Evelyn Matthies, Independence Day, Trivia, Buckman Hillbillies and Grandma Weber

Pierz State Championship Baseball Pic... Freedom Fest, Organized Crime and Res...

Evelyn Matthies, Independence Day, Trivia, Buckman Hillbillies and Grandma Weber

Evelyn Matthies displayed some of her art and Frank Weber signed Murder Book at the Crossing Arts Alliance last weekend. After, they had the opportunity to share some forensic stories. Evelyn taught art at Central Lakes College for 32 years, was a pilot, and with her husband, Bill Matthies, started the MN Diving School. I’m familiar with people who have received training from Bill in retrieving bodies from lakes and rivers. Even though divers are often given an outline of where the body should be, based on the amount of time it’s been in the water, and the current, the bodies are typically still discovered close to where they entered the water. Read more about Evelyn. I want to thank everyone who has participated in the military for the unselfish help they’ve offered so many people. Most people aren’t aware of the many humanitarian missions we provide. I know from having counseled numerous immigrants who survived horrible situations only because the U.S. intervened. As my son in law Branden Deal says when a jet flies over, “That’s the sound of freedom.”

We celebrated Matthew Greene’s graduation last weekend. Matthew is Dorothy and Al Greene’s youngest. Matthew was the starting wide out for Robbinsdale Armstrong’s football team, and went to state in the 4 X 200 both years he went out of for track. Matthew is an excellent guitar player and an Eagle scout. His brother, Albert Leo, had a performance with his rap group, Click Bait, in Minneapolis the night before the party. All of my 9 siblings attended. We started playing music at 3:00 pm, and put away the instruments 12 hours later. The song we played, “Aint Even Done with the Night” by John Mellencamp, could be our theme song. Thank God we have understanding neighbors. I would like to have a day playing music inviting friends before the summer’s over. We played “Silver Haired Daddy of Mine,” as it was Leo Weber’s favorite song to sing and “Green Green Grass of Home” which was Bernie Weber’s favorite song to sing with us.

I am looking for an area East of Buckman, toward Hillman, where there are some abandoned homes to use in the sequel to Murder Book. I’ve enjoyed stories I’ve heard of the Gwiadowski brothers who lived in the area and I will mention them in the book. Apparently two of the brothers had train box cars moved into the woods they lived in, while two others built a house together which had a ceiling one inch higher than the tallest brother (so no material was wasted). One did some time in Leavenworth for making moonshine, and they got into trouble for soaking the wool they sheared from their sheep in crank case oil so they could get more money when it was sold by weight. I’ve been told they had the biggest, meanest dog ever, and they kept their money hid under the dog house. I’ve also heard a couple more stories I’ve been asked not to repeat and am respecting this. I am interested in additional information… I have been paging through Horst Hanneken’s Buckman: It’s Pioneer History & Cultural Legacy and it is entertaining. I particularly like the 1985 newspaper headline which read, Buckman Skyline Altered with Dismantling of Wooden Water Tower. I think putting up an antenna alters the skyline of the town I grew up in. I included a copy below of the 1932 Pierz Journal headline which featured both a fire at my Grandpa John Weber’s tire and battery station and the Lindbergh kidnapping. Of course our tire and battery shop had top billing.

History Trivia:
In 1905, Harlem had the third highest Jewish population, of all cities in the world, behind two cities in Poland, Warsaw and Krakow. After World War I poor whites and African Americans moved in as industry began to grow in the area and Jewish Americans moved to Flatbush, Boro Park and Grand Concourse. By the 1950’s, 90% of Harlem was African American.

From 1720 to 1930, the majority of South Carolina’s population was African American, with most being slaves until slavery ended. Today, 30% of South Carolina is black, 67% is white and 1% is Asian. (Not exactly a hotbed for Hispanic Americans.) In 1820, Charleston, South Carolina had the largest Jewish population in the United States. The congregation of Kahal Kadash Beth Elohim would not accept any children of mixed race. This racial apartheid is still part of the culture of Charleston today, as only 1.5% of the population identifies as being of more than 1 race.

Forensic and music trivia:
Who sold the first million sales record in the U.S.? Italian opera star, Enrico Caruso, performing “Vesti la Glubba” from Pagliacci on a 78 rpm record. Enrico Caruso was charged in 1906 for “mashing” in Central Park, or in other words, intentionally rubbing his body against a non-consenting woman. (Today this is called frotteurism.) It was close to animals, and Caruso argued in court that it was actually a monkey that grabbed the woman’s buttocks. A police officer had followed Caruso and had observed him making intentional contact with a number of non-consenting women. The officer was criticized for not arresting him the first time Caruso did this. Caruso was found guilty and fined $10.

Random story: (written and was retold to me)
One of the best stories of tough love comes from my Grandma Elizabeth Weber. She raised her kids to be tough enough to survive a depression. Grandma Elizabeth was sitting with the children at the kitchen table eating supper. Grandpa John was working late in the garage (now Red’s Auto). When she asked her oldest son, John Francis, about school he reluctantly admitted having been bullied by two boys. John Francis shared that turning the other cheek hadn’t got them to back off. Elizabeth told her son that sometimes if people keep attacking you, you have to fight. She had John Frances stand facing her, while all the younger kids ate and watched. Grandma Elizabeth told him to try hitting her. He responded by telling her, “I’m not going to hit you. You’re my mom.” She jabbed at him, taunting “I’m directing you to hit me. Look for an opening and land a punch.” He protested, “I can’t hit you.” She reminded him how the bible tells you to listen to your parents. Then Grandpa John comes walking into the house. As Grandma Elizabeth turns to greet him, John Francis lands a hard punch, knocking her to the floor. Shocked, Grandpa John asks, “What is going on in here?” Grandma Elizabeth immediately comes to John Francis defense, stating, “You can’t punish him. That’s exactly what he should have done.” (There is a picture of John Francis included below.)

Smooth transition from Grandma to grammar humor:
Sometimes people accuse me of being the grammar Nazi. I’ve thought about dividing the world into people who understand grammar and those who don’t. Those who don’t would be carrying signs that say, “We’re people to.” If I was a doctor I could be helping a woman who’s screaming “Don’t, Can’t and Won’t.” I would come out and tell her husband, “Don’t worry, she’s just having contractions.” Andrew Boussard

Time to eat Grandpa. Time to eat, Grandpa. Commas save lives.

A quote from legendary football coach Bear Bryant: When asked if he would donate $20 to help pay for the burial of a sportswriter, Bear responded, “Here’s $20, bury 2 of them.”

A comedian was talking about the purpose of NFL cheerleaders. Is there ever a point where the coach calls players over and says, “I don’t know if you’ve been listening to those ladies, but they’re thinking we should play some defense.” He added, “I’m particularly glad the cheerleaders spell out AGGRESSIVE. When I played, I was being gregarious, until they spelled out aggressive, and then I realized I had it wrong.”

Thanks for listening,

Frank

Leo Weber with younger sister, Theresa Zenner

Bernie Weber with very large jack rabbit

John Francis Weber, Leo Weber and Mary Konen. John Francis’ mother (Margaret Colter) died in child birth, and then Grandpa John married my Grandmother, Elizabeth Dietz who raised John Francis as her own.

Mary Konen, Deloria Bartel, Ted Weber and Leo Weber

Siblings Leo Weber, Bernie Weber, Mary Konen, Ted Weber John Francis Weber, Theresa Zenner, and Roger Weber (in tire)

Theresa Zenner, Roger Weber, Bernie Weber, Ted Weber, Leo Weber and Mary Konen

Matthew Greene

Al, Matthew and Dorothy Greene with Rosetta Weber

Matthew Greene, Frank Weber, and Charlie Weber

Preston Weber

John, Preston, Frank and Charlie Weber

Rosetta Weber

George Weber, Matthew Greene and John Weber

Charlie and Sue Johnson, former music teachers in the Pillager and Brainerd schools system buying Murder Book. Charlie and Sue are strong advocates of music and art in Minnesota and have been involved in developing the Arts Crawl event in Brainerd.