cold it is outside, 26 degrees below zero.” It was January 1934. There was a huge snow storm at the time as well. I guess it continued to snow off and on until February 19 because your grandfather remarks that Mike Sudo, a neighbor, came with the horses but he stops there and does not say if it was to plow. He goes on to say that the trolley cars were stuck and the town ran out of food. He said that the snow was six to seven feet high and it took three plows together to move the snow.
JOSEPH BAUMANN’S HOSPITAL BIRTH
After your grandfather talked about
Jules birth, he talks about what happened when your father was born. He states that it was cold also at that
time. From Cheshire to Blackies hot dog
stand is an uphill stretch. He said that when he took your grandmother
into the hospital there were ice ruts on the road. They were particularly deep
in front of Blackies, so much so that the bottom of the car hit the top of the
ruts and scraped the off the ice. He goes on to say that your grandmother and I
almost died in childbirth. He states the
afterbirth (placenta) came first. Your
grandmother was in labor for so long that she said to Dr. Moore that she wishes
she was dead. Dr. Moore later told your
grandfather little did she know that in these situations 99 percent of the time
the mother dies but sometimes the child lives.
The cause would be bleeding to death.
He said to your grandfather, “you are lucky, you got both.” He said this was because your grandmother was
sick for two days before with double pneumonia and she just got up and worked
anyway. Your grandfather does not recall
why they did not go to the doctor before.
He goes on to say that Dr. Moore did everything from birth to tonsils to
adenoid etc. He stated that Dr. Moore
took good care of us and was a good friend.
MORE BABY CONVERSATION
Your grandfather continues about Jules
saying he was a beautiful baby. He
called Jules a roly-poly. Talking about both of us, he states, “I was good to
them and they were good to me. I had a
happy life. I never gave the children a
licking, but Oma did. I said to Oma, I
come from the factory and do not want to punish the children when I see them
for a little time.” Then, he goes on to
talk about Jules. He said that when
Jules was about two, he got his head stuck between the crib rails. He goes on to say that Jules was crying
because he could not get his head out.
Oma did not know what to do at first and she could not get his head out. She was afraid he was going to choke. So, Oma got a saw and cut the railings
off so Jules would be freed. He also goes on to say that when Jules was
about four he decided to climb up the apple tree that was in the backyard. He said that Oma had a fit. She did not know how to get him down. Finally, she got a ladder to get him down. (Remember these
are your grandfather's words. I don't
know if he thought this or if she told him this. To me, she was pretty resourceful and handled
matters fairly calmly---except when she got mad at your grandfather.) Then he goes on
to say that Oma dressed Jules up as a little girl because she wanted a girl. (I guess she must
have been really disappointed when I came around since it was another boy and
at that point she could not have any more children.) “I guess Jules
got lice on one occasion when very young and she tried to comb them out and he
cried and cried. Your grandfather said
Jules had curly blond hair. (This is true because your grandmother saved
the hair, I guess after the first haircut, in bags and I saw them.) He makes a
comment here that Joe (me) wasn't bad looking. He also said I was always sick.
THERESIA (BAYER) VERNALE'S BIRTH
Your grandfather continues that four days later Gisi Dant went into labor at home. Carl Uncle called
Your grandfather continues that four days later Gisi Dant went into labor at home. Carl Uncle called
Dr. Moore but misunderstood what he
said about bringing her to the hospital.
Finally, in the middle of the night, poor Carl Uncle was so scared that
he went to your grandfather’s house to ask what to do. Your grandfather said
that Gisi Dant needs to go to the hospital immediately. Your grandfather, along with Carl
Uncle, drove her to the hospital. I am not sure of this but your
grandfather said that your grandmother’s brother, Joe, was sleeping at the
house. He woke him up and said to him,
“you drive and I will sit with Gisi.”
Halfway there she yelled, “The baby’s coming, the baby’s
coming.” Your grandfather told Joe,
“Don’t stop for anything.” Gisi Dant said, “Take a towel and hold back the
baby.” When they got to the hospital, your grandfather remarked, "Thank
God." Dr. Moore, who was called,
had everything set up. They got Gisi Dant into hospital elevator but did not
make to the delivery room. Terry was
born in the elevator.
DICKY TICE
At this point in the recording your
grandmother interjects. She gives some advice to future
great-grandchildren as well as some thoughts on Jules and Joe. She said that no matter the pain (I think she
is referring to childbirth but I am not sure), you forget quickly. She said that without children there is
no family life--no life. Then she makes
reference to you and the great-grandchildren.
She then makes a comment that when I was young there was a singer, who
appeared on TV, Julius LaRosa.
She then loses her train of thought and diverts to family remembrances. She said there was a period of time that I
constantly sand the Marine Hymn, "From to Halls of Montezuma to the Halls
of Tripoli." I do remember doing
that only I remember humming it. She
said your grandfather said to me, “Doesn't your mouth ever get tired, that’s
all I hear day and night.” She goes on
to say that I was always a happy-go-lucky kind of person whereas Jules was
always the serious type. She talks about
my boyfriends and that we would sit on the floor but she does not say doing what. She mentions Dicky Tice. We used to go to school together. She then said that we used to sit on the
kitchen floor gabbing. She then said
that she used to sit on the floor with us.
She said that one day I said to Dicky, "Gee, Mom looks just like
us, doesn't she?" She does not say what Dicky said in reply. She goes on to say that she used to like to
do that and that we went to school together and graduated together. She mentions that Dicky Tice's father used to
be the superintendent of the Waterbury Slaughter House that was next to the
railroad station. She goes on to say
that the parents moved to Florida. Then
your grandmother said that I used to always like to eat and, when my friends
came over, she would have something to drink (she does not say what) and
cookies or things like that. A side
note, I do recall one time your grandmother went to some clinic someplace not
to nearby. She was gone for a while. While away, I did some of the cooking and I
remember Dicky Tice coming over and we baked a boxed white cake with some kind
of chocolate butter frosting. Your
grandfather and Jules liked it. I recall
when she returned, she was unhappy or distressed because I talked about the
cake we made and I guess did not ask what happened. To this day I do not know where she went,
what she had, or what was done and your grandfather never mentioned it
either. Maybe Jules knows.
BAUMANNS’ FAVORITE COW
(Actually, this cow was a
hermaphrodite. It was a twin and wound
up as a steer, no genitals.) The genitals could have been defectively still
inside the cow. Therefore it was a steer
as far as beef goes.)
This cow became a pet. I used to ride this cow. It was the cow that in a previous submission I told of riding the cow and suddenly it stopped running and I flew over the horns. Then the cow started up, but luckily jumped over me. I recall the cow was tan in color and very friendly. The cow was truly a pet. Your grandfather, when asked about this cow, said that it grew to about 950-1,000 pounds in a matter of 9-10 months. He goes on to say that when butchered, there would be about 450 pounds of usable beef. The cow was fed molasses and grain as well as grass and hay. When the time came for the cow to be butchered, he said to himself, "I am not going to kill this cow." So, they called a butcher from Wolcott to come and pick up the cow to bring to the slaughter house. I, Joe, remember when he came with the truck. They had a plank walkway for the cow to get into the back of the truck. I also remember going to the slaughterhouse to pick up the meat. It was a long white-covered cement building. Anyway, your grandfather goes on to say that the butcher said it would take two weeks and then the meat would be ready to pick up, all cut up. After butchering, he hung the carcass in the cellar for a while to age. Your grandfather and I picked it up.
This cow became a pet. I used to ride this cow. It was the cow that in a previous submission I told of riding the cow and suddenly it stopped running and I flew over the horns. Then the cow started up, but luckily jumped over me. I recall the cow was tan in color and very friendly. The cow was truly a pet. Your grandfather, when asked about this cow, said that it grew to about 950-1,000 pounds in a matter of 9-10 months. He goes on to say that when butchered, there would be about 450 pounds of usable beef. The cow was fed molasses and grain as well as grass and hay. When the time came for the cow to be butchered, he said to himself, "I am not going to kill this cow." So, they called a butcher from Wolcott to come and pick up the cow to bring to the slaughter house. I, Joe, remember when he came with the truck. They had a plank walkway for the cow to get into the back of the truck. I also remember going to the slaughterhouse to pick up the meat. It was a long white-covered cement building. Anyway, your grandfather goes on to say that the butcher said it would take two weeks and then the meat would be ready to pick up, all cut up. After butchering, he hung the carcass in the cellar for a while to age. Your grandfather and I picked it up.
I can't remember but I know it was
not Bessie. Your grandfather said it was
Mootsie but I know the cow that was called Mootsie. It was your
grandmother’s cow, was a milking cow and was not this cow.
JOSEPH BAUMANN’S COW
So the meat was picked up and put into
the freezer. Your grandmother left some liver out to cook the next day.
I guess your grandfather liked liver. I never did. The only
liver I liked was fried chicken livers with onions. I think your
grandmother cooked them in lard because they were swimming in grease and lots
of fried onions. Your grandfather remembers the day that she made the
liver. He said "It was a beautiful sunny day, the sun shown so
brightly.” He said he will never forget that day. He said that Oma,
Jules, your grandfather and I sat down at the table to eat. He goes on to
say that before we ate we said a prayer, not like today. Today we are hedons, no prayer. He said that was the
way he was brought up, to include saying a prayer after eating. A side
note, I do not recall this. Anyway, I guess we started to eat and Jules
said, "Poor Mootsie." He took another forkful of liver and
said, “Poor Mootsie” again. "Remember here that I think he used the
wrong name.” Anyway, your grandfather said he laid his fork down and walked
outside and cried. He said that he could not eat that meat for anything.
He said that after a while they had steak that cut like butter but he could not
eat it. Your grandfather goes on to say, “Oma begged me to eat it.” She
said, "Come on, eat that mea. Who is going to eat all that
meat?" Your grandfather goes on to say, "Joe will eat it.
He loves steak. He is a steak eater. He would eat steak
everyday if Oma made it." At this point, Melissa Judis (Baumann),
who was doing the interviewing said, "Do you mean that Joe did not
mind eating his favorite cow?" Your grandfather replied,
"He did in one way and not in another. He had other nice cows.
He was in 4H. He had one about seven-or eight-years-old and a few
calves. He went house to house selling milk with a milk carrier.”
Actually, I think I did have some initial foreboding of eating that cow but I guess I did not say anything and I did enjoy eating the steak. Your grandmother used to make homemade french fries with it. In fact, we usually had steak on Saturday for lunch. You remember, I told about the Saturday meals. It was always with the radio blaring away with the farm hour.
Actually, I think I did have some initial foreboding of eating that cow but I guess I did not say anything and I did enjoy eating the steak. Your grandmother used to make homemade french fries with it. In fact, we usually had steak on Saturday for lunch. You remember, I told about the Saturday meals. It was always with the radio blaring away with the farm hour.
WORKS PROJECT ADMINISTRATION
Jules continues stating that your
great-grandfather Piller worked with the Works Project Administration
(WPA) during the
depression. The WPA was a government
program to put the unemployed to work and generally paid in kind. Your great-grandfather worked on the streets. Every Saturday evening he would get a bag
with a smoked shoulder, rice, beans, and flour.
Your great-grandmother brought some of this to Cheshire to give your
grandmother and grandfather. Jules said
that out of the bag we all ate from it.
"I am somewhat confused here because your grandfather has stated
that he worked all through the depression. Plus, we had the chickens,
cows, and a garden that provided food.
(I am forwarding this to Trudy and Jules. Maybe they can explain this.) He said that Dande and Uncle (your
great-grandmother’s sister and her husband) said that your grandmother said she
was afraid to fry with deep fat and did not like to fry with it. However, interestingly, she used to make
french Fries when we had steak because we loved them. She used lard for this. In fact, I believe we made our own lard
because I remember the large grey lard tubs we used to have.
E-MAIL FROM TRUDY BAUMANN - DATE: WED,
13 MAR 2013 00:11:20 -0400
Jules can't understand why you say that
he says certain things on the tapes. He doesn't remember ever making a
tape with Oma and Opa. He doesn't remember that Grandpa Piller worked for
the WPA on the streets; he thinks it was more like food distribution. But
he could have worked in some sort of program to make people think they earned
it, I think. Jules does remember Grandma Piller bringing some of that
food to Cheshire. It was probably flour and sugar, and things you
probably couldn't produce yourself. Grandma Piller must have been the
kind of person who couldn't come empty-handed.
Jules does not think that Oma was afraid to fry with fat. She did it all the time. He also
remembers the heavy gray stoneware tubs. They were unfortunately dumped
when the rumpus room was built. (In Oma and Opa’s house)
DUKEY THE DOG
Whenever our, not overly-friendly, dog
Dukey got loose by breaking his chain, he would not come when we called
him and, in fact, he would run even faster. He would run the mile
uptown to the variety store and visit Mr. Alden. Mr. Alden would call us
and let us know that Dukey was there. Dukey was a mixed German
Shepard and was given to your grandfather by somebody (don't know who).
Anyway, he was always in the outside chicken yard on a long chain.
He had a dog house that your grandfather built. He developed what I think
was cancer (ulcerations over his body). We had to euthanize him but not
in the way that you would know.
SECOND RENDITION OF DUKEY THE DOG BUT
ABOUT A CAT
Actually, this is a story of a cat we
had that ate eggs in the basement but your grandfather thought at the time that
it was Dukey. He goes on to say that
Jules and Joe were about 10- or 11-years-old, which of course is not correct
since we are three years apart. Your
grandfather states that they went to Lake Compounce Family Theme Park
and took Dukey with us. We left him
outside while we went into the park. When we got back, he was still
there. So, I said to Oma, “tell him to go over there by the pool.” He did and then we left. The people wondered who he belonged to. Two days later he came back to the house in
Cheshire. This was true of the
cat. Her ear was beat up like she was in a fight. Your grandfather states we had two other
dogs, a Collie and a little brown dog. He said that when dukey came home
he was hiding in the old barn. He said he teased him out yelling,”here dukey,
here dukey.” He remarked that he had to
go 22 miles and through the Naugatuck River to get home. He then said that he decided he was not going
to do that anymore. He asked a Scovill
person if he wanted a good dog and the man said sure. Your grandfather said that man thought Dukey
was the best dog He lived ten years.
First, let me clarify Dukey. I believe your grandfather did mix up some data. As I told you, the culprit that was left at Lake Compounce Family Theme Park was a cat, orangey in color if I recall correctly, and was guilty of jumping up on the table where we graded eggs, and she broke open the eggs and ate them. Of course the tell-tale evidence was there. Generally, she did it when we were not around. One time she was caught in the act by your grandfather. I think we tried various remedies to no avail. Anyway, the cat did come back from Lake Compounce Family Theme Park but I do not remember what then happened to the cat. (I hope Jules can weigh in on this.) Anyway, Dukey developed ulcers all over his body as I mentioned before. He used to lick them but it did not solve the problem. There were farm vets but we never used them for our domesticated animals. Instead, generally your grandparents arranged for them to be dispatched by Fred Bemis by shooting them. I remember on one occasion we had a Collie that was really a good dog but I believe he was either getting too old or maybe started snapping at people. At any rate, they asked Fred to dispatch the dog. Unfortunately, when he shot him he was either left in the ditch at the side of the road next to the swamp or he ran away and died there. We will never know. When we told your grandparents, they absolved them of that knowledge and said maybe a car hit him. Anyway, that is my recollection. (Again, maybe Jules has a better recollection.) We had another dog named Towser who contracted distemper. He foamed at the mouth and growled at us. I believe your grandfather dispatched him by bashing him on the head with an axe. One has to remember it was a farm life and in a different era. I think that when your grandfather got older he did not want to remember those things anymore, but they were on the tape and his thoughts.
SLAUGHTERING CALVES
Your grandfather talks about
slaughtering animals, specifically calves for veal. He states he remembers taking the calf out of
the barn. He said, “You know, those calves have beautiful eyes when they
are six to seven weeks old. He said he
fed them the milk from the mother cow. (My comment-this makes the meat tender and tasty but
frankly I never liked veal.) He said he
remembers one calf that he really loved.
He remarked, “Oh, what a nice calf.” It was about seven weeks old and weighed about
200 pounds. He said he had a big
knife. He remembers taking him out of
the barn in the back and said he could not look at him, “the poor little
thing.” He describes that it was by the
manure pile behind the barn so that the blood ran into the manure pile. He said he took the neck, looked the other
way, ripped the calf’s neck up and cut its neck with the knife and then
let it go. He said, “You know, they don't die right away until they are
bled.” He said the calf ran around the
manure pile. (I do not recall that but I do recall that happening when
we killed the chickens.) He makes a comment, "When I think about
it I think God, why did I do that?” Then
he states but it was for the meat. (I have to wonder about this because I remember one time
we killed one of my calves. I also liked
that calf and it was sort of a pet.
Anyway, he had me hold the back of the calf while he cut the calf’s
throat off and the head lay on the ground.
I can still see that calves head.
It did not seem to bother him at that time.) He goes on to say, “We
always had the freezer full of pork, chicken, beef, steak, anything,
whatever you were looking for.” (I might add here, that we always had ice
cream in the freezer, half gallons of different flavors. Your grandmother, Jules and I would eat that
watching TV at night. Earlier, before we
bought the ice cream, your grandmother used to make her own. I recall it was mostly vanilla and very
creamy.) Your grandfather goes on to
say, “We bought nothing from the store except sugar, salt, or something like
that. We had our own milk, butter,
cheese. I remember when Oma made as much
as 18 pounds of butter from the cream after separating the milk with the
separator in one week. After the WWII we
bought an electric milk separator.” He
details the cream coming out of one side and the skim milk coming out the
other. He said that there was enough
cream to make six pounds of butter at a time.
SELLING CHICKENS DURING THE WAR
He states that we were all set. People had nothing during the war. They came begging to us asking if we want to
buy this or that. There was a black market for chickens. They went for $10.00 a chicken. People asked if I would sell them for that
price. I said "NO. I do not do black market. I never did. I sold the chickens for the same
price as peacetime.” He said the next
door lady who also had chickens (where Weiss’ used to live) sold the chickens
for $15.00 a chicken. Their name was
Neuman. They were German and came from
Long Island, New York. When Mr. Weiss
died, they bought the farm. She came
over and said to your Oma, "Theresa you want to sell me three chickens? I will pay you $10.00 a chicken.” (Remember this
was in the 1940s.) He asked Oma if she sold the chickens to Neuman for that
price. She said she sold the chickens
but for the regular peace time price.
She did not take the extra money.
He said, “If you did, we would have to return the money. That's how I operate. I don't do anything but justice. I don’t cheat anybody.” You know, everything was rationed during the
war. You had to go with tickets to buy
milk, like people today with food stamps.
He goes on to say, “But I didn't need food tickets, the same thing with
gasoline. That is because we had a farm
and were farmers and I worked in Scovill in ammunition. We always had
extra tickets. I gave them to people for
the same price I paid for them. I had all
the gas I wanted. We did not feel any
hardship during the war but I know my people in Europe had hardship. My brother was in the concentration
camp. They beat him up like hell with
their gun butts, knocked him out, and left him there for dead. He said when his
brother came to, he wondered why the Nazi's did that to him, his own people. (I do not know
what he means by this.)
JOSEPH BAUMANN ILL AS BABY
Melissa asked your grandfather about a
time when I was seriously sick. He
responded it was when I had pneumonia and everything. (Remember this
was in the late 1930s or very early 1940s.) He goes on
to say that the weather was very bad. He
had to take me to St. Mary's Hospital in the middle of the
night. He said I was two-years-old. (That
would have made it 1939.) He said that
I had red blotches all over my body from the fever. He goes on to say, “Oma and I watched them
put Joseph in cold water moving the water back and forth.” He said the improvement in one day was
amazing. He also said I kept yelling
"mommy, mommy." He also said
that when Jules was born he was always crying.
They went to see Dr. Moore. He
said that your grandmother did not have enough milk for him. So he told them to use cow's milk and boil it
which we did. That solved the problem.
FATHER MCCARTHY, PARKETTE BROTHERS
Another time Joe broke his collarbone
was when Father McCarthy came to visit and brought two boys with him. Their last name was Parkette. Joe was a guy that always wanted to fool
around with somebody. When they were
playing, the Parkette boys took Joe’s two hands and flipped him over, which
caused him to break his collarbone again.
That put his arm in a sling twice.
Joe was five- or six-years-old already and going to school. Oma went to his school to see if they could
do anything so he would not become left-handed but the teacher said no, she
can't do that. The teacher said that
since he was used to using his left hand, to force him to switch to the right
hand would spoil his progress. So, now
he is left-handed. Another time, Robert
Deschesnes, who was Joe’s best friend, was walking home from school with
Joe. Your grandfather states that they
decided to play Horsey. It was really
Leap Frog. He describes what happened as
follows: He said that one boy kneels on the ground with his hands on the
ground. He is considered the horse. The other boy runs from behind to jump on the
horse or leap over the horse. When Joe
went to jump over Robert, Robert kicked up his heels and hit Joe in the
eye. Joe's eye got all bloodshot and the
doctor thought he might lose the eye.
Poor Oma had her troubles. He goes on to say that Robert was a funny
kid, with big blue eyes. He said the
Cheshire house was the get-together place for all the kids. Anyway, the eye healed and eyesight was not
lost.
JULES TALKING BACK
Poor Oma had her trouble. She asked me,
“When you come home from Scovill and I tell you that the kids were really
naughty, I want to tell Jules and Joe, wait until your father comes home and he
will really punish you. Your grandfather states that he looked at Oma, and said
to her, “Why should I give them a licking?
I am away all day and don't see them, and now when I come home I should
give them a licking? He states "NO,
NO, NO WAY, Never." He goes on to
say that Oma was strict. He states that
Jules and Joe had to make their beds every morning before school, and made well
too. He said they know how to make a
bed. He tells a story of Jules when he
was 18-years-old. He had talked back to
Oma and Oma said, "You are not going to talk back to me, as long as you
eat on my table. And I am your mother,
you aren’t talking back to me!"
Then, somehow, Jules said something else and she didn’t like it. She took a little stick and Jules ran away
from her. She ran after him through the
closet and bedroom. Oma said you wait
right there or you will get it three times as bad. She banged the wall with the stick. Jules waited for her, but instead of hitting
Jules, her hand hit the bed by mistake.
"She exclaimed, “Oh my God, my hand, my hand.” Later, Opa said to Oma, “That gives you a
lesson. That kid is so tall and he never
says anything to you. You must have been
tired and heard it wrong.” Oma said, “I
want to tell him that I am the boss. He
is my son and not of age yet and he will grow up like a man.” Then your grandfather said, “We were married
five years when he was born then and the Joe was born and Oma had to attend to
him.” He goes on to say that Jules and I
had curly hair. He, again, states that
the farm life is a good life. He said he
never looked for somebody else. He goes
on to say that we worked together, we prayed together, went on trips together,
and went to church together. He then
states that children see their parents, and repeats, “The apple never falls far
from the tree.” He goes on to say that
they called Joe, Josie, and Jules, Sonny.
It was like that for a long time and then Jules said he does not want to
be called Sonny anymore. From now on he
wants to be called Bill or Jules.
Continuing, he states that we had a good time with all the animals we
had. He said it is a natural life.
“You see everything and don't think anything evil. The boys saw the bull jump the cows.” He then said, after a certain point, they did
not need the bulls but used artificial insemination. (And
I guess that was the beginning of what is going on in the Supreme Court today
as they argue same sex marriage.)
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION OF COWS
So then your grandfather describes artificial insemination.
He states that the veterinarian has a tube-type device with a pump at
one end. When he comes he asks what kind
of calf you want, like a Guernsey, Jersey etc.
The vet takes the tube in the palm of his hand (with plastic glove) puts
the right kind of semen in the tube, inserts the tube through the vulva into
the uterus, and pumps the semen in. (He does not say so but I remember
that the vet was called when the cow was fertile, which you could tell
because there was a discharge. I think
the farmer had the second try free but then had to pay again if the cow did not
become pregnant.) Your grandfather goes on to say that's why there is no
need for so many bulls today. Then he
diverts and states that it was a wonderful life. He said you see green grass, fruit trees,
pigs, milk cows, little calves, eggs and milk.
He then states, "It is marvelous." Farm life is a good life for a kid.
PORT OF BREMEN
For some reason your grandfather
diverts and talks about Poppendorf and when he left. He said that after he left home, he arrived
in Germany in three days. (I think he meant the Port of Bremen because that was the
debarkation point.) He said that it was cold
and misting. He was with Angela
Dant. He states that she said to him,
"This is the way it is going to be for us in America, lonely and
homesick. We don't know anybody.” He goes on to say that she passed away when she
was 53-years-old from stomach cancer.
ANOTHER THERESA
Then he starts talking about a girlfriend in Poppendorf before Oma. First he said that he did not really hate them all," the girls." He then said, “But one I liked the best. Her name was Theresa. She was a tiny little girl, just like Oma. She worked at a house, two houses down from where we lived. She was like a chambermaid, did housework, cooked, washing and everything. She came from the next town. She lived there for about two years.” He said when he left home for this country, she was still there in that house and their name was Yanny. (He does not say if they were relatives of Frank Uncle.) “She was a year older than I was. I did not think of getting married then. I was only 18, but I liked her. She had a nice round face and had a smile all the time. She was very, very, very nice not a fresh brat but a really nice honest-living girl.”
Then he starts talking about a girlfriend in Poppendorf before Oma. First he said that he did not really hate them all," the girls." He then said, “But one I liked the best. Her name was Theresa. She was a tiny little girl, just like Oma. She worked at a house, two houses down from where we lived. She was like a chambermaid, did housework, cooked, washing and everything. She came from the next town. She lived there for about two years.” He said when he left home for this country, she was still there in that house and their name was Yanny. (He does not say if they were relatives of Frank Uncle.) “She was a year older than I was. I did not think of getting married then. I was only 18, but I liked her. She had a nice round face and had a smile all the time. She was very, very, very nice not a fresh brat but a really nice honest-living girl.”
After your grandfather describes
Theresa, his girlfriend in Poppendorf, he goes on to say that lots of times he
walked her home from his house.
Apparently, she and Gisi Dant were friends as well and Theresa visited
often. He said that his father would ask
him when he arrived home, while Theresa was still there and it had turned dark,
"Why don't you walk Theresa home?"
He indicates that it was very dark and, of course, there was no street
lights. Your great-grandfather would
say, "Julius will take you home."
Then he states that he hated to take her home, "I hated to take her
home because I hated like hell to go out again after I just came in, not that I
didn't want to take her home, to lead her out, so she isn't scared, but it just
didn't feel like going out you know. "So, I took her, lead her home. She gave me a big kiss in front of the house
where she lived. I kissed her, said
goodnight, she went in, and I went my way.” He said, "She liked me
too." He, again, said she was Gisi
Dant's girlfriend. They went places
together all the time. He said, "She kissed me on the mouth”
and gestures where to the interviewer.
Then, he said, “in a way you shouldn't kiss people on the mouth that you
don't know.” He asks, "You know
why?" You could pick up germs that
you never had." Otherwise she was a nice little girl.
YET ANOTHER THERESA
“I had another girlfriend, in Poppendorf. Her name was also Theresa. I was going with her. Her father hated me,--He hated me like a son of a gun and I don't know why. I would sit up in the window between the window and the blinds, like this (showing the interviewer), and he was going by the house all the time to see if he could find me but he never found me. (It is confusing because he does not state if he was in the girl’s house or his house.) Her father said that if he ever finds me he will kill me. So, I was in there when he was going to the other side. I told Theresa I am going and said goodbye. When I tried to leave, I stepped on the Simp (?), you know, the mortar on the thing and the whole thing came down. He laughed and said you should see me running, did I run, I figured if that guy came back he would murder me. He was a nut. He came from America. He was visiting when this happened.” Your grandfather said that of all the girls in Poppendorf, “The Theresa that was Gisi Dant's friend was the one I liked best.”
“I had another girlfriend, in Poppendorf. Her name was also Theresa. I was going with her. Her father hated me,--He hated me like a son of a gun and I don't know why. I would sit up in the window between the window and the blinds, like this (showing the interviewer), and he was going by the house all the time to see if he could find me but he never found me. (It is confusing because he does not state if he was in the girl’s house or his house.) Her father said that if he ever finds me he will kill me. So, I was in there when he was going to the other side. I told Theresa I am going and said goodbye. When I tried to leave, I stepped on the Simp (?), you know, the mortar on the thing and the whole thing came down. He laughed and said you should see me running, did I run, I figured if that guy came back he would murder me. He was a nut. He came from America. He was visiting when this happened.” Your grandfather said that of all the girls in Poppendorf, “The Theresa that was Gisi Dant's friend was the one I liked best.”
TWO PIGLETS
Melissa changes the subject and asks
your grandfather about his favorite pig.
Your grandfather answers “They were here in Cheshire. My favorite pig was a white one. We bought it, the kids and I, Joe, Jules and
Ma. We bought two pigs from where the Legionaries of Christ is now. Those people had a piggery and had them down
in like a cellar. They would sleep there
at night and in the day would go out and eat grass or whatever they could find
in a fenced-in area. We bought two small
piglets, about 30 pounds apiece, and they came from those pigs there. (I am not sure he
means here.) He said those kids were in the 4H just like Jules and Joe,
all together because we lived around each other. He goes on to say "son of a gun, two of
them, and uh, when they were small, the trough was clean as a whistle, you
know. We washed them out with water and
then gave them good food, and their bed was as clean with wheat straw. Finally, when it got warmer, I put the hose
on them outside, not in the stall. When I stopped, they went oink, oink,
and I asked what the hell do you want?
They went oink, oink again, so I put the hose on them again. They stood still like anything and shook
themselves. He said to himself,
"Gee don't you get enough baths?"
(I do remember spraying the pigs with the
hose and they did like it.) Your grandfather
continued, “I said, you have enough for today." He continues, “Every day we went out, Jules
and Joe whenever they had time, and let the pigs out of the pigpen and put the
hose on them, and you should see those pigs, they sparkled, so clean. When the sun shone on them, it looked like
you could pick silver dollars off their back. That’ how clean they
were. They were not dirty. When they were born, they put their manure in
one spot, (gesturing), this spot here, and you raise that pig for a whole year
and the pig will always do the same thing in the same corner, no place
else. Then, I always cleaned the corner
and moved it over to the manure pile.
That is how clean they were.
Leave it there and they don’t want to go. Leave it there; I don't want to go into the
details. But, they got bigger and fatter
and then came the killing time. I said,
Gees, I ain’t going to kill that pig.
She is a pet. I tell you
that so you know it was a pet. When I
walked outside, maybe you don't know or maybe you read it in the papers, you
can make a pig a pet. Anyway, when I
walked outside, she walked with me. Her
name was Butchie. The fields had no fence.
She walked with me all over the place.
When I asked her if she wanted to go to the stall, she looked up at me
"like that." She hesitated to
go up the stall. So finally, I said, here, I made a trap. I elevated it so the pigs could walk up easy
when they get their food. And, they know
you, boy do they, and come near you, and love you, like they say a thousand
times thank you.
SLAUGHTER ANTICIPATION
So, finally, when the day came,
Bertha's father, Frank Uncle, was there and I said to Frank, "You will
have to kill that pig. I ain't going to
do it to her. I will bring her over to
the manure pile. It was nice, not full
of shit like they have here. There is
grass all around and straw, beautiful.
So, Frank Uncle asked why. I said
I don't have the heart to kill her. I
cannot kill that pet.” Frank Uncle
asked, “will you bring her over so I will kill her?” I said, “okay. They were standing by the manure pile where
she would be slaughtered. They had
everything ready where they pull her up and everything. So finally, I
come over, I say, here Butchie, you want to come, and she came. She looked at me so sympathetically.
She thought something was wrong. I
walked over to where they were standing and she stood right in the middle of
all of us. So, I said, Gee I have got to
get out of here or the pig will never get killed. So, I walked out and she wanted to follow
me.”
KARL UNCLE COMPLETES THE SLAUGHTER
Your grandfather then states that
not only was Frank Uncle was there but also Karl Uncle to do the dirty deed. (His voice
escalates on the tape at this point.) So they were waiting and, as your grandfather walked away,
Karl Uncle “took her foot, ripped her out of there, and swung a rope around her
to hang her up and stabbed her, gesturing here, (I imagine he is pointing to the throat). She bled like hell. I cried, but
not a lot. I went away and never
looked at her. I felt so bad for that poor pig. Imagine making a pet
out of her and then,” his voice trails away.
Date: Tue, 9 Apr 2013 22:36:51 -0400
Subject: Re: FW: Blog continued
From: Michael Baumann
To: Joseph Baumann
Subject: Re: FW: Blog continued
From: Michael Baumann
To: Joseph Baumann
RE MEMPHIS, MICHAEL’S DOG, AND JULIUS
BAUMANN’S PIG
I knew this story from years ago from
when I brought my dog Memphis to Cheshire.
Memphis followed your father everywhere during his "chores,"
which lasted several hours while I spoke with your mother. When your father came back, he seemed to be
thrilled that he had a buddy accompany him throughout his daily routine and
recounted the story about that pig. I
think he had a lot of lonely hours doing his daily tasks throughout his life
and that pig was willing to follow him around through those moments. I cried when I had to dig the hole to bury
Memphis. It’s hard to lose a loyal
friend, probably more horrible knowing you have to kill your friend so your
family can eat.
JOSEPH BAUMANN’S PIG SLAUGHTER
RECOLLECTION
(What I remember is a little different. There was a pigpen that was, at that time, at the boundary of the Cornwall property before the addition was made. There were two pigs. One of the pigs was a pet and did follow your grandfather around. He did hose down the pigs and they did love it and were very clean. I remember a pig being killed at the manure pile and your grandfather killed the pig by cutting the pig’s throat. I do not know if that was Butchie or not. I do remember that the pig was docile to the end. I also remember them catching the blood to make blood sausage. I believe your grandmother was involved in that as well. The pig was pulled up by its rear feet but the one I remember had already been slaughtered. It was done where the old shed was. I remember a drum of boiling water that the pig was immersed in to loosen the hair. They had some type of scraping device that took the hair off. At that point, the pig was gutted and the meat cut out. Frank Uncle and Carl Uncle were there to help. Then your grandmother did her thing with the meat processing.
Maybe Jules can weigh in here with more information.
(What I remember is a little different. There was a pigpen that was, at that time, at the boundary of the Cornwall property before the addition was made. There were two pigs. One of the pigs was a pet and did follow your grandfather around. He did hose down the pigs and they did love it and were very clean. I remember a pig being killed at the manure pile and your grandfather killed the pig by cutting the pig’s throat. I do not know if that was Butchie or not. I do remember that the pig was docile to the end. I also remember them catching the blood to make blood sausage. I believe your grandmother was involved in that as well. The pig was pulled up by its rear feet but the one I remember had already been slaughtered. It was done where the old shed was. I remember a drum of boiling water that the pig was immersed in to loosen the hair. They had some type of scraping device that took the hair off. At that point, the pig was gutted and the meat cut out. Frank Uncle and Carl Uncle were there to help. Then your grandmother did her thing with the meat processing.
Maybe Jules can weigh in here with more information.
I remember the pig hoisted and the fur
removed. I do not remember them gutting
and cutting the meat outside. They did
the slaughtering in the fall because it got cold. If you remember, I talked about this
before. It is under making sausage. They
did not have a freezer, so the meat was left to lie out on the round table in
the veranda. This is the very same table that everybody ate at including you
and Mike in the summer time. It got so
cold that the meat froze and never thawed.
Anyway, the bottom line of this is I am not sure if there were more
pigs, or if your grandfather's recollection has dimmed some. I am positive that I watched when he cut a
pig’s throat. I do not know which one.)
Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2013 10:58:04 -0400
Subject: Re: FW: Blog continuation
From: Trudy Baumann
To: Joseph Baumann
Subject: Re: FW: Blog continuation
From: Trudy Baumann
To: Joseph Baumann
Here are some comments from Jules; I
may have sent some already. You are right the way you described the pig
house and how the pigs loved to be sprayed with water. Jules remembers
that Dad once said that Ma built the pig house, and how Dad was so attached to
the pig, that he couldn't kill it. There was also a smoke house and a
manure pile in back of the barn.
That was you on the cow, and Jules
thinks it might have been Bambi.
Jules doesn't remember the girlfriends
named Theresa that Dad talks about when he was still in Poppendorf.
You remember a lot about killing pigs.
You described it just the way I remember it from my childhood in Germany.
Now to Bambi. Jules remembers that Dad would not eat the
liver from Bambi. BUT, “The next Bambi
meal was steak. Dad's remorse for Bambi was short lived. He ate
that young steak with relish. His taste buds overpowered his fond
memories."
Jules has also been writing about his
younger years as you suggested. When he is done I'll send it to you.
BAMBI THE CALF SLAUGHTERED
Your grandfather continues; “Let me tell you about the calf. Her name was Bambi. I killed her, took her by the neck, and cut her out her throat and let her fall to the floor. I walked away and would not look at her. Finally, when she was dead I came back and then skinned her. You had to clean them you know. You have to take the meat apart and put in the brine (salt water solution), and finally, in two or three days we had liver from the calf.” (I will interject here. I do not recall putting calf meat (veal) in the brine. In another story, I told you that I had a pet calf and when it was ready for veal your grandfather had me hold it by the rear of its body while he cut the throat and bled her. He must have cut the head off completely because I REMEMBER JUST THE HEAD NEXT TO SIDE OF THE BARN. I do not know how it got there. I still remember that calf’s head. In some way, it is it a different perspective. I remember I was not happy doing this dirty deed. In addition, I just remembered that the pigs head was cut off and your grandmother cut all the meat away and made what is called headcheese.)
Your grandfather goes on to say, “You know, calf’s liver is good liver and two to three times more expensive than ordinary liver. (Maybe all of the above is why I hate liver.) He goes on to say, “Theresa Dant, my wife, (I do not know why he did not say Oma since he was talking to his grandchildren) and oh, her mother was there too and they made the liver. It smelled so nice and I thought what an appetite I am going to have to eat this liver.
We sat down at the table.
Your grandfather continues; “Let me tell you about the calf. Her name was Bambi. I killed her, took her by the neck, and cut her out her throat and let her fall to the floor. I walked away and would not look at her. Finally, when she was dead I came back and then skinned her. You had to clean them you know. You have to take the meat apart and put in the brine (salt water solution), and finally, in two or three days we had liver from the calf.” (I will interject here. I do not recall putting calf meat (veal) in the brine. In another story, I told you that I had a pet calf and when it was ready for veal your grandfather had me hold it by the rear of its body while he cut the throat and bled her. He must have cut the head off completely because I REMEMBER JUST THE HEAD NEXT TO SIDE OF THE BARN. I do not know how it got there. I still remember that calf’s head. In some way, it is it a different perspective. I remember I was not happy doing this dirty deed. In addition, I just remembered that the pigs head was cut off and your grandmother cut all the meat away and made what is called headcheese.)
Your grandfather goes on to say, “You know, calf’s liver is good liver and two to three times more expensive than ordinary liver. (Maybe all of the above is why I hate liver.) He goes on to say, “Theresa Dant, my wife, (I do not know why he did not say Oma since he was talking to his grandchildren) and oh, her mother was there too and they made the liver. It smelled so nice and I thought what an appetite I am going to have to eat this liver.
We sat down at the table.
THERESA BAUMANN’S CRACKED RIBS
Melissa asks you grandfather about how
the cow broke your grandmother's ribs.
Your grandfather starts by saying that it happened in the cow barn. He is adamant that it was Oma's fault not
his. (I know
your grandmother was there at the interview but she was talking with Eric and
Jennifer and doing things. I am sure she
did not hear this or I am positive she would have made a demonstrative
statement.)
Your grandfather states that they let
the cows into the cow barn to milk them.
In the summer, we always milked the cows outside. The cows were in their stalls/stations and I
think Oma said something the cow did not like.
Oma sat down on a three-legged stool with the milk pail to milk the cow
between the cow and the cement wall. The
cow started to move sideways toward the wall.
Your Oma tried to push the cow away from the wall but the cow kept
moving towards the wall. Finally, she said, “I can't milk the cow like this;
the cow won't let me milk her." She
started to get up and what did the cow do?
The cow pushed her against the wall and pinned her between herself and
the wall. (Remember these cows weigh about 1,000 pounds.) The result was three broken ribs. The cow's name was Susie or Mootsie. (I
remember this incident but I do not believe the names are correct. This cow was a dark black-brown. We had a Mootsie much later that was a Brown
Swiss. The cow did not want to do what
your grandmother wanted her to do and she showed your grandmother who was the
boss.)
“I was in the barn at the time and I
poked the cow, asking, “What do you want to do, kill her against the wall? I pushed her over, even though she was still
trying to push against the wall. I
pushed her over more, and when Oma was able to get up she said, I broke my
ribs, I can't breathe. Anyway, she did
break her ribs. She called Dr. Moore and
he came down set the ribs and strapped her up. She was strapped up for
three weeks before he took it off.” (I remember your grandmother being taped. Note that was then and now they do
nothing. Also, note that the doctor came
down to the house as he did many other times.
That no longer happens today.)
BOBBI THE CAT AND RAT KILLER
Melissa asks about their cat
Bobbi. I will do a postscript after.
Your grandfather remarks, “Oh!!! Poor Bobbi. Oh, I don't want to ever mention it. I hate like hell to talk about that poor Bobbi. This fellow from Wolcott was working for me at Scovill and he had stray cats coming to his house. He said to me, Julius, you live out in the country. There is a beautiful cat, black and white. I will bring it to you and give it to you. I know you can use it out in the country. I said, go ahead, it would be good to have a cat and he brought it and we kept it. She was at home right away. She walked all over. You should have seen that cat. Now, I am first coming to the beginning. On the chicken coop, where we had the old chicken coop, the size of this, where your father, Jules, crawled up the Apple tree, right over there. I am telling you that the cat came out every night when I went out, when she saw I opened the kitchen door. I had the flashlight and she would run ahead of me. The same thing happened when I opened the chicken coop door. She went in and she would not stop killing rats until there were no more in that little coop there. Sometimes she would kill ten in one night, but she did not eat them. I had to dispose of the rats myself. I would throw them out and bury them every night and, you know what, when we got finished, how many she killed in that little coop, 157, in that little chicken coop. She even jumped up and got them off the ceiling. She was a nice cat. We have a picture of her. Oma put a cucumber there and the cucumber was big and looked like a snake. The picture shows the cat watching the cucumber to see if it would move. It was almost up to the kitchen door. Of course, the cucumber did not move and the cat did not move either. Finally, I said to the cat, that's not a snake, it is only a cucumber. She looked at me and then I picked her up and she said, meow. So she found out it wasn't a snake.”
Your grandfather remarks, “Oh!!! Poor Bobbi. Oh, I don't want to ever mention it. I hate like hell to talk about that poor Bobbi. This fellow from Wolcott was working for me at Scovill and he had stray cats coming to his house. He said to me, Julius, you live out in the country. There is a beautiful cat, black and white. I will bring it to you and give it to you. I know you can use it out in the country. I said, go ahead, it would be good to have a cat and he brought it and we kept it. She was at home right away. She walked all over. You should have seen that cat. Now, I am first coming to the beginning. On the chicken coop, where we had the old chicken coop, the size of this, where your father, Jules, crawled up the Apple tree, right over there. I am telling you that the cat came out every night when I went out, when she saw I opened the kitchen door. I had the flashlight and she would run ahead of me. The same thing happened when I opened the chicken coop door. She went in and she would not stop killing rats until there were no more in that little coop there. Sometimes she would kill ten in one night, but she did not eat them. I had to dispose of the rats myself. I would throw them out and bury them every night and, you know what, when we got finished, how many she killed in that little coop, 157, in that little chicken coop. She even jumped up and got them off the ceiling. She was a nice cat. We have a picture of her. Oma put a cucumber there and the cucumber was big and looked like a snake. The picture shows the cat watching the cucumber to see if it would move. It was almost up to the kitchen door. Of course, the cucumber did not move and the cat did not move either. Finally, I said to the cat, that's not a snake, it is only a cucumber. She looked at me and then I picked her up and she said, meow. So she found out it wasn't a snake.”
BOBBI’S AMPUTATED LEGS
Your grandfather continues. “Harry Nichols came to mow the field and the
cat was always down there catching mice.
You know, there are a lot of mice in the field. All of a sudden, Harry Nichols came up me and
Oma and said, ‘I didn't want to tell you, one thing I didn't want to do it,
your cat, I think I mowed her legs off.’
So I asked, You did?” Harry said,
"Yes." Your grandfather said,
“I felt sorry for her. She was a
beautiful cat. So, what happened was I
went down, Ma and I, we looked all over the grass, lying thick after he mowed
it. I couldn't find the cat, no
way. Finally, after four days, Ma and I
were out in front by the kitchen door to look at the flowers. Something
was wrong with the flowers. Suddenly I
heard, ‘Meow, Meow, Meow,’ three times.
So I said, what the heck is this, so I walked over to the field, and
there was the cat, coming all the way up from down in the end, where the ground
gets wet, (near the swamp) with no legs, no legs at all. I picked her up. I felt so sorry for that cat. I asked myself, what am I going to do, she
had no legs. She is not able to move,
she is not able to live. I gave her some
milk and she drank some of the milk. We
gave her some white bread and she ate that.
(It is my opinion –
Sherry Brink – that it may have been sooner than four days as the blood loss,
shock would have killed her before four days).
Your grandfather continues by asking
again, “What am I going to do? I have
got to do something. Every time I look
at her I can't look at her. Imagine, no legs at all, crawled all the way,
just the way the machine went.” (I think he meant by that that as
the grass is cut it leaves a definite swath.) So, he exclaimed to Harry Nichols, (I assume he was still there
because it was a big field to mow) “What a shame!!” What a nice cat that
was.” So, your grandfather asked Harry
Nichols, “What should I do?” Harry
Nichols said, “If I were you, I would give her poison, inject her.” Your grandfather asked, "What kind of
poison?” Harry said, “Any kind of
poison.” Your grandfather asked, “How
shall I do it?” Harry Nichols replied,
“Put it under her mouth and let her inhale it.”
Your grandfather then said, “So I did it.” He continues, she died just like that in five
minutes. I then buried her way down so
other animals could not get her.
Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:39:15
-0400
Subject: Re: Bobbi
From: Trudy Baumann
To: Joseph Baumann
Subject: Re: Bobbi
From: Trudy Baumann
To: Joseph Baumann
First of all, Jules cannot
understand how Dad remembered all these details of life on the farm.
Jules thinks there were two cats named Bobbie. The black and white one
who caught the rats and was in that picture with the cucumber, and the other
Bobbie who was gray, ate the mice in the field, and was caught with the mowing
machine. Jules isn't sure if it was Harry Nichols, and how she died.
On Tue, Apr 23, 2013 at 6:08 PM, Joe
Baumann wrote:
I
thought your grandfather had confused the info but the
two cats’ theory makes sense.
The first Bobbi was before I was born or at least I do not remember her
at all. I remember the second
Bobbi. The kitty was a female and had black fur with greyish irregular
stripes. She was an excellent
mouser. She did go into the fields and
many times brought things to the doorstep, including snakes. She also was very prolific. We never spayed our cats. We would usually have three to four cats.
They were barn cats, not housecats. They
used the hay pile to sleep in. So,
whenever there were kittens (often), we would have to dispose of the
kittens. I am not going into the ways
that were used because I know you would not like to hear about it. Anyway, every so often the cat would
disappear and we knew it was time to start looking, or after a period the
cat would bring the kittens out after they were grown somewhat. When they were very young, we could find them
in the hay because one could hear them meowing. There used to be a pan behind the barn and,
when we milked the cows, the cats would get a pan of warm milk. We would call them and they would come
running. That was the only food they
got. They had to catch the rest of their meals.
The other thing I remember was that if they got very sick, they
sometimes would go off in the woods or the field to die and one would not see
them again.
LEACHES
Your grandfather talks about the brook
below Bemis's house. He said they used
to go swimming there. “You know, one
time I went down there and I saw Roger, Robert, and Jules. They were swimming in the brook. The water was clear; oh my God, you could see
the night crawlers all over sucking the blood.”
Melissa interjects, “You mean the leaches.” Your grandfather replies, “Yes, leaches. Oh
my god I had to tell them to get out and I had to keep pulling the leaches out
because they say that if the head breaks off and the leach stays in, it will
keep eating. Oh, what a job I had
getting those leaches out, and I didn't let them go swimming down there
anymore.” (He laughs) He goes on to say
that it was beautiful clear water and that is where the Bemis's washed their
vegetables before bringing them to the market.
They cut the vegetables and put them in a bowl. The bowls had a rope attached. They pulled the bowls through the water and
when they went to the market they were all clean.
BEMIS’ LAND GARDEN
Your grandfather goes on to say, when
asked about whose garden was best, Oma's or Bemis', the Bemis’ did not have a
garden at home. They planted vegetables on the land starting at the canal
all the way up Cornwall Avenue on the right going to town and stopped at the
constable’s house. They planted
cucumbers, carrots, spinach. He stops
here, but I know for sure that they also planted lettuce. He then states that is what they were, living
on agriculture.
BURNING TRUCK
Melissa asks your grandfather about the burning truck story. Your grandfather replies, “I already told you that.” Melissa replies, “I did not hear that, maybe you told Uncle Joe.” Your grandfather goes on to say, “Well that was quite a sight. It was a Model T Ford.” He asks Melissa, “Do you know what they are?” Melissa replies, “Yes.” Your grandfather asked, “How you know?” Melissa replies, “They are in history books and include pictures.” Your grandfather then continues, “I cut the back off and made a truck of it. I sat inside on the seat that was partitioned off from the back. The gas tank was in the back underneath. It only held five gallons. So, finally we got the hay from Mountain Road. That was our field, where all the houses are now. Jake Burke cut it for me and turned it all over and all of that. We had to load it up, bring it home and put it into our barn and, son of a gun, when we were bringing the hay home, it was heavy and some of it went below the floorboards at the back of the truck, where the exhaust comes out. The truck was backfiring. I came up as far as where Doolittle School is now. There was nothing there then so I don't know who was hollering, "Fire, Fire!" I didn't pay any attention; I didn't know what it was. Joe Piller, that was Oma's brother, he was sitting up there, he noticed the fire and he jumped off the truck, from the hay. I was going in there (I think the house driveway) as far as our backyard, where the driveway comes out. There was a big pear tree there. It had beautiful pears. "Oh cripe, what good pears it had. Dr. Moore was there because Joe was sick again, and Carl Uncle. I can still see him. He went and got a hose and put a hose on it right away and watered the hay all over. That damn thing – I had to get out of there. So, you know what I had to do? I had to kick the glass out of the window, and I jumped out of the damn thing. Just as soon as I jumped out, the damn thing exploded.”
Melissa asks your grandfather about the burning truck story. Your grandfather replies, “I already told you that.” Melissa replies, “I did not hear that, maybe you told Uncle Joe.” Your grandfather goes on to say, “Well that was quite a sight. It was a Model T Ford.” He asks Melissa, “Do you know what they are?” Melissa replies, “Yes.” Your grandfather asked, “How you know?” Melissa replies, “They are in history books and include pictures.” Your grandfather then continues, “I cut the back off and made a truck of it. I sat inside on the seat that was partitioned off from the back. The gas tank was in the back underneath. It only held five gallons. So, finally we got the hay from Mountain Road. That was our field, where all the houses are now. Jake Burke cut it for me and turned it all over and all of that. We had to load it up, bring it home and put it into our barn and, son of a gun, when we were bringing the hay home, it was heavy and some of it went below the floorboards at the back of the truck, where the exhaust comes out. The truck was backfiring. I came up as far as where Doolittle School is now. There was nothing there then so I don't know who was hollering, "Fire, Fire!" I didn't pay any attention; I didn't know what it was. Joe Piller, that was Oma's brother, he was sitting up there, he noticed the fire and he jumped off the truck, from the hay. I was going in there (I think the house driveway) as far as our backyard, where the driveway comes out. There was a big pear tree there. It had beautiful pears. "Oh cripe, what good pears it had. Dr. Moore was there because Joe was sick again, and Carl Uncle. I can still see him. He went and got a hose and put a hose on it right away and watered the hay all over. That damn thing – I had to get out of there. So, you know what I had to do? I had to kick the glass out of the window, and I jumped out of the damn thing. Just as soon as I jumped out, the damn thing exploded.”
At this point, Melissa interjects, “Oh
My God, I did not know that story!” Your
grandfather states, “Yeah, that thing exploded.
The whole pear tree broke down and burned. The whole truck burned down. Everything was shot to hell, so I had to get
a Chevrolet truck after. I could have
burned to death in that truck.”
WORST CHESHIRE STORM
Your grandfather was asked to tell
about the worst Cheshire storm to hit the house. He says it was more than their house. “It hit a lot of houses in Cheshire, I tell
you, not only one. It was the first
hurricane storm I saw in Cheshire. I
didn't know what the hell it was. It was
in 1938. We moved there in 1931 to
1932. I was working in Scovill. I had four girls in the car and I took them
home, you know, because Scovill was warning that everyone should go home. So, I took the girls home. One girl was Mary Standard. She lived up on Walnut Street
in Waterbury, next to Grandma Piller’s place. The other girl, I took up to Hill Street at
North Main Street and left her at her house.
The other girl lived over on East Main Street. I let her out. The other girl lived all the way out by the
Reidville School and then I went home. You
what time I came home? It took me two
hours. There was water all over the
place. Trees were down. It was 1938,” he said again.
Your grandfather continues. “Water that thick (?) was running across the
road. I had two beautiful Blue Spruce
trees. They were about 20 feet high.
(These trees were adjacent to the steps at
the front of the house). The storm took them down. So, when I came home, what do you think, I
had to walk home past Bemis’ by the brook.
(I remember the water going over the
road at other times. There was swamp on
either side.)
I could not go any further. I
left the car and walked and ran home and, what do you think happened? Your Oma was down in the field by the big Elm
trees, chasing the cows up to the barn.
I hollered at her and asked, for cripe sake, what are you doing under
those trees; those trees are going to come down and kill you and the cows. So I ran in there quick and grabbed her and
chased the cows and they ran like hell up to the barn. You know, they did not want to get wet
either. They were under the tree,
hiding. So, just as soon as we were out
with the cows, the trees came down.
Bemis’ barn came down and the big tree came down. Oma had a close call. She could have been killed there.” (This must have been the time that your grandmother tied me into the potty chair so she could go out and take care of the animals. I do not remember what she did with Jules.)
He continues, “That's why I have seen a
lot of things, and when we had the snow storm in 1934---, Christ, I never
forget that. Twenty-eight degrees below
zero.” He diverts back to when Oma was
in the hospital giving birth to Joe. He
states that two weeks later he brought Jules home, (I believe he meant Joe). He said back then they stayed in the hospital
for two weeks. He said he brought them
home on a Friday afternoon. He said the
very next day it started to snow and it snowed for two and one-half days.
“For Christ's sake, we had eight feet of snow piled up there by the
house. You could not get out of the
house. Nobody could get through to the
house. They hired two big snowplows
to open a small little path. Then they
had heavier trucks on either side to push the snow further over to the side and
open the road. It was terrible, a hell
of thing, a lot of trouble in Cheshire, but we survived.” (Fun fact: 16th lowest
temperature ever recorded in Connecticut (-37oF) in Norfolk,
1943-http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2688&q=322366).
CUTTING FIREWOOD
Melissa asks about Harry Nichols cutting firewood and storing it in the cellar. Your grandfather remembers cutting the firewood next to the cellar steps where we walked up and throwing the cut pieces down the cellar steps. He sates, “Then we piled it down there. That's what we did but I don't remember anymore.”
(Actually, I remember Harry Nichols cutting the wood in several locations and then we would cart the wood to the cellar steps. Nichol's tractor had a flywheel on the side that would turn with the tractor engine when engaged. He had a piece of equipment that had a circular blade, think about 24 inches in diameter. He connected this saw to the flywheel with a canvas belt which would turn the blade at a rapid rate. We did throw the cut wood down into the cellar and then stack it but I am not sure where it was stacked.)
Melissa asks about Harry Nichols cutting firewood and storing it in the cellar. Your grandfather remembers cutting the firewood next to the cellar steps where we walked up and throwing the cut pieces down the cellar steps. He sates, “Then we piled it down there. That's what we did but I don't remember anymore.”
(Actually, I remember Harry Nichols cutting the wood in several locations and then we would cart the wood to the cellar steps. Nichol's tractor had a flywheel on the side that would turn with the tractor engine when engaged. He had a piece of equipment that had a circular blade, think about 24 inches in diameter. He connected this saw to the flywheel with a canvas belt which would turn the blade at a rapid rate. We did throw the cut wood down into the cellar and then stack it but I am not sure where it was stacked.)
CELLAR
Before you (Sherry) came on the scene, and when Jules and I were in late grammar school and in our early teens the cellar looked different. Before that it was a cellar. As indicated previously, we used to throw cut wood down there and stack it. If I recall correctly, there was a lot of wood. I think it was stacked against the wall on the right side as you entered the landing. The walls were stone halfway up for practically the whole cellar. Instead of the oil furnace and oil tank, there was a dirt floor. This is where the wine was made and stored in wooden barrels. There was a wooden rack for the barrels to sit on. That was a little room and ended where the steps went up to the house. In fact, a lot of the cellar floor was dirt. The distance from the floor to the ceiling was not much (very little clearance). I believe we stopped burning wood in the central furnace and burned coal. The coal was put down in the cellar through a chute and then we had to carry it and dump it in the back. Where the recreation room was it was all open with a half wall down the center which held the coal in place. On the other side we had the milk separator and storage. There was a wooden beam that held up the joists at the halfway point and this is where you grandmother hung the white cloth bags that she made the cottage cheese in. They put a pan under the bags which caught the water that dripped from the bags. At some point, and I think it was when the oil furnace was put in, it was decided to cement the walls, steps etc. We also dug down the floor by hand--pick and shovel. We hand carried the dirt up the steps in metal buckets. It was an exhausting job. After that, the floors were cemented. Of course, at that point, the cellar was cleaned up. The chest freezer was put in back where the coal was stored. The electrical utility came into the house there. I don't remember how that worked when the coal was there. Later, the recreation room was put in and then the cellar was as you remember it. When we picked the eggs, they were brought down the cellar in wire buckets and placed on the floor about half way down on the right side adjacent to the egg grading table. The table to grade the eggs was right after that. There was a single unshielded electric bulb over the table. There was also an electric bulb in the wine cellar just in front of the wine barrels. I remember that well because at one point something happened with the electricity and I tried to fix it. Inadvertently, I put my thumb up the socket and I got my first experience with 110 volt electricity! The cellar was always dry and when the cement was down your grandfather used to splash water on the cement to put some moisture in the cellar. I guess that was the advent of humidifiers.
Before you (Sherry) came on the scene, and when Jules and I were in late grammar school and in our early teens the cellar looked different. Before that it was a cellar. As indicated previously, we used to throw cut wood down there and stack it. If I recall correctly, there was a lot of wood. I think it was stacked against the wall on the right side as you entered the landing. The walls were stone halfway up for practically the whole cellar. Instead of the oil furnace and oil tank, there was a dirt floor. This is where the wine was made and stored in wooden barrels. There was a wooden rack for the barrels to sit on. That was a little room and ended where the steps went up to the house. In fact, a lot of the cellar floor was dirt. The distance from the floor to the ceiling was not much (very little clearance). I believe we stopped burning wood in the central furnace and burned coal. The coal was put down in the cellar through a chute and then we had to carry it and dump it in the back. Where the recreation room was it was all open with a half wall down the center which held the coal in place. On the other side we had the milk separator and storage. There was a wooden beam that held up the joists at the halfway point and this is where you grandmother hung the white cloth bags that she made the cottage cheese in. They put a pan under the bags which caught the water that dripped from the bags. At some point, and I think it was when the oil furnace was put in, it was decided to cement the walls, steps etc. We also dug down the floor by hand--pick and shovel. We hand carried the dirt up the steps in metal buckets. It was an exhausting job. After that, the floors were cemented. Of course, at that point, the cellar was cleaned up. The chest freezer was put in back where the coal was stored. The electrical utility came into the house there. I don't remember how that worked when the coal was there. Later, the recreation room was put in and then the cellar was as you remember it. When we picked the eggs, they were brought down the cellar in wire buckets and placed on the floor about half way down on the right side adjacent to the egg grading table. The table to grade the eggs was right after that. There was a single unshielded electric bulb over the table. There was also an electric bulb in the wine cellar just in front of the wine barrels. I remember that well because at one point something happened with the electricity and I tried to fix it. Inadvertently, I put my thumb up the socket and I got my first experience with 110 volt electricity! The cellar was always dry and when the cement was down your grandfather used to splash water on the cement to put some moisture in the cellar. I guess that was the advent of humidifiers.
|
NANCY NEUMANN
Nancy would walk over to our house often. At the time she was only about three or four-years-old. I already gave you my version of the chick story. What your grandfather did not say was that the chicks were just that. We did not leave them out when they were as young as that. They were left out when they got much older. They easily could have gotten sick and we could have lost all of them. As I remember, we all went down to round them up and get them back into the brooder houses. You also know how your grandmother liked kids. Nancy was a cute little girl. So, every time she came over, of course, your grandmother would have some sweet for her. I don't recall how it was that her mother did not know that she had wandered over to our house.
Maybe Jules recalls more.
Nancy would walk over to our house often. At the time she was only about three or four-years-old. I already gave you my version of the chick story. What your grandfather did not say was that the chicks were just that. We did not leave them out when they were as young as that. They were left out when they got much older. They easily could have gotten sick and we could have lost all of them. As I remember, we all went down to round them up and get them back into the brooder houses. You also know how your grandmother liked kids. Nancy was a cute little girl. So, every time she came over, of course, your grandmother would have some sweet for her. I don't recall how it was that her mother did not know that she had wandered over to our house.
Maybe Jules recalls more.
When asked if he made wine in Poppendorf, your
grandfather said, “My father made wine in the old country. He crushed the grapes with his feet. I did the same thing. He had a grinder and I ground the
grapes. I had to get it into a pot right
away where my father (your great grandfather) put it to ferment, but I didn't
do that. I made wine for about fifteen
years. I made Symphathel (Spelling)
Muscatel, white wine. Son of a gun, was that strong! And there was another one, three different
kinds, we made. I had the barrels ready. We bought 50-gallon whiskey barrels. We cleaned them out with sulfur to get all
the disease out. I plugged the barrel
for about five minutes, then opened it up and took the sulfur out. That was it.”
Date:
Tue, 21 May 2013 15:41:13 -0400
Subject: Re: Blog
From: Trudy Baumann
To: Joseph Baumann
Subject: Re: Blog
From: Trudy Baumann
To: Joseph Baumann
Hi Joe,
Looking at the blogs from May
14, 15, and 18 Jules agrees with Nancy Neumann’s antics. He also
remembers dad finding her nude with the chickens and in the yard.
Jules doesn't remember much
about the firewood, but remembers everything about the cellar as you remember
it. He did not like anything about the coal.
WALKING 10 MILES TO AND FROM WORK
After talking about Nancy Neumann, your grandfather trails off and
mentions that while planing the eaves, the scaffold fell 17 feet into the
ditch. He said, “That's why my ligaments
were stretched. I had to put my ankles
in Epsom salts every day for four weeks. I have had plenty trouble myself.” He then rambles some more saying that his sisters,
Stilli Dant and Bertha Dant had to walk ten miles to go to work at the silk
mill and then return. He then said that
they used to buy him candy and they would eat the candy before they got
home. He said his father and mother
would not give him candy. (He does not mention it, but I assume from what he said
that he walked there to meet them when they got off work.) He goes on to say
that he and his sister would hold hands on the way home like two lovers. He said, “She (Bertha) was eight years older
than me.” He then said to Melissa,
"I never read that bible you gave me. See if it is written right
what I told you.”
(I hope Melissa and or Jules / Trudy could weigh in on his comment to Melissa because it is somewhat confusing.)
(I hope Melissa and or Jules / Trudy could weigh in on his comment to Melissa because it is somewhat confusing.)
JULIUS BAUMANN’S PARENTS
Your grandfather talks about Jules and
Joe and commented that he remembered how I (Joseph) cried and cried
because of earaches. He said they tried
everything under the sun but nothing worked. Later, he started to
comment on his parents. He said that his
mother died early (actually she died at 66). She
started to get sick right after he left for America. He goes on to say
that she had stomach cancer and did not know (I think he was referring
to medical knowledge in Poppendorf, because he then states that she went 10
miles away and had cancer). He does not say that she saw another
doctor, but I think it was implied. He
said she lasted another year they erected a monument for his mother and father
and then said that his brother and his wife were to be buried next to them and that,
instead, his brother's wife was buried on top of his mother. He said they did not do that in Austria (I am not sure
what he meant by that). He states
he left Austria when he was 18 but does not remember much. He did remember his father walking him to
school sometimes, the teacher had long whiskers, and his father talked to the
teacher. Also, the teacher was his
brother's father-in-law. He remembers that the teacher used to wax
his beard.
BAUMANN HEALTH ISSUES
Your grandfather says that his brother was eating an apple with the
skin on. He asked his brother, “How can you eat that apple with the skin on?” His brother said, “You throw everything away.”
I think
this was when his brother visited from Austria. Your grandfather told his
brother that the peels were poisoned. His brother said, “No way.” Your
grandfather goes on to say that he and his brother had good teeth and he never
had a toothache until he was in Venice, Florida where he lost one tooth. He stated that he had cherry strudle in a restaurant
and bit on a cherry with a pit. He says
he heard the pit snap, and that made his tooth loose. From then on it got looser and looser and then
one day, on the way to the beach, all of a sudden, he felt something in his
mouth. He said he reached in and it was the loosest tooth and there was no
bleeding. He did not have it fixed. He then went to the dentist who said that he
could not do anything and that he should pull them all out. He said, “I will make you a new set.” Your grandfather lamented because he had good
teeth, shiny etc. He goes on to say it
was his fault,--he should have fixed them right away.
My comment: I seem to remember something different. I think he had all his teeth pulled in the hospital in CT. I remember him saying that when he brushed his teeth they would bleed a lot. Maybe Jules can make a comment on this.
My comment: I seem to remember something different. I think he had all his teeth pulled in the hospital in CT. I remember him saying that when he brushed his teeth they would bleed a lot. Maybe Jules can make a comment on this.
Your grandfather continues by saying that one time the
teacher said that everybody had to bring a dime to school and give it to the
teacher (I
am not sure about this because that was not Austrian currency). It
was during WWI. He said it was some type
of collection (A dime, for sure, was a lot of money to them at that time). He goes on to say he did not want to do it,
so his father took him up there. The
teacher was sitting there. He also said,
of himself, “I was bold too. I took the
dime and threw it on top of the teacher’s desk and the teacher was so mad. The teacher threw his bamboo stick down and
told me to pick it up. I said I did not
want to. My father came in there and
made me pick it up. I had to pick it up
and lay it down there nicely.”
So your grandfather continues saying, “I can't say too much
about my school life. I only had four
years of school. I know I was a good
scholar and my brother was a better scholar than me. He was two years older than me and he learned
everything so fast; he had to put it on the blackboard (I think he means what he learned) and
explain it to the class. He was good at reading and writing. I remember my first day at school. I had to move a chalk up and down between two
lines. It's a great life when you go to
school!”
He also remembers that when he went to school he went home for lunch and itwas a short distance to their house from the school. He said he had an apple or a piece of bread or whatever. “It was the wartime and you had nothing. Everything went to the army so they could feed the army. I wasn't growing up with the golden spoon, let me tell you. But still, I was very happy with the way we were living with all the kids together, and when we kids worked together, I say we had a nice life. When we played together, any kind of game, we were all together and that made it kind of nice.”
He also remembers that when he went to school he went home for lunch and itwas a short distance to their house from the school. He said he had an apple or a piece of bread or whatever. “It was the wartime and you had nothing. Everything went to the army so they could feed the army. I wasn't growing up with the golden spoon, let me tell you. But still, I was very happy with the way we were living with all the kids together, and when we kids worked together, I say we had a nice life. When we played together, any kind of game, we were all together and that made it kind of nice.”
Your grandfather continues, “Where we lived there were no hills, all
flat, no up and down, and the hills are way off. It was all flat for about five or six miles
all around the town, flat as a pancake. That’s why when there was a flood we were
flooded. The Hungarian people had an
argument with the Austrian people even though we were not enemies. But they had an argument about cleaning out
the river, you know, where the trees are growing all around the river in our
town; I say the river was about 50 feet wide.” Your grandfather then trails off, and there are
no comments. When he starts again it is
a new topic.
So, your grandfather comments that he has been in this
country (USA)
for 53 years and then moves on. He states that his mother and father always
said that if you have an enemy, you should try to straighten things out and remember
the Lord forgave his enemies when they killed him, you know, when they
crucified him and made him carry the cross. They said the Lord forgave
everybody and you should do the same. So, I remember those words and I don’t
want any enemy and I don't want to be mad at anybody.”
At that point Melissa asks him about vaccinating the chickens. He asked why and Melissa said, “Because Uncle Joe wants to know.”
The next installment will relate what he said. This topic has been covered and is already in the blog I believe but this varies somewhat so maybe this should be added under the original version explaining why it is there twice.
At that point Melissa asks him about vaccinating the chickens. He asked why and Melissa said, “Because Uncle Joe wants to know.”
The next installment will relate what he said. This topic has been covered and is already in the blog I believe but this varies somewhat so maybe this should be added under the original version explaining why it is there twice.
With regard to vaccinating the chickens, your grandfather
said “the young mix the water with the poison, that automatically purified, gave
them that drink so the sickness could not attach. Then, when they are about one to two pounds,
or two-to-three-months, old we vaccinated them.” (Vaccinating the chickens at about
that time is correct but I do not understand what he meant by the first
comments nor do I remember anything like that.) He goes on to say that
they had to catch the chickens one by one. “We then vaccinated them and stuck them up
here, (I
assume he was gesturing) like a nurse, one by one.” (I think I
described this in a previous blog. They
had a device that had a plastic handle and two little metal prongs on
the end. They would dip the prongs
into the vaccine and stick the prongs in the flesh of the chicken’s wings.
The chicken catchers would hold the chicken’s wings out. I don't remember what we used for lighting but
I remember it was poor. Every-so-often, the
catchers, Jules, I, Roger and Robert, when they were there, would get stabbed instead
of the chicken.) Your grandfather continues, “I still remember Roger
Deschesnes, helping Jules,” and laughs, “Jule's pal. He called the chickens a “heiner” and the
rooster a “honer.” Roger was a good boy,
sincere and honest. Jules said Roger was
his best friend. They were only four to
five days apart in age. Roger had big
eyelashes, and they used to tease him about it.”
Your grandfather continues, “Oh Christ, what a time we
had, when we were through we got up to the house, got the pot of coffee ready,
and Oma had some of those cakes baked already that goes with the coffee in the
morning and we had a good time for breakfast.
That’s what we had. Now, we don't
have to inoculate the chickens anymore.”
He asks Melissa, “You know what we do now?” Melissa asks, “What?” He continues, “Now you put a drop of water
and that makes them immune (This
does not make sense. I am sure he meant
more but does not elaborate). That
was a big job inoculating those chickens, not only one, but a thousand. We used to inoculate four thousand (I do not believe this number is
correct). It took at least four
hours.” Then, Melissa asks, “Was it hard catching some of the chickens?” He laughs, “HA, that’s why you do it in the
dark. They can't see. They don't know where they are. We start at
half past three in the morning.”
Joseph Baumann - Generally, the chickens all sat together or were bunched
together so it was not too difficult to
catch them, even in dim light. So, when the
chickens were caught, we brought them to
your grandmother or grandfather, whichever one was free. We had to open
the chickens wing and hold the inside wing exposed, so that they could stab it
with the needle. The issue was if they could see or if the chicken
moved, if we were not holding it steady. Of course, that was when we got stabbed. Your
grandparents sat next to the door and they had what, I think, was a
lantern for light. It became more of a problem when there were only a few
chickens left and it was becoming light,
in which case the chickens would try to run away.
The blog submission finished with your grandfather saying
you know, “Start at half past three and finish just about daybreak, finished
just about when it gets daylight. Then we had fun together, ate, drank
coffee.” Melissa interjects, “So everyone helps vaccinating the chickens.” He
replied, “Oh yes, we helped each other because you couldn’t do it alone. I couldn’t do it alone, so we go together,
everybody who has chickens, so that is what we did. You know, in those days everybody helped each
other. I don't think they do that
anymore. I told you when we built our
barn how everybody helped us.”
He goes on, “I built the barn, shoveled it out. That was when your great-grandfather Piller got caught in the sand when the sand caved in. We had to work like hell to get him out.” Melissa then asks, “What do you mean, caves in?” He continues, “The sand just caved in where your great-grandfather Piller was shoveling, you know, where the barn basement is. It goes in a pitch. The ground was high and you had to shovel it out and then we had to make a foundation there. So we had to shovel like crazy to get him out. He would not go in there again after that or go near there. He did not get hurt but you could choke to death. You know, the sand presses you in from both sides and you can't breathe. You have to be careful not to get caved in or you could get killed. He was not the first one or the last one. That's why you make sure you start further out or put up a wall with boards.
He goes on, “I built the barn, shoveled it out. That was when your great-grandfather Piller got caught in the sand when the sand caved in. We had to work like hell to get him out.” Melissa then asks, “What do you mean, caves in?” He continues, “The sand just caved in where your great-grandfather Piller was shoveling, you know, where the barn basement is. It goes in a pitch. The ground was high and you had to shovel it out and then we had to make a foundation there. So we had to shovel like crazy to get him out. He would not go in there again after that or go near there. He did not get hurt but you could choke to death. You know, the sand presses you in from both sides and you can't breathe. You have to be careful not to get caved in or you could get killed. He was not the first one or the last one. That's why you make sure you start further out or put up a wall with boards.
I guess with regard to your grandfather
it is perspective. Later in the tapes he states that he thought he had a
good life, especially noting the advantages of farm life for the family.
He did have some health problems. He had prostate cancer but never
underwent treatment. He did have his testicles removed. I went down
to Florida when he had the operation to support him and your grandmother.
I remember going to visit him one morning and he said that his stitches
or whatever started to bleed profusely and they had to do an emergency fix.
He spoke about it, however, very nonchalantly. He also had his
share of respiratory problems. He had a nose and ear operation in the
1970’s. The nose was to be straightened but I did not notice any improvement
and the ear operation was to improve his hearing. I don't see that was
beneficial as well as he did not hear well. He also had surgery on his
eyes and that was botched as well. He had one bad eye and that became his
best eye after the operation. Just before he passed away he could hardly
hear and could not see.
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