Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Email Responses on the Mystery Photo
Here are two emails Mary received identifying the little baby on the bed:
---------
Mary,
I hardly ever check this email---sorry!
Baby in green in Gypsy Tobin, now Gypsy Fleischman with 4 children of her own. I think she is sitting on Gramma Herr's bed.
We will not be able to make the reunion this time. Have fun,
Andrea Boucher
---------
Hi all!
The mystery baby in green is me. Surely Pat recognizes me? I'm pretty cute, huh?
Gypsy
---------
---------
Mary,
I hardly ever check this email---sorry!
Baby in green in Gypsy Tobin, now Gypsy Fleischman with 4 children of her own. I think she is sitting on Gramma Herr's bed.
We will not be able to make the reunion this time. Have fun,
Andrea Boucher
---------
Hi all!
The mystery baby in green is me. Surely Pat recognizes me? I'm pretty cute, huh?
Gypsy
---------
Monday, April 20, 2009
Starved Rock Visit (by Mary)
Last Friday, October 31, we had an appointment with Jenny Roulston, the sales consultant at Starved Rock. The weather was perfect for such a visit -- see the blue skies -- and it was also Halloween so the park patrons and the town of Utica were in a festive mood! We were pleased with what we found. You can view the photos here and see more details on the Starved Rock website.
Entrance to the main lodge where we will be staying in the east wing. The lodge is rustic and cozy and very accessible to the outdoors.
One of the outdoor terraces --
See the view!
More view --
More scenery --
The Illinois River runs through the park and is a short walk from the lodge.
We stopped in the metropolis of Utica, gateway city to the park.
Duffy's Tavern, a reminder of our recent Ireland travels --
Items Regarding Starved Rock Which May Be of Interest to You:
Accommodations
The rooms have either 2 double beds or 1 queen. Some rooms can be in tandem.
All mattresses were purchased new this fall! The current rates are $120 for Thursday and $130 for Friday and Saturday.
There are 5 campgrounds in the area. (In case anyone wants to rough it) There are also several chain motels.
Activities
Spacious grounds, many places to stroll or relax.
There is a huge swimming pool area (indoors) which includes a large pool, smaller kiddie pool, a hot tub, and sauna. Towels are furnished.
A trolley is on site. It can be rented for special destinations.
Story teller on site! (Currently Bill Myers -- Have you heard of him, Viv?)
Many hiking trails
Conservation activities, fishing, white water rafting
Gift shops, restaurants
Boat Rides (Check Starock.com)
We have the Utica room for gathering. It is ours for Friday and Saturday so we can use it as we wish and display photographs and other memorabilia. (It can be locked when we are not there)
Shops and restaurants in nearby towns
Transportation
It took us 2 1/2 hours to drive to Utica from Deerfield, so it is about 2 hours from O'Hare. Once you get to Starved Rock you might not feel that you need a car. There is a company called One Sweet Dream which offers limousine, SUV, or van service from O'Hare and the price varies according to the size of the group. (www.1SweetDream,com) Utica is on Interstate 80, 80 miles west of Chicago.
Starved Rock State Park has changed a lot since our family camped there many years ago! Peter (maybe also Bruce) vaguely recalls being there on a Schurz band activity many, many years ago. Anyway it is a lovely, peaceful area which should be a great place to gather next summer!
A note from Viv - She sent congratulations and called attention to the fact that Liz and Van chose Ken and Viv's 55th anniversary (September 5) for their 2009 wedding. Viv says they will be honored to share their anniversary. We congratulate Viv and Ken!! (Is it already 5 years since many of us gathered in Colorado to help them celebrate their 50th?)
Entrance to the main lodge where we will be staying in the east wing. The lodge is rustic and cozy and very accessible to the outdoors.
One of the outdoor terraces --
See the view!
More view --
More scenery --
The Illinois River runs through the park and is a short walk from the lodge.
We stopped in the metropolis of Utica, gateway city to the park.
Duffy's Tavern, a reminder of our recent Ireland travels --Items Regarding Starved Rock Which May Be of Interest to You:
Accommodations
The rooms have either 2 double beds or 1 queen. Some rooms can be in tandem.
All mattresses were purchased new this fall! The current rates are $120 for Thursday and $130 for Friday and Saturday.
There are 5 campgrounds in the area. (In case anyone wants to rough it) There are also several chain motels.
Activities
Spacious grounds, many places to stroll or relax.
There is a huge swimming pool area (indoors) which includes a large pool, smaller kiddie pool, a hot tub, and sauna. Towels are furnished.
A trolley is on site. It can be rented for special destinations.
Story teller on site! (Currently Bill Myers -- Have you heard of him, Viv?)
Many hiking trails
Conservation activities, fishing, white water rafting
Gift shops, restaurants
Boat Rides (Check Starock.com)
We have the Utica room for gathering. It is ours for Friday and Saturday so we can use it as we wish and display photographs and other memorabilia. (It can be locked when we are not there)
Shops and restaurants in nearby towns
Transportation
It took us 2 1/2 hours to drive to Utica from Deerfield, so it is about 2 hours from O'Hare. Once you get to Starved Rock you might not feel that you need a car. There is a company called One Sweet Dream which offers limousine, SUV, or van service from O'Hare and the price varies according to the size of the group. (www.1SweetDream,com) Utica is on Interstate 80, 80 miles west of Chicago.
Starved Rock State Park has changed a lot since our family camped there many years ago! Peter (maybe also Bruce) vaguely recalls being there on a Schurz band activity many, many years ago. Anyway it is a lovely, peaceful area which should be a great place to gather next summer!
A note from Viv - She sent congratulations and called attention to the fact that Liz and Van chose Ken and Viv's 55th anniversary (September 5) for their 2009 wedding. Viv says they will be honored to share their anniversary. We congratulate Viv and Ken!! (Is it already 5 years since many of us gathered in Colorado to help them celebrate their 50th?)
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Liz's Graduate Recital
We were very proud of Liz, who gave her graduate recital on March 28. The pieces performed ranged from Bach to Gershwin, and subject matter from a mass to a song about fat turkeys! She did a superb job before a large crowd, who braved one of Chicago's spring sleet/snow showers to attend.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A Note From Rachel
Hi Mary!
As you know, we have also been thinking about this reunion for a long
time, and are anxious (especially after 4 years overseas) to reconnect
with family in the States. However, since our little boy is due June
26, I think we will have to remain non-commital until the last minute
- see how things go, and if we are able to travel a month later!
If, for some reason, we are not able to attend, we are still hopeful
that we can go to Liz's wedding and see most people there...
I've just entered the "waddling" stage. It ain't purty!!! :-)
Love,
Rachel.
As you know, we have also been thinking about this reunion for a long
time, and are anxious (especially after 4 years overseas) to reconnect
with family in the States. However, since our little boy is due June
26, I think we will have to remain non-commital until the last minute
- see how things go, and if we are able to travel a month later!
If, for some reason, we are not able to attend, we are still hopeful
that we can go to Liz's wedding and see most people there...
I've just entered the "waddling" stage. It ain't purty!!! :-)
Love,
Rachel.
Mystery Photo Feedback
Dave and Bruce have both positively identified the mystery military man as their brother Peter. (Peter now thinks that it could be him, but still has no recollection of ever wearing a uniform with that much leather, or of attending an ROTC ball)
Dave writes:
Mystery photos: --- I am in there with Bruce. That is Peter for sure. I was going to write and claim that as soon as I saw it on the blog. But I did not want to be the winner right away again. So I waited until Bruce had a chance to show off his ability. Even Rosalie said right away, "That must be Peter." And she did not even know him then. He has a very distinctive look about him. I can recognize the spot, the lamp and almost the time period. That must be Peter in the living room in his ROTC uniform.
And those other photos --- The top one looks like Aunt Nell and Uncle Ed. The lower one is some other aunt and uncle, but I am not sure which. How are these for guesses. I am going to try to blow them up and enhance them. Is that cheating? Brings back farm trip memories though.
Bruce writes:
Well that's Aunt Nell and Uncle Ed in the top photo, with one of their girls. And the other old-timer might be Uncle Harm? I'm sure Viv will know.
And the more I look at it, the more I think that's Pete all dressed up for an ROTC ball. The only other possibility I can think of is Elmer Abrahamson -- I have a vague memory that Elmer and Pete may have double-dated to an ROTC ball.
Vivian writes:
Okay! The mystery photos are easy. Some at least. The old timers in the
first picture are Aunt Nell and Uncle Ed Nielsen (I'm not sure of i before e
or the other way around. I often spelled it wrong.)Nell was Dad (Ross)
Herr's older sister. They had two daughters, Betty Jean (who married Floyd
Whitney) and Doris who married (I have to look it up.).
The second photo is Uncle Harm (Harmon Herr) and Aunt Ollie. He was
Dad's eldest brother and Ollie was his second wife. (His first was Ray's
mother.)They were both killed in an automobile crash at an intersection on a
rural road. I have a copy of the newspaper article.
Every flower Ollie had in her garden was a "posy." Mom tried to
identify what kind of flower a "posy" was, but to Ollie they were all
"posies." And she had a lot of pretty ones.
We saw all four of them almost every time we went to Ohio.
Dave writes:
Mystery photos: --- I am in there with Bruce. That is Peter for sure. I was going to write and claim that as soon as I saw it on the blog. But I did not want to be the winner right away again. So I waited until Bruce had a chance to show off his ability. Even Rosalie said right away, "That must be Peter." And she did not even know him then. He has a very distinctive look about him. I can recognize the spot, the lamp and almost the time period. That must be Peter in the living room in his ROTC uniform.
And those other photos --- The top one looks like Aunt Nell and Uncle Ed. The lower one is some other aunt and uncle, but I am not sure which. How are these for guesses. I am going to try to blow them up and enhance them. Is that cheating? Brings back farm trip memories though.
Bruce writes:
Well that's Aunt Nell and Uncle Ed in the top photo, with one of their girls. And the other old-timer might be Uncle Harm? I'm sure Viv will know.
And the more I look at it, the more I think that's Pete all dressed up for an ROTC ball. The only other possibility I can think of is Elmer Abrahamson -- I have a vague memory that Elmer and Pete may have double-dated to an ROTC ball.
Vivian writes:
Okay! The mystery photos are easy. Some at least. The old timers in the
first picture are Aunt Nell and Uncle Ed Nielsen (I'm not sure of i before e
or the other way around. I often spelled it wrong.)Nell was Dad (Ross)
Herr's older sister. They had two daughters, Betty Jean (who married Floyd
Whitney) and Doris who married (I have to look it up.).
The second photo is Uncle Harm (Harmon Herr) and Aunt Ollie. He was
Dad's eldest brother and Ollie was his second wife. (His first was Ray's
mother.)They were both killed in an automobile crash at an intersection on a
rural road. I have a copy of the newspaper article.
Every flower Ollie had in her garden was a "posy." Mom tried to
identify what kind of flower a "posy" was, but to Ollie they were all
"posies." And she had a lot of pretty ones.
We saw all four of them almost every time we went to Ohio.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Reunion Plans
Now that spring is upon us it's time to be thinking ahead and making definite plans and reservations. At this point we've had positive responses from the following people: Dave & Rosie, Bruce & Ellen, Sarah, Viv & Ken, Diana & Ed & sons, Mary & Peter, Peter & Betsy & Henry & Clara, Liz & Van. Others have expressed interest and we hope many more will also be able to join us.
Remember: Reservations need to be made at least 30 days prior to the reunion, or by June 30. The rooms will no longer be held for us after that date.
A note on transportation: Those of you flying to O'Hare Airport may want to coordinate your flight schedules so that you can share transportation to Starved Rock. There is a company called One Sweet Dream which offers limousine, SUV, or van service from O'Hare and the price varies according to the size of the group. (www.1SweetDream,com) Utica is on Interstate 80, 80 miles west of Chicago. You might also consider sharing car rental from the airport.
There are new mystery photos in the sidebar. Who can identify the military man? We currently have a debate. Peter says it is not him because he never had that much leather on his uniform. Bruce seems sure it is not him. Dave? Could it be you?
Also- the "tyke" photo posted earlier was never identified. Surely someone knows who this adorable child is. Mary knows, but she's not telling!
Mary and Peter recently had a mini Herr Reunion in Tucson with Pat, Joy and Brooke. You can tell by the photo that a good time was had by all! Brooke topped off the evening with a much appreciated demonstration of her dancing skills.
Remember: Reservations need to be made at least 30 days prior to the reunion, or by June 30. The rooms will no longer be held for us after that date.
A note on transportation: Those of you flying to O'Hare Airport may want to coordinate your flight schedules so that you can share transportation to Starved Rock. There is a company called One Sweet Dream which offers limousine, SUV, or van service from O'Hare and the price varies according to the size of the group. (www.1SweetDream,com) Utica is on Interstate 80, 80 miles west of Chicago. You might also consider sharing car rental from the airport.
There are new mystery photos in the sidebar. Who can identify the military man? We currently have a debate. Peter says it is not him because he never had that much leather on his uniform. Bruce seems sure it is not him. Dave? Could it be you?
Also- the "tyke" photo posted earlier was never identified. Surely someone knows who this adorable child is. Mary knows, but she's not telling!
Mary and Peter recently had a mini Herr Reunion in Tucson with Pat, Joy and Brooke. You can tell by the photo that a good time was had by all! Brooke topped off the evening with a much appreciated demonstration of her dancing skills.
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