Happily Ever After ...100 Years Ago

Fred & Beulah 1911

I haven't done a Quondam Tuesday for a while. This was meant to be posted on June 28th of this year, but I missed the date.  So, fitting to post today.  This photo was actually taken in August of 1911...
one hundred years ago.
It is the wedding photograph of my Great Grandmother (maternal) Beulah Viola Ball Rahlmann and my Great Grandfather Frederick C Ralhmann.
Apparently, "the photograph", and I say photograph, as far from it that hundreds were taken as they are today, anyway, you were lucky if you got ONE professional photograph. They usually took the photograph on a different day as the wedding, as it was a big deal and you went to the photography studio for it.

My Great Grandparents, married on June 28th 1911.

(how cool is this that I actually have an original invitation and an equally old frame that it has rested in all these years.) I don't know how this became a possession of mine, I just know I have had it for many years.  I actually used it as the basis of my own invitation...simple and timelessly eloquent.
They were married in this home:

the home Rahlmann's married in~ taken in1910

This is a photograph of what they called, "the gang".  The many close friends between them that gathered prior to the wedding.

Beulah is center white dress, with Fred above her right shoulder

I believe they were truly in love. I hold a beautiful love letter Beulah wrote Fred while they were engaged.  It is very dear.  I love the language they used, so proper yet endearing.

love letter dated 8.16.10

They seemed to have a rather Blessed life together. Each coming from prominent families. Fred holding a well educated position, and Beulah raising four daughters as well.
I have inherited so many photographs, yet I know that there are so many more throughout our family.  I am no longer in touch with cousins through that vein of my family tree, however, my Mom is.  She has been close to her cousin, and always was with her Aunts as well. I remember them all from trips out to Texas as a child, but, once I grew up, sort of lost touch once Grannie (Beulah) passed.  It's a shame.  Perhaps we should share these treasures we each hold.  How interesting it would be to see what they have as well.
 
One last photo for you, my Grands as they celebrated their 50th Anniversary, on June 28th, 1961.

Fred & Beulah 1961

Unfortunately, Fred passed not long after that.  In 1963 I believe, I was not quite a year old.  I did not get to met him, although I remember fondly my Great Grandmother who lived well up to 102 years of age. She is a sweet part of my memory of Texas visits.  She even "tried" to teach me how to play the piano.  I hold a passion for Fiestaware because of her.  I proudly cherish three of her pieces, displayed along side my own.

Interestingly Fred attended Valparaiso College here in Indiana, in early 1900.  How ironic that some 50 years later his Granddaughter would fall for a Sailor and settle her in Indiana.   I am very proud to have a Grandfather that had a college degree from 1908.

100 years ago...

How interesting and different their lives were from ours today.

The Wedding Brat

This weekend we attended a reception to a wedding. The bride was lovely and the groom was as handsome as they come. Amazing to see him grow up so fast into this charming young man. They had a beautiful cast of attendants. The bridesmaids wore a soft champagne colored gowns, pearls and hair pinned up. The groomsmen all were dashing in their black tuxedos. There was a junior bridesmaid & groomsman, and two younger flower girls. The youngest was 4 and I heard she did a lovely job with her rose petals, walking down the aisle like a little angel. She was very well behaved at the reception. Even though her mom was in the wedding and apart from her for the majority of the reception, this little girl seemed to understand and was very patient, staying with her Daddy and another woman for most of the evening. She laughed and enjoyed the reception and was obviously a well behaved little girl. The older flower girl was maybe 7, and although she looked very sweet in her dress, refused to go down the aisle, then made a complete nuisance of herself at the reception. She annoyed the crap out of me. Sergio laughed at me saying let it go. But I just got frustrated that her parents let her continue to distract others and misbehave. She ran around blowing out the candles on the tables, stealing all the candy and bells and just drove me crazy. Lucky for her, I did not know her or her parents. Heads would have rolled. I felt sorry for the grooms sister as she often tried to calm the child and distract her from her mischief. This young woman just graduated from college and is about to become a fine elementary teacher.

I don't understand why the parents would sit there (beer in hand) and let this child be such a brat. Why was she in this wedding? What kind of bond did they have with the wedded couple?

I have been to so many weddings where a child will become unruly. Is it really that difficult to get a sitter? I remember happily getting a sitter because it was "date time" for my husband and me, and I would have died of embarrassment if my child misbehaved, or "ruined" someones wedding.

And please, please, let me tell you now. When my girls marry, don't bring your little ones unless they are complete angels! Even if they are angels, maybe they would have more fun with a sitter. Let my little angel enjoy her day.