After an inquiry about the effects of the recent flooding in the Midwest, Marsha Whiteside Adams shared the following:
Yes, we have plugged our basement drains in case the water gets so high it affects the sanitary sewers. This flood is different from 2011 in that it will only be a few weeks, not the 4 months we endured before, and not as high. We have not been told to evacuate so far.
We had about 10" of snow on the ground, then 3" of rain in 2 days that caused the river ice to break up into chunks and the snow to melt too fast. The other issue is that the ground is so frozen, it couldn't sink in, so all ran off into the rivers. We had many days below zero this winter and all of February we were 20 degrees below normal. Kind of the perfect storm thing.
There is what they call "minor flooding" on the 2 rivers that are within half a mile or less from us. So far the levee they built after the last time has been high enough, but we are expecting another crest at the end of next week when the snowpack up north starts to melt. From what we heard today, not as high as they thought it might be, but things change really fast....
The worst of it starts about 20 miles south of us in Nebraska and Iowa, both states on the other sides of the 2 rivers near us. Giant chunks of ice have caused ice dams and some have even ended up in people's houses. Many towns evacuated, turned into islands, so many roads damaged and still covered with water that they have been flying people in and out. Huge loss of livestock and many farmers won't be able to plant at all this year. It is a mess. It will be more than a few weeks for them and then the massive clean up effort.
We are so thankful that this has not been as difficult for us.
Marsha
Ed. Note: I read an account of what happened after an ice dam finally broke. The man who was interviewed said it was like someone had pulled a plug, allowing the water to rush down the drain. The flood waters decreased within just a few minutes, he said.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Jean Fieg, Nonagenarian!
On February 9, Jean Fieg celebrated nine decades on Earth, at her home in Greensboro, N.C.
All three of her children, Judy Kestner, Diana Doyle and Phyllis Fieg, were able to be there to make the occasion special, and her two sons-in-law, Joe Kestner and Bill Doyle, and her only grandchild, Emilie Kestner, also attended.
Jean called it "the best birthday (she) ever had," and sends her thanks to each and every person who sent a card, called, or even thought about her on her special day.
Looking forward to doing it again in 2020!
All three of her children, Judy Kestner, Diana Doyle and Phyllis Fieg, were able to be there to make the occasion special, and her two sons-in-law, Joe Kestner and Bill Doyle, and her only grandchild, Emilie Kestner, also attended.
Jean called it "the best birthday (she) ever had," and sends her thanks to each and every person who sent a card, called, or even thought about her on her special day.
Looking forward to doing it again in 2020!
Christmas Celebration in Florida
Between Christmas and the new year, Doug Fieg traveled to Florida to visit his sister and her husband, Sue and Ed Williams, who recently moved to the Sunshine State in retirement. The three also spent some time with cousins John and Anne Roman, who live about ninety minutes away.
Sue shared some photos of this reunion, as well as Christmas pictures of the families of her niece and nephew. Brian and Emily Fieg have three children - Caleb, age 6, Lily, age 4, and Nathan, age 2. Laura and Chief Kasibante's three young 'uns are Max, age 5, Judah, age 3, and Zionne, age 1. Don't you know they have fun when they all get together!
Thanks, Sue!
Sue shared some photos of this reunion, as well as Christmas pictures of the families of her niece and nephew. Brian and Emily Fieg have three children - Caleb, age 6, Lily, age 4, and Nathan, age 2. Laura and Chief Kasibante's three young 'uns are Max, age 5, Judah, age 3, and Zionne, age 1. Don't you know they have fun when they all get together!
Thanks, Sue!
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| The Brian Fieg family, from left: Caleb, Nathan, Brian, Lily and Emily |
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| Doug and John dreaming... |
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| Sue Williams, Ed Williams, Anne Roman, John Roman, Doug Fieg -- big tree! |
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| The Kasibantes from left: Max, Chief, Zionne, Judah, Laura |
Lothar Fieg Sr. Recounts His Hobo Days
Your editor just came across this on the Facebook page of her sister, Diana. Very interesting, and it fills in some gaps in the Fieg family history. Read on!
Ironically, a man who built homes for many around Oneonta once experienced homeless life, by choice.
Lothar
Fieg, a noted contractor and builder, told his story of a long trip as a
“hobo” when he was a youngster, to the Oneonta Rotary Club in March 1933.
While Mr. Fieg told his story, Oneonta was experiencing transient unemployed men in the area, due to the effects of the Great Depression.
The Oneonta Star of March 3 reported on a plan for feeding and lodging the transients, coming and going on the highways or stowed away in cars of the Delaware & Hudson Railway, stopping in Oneonta.
A community kitchen opened on March 7 in the Municipal Building, today’s 242 Main St., through plans of the Oneonta Chamber of Commerce. The Star told how Assistant Fire Chief Joseph Scanlon supervised the preparation of the food. Sleeping accommodations were provided as well.
“Those who are cared for will be expected to contribute of their efforts to operate the kitchen and the lodging room, so that little expense will be occasioned.”
For Lothar Fieg, he’d been there and done that, but as he told the Rotary Club on March 2, his experience took place during 1906 and 1907.
“That many of those who travel about the country, without any regular means of support, but assisting in harvest periods in various sections of the country, are essential to our well-being and that many of them only need a little encouragement to become more regular citizens of fixed responsibility,” were the assertions of Mr. Fieg on his cross-country journey.
The trip began in Port Jervis with a friend, pretending to know the tricks of easy traveling. Fieg carried only $40 and bare necessities, a pair of overalls, a change of some linen, a razor, soap, mirror, jackknife and towel.
“A freight was hopped,” as explained in The Star, “to Susquehanna (Pennsylvania) and there a jungle camp was made, and there Mr. Fieg learned that his chum had little experience with hobo life, but had read extensively of it.
“The speaker won a hearty laugh with his assertion that all hoboes are not bums, and that all bums are not hoboes. He said that he found he was looked at askance because he carried a toothbrush. Mr. Fieg said that all brakemen on the railroads were not as hard as they might appear and said that he felt his life was saved traveling from Susquehanna to Hornell when a brakeman pointed out to him that he was in danger riding a gondola car in which were being transported two freight car trucks. Any sudden change of speed of the train would cause the trucks to roll the length of the car and that the hobo sleeping in the center of the car would be fortunate if he escaped with his life.”
As Fieg continued traveling, he found work and traveled in passenger cars. He worked a couple of weeks in Pueblo, Colorado. At Cheyenne, Wyoming, he secured a job with a bridge and building gang with which he was employed through the winter.
While traveling in Salt Lake City, Utah, he found that his valuables he’d placed under his pillow had been stolen. “I found then that being broke is not half as bad as it seems at first, and soon was started on my way again.”
Fieg continued west and arrived in San Francisco just after the historic earthquake and fire. He secured a position on a hydroelectric development in the nearby mountains and worked there about seven months. It was after that he returned East.
Putting his experience to compare to 1933, Fieg said, “These unattached young fellows traveling around usually are serving a good purpose and many of them undertake serious responsibilities when the opportunity offers. The next time you have a caller at your door, look at him carefully, not at his clothes, but at his face. If his eyes are bright, he is probably all right, he needs a chance and a little encouragement. A pat on the back and a little help may keep a young fellow on the right path, instead of throwing him into desperation for something to eat.”
Oneonta City Historian Mark Simonson’s column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area before 1950. His Monday columns address local history 1950 and later. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/opinion/columns/.
Ironically, a man who built homes for many around Oneonta once experienced homeless life, by choice.
 |
| Lothar Fieg, Sr. in 1953 |
While Mr. Fieg told his story, Oneonta was experiencing transient unemployed men in the area, due to the effects of the Great Depression.
The Oneonta Star of March 3 reported on a plan for feeding and lodging the transients, coming and going on the highways or stowed away in cars of the Delaware & Hudson Railway, stopping in Oneonta.
A community kitchen opened on March 7 in the Municipal Building, today’s 242 Main St., through plans of the Oneonta Chamber of Commerce. The Star told how Assistant Fire Chief Joseph Scanlon supervised the preparation of the food. Sleeping accommodations were provided as well.
“Those who are cared for will be expected to contribute of their efforts to operate the kitchen and the lodging room, so that little expense will be occasioned.”
For Lothar Fieg, he’d been there and done that, but as he told the Rotary Club on March 2, his experience took place during 1906 and 1907.
“That many of those who travel about the country, without any regular means of support, but assisting in harvest periods in various sections of the country, are essential to our well-being and that many of them only need a little encouragement to become more regular citizens of fixed responsibility,” were the assertions of Mr. Fieg on his cross-country journey.
The trip began in Port Jervis with a friend, pretending to know the tricks of easy traveling. Fieg carried only $40 and bare necessities, a pair of overalls, a change of some linen, a razor, soap, mirror, jackknife and towel.
“A freight was hopped,” as explained in The Star, “to Susquehanna (Pennsylvania) and there a jungle camp was made, and there Mr. Fieg learned that his chum had little experience with hobo life, but had read extensively of it.
“The speaker won a hearty laugh with his assertion that all hoboes are not bums, and that all bums are not hoboes. He said that he found he was looked at askance because he carried a toothbrush. Mr. Fieg said that all brakemen on the railroads were not as hard as they might appear and said that he felt his life was saved traveling from Susquehanna to Hornell when a brakeman pointed out to him that he was in danger riding a gondola car in which were being transported two freight car trucks. Any sudden change of speed of the train would cause the trucks to roll the length of the car and that the hobo sleeping in the center of the car would be fortunate if he escaped with his life.”
As Fieg continued traveling, he found work and traveled in passenger cars. He worked a couple of weeks in Pueblo, Colorado. At Cheyenne, Wyoming, he secured a job with a bridge and building gang with which he was employed through the winter.
While traveling in Salt Lake City, Utah, he found that his valuables he’d placed under his pillow had been stolen. “I found then that being broke is not half as bad as it seems at first, and soon was started on my way again.”
Fieg continued west and arrived in San Francisco just after the historic earthquake and fire. He secured a position on a hydroelectric development in the nearby mountains and worked there about seven months. It was after that he returned East.
Putting his experience to compare to 1933, Fieg said, “These unattached young fellows traveling around usually are serving a good purpose and many of them undertake serious responsibilities when the opportunity offers. The next time you have a caller at your door, look at him carefully, not at his clothes, but at his face. If his eyes are bright, he is probably all right, he needs a chance and a little encouragement. A pat on the back and a little help may keep a young fellow on the right path, instead of throwing him into desperation for something to eat.”
Oneonta City Historian Mark Simonson’s column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area before 1950. His Monday columns address local history 1950 and later. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/opinion/columns/.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Bill Doyle Rides Again!
On one of his last trips to Iceland, Bill Doyle, husband of Diana (Fieg) Doyle, took a tour to an area that was best accessible by horseback, so after his return to the States, and a little rumination, he decided to take horseback riding lessons, to be prepared for his next visit to the land of fire and ice. Here is proof:
Ride 'em, Wild Bill!
Recent Travels With Sue and Ed Williams
Thanks to Sue (Fieg) Williams who sent some photos and write-ups of her recent adventures. Here goes!
Ed and Sue (Fieg) Williams spent a great day in Chicago at the ball park with niece, Brenna Rose Ferguson, Richard Fieg's oldest step-daughter. Brenna's friend, Zack, joined us for the day; however he is not in the picture as he was the photographer.
Unfortunately the Cubs did lose to the Cincinnati Reds that day. Brenna bought a Cubs T-shirt for this special occasion (she didn't want to wear her St. Louis Cardinals shirt ... thank you very much!), and that's why they lost -- end of story!!
Ed and Sue ventured to Acworth, GA to see the nieces and nephews on Sept. 9, 2018. This time of the year is usually when Laura (Fieg) Kasibante and family get their USA "fix."
The six children sure are growing up fast. They range in age from one to six years old. We all did some fun things like going out to eat, visiting the school Caleb and Lily attend, reading books, playing on the swing set in the backyard and much more.
From left to right: the Kasibantes - Judah (age 3), being held by Chief, Laura holding Zionne (age 1) and Max (age 5); the Fiegs - Brian (holding Max), Caleb (age 6), Lily (age 4) and Emily holding Nathan (age 1).
Laura and Brian are the children of Douglas Fieg, and grandchildren of Lothar Fieg Sr.
Ed and Sue got some great R&R in Las Vegas at the end of September. They stayed at one of their favorite hotels, Red Rock Resort. The Vegas family (Russell Fieg and Samantha Theobald) joined them for dinner at Lucille's BBQ, and they all had a good time catching up on the family news. It had been a year and a half since the last Vegas reunion for these family members.
From left to right: Russell Fieg, Sue (Fieg) Williams, Samantha Theobald
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Dan and Jenny Bookhout Featured in Local Newsletter
Dan and Jenny Bookhout, along with daughters Arwen and Zadie, were featured on page 76 of the digital version of the St. Augustine Social, which bills itself as "the city magazine for Saint Augustine."
The Bookhouts are entrepreneurs who manage two businesses in the Florida city. Lemonlark Paperie is a stationery boutique that specializes in wedding and event invitations and fine art prints. Creative Whitt helps clients build websites that make them stand out in the crowd.
Dan is the great-grandson of Carl and Emilie Fieg who immigrated from Germany in 1900.
The Bookhouts are entrepreneurs who manage two businesses in the Florida city. Lemonlark Paperie is a stationery boutique that specializes in wedding and event invitations and fine art prints. Creative Whitt helps clients build websites that make them stand out in the crowd.
Dan is the great-grandson of Carl and Emilie Fieg who immigrated from Germany in 1900.
Monday, June 25, 2018
Seventy is The New Forty!
On this day, back in 1948, Lothar Fieg Sr. and his wife Catherine welcomed a little red-head into their family.
Susan F. Fieg was born at Fox Hospital in Oneonta, N.Y., the second of five siblings. According to her baby brother, Steven, "Mom told her mother-in-law (Florence Celestia Shields Fieg) that the F was for Florence, but her birth certificate has just an F.... Aunt Catherine, of course, named her onlyiest daughter after her mother, 'Susan' Maria Rosecrans Shafer."
We wish this lovely woman a happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead. Proud to have you as a cousin, Sue!
Susan F. Fieg was born at Fox Hospital in Oneonta, N.Y., the second of five siblings. According to her baby brother, Steven, "Mom told her mother-in-law (Florence Celestia Shields Fieg) that the F was for Florence, but her birth certificate has just an F.... Aunt Catherine, of course, named her onlyiest daughter after her mother, 'Susan' Maria Rosecrans Shafer."
We wish this lovely woman a happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead. Proud to have you as a cousin, Sue!
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| Susan and Catherine on Susan's baptism day, 1948 |
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| Susan, Catherine and Lothar "Bud" Fieg, baptism day |
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| Hallelujah! Another red-head! Emilie Fieg McGonigal with | her niece, Susan |
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Robert Whiteside Photo
Marsha sent this to me and it's too adorable not to publish. They really were young once! Remembering her dad, Dr. Robert Whiteside, Sr.:
108 Years of Father's Day
In the Middle Ages in Catholic Europe, March 19, the feast day of St. Joseph, was the day when the faithful celebrated fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.
The tradition came to the Americas with Spanish and Portuguese explorers and, in fact, March 19 is still recognized as Father's Day in Spain and Portugal, as well as in Bolivia and Honduras, among others.
In the U.S., there are several reported origins of this holiday. One has it that in 1908 a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, after listening to a Mother's Day sermon at church in Spokane, Wash., raised the issue of honoring fathers as well. Her own father, William Smart, was a widow who raised her and her five siblings for 11 years after his wife's death. On June 19, 1910, "sermons honoring fathers were presented throughout the city" of Spokane at Methodist churches.
Another report tells of Harry Meek, a member of the Lions Clubs International, claimed to be the originator of the idea of Father's Day in 1915. He chose the third Sunday in June that year (his own birthday) and made many efforts to promote it and make it an official holiday. The Lions Club named him the "Originator of Father's Day."
It was not until 1966, however, that President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June to be Father's Day. Six years later, President Richard Nixon signed it into law as a permanent national holiday.
So, in a time-honored tradition, we belatedly honor the men who brought home the bacon, cleaned the gutters, mowed the grass, and taught us how to stand tall. Thanks, Dad!
The tradition came to the Americas with Spanish and Portuguese explorers and, in fact, March 19 is still recognized as Father's Day in Spain and Portugal, as well as in Bolivia and Honduras, among others.
In the U.S., there are several reported origins of this holiday. One has it that in 1908 a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, after listening to a Mother's Day sermon at church in Spokane, Wash., raised the issue of honoring fathers as well. Her own father, William Smart, was a widow who raised her and her five siblings for 11 years after his wife's death. On June 19, 1910, "sermons honoring fathers were presented throughout the city" of Spokane at Methodist churches.
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| Lothar Fieg Sr. "out West" |
It was not until 1966, however, that President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June to be Father's Day. Six years later, President Richard Nixon signed it into law as a permanent national holiday.
So, in a time-honored tradition, we belatedly honor the men who brought home the bacon, cleaned the gutters, mowed the grass, and taught us how to stand tall. Thanks, Dad!
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| Young Jim McGonigal |
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| Uncle Dick Bookhout - here comes the judge! |
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| Lothar Jr., war hero |
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| Frank Fieg, working hard |
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| A youthful V. Philip Fieg |
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| Bob Whiteside - nice tie! |
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| Mr. Cool - Bob Roman |
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| Joe Kestner - nice shorts! |
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
This Guy Gets Around!
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| Greg Fieg (from left), his first cousin Marsha Adams and her husband, Bill, in a recent photo. |
Monday, May 28, 2018
Nathan Fieg Turns 2
This weekend was special for the family of Brian and Emily Fieg, not just because we celebrate Memorial Day, but also because their youngest, Nathan, turns two years old!
Happy birthday, little guy.
Happy birthday, little guy.
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| Nathan Fieg (upper left) with sibs Caleb and Lily. |
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Sunday, May 13, 2018
Put Them All Together, They Spell Mother
The ancient Romans held festivals to celebrate the mother goddesses Rhea, mother of Zeus, and the Greeks celebrated Cybele.
The early Christian festival "Mothering Sunday" fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and marked the day that women should return to their "mother church" for a special service. This gradually became a secular day when children gave flowers and tokens of appreciation to their mothers.
During the 19th century, Ann Reeves Jarvis initiated "Mothers' Work Day Clubs" and, after the Civil War, the "Mothers' Friendship Day," in an effort to promote reconciliation between the North and South.
Abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe wrote the "Mothers' Day Proclamation," asking women to promote world peace, and she advocated for a "Mothers' Peace Day" to be celebrated annually on June 2.
Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis, joined forces with the founder of Wanamaker's Department Store and conducted the first official Mother's Day celebration at a church in West Virginia, on the same day that a huge celebration took place at a Wanamaker's store in Philadelphia.
Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation recognizing the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
While Anna Jarvis envisioned a day that mothers would spend time with their families, and promoted the wearing of a white carnation as a special badge, she became disgusted with the commercialization of the holiday, and even petitioned to have the proclamation revoked.
So, this year, as you place your on-line gift order for flowers, candy, or a DVD or CD, or you stop by the 7-11 on your way home to pick up a bottle of MD-2020 and a gift card to Denny's, please take the time to remember that we celebrate the person without whom we would not have become the distinguished, polished, successful, erudite, educated beings that we know we are today!
The early Christian festival "Mothering Sunday" fell on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and marked the day that women should return to their "mother church" for a special service. This gradually became a secular day when children gave flowers and tokens of appreciation to their mothers.
During the 19th century, Ann Reeves Jarvis initiated "Mothers' Work Day Clubs" and, after the Civil War, the "Mothers' Friendship Day," in an effort to promote reconciliation between the North and South.
Abolitionist and suffragette Julia Ward Howe wrote the "Mothers' Day Proclamation," asking women to promote world peace, and she advocated for a "Mothers' Peace Day" to be celebrated annually on June 2.
Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis, joined forces with the founder of Wanamaker's Department Store and conducted the first official Mother's Day celebration at a church in West Virginia, on the same day that a huge celebration took place at a Wanamaker's store in Philadelphia.
Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation recognizing the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
While Anna Jarvis envisioned a day that mothers would spend time with their families, and promoted the wearing of a white carnation as a special badge, she became disgusted with the commercialization of the holiday, and even petitioned to have the proclamation revoked.
So, this year, as you place your on-line gift order for flowers, candy, or a DVD or CD, or you stop by the 7-11 on your way home to pick up a bottle of MD-2020 and a gift card to Denny's, please take the time to remember that we celebrate the person without whom we would not have become the distinguished, polished, successful, erudite, educated beings that we know we are today!
 |
An
engagement party was held for 'Katie' Shafer at Aunt Emilie McGonigal's
residence in Milford Center, March or
April 1945. Bud and Katie married June 3rd in Oneonta. For some reason, Uncle Frank
and Uncle Philip could not be there. A buddy of Bud's, from the
war, was best man. Uncle Bud was very lucky to find such a catch, to say
the least, and she was absolutely happy. All the pictures I have seen,
taken around this time, and just from being her son, I can notice this
was the ultimate for her. Uncle Bud was a war hero, and his father-in-law was well
known in the city. In September they went to Alaska so Bud could finish his
mining engineer degree. They drove from Washington state to Fairbanks,
Alaska, when Alaska was just a territory. Driving into
the unknown is the way I think of it.
Happy Mother's Day Mom,
Love from a Fieg,
|
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| Dorothy Fieg Roman, mother of Samantha, John, Don and Mark. |
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| Jean Davie Fieg, wife of V. Philip Fieg and mother of Judy, Diana and Phyllis. |
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| Marina Pizano Fieg, wife of Frank Fieg and mother of Greg, Ed and Lisa. |
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| Maxine Fieg Whiteside, mother of Marsha, Jeff, Anne and Bob Jr. |
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| Emilie Boehler Fieg McGonigal and Florence Celestia Fieg Bookhout - mothers of many! |
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| Judy Kestner, mother of The Best Daughter She Ever Had, Emilie V. |
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| Florence Shields Fieg, wife of Lothar Fieg Sr., and mother to Em, Flo, Bud, Frank, Phid, Doc and Mac. |
Thursday, May 10, 2018
83rd Sheilds Family Reunion Set for July 8
The 83rd Annual Shields Reunion will be held on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at 12:30 p.m. at Nathaniel Cole Park in Harpursville, NY.
Please
bring a covered dish to share, and beverage and table service for your
family. Charcoal will be available for those who wish to grill.
Call Vera at 570- -729 - 8621 or Midge at 607 - 441 - 0475 or e-mail Midge at midgemcclenon@gmail.com for more information or directions.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Doris Fieg Holm Has New Address
Your editor recently received a home-made post card from Doris Fieg Holm, announcing a new stage in her life. Doris writes:
"Wheel C Ranch now closing its gates -- sorry! 🙁 My new address: 9325 East Stockton Blvd., Rm. 116, Elk Grove, CA 95624. Phone 916-425-4869.
Have moved to senior housing with all convenient comforts - no work! Still in Elk Grove - house will be on the market soon. Am adjusting to ease of living. Can still host my card parties here, with a chef to help (not bad at all!). Love to all!! Doris Fieg Holm"
Doris is the granddaughter of Carl and Emilie Fieg, who were the root stock of the American Fieg family tree. We wish her well in her new digs, and encourage everyone to drop her a line.
"Wheel C Ranch now closing its gates -- sorry! 🙁 My new address: 9325 East Stockton Blvd., Rm. 116, Elk Grove, CA 95624. Phone 916-425-4869.
Have moved to senior housing with all convenient comforts - no work! Still in Elk Grove - house will be on the market soon. Am adjusting to ease of living. Can still host my card parties here, with a chef to help (not bad at all!). Love to all!! Doris Fieg Holm"
Doris is the granddaughter of Carl and Emilie Fieg, who were the root stock of the American Fieg family tree. We wish her well in her new digs, and encourage everyone to drop her a line.
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| Doris Fieg Holm surrounded by a few of her many relatives at the 2009 Fieg Family reunion in Cooperstown, NY. |
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Billy Adams Among Emmy Winners
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| "Mural" by Jackson Pollock |
The award was for best cultural documentary and was presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-America Chapter.
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| Billy Adams |
Billy played a key role on a team of eight photographers in documenting the shipping and mounting process of the artwork, which has been praised as one of the most important artistic accomplishments of the 20th Century.
The show features commentary by art critics and connoisseurs, among them the actor and comedian Steve Martin, and Billy's parents appear briefly among the extras in the Sioux City footage of the video.
A highly accomplished photographer, Billy is a graduate of the University of Iowa at Iowa City, where he formerly served on the photographic staff. His work can be viewed at his website, www.billadamsphoto.com.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Notes on Hurricane Harvey
Friday August 25, 2017 - 8:30 p.m.
Glad I did my grocery shopping on Tuesday, before the hurricane was predicted to actually be a hurricane. Even on that day, store clerks were unwrapping skids of drinking water.
I did stock up yesterday on water, bleach and paper plates, after hurriedly rescheduling a Girl Scout recruiting rally I was to conduct that night. The storm was predicted to be a category 3 (as I write this, it has morphed into a category 4 with wind speed of 140 mph!).
Joe and I had already brought in the outdoor furniture and potted plants. I will leave out the hummingbird feeders as long as I can today for the little fellers. Fixed steak Diane for dinner.
The ice chest is cleaned out, my brand new drink dispenser is full of water, in case we cannot use water from the tap later. A gallon of water is in the freezer, to drink as it thaws (a trick we used when Joe, Emilie and I used to go camping in July to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It is a cheap vacation, but pretty hot in Texas, and that icy water was a godsend!).
Called Mom yesterday and told her we would ride it out. Have had several offers of places to stay from friends in Austin and San Antonio. My birding buddy, Susan, called from her temporary digs in Laredo. They live in Rockport, which is under a mandatory evacuation order. Tonight she and her husband, Paul, are drinking gin and tonics at Danny and Mona's, then tomorrow she will go birding early in the morning with the Laredo birding contingent. I am jealous!
8:45 p.m.
Cooking a pot of beans for Joe -- what a funny request! The power is still on -- T.V. has shown the storm's progress all day on all channels. Press conferences with the mayor, video of slick streets, reflecting the street lights, that are devoid of traffic -- kind of like on Christmas Eve.
The T.V. folk must be exhausted, though they act as if they are not. As I took down the hummingbird feeders, one of the hummers scolded me from the neighbor's tree. Sorry, little guy! Young grackles were flying awkwardly from tree to tree, pushed from behind by the wind -- what a time to learn to fly!
Joe has gone in to bed. He predicts that the weather effects will be minor here. As we are in the southwestern quadrant, he is probably right.
Texted Kimiko, in Victoria, where Harvey is headed. She will hunker down and hope for a good outcome. Several other people have texted asking if we are OK. I sheepishly have to admit to still having power.
8:53 p.m.
Still have power -- for how long? Wind in Rockport reported at 118 mph - as fast as a tornado!
Haha! All four news reporters sitting at the news desk are looking at their electronics at the same time. So funny -- so contemporary.
I just opened the front door. Can't hear much inside, but outside the wind is roaring through the trees. The cats sit at the open door, ears back, eyes bugging out. The beans are almost done.
Emilie called earlier to see how we were doing -- Joe said, "We are making our wills." Her BFF from college texted me to check on our status -- sweet of her!
9:05
The power just blinked off for a nano second. Good thing Joe completed the one task I set for him today: put batteries in the flashlights.
11:45 p.m.
Just ended a call from a friend in Ithaca. Good night!
Saturday August 26, 2017 - 8:15 a.m.
My cat, Mickey, and I took a quick stroll up the cul-de-sac - a couple of fences are down, one tree (trunk about 8" in diameter) snapped close to the ground, lawns are covered with fallen leaves and small branches. I put the hummingbird feeders back up earlier, and the birds are swarming. Gnatcatchers and titmice twitter from the branches up high.
Cool and pleasant outside, with no rain at the moment.
Emilie has (had?) job interviews in Pt. Lavaca Tuesday (postponed indefinitely), Austin Wednesday and Houston Thursday (probably ditto). She is anxious to go to work, but Harvey says, "Not yet."
11:00 a.m.
Today I have spoken with Anne and John Roman in their new home in Florida, and to Mark Roman, who is planning a trip to Hawaii mid-September with his girlfriend, who will be working there. Must be rough.... LOL
Inca Dove calling in the back yard, "No hope... no hope," but things are getting back to normal. Nary a car on the streets. The news from just north of here is horrific, but only one death so far - someone caught in a house fire. RIP.
Glad I did my grocery shopping on Tuesday, before the hurricane was predicted to actually be a hurricane. Even on that day, store clerks were unwrapping skids of drinking water.
I did stock up yesterday on water, bleach and paper plates, after hurriedly rescheduling a Girl Scout recruiting rally I was to conduct that night. The storm was predicted to be a category 3 (as I write this, it has morphed into a category 4 with wind speed of 140 mph!).
Joe and I had already brought in the outdoor furniture and potted plants. I will leave out the hummingbird feeders as long as I can today for the little fellers. Fixed steak Diane for dinner.
The ice chest is cleaned out, my brand new drink dispenser is full of water, in case we cannot use water from the tap later. A gallon of water is in the freezer, to drink as it thaws (a trick we used when Joe, Emilie and I used to go camping in July to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It is a cheap vacation, but pretty hot in Texas, and that icy water was a godsend!).
Called Mom yesterday and told her we would ride it out. Have had several offers of places to stay from friends in Austin and San Antonio. My birding buddy, Susan, called from her temporary digs in Laredo. They live in Rockport, which is under a mandatory evacuation order. Tonight she and her husband, Paul, are drinking gin and tonics at Danny and Mona's, then tomorrow she will go birding early in the morning with the Laredo birding contingent. I am jealous!
8:45 p.m.
Cooking a pot of beans for Joe -- what a funny request! The power is still on -- T.V. has shown the storm's progress all day on all channels. Press conferences with the mayor, video of slick streets, reflecting the street lights, that are devoid of traffic -- kind of like on Christmas Eve.
The T.V. folk must be exhausted, though they act as if they are not. As I took down the hummingbird feeders, one of the hummers scolded me from the neighbor's tree. Sorry, little guy! Young grackles were flying awkwardly from tree to tree, pushed from behind by the wind -- what a time to learn to fly!
Joe has gone in to bed. He predicts that the weather effects will be minor here. As we are in the southwestern quadrant, he is probably right.
Texted Kimiko, in Victoria, where Harvey is headed. She will hunker down and hope for a good outcome. Several other people have texted asking if we are OK. I sheepishly have to admit to still having power.
8:53 p.m.
Still have power -- for how long? Wind in Rockport reported at 118 mph - as fast as a tornado!
Haha! All four news reporters sitting at the news desk are looking at their electronics at the same time. So funny -- so contemporary.
I just opened the front door. Can't hear much inside, but outside the wind is roaring through the trees. The cats sit at the open door, ears back, eyes bugging out. The beans are almost done.
Emilie called earlier to see how we were doing -- Joe said, "We are making our wills." Her BFF from college texted me to check on our status -- sweet of her!
9:05
The power just blinked off for a nano second. Good thing Joe completed the one task I set for him today: put batteries in the flashlights.
11:45 p.m.
Just ended a call from a friend in Ithaca. Good night!
Saturday August 26, 2017 - 8:15 a.m.
My cat, Mickey, and I took a quick stroll up the cul-de-sac - a couple of fences are down, one tree (trunk about 8" in diameter) snapped close to the ground, lawns are covered with fallen leaves and small branches. I put the hummingbird feeders back up earlier, and the birds are swarming. Gnatcatchers and titmice twitter from the branches up high.
Cool and pleasant outside, with no rain at the moment.
Emilie has (had?) job interviews in Pt. Lavaca Tuesday (postponed indefinitely), Austin Wednesday and Houston Thursday (probably ditto). She is anxious to go to work, but Harvey says, "Not yet."
11:00 a.m.
Today I have spoken with Anne and John Roman in their new home in Florida, and to Mark Roman, who is planning a trip to Hawaii mid-September with his girlfriend, who will be working there. Must be rough.... LOL
Inca Dove calling in the back yard, "No hope... no hope," but things are getting back to normal. Nary a car on the streets. The news from just north of here is horrific, but only one death so far - someone caught in a house fire. RIP.
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Fieg Family Model T Sold for $3.75
Ford Motor Company observed the 100th anniversary of the pick-up truck this year, a milestone noted by the production of Model T conversions dating back to 1917, and the first true pick-up in 1947. After-market conversion kits were sold with detailed instructions for the transformation.
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| 1925 Model T Conversion Pick-Up |
Max Fieg built such a conversion from a 1925 Model T Touring Car. The car was made almost entirely of wood, and served Max and his family for a good many years.
Eventually the truck was retired and later it caught the attention of a passer-by. He asked Max, "How much do you want for it?" and Max replied, "How much have you got?" The prospective buyer said, "Three dollars and seventy-five cents."
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| Max Fieg in 1943 |
Fanciful family lore suggests that some members of the Fieg generation from the early 19th century were wagon-makers, a narrow and exacting discipline, which may explain why the men (and women?) of Lothar and Max Fieg's generation were endowed with considerable carpentry skills.
The Model T has made some appearances in the Fieg family at other points in the 20th Century. Frank Fieg, barely old enough to drive, worked as a taxi driver to earn enough to purchase a 1925 Model T of his own. In the late 1930s, he was cruising in his "tin lizzie" from Cooperstown to Oneonta. The vehicle, four cylinders with a top speed of 45 miles per hour, was already obsolete when it rolled off the assembly line in Detroit, and so was quickly passed by modern vehicles with six-cylinder and V-8 engines.
Frank was attempting to negotiate the sweeping curve at the Hope Hill intersection on Rte. 28, when a big V-8 roared past him, heading toward Hyde Park. Frank knew the other driver would not be able to hold that curve at such a breakneck speed. The car careened off the road and slammed into a stone mill and feed store, which stands there today in mute testimony. The driver was killed.
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| 1947 Ford pick-up |
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| Ford Assembly Line |
At the time Ford Model Ts were entering the marketplace in 1908, other cars could sell for up to $5,000. Henry Ford, watching an assembly line in a slaughterhouse, had the idea to adapt the technique to his automobile production, an efficiency that allowed for production of cars that sold for sometimes less than $400. This made transportation affordable for most families in what the great industrialist called the "democratization of the automobile."
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| Henry Ford |
By 1914 he boasted that you could have a Model T in any color, "as long as it is black."
Thursday, July 13, 2017
Employment Updates: A Retirement and a Birthday
Kathy Clancy shares that her husband, Brian, retired from the Village of Cooperstown on April 30. Brian was the public works superintendent, and had been a village employee for 31 years. In addition to his paid position, Brian also served several terms as the village's fire chief.
For the whole story, and more, visit http://www.allotsego.com/reception-honors-retiring-cooperstown-dpw-superintendent/.
Hancock Concrete Products, the company where Bill Adams is employed, celebrates its centennial year in 2017. A celebration was held July 3 in Hancock, Minn., with a luncheon and plant tours.
Bill, husband of Marsha Whiteside Adams, appears in a video history of the innovative company that designed the first precast box culvert in the U.S. The video can be viewed on the Hancock Facebook page, or on Marsha's Facebook page. (P.S. Bill is NOT in the photo below.)
For the whole story, and more, visit http://www.allotsego.com/reception-honors-retiring-cooperstown-dpw-superintendent/.
Hancock Concrete Products, the company where Bill Adams is employed, celebrates its centennial year in 2017. A celebration was held July 3 in Hancock, Minn., with a luncheon and plant tours.
Bill, husband of Marsha Whiteside Adams, appears in a video history of the innovative company that designed the first precast box culvert in the U.S. The video can be viewed on the Hancock Facebook page, or on Marsha's Facebook page. (P.S. Bill is NOT in the photo below.)
The Graduate(s)
I have one word for you - CONGRATULATIONS!!
Don Roman announces that his son, Donovan, graduated from Mount Pleasant High School on June 4 with an International Baccalaureate degree.
For those of us scratching our heads, your editor appropriated this information from the IB website: "Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate® (IB) is a non-profit educational foundation offering four highly respected programmes of international education that develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world."
Donovan will attend RIT in the fall to study environmental engineering. Here is a photo of Donovan (#7) with the other seniors on the Knights varsity lacrosse team at their last game.
Katie Murphy, daughter of Jennifer and Don Murphy, graduated May 13 from high school. Here is a photo of Katie with mom, dad and brother Keenan.
On June 13, Emilie Kestner, daughter of your faithful editor, finished up her studies at Abilene Christian University in Texas, receiving her Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Judy and Joe drove to Abilene from Corpus Christi, a six-and-a-half-hour drive, the night before the ceremony. The next day, a flat tire on Emilie's car, necessitating the purchase of a new one, and the steep climb to the nosebleed section of the Moody Coliseum on campus seemed like omens, but the 3:00 event went off without a hitch.
Emilie will finish up some requirements over the summer, take her licensure exam on July 20 and be ready for those job offers to start pouring in (and so will her parents...)!
Sunday, July 9, 2017
June Wedding for Stephen Clancy
Kathy Boggs Clancy and Brian Clancy of Cooperstown announced the marriage of their eldest son, Stephen Clancy, to Heather Place.
The ceremony took place on June 17, 2017 in Hartwick, N.Y.
The newlyweds will reside in the Clancy family home on Pine Blvd. in Cooperstown.
Heather yesterday posted this sweet sentiment on Facebook: "And now I have the best mother-in-law ever."
Best wishes to the couple for years to come!
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