AUCTION BRINGS CROWDS AND MANY MEMORIES ON A HOT 90 DEGREE DAY

IT WAS MONDAY, AUGUST 6. 2001 WHEN THEMA AND I ALONG WITH A LOT
OF OTHER PEOPLE ATTENDED THE LEROY LINDAHL AUCTION.
Located about 2 miles southwest of Kendall, Wisconsin.

This was an auction that was being held with memoranda dating back to a Family Farm that started in 1869. My great grandparents had owned the farm originally, then sold it to my Mothers Father who after my parents were married sold it to my Father and Mother, Herman and Susan Weber. This was my birthplace on May 31st. 1919 as well as my sister, Mary (Weber) Lindahl and my two brothers Robert (Bob) and Carl. All of us lived there until we were old enough to strike out on our own. So a lot of the items for sale at the auction were items that were a part of that household for a good many years as we grew up. There were toys we shared as children, there was dishes, furniture etc. I think the sale of the old kitchen cabinet was the hardest to take. It needed a new varnish job but otherwise was in good shape. I remember is especially well as it had a glass sugur despenser where my Mother kept the brown sugar. then there was a flour despenser that would hold about 25 lbs of flour and I think it was possible to sift the flour directly from this dispenser. There were draws for silver ware, cupbards for dishes, storage for pots and pans and a small draw for small tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers. It had a pull out enamal covered table top and nice glass doors. It was a heirloom and sold for over $800.00.

Then there was the old piano that my Mother and Sister would often play. As we sat and listened or sang along. When we got older and all of us were taking music lessons the piano was the center of our little orchestra. My brother Carl and I playing the violins, Brother Bob on the Cello and Sister Mary on the Piano.

If I had had a million dollars would I have bought these items along with others and put them in a museum for my children and grandchildren to see the history of their families? Probably I might have. But then again the past is past and we cannot dwell forever on that for we have only so much time to live in the present before that too is taken away.

But one cannot but help to feel some pain as these things occur. As one of LeRoys and Mary boys was saying that he had much the same feeling as he saw things that his parents and grandparents had had as he was growing up. My daughter Sue said the same thing about some items she was intersted in purchasing.. So although we were glad the sale went good for the Lindahls, it was a sort of sad day for a lot of us including them.

Article by
Bill Weber