Maurer in Schmiedrued

Strohhaus in Schmiedrued, aus Ein Bauart aus alter Zeit einem Kalender fur das Jahr 1918.
Im Strohhaus wohnte die Familie Maurer Sigwarte.
Es wurde ca 1917/1918 abgebrochen.
Am rechten Bildrand im Hintergrund der Giebel des alten Restaurant Sternen.

Rough translation: Thatch house in Schmiedrued, out from Ein Barat, out from an older time
Calendar for the year 1918.
In thatch house resided the family Maurer, Sigwarte His rank/title about 1917 hand in/deliver to broken.
In the right hand pictured in background the gable of old restaurant Sternen.

Maurer is the family name of 4th & 5th great grandmothers: Anna Mauer 1743 who married Sigmund Bolliger and Margaretha Maurer 1681 who married Heinrich Wirz.

It's interesting to think that several generations back folks would have been living in homes just like this. All the wood stacked and ready for winter makes me think it must have been very cozy this time of year. Imagine it with a coating of snow.
Merry Christmas!

Schmiedrued - from the air

Flugaufnahme von Schmiedrued mir Lohren, Eggschwill und Obereggschwil, im Hintergrund der Benkel.

Translated caption: Arial view of Schmiedrued with Lohren, Eggschwil and Obereggschwil in background der Benkel.

Bemerkenswert sind die vielen Obstbaumgarten.
Remarkable great fruit tree growing garden/region.

Die neue Strasse Dorf-Kehracker ist noch nicht gebaut.
Something about the new road between villages is still not improved.

Schmiedrued is in the foreground - note the position of the larger buildings. This shows a great view of the Rueder Valley. Compare with google maps or the previous postcard to get your bearings.

Webers - Kirchrued

Caption: Postcard of Kirchrued with post office mark 4 June 1910.
At right is picturesque old parish house in background different straw roofed (thatched) houses.

Kirch translates to Church. This small hamlet seemed to be centered around the church which also served Schmiedrued. The small cemetery is in back of the church. This is where the Webers and Goldenbergers attended their meetings, were baptized, married and buried. It replaced an older church which burned - so this is known to locals as the new church. It was built about 300 years ago. A stone plaque from the original church can be seen in the chapel.

Webers and Schmiedrued

Rough translation of caption on the back of this card:
"Colored postcard from Schmiedrued with post mark 17 Aug 1929".

George's wife, Martha was born to Swiss Immigrants, Samuel and Verena Weber. After a series of events which forced Samuel and Verena from Schmiedrued to find work, they met the LDS Missionaries and through another series of events, eventually made their way to the United States. Martha was born a few years after their arrival.

Pull out your genealogy and read up on their story. They were very courageous in a strange country. I regret that we lost the German - maybe some of the older children's families learned some, but I feel that Martha's family didn't have that exposure. Luckily for us Google has the translator option.

This postcard shows the hometown they left. It is a beautiful - as in Star Valley in the spring - place. It nestles in the bottom of a valley with green fields surrounding it. The buildings are well cared for. The homes look large, but usually held 2-3 families. The weaving mill has been converted to a museum. I believe it may be the 3 story building just right of center. The postcards came from the Museum.

Esther's Photos

Well, those are a small part of Esther's collection.

Esther Matthews occupies a special position in the George Kennington Family. She is the daughter of George's oldest sister. Her grandmother, George's mother Annie Rebecca, raised her and when Annie Rebecca passed away, Esther lived with George and Martha.

So she is unique: a niece to George and Martha and an older cousin to all their children. To me she seemed like an aunt, but I was the only one who thought she should be called "Aunt" Esther.

I know she taught school for years and had a nice library.

Hopefully we can locate more photos from her wonderful collection in the near future.

Gwen and Bev with Dolls

Gwen and Bev Kennington
photo by Esther Matthews Crook
about 1926