Two Noras: October 22, 1914 and October 22, 2014

Nora Bauer: Thursday, October 22, 1914

Paul called me up this noon and we went to the card social at Saint Vincent's. Had a couple of dances. It is now 11:40 and just ready for bed. 

Nora Spitznogle: Friday, October 22, 2021

Worked downtown at Second Helpings today. Drive out the Farm - about 30 minutes away - after work to meet Beth and Ann. We're making progress, but so much still to do. 

Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church was one of the Catholic Churches in the heyday of Logansport. My mom's family attended St. Vincent's, which seems to be where the Irish Catholics worshiped. Mom and Dad were married there and Al Dunn sang at their wedding (click on the link above to read about the Dunn family and their history with the parish), 

Here's a blurb about the social. Grandma Nora failed to mention the ice cream. 

I found this darling photo of me - sitting at the Formica table that was hauled down from the attic. This photograph was taken when we lived on Michigan Road (State Road 421) on Taylor Hill. My guess is that this is my fourth birthday. Look at that party dress! And I still get jazzed about cake. 

We spent the evening in the basement sorting through Christmas things and Ball bars. 

The first measuring spot.

The second height chart. Look how much I've grown in last 45 years...of course, I'm probably at the shrinking stage now. 

I really enjoyed seeing where Dad had marked our heights. We all got taller than the under the stairs post, so a second measuring post was used. 

Two Noras: October 21, 1914 and October 21, 2021

Nora Bauer: Wednesday, October 21, 1914

It was beautiful out today. Finished my pin cushion tonight.  

Nora Spitznogle; Thursday, October 21, 2021

Worked from home morning. Late manager, out to Farm after. 

I know that I keep saying this, but I would love to see some of Grandma Nora's fancy work. When I think of a pin cushion I picture a strawberry shaped one. 

It was nice to work from home this morning - the extra hour of sleep was much needed. One of the things I took from Dad's was this nice flag. Mine was very faded. 

Dad had this beautiful photograph of his mother next to his bed. Several of my cousins favor her. 

Two Noras: October 20, 1914 and October 20, 2021

Nora Bauer: Tuesday, October 20, 1914

Was to Chas. Kramer's funeral this morning. Father Kroeger had such a lovely sermon. He surely spoke well of him. But it was very sad. 

Nora Spitznogle: Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Worked today, dinner with friends, then out to the Farm for more sorting. So far it's all smooth, but still emotional, and I am tired. 

I've been wondering why Grandma Nora didn't call Charles "Uncle Charles?" I realize that Charles is close in age to her - less than 10 years. She probably thought of him as more of a cousin. 

There is a long line of priests in the Kroeger family in Logansport. The most recent was Father Tim, who was Dad's priest at Saint Joesph's in Lebanon. Father Tim and Dad really hit it off and they were travel buddies along with Tim's brother Paul. The Kroeger family also owns a funeral home that has been in the family for generations. It's amazing how many relatives that have been baptized, married, and buried by a Kroeger. 

I met college friends Linda (Marigold owner) and Tammy for dinner at Traders Point Creamery. It was my first visit and it was delicious. Roasted beets - yummy! 

We had fun catching up. Tammy and her hubby are moving to Florida soon. 

Back to the Farm to meet up with Beth and Ann. We're making some headway. It's painful to go though closets and cabinets. Dad was pretty organized and paired down, but it's still hard to know what to do with things. I'm trying to be careful about what I take. I love family furniture, and my house is full of it already. That said, the boxes are starting to stack up in my house. 

Two Noras: October 19, 1914 and October 19, 2021

Nora Bauer: Monday, October 19, 1914

Was making blueprints today. Started to work on my pincushion tonight. 

Nora Spitznogle: Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Work, haircut, more sorting at the Farm with Ann and Beth.

 

Grandma Nora's day was full of work and fancy work. My day was just plain old full! 

Busy work day followed by a hair cut. Now that I've let my hair be it's natural color, I'm thinking I'd enjoy longer waves. Mostly I want to get it out of my face - I'm so glad that I'm finally able to tuck my hair behind my ears. Between wearing a mask most of the day and foggy glasses, I don't need anything else obstructing my view. 

On to the Farm for more sorting - we're not very focused, moving from drawers to the basement to upstairs and going through photos - although the pace seems right. 

This was a fun photo to stumble across - Four of Grandma Nora's children. 

Lucille Spitznogle Stephenson, Mary Alice Pinder Spitznogle married to Cletus Spitznogle, Papa John Spitznogle, Gertrude Spitznogle Woolever

Two Noras: October 18, 1914 and October 18, 2021

Nora Bauer: Sunday, October 18, 1914

Was to 7:30 & 10 o'clock Mass today. Was out walking with Helen & Magdalen this afternoon went down to see Chas Kramer. Mrs. Spitznogle was there. 

Nora Spitznogle: Monday, October 18, 2021

Worked downtown at Second Helpings today. The usual mix of meetings, reports, and returning emails. Straight to the Farm after. 

I admire Grandma Nora's dedication to Mass. Especially because it would have been in Latin in that era. I'm guessing that Helen and Magdalen were friends from church.  

Charles Kramer was her mama's younger brother, her uncle. I think she must have enjoyed seeing her beau's mother there. 

Long day of work followed by the emotional work of sorting through Dad's closets and cupboards. 

Two Noras: October 17, 1914 and October 17, 2021

Nora Bauer: Saturday, October 17, 1914

Made some blue prints today today. Was up town this afternoon. Saw Chris, Will, George & Coon tonight. Finished my pillow cases. 

Nora Spitznogle: Sunday, October 17, 2021

Spent the day at the Farm with sisters and Mom. Schaun, Adrian, and Cousin Kelly came to help with attic. 

There were three generations of Conrad Spitznogles - nothing confusing there! I've always heard Dad speak of Uncle Coonie, which would be his dad's brother. Although Uncle Coonie also had an Uncle Conrad, that I think was also called Coonie. Whatever generation this was, I'm sure that Grandma Nora was thrilled to run into brothers/uncles of her beau. 

We started going through things at the Farm. I pulled down the rickety garage attic steps and got what I could, but my fear of heights and the lack of people to hand the things to slowed me down. Schaun and Adrian and Kelly were on their way home from the Colts game and were kind enough to tackle the attic and had it emptied in minutes. 

There was a box of my high school things up there - I'm sure they were put there 42 years ago and were long forgotten by me. 

The cover for a report about astronauts. 

I was very excited to find this album of family history that I'd done for a project. 

It looks like I didn't know [Felix] Alois Bauer's wife's name at that time - Josefa, sometimes written as Josephine. I can't find any mention of her family names. I hope to visit the cemetery where they are buried soon. 

Speaking of Germany, I found my journal from the summer that I visited Germany with my maternal Aunt Rita and Uncle Eberhard in 1978. I took a side trip to visit Kassie - Kathy as she was called in high school. Each entry is close to this one....we would get lost and walk and walk and walk back to her host family. 

Going through Dad's things is very emotional. The shoes and hats are the saddest to me...

Two Noras: October 16, 1914 and October 16, 2021

Nora Bauer: Friday, October 16, 1914

Chas. Kramer died this afternoon. He had been sick with typhoid fever for not quite two weeks. 

Nora Spitznogle: Saturday, October 16, 2021

Busy day! Park reading, picked Annie up from airport, saw friend play in metal band this evening.  

Charles John Kramer was Grandma Nora's maternal uncle, although he was only nine years older than Nora. 

These days it's wild to think that people died of Typhoid Fever. Between better sanitation and antibiotics, it's rare in the United States. The two times I visited Tanzania I had been vaccinated for Typhoid Fever and went armed with a does of strong antibiotics. That said, I was obnoxiously careful about what I ate and drank. 

I took the evening off from working at the Red Key and had a lovely day. 

I started out at the Dan Wakefield Park, joining other folks who were reading sections of Dan's book, Under the Apple Tree, aloud. 

I'd read the book when it was rereleased a few years ago, but I'll admit to just skimming it. I wound up reading three rounds. Reading out loud in front of others, let alone the man who wrote the words is terrifying. And I was blushing wildly during the naughtily bits. 

I have a new appreciation for the book and look forward to finishing where we left off.  

Nora and Dan

I left the reading to pick up sister Ann at the airport. She's in town for the week to kick start the process of going through Dad's things. 

We stopped at the grocery store, and spent the evening starting the going-through-things process and getting her settled in our old bedroom. 

I first met Kassie in 4th grade and she was a great influence in kicking my shyness. I started at Purdue in 1979, post-graduation and was there for three semesters and out for three years. 

During that time Kassie helped me get a job at Benihana, where she was the bookkeeper. I think we were both 20 years old. Gerard Ganaden was a busboy and terrific guitar player. He's an even better guitar player now. It was fun to see him in action! 

I'm not sure that I've seen him since 1983, but here we all all, in a bar on the east side of Indianapolis. 

What a fun Saturday I had!