Sept 2011 big rain/flood , road north of Independence
Funeral for Louis Wiersgalla . He was an MP directing traffic at the crossroads in Cierges, FR when a German artillery shell hit. He died the next day from his wounds. His remains were brought home for reburial at the St Peter and Paul Cemetery in 1922
Prvt Louis Wiersgalla
Bautch fire
1947 St Elizabeth Society luncheon for Harriet Pawlowska
Carl Halama and wife 60th wedding anniversary
Carl and Mary Halama Family
1897
Independence Sauerkraut Festival and queen candidates 1950’s
Thomas Truogs Anniversary
1928 fire in Independence. It is speculated the store was north of the old bank–
1947 8th grade rural school grads
Peter G Bautch and his mare Silver 1940’s
August Weier–severely gassed in WW1, died in 1927 from effects of the poison gas
Wedding of August Weier and Rose Smieja 1922
Polly’s Bar/aka Nibbies Demolished in 1978, replaced by apartment building
Independence Creamery and Pietrek’s in 1964
1948 Wi Centennial parade in Whitehall—Independence entry
Kids Fishing Contest 2018
Thoma Auto Wrecking and Junk Yard north of Independence on Hwy 93 1963
Peter A Sura, USMC 6th Infantry, killed in action July 19, 2018 at the Battle of Vierzy, Chateau Thierry. Son of Peter and Agata.
Peter A Sura –the American Legion Post Sura Wiersgalla #186 named for Peter
Blacksmith Shop 1926 Ole Huff, A Filla, Ole Hanson at Anvil. Rear-John Gamroth, John and Peter Pampuch
Wreaths 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 2018
Martin Wiemer sold furniture and home supplies, was the funeral director and for many years County Coroner
ELK CREEK SCHOOL, ELK CREEK, ON HWY 93 ON EAST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY 1963
ELK ROD AND GUN CLUB ICE FISHING CONTEST 1964
1928 8th Grade for Monica Woycik who attended Wickham Valley School
Girls’ Wrestling 2022
1956 Independence
Sarah Borst Wife of Martin
Martin Borst Namesake of Borst Valley Early settler, buried in Hale Wegner Cemetery
Mike Lyga and the Veteran’s Museum in the Independence High School
Kids’ Fishing Contest , Bugle Lake, Independence 2017
Texaco Station, Independence
Father Gara, St Peter and Paul Church
2016 Main Hall
Rev Kufel of St Peter and Paul Church
Ft Gara’s funeral, July 1922 SSPP
Funeral of Ft Gara, July 1922 SSPP
St 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 SSPP
SSPP from the southwest side, around 1920
Photo of workmen and priests shows old parochial school in the left background
Cripps 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 Burt
High water–Bugle Lake Dam Independence 4.4.1956
St Peter and Paul sanctuary decorated for Christmas 2015
Platz Drug in Independence
January 1915
Elk Creek School Founded 1870-closed 1940 Photo from 1930s
1936 Elk Creek School Students
H C Halama late 1940s
Cripps 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 93
Andrew Grulkowski, Independence HS 2015
Prom Court 2015 Independence HS–Brennan Christianson, Henry Pfaff, Jordan Speltz, Steve Gamroth, Sophia Woychik, Cheyenne Loewenhagen, Morgan Speltz, GinaGamroth, Tessa Bragger
Isaac Pape and Jackson Standafer 2015 football
1913 Poultry Show held in Independence
Poultry show 1913
J A Markham 1913
Ad from 1930 county plat book
Independence Business ads 1913
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 newspaper after the death of her husband. Note the presence of either a big cat or small fluffy dog on her desk.
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 hagen
Henry Kurth Family members
Independence HS 45th Class Reunion 2015
Ads from 1914 Plat Book 2009 Kids Fishing Contest in front of City Hall
2009 Bugle Lk view east
1930 Dam Repair
2006 Dale Miemiietz in Bugle Lake quagmire
Lutheran Sunday School kids 1979
Thor Jackson Family 1880
Independence Lutheran church 1979
Lutheran Ladies Aid 1979
Lutheran 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 Amundson
Norwegian Lutheran Church 1900 Note Independence Public School on the left
Mr and Mrs Jacob Jackson
Mr and Mrs August Anderson 1890s
Lutheran Confirmands 1920, 23, 24
1881 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 engin
June 1896 Independence Young Ladies
Railroad Street 1900 looking east
Independence 1940 at intersection of CR Q and Hwy 93 view west
High 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 Kowahl
2005 View of City Hall and park from Bugle lake
2009 Kids Fishing Contest
2010 Kids Fishing Contest on banks by bridge
Sept 2011 Flood Bridge to Bugle Park, Independence
2010 Kids Fishing Contest Fishboard Independence
Kids Fishing Contest 2010 L-R Bob Pietrek, Al Suchla,__, Ottie Baecker
Independence aerial shot 2002, Bugle Lake upper right
George Markham Family ( original white settlers of Independence)
Old Independence School–1-12 grades Approx 1915
John Markham and wife
May 2010 Kids fishing contest
Markham Farm with octagon house, Ronceval, in mid rear
Markham Castle-Ronceval 1890s. On hill northeast of independence, torn down in 1930’s
Markham Family Octagon House “Ronceval”
Fred Maule Family
1953 Romelle Schneider Roosevelt
V. Pietrek Family
Valentine and Barbara Pietrek
Fireworks over Bugle Lake
Fishing Contest 2005
Romelle Schneider Roosevelt
Homecoming Court 1960s Bob Maule, Darlene Dejno, Perry Pietrek
Oldest building in Independence moved from New City in 1877–formerly the Thalacker Bait and Garden Store 2021
ERGC dedication of streambank restoration honoring the late James Helgeson
Club Midway under construction , 1930’s
Peter and Catherine Mlynek Wedding Day 1913
Prohibition woes
Doughboy Martin Matchie 1918
1909 Barn Raising at Mike Skroch farm in Wickham Valley
1940 Cooks at the Monica Mish/Dominic Sylla wedding reception at the John and Julia Sygulla farm front-Martina Sosalla, _____ Back- Sarah Sygulla, Julia Sygulla, Lucy Mish
Hyacinth and Susanna Woychik Kulig Golden Wedding Anniversary front, back row Gertrude, ____, Paul, John
Ben Kampa
Mr amd Mrs John Halama
Wickham Valley School kids in front of the school and Pete Pason’s “bus” Back L-r
R Marion Woychik, Berniece Sonsalla, Delores Wozney, Helen Bautch John and Ernest Sonsalla, _____, Laverne Sura Middle-Beatrice Sonsalla, ____Woychik, ____, Jim Wozney, ____Woychik Front- Bernadine Kampa, Joan Bautch, ____Wozney, Rosaline Puchalla, _____, Grace Kampa Photo Vitus Kampa
wedding invitation to wedding of August Weier and Rose Smieja 1921
Charles Pieterick , WW1 veteran and his four sons
John and Anna Walek Family , Golden Anniversay 1921
Ralph Sluga, KIA WW2
Ralph Sluga
Peter Filla Bar Paul Sobieck on left
Albert and Josephine Skrzypietz Bautch 1903
Anna and Lexi Kurth and Fair Steers 2021
Kampa Wedding at the Charles Kampa home in Wickham Valley—from Vitus Kampa collection
Kampa Wedding in Wickham Valley–newly weds are in the front seat of the buggy
1895 Building St Peter and Paul
St Peter and Paul church 1983
Lester Senty and Ken Gallagher
1985 Independence High School Wrestlers
Libowski Bar perhaps—Independence 1904
Bar tender Roman Smieja, owner of bar–Tom Bisek 1904
Libowski Bar perhaps– 1904– photo not identified
1951 Martha Marsolek
Bautch Brothers, Albert and Sebastion in front, Lawrence in back
Independence High School 1953
Indee Cheerleaders 1953 Rita Jackson, Marlene Sobish, Jean Myers and Luvane Helgeson
2020 ERGC Ice Fishing Contest 2020 The fish board
Dr Charles Peterson
Ed Slabik and Ralph Weirsgalla in Korea
1954 Township Queen Contest at County Fair
Bob Pietrek 2018
2019 Elk Rod & Gun Club Ice Fishing Contest
Bushy’s Meat Market bear decorated for St Patrick’s Day 2019
Elk Creek village platt 1914
Elk Creek Store 1914
Mary Sluga, Julia Skroch, Jennie Moga, Susie Skroch
ID card used by Frank Halama during WW1
Henry “Hank” Gamroth, rescued in WW2 by Desmond Doss
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 RombalskiNew 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
Independence 1940
Hero dog of John Bautch 1915
Rust proff corset sold at Wise & MIsch in Independence 1915
Peter Filla, son of Victoria and step son of Edward Jelen
Pietrek”s 1964
Roman Klink
Roman Klink
Romelle Schneider and her husband, James Roosevelt
Joseph Roskos 1956
Peter Slabik in Prussian Army Uniform
Peter Slabik
Thoma’s Scrap yard
John and Anna Bautch Walek family 1921
Sid Dailey 2020
Independence New Wave, Ada Markham, editor 1900’s
Mike Skroch Meat Market 1910
1947 Flood
Lyga’s Store 1954
Prom Queen Marie Bautch –later Mrs Don Kloss–Don was the Prom King 1954
Jelen -Libowski Wedding
John and Mary Sluga and family John was born as the family was immigrating to the US
Len Resler Bar–Molly behind bar, Corky, Doug and Ken Klimek
1915 strange happenings at Hoff Family farm
Joe Reck
Ben and Susie Wozney 1941
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 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 1875
Entrance to Cripps School 2020
Old Cripps Schoolhouse north of Independence 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
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 new
Weimer Building on the left, first Post Office
Newest Post Office , Independence 2019
Second post office building in Independence
Independence Snack Shop 1948
August Weier and Rose Smieja wedding 1920
Weier Buillding on left
Maule Farm, present day William Maliszewski farm on Hwy 121
Maule/Sylla Wedding 1895
Wozney UBC Store
Addresses for local men in the military run in the Independence News Wave 1950’s
Auxiliary members on the Matchey Roof 1986
POWER PLANT OPERATOR BOB GAMROTH
FRANK BAUTCH
HENRY WEIMER FAMILY
4th of JULY FLOAT
St Peter and Paul Church interior
LAMBERT STORE AROUND 1905
AREA OF SILESIA IN POLAND WHERE THE ANCESTORS OF INDEPENDENCE EMIGRATED FROM
‘STAJENKA AT CHRISTMAS WITH TOM GIEROK
ST PETER AND PAUL CHURCH
1910 Independence Graduates
A W Liver Home Around 1900
Aerial Photo 1960s
1900 Down town Independence
November 1918
1910 Baseball Team
David Kelly– responsible for the train depot being built in Independence
Crowd by the train tracks–perhaps Armistice Day 1918
Ad in Centennial booklet 1976
East End Bar 1928
Giles Cripps, early settler of Burnside
Looking NE about 1900
1880 First Public School
Drug Store 1915
Ladies Band
John Walek Family around 1900-10
4th of July parade
John Zimmer and Wife early settlers in Travis Valley
Vito Reck Came to the US from Poland in 1869. Died 1913. Father of 22 children
Lamberts Store on Main Street
Formerly Lloyds Sport ShopBuilding believed to have been moved in from New City in 1876
Lyga’s Store
Martha Andersson 1976
View North towards the bridge–around 1920
Pampuch farm on Cty X
1976
ad from 1976
1952 Roman Slaby
2021 ERGC Ice Fishing Contest–no big tent due to Covid
2009 Kids Fishing Contest in front of City Hall
