|
a.
|
Note: Memories of Mons & Martha (Kuehn) Larson by Charlotte (Larson) Windhorst. Mom first worked at the Anderson House in Wabasha. Then she worked at the Rochester State Hospital in the kitchen for a few years. Dad was a carpenter with Swartz Construction. During this time Swartz Construction built the Charles Mayo Mansion in Rochester, MN. We heard many stories about the Mayo home. Like how the entire third Floor was the ballroom. Dad's job later was installing the glass storefront windows along Broadway in Rochester. When my parents married they purchased a restaurant and rooming house in Rochester. This was in the area, which is now Wong's Cafe. After a few years, with one baby and another one on the way, this business was too much work so they sold it. From there they moved to LeRoy, Minnesota to stay with grandpa Larson. Mons and Martha next purchased a small place near Simpson. After a few years they bought a small farm near Mazeppa, MN. At some point in the future they were renting a larger farm located in Mazeppa Township section #5, the 2nd place south of HWY #60 on Wabasha County # 7 on the left side of the road. The road separates the house from the barn. It is presently owned by Ted Mehrkens. And that is where we were living when our house burned down! It was a bitterly cold, and windy night in February 1927. Mom, dad, and I were busy milking in the barn. My brother Tilden was sick with the flu and asleep in the house. None of us knew of the tragedy that was occurring until our neighbor George Goodman came running with the warning. Sparks from the chimney had ignited the wooden shingles on the roof. The men from Mazeppa received the call and came to battle the fire. Those brave men tried to save what they could from our burning home. I still remember seeing fearless Joe McCabe standing inside our home with burning timbers from the ceiling and ashes falling down all around him. In the end we were all alive. Still, we lost most all of our personal things. The family photos were lost in the fire. Other family members gave us their photos to replace the ones we lost. One of the things carried out of the burning home was the beautiful half moon rounded glass china hutch. I remember it well. It was filled with hand painted china dishes that my mother had purchased. Each item had fruit painted on the china. The hutch was placed against a tree while they tried to rescue more belongings. That terrible wind blew over the glass filled hutch, and every item was broken. Our large tall piano was rescued from the fire. Probably carried out thru the side door of the parlor. Later, when I was sixteen it was traded for a smaller player piano. Mother continued to play the piano until her arthritis made it impossible. Mothers Violin burned that night. It is not proven, but it is possible that violin was a very valuable possession, possibly a "Stradivarius." Inside the instrument there was writing. Many times the hired professional violinist in the Gahler Orchestra offered to buy it for a large sum of money. And each time he stopped he offered more money. Mother refused to sell that violin. Its origin is unknown. I never asked questions, where it came from or how she learned to play it so beautifully. It was one of the things I took for granted, mom playing her violin. After the fire, we stayed with grandma and grandpa (Chris & Augusta (Sommerfield) Kuehn.) for the rest of the cold part of the winter. In the spring we returned to the farm. We slept on old bedsprings that were placed across the bins in the grainary for us to sleep on at night. In the fall, mom and dad bought the farm 1/2 mile east of Mazeppa that had belonged in the Gahler family. This farm is located at the top of the hill on Cherry Street from HWY #60 out of Mazeppa. Currently, it is the Phil Olson Elk Farm. Eventually, Mons and Martha took over the business known as "Gay's Place." Most likely this occurred when Gerhard Gahler served in World War II. This restaurant and tavern later was known as "Marcy's." Today, I still have many of mom's pots and pans from there. Mom and Dad celebrated their 35th Wedding Anniversary June 30, 1947. Friends from South St Paul along with the family attended the celebration that was held at their home. This was the first anniversary party Monson and Martha had. At this point in time, mom was already sick. Martha (Kuehn) Larson died of cancer October 24, 1950. After that, my dad lived with Tilden and Viola during the summer, and with us during the winter months until he died in June 1963.
|