Way Back When

 The Thorp Courier  --   January 9, 2008
 

Ok, this is not quite the same type of snowplow that we’re used to seeing coming down the roads these days.  It appears, though that it is definitely getting the job done during a typical Wisconsin winter form years past.  Do you know who the operator is behind the wheel, where this snow plow and monster snow bank were located, what year the picture was taken, or how much snowfall there was during this particular winter?  Was it an especially harsh winter, or were there record snowfalls?  Regarding the snow plow, do you know the make and model, or any other details about it?  Let us know what you may remember.

Shirley Lang from Thorp called us with information about last week’s Way Back When photograph. She said the handsome wedding couple was her aunt and uncle, Ada and Elmer Vetterkind, who were married on April 25, 1928.  Shirley described that they lived in the Thorp area all of their lives.  Elmer was her dad’s brother.

Jane Elwood, their daughter, also shared many details with us.  Her mother, Ada Lewin, and father, Elmer Vetterkind, were married at the parsonage of the Rev. A. C. Stapel at Spencer.  Miss Florence Buss and Harold Vetterkind were the attendants.  A wedding dinner followed at the home of Ada’s parents.  After they were married, Ada and Elmer lived and farmed in Reseburg.  Elmer was also employed by Master Package Corp., Owen for ten years.

Elmer was born August 19, 1902 in Reseburg, and Ada was born February 2, 1910 in Worden.  In their later years, they both resided at Oakbrook Manor.  Elmer lived to be 87 years old, and Ada passed away years later at age 88.  They were survived by three sons, Leonard, Glen, and Vernon, and four daughters, Carol Vetterkind, Jane Elwood, Jean Larson, and Lila Gwidt.

Thank you, Shirley and Jane for sharing this with us and the Thorp Courier readers.