Fall Drive with Dad, Part 2

 East of Spring Valley on  Hwy 16, I cruised right past this abandoned farm,

  but quickly (with dad's encouragement) turned back for an adventure. 

These kind of things excite me to no end, and when I have Dad along 

the both of us egg each other on.

Everything was locked up as I imagined it would be,

 but I couldn't help but imagine who lived here...

Was there a house full of children?

and when did someone decide, enough is enough?

 The barn was weathered but everything still standing. 

Next stop was the Henrytown cemetery where my parental grandparents are buried.

The old church that my dad used to attend, burned to the ground last April, 

to read more on that Go Here

Next, Dad reminded me of and old grave site on the other side of the Henry town cemetery,

On a little road called Edgewood .

 The graves are marked only by a number engraved on a small stone.

This makes me kind of sad.

Dad explained that these folks were from the "Poor Farm"

 when they died this little plot became their resting place.

 A few hundred feet down the road is the restored Poor Farm residence that is now 

someones modern home. Dad says it used to be three stories high.

Thanks to Wikipedia for a little info on Poor Houses....

Often the poorhouse was situated on the grounds of a poor farm on which able-bodied residents were required to work; These people were usually disabled or extremely poor, 

Such farms were common in the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Most were working farms that produced at least some of the produce, grain, and livestock they consumed. Residents were expected to provide labor to the extent that their health would allow, both in the fields and in providing housekeeping and care for other residents. Rules were strict and accommodations minimal. 

 They were still people....and they had a name.

* * *

 That clump of trees is the site of the the last farmsted my Grandparents 

were on before retiring and moving into town. 

Dad refers to this area as the Irish Ridge... It's very beautiful

I leave you with this sweet, still standing old barn

(edited for fun)

Stay tuned... there will be a part three.... 

A surprise "find" for me, with unlocked doors  :)

I'm captivated by spooky old country cemeteries

On every country road trip, there are bound to be a few small country cemeteries.

I am drawn to cemeteries, like bees are to flowers!

My eye caught this sign, St. John's cemetery

 as I was driving through Hammond, a little town in SE Minnesota 

 I had to check it out (of course), so I backed up and started the accent in my trusty Santa Fe. 

It started out smooth and grassy buy soon became steep and full of deep dirt ruts...

 to late to back down, I was a little worried that I might not make it up... 

but I did!

It was a wee bit spooky being up there on the hill with only me, my car and a lot of grave stones.

I put on my brave hat and milled around, looking at the head stones, and wondering how often they had been visited by loved ones... such a remote place and not easy to get to.

From Hammond, I drove west and passed by this little beauty in Mezeppa, MN

Decided not to get out here, but drove through anyway.

Finally stop was the cemetery in Berne, MN

I Loved this rusty metal gate, and the corn field that lines the cemetery.

These little country cemeteries are typically well cared for, they are simple yet unique.
I often find myself walking and wondering about those who are buried there, especially the young.
I feel bad when I see the headstones that are so old that the names are unreadable,
have they been forgotten? Sad to think this could be true.

Barns, playgrounds and memories...oh my

I love the country and small town America.

Last Saturday I traveled with my mom, sister and our girls (granddaughter) cross country to 

Old Concord, MN. 

Mom grew up on a farm in West concord

The corn "is up".... barely

This old barn is about to see it's last days... 

I wouldn't want to be near that silo or inside that barn on a windy day.

Mom (right) telling us about the area that she grew up, 

where her dad and grandfathers farmed the land.

Remember the old playgrounds...

I remember playing in this very park and on this same equipment when I was a little girl. 

The "Thomas" reunions were held here in the lot next to the Methodist Church.

My daughter Brie, and niece Jensen

The care-worn pony merry-go-round

My granddaughter Audrey and my niece Jensen.

Do you remember the last time you played on a teeter-totter.

There used to be three, side by side.

swing disk

My favorite ride as a kid, 

there were always a lot of kids on this one at the reunion!

My sister Jodi (left) with her daughter Jensen, and my grand Audrey.

4 generations

Remember these flat metal slides?

Ended the day getting pedicures.

Love making memories with my daughter, it's so fun to have my Granddaughter hang out with her great-grandma, to hear the stories and to experience the places of yesteryear.

Home of the free...because of the Brave

..."and I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free,
and I wont forget the men who died, who gave that right to me" ~Lee Greenwood

Flags line the country cemetery in Old Concord.
A reminder of those who fought,
 and many who gave their lives to keep our country free....
Thank You!

For several years its been a tradition for me and my sister to go with my mom to the family cemetery where many from both sides of her family are buried.
After paying respect to those who have gone before us, we usually drive out to Grandma's farm.
 I have many memories, of going to the farm as a little girl.

The old farm house is now gone, and what's left of the barn isn't much.

Audrey and Brianna were able to come with us this year, 

Audrey was quite interested in her Great-Great-Great-grandparents grave marker.

She spent some time looking at the grave marker above, (no relation) finally she said, 

"Grandma, this person was probably a president, or someone very special". 

When I asked her why she would think that she said, 

"because it has hearts on it" (sweet girl)

  

My niece Jensen (Audrey's 2nd cousin) and Audrey check out the working water pump.

~ ~ ~

Home of the free....

because of the Brave!

Part 2: Forestville road trip

For me it's not a good road trip without a cemetery visit... 

I had heard about this old cemetery in Forestville, 

 I was bound and determined to get to it.

We had to travel up a path in the woods by foot, 

It was 1/2 mile at about a 20 degree incline, but it was so worth it!

Some of the first settlers to Forestville have their resting place in this desolate place

Their names listed on the signage near the cemetery

 We finally came to the broad mowed opening at the top of the bluff

It was a quiet, serene space, away from all that is civilized.

A few of the markers still had legible names. I loved the look of the sun shining

 through the trees, and how it lit up this grave marker.

Many of the stones had be broken, pieces lay fallen in amongst the greenery

This one was illegible and nearly falling over, as you can see it's actually sliding off the base.

Broken in-half marker 

Someone cared enough to lay an artificial flower on this gravesite.

Not far from the cemetery was the remains of a 2 story school house that was built in 1880.

*** Interesting fact***

The school ran for two sessions, the first a 4 month winter session beginning in November, the second, a summer session ran for 3 months beginning in May, this allowed for the children to help with the planting and harvest.

A road trip in search of ancestors...

Tuesday was a quiet day so Rick and I decided to take a road trip.

We headed south on Hwy 52...

The Amish were out and about, we passed at least 5 buggies on Hwy 52

Had to take at least one barn photo, 

the barn quilts are very popular down that way!

Those of you that have followed me for awhile know that I'm intrigued by cemeteries and Rick is really into genealogy, he can rattle off dates of marriages, births and deaths of family on both of his sides sometimes all the way back to the 1700's. He knows where they came from, 

what kind of jobs they had and names of children.  

We have searched out many graves of those who came before us, 

this time our travels took us to Calmar, Iowa population 1000

A huge mural of the old train station in Calmar. 

Rick headed straight for the library to look for a book on the history of Calmar

He found his Great-grat grandpa's name, 

Oops they spelled the last name wrong, should be Hemmer.

The meat market was somewhere in this vicinity.

His Great-great grandfather was one of the first to be buried in the catholic cemetery in Calmar.

His grave, along with his 2nd wife and 2 kids site just inside the cemetery archway.

We traveled a few miles south of Calmar to locate John Hemmer's first wife.

The church in Festina, 4 miles south of Calmar 

where John Hemmer's 1st wife was buried.

(Rick's G-great grandma)

Trying to figure out where she is.... it's a big cemetery

He found her  "Theresa, wife of John"

This small little chapel sits on the grounds, it's quite beautiful!

Inside the little chapel, one bench seat....so sweet

Many old old tombstones in this graveyard.

I always wonder.... will our great great grandchildren make the effort 

to look for our grave sites someday, It certainly takes some interest and time but for us, 

it's been so gratifying to find family and pay respect to generations from long ago. 

Despite the weather....

Memorial Day... Honoring and remembering those who have served and are currently

 serving in the armed forced, thank you for protecting our country!

Memorial weekend ....

The guys go fishin'  well if that's what you want to call it

 On Saturday, my oldest took this one of his dad and little brother out on the boat....fishing?

This picture was actually taken last year. My dad in the red shirt and hat, then my hubby, big brother, little brother, brother-in-love,  oldest nephew, nephew-in-love, oldest son, youngest son, 

and my two youngest nephews on the end.  

Yep, every Memorial weekend they hang out together and leave us girls home to fend for ourselves.

This year my sister and her daughter came down to mom's house here in Rochester, I picked up Audrey and we made the trip over to the old Concord cemetery, where my mom's family is buried.

(My daughter had to work so she didn't get to join us girls)

My mom's cousin Lester happened to be there at the same time, cleaning around his parents tomb stone.  (to the left is Lester and my mom's grandparents and also Mom's parents, 

along with many other family that have died). 

Both sets of my great-grandparents are buried next to each other.

The girls (2nd cousins) wanted to stop at the old park in West Concord, it's the same play equipment I used to play on when I was a kid. The "Thomas Reunion" was always held here. 

It rained off and on all day making it for a sloppy day but we found time to be outside when we could. 

Back at mom's house to let my sister's dog out to run and play with the ball.

 My niece Jensen and granddaughter Audrey. 

Audrey is thinking she's pretty cool to be hanging out with her big cousin.

Jumping from the rope swing at great-grandma's house 

My sister giving Audrey a backwards hug, when it was time to go.

 Looks like Ruby is a little jealous :)

I was glad to get my boys back last night, 

I don't do to well when my hubby is gone. At bedtime, my bedroom door gets locked, the bedside light stays on all night along with the little TV next to my bed, and I have a 8" butcher knife on the bedside table....just in case!