The bi-annual reunion of the descendants of Juergen and Anna Kruse was held yesterday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, out amidst the corn and soybean fields in rural Marshall County, Kansas. Kruse emigrated from Germany to the US in 1858, served in the Union Army during the Civil War (it was a fast track to citizenship or the cemetery) and later took up farming in Marshall County in northeastern Kansas. My wife, Carolyn, is the great granddaughter of Juergen and Anna.The party was held in the church hall. It had an elementary school that operated for 127 years, closing in 1995 as the population changed. It has been preserved as a museum. Some artifacts are pictured below: my wife's school picture, age uncertain; baseballs neatly stacked along a shelf in the schoolhouse; and everything you needed to know at one time about Kansas' native population.
What an impressive church! Majestic! Well photographed! I notice your trained eyes ;)
ReplyDeletebelle serie nostalgique, j'aime beaucoup la photo avec les balles de baseball...
ReplyDeleteFunny that, one part of my family is called Kruse but that isn't the part that emigrated to Milwaukee from Germany. I've never been able to trace them because I've never taken the time to search for last names... Beautiful post.
ReplyDeleteI really like that shelf of baseballs. And little Carolyn is adorable.
ReplyDeleteYup, like that baseball shot. Are they historically important or just a look at the time?
ReplyDeleteI just love them all. Little Miss Carolyn and I had similar bangs back in the day! The church is so very Lutheran and obviously loved and cared for by the members.
ReplyDeleteAnd those baseballs........ LURV THAT SHOT, B.
These are all wonderful! Miss you!
ReplyDeleteThe church is straight out of American Gothic.
ReplyDeleteThose squeaky clean, smiling kids look like they just stepped off a Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover! Look forward to seeing your photos of Ireland........
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