Enjoys Minonk Talk stories
After hearing about your Minonktalk site, my husband and I have been reading
many of your interesting articles. "Just Living in the 40's", "Spencer's
Hill" and "Walking Home" are the type of reading we have been enjoying.
Keep up the great work!
Jacob and Marietta
Editor's note: The articles you mentioned were written by Barth Weistart who is
becoming the chronicler of Minonk history. We certainly appreciate his contribution to this website.
Police report is valuable
Your addition of the police activities will assist and support the local
police in their routine duties ...and as we can readily see much of the work
is routine. Your efforts will inform the public of the events that absorb
so much of the time of local police. We need to appreciate the efforts of
the force and the publicity may well discourage some folks from minor
criminal activities.
Gerry Schmidt
Minonk in the 40's story a hit
I loved reading the "Just living in the 1940's" - I was born in 1944 - so
only hear stories about the ration stamps and the tire and gas shortages.
My folks didn't drink coffee, so they traded their coffee stamps with
people that didn't need as much sugar - we had such a large family,
having a bit of extra sugar was nice! It's funny, I never noticed (as a
child!) the barn smell - we raised a cow, chickens, and pigs. What I did
notice, when it was my turn to wash the dishes, was when Dad brought the
milk bucket in (from milking the cow) sometimes there was yuk! on the
bottom of the bucket - it had picked up some of the mixture of manure and
straw from the barn floor! I hated washing that off. But cowpies were
fun (when they were dried out) - out in the pasture - we could fling them
around (that was before frisbies!)or use them for baseball bases! I can
still see the rows and rows of shelves of canned food in the basement!
We weren't allowed to help ourselves - but once in a while, on a Sunday
afternoon, Mom would let us bring up a 2-quart jar of grape juice and we
would share it until it was gone! Yum! It was a lot of work, but it was
just what you did! For us, it was the appricots that were the most
plentiful - we had two trees and we could eat to our hearts content in
the summer. Mom canned several bushels of peaches, purchased in
Bloomington, and they were just for winter time eating! She made apple
jelly from the apple skins left from making applesauce. I think being
raised in the country (we only had about 3 acres on the edge of town) was
a real priviledge!
Martha, formerly from Secor!
Recommends history case for trophy display
To whom it may concern:
I would like offer some thoughts on the controversy associated with the
trophies of the consolidated school systems, as I think their true, immense
value is being missed.
Those trophies of yesterday have become today's icons of history that will
help the kids of today form a link to those kids of the past that are now
their grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles,teachers and leaders of their
community. This link quite literally will become part of the anchor of
stability that their school and home town will be for the rest of their
life.
The old trophies and pictures at the Dana Grade School (once the Dana High
School) were the first glimpse I can remember of the history I was becoming
a part of. I have traveled and lived throughout the world, including living
in South America. "Home" has always been and continues to be my home town.
While I have not lived in the community for 20 years, I pay Fieldcrest
school district property taxes and do significant business locally because
of the debt I owe my past. A debt that each of you owe as well.
For my niece, nephews and the other kids of today, the merged school is the
only thing they will know. Like many other things in life, they will see
Fieldcrest through different eyes than their parents. To the parents of
today's children and the members of the board, how many know of the regular
Sunday afternoon baseball games that were played between the towns in the
1890's? That part of Rutland is actually in the same county and township as
much of Toluca? How many know of the train tracks that ran directly between
Rutland and Toluca? Many will remember the train between Wenona, Rutland and
Minonk, few the Rutland/Toluca line. If one knows how the town histories
have been inter-twined from the beginning, one sees the merging of the
school districts as a relatively small and natural blip in the history of
the area.
The alma mater at the University of Illinois is presented: "To the students
of today from those that came before". Something I did not "get" when I
attended the university. But years later, standing in front of it, I feel
the pull and understand the wisdom of those that came before.
I would like to propose to the superintendent and board of education, that
we show this same wisdom and provide an anchor to our students of tomorrow.
I would propose that we create a "History Case" at each of the schools
within the district. Showing not just the trophies but other pieces of our
local history. I assure you, it will be the most valuable gift of education
of all to those students of tomorrow. A lesson, few will immediately
understand but that all will "get" as they have reached the year of their
20th class re-union where I now stand.
Robert J. Kline
Fieldcrest Class of 1982
More background on nicknames
Hi Dave,
Enjoyed your article about nicknames. One fellow who chose his own
nickname was Tommy Toler who was the leader of the pack at good old St Pat's.
Before he was El Gato he was Albino from a horse in one of the
Thunderhead/Flicka movies. My nickname of Cobby Joe was bestowed on me by
Don Ketchmark at St Pat's play ground one day because he thought I ran like
I had a cob **********.
Maybe other folks might want to give the history
of their nicknames.
Bob Schmitz
Mystery identify of machine uncovered
I think the old machine along the road by Cazenovia is an old tilling
machine.
Keep up the good work.
Bill Hinkle
bandt1@mtco.com
Wants copy of "Tales from the Trees"
I recently found your website and was delighted! What a great insight into
Minonk. My father is Jerome Ingerski and I remember so well his stories of
Minonk in the 20s and 30s. Seeing the old A&P, Jumbo, and Princess Sweet
Shop made it all come to life for me. I have printed out many, many pages
to "snail mail" him. He will love seeing and reading your wonderful site!
I am sure he will be able to identify some of the people in the photos that
you're asking about, too.
I would like to buy him (and his only surviving brother, Walter) a copy of
the book, Tales From the Trees by Ailene Hayes Schneider. Do you know how
I can get two copies?
Thank you!
Jan Jones
Editor's note: It is my understanding that the book "Tales From the Trees" is out of
print and can only be checked out from the Filger Library. I wish someone could contact
Mrs. Schneider and see if the book can be reprinted. This website has rekindled an interest
in the book and I think she could probably sell quite a few books.
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Enjoyed Minonk in the 40's story
Hi Dave. I'm still reading minonktalk and want to thank you again for the
wonderful job you're doing! It's great to have a place to go read about
"home" whenever I want.
I'd also like to thank Mr. Weistart for his latest Minonk story...just
living in the 40's. The article was well written and VERY interesting,
sometimes humerous. I hope his efforts encourage others to tell their
stories, as well. I'll be looking forward to them!
Denise in Ohio
Nicknames: The Man Called Ollie
When I read your recent Editorial regarding "Nicknames" I could only
relate to my own husband "Ollie". Francis was his given name. Down
through the many years he explained many times how this came about..as I
heard down the road from his childhood home was a neighbor Alje Janssen.
He visited the family often and aparently Alje was a hardy eater and
Ollie was reminded many times when he was at the family table if he did
not quit eating so much he would become just like his mentor....Alje
Janssen (Alje pronounced Ollie) and so as far as I knew the only ones who
ever called him Francis were his mother and Uncle Sam.
When he was
drafted into the Army in WW2 his name was published in the paper and when
people asked who Francis Schneider was, I would say "Well that's
Ollie".
As I sat writing his obituary for his funeral services I knew
exactly how I had to start and it was "The Man Called Ollie". Nothing
else seemed to fit.
Joan Schneider (Ollie's Wife)
Sun Lakes, Arizona
More nicknames
Here are some nicknames of my dad and some of the guys he grew up with.
Windy McKay, Hoople Janssen, Tony Janssen, Baldy Kleen, Tub Kleen and Mush
Kleen.
Mike McKay
Editor's note: I believe Hoople Janssen's nickname was based on an old comic strip
called "Major Hoople". We probably need to set up a new section just for nicknames
on this website.
Father identified on 1929 baskeball picture
Dave-the boy on the back row third from the left in the 1929 basketball team is my
Father,Homer(Bill Parks). We are enjoying the Minonk Talk, especially
when in Florida. Thanks for all your work!
Judy Kalkwarf
Thinks Dollar General will be good for Minonk
Dear Dave,
We check your site periodically and enjoy keeping up on the latest happenings
in and around Minonk. Because of Minonk's loss of so many businesses and
shops I should think the community would encourage the location of a Dollar
Store. We have several in LaCrosse, including our large mall, are well
maintained and accepted. They do a great business and allows employment not
only to older people but our young people as well who need part time work
for academic fees and living expenses while attending school. I hope the
council will not close it's doors completely on this issue. Offer Dollar
store another option for consideration.
Dixie Fewell
Can't afford to turn down any retail
We definitely want the store (Dollar General) to come to town! For goodness sakes we can't
afford to turn down ANY retail at this point.
Patrick & Rita Lovell
Welcomes Dollar General store
Hi Dave,
I welcome the Dollar store. It will keep me in town more and from having
to run to Pontiac. The older I am getting the more I hate to even go that
far needlessly. In weighing out the good and the bad of it, I think the
good is more. I realize that it seems pretty un-fair to the merchants we
now have because it was given free to the chain. I do believe once it gets
going it will generate some more business to the other merchants. It would
naturally have to...Since we do have 39, especially in the good weather
people will come through in traveling and get gas and go to the Dollar
store and then look around at some other shops in town. Especially if they
look kept up and quaint, peaceful...boutique like.
Wanda Patterson
Comments on Dollar General Store
Hello Dave,
Wondering just how much value to the city of Minonk this type
business could generate? Low value items, mostly Made in China, copies
of old Made In America items. Who can afford employing people to work
there on such low priced items? Who needs more junk items in their
collection of things they have already purchased over the years? Let the
sun hit the buildings that already exist on Minonk's main street. I recall
years ago just how cluttered main street seemed to be with that
large Livingston Grain Elevator where it was. Looks good now with some
room, for ones eyes, to view the space cleaned of buildings on East Side
of Main St.
Long ago resident of Minonk Bob Bastic
Names some players on 1929 basketball team
Dave, in the picture of the 1929 basketball players. The second from the right in the back row, looks like one of Buchmueller boys, I would guess, Alfred or Oscar. Also the middle sitting down looks like a Wylie. I wouldn't put my life on these, but those are my guesses. I really haven't studied it that much.
We're enjoying upper 70's these days in Sun City.
Keep up the good work.....really enjoy the site.
Emily Zivney
Supports efforts to restore Westside Park
Dave,
I was in Minonk a week ago attending Esther Uphoff's funeral. I had hoped
to meet you, but perhaps you did not attend. Anyway, I have been following
your efforts in support of the westside park, and just wanted to voice my
support and encouragement. I spent a lot of my formative years playing in
that park and on the band stand. It sure has changed a lot over the years.
We lived on a farm near Toluca, I spent most summers with Aunt Gustie
(Augusta von Behren) on 4th street. I have so many fond memories of Minonk
and especially of the park. I hope you will continue your efforts and
sincerely hope the city council will wake up and realize the mistake they
are making. It appeared to me that the council was using funds earmarked
for the park for other purposes. Not sure how they can get by with doing
that, but I doubt that they are doing it legally. Anyway, keep on keepin'
on and if I can help in any way, please let me know.
Sincerely
Jim Uphoff
Lorton VA
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