Central Park

Farmers Stage Tri-County Meet
Representatives of Wisconsin Political Parties Address Picnic Group
Approximately 300 farmers from Racine, Walworth and Kenosha attended a picnic at Central Park, Somers,  yesterday and took part in a program of games and contests.  A series of addresses were presented to the group by representatives of the major political parties of the state.
During the forenoon hours, yesterday, an extensive program of picnic games and contests was held.  The features of the afternoon picnic program were the services of speeches and a baseball game.  The evening was devoted to music and dancing in the pavilion at the park.
(Source:  Racine Journal, August 30, 1934)


Central Park May Be Closed
Town of Somers Voted Against Liquor License at Tuesday Election
Officers of the Town Say the Park Must Close
One of the Most Popular Resorts in This Section of the County
About $10,000 Improvements Have Been Made
"Central Park, one of the best known resorts in this section of the country, located on the Lakeshore Road, between Racine and Kenosha, will in all probability be closed, so far as the selling of intoxicating liquors is concerned.
The Park is located in the Town of Somers, Kenosha County.  At the election on Tuesday the question of license or no license was submitted to the voters.  No license was carried by 34 votes, which was a great surprise to those in favor of beer.
One of the officers of the town said yesterday that Central Park would be closed so far as the selling of beer was concerned, or any kind of intoxicating liquors, and perhaps it would be closed to the holding of amusements and wrestling matches on Sunday.  In view of the large majority against the sale of liquor in the Town it was determined to stop it at all hazards and it is claimed that more liquor was sold at the Park than in the whole town combined.
The buildings on the Park were built and the place opened by Peter Steinbach some years ago.  Mr. Steinbach had considerable trouble and his health failed.  For a time he was confined in a private asylum, but he recovered and is again in business.
The handsome park is now owned by Mr. Steinbach and the Schlitz Brewing Company of Milwaukee.  It is estimated that the improvements put in cost something over $10,000.00.
A report reaches the city that Mr. Steinbach has stated that he will continue to run the Park and  dispose, of liquor as heretofore, and that if arrested the case will be fought in the courts to the bitter end.
Hundreds of people, both in Racine and Kenosha counties, will be much interested in the affair, for nearly all of the large societies generally lease the Park for mid-summer picnics and large gatherings."
(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date April 3, 1902)

Partial 1908 Somers Township Map
Central Park, Somers Township, Kenosha County

Batting Averages of Central Park Leagues

A number of baseball fans werre asking some of the managers of the Central Park League how the batting averages stand.  At that time not much of a record was kept, but during the last six weeks the following averages were reported.

(Note:  Somers listed only - list does not include other teams)

Irving, Somers Greys, 342

Morin, Somers Greys, 334

W. Thomas, Somers Greys, 304

Wood, Somers Greys, 300

H. Gascoyne, Somers, 204

F. Gascoyne, Somers, 224

A. Werve, Somers Greys, 278

G. Werve, Somers Greys, 211

G. Thomas, Somers Greys, 278

Rice, Somers, 182

Nelson, Somers, 178

Braid, Somers Greys, 173

Birch, Somers Greys, 161

Dorey, Somers Greys, 220

Drissel, Somers, 257

Tabbert, Somers, 247

Ford, Somers, 230

(Source:  Racine Daily, publication date August 24, 1907)

Railroad-North Shore

North Shore Passenger Line Station Stops in Somers Township
Map Shows Kenosha Country Club, Hansche Road (Klapproth private drive), Piper Road-County Line
(Source:  Map courtesy of the Lake Forest College Library Special Collection and Archives, Railroads, Donnelley and Lee Library Archive Collection)



North Shore Passenger Line Station Stops in Somers Township
Stops in Somers Township, Birch Road, Bose Road and Berryville Road
(Source: Map courtesy of the Lake Forest College Library Special Collection and Archives, Railroads, Donnelley and Lee Library Archive Collection)

Kenosha Club Buys Golf Course Site
"One of the finest sites for a golf course in the state of Wisconsin has been purchased by the Kenosha County Club through the A.F. Stahl Agency of Kenosha, situated at the intersection of the Berryville Road with the Sheridan Road between Racine and Kenosha.
The purchase of the Kenosha County Club includes 175 acres of land and it is the intention of the club to erect on this land a magnificent clubhouse.  The Lingles (spell?), Lindstroth, and Benson farms make up the parcel of 175 acres, and the consideration, although not made public, should be in the neighborhood of $80,000.00.
The situation of this land is nearly ideal for a country club.  All roads approaching the place are improved, and the main road is a cement highway.  The interurban railway passes right at hand.  Should there ever be a movement to united Racine and Kenosha golfers, this club is easily accessible to Racine and Kenosha.
The Kenosha County club will continue in its present quarters for some time, but an effort will be made to get the new clubhouse and golf links ready for use in 1921.
(Source:  Racine Journal February 28, 1920)

Baseball Ramblers



Rambler Baseball Team
Date Unknown
Only notation on back of photo is "Chris Birch" of Somers Township
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Base Smith.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)



Baseball Somers Greys



Somers Greys Baseball Team
Date Unknown
(Source:  Original courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.)



Standing Left to Right:
Pete Tennessen (1st base), Lou Morin, George Werve, Chris Birch (pitcher), Everett Rogers

Front row Left ot Right:
Billy Birch (catcher), Ab Werve, Geo. Thomas (3rd base), Joe Thomas, Leo Feest

Note:
Chris and Billy Birch were brothers.
Pete Tennessen was a brother-in-law.
Most of the home games were played at Central Park.

Chris and wife Ottilie (Tillie) Birch built the "Center of the World" which was located across Birch Road from where the old homestead stood.

(Source:  Photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Bill Birch - at bat
Chris Birch - pitcher
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Partial 1908 Map of Somers Township
See "Central Park" where most of the home baseball games were played.
Notice all the players were neighbors.

Somers Greys in the News
"The Somers Greys, Jrs. defeated the East Somers in a closely fought contest by a score of 5 to 6.  The features of the game were the pitching of N. Thomas who struck out sixteen men and the batting of Broesch who only struck out four times.The lineup:
Greys Juniors:  F. Feest, 1f; W. Thomas, ss; L. Feest, c; H. Klapproth 3b; J. Thomas, 2b; Bach, rf; G. Feest, 1b; D. Klapproth, cf; N. Thomas, p.
East Somers - M. Northway, 2b; P. Tennessen, c; C Birch, p; Broesch, 1f; A. Olsen 1b; Tennessen, cf; Gascoigne 3b; R. Terry rf, Gardinier, ss.

The Somers Greys won their thirteenth straight game in the Central Park league, by defeating the South Ends of kneosha by a scaore of 5 to 2.
(Source:  Racine Journal, September 17, 1907

Baseball Kenosha



Baseball "Kenosha"
Estimate date of photo around 1915 based of attached newspaper clippings
The only identification on this photo is a note on the back for "Christ Birch" who lived in Somers Township and also played on the Kenosha "Specials" team and the Somers Grey's team.
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Note:
Found in an envelope with the baseball photos, included newspaper clippings of baseball reports and scores.  Most of the clippings headlined "Kenosha Lake Shore Leaguers".  The newsclipping dates are April 26, 1915, May 15, 1915, and August 9, 1915.

Names of the players noted in the newsclipping for the "Kenosha Lake Shore Leaguers" listed were:
Haag, cf
Hoffman, rf
Zievers, 3b
Homer, 2b
Werve, ss (Somers)
Kehrber, 1b
Thomas, 1f (Somers)
Birch, c (Somers)
Meyers, p (Somers)

Also found in an envelope with the baseball photos was a newspaper clipping for the "Kenosha Regulars".
Players listed for the "Kenosha Regulars" in the newsclipping were:

Hollister, cf
Thomas, ss
Ziebers, 3b
Lawrence, 1b
Homer, 2b
Hoffman, 1f
Birch, c
Lindstrom, p
Hoar, rf

Baseball "Specials"

Somers "Specials" Baseball Team
Note on photo: Chris Birch was a manager of this team after he could not pitch anymore.  Some men are still from Somers Grey's team.  Year taken unknown. Strifling was assistant manager.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.)

Back Row - Standing

#1 - Otto Strifling (Assistant)

#2 - Joe Weyers

#3 - George Thomas

#4 - Yule

#5 - Bill Reider

#6 - Chris Birch (Manager)

Seated - Left to Right

#7 - Thomas

#8 - Middlecamp

? Unknown

Two Men in Front

#9 - Feest

#10 - Bill Birch - Catcher

Birch

Partial 1877 Map of Somers Township.
Two Edward Birch parcels:  one along shore of Lake Michigan and one on Birch Road

The Birch Family
A substantial amount of information on the Birch family is available on my Oakwood Cemetery, Somers, Wisconsin web site.
Click here for additional information on the Birch family.

Birch Photos


The Birch Homestead
located west of Bose Elementary School in Kenosha
near Birch Road
Standing:  Frank Birch
Click on image for larger view.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

The Birch Homestead Farm
West of Bose Elementary School
North of Birch Road
Click on image for larger view.
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)



Inscription on Photo: "Part of old homestead is an Indian building.  House was built around that.  Was told that this picture was taken on the spot that is the Birch farm before Birch's bought the property."
Click on image before larger view.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Edward Birch Biography

He was a farmer in Section 19.  Born in England in 1822.  Came to America in 1844.  Stopped in Canada West.  In 1867 he came to Kenosha locating on a farm and has followed farming up to the present time.  He is a member of the M.E. Church, has held the office of Road Commissioner four or five years.  He married in Canada, in 1855, Miss Jane Thompson, a native of England, they have had eleven children, ten of whom are still living.  He is the owner of 162-1/2 acres of land.

(Source:  History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, 1879 published)

Grower's Order for Labor dated February 14, 1912
W. Birch and Rock County Sugar Company of Janesville, Wisconsin
Sugar Beet Crop
Click on image for larger view.
(Source:  Original document courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)



Rock County Sugar Company's Contract for Sugar Beets
February 14, 1912
Wm. Birch, Jr. and Rock County Sugar Co.
Click on image for larger view.
(Source: Original document courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)



Remarks on the back of the Rock County Sugar Company's Contract for Sugar Beets dated February 14, 1912 between Wm. Birch, Jr. and the Rock County Sugar Co.
Click on image for larger view.
(Source: Original document courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved.)

1870 U.S. Federal Census:  Edward Birch/Home in Somers Township
Edward Birch, age 45
Jane Birch, age 27
Harriet Birch, age 15
William Birch, age13
Alice birch, age 11
Mary Jane Birch, age 9
Albert E. Birch, age 7
Electra Birch, age 5
Eliza Birch, age 3
Josephine Birch, 1

1880 U.S. Federal Census:  Edward Birch/Home in Somers Township
Two additional children of Edward and Jane Birch in addition to the ones listed above:
Fannie Birch, born about 1874
Edward Birch, born about 1877

1900 U.S. Federal Census William Birch (son of Edward and Jane) /Home in Somers Township
William Birch, age 41
Minnie Birch, age 38
Paulina Birch, age 16
William Birch, Jr., age 12
Christie (Christopher) Birch, age 10 (note:  married Ottila "Tillie" and had two daughters:  Evelyn and Violet)
Frank E. Birch, 8 months

Wreck of the Courtright

November 7, 1871 the Courtright became waterlogged.  The ship was driven ashore 1.5 miles north of Kenosha in badly damaged condition.  The revenue cutter, Andrew Johnson tried to pull her off to no avail and she was left in the surf.

During a severe storm on Lake Michigan some 65 years ago a freight steamer was wrecked on the lake shore beach abutting the land belonging to Edward Birch, an early pioneer of Our Town (Somers).  This freighter was carrying a load of lumber, flour and other merchandise to Chicago.

The morning after the storm, Mr. Birch went to look at the beach as was his custom after severe storms, and he found the sail vessel with its load of lumber piled twenty feet high on the beach and twisted in every shape.  The captain and his crew came ashore in a yawl.

For the next two weeks, Captain Durgon and the first mate, William Tibbetts, lived at the Edward Birch home and they engaged the help of the farmers in the neighborhood and many men from the city to help save what lumber they could.

They built slides and bound the boards together, then pulled them up on land with horses.  The broken lumber was given to Edward Birch and he built many rods of fencing with it.  Considerable flour was also saved and distributed among the settlers in the neighborhood.

Captain Durgon went out in his yawl and brought in the compass and other things of value before the vessel went to pieces.  Among the things he saved from the cabin was a potato smasher which he gave to Mrs. Birch.  A relic she kept for many years.

(Source: “My Memoirs” by Minnie A. G. Ozanne, pages 67 & 68 “Wreck of the Courtright.)

Bose

The Bose Family
The Bose family is one of the earliest pioneer families who settled in Somers Township.  The family is very large and as a result of marriages, the Bose family is related to many other Somers pioneer families:  Braid, Wensing, Hansche, Donsing, Birch, Tennessen, Kramer, Witscheber.  Most of these families settled in the Berryville area of Somers Township.
Additional biographical sketches and other information is posted on the Oakwood Cemetery web site.

The first to arrive in Wisconsin was William Bose who arrived in 1846.  He stopped in Cleveland, Ohio for a short time, met William Hansche and both came to Racine County in 1846.  The next year, his father Conrad , mother Mary, and six (6) siblings arrived at the Port of New York on October 25, 1847 joining William in Racine County. 

New York Passenger List, Port of New York, Arrival October 25, 1847
Conrad Bose, age 52 (born about 1795)
Ann Mary Bose, age 46 (born about 1800)
Charlotte Bose, age 21, daughter, born about 1828

• Note: Charlotte married Jacques Jacob Bertschy in Frank Wisconsin.  They moved to Meeme, Manitowoc, Wisconsin where Charlotte died, March 7, 1886.

Isabella Bose, age 14, daughter, born about 1833

• Note:  The only place Isabella is shown on the original passenger list of 1847.  Starting with the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, it lists a daughter named Eliza born about 1835.  It is unknown if Isabella and Eliza are the same or different daughters.  For the record, Eliza married George Blodgett, perhaps a brother of her sister-in-law Hannah who married her brother Charles.  Eliza died in Racine April 25, 1898.

Frederick Bose, age 12, born about 1835.

• Note:  Frederick married Sophia.  Children:  William born 1861, Minnie (married Jacob Kramer), Fred Bose, born about 1867, Frank Bose, born about 1869, Ella Bose born about 1877, and Albert Bose born about 1879.  Minnie Bose and her husband Jacob Kramer lived with Minnie's parents in the Bose homestead on Lathrop Avenue (13th Avenue) in Berryville.  The  Fred Bose/Kramer homestead still stands today although it is no longer owned by the family.

Henry Bose, age 10, born about 1838

• Note:  Henry married Fredricka Hansche.  Children:  Ernest born about 1865, Amelia born about 1874, Henry born about 1881, Lydia born about 1878, Matilda (Tillie?) born about 1875, and Benjamin born about 1882 married Mary and they had two sons, Arthur and Wesley.  Wesley Bose married and raised his children on the Henry Bose homestead.  The Henry/Wesley Bose homestead farm is located directly east of the Fred Bose/Kramer homestead on County Line Road and it still stands today although it is no longer owned by the family.

Edwin Bose, age 6, born about 1840
Charles Bose, age 4, born about 1843

• Note:  Charles married Hannah Blodgett.  They had two children: Florence born about 1867, and Adebert born about 1873.  The 1880 U.S. Federal Census shows that Charles, Hannah, Florence and Adebert lived with Conrad (age 87) and Mary (age 82) on the Section 5-East parcel on the lake shore.  Charles Bose died at the age of 58 on February 2, 1900.  "Charles Bose, an old citizen of Berryville, died on Friday Feb. 2.  Funeral services were held Sunday at the church.  His wife, son, daughter, and one brother survive him and his many friends and neighbors will miss his familiar face. (Source: Racine Daily Feb. 6, 1900)

William and Ann Bose
Grandparents of Clarence Bose
Great Grand Parents of Albert and Marjorie Bose
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.)

William and Ann Bose
Click here for complete history of William and Ann Bose.
William Bose (born about 1825)
Ann Bose (born about 1810)

Children of William and Ann:

Edward Bose (born about 1854)
William F. Bose (born about 1857)
Mary Bose (born about 1959)

Ann's first marriage to Hansche ended with the death of Mr. Hansche.  The 1880 US Federal Census show Ann's children from the Hansche marriage were living with Ann and William Bose.

Herman Hansche, step son to William, age 31, born about 1849
John Vincent, son in law to William, age 33, born about 1847
Mary Vincent, step daughter to William, age 21, born about 1859
Ann Vincent, step grand-daughter to William, age 3, born about 1877

William F. and Nellie Braid Bose
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.)

William and Nellie Bose
Click here for the complete information about William and Nellie Braid Bose.
RECAP
William F. Bose (born about 1856)
Nellie Braid Bose (born about 1856)

Children of William F. and Nellie
Jennie Bose born about 1880
Anna Bose born about 1878
William Bose III born about 1883
Clarence Charles Bose born about 1889
Everett Bose born about 1899

Children of William and Nellie Bose
William F. Bose III (standing) and Clarence Bose (seated)
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.)

Allie and Clarence Bose
Loading Cabbage for shipping on the railroad at the Birch Road station stop.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.)

Bose Cabbage Wagons parked on Birch Road waiting to load on the Railroad.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith)

Clarence and Audrey Bose
Loading potatoes to ship on railroad on Birch Road station stop.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith)

Art Bose, Ellsworth Rolfs (Daniel's cousin) and Daniel Klapproth
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

1911 Ford Convertible
(Photo courtesy of Jim Smith)

1914 Ford and the Bose Children
Marjory and Albert Bose (Children of Clarence and Audrey Bose and Grand-Children of William F. and Nellie Bose.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith)

Partial 1887 Map of Somers Township
Bose parcels primarily located in Berryville area
C. Bose
F. Bose
H. Bose
W. Bose
Wm. Bose

Bose:  In the News
"Carpenters began work last week to erect a new residence for Mr. William Bose."
(Source:  Racine Journal, August 2, 1900)

"Miss Anna Palskill, a well known young lady of Racine, married Mr. Barney Bose of Berryville at St. James Church.  A reception followed at their new home in Berryville."
(Source:  Racine Journal, January 24, 1902)

"A very charming wedding was that of Miss Josephine Palskill, of Racine to Mr. Joseph Bose, of Berryville, which took place at 8 o'clock this morning at the Holy Name church, in the presence of a large number of friends and relatives.  The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Annie Palskill, and the best man was her brother, Mr. Barney Palskill.  The bridal gown was of white organdie, trimmed with lace and the bride carried bridal roses.  The bridesmaid wore white Swiss, trimmed with chiffon.  As the bridal party entered the edifice Prof. Henry Shulte, assisted by Mrs. Schulte, played the wedding march, and Rev. Father S. P. Schwinn performed the ceremony.
After the ceremony was performed a large wedding reception was held at the new home of the couple located near Berryville, and over two hundred were present to extend congratulations, many being from abroad.  A wedding dinner was served and Mr. and Mrs. Bose received a large number of handsome and costly presents.  They will not depart for a wedding trip, but immediately settled down to housekeeping.
The bride is a well known young lady of the south side and has always been prominent in the social and religious circles where she mingled and was popular with all classes, and a most estimable woman.
The groom is a young farmer who has lived in the southern part of this county all of his life.  He is known for miles as an honest, upright and prosperous tiller of the soil and to him and his estimable bride is extended the best wishes of all for a long and happy wedding life."
(Source:  Racine Journal, November 26, 1901)

"Clarence Bose, who was recently married, has rented the Becker farm southeast of the village.  He will take his bride to their new home in the near future."
(Source:  Racine Journal, February 12, 1914)

"Miss Lydia M. Bose and Mr. Winfield S. Jackson were united in marriage at the Methodist parsonage in Racine by Rev. Haylett, last Wednesday at 5 o'clock.  The young couple were attended by Miss Grace Dearsley and Mr. Ernest Bose.  The bride was becomingly attired in white and wore white roses, and the bridegroom wore the conventional black.  Mr. Jackson is a very prosperous gardener."
(Source:  Racine Journal, June 21, 1899)

"This afternoon Miss Jennie Bose and Mr. Alfred Hansche were united in marriage at the home of the bride near Berryville.  It was a very quiet affair, only intimate friends and relatives being in attendance.  Both are well known in that section of the county and will have the best wishes of their hosts of friends."
(Source:  Racine Journal, August 24, 1904)

"Charles Bose, an old citizen of Berryville, died on Friday, February 2.  Funeral services were held Sunday at the church.  His wife, son, daughter and one brother, survive him and his many friends and neighbors will miss his familiar face."
(Source:  Racine Journal, Feb. 6, 1900)

"Mr. William Bose, one of the pioneers of Kenosha county, died at his Somers home.  The funeral took place from the Berryville Church on Sunday afternoon and was largely attended.  Mr. Bose was 75 years of age.
William Bose was one of the early pioneers of the county.  He was born in Prussia February 13, 1924.  In 1846 he left Germany and emigrated to the U.S.  For many years he worked as a farm hand but later purchased a part of Section 6 and built upon it one of the first houses erected in the Town of Somers.  Here he lived only a short time when he purchased a farm in Section 7 where he has since resided.  He leaves a widow and three children:  Edward, William F. and Mrs. John (Mary) Wensing, all of the Town of Somers.  Mr. Bose was a quiet and unassuming man.  He was strictly honorable and upright in all his dealings and was honored and respected by all who knew him."
(Source:  Racine Journal, April 11, 1899)

"Mary Rose Ann Bose, age 22, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bose died yesterday morning at Sunny Rest Sanitarium.  She is survived by her parents and three sisters.  The sisters are Mrs. Sam Gascoigne of Berryville; three sisters living in San Francisco; four brothers, Joseph, Barney, John, and Emil all of Berryville.  She was born on the family homestead in Berryville and lived there all her life."
(Source:  Racine Journal, February 24, 1916)

"Charles Birch, Edward Bose, Edward Lotz, and Benny Bose, motored to Mercer last week where they enjoyed several days of fishing.  Mr. Birch brought home a Muskie, measuring 32-1/2" long.
(Source:  Racine Journal, September 11, 1929)

"Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Bose spent Wednesday afternoon with later's mother, Mrs. Jacob Swartz."
(Source:  Racine Journal, Jan. 10, 1914)

"William Bose expects to leave for Florida this morning accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Alfred Hansche, who was ordered by her physician to make a prolonged stay in a different climate owing to her ill health of late."
(Source:  Racine Journal February 12, 1914)

"The herd of sheep of J.E. Bose which was stricken with some kind of disease, has recovered.  Mr. Bose lost 12 head."
(Source:  Racine Journal, April 10, 1914)

"Wesley Bose is employed on the Albert Scheckler farm.  Arthur Bose has returned here after working the past two years for William Fink at Somers."
(Source:  Racine Journal, April 20, 1940)

"Marjorie Bose of St. Ann's Hospital in Chicago is spending her vacation at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bose."
Mrs. Jack Meekman spent the day with her aunt, Mrs. Nellie Bose, whose health is slowly improving at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bose."
(Source:  Racine Journal, August 9, 1934)

"Richard Bose fell the later part of last week and broke his shoulder blade and Mrs. Ed Bose, Sr. also fell and is bruised and may have broken bones."
(Source:  Racine Journal, September 23, 1932)

"Mrs. Edward Bose called on her daughter, Mrs. Margaret Gascoigne."
(Source:  Racine Journal, December 31, 1912)

Swartz - Bose Marriage
(See photos below)
"The marriage of Miss Carrie Charlotte Swartz, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. J. Swartz, to Benjamin F. Bose of Berryville, was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents in Somers on Wednesday evening, February 10th at eight o'clock in the presence of a large company of invited guests.
As the strains of Lohengrin's wedding march played by Miss Margaret Becker of Kenosha, floated through the rooms, the wedding party took their places in the west parlor. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Bech of Kenosha.
The house was decorated for the occasion, sweet peas, and smilax being used in profusion. The bride was tastefully gowned in white and carried white sweet peas. Miss Luella M. Swartz acted as bridesmaid and also wore white and carried pink sweet peas.
The groom was attended by Edward Bose. After the usual congratulations, the guests sat down to a sumptuous wedding dinner at which the Misses Pauline Birch, Mina Henscher, Etta Pedley, and Mrs. J.F. Swartz, Jr. served.
The gifts were numerous and beautiful. The bride and groom are both popular young people and have a large circle of friends who extend their best wishes. Mr. and Mrs. Bose will be at home to their friends after March 12, 1909."
(Source: Racine Journal, February 16, 1909)

Ben and Carrie Swartz Bose Wedding Photo
Benjamin Bose is the son of Henry and Frederica Bose
Carrie Swartz is the daughter of John Jacob and Emma Swartz
(Source:  Original Photo Courtesy of Robert Swartz.)

Ben and Carrie Swartz Bose Wedding Photo
(Source: Original Photo Courtesy of Robert Swartz)

Arthur and Winifred Bose, about 1917
Children of Benjamin and Carrie Swartz Bose.
(Note:  Wesley, the third child of Benjamin and Carrie is not pictured)
(Source:  Original Photo Courtesy of Robert Swartz)

At 10:45 o'clock this morning Miss Ella Bose died at her home, 1001 Fourteenth Street, aged 32 years.  Deceased was born in Somers, Kenosha County, but has been a resident of Racine since a small girl.  She was a young woman highly esteemed by a large concourse of friends and her death will be learned with sorrow.  There survives to mourn her demise, a mother, brothers, William, Frank G., Fred, E., H., W., and Albert C. Bose, and one sister, Mrs. Jacob Kramer of Somers.  Time of funeral will be announced.
(Source:  Racine Journal, January 11, 1910)

"There was a pretty church wedding At. St. George Church this morning at 9 o'clock, the contracting parties being John Bose, one of the best known young farmers of the Town of Somers, and Miss Rose Koch, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Koch.  The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Father Ellskamp in the presence of a large number of the friends and relatives of the contracting parties.  Following the ceremony an all day wedding reception was held at the home of the bride.  Mr. and Mrs. Bose will make their home in the Town of Somers and they will have the best wishes of a large circle of fiends."
(Source:  Racine Journal, May 7, 1908)

"At 8 o'clock last evening at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Donsing of Somers, Wisconsin, Miss Hattie Donsing was united in marriage to William F. Bose, Jr. of Berryville, Wisconsin.  The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Williams of Chicago in the presence of about fifty friends and relatives of the contracting parties.  The home was decorated for the occasion with flowers and potted plants.  Following the ceremony a wedding repast was served after which the happy couple left on a short wedding tour in the northern part of the state.  The bride is a popular young woman of Somers and the groom is the son of William F. Bose of Berryville.  Mr. and Mrs. Bose will reside at the old Bose homestead at Berryville.
(Source:  Racine Journal, January 20, 1909)

"A very pleasant outing was enjoyed on Sunday by about fifteen Racine young people at the Bose farm near kenosha.  The party left on the 8:30 o'clock.  The C.M. electric train, and return on the 10:30.  The weather was ideal for the occasion.  Baseball was played as was horseshoe and other sports, including sack races. 
After supper was served a moonlight marshmallow roast was held."
(Source:  Racine Journal, August 24, 1915)

"William Bose, Sr. is suffering from a severe attack of blood-poisoning."
(Source:  Racine Journal, April 28, 1915)

"Mr. and Mrs. William Bose, Jr. attended the Knights Templar conclave held in Chicago this past week."
(Source:  Racine Journal, August 16, 1910)

"Miss Mary Blodgett of Racine and Mr. E.H. Bose of Berryville were united in marriage last evening at the Second Methodist church int he presence of relatives.  The Misses Clara and Emma Hanson were the maids of honor while Harry and Benjamin Bose officiated as best  men.  The bride was attired in a gown of light blue and carried white roses.  After the ceremony, a wedding supper was served."
(Source:  Racine Journal, January 5, 1905)

"Mr. Joseph Bose is very sick with pneumonia."
(Source:  Racine Journal, May 10, 1899)

"William Bose, Jr. has been suffering from inflammatory rheumatism for some weeks is slowly recovering."
(Source:  Racine Journal, April 16, 1912)

"Two children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bose who have been seriously sick with diphtheria are slowly convalescing."
(Source:  Racine Journal, July 4, 1911)

"Henry J. Bose, age 73, of Somers, died this forenoon of heart trouble.  He leaves a wife, three sons and three daughters.  Funeral Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the house.  Interment in Mound Cemetery.  Deceased was a native of Germany and had resided at Somers for some fifty years."
(Source:  Racine Journal, June 25, 1911)

"Clarence Bose has been busy the past 2 weeks moving his farm implements."
"Mrs. J.E. Bose spent Sunday evening with her mother, Mrs. Christ Koch it being her fifty-third birthday."
"Mrs. C. Bose has purchased an excellent phonograph."
(Source:  Racine Journal, March 10, 1914)

"Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bose  moved into their new home last week."
(Source:  Racine Journal, March 17, 1914)

"Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bose and daughters, Anna and Wilma, left Saturday for California (Los Angeles) where they will spent the winter.  Miss Wilma Bose is in poor health and it is hoped the mild climate may be beneficial."
(Source:  Racine Journal October 17, 1911)

Center of the World

Center of the World
Photo taken March 21, 1937
Located on the southeast corner of 22nd Avenue and Birch Road.  This photo was taken between 22nd Avenue and the North Shore Railroad tracks.
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.  Violet Birch Bose is Sharon's mother)

Center of the World
Evelyn and Violet Birch stand with their mother, Tillie Birch, in front of the store about 1930.
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith. Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.  Violet Birch Bose is Sharon's mother)

 Center of the World on Birch Road
"Most old timers and some not so old timers will remember the place.  It was on north 22nd Avenue and Birch Road, where Casa Capri Restaurant stands today.
These photos come from the family album of Violet (Birch) Bose: her parents original store next to the weigh scale that serviced all the local farmers about 1927/28 as a candy, cigarette, and soda stop.
The old Birch homestead still stands on the north side of Birch Road, although the home has passed out of the hands of the Birch family.
As the years went by, the Birchs added to the business.  First a tavern, and then an IGA grocery store and a couple of gas pumps.
The bar served a Friday night fish fry (15cents a plate) and a Saturday chicken fry (25 cents a plate).
For the farmers in the area, it truly was the center of the world.  The weigh scale was used by the farmers to weigh their truck loads of wagon loads of cabbage, corn, and grain.  The North Shore tracks ran along 22nd Avenue, crossing at the intersection of Birch Road.  Many a freight car was packed and stacked by the farmers and their sons.  These same men came with shovels and cleared the tracks of snow during the year of the big blizzard in the 30's.
During those years of the Great Depression, after all the crops were harvested and sold, the farmers would come in the afternoons to the Center of the World and sit around a huge old round oak table to play a few hands of rummy or sheepshead.  When spring came, the card games ended and the farmers would return to their fields.
The business was a family affair and everyone had their jobs, including Violet and her older sister, Evelyn.
Just keeping the place clean was a real chore; 22nd Avenue was a bumpy gravel road and when the wind blew out of the west it was a constant battle to keep the dust down.
The store was a lot of work, filling shelves, cleaning the glass fronts and the meat counters, preparing food for the fish and chicken fry and the never ending job of scrubbing and sweeping.
Violet remembers the flies being a real problem.  She said the only way to keep ahead of them was some foul smelling spray and those sticky strips that hung from the ceiling.
Then there were the girls' most dreaded jobs: cleaning the outdoor privies and the spittoons, which had to be washed with hot sudsy water.
The building had a flat tarred roof and during the depression when money for repairs was tight, a rainstorm meant scurrying about with pots and pans to catch the drips from the leaky roof.
Customers became the Birchs friends and company.  One year Chris got a deer and they held a deer roast for all their customers and friends.  Violet recalled that one customer played ragtime piano and they rolled back the carpet in the living room and danced.
the tavern was closed on election day, as was the law, but that didn't mean a day of rest for the family.  That day was always spend sanding and varnishing the bar for the year.
One night after everyone was n bed, Tillie heard a strange noise and woke Chris up and together they climbed out the bedroom window to investigate.  Chris had his shotgun and caught a man trying to cut out the door lock to the place.  As it turned out, the man had just been released from prison.
Chris and his brother, Bill, were athletes, playing on the Somers Grays baseball team.  Chris eventually built a ball diamond and grandstand south of the store.  It was a huge success and the parking lot was always packed with cars during a game.  Teams came from Milwaukee, Illinois and Western Kenosha County.
the biggest draw were the hilarious donkey baseball games where players rode donkeys while playing their favorite sport.
"You hit the ball and you humped on that donkey and maybe he took you to first base and maybe he didn't," laughed Bose.
The steadfast customers of the establishment were farme3rs in the area until about WWII, when they began to draw folks from the city of Kenosha.
In 1945, Chris and Tillie sold the business and went to Somers to live and farm.  A succession owners ran the place, but always kept the name:  Center of the World."
(Source:  Kenosha News, Bulletin, November 20, 1995, "Old Kenosha" article, page 52)

Tennessen

Partial 1877 Map of somers Township, Kenosha County
Tennesson parcels in Section 18 and Section 7
(Lake Michigan frontage)

Henry Tennessen
Henry Tennessen, who is operating a good farm on Section 18, Somers Township, has passed his entire life in Kenosha County, as his birth occurred in the Township in which he still lives on the 27th of January, 1868. Until twenty years of age he devoted his time during the winter months to attending the common schools, thus gaining a good education, and after putting aside his textbooks he assisted his father until he was twenty-five years old, when he purchased thirty-five acres from his father. He has since resided upon that place and has taken a great deal of pride in improving it and in keeping everything in good condition. He is one of the practical and up-to-date agriculturists of the county and as the years have passed his resources have steadily increased.
On the 19th of April, 1893, Mr. Tennessen was united in marriage to Miss Frances Blomer, a daughter of John Bloner, of Illinois, and they have two children: Frances, who is the wife of William Gross, and Mathias, at home.
Mr. Tennessen is a stanch supporter of Democratic principals and votes for candidates and measures of that party. For four years he served as road overseer and made an excellent record in that connection. He is a communicant of the Catholic Church and fraternally is connected with the Catholic Order of the Foresters. The prosperity which he has gained is the direct result of his enterprise and good management, as since beginning his independent career he has depended solely upon his own resources.
( Source: City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, A Record of Settlement, Vol. II, page 575, Frank H. Lyman, Chicago, The S.J. Clark Publishing Co. 1916.)


John Tennessen
John Tennessen resided in Somers Township, Kenosha County, for a number of years and was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Germany on the 9th of August 1827, of the marriage of Herman and Bendena (Rademacker) Tennessen, natives of Germany, where they lived and died. He received a good common school education in the fatherland and subsequently turned his attention to farming, but when twenty-seven years of age he came to America as he had heard much concerning the splendid opportunities which this country offered to the energetic young man. He located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, and operated rented land for some time, but later purchased a ten acre tract. He continued to reside here until called by death, and his well directed labors were rewarded by a good financial return, for when he died he possessed one hundred and ten acres of land.
In 1856 Mr. Tennessen was united in marriage to Alida Venneth, daughter of B.D. Rademacher. The became the parents of six children, namely: John B., who is living in Minnesota and has eleven children; H.P., who married Lena Reiter and has fifteen children; Mary, who married Peter Steinbach and has six children; William J., deceased; Andrew, married Lizzie Schmidt and has eight children; and Henry.
Mr. Tennessen cast his ballot in support of the Democratic party and took the interest of a good citizen in public affairs, although he was never an aspirant for public office. In religious faith he was Roman Catholic. He never regretted his emigration to the new world, as here he found opportunities the utilization of which enabled him to gain a competence. He was well known and had many warm personal friends.
(Source: City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, A Record of Settlement, Vol. II, pages 640-641, Frank H. Lyman, Chicago, The S.J. Clark Publishing Co. 1916.)

More About Tennessen
"Mrs. Peter Tennessen of Burlington and formerly of Berryville visited with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Birch during the past week."
(Source:  Racine Journal News, publication date Feb. 12, 1914)

"Fire of undetermined origin early today completely destroyed the historic residence on the Lake Shore road known as the old Tennessen place.  Practically nothing was saved from the building.  The house was doomed before the Somers Volunteer Fire Department could be summoned, but the firemen rushed to the scene to prevent the flames from spreading.  The house was believed to be between 50 and 60 years old and was an early landmark on the Lake Shore Drive.  Of frame construction, it contained five or six rooms."
(Source:  Racine Journal Times, publication date Feb. 21, 1935)

Pauline Birch (Mrs. Peter) Tennessen
"Mrs. Peter (Pauline Birch) Tennessen passed away at her home of pleura pneumonia.  She is survived by  her husband, a son Peter, Jr.; and daughter Louise, all at home, her mother Mrs. Minnie Birch, and three brothers, William, Christ and Frank.  Mrs. Tennessen was born in Somers on June 26, 1884 and was married to Peter Tennessen April 2, 1913 at St. George Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin."
(Source:  Racine Journal, publication date February 25, 1933)

Pauline Birch (Mrs. Peter) Tennessen
(Source: Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith. Copyright 2012. All Rights Reserved)

"William J. Tennessen, 36, County War Veteran, Birch Road, died Tuesday after a long illness. William J. Tennessen, a well known person throughout Kenosha County, died Tuesday at the Rest Haven government hospital at Waukesha, where he had been confined with a lingering illness for the past three months. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Tennessen, widely known residents of Birch Road.

The deceased was a veteran of the World War, having seen action in the Battles of the Argonne and Belleau Woods. He was also with the United States Army in the War with Mexico. Besides his widow, Mrs. Marie Meyer Tennessen, he is survived by two sons, William, Jr.; and David, and a daughter Delores. his parents and five sisters and seven brothers also survive. They are, John of South Haven, Minnesota, Peter of Burlington; Joseph, Henry, Raymond and Bernard of Kenosha, and Fred of Racine and Marie and Caroline of Milwaukee; Ann Tennessen, Mrs. Lawrence Lotz, and Mrs. Edward Rauen of Kenosha.(Source:  Racine Journal, publication date September 4, 1929)

1870 U.S. Federal Census
John Tennessen, age 44 in 1870, was born about 1826 in Prussia.  His home in 1870 was Somers Township, Kenosha County.
Residing:
Adelade Tennessen, spouse, born about 1823 in Prussia
John Tennessen, son, born about 1856 in Somers
Herman Tennessen, son, born about 1858 in Somers
Mary Tennessen, daughter, born about 1861 in Somers
William Tennessen, son, born about 1863 in Somers
Andrew Tennessen, son, born about 1865 in Somers
Henry Tennessen, son, born about 1868 in Somers

Wood Road School

Wood Road School
Before 1900
Town of Somers, Kenosha, Wisconsin
(Photo courtesy of Jim Smith)

Wood Road School, about 1910
Left to Right: Unknown Helding, Loretta Swartz, Unknown Helding, Ray Feest, Everett Learned, Walter Moran
Ms. Riley-Teacher, Roy Swartz, Oswald Feest, and Frank Birch
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz.)

Wood Road School, estimate date 1928
(Source:  Photo courtesy of Robert Swartz.)
Click on photo for larger view.

Wood Road School, Somers Township
(Source:  Photograph Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson and names courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith)

Teacher: Miss McCurly

Back Row: Jack Rider, George Godlewski, Norman Thompson, William Fenner, Gordon Peterson, Marion Jacobsen, Dorothy Gardinier, Florence Rider, Lorna Smith, Jean Thompson

2nd Row: Merlyn Smith, Frank Witscheber, Emory Scheckler, Bud Thomas, Delores Barrows, Anita Witscheber, Mary Jane Peterson, Hazel Scheckler, Julia Kremis

3rd Row: Charles Huck, Sam Jacobsen, Joe Kremis, Charles Thompson, Esther Scheckler, Violet Empke, Lucille Thompson, Anne Kastelic

4th Row: Harry Kastelic, Walter Keiffer, Clem Godlewski, Russell Mandernack, Kenneth Mandernack, Otto Keiffer, Minnie Birch, Mary Ellen Thompson, Sheila Ann Smith, Angeline Birch

School District No. 9 - Wood Road School

"The earliest record available in the history of School District No. 9 is that of July 1856, when The Town Superintendent of Schools in the Town of Somers having formed on the 12th day of July 1856 in said Town, called School District No.9.

October 17, 1856, legal notice having been given the inhabitants of School District No. 9, met at the house of Philander T. Briggs to elect School Officers for the ensuing year - John Gibson, Clerk;  William R. Stetson, Director;  Philander T. Briggs, Treasurer.

Voted to raise Two Hundred dollars ($200) in addition to be amount to be drawn from the Three Districts from which were set of for the purpose of building a school house and maintaining a school for the ensuing year.

December 1856, John Gibson removed and Wm. Swartz appointed Clerk in his place.

March 1857, contract to let Wm. Shott build school house by the Clerk and Director for Three Hundred Dollars.

June 14th, Board met and accepted schoolhouse.

September 28, 1857 School District No. 9 annual meeting called by Director.  The Treasurer made his report:

Moneys received during the year from Town Treasurer $200.00

Town Superintendent $69.76

Cash paid out on order to Wm. Shott $200.00

Chair $1.25

Pail, Broom and cup $0.75

Teacher wages 16 weeks $48.00

To my Suesefeer (?) $16.01

Cleaning lot $3.75

Balance $269.76

Officers elected for the ensuring year.  Wm. Swartz-Director, C.G. Stetson-Treasurer, Philander T. Briggs-Clerk.  Voted to get 6 cords of good oak wood, sawed, split, and piled up - - bid of Wm. Swartz at Three Dollars per cord.

Monday, September 27, 1858.  Cash paid out as follows:

To Wm. Slocum for Deed $1.50

To Bain and Brothers for stove and bell $16.06

To Wm. Swartz for wood $18.00

To Shott for balance on building schoolhouse $100.00

For Black Board $4.00

For Lumber and Glass, etc. $2.95

Charges on Dictionary $0.50

Miss F. Farnum for teaching $88.00

For Library Books $8.31

For 2 blank books and register $1.25

For moving desks $1.00

To Miss T.M. Briggs for teaching $52.00

For schoolhouse lot $20.00

District voted to appropriate $15.00 for back house, $5.00 for library.  To get 4 cords of dry oak wood, sawed, split and piled up for $3.00 per cord.

September 24, 1866.  Voted to raise $50 tax for school.  Voted to get 3 cords of wood.  Wm. Schwartz to furnish it at $7.00 a cord.  $10 tax for library.  Voted to have 4 months school.  May and June the first term - September and October, 2nd term.

The first building was sold in 1877 and a new building followed.  This was sold in 1927.  In 1926 a new red brick modern building was built on the first original site.

Among those early teachers were Julia Hawley, Bertie Fitch, Helena Ozanne, Carrie Burgess, Jessie Petrie, Delia Cutting, Ambrosia Cronk, Lottie Raymonds, Herbert Cooley, Jennie Hastings, Minnie Crow, Addie Strong, Charles Flett, who later studied medicine and located in South Dakota.

Board Members - William Stetson, who came from New York in 1835, served as school clerk for twenty-five consecutive years.  William and Jacob Swartz also served many years on the school board.

Among the early students were Lloyd Briggs, who for years was Professor at the Oshkosh State Normal; James Briggs, also a teacher and Supt. of Schools in Kenosha County."

(Source: My Memoirs, by Minnie A.G. Ozanne. Copyright 1948--Minnie A.G. Ozanne. All Rights Reserved.)

More About Wood Road School

The first Wood Road School building was sold in 1877 and is still being used on the Joseph Huck farm.  A second building constructed in that year was sold to George P. Thomas in 1927, after a new red brick building was constructed in 1926 on the site purchased for the original school building. 

(Source:  Kenosha News June 15, 1935 Centennial Edition) 

The First Wood Road School
(Source:  Original photo courtesy of Jim and Sharon Bose Smith.)

Partial 1887 Map of Somers Township
See Section 12.  School District #9 was the Wood Road School
Located on the Peter Lichter parcel.

Wood Road School Reunion
Kenosha News article, date unknown

Photo taken of the Wood Road School reunion at the airplane hanger of Charles Thompson on Highway 50
(Source:  Photo Courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright 2012.  All Rights Reserved.)

Front Row Kneeling Left to Right:  Vicki Kremis Klapproth, Man ?, Mary Ellen Thompson Werner, Harry Kastelic
Middle Left to Right:  Ann Kastelic, Lady?, Esther Scheckler, Charles Thompson, Joe Kremis, Sam Jacobsen, Charles Huck
Back Left to Right: Julie Kremis Covelli, Hazel Scheckler, Rita Neumiller, Lady?, Lady?, Marion Jacobsen, Lady?, Man?, Lady?, Man?

(If anyone can identify those people in question, please email Jackie at somershistory@wi.rr.com. 

Students and Teachers who attended the Wood Road reunion.
This was the sign-in registration list of the day.  The date was 1978.  It was found in the scrapbook of Vicki Kremis Klapproth.
(Source:  List courtesy of Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

Lulu Schmidter, Burlington, Wisconsin (teacher 1936-1937
Mabel McKee (teacher 1936-1937)
John and Jean Thomas Murphy, Kansasville, Wisconsin
Vicki Kremis Klapproth and Sherwood Klapproth, Somers Township
Charles Thompson
Lucile Thompson Conde, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Top and Mamie Gardinier, Kenosha
Lucille Swartz, Kenosha
Susan Swartz Summers, Kenosha
Marge and Harry Kastelic, Kenosha
Lorna Miller, Kenosha
Ione Smith Kreamer and Ken Kreamer, Kenosha
Rich and Barb Free, Kenosha
Anne Kastelic, Kenosha
Caroline Bose King, Kenosha
Loretta Bose Ross, Chicago
Jack Rider, Racine
Mrs. Louise Rider, Racine
William and Lura Rider, Racine
Debres Barrows Safransky, Kenosha
Mary Ellen Thompson Werner, Kenosha
Ruth Thompson Smith and Paul Smith, Kenosha
Nancy Thompson, Bristol
Bob and Elaine Thomas, Kenosha
Vincent "Binnie" Thomas
Allie Smith, Kenosha
Ella and Wally Sadowski, Sturtevant
Mary Jane Acklam and George Petersen, Racine
John Conde, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Mary Ann Verheyen - Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Baldwin, Racine
Harriet Thompson and Julius Camponeschi, Hammond, Indiana
Myrtle Emmertsen Jacobson, Kenosha, teacher 1946-1947
Leone Bose Aarts, Kenosha
Cyrstal and Henry Sablinsky, Yorkville
Martha Swartz, Kenosha
Jack Swartz, Kenosha
Mabel Thompson, McSkimming, Mrs. Thompsons' mother
Barry Mattausch, Bremerton, Washington
Julie and Bob Lewandowski Pringle, Kenosha, teacher 1951-1953
Don and Helen Upson, Janesville, Wisconsin, teacher 1934-1936
Ray and Helen Kremis Dorf, Racine
Julie Kremis Covelli, Racine
Gary Thompson
Joe and Sally Wise, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Tom Conde
Paul and Mildred Swartz, Burlington
Dorothy Gardinier Hanks, Kenosha
Mary Godlewski Wojtak, Kenosha
Sam and Mary Jacobsen, Madison, Wisconsin
Marion Jacobsen Savich, Bonita, California
Gerty Kremis Hapanowicz and Richard, Kenosha
Marcia Thompson
Glenn Ours, Trevor
David Ours, Trevor
Hazel Scheckler Gitzlaff, Kenosha
Kathy Ours Bundever, Kenosha
Esther Scheckler Kaisir, Kenosha
Joe and Betty Lou Kremis, Sturtevant
LeRoy Leach, Kenosha
Don Scheckler, Racine
Kenny Holmes, Kenosha
Harry E. and Elsie Blinten, Sturtevant
Herb Gross, Kenosha
Alice Scheckler Meyer, Cudahy, Wisconsin
Dolores and Roy Safransky
Norman and Helen Thompson, Burchwood, Wisconsin
Gene Thompson and son, Ron, Burlington, Wisconsin
Klem Godlewski, Waukegan, Illinois
Tom Ricchio, Kenosha
Charles Huck, Somers Township
Frank and Anita Witscheber Storal, Kenosha
Kathy Larsen Roberts, Burlington, Wisconsin
Lois Meumiller, Kenosha
Albert and Violet Bose
Walter and Lil Andersen, Racine
Joe Weyres, Kenosha
Richard and Rosemary Thompson
Diane Thompson

Kenosha News article for Wood Road School reunion

(Source:  News clipping and names courtesy of Kim Heinen Bitto)

(Source:  Kenosha News.  No date on clipped article)