Society news: June 14
Published 7:37 am Sunday, June 14, 2015
Duplicate Bridge
Tournament results for June 3, five tables played: First place, Eunice Michaelis and Warren Behrens; second place, Orrion Roisen and Dave Ring; third place, Jim Fischer and Bud Higgins; fourth place: Darnell Fairbanks and Bonnie Fritz; fifth place, Marilyn Gesme and Romelle Enderson.
Duplicate Bridge is played each Wednesday at noon at the Mower County Senior Center in Austin. All Bridge players are welcome. Call Dave Ring at 507-434-4189.
Red Cedar Chapter, NSDAR
DAR members pose with a bronze plaque which commemorates the Mower County servicemen who died in WWI. The plaque was originally placed on the old Austin post office on Armistice Day 1922 by Red Cedar Chapter DAR. Red Cedar members are Polly Jelenik, Sharon Jensen, Alice Anderson, Cheryl Potter, Judy Brown, Sybil Pickett, and Marilyn Prenosil. Photo provided
The Red Cedar Chapter, NSDAR, met at the Mower County Historical Society on June 4, 2015. The hostess was Cheryl Potter. The Ritual was recited and the President General’s Report was read by Judy Brown; the National Defense Report was read by Marilyn Prenosil.
Jaimie M. Timm, Curator, Mower County Historical Society, gave the Red Cedar members a tour of the very detailed, informative and historic WWII Exhibit located in the Headquarters Building, at the Historical Society on the Mower County Fairgrounds. She said this was the first permanent exhibit that she had been involved in and began working on the project two years ago. The exhibit opened last summer. The Headquarters Building is the oldest existing building in Austin and was built in 1856-57. The first settlers in Mower County came in 1852 and resided near Racine. This building is a very historic space as the first newspaper was located here; a store; the first court session took place here; was a recruiting station during the Civil War; and many church services. She started this project by reviewing the Austin Daily Herald and the Mower County News newspapers during the WWII years. Jaimie knew she wanted to include information about what it was like to live in Mower County during the war; blackouts; volunteering; ration books; air raid rules; and soldiers from Mower County who served their country.
Austin High School students made slippers and blankets for the soldiers. Mower County children also brought their hard earned money to school every week for war stamps and bonds. In March 1944, Mower County schools led all schools in the state with war stamp sales. For the 1943-44 school year, Mower County students bought enough stamps and bonds to pay for 200 jeeps. There was not only a labor shortage on the farms but also in industry in Mower County. Schools had fewer teachers; cooks and waiters were in short supply; trained mechanics were difficult to find. Geo. A. Hormel & Co., led by Jay Hormel, worked very hard during the war to make sure that its suppliers, employees and customers all got their fair share. After the attack of Pearl Harbor, Jay fully embraced the American war effort and made sure that his company gave America its best work, many of its products, including canned meat. In reality the company only sent the Army one large shipment of Spam in 1942; the vast majority of the canned meat sent to the military was something called “defense ham.”
Nicely pressed and displayed uniforms are included in the exhibit – honoring the Marines, Navy and Army. The number of Mower County Heroes who gave their lives during WWII, a total of 143, are listed row by row on a plaque in the museum.
“The Sky Dropped Death” on Dec. 7, 1941, 7:48 a.m., when 353 Japanese fighter planes attacked the U.S. Naval Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. More than 2400 American servicemen and civilians were killed; with 1,200 more wounded. Thank you, Jaimie, for this magnificent display, we need to remember; we need to never forget. Reviewing Mower County’s history re WWII makes Flag Day, June 14, even more meaningful this year as we reflect on the foundations of our nation’s freedom. Submitted by Sharon Jensen, Regent, Red Cedar Chapter.
Austin Cotillion Club
As I looked around the room and prepared for the members of the Austin Cotillion Club by the staff at the Austin Country Club, I realized this older generation of dancers are a vibrant, enthusiastic, healthy, active people doing what they have done for most of their lives … dance for fun and relaxation.
Pictured is the committee for the June meeting of the Cotillion Dance Club. From left: Dale Nelson and Kay Miller, Tom and Marion Niemiec and Joyce and Bob Goetz. Photo provided
The room was filled with enjoyment and the rich, melodic sounds of the Austin Big Band.
We were happy to see Robert Erickson, 94, return to the dinner-dance with his beautiful wife, Darlene. Bob had recently fallen and suffered a fractured pelvis. Even though he continues to mend he was able to do a slow dance, fulfilling a goal he had set for himself during his recovery.
There is no doubt that good food, good music, exercise through dancing, developing friendships is good for the soul and longer and happier life.
The committee for this dance are Dale Nelson and Kay Miller (chairman), Bob and Joyce Goetz and Tom and Marion Niemiec. The names of the new officers were announced for the new season of dances in October, November, December May and June.
Adam and Rachel Stange will be our new president, replacing John and Marge Murach. Michael Walker and Kelsey Field is the new treasurer, replacing Sue Radloff. Ruth White remains secretary for another year.
We were delighted to receive several guests who joined us from Rochester including John and Debbie Weiss and Gretchen Cutshall. From Austin was Mary Hokenson.
Our next dinner-dance will be held on Oct. 13 at which time we invite all who wish to experience a renewing time with us. Call 507-475-0641 and speak with Rachel or Adam Stange, one of our younger couples.
Brownsdale Study Club
The May meeting of the Brownsdale Study Club was held at the home of Ida Foster.
The meeting opened with the reading of the collect. April minutes and treasurers report were accepted. Nine members answered roll call with your favorite May flower.
For old business Leone Peterson will bring information to the June meeting about touring Amish country for our outing. Ida Foster reported she had contacted the Post-Bulletin about the Davis family and for follow up. The family had sol sent us a note and picture of the family.
Happy birthday was sung to Fern Paschke.
Fern gave a report on the Oak Ridge Boys from the American Legion Magazine. They have been together for 40 years and were regulars at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry in 1945. William Golden joined in 1965, Duane Allen 1966, Richard Sterban 1972 and Joe Bonsall in 1973.
The group became spokesman for the American Legion to raise awareness about assistance provided for veterans and families. They are still touring and their new release is “Boys Night Out.” They have performed for five US presidents.
Mary Gallaher had the main topic on butterflies and moths. They go through similar life cycles known as metamorphosis: egg, larvae, pupa and adult. They like nectar-rich flowers such as zinnias, cone flowers, cleomes, milk weed, ageratums, and butterfly weed. The butterfly’s decline has been blamed on the use of the weed killer, Roundup.