A lesson in photography, circa late 1940's

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Dawn Paskowicz



Ann Bockay

Subject: Dawn Paskowicz and Ann Bockay.
Date: late 1940's.
Location: Cudahy, Wisconsin.
Occasion: Unknown.
Photographer: Joseph Forrai.
Relationship: Aunt and Cousin from paternal side.

My father Joseph hand wrote the captions on the photographs. Per my cousin Dawn via email the young photographer was her, Dawn Paskowicz. The photographs were taken at Mary Nowakowski's house. Dawn remembers the chair.

I welcome comments from friends and family members who can provide information about the photographs.

Dawn Paskowicz, circa late 1940's

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Subject: Dawn Paskowicz.
Date: late 1940's.
Location: Cudahy, Wisconsin.
Occasion: Unknown.
Photographer: Joseph Forrai.
Relationship: Cousin from paternal side.

The above two pictures I found in a box. They are of my Cousin Dawn from the late 1940's.

I welcome comments from friends and family members who can provide information about the photographs.

George Daniel Waswo, Jr.

Subject: George Daniel Waswo, Jr., age 1.

Occasion: First Birthday.Date: January 1918.

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Photographer: A. F. Schultz, Milwaukee, WI.

Relationship to me: Maternal Uncle.

My maternal Grandparents, George Daniel Waswo, Sr. and Lucy Traulsen Waswo were quite proud on the birth of their first born son. As what happens with most parents, the first child gets all the press, especially if it's a boy. We all know how papas like the idea of the family name carried forward.

For George Daniel Waswo, Jr., this was no exception. This is just one photograph of a series that was taken on his first birthday. I am assuming because it was stamped in the lower right corner, that this was an extra photograph, not part of the proofs, that the parents would choose from.

The remainder of this series was framed in a long narrow frame measuring 8 inches by 29 inches and contained 8 photographs of George Jr. Unfortunately, I would have to ruin the finished product if I were to take it apart and try to scan each photograph. All 8 photographs were of George in various poses either on the wooden chair as in this photograph, or on a wooden three wheeled scooter.

I remember as a child this picture hanging in the home of my Grandmother Lucy on Richard and Ring in Milwaukee. In the late 1960's Grandmother moved into the townhouse that my father had built. We lived on one side, and Grandmother on the other. This picture hung in Grandmother's townhouse until she moved into Methodist Manor in the early 1980's. After that, it went into storage. It was once again displayed in my mother's home when she moved to Texas.



Arthur Herman Traulsen, revisited.

Provided by Jeremy Green

Provided by Jeremy Green



Provided by Jeremy Green

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Subject: Arthur Herman Traulsen, age 29
Occasion: Military Photograph, World War I
Date: 1918
Location: Unknown
Photographer: Unknown
Relationship to me: Grand Uncle

Arthur Herman Traulsen was born was May 25, 1889 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From a previous post, he ran a bakery on Mitchell Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after 1906 the year his father Henning Traulsen passed away. He married Linda Borgwardt on February 12, 1922. He passed away on May 3, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Art and Linda had three children, two are still living, and they have four grandchildren.
 
While going through a boxed of framed pictures, I found this small portrait of Arthur Traulsen.  If you look closely, you will note there is no insignia nor rank on the uniform. This photograph is most likely the induction photograph that the military takes.
 
Per my Cousin Jeremy, he commented via Facebook:
 
"In terms of his military service he served in the United ...States Army as a Corporal in Company B of the 116th Engineers this unit was under the command of the 41st Division(Sunset Division). He was inducted into the army on 31 March 1918 and mustered out on 11 March 1919, honorably discharged. Grandpa T. served in France during his service and was awarded the Victory Medal w/France bar.
 
As an aside I still have Grandpa T's medal, discharge paper and the very uniform he is wearing in that photo. Great stuff I'll try to get my folks linked up to see this image."

Jeremy scanned and provided me copies of the above documents. They are posted below the photograph.

Grandma Giermann through the years.




Photograph provided by Judith Jacob

Subject: Johana Lueth Waswo Giermann.
Occasion: Unknown.
Date: Unknown, about the late 1800's early 1900's.
Location: Chicago, Illinois.
Photographer: Unknown.
Relationship to me: Maternal Great Grandmother.

Johana Lueth Waswo Giermann was born August 18, 1848 in Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.  She married Frederick William Waswo on October 10, 1869 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Chicago, Illinois by Pastor T. Grosse.  Frederick committed suicide on April 2, 1896.  I have no information when she married Mr. Giermann, but the two had no children. Mr. Giermann preceded Johana in death. Johana passed away on May 18, 1935 at age 86 in Chicago, Illinois.

In the next few weeks, I will be posting photographs of Grandma Giermann. Most have been provided to me by my Cousin Judith.

In an email, my Cousin Judith wrote:

"Regarding Johanna, ten kids is a lot of kids and  losing your first two and two more after that must have been tough.  Add in the difficulties with the Allen marriage, children, and deaths, the suicide of her husband at age 49 in 1896 leaving her with a large building to manage, the saloon and the sausage business  to deal with, and several kids still at home, she really had to be a strong woman to get through all that.  To top it all off, her father also died in the fall of 1896 ....no wonder she looks a bit hardened and stoic in her later pictures!  And she lived to 80 something.......a lesser woman would have been undone by the vicissitudes of life.....God bless her."

Inside Grandma's House

Photograph Provided by Judith Jacob

Subject: Johana Lueth Waswo Giermann's House
Occasion: Unknown.
Date: Unknown.
Location: 5328 Leland Ave, Jefferson Park, Chicago, IL
Photographer: Unknown.

Last week we had a view of Grandma Giermann's house from the outside. Today we have a view of the inside, the front parlor. This picture was provided to me by my Cousin Judith.

If you look carefully, you will see a gentleman sitting in a chair on the left side of the picture. The picture is too fuzzy to make out who it is. My guess would be either Robert or Albert Waswo.

It is a grand looking home, and I would love to have Thanksgiving dinner there.

Grandma's House

Subject: Johana Lueth Waswo Giermann's House

Occasion: Unknown

Date: 1913
Location: 5328 Leland Ave, Jefferson Park, Chicago, IL
Photographer: Most Likely, George D. Waswo.

I thought with being November and the holidays fast approaching, most people remember family and friends. The song over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go, comes to mind. So this week and next, I will post pictures of Grandmother Johana's house.

With the leaves on the trees and two young men on the porch in shirt sleeves, I doubt very much this photograph was taken in November. Mostly likely during the Spring or Summer of 1913. I zoomed in on the two young men on the porch. The resolution is poor, but I can tell neither of the two men are my Grandfather George. I am guessing the one standing is his brother Robert and the one in the back ground Albert. If you remember from earlier posts, Albert was a breached child. While he was able to work, he could not care for himself on his own. Initially Grandmother Johana cared for him until her death in 1935. After that his sisters Minnie and Alma cared for him until his death in 1948.


The Traulsen Family, circa 1906.

Subjects: (Clockwise starting lower left): Alma Bertha (Reichardt) Traulsen,  Lucy Albertine Helene (Waswo)Traulsen, Alma Helen Wolff Traulsen, Arthur Herman Traulsen, Henning William Traulsen.
Date: After November 1906.
Location: Milwaukee, WI.
Occasion: Unknown.
Photographer: W. L. Stein, 452 Mitchell St., Milwaukee.

This is a framed photograph. I carefully removed it from the simple thin black wood frame and scanned the photograph. I was hoping for some information on the back of the photograph or in the frame, but there was none. I remember this photograph hanging on the wall of my Grandmother Lucy's home on Richard and Ring Streets in Milwaukee.

This photograph was taken by the same photographer that took Lucy's 8th grade graduation picture in the Spring of 1906. Henning passed away in November 1906, so I am assuming this photograph was taken in late 1906 or 1907. Lucy appears to be approximately the same age as her graduation picture. Since this is a family photograph, I would assume if Henning were alive, he would be in it as well.

My mother did attach a small note on the back of the photograph with the date of death of Henning Sr.  She also taped a picture of her family circa 1930. This will be posted at a future date. I remember this photograph hanging in our home in the hallway with the other family photographs.

Arthur Herman Traulsen

Subject: Arthur Herman Traulsen, age 29(second row on the right).

Occasion: Military Photograph, World War I

Date: 1918

Location: Unknown

Photographer: Unknown

Arthur Herman Traulsen was born was May 25, 1889 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From a previous post, he ran a bakery on Mitchell Street in Milwaukee, Wisconsin after 1906 the year his father Henning Traulsen passed away. He married Linda Borgwardt on February 12, 1922. He passed away on May 3, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Art and Linda had three children, two are still living, and they have four grandchildren. I know very little about my Great or Grand Uncle as he passed away when I was one year old. To date, this is one of the few photographs that I have in my collection of him.

The photograph, itself, is very fragile. It was printed on a very light weight photographic paper. Unfortunately, there is no information printed on the back of the picture except for the date 1918. I remember, my Grandmother Lucy pointing at the young man in the second row on the right and exclaiming it was her brother. I believe Grand Uncle Art served in the Army. Hopefully, other family members will be able to share more information.

Alma Helen Wolff Traulsen

Subject: Alma Helen Wolff Traulsen

Occasion: Unknown

Date: Unknown

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Photographer: Unknown

Alma Helen Wolff was born on November 23, 1865 in Schneidemuhl in the Province of Posen, Germany. Alma arrived in the United States on October 12, 1882.

Henning and Alma were the parents of my maternal Grandmother Lucy Albertine Helene Traulsen. They were wed on October 15, 1886 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Alma passed away on March 8, 1941 after battling cancer of the pancreas for about one year. She was buried in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but I do not know what cemetery.

This photograph was glued to a piece of wood that was carved and painted. There are many layers of varnish over the picture and frame. I remember this being called decoupage. Unfortunately, over the years the varnish gets cloudy, so the picture no longer is in sharp focus. The above is a photograph I took of the actual piece. There is no information or date on the back of the picture. There is a small sticker with Gimbels on it. I am assuming this was done at the department store in Milwaukee.

I know very little about my maternal Great Grandmother. If my Grandmother Lucy told stories about her mother, I just do not remember them. Any comments from other family members would of course, be greatly appreciated.

The Traulsen Bakery

Title: Arthur H. Traulsen Bakery
Pictured: Left to Right: Arthur Traulsen, Baker, Henning Traulsen, Jr.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date: Unknown
Photographer: Unknown

The address on the awning states 488, but I do not know what street the bakery was located on. I know this photograph was taken after 1906, the year Henning Traulsen Sr. died. Since Arthur was the oldest, the bakery was named after him.

If you look closely in the window on the right, you will see a woman behind the counter. I am positive that this is my Grandma Lucy. Leaving the bakery to the children was far from a harmonious event. I remember stories how my grandmother resented that control of the bakery was left in the hands of her older brother. She relayed how she was treated no better than an employee, and even when this photograph was taken, she was left inside to take care of the customers. The hired baker took more prominence then Lucy.

Women during this era did not get a fair shake, and having a dictator of a brother running your life was no bed of roses. Lucy was not paid for her services at the bakery. She had to clean the bakery, run errands and work behind the counter. That was woman's work. Arthur would not pay her, stating her payment was a roof over head and food to eat. No wonder she referred to him as the Kaiser!

Lucy with her 8th grade education did a very brave and unheard of thing. She read in the newspaper the need for secretaries in Chicago. She secretly saved pennies from making change at the bakery counter until she had enough for train fare to Chicago. Once she had the money, she packed the very few articles of clothing she had and off to Chicago she went. I guess you can call it turn of the century contract labor, but she agreed to work as a secretary for a company, in exchange for a stipend to attend secretary school. Once she graduated, she would work for the company and pay back a small portion of her paycheck until the tuition and stipend was paid in full. Once paid, her obligation to the company was over.

I don't know how long the school was, or the name of the company she worked for. I do remember her telling me she lived in a boarding house. Please remember, that her future husband George Waswo had relatives in Chicago. I surmise that living in Chicago gave her the freedom from her family to allow her to court. I also surmise, that is why in the 1910's, I have so many photographs of George and Lucy in Chicago. Lucy never had a close relationship with her brother Arthur, and she did not speak kindly of him. She did enjoy and always spoke with the most kind regard for his children, Arthur Jr., Dorinne and Caroline. Lucy was closest to her brother Henning Jr., and took good care of him until his death.

Lucy was a lady way ahead of her time. She bucked the tradition of the era and paved her own way and made a life for herself. I remember her as a strong, loving person, and 'a caution' definitely described her. Lord forgive you, if you were on her bad list! I can also say, my mother Norma, Lucy's daughter exhibited some of these strong characteristics as well. In future posts we will explore how Norma handled whatever was thrown at her during her life.

mamma and papa

Subject: Henning William Traulsen Sr. and Alma Helen Wolff
Occasion: Unknown
Date: Unknown
Photographer: Wollensak Studio, 500 National Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Henning was born on December 23, 1860 in Karlberg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He emigrated to the United States and arrived on May 5, 1885.

Alma Helen Wolff was born on November 23, 1865 in Schniedermuhl Proving
Rosen, Germany (my spelling may be incorrect as I was reading it from a very old document). Alma arrived in the United States on October 12, 1882.

Henning and Alma were the parents of my maternal Grandmother Lucy Albertine Helene Traulsen. They were wed on October 15, 1886 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

On the back of the photograph is written mamma and papa, and it appears to be in my Grandmother's handwriting.

I take a break once again in the time line, to return to a photograph I recently found of my maternal, maternal, great, great grandparents. Unfortunately, I know very little about this photograph. I feel it was taken after 1886 the date of their wedding, as both appear older to me. The photograph is mounted on heavy cardboard.

Henning and Alma ran a bakery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The exact location is unknown to me. After Henning's death in 1906, the bakery was run by Arthur, Henning Jr. and my Grandmother Lucy. I do not remember any stories that revealed the demise of the bakery. Arthur passed away in 1960 and Henning Jr. in 1966.

Next week we will discover what life beheld the bakers, and my Grandmother Lucy's role.

George Daniel Waswo

Subject: George D. Waswo
Age: 29
Location: Jefferson Park, Chicago, Illinois
Occasion: Unknown
Date: May 31, 1914
Photographer: Unknown

My plan was to post the wedding pictures of George Daniel Waswo and Lucy Traulsen in August; as August was the month of their marriage. However, while going through some boxes, I found additional photographs from this era of my grandfather and grandmother. My mother, Norma, gave me these photographs years ago. I forgot I had them. Near the middle of September the wedding photographs will be posted.

I know very little about this photograph other than the date and location. This was written on the back in my grandmother's handwriting. I am unsure whether he was dressed for work or to go out. The date is very close to Decoration Day, or Memorial Day as we now call it. Decoration Day was an occasion for more general expressions of memory, as ordinary people visited the graves of their deceased relatives, whether they had served in the military or not. So perhaps George is dressed up to pay his respect towards the family members that passed on.

I love looking at these pictures of my grandparents in their youth. It amazes me to see the family resemblance between Grandma Lucy and my mother, Norma, and Grandpa George and my Uncle George, Norma's brother.

George Daniel Waswo with his mother's cat

Subject: George Daniel Waswo with his mother's cat.
Age: 29
Location: Jefferson Park, Chicago, Illinois
Occasion: Unknown
Date: May 31, 1914
Photographer: Unknown

My plan was to post the wedding pictures of George Daniel Waswo and Lucy Traulsen in August; as August was the month of their marriage. However, while going through some boxes, I found additional photographs from this era of my grandfather and grandmother. My mother, Norma, gave me these photographs years ago. I forgot I had them. In the following weeks I will post photographs of my grandparents from their courting days. Finally, near the end of September the wedding photographs will be posted.

I know very little about this photograph, but it is one of the very few I have of my grandfather in a casual setting. Most of the photographs are professional or of my grandfather in more formal attire.

It even further amazes me to find a picture of my grandfather with a cat. Per my mother, Norma, George did not approve of pets or animals whether they be inside or outside. Norma was always the animal lover and wanted to bring strays home, but her father George was always dead against it.

As an adult, Norma usually had a pet. Even when she lived in one of grandmother's apartments, she had a little dog. Grandmother didn't mind animals one bit, as long as she did not have to take care of them. During my childhood we had a number of pets, one dog and several cats. Norma never cared to have more than one at a time, but I can remember a furry companion through most of my childhood.

So, we have the mystery of this photograph. I will never know the full story behind it.

Lucy Traulsen, Age 22

Subject: Lucy Traulsen
Age: 22
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Occasion: Unknown
Date: 1913
Photographer: Perdieu, Milwaukee

My plan was to post the wedding pictures of George Daniel Waswo and Lucy Traulsen in August; as August was the month of their marriage. However, while going through some boxes, I found additional photographs from this era of my grandfather and grandmother. My mother, Norma, gave me these photographs years ago. I forgot I had them. In the following weeks I will post photographs of my grandparents from their courting days. Finally, in September the wedding photographs will be posted.

This photograph is very unusual. It is tall and narrow. The name of the photographer is embossed in raised letters in the lower right hand corner. The photograph is glued to a gray card, with a fold similar to a pamphlet. In fact, it resembles a book marker.

It is my opinion, this photograph was given to my grandfather so he would have a picture of my grandmother while he was on the road selling yeast.

The Courtship of my Grandparents

Subject: Lucy Traulsen(age 24) and George D. Waswo(age 32)
Location: 5328 Leland Av., Chicago, IL
Occasion: Unknown
Date: March 28, 1915
Photographer: Unknown

This is a very fragile photograph that was given to me by my mother. I had it framed and it hangs on my wall. This is a pre-wedding picture of my grandfather and grandmother taken on a visit to Chicago. On the back of the photograph, is my grandmother's handwriting of the location and date of the photograph. The ink has faded over the years and it is difficult to read.

You can tell that it is a cold spring day with the barren trees in the background and the heavy coats that my grandparents are wearing.

I love looking at these pictures of my grandparents in their youth. It amazes me to see the family resemblance between Grandma Lucy and my mother, Norma, and Grandpa George and my Uncle George, Norma's brother.

Gathering at Minnie's Home

Date: 1913
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Occasion: Unknown
Photographer: George Daniel Waswo

Subject:
Counter Clockwise starting at the top left: Minnie Waswo Moeller, Alma Waswo Wascher, Albert Allen, Albert Waswo, William Moeller, Robert Waswo, Ernest Wascher, Johana Lueth Waswo Giermann.

I have very little information as to the occasion of this photograph. It was a family get together. Judith Jacob thinks this photograph was taken at Minnie Waswo Moeller's home that was located 79th and Throop Street in Chicago. I am positive that this photograph was taken at the same time and location as the photograph posted two weeks ago, Two Brothers. If you look carefully, Robert Waswo is wearing essentially the some clothing, and is sitting on the porch stoop with his pipe.

I scanned this photograph with high resolution, so if you zoom in, there is still excellent detail. I really notice the family resemblance between Grandma Waswo Giermann and my own mother. In later pictures of Grandma Giermann, she loses a lot of weight, and was sickly in her later years.

I also love the stained glass window next to the front door on Minnie's house. My grandmother Lucy T. Waswo, had similar style stained glass on the building she owned on Richard and Ring Streets in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Grandmother Lucy always called it her piano glass. She would tell me a piano should go under the stained glass. Grandmother did not own a piano, and her sofa was beneath the 'piano glass'. I can remember laying on the sofa and watching the sunshine through the 'piano glass" filling the room with color. If we left Grandma Lucy's house in the evening when it was dark, I would look up to see the indoor light illuminating the 'piano glass'. What a beautiful sight it was. That memory will forever live in my mind.

Waswo Family

Date: May 17, 1914
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Occasion: Unknown
Photographer: George Daniel Waswo

Subject:
Top Row (Left to Right): Ernest Wascher, Alma Waswo Wascher, William Moeller, Albert Allen, Minnie Waswo Moeller, Johana Lueth Waswo Giermann.

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Elfrieda Wascher, Ernest Wascher, Walter Moeller, Florence E. Allen.

I have very little information as to the actual location and occasion of this photograph. It was a family get together, perhaps Mother's Day? In the United States, Mother's Day was given official recognition by Congress on May 9, 1914, after efforts by Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This could have also been an engagement or meet the family gathering for my Grandfather George Waswo and Grandmother Lucy Traulsen. My grandparents wed in August, 1915.

Judith Jacob thinks this photograph was taken at Minnie Waswo Moeller's home that was located 79th and Throop Street in Chicago. It could also have been at Johana Waswo Giermann's house. It appears to be photographed in a backyard.

Judith Jacob also shares this tidbit of family history: "It is Ernest Wascher Sr. who is in the picture. My(Judith Jacob) father was Ernest Wascher Jr. By the way, Bill(William) Moeller was the uncle of Ernest Wascher Sr. Bill(William) Moeller was the brother of Anna Elizabeth Moeller who married a Wascher. Bill and Ernest Sr. were not only uncle and nephew, but also brothers-in-law as they married sisters (Minnie Waswo and Alma Waswo). Their children, therefore, were related on both their mothers' side and their fathers' side." This certainly makes tracing the family tree a little easier when one shares more relatives!

And if you are wondering how the Allen children fit into this photograph as well as the family history, Judith Jacob relates the following. I asked why Frederick William Waswo committed suicide, and below is Judith's answer. I have added the information contained in the ( ).

"Fritz(Frederick Waswo) committed suicide for a couple of reasons...depends on who is telling the story. First of all, he had major business reverses in the tavern and in the sausage making business. He had a number of customers who couldn't pay their bar tabs and therefore stopped frequenting his establishment. A worker in the sausage factory sabotaged a whole year's worth of sausage which had to be thrown out. What tipped the scales, supposedly was that Edith (aka Ida Waswo) Allen got a social disease from her husband David Allen. The way Grandma(Alma Waswo Wascher)told the story was that when David Allen (always known from Grandma(Alma Waswo Wascher)as "That rotter, Dave Allen") asked for Edith's hand in marriage. Fritz(Frederick Waswo), knowing of David's reputation, asked him if everything "was all right." When David assured him it was, Edith and David got married(September 18, 1896 in Milwaukee, WI). Shortly after, Edith discovered the problem. According to Grandma(Alma Waswo Wascher), David thought the whole thing was quite funny. Fritz(Frederick Waswo) was so distraught and depressed at all this, he shot himself on April 2, 1896. He left a note saying he was going to do the deed on April 1, but he didn't want to be an April Fool. My grandmother(Alma Waswo Wascher), about age 12, and your grandfather George(George D. Waswo) about age 11, discovered their father's body(Frederick Waswo). Supposedly all was in the newspapers, but I have been unable to find any evidence of that.

Edith and David went on to have several children, at least three of whom were born without any problems one would think they would have if their mother had a social disease. Florence(born: December 28, 1903)(married Dr. Neil Desenis, a dentist), Albert(born: June 4, 1897)(married Marguerite) and George(born: June 1898) (married Margaret.) I would have to check my records to make absolutely sure of the names and dates of all this.

After Edith died(August 15, 1909), David Allen also committed suicide(in 1909). As there were many people out to get him because of his bad behavior, he stood in a window across from a fire station in full view of many firemen and put a gun in his mouth(he did this so no one would be accused of murder). Without parents, the three children were split up. Florence went to live with Bill(William) and Minnie Waswo Moeller. One of the boys, I think Albie(Albert), went to live with his grandmother Johanna Lueth Waswo. George went to live with the Allen family(in-laws). Supposedly Florence and Albie(Albert) had it pretty good, but poor George had to work very hard even as a young lad with the Allens."

I remember hearing essentially the same story from my Grandmother, Lucy T. Waswo and Florence E. Allen Desenis. However, Florence related that both her and Albert went to work at a very early age to support the family. This was customary during this era.

I have also heard the story that David Allen and Edith Ida Waswo eloped to Milwaukee for the wedding before Frederick Fritz Waswo could change his mind about the marriage. David and Edith's marriage certificate is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The State Capitol of Wisconsin

Taking a little break from photographs of my family members, I decided to share this photograph of the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin. The photograph was taken in 1914, and my best guest of the photographer is my grandfather, George D. Waswo, Sr. Of course back then, he wasn't the senior yet! It is still one year before the marriage to my grandmother, Lucy A. H. Traulsen.

This photograph was taken on King Street from the beginning of the 100 block. If you look carefully, you will see the Majestic Theater on the Left. The address of the Majestic is 115 King Street. If you view the photograph carefully, you can see that the trees have leaves and the people are in their shirtsleeves. Being very familiar with Wisconsin weather, my guess would be this photograph was taken in late Spring or Summer. My guess would also include, that my grandfather took this photograph on one of his sales trips. Unfortunately, I do not have any other photographs from this era to provide additional details. It could have been a day outing for the courting couple.

There is some history involved with not only the State Capitol, but also from the Majestic Theater. From the Majestic Theater website, I have provided the following information:

The Majestic Theatre is Madison, Wisconsin’s oldest theatre, opening on December 15, 1906 as a vaudeville theatre. Over the years, everything from silent movies to the shows of Harry Houdini have graced this historic stage. There were even a few years where the theatre showed movies that featured the letter “X” rather prominently after the title. After a brief incarnation as a dance club, the Majestic Theatre has returned to its show business roots — this time as a world-class live performing arts venue.

Yes, the Majestic along with the Capitol still grace Madison, Wisconsin.

Two Brothers

Subject: Robert Waswo
Age: 38
Occasion: Unknown.
Location: Chicago, IL (appears to be the front stoop of Minnie Waswo Moeller's home)
Date: 1913
Photographer: Unknown.

I have very little detailed information on Robert Waswo. He was the older brother of my grandfather, George. Robert was born in 1875 in Chicago, Illinois. He is recorded on the 1880 census as residing in Chicago. He married Anna Heith, and had two children Helen and Fred. Robert passed away on October 5, 1944 in Chicago and is buried at the Waldheim Cemetery.

As a child and young adult, I remember a Fred Waswo with a residence in Florida. I remember receiving Christmas cards from Fred. I know that my parents visited Fred Waswo during one of their Florida trips. I also remember my Uncle George visiting the Florida Waswo.

Per Judith Jacob, she relates this story about Fred Waswo. Fred Waswo is Bob(Robert) Waswo's son. Fred also had a sister Helen. When Albert Waswo (who was "slow" as a result of oxygen deprivation from a breech birth) died about 1950(May 8, 1948), his will left his estate of about $10,000 to his sisters Minnie and Alma who had taken care of him after his mother Johanna(Lueth Waswo Giermann)died(May 18, 1935). Helen and Freddie sued Minnie and Alma for a share of the estate. They wanted your mother Norma and her brother George to join them in the lawsuit, but they refused, knowing how much time and effort Alma and Minnie put into caring for their brother. Any other family members contacted also refused to join the suit. Helen and Freddie claimed Alma and Minnie had coerced Albert into leaving them his estate (which basically had come from money left to him when Johanna (Lueth)Waswo Giermann died.) Helen and Freddie did win a share of the estate...think each one got about $2000....but what a mess it caused in the family. I know Alma and Minnie and their families never wanted anything to do with Helen and Freddie after that. I was only about 10 years old in 1950 when this all occurred, but I was old enough to know it was not a pleasant time....my grandmother(Alma Wascher Waswo)cried a lot of tears over it.

I remember the story between Minnie and Alma vs. Helen and Freddie. My mom, as well as Grandma Lucy were deeply upset about the whole matter. Judith Jacob's words brought back memories from my childhood. I remember Grandma Lucy also said that the rest of the family was upset that Grandma Giermann left her estate to Albert(because he needed to be cared after). Perhaps that is what precipitated Helen and Freddie going after the estate of Albert. So sad to have greed separate the family.

It is a shame that there is so much greed that clouds the mind. It amazes me that a family member can be so callous, but it continues. This is not an isolated incident in our family history.


Subject: George D. Waswo
Age: 29
Occasion: Unknown.
Location: Chicago, IL
Date: 1913
Photographer: Unknown.

As I continue from last week, this is a photograph during my grandparents courting days. This snapshot appears to have been taken by a professional. If you look closely, you will note the artificial background. Perhaps there was a special occasion for this photograph, but the information is lost. George was 29 years old in this photograph. Perhaps, George had this taken as a memento for Lucy. George at this time was a traveling salesman and on the road.