The Dubois Diner and Corn Fritters

    

     In 2009 I traded a timeshare banked week and Ted, Ken and I vacationed for a week at Silverwoods, Treasure Lake, Pennsylvania.  Towards the end of the week, I noticed a listing of timeshare units in Silverwoods for sale.  Frankly, the cost for one week was extremely reasonable, so I took a small portion of my estate money from Dad's passing and bought a week.  

     We have used that week ever since with the exception of three years, this summer being one.  Training for a new job, Covid and this year a rogue sinus infection gave us a staycation.  

     Oddly one of my fond memories of our week was the last day.  Treasure Lake is a stone's throw from the town of Dubois, Pennsylvania.  There, on one way out of town, was located the Dubois Diner and on weekends a delicious, sumptuous breakfast buffet.  Sadly, Covid closed the diner in 2021 after fifteen years.

     The theme and décor was the 1950's.  A woman server wore a metal coin changer around her waist reminiscent of those worn by the streetcar drivers and luncheonette servers from my youth in Pittsburgh.  Of course there were red vinyl booths with a mini jukebox in each unit.  

     Most Saturday's it was my brother Ken and I who were sitting in the diner.  We had to take two cars to Treasure Lake to handle the kayaks.  Usually, Ted did not join us.  Stopping at the diner was our way to extend the week for a few more hours. 😁

     It was at the inaugural  breakfast that I saw corn fritters in one warming pan on the buffet.  Woot Woot!   I have no idea where or when I had tasted a corn fritter in my past.  I doubt my mother made them.  The likely suspect would have been my paternal grandmother aka Grams.  She was a scratch baker and a southerner (West By God Virginia).  During my elementary and into my junior high school years, I did spend overnights with Grams and Pop Pop.  

     Although all the food offered at the diner was wonderful, it was the corn fritters that kept me coming back.  As I mentioned earlier, sadly there was no vacation week at Treasure Lake this year.  Today is the day we would be packing up and heading home.  Today would be the day we would stop for Saturday breakfast buffet,  Today would be the day for corn fritters.

     So, in honor of what once was, I looked up a corn fritter recipe and fried up a batch for my breakfast.  

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I would like to acknowledge that the pictures of the Dubois Diner were taken from various websites.  I have my own photos; however, they seem to be lost in my computer.  😇

  

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.    PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2023, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Stories in Stone--Drechsler Building in Oak Park, Illinois

Sandwiched in between various much newer or newly refurbished buildings on Lake Street in Oak Park, Illinois is the Drechsler Building built in 1898. I was able to find some information regarding the building on two other websites along with brief biographies the occupants when it was constructed.  Although the number currently is 1112 Lake Street, it was 1116 Lake Street back in the 1920's and may have even been 135 Lake in 1910.  Numbers changed as additional buildings were added along the main business street of Oak Park. 

Oak Park resident, Frank Lloyd Wright, definately did not draw up the blueprint for this structure ;-).  Information found on the net on page 23 at, ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY Downtown Oak Park and The Avenue Business District Oak Park, Historic Preservation Commission, Conducted in 1975, Updated 1981 and 2005, lists the architect as E.E. Roberts and the style as Queen Anne.  Charles Drechsler is listed as the first owner.

"The building is 4 stories and is 23’ x 142’. The walls and foundation dates to a 1933 remodel. There was a building restoration in 1970 by Fred Burghardt. Minor alterations to the storefront occurred in 1975. There is a copper bay at the third floor level. Metal cornice and brackets with imposing brick parapet and coping. Bedford limestone trim. Exterior restoration underway in 2005."  

Charles Frederick Drechsler, son of William Henry Drechsler and Anna Heitmann, was born on April 9, 1872 in Leyden Township, Cook County, Illinois. Leyden Township comprises an area northwest of Oak Park.  I have also seen Charles' mother listed as Wilhelmina Hectmann; however the maiden name could be a transcription error.

Charles married Sophia P. Sievert on July 10, 1895 in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Harlem, Cook County, Illinois.  At this time, Harlem was located in what is today called Forest Park.  Charles was already a resident of Oak Park at the time of his marriage.  Sophia, also known as Sophy, was born in 1875, the daughter of John and Carolyn Sievert, pioneer settlers of the area now known as River Forest, Illinois. 

Charles was already self employed as an undertaker and embalmer working in Oak Park.  The Drechsler's had two sons who are enumerated on the 1900 Illinois Census, Ralph, born October 1896 and Irwin, born January 1900.  Both boys must have died between 1900 and 1910.  A third son, Earl August Martin Drechsler was born on November 12, 1905, probably in Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois. 

I was able to find a brief biography of both Charles and Sophy on line at A Partial History of Forest Home and German Waldheim Cemeteries;

"Sophy Drechsler was the daughter of John and Carolyn Sievert, one of the first families to settle in what is now River Forest. As she was growing up, the area was so sparsely settled that she was the only one in her graduating class at Harlem School. In 1895 she married Charles Drechsler, a young man determined to succeed in business.

At an early age, Drechsler had left his family's farm in Leyden Township and trained with J. W. Senne, an early undertaker in Forest Park and Oak Park. When he was only twenty-two years old, Drechsler bought out Senne and continued to operate the under taking and ambulance services. In addition, he managed a wide range of business ventures that included repairing and upholstering furniture, renting fireproof storage space, moving furniture, and eventually, selling Franklin automobiles.

In 1898, Drechsler commissioned the noted architect E. E. Roberts to design a four-story brick building, which still stands in Oak Park at 1116 Lake Street, just west of Marion Street. The building housed and advertised all his various business ventures, as shown in the drawing here After his death, Sophy Drechsler kept the funeral home operating and served as its bookkeeper until her son Earl completed school. She remained active in the family business until her own death."

The Charles Drechsler Family lived above the business at 1116 Lake Street for several decades.  By 1910, Charles' younger brother, William Henry Drechsler, had joined the embalming business.  I noticed that Charles F. Drechsler was the undertaker for both of his parents. 

Find A Grave photograph
Scott Lewis

Charles Frederick Drechsler died on February 15  1925 at the age of fifty-two.  Sophy died in 1953.  Both are buried in Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois.

William H. Drechsler continued the business until Charles and Sophy's son, Earl A. Drechsler, graduated from University of Michigan and then he took over the business.

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PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2012, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Tombstone Tuesday--Matella A. Lepard Hull

     Matella A. Lepard Hull is my second cousin, twice removed.  She was the daughter of Isaac Lepard and Sarah Ann Woollett. Born on February 8, 1859 in Attica, Venice Township, Seneca County, Ohio, Matella lived her entire life within the small farming community. 

Matella A. Lepard Hull

     
On February 7, 1878, she married  Abraham W. Hull, son of Michael Hull and Barbara Free Hull.  Abraham was born on October 3, 1863 was also raised in Venice Township. 

     The Hulls raised three children on the Hull farm outside town; Arza B Hull, Ida Mary Hull Wilhelm and Mina B. Hull Songer.  

     Matella died at age eight-one on May 24, 1941 at her home in Attica.  She is buried beside her husband, Abraham W. Hull, in the Attica Venice Joint Cemetery.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.   

PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2012, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Destination: Carnegie Library of Sandusky, Ohio and a BIG SURPRISE

Over the weekend my brother and I planned a little Monday day trip to Sandusky, Ohio.  Ken has become very involved with a new church and I wanted to see it; however, when Ken mentioned that there was a Carnegie Library in town which once housed a concert hall complete with a beautiful organ, I was onboard.  Readers might remember past blogs of our searches for Carnegie's that provided more than a library for the lucky community where it was built. 

We were warmly welcomed at the church and given a full tour of the building and the various classrooms.  As a gift I was given a CD of the worship team's music.

Former Erie County Jail

After lunch, we made our way into Sandusky.  Ken already knew the location of the library.  Out came the camera....Miss Snap Happy was primed and ready!  Next to the library is the old Erie County jail.  Check out the photo....nice digs for the sheriff.  Today the library has been expanded and extends into the building that once housed the jail.  More on that later in another blog.....

Elegant front of
Sandusky Carnegie Library

It's always a good trip when Ken is part of the travel team.  He has such a warm way with complete strangers....that winning smile and hardy laugh.  He totally charmed the lovely lady librarian at the information desk.  Within minutes she was giving us the most informative guided tour of the building.  

As she was finishing up, she asked if we had been down to the Archives Room.   Archives...."So," says Linda,"Does that mean you have a large genealogy section in the library?"  Her reply was "yes".  Then somewhere.....in the back of my mind.....I remembered one of my favorite blogs, Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay......Carnegie Library of Sandusky located on Sandusky Bay..... Can you hear the light bulb clicking on in my head ;-) 

"Well I read a blog about cemeteries in Erie County and I bet the writer does her research here," says myself.  The librarian asked who the blogger was and my reply, "Dorene".  The librarians eyes danced with delight and she responded, "Dorene! Dorene works here and is probably downstairs right now!"

Flipside meets Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay

We followed the librarian down to the lower level and there was Dorene sitting in front of her computer.  I walked over and said, "Hi Dorene, Linda from Flipside."  What a grand meeting.  Hugs and smiles....Geneabloggers are such a warm and nurturing community.  For both of us, it was the first time we had met a fellow Geneablogger in person.

I have followed Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay for several years.  Dorene's blog is well reseached and she is such an engaging writer.  The reader can always count on photos and often newspaper articles on the folks belonging to the individual tombstones.  If you are not part of her following, I encourage you strongly to hop over and give her a look.

Serendipity ruled the day.

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PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2012, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Wordless Wednesday--A Fungus Among Us

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 PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Stories in Stone--Charles William Parrish of Saugatuck, Michigan

     While in Saugatuck, Michigan earlier this summer, I wandered into the Parrish building, a present day drug store, in search of some throat lozenges. It was not until I was walking on the opposite side of the street that I noticed that the drug store was a "Story in Stone" with a name and date prominently displayed at the top of the old building.

     Researching this name was easy. Only one Parrish lived in Saugatuck, Michigan at the turn of the 20th century--the family of Charles William Parrish--who as it happens, was a druggist. The building erected in 1913 to house Charles' pharmacy business continues to function as a pharmacy over 100 years later as the Saugatuck Drug Store.

Charles William ParrishFrom Find-A-Grave submission
     Charles William Parrish, son of George D. Parrish and Adelia G. Halsted, was born on September 11, 1877 in Ransomville, New York.  In 1900 the Parrish family lived in Flushing, Genesee County, Michigan and there he met his wife, Pearl Almyra Braman.  Pearl, daughter of Edward B. Braman and Elmira A. Gorton, was born on November 30, 1878 in Flushing, Michigan.

Pearl Almyra Braman ParrishFrom Find-A-Grave submission
     Charles and Pearl were married on August 25, 1903 in Flushing, Michigan.  By 1910 the Parrish's were living in Saugatuck, Allegan County, Michigan.  Charles was working in a drug store and Pearl was busy at home with her newly born daughter, Donna D. Parrish, born on April 13, 1910 in Saugatuck.

Pearl and Charles ParrishFrom Find-A-Grave submission
     Pearl died on September 13, 1949 in Douglas, Michigan just shy of her seventy first birthday.  She was laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Saugatuck, Michigan.  Five years later, Charles died on June 30, 1955, at age seventy-seven, at a nursing home in Burlington, Iowa.  He is buried beside his wife of fifty years at Riverside Cemetery.

     THANK YOU to a historical researcher, Chris Yoder from Allegan County, Michigan, who has listed a complete record, including photographs and obituaries, of Charles and Pearl Parrish on the Find-A-Grave website.  Their obituaries show two Saugatuck residents who were committed to community involvement and were well respected citizens.

Sources:

1. 1900 Michigan Federal Census, Flushing, Genesee, Michigan; Roll: T623_711; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 18.
   
2. 1910 Michigan Federal Census, Saugatuck, Allegan, Michigan; Roll: T624_634; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0029; Image: 1078; FHL Number: 1374647.
   
3. 1920 Michigan Federal Census, Saugatuck, Allegan, Michigan; Roll: T625_754; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 36; Image: 112.
   
4. 1930 Michigan Federal Census,Saugatuck, Allegan, Michigan; Roll: 973; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 33; Image: 184.
   
5. Find-A-Grave listed under Charles W. Parrish and Pearl A. Braman Parrish.
   
6. Michigan Marriages 1822-1995, Family Search, Source Film Number 1018928, Reference Number Pg 58 Rcd No 5999.
   
7. World War I Draft Registration Cards, Allegan County, Michigan; Roll: 1675113; Draft Board: 0.
   

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published. 

PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Wordless Wednesday--Vegas Beauty

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© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Wordless Wednesday--Painted Shrubs on State Street, Chicago, IL

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 PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.

© 2011, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser



Tombstone Tuesday--Vonderbank

     

     Several weeks ago while wandering around the Metairie Cemetery, located at the end of the Cemeteries line in New Orleans, I came upon this mausoleum and statues of the two children. I was more interested in the statue than the names, so unfortunately I can't provide much information on who is interred in the family vault. Apparently the two children are mourning the death of their dear aunt, Babette Vonderbank. 

     In the urn is Uncle Ahrens. Find A Grave provided the name of the third person, Mathieu Vonderbank. Googling the Vonderbank name I have been able to locate some information about the sculptor and those interred. 

    Metairie is filled with wonderful sculptural markers and they are what captured my attention while walking from mausoleum to mausoleum. I did not do to much in the way of actually taking notes and photographing the names as I usually do. 

 Vonderbank listing on Find A Grave.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Tombstone Tuesday--Voodoo

When visiting New Orleans a week or so ago, you know I had to visit St. Louis #1, located on Basin Street. This is the oldest cemetery in New Orleans and the resting place of at least three persons who practiced the art of Voodoo.

Marie Laveau, the Queen of Voodoo is reputed to be buried here. The name and dates of the Marie Laveau listed first in the family vault appears to match Marie's daughter, who happens to have the same name.



Wandering around, I found two more grave sites of Voodoo practitioners. They are easily identified by the numerous "XXX" written all over the vault. Noodling around the net, I found that when someone writes the "XXX" on the tombstone, the deceased will grant a wish. There are no names or dates on these sites; however, current day believers seem to know that these belong to Voodoo folks.



You will also note some of the items left for the deceased....there were wine bottles, a half glass of wine, fans, chachkies of every shape and size.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Tombstone Tuesday--More Woodmen of the World

EUGENE J. PERRIER
Died July 31, 1904
Age 49 Years
Erected by Palmetto Camp No. 2


ALCEE ABNER MERIC
Born January 15, 1860
Died May 4, 1910
Member Tulane Camp No. 48

These two Woodmen of the World tombstones are in the Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Tombstone Tuesday--Woodmen of the World Bonanza

     This summer I photographed my first Woodmen of the World (WOW) tombstone in the Bellevue Cemetery, Bellevue, Ohio. I have always been fascinated with tombstones that are shaped like tree trunks and happened upon the WOW symbol by accident since it was on a tree trunk tombstone. The find has put me on, yet another, tombstone quest.

     While wandering about the Lafayette Cemetery # 1, in the Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana this weekend, I spied a tree trunk tombstone. Imagine my surprise when I saw the deceased was a member of the Woodmen of the World. It didn’t stop there…..I found several more. John Crane Ermon Son of John Ermon And Susan Crane Born August 15?, 1802 maybe 1882 Died October 28, 1914 Member of Magnolia Camp Number ? Paul Andrew St. Pierre Born May 18, 1868 Died November 12, 1916 Excelsior Camp Number 471 Harry T. Melling Died June 20, 1919 Aged 22 years and 10 months John T. Holtzmann Born December 26, 1854 Died May 22, 1899 Erected by Palmento Camp No. 2 Nicholas W. Larkin August 18, 1902 Aged 50 Years Charles L. Raymond Born March 21, 1872 Died July 19, 1919 Eureka Camp No. 27 WOW William A. Lashley 1861-1918 Acorn Camp No. 51 W.O.W. Henry Lee Haas 1865-1909 Member of Palmento Camp No. 2 W.O.W. Emma D. Fallon Died October 20, 1900 Aged 26 Years Erected by Rose Grove No. 5 WC (Woodmen Circle—Women’s Auxiliary to Woodmen of the World) © 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Wordless Wednesday--Capri

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Tombstone Tuesday--Michelangelo

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni
6 March 6, 1475 – February 18, 1564
Michelangelo's final resting place is located in the Church of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy. He chose this spot, "...so that on Judgment Day, when the dead are raised, the first thing he would see through the opened doors of Santa Croce would be Brunelleschi's dome."¹ The dome is the focal point of Florence's gothic cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo).

Source:

1. Vipond, Anne," Mediterranean By Cruise Ship", Fourth Edition, Ocean Cruise Guides, Vancouver, Canada, 1957, page 209.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser

Travel and Snaps with Flipside--Monaco

The colors of Monaco--red and white
What did it want to see in Monaco......anything Princess Grace. There were various excursions available at this port; however, my main goal was Princess Grace. Call it a childhood thing....a Hollywood thing....whatever...she was my goal.

The Grand Casino in Monte Carlo
I have never had a penchant for gambling....truth be told, I am not very lucky. I can count on one hand the times in my life that I have won anything....so Monte Carlo was not even on my radar.

Port de Monaco
Monte Carlo side of the port with the Alps behind
After breakfast, I took my camera out on the Promenade Deck (remember Love Boat...lol) and was literally bowled over at the beauty of the picture before me. Monaco to the right and Monte Carlo to my left and the Alps behind, slowly descending into the sea. Whew!

Taken from the ship's deck--Palais Princier and the old wall
Multimillion dollar (euro) private boats....primarily Saudi....anchored in the harbor......the ancient wall of Monticoville and the Palace on the hill.

The plan was a short excursion day....up to Monaco-Ville with the primary destinations--the Chapel where Princess Grace married Prince Rainier and their burial place plus the Royal Palace.



We also saw the Royal Gardens (Jardin Exotique). Unfortunately, the tour briskly moved forward and I was only able to snap a few photos :-(

Monaco's Cathedral--Monaco-Ville




And now the Chapel. In a word.....BREATHTAKING. The alter and area where Grace Kelly became Princess Grace and behind and to the left, her final resting place beside her husband Prince Ranier. In fact, many of the royal Grimaldi family are buried behind the alter....an arc behind.

Palais Princier
Place du Palais opposite the Palais Princier
Our next stop was the Royal Palace. NO PHOTOS ALLOWED INSIDE!!! The Palace was VERY GRAND....yes," palace-like".

Now there's a camera I would love to own..lol
By the time I emerged from the Palace, it was time for the "changing of the guard". I was late and way too short (in stature)....I didn't see or snap any much of it...lol....however, I did hear the band and the gunfire.


We were told that Princess Caroline callsthe yellow apartment with green shutters home


On the walk returning to our tour bus, we did pass the house where Princess Caroline resides when she returns home.....also, numerous shops, museums cafes and lovely flats.




Lunch time stop

The bus drove us down from Monaco-Ville and we decided to jump off in the business area called La Condamine. The walk back to the ship from this point looked to be relatively short.The time wandering the streets of La Condamine was probably the most rewarding time in this small municipality. There are numerous quaint shops and small cafe's and restaurants. Lunch was in one....delectible French cuisine was served.


Unique metal sculptures along the Quai Antoine
Our floating hotel
My take away......Monaco=Money. It is everywhere....the private boats, the homes, the prices in the shops. Limitless money. Fun to visit, but I wouldn't or couldn't live there.

© 2010, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser