Church History: St. Paul Lutheran Church, Grafton, Wisconsin

St.Paul Lutheran Church
Grafton, Wisconsin

Pictured is a photograph of the old St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grafton, Wisconsin.  This church which was built in 1871 was razed one hundred years later in 1971.  The location is on Washington Street (Highway 60).  The old altar from this church is currently located in the chapel at the Providence Place Senior Living Center which was built on this site in 2010.  The altar is actually currently located approximately 100 feet from where it stood in the original church.  The baptismal font, Lord's Supper statue and statue of Jesus which graced the old church for all those 100 years are still being used during worship at the new church located at 701 Washington Street.  The new church located one block west was built in the mid-1960's.  (This picture came from the church archives.)

Bicycle Riding... 1947

Doris Last 1947

Who knew?  Found this photo of Mom (Doris Last) riding her sister's bicycle in Aunt Laura's photo album.  I never saw Mom ride a bike!  She always said she never learned how... maybe she is just posing?  Photo was dated 1947.

Why oh why?!?

Note to my dear Children, Grandchildren, Sister and Brothers

To My Dear Children and Grandchildren - Sister and Brothers…

This is my attempt to carry on all that is unique to our family.  Since the day your father and I were married over three decades ago, I have “filed” the family photos into a large Rubbermaid bin (well... not actually filed).  While the family recipes are neatly organized by category, many recipes are written on little slips of paper with fading ink… and the family history/genealogy… more Rubbermaid bins.

You get the picture...

Realizing that you will not want to deal with all of this some day, this blog is my attempt to share with you what is important to me to pass on to you and your children.  While I know that some of you may not be particularly fond of German potato salad, bread pudding or haak, the old family recipes will be included in case you ever have the inkling to try something from generations past. 

The pictures and the people are important to me.  I  hope to convey why... they are all a little part of you and why you are the way you are. 

It is important to LOVE and LIVE in the present... but it is also important to LOOK and LEARN from our pasts.

I love you all… xxoo    

Remembering Grandma Last

Grandma Elsie Last

Grandma Last was the only living Grandmother I had while growing up and I loved her dearly.  This picture is of Grandma on August 24, 1963 at Aunt Judy and Uncle Harold's wedding held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Port Washington, Wisconsin.  At the age of 63 in this photo, she was a beautiful mother-of-the-groom.