| 1918 Fire Survivors story |
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1918 Fire Survivors Jurek, Steve, 31 and wife Anna 33 (Wommicki) children Mary 6, Sophie 4, Victoria 2, and Margaret 3 months old. This a contiuation of a story that appeared in the book 1918 FIRE SURVIVORS researched by the Moose Lake Historical Society; reference page 68 with the related story of Ida (Jurek) Olsen. This is the untold story of Anna and her four little girls that day in 1918. This is the untold story of Anna and her four girls as told by Sophie (Jurek) Kaspszak to son Harry over a period of ten years based on actual statements of fire survivors and her own memory of that period in her life. SPLIT ROCK TOWNSHIP, SEC. 3- OCTOBER 12, 1918. On that Saturday morning, Steve (our father) left home to answer the call of all able-bodied men needed to fight fires in the Automba area. This left us alone with our mother Anna. Late in the afternoon,because of approching fires, my mother placed some valuables (wedding ring ) and clothing into a trunk and dragged it out and away from the house. Then she gathered us together along with extra blankets and headed for an open field south of the house. It’s amazing how clearly I remember running barefoot out into that field with sparks and embers blowing in the wind burning our bare legs and feet as we ran. The blankets covering my baby sister Margaret caught fire during our escape for safety and it wasn’t until later that my mother realized Margaret was badly burned. As we huddled together out in that field a man with a horse and wagon appeared and brought water to us and kept our blankets wet. The following morning, nothing remained of the homestead. The buildings were all gone along with the trunk and the personnel items Mother tried to save. All the animals we had perished, with the exception of a few cows. Those that survived were so badly burned they had to be destroyed. Another grave concern was our missing father Steve who had not returned the following night with the other men who fled for their lives fighting fires in Automba. Cold, hungary, and confused about what had happened, we headed south to the Ignatz Klejeski home which did not burn (the ruins of this farm are located across from the Josephine Klejeski home on Cty Rd 12). There we found shelter in a dirt floor basement and our first meal-raw potatoes and rutabagas. Late that afternoon you can’t imagine the joy we felt when we seen father Steve walking up the road to be reunited with us. How he survived when so many others lost their lives fleeing from Automba will never by known. Eventually, we boarded an evacuation train to Superior where my baby sister Margaret was hopitalized and treated for her burns. We spent the winter in Superior with our Aunt Bea and Katherine Duzynski.
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Star Gazing
Grand BreakfastSunday Sept. 5th, all you can eat at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 60 Hartman Drive, Moose Lake. $6 and under 5 free |
St. Mary's AnnualFall SmorgasbordSunday, September 12th. Serving from 11:am to 1: pm St.Mary's Center, Willow River, MN |
Rebel Flag FootballGrades 3-6Registration Sept. 11th , 9am Location: Practice Field ¼ mile south of ALCO Dept Store Cty Rd 10 next to soccer fields |
Fall Story Times beginat Cloquet Public LibraryPreschool Story Times (ages 3-5) 10 am., Wednesdays, beginning Sept. 15 thru Dec. 1. LapSit Story Times (ages 0-2) 10 a.m., Thurs., beginning Sept. 16 thru Dec. 2. Join us for stories, song, play and good times.Also hosting afterschool matinees at 3:15 p.m. on the third Thursdays, beginning September 16. Info, call 879-1531. |
Sampo Beach Association will hold their annual Mojakka DaySaturday, September 11th from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In addition to the Mojakka lunch there will be music by Mae and Marie, a quilt raffle, bake table, door prizes and flea market. Lunch is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children 10 years and under. Sampo Beach is located at 7095 Saginaw Road, Saginaw MN 55779. |
Hope Salad LuncheonAll women in the community are invited to a salad luncheon at Hope Lutheran on Thurs. Sept. 16th |
Sons of Norway – Tusenvann Lodge #1-659 in Isle, MN.Will hold its next meeting on Friday, Sept. 10th, 2010 at the I.R.E.C. in Isle, at 7:00 PM. Program will be the Lars & Sven show. Come and join us for the evening. The public is always welcome! Call Carol Bailey at 1-320-684-2174, or Bill Peterson at 1-320-679-2380. |
Junior Bowling at Gamper'sRegistration during Open House at Moose Lake School Sept. 2nd 3:30-6:30 or at Gamper's Sept. 7th & 8th at 5: to 6: pm We will again have leagues on Tuesday and Wednesday. Contact: Ellen/Edda 485-6024Pancake-Sausage Breakfast Sturgeon Lake City Hall Sunday, September 5th at 8:00 to 12:00 for Hope Lutheran Nursery School |
Rat Rod RendezvousSunday, Sept. 5th, 10: am to 2: pm in Downtown Mahtowa. Free brat for participants.All are welcome! |
Pancake-Sausage BreakfastSturgeon Lake City Hall Sunday, September 5th at 8:00 to 12:00 for Hope Lutheran Nursery School |
The Gathering Grove701 5th St., Moose Lake. A community based wellness drop-in center. Open 9-3 Mondays & Thursdays. Seniors & all adults welcome! |
Dedication of themonument to MoisésTo be held at the site in Moose Lake on Sat. Sept. 11, 2010 at 10 am. Please park at the hockey arena lot across from the site. Dedication will be held rain (snow) or shine. |
Do you like working with kids?Looking for volunteers to tutor students in grades K thru 12 - one to two hours a week in a variety of subjects. For more information please call the Barnum Youth Center at (218)389-0401. |
To all Classmates of MLHSclass of 1958Our 52nd reunion will be held at Gampers in Moose Lake on October 9, 2010 at 1:00 PM. We will be ordering off the menu, so please do not send any money. Please RSVP to Elva Johnson Anderson1695 Liberty St Mora, MN 55051 320-679-0332 or email at emandy@msn.com |
Library on Wheels,ALS Bookmobile ScheduleThe 2010 summer reading season is here. Visit your library on wheels, the Arrowhead Library System bookmobile. Local stops and times include:Tuesday; August 10, 31; September 21 Wright - School 1:15 - 1:45 Cromwell - Main Street 2:00 - 2:45 Mahtowa - Store 3:45 - 4:30 |