|
Century Wine & Spirits On Century Blvd. * 952-401-WINE |
|
Excelsior Farmer’s Market Open Thursdays 2 to 6 p.m. |
|
V & S Jewelry Mound * 952-472-3233 |
|
Crow River Clock Repair Watertown * 952-955-1192 |
|
952-442-4411 |
|
Crossroads Medical Centers, P.A. Chaska 448-2050 Shakopee 496-6700 Prior Lake 447-1700 |
|
ABC Family Chiropractic 952-443-3710 |
|
Weinzierl Jewelers |
|
Waconia 952-442-2885 |
|
Buying or Selling Victoria? Call Nan Emmer. 612-702-2020 |
|
Headlines and bylines |
|
Front Page Feature Story |
|
From the Editor |
|
Addie’s Drawing |
|
Letters to the Editor |
|
Victoria Moments |
|
Hook Line & Sinker |
|
Calendar of Events |
|
Click here to Advertise |
|
the Gazette |
|
Return to Home Page |
|
Order paper Gazette |
|
Notes and Quotes |
|
The Scoop at City Hall |
|
Home Page |
|
The Victoria GAZETTE |
|
Florian Continued |
|
June 2010 |
|
“Mom made everything and canned everything. We carried water to water the garden and the animals. We had a well and a windmill. We butchered pigs and chickens. There were no freezers. Had to can everything.” The five boys attended the St. Victoria Catholic School, which was less than a mile walking distance and walk they did. “There were no school buses,” said Florian. “When the weather was bad, my dad drove us with a sleigh and horses. We had a sled with a box on it for hauling milk down to the Creamery. We had old cars but they could never get through the snow.” What were Florian’s favorite subjects in school? “I liked history and geography, arithmetic and reading and writing,” said the student. “That’s all we had. None of that other junk they have today. The first four years in school, it was all in German. Then they came out in English and it was just like starting all over again. I can still understand German and still talk it a little.” Does he remember his teachers? “They were all nuns,” said Florian. “Some were stricter than others. If you didn’t behave, you got slapped with the ruler on your fingers. They made you learn. Then after eight grades, we had to go to the public high school here in Victoria for our final exam. The only way to get there was by passing exams along the way. You wouldn’t be there otherwise.” Florian’s diploma from graduating eighth grade is in perfect condition, bound in dark green leather, tied together at the edge with silver and gold ribbon, and embossed on the cover in shiny gold lettering: “Saint Victoria’s School. Florian J. Diethelm. Class of 1933.” Inside it testifies that “Florian J. Diethelm has honorably completed the Grammar Course of Study as prescribed by this School and is entitled to this Diploma.” Next to a large gold seal are the signatures of Sister M. Violette, OSB and Father Ives, OFM. “There were three rooms in the school for all the grades,” said Florian, “with two or three grades per room. They’d teach a whole darn room and today they can’t teach ten of them. Now we read in the paper that kids can’t read or write. Why not?! Reading and writing are the easiest subjects.” Florian laughs as he recognizes the humor of his serious comments. “A whole bunch of us learned how to play the mouth organ at school,” he said. “Yes, the harmonica. I think I could still play it. First song I learned was ‘Springtime in the Rockies.’ I loved that song. I could pick it up right away. It was a lot of fun.” “We had Father Stotter at the time,” continued the memories. “He was a Franciscan. They were all Franciscans here. He came into every room to teach Catechism. It was different then, I’ll tell you!” What did Florian do for fun? “Played ball,” he said. “Nothing else to do. Didn’t have no money. Couldn’t go anyplace. We had balls with covers off and broken bats. It was really tough times. My parents were good. We all had to work together. It was tough. Lucky we didn’t lose the farm.”
|
|
Florian’s parents, Frank and Anna Diethelm, were married on November 9th, 1915, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Chaska. |