Sept 2011 big rain/flood , road north of IndependenceFuneral for Louis Wiersgalla . He was an MP directing traffic at the crossroads in Cierges, FR when a German artillery hit. He died the next day from his wounds. His remains were brought home for reburial at the St Peter and Paul Cemetery in 1922Prvt Louis WiersgallaKids Fishing Contest 2018Peter A Sura, USMC 6th Infantry, killed in action July 19, 2018 at the Battle of Chateau Thierry. Son of Peter and Agata.Peter A Sura –the American Legion Post Sura Wiersgalla #186 named for PeterBlacksmith Shop 1926 Ole Huff, A Filla, Ole Hanson at Anvil. Rear-John Gamroth, John and Peter PampuchWreaths Across America St Peter and Paul Cemetery Dec 2018–a wreath was placed on the grave of each veteran.Wreaths Across American sponsored by Sura Wiersgalla American Legion Post #186 Dec 2018Martin Wiemer sold furniture and home supplies, was the funeral director and for many years County Coroner1928 8th Grade for Monica Woycik who attended Wickham Valley SchoolKathy Zeiglin, Jescey Thompson, Kiera Kjos, Vaida Goplin 2017Sts Peter and Paul Catholic ChurchIndependence Milk man _______ MarkhamMike Lyga and the Veteran’s Museum in the Independence High SchoolKids’ Fishing Contest , Bugle Lake, Independence 2017Texaco Station, IndependenceFather Gara, St Peter and Paul Church2016 Main HallRev Kufel of St Peter and Paul ChurchFt Gara’s funeral, July 1922 SSPPFuneral of Ft Gara, July 1922 SSPPSt Peter and Paul about 1910. The old parochial school is on the far left, the steeple poking up from the trees is the original schoolhouse.Ft Peter Rombalski’s First Mass May 22 1932 Niece Margaret Rombalski with pillow, Helen Rombalski on his left, on far left Peter Kulig and ____Pyka. Ft Rombalski (Rabalsky) was one of 15 children born to Frank and Catherine (Roskosz) Rombalski
Holy Name Society badges SSPPSSPP from the southwest side, around 1920Photo of workmen and priests shows old parochial school in the left backgroundCripps School- 1959—Back-L-R ___Cilley, ___Smieja, Ruth Smieja, ___Gruentzal, ___? Middle- ___Dumbeck, Berniece Smick, Bernard Halama ____? Front- Theresa Smieja, Dejno Twins, John Dejno, ___Burt, Vernon Anderson, Joan BurtHigh water–Bugle Lake Dam Independence 4.4.1956St Peter and Paul sanctuary decorated for Christmas 2015Platz Drug in IndependenceJanuary 1915Elk Creek School Founded 1870-closed 1940 Photo from 1930s1936 Elk Creek School StudentsH C Halama late 1940sCripps School Jan 2015 After the school closed the Town of Burnside added on to it and used it for many years. Located north of Independence on Hwy 93Andrew Grulkowski, Independence HS 2015Prom Court 2015 Independence HS–Brennan Christianson, Henry Pfaff, Jordan Speltz, Steve Gamroth, Sophia Woychik, Cheyenne Loewenhagen, Morgan Speltz, GinaGamroth, Tessa BraggerIsaac Pape and Jackson Standafer 2015 football1913 Poultry Show held in IndependencePoultry show 1913J A Markham 1913Independence Business ads 1913Ad from 1930 county plat book
ERGC Fishing Contest 2016 July 2014 Old span bridge is replaced during Hwy 93 road construction
July 2014 Road construction on corner of Hwy 121 and 93 junction. Old gas station/Kevin Benning business is removed
Ada Markham took over the Independence newsspaper after the death of her husband.
Top-1939 Independence American Legion Team. They went to state but lost in semifinals. Front L-R-Rudy Smieja, Bill Andre, Saul Isaacs, Ray Reck, Lyman Call, Millard Fellenz, Roman Sobotta Back-Pete Misch, Everett Blaha, Ralph Klimek, Ed Resler, Geo Isaacs, Marcel Marsolek, Norris Olson Bottom photo-Indee Old Timers-Front L-R Ray Hagen, Helmer Neperud, Alan Briggs Edmundson, ernie Fremstad, Len Ellison, Al Windjue, Back row-Cliff Bautch, Ray Reck, Ralph Sygulla, Fred Gardner, Ken Swenson, Don Warner, Merton Hagen, coach De Bow, Peanuts hagenHenry Kurth Family membersIndependence HS 45th Class Reunion 2015Ads from 1914 Plat Book 2009 Kids Fishing Contest in front of City Hall2009 Bugle Lk view east1930 Dam Repair2006 Dale Miemiietz in Bugle Lake quagmireLutheran Sunday School kids 1979Thor Jackson Family 1880Independence Lutheran church 1979Lutheran Ladies Aid 1979Lutheran Ladies 1880s Mrs Ever Anderson, Mrs Ole Marveson, Mrs Bennet Anderson, Mrs Tom Jackson, Mrs ___Jackson, Mrs Lars Kelly, Mrs Ole Nelson, Mrs Ed Larson, Mrs Syver, Mrs AmundsonNorwegian Lutheran Church 1900 Note Independence Public School on the leftMr and Mrs Jacob JacksonMr and Mrs August Anderson 1890sLutheran Confirmands 1920, 23, 241881 pen and ink drawing of Independence. At this time Bugle Lake was almost 90 acres in size.Old bank on left, present day office of Kulig Michalak and Franklin on right next to vacant lot which was once the site of the Runkel Hardware Store and Filla’s Farm Lounge.Louis Slabik enginJune 1896 Independence Young LadiesRailroad Street 1900 looking eastIndependence 1940 at intersection of CR Q and Hwy 93 view westHigh Water in Independence 1906 looking west into town. The grain elevators in the background on the right are the site of the telephone office and lumber yard,(2014)girls team 2014, Coach Kale Kowahl2005 View of City Hall and park from Bugle lake2009 Kids Fishing Contest2010 Kids Fishing Contest on banks by bridgeSept 2011 Flood Bridge to Bugle Park, Independence2010 Kids Fishing Contest Fishboard IndependenceKids Fishing Contest 2010 L-R Bob Pietrek, Al Suchla,__, Ottie BaeckerIndependence aerial shot 2002, Bugle Lake upper rightGeorge Markham Family ( original white settlers of Independence)Old Independence School–1-12 grades Approx 1915John Markham and wifeMay 2010 Kids fishing contestMarkham Farm with octagon house, Ronceval, in mid rearMarkham Castle-Ronceval 1890s. On hill northeast of independence, torn down in 1930’sMarkham Family Octagon House “Ronceval”Ben And Susie WozneyFred Maule FamilyMaule_Sylla Wedding1953 Romelle Schneider RooseveltV. Pietrek FamilyValentine and Barbara PietrekMaule Farm_ Present Day Wm Maliszewski FarmWozney UBC Store IndependenceValentine Pietrek FarmFireworks over Bugle LakeFishing Contest 2005
Romelle Schneider Roosevelt
St Peter and Paul church 1983
1895 Building St Peter and Paul
2020 ERGC Ice Fishing Contest 2020 The fish board1954 Township Queen Contest at County Fair
Bob Pietrek 2018
2019 Elk Rod & Gun Club Ice Fishing Contest–City Hall in background
Bushy’s Meat Market bear decorated for St Patrick’s Day 2019
Peter Sura and Louis Wiersgalla, KIA 1918 Borst Valley School 1929 ( was located on Cty BB) Teacher Effie Filla Back Row L-R- Phyllis Burt, Albert Sylla, Lyle Back, Fred Marsolek, Gladys Lokken, Raymond Sylla Front- Helen Rombalski, Caroline Rombalski, Glenn Hendrickson, Carol Hendrickson, Elmer Lokken, Verna Burt, Euphrosine Rombalski
New City School 8th Grade Class 1943 (located on Cty X) L=R- Marcus Kuka, Irene Bautch, Florence Bautch, Bill Filla photo from Mrs E Dubiel
Borst Valley School girls, 1923 L-R Eleanor Prokop, Agnes Burt, Alla Marsolek, Blanch Burt, Rose Prokop, Phyllis burt Photo from Agnes Amble
Hero dog of John Bautch 1915Rust proff corset sold at Wise & MIsch in Independence 1915 1915 strange happenings at Huff Family farm Independence 2019, Bushy’s Meat Market, shop for rent, Eagle Bar, Coffee Cup Cafe, empty building Pape wreck, Independence 1915
Happenings February 1915 in Traverse Valley
December 1915 Independence News Wave Ad Autographed advertising fan–Indee Bottling Company
1915
1915
1915
Indee baseball champs 1915Indee HS grads spring 1915
1913 Independence news
1915
1983 Article on Sts Peter & Paul Church1983 ST PETER AND PAUL CHURCH
WALDERA HIGH CRUSH SAND MINE ON COUNTY Q 2019
NEW PAROCHIAL SCHOOL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, 1967 OLD SCHOOL ON THE RIGHT NEXT TO ST PETER AND PAUL CHURCH
ANTI SAND MINE SENTIMENTS IN INDEPENDENCE 2018
SECOND ST PETER AND PAUL PAROCHIAL SCHOOL AROUND 1920
1950’s at the Eagle Bar. L-R __Bautch, Gene Bautch, 3 Kucera/Miemietz cousins, Irene Symicke, Carl Kampa, Bea Skroch Front- Gertie Miemietz, Paul Miemietz, Paul Klimek Photo from Vitus Kampa ( note Band Box in upper left corner–a music box with figures that moved)1910 Kampa Farm, Wickham Valley L-R- Carl Kampa, Hattie Miemietz Mylnek, Anna Miemietz Kucera, Julia Miemietz Kampa, Matt Kampa, Mike Kloss(?) Note Carl is dressed in a Silesian outfitFrom the October 1957 Independence News Wave–Curtis Skroch and John LucenteJack Halama, John Lucente and Edward Misch October 1957 Photo from the Independence News Wave
Lester Senty and Ken Gallagher 1957
First Catholic church in Independence 1875Old Cripps Schoolhouse north of Independence 2020
Entrance to Cripps School 2020
Dumback Family, Travis Valley
Downtown Independence 1908
John Sura, Killed in the Battle of Cold Harbor 1864. He and his friend George Parsons ran away from their homes to join the Union Army. John”s body was never recovered.
Affidavit from George Parson on Battle of Cold Harbor and John Sura
Miemietz Home in Boland Valley
Independence Legion Post 186 firing squad
1910 John & Anna Wiersgalla Family Back L-R Louie (killed in WW1) Stanley, Teckla, Frank, Thomas, Anna Front-Simon, Frances, Praxeda, Mary, John, Edmund, Paul, Anna, Polly, Mary, Magdaline Baby Paul ( apparently inserted) Missing from photo-Sophia1955 Independence High School band led by Drum Majorette Cynthia RoskosAugust Weier and daughter Phyllis ( married Leonard Kern)MIddle building was first Post Office in IndependenceSpan bridge in Independence when it was newSecond post office building in IndependenceNewest Post Office , Independence 2019Independence Snack Shop 1948Weier Buillding on left August Weier and Rose Smieja wedding 1920
2009 Kids Fishing Contest in front of City Hall
