A major portion of Reunions is memories, and so many new ones were created over 23-25 Sept 2016. A few of my favorites:
- Friday dinner at the Albion Country Club, at the big rectangular table where Jim invited everyone to introduce themselves - that was quite interactive, and great fun! Bethyne Hirsch Noble of Albion, the granddaughter of Jacob Friedrich "Uncle Jake" Hirsch (b. 11-17-1881), was a great addition and brought more clippings, family genealogy trees, and memories.
- The Mystery Bus Tour - dang, that was an adventure! and I was so impressed that even Aunt Pat hiked over to the old school house. What is more perfect than a cemetery in the rain. I enjoyed very mile on the Mystery Bus -
- Harry Heinie Hirsch - I had no idea he was even in the family, but Harry and his pet pig were a huge hit. Or should I say lightning strike # 4.
- Myrna and Ron Osborn's Sunday BarBQue - here we also saw Judy Dorau, who was going to be there no matter what! And a group photo of 'blood cousins' with Aunt Pat featuring Ron Osborn's 1948 International, complete with corn dispenser!
- Name Tags - thanks for doing this! By Sunday I was the only one still loyally wearing my name tag!
This reunion of the Hirsch Cousins (and Harry and Pork Chop) was an absolutely delightful experience. Please contact any of the attendees for additional photos and information.
here is bit of the bio of Harold Heinrich (aka "Harry Heinie") Hirsch - for more details, contact Patti Sue:
Harry was born in 1945 in Germany and first struck by lightning when
he was 8 yrs. old. He lost his hearing
and was sent to Internat für taube Kinder (a boarding school for deaf children). A year later he was struck again while
playing on the Klettergerüst (Monkey Bars) at the school.
He regained his hearing and was returned to his home. The following summer
he was struck a 3rd time while crossing an open field. His parents were very concerned for his
safety and for his mental state. He was
becoming increasingly nervous and anxious.
When ever storm clouds appeared he would barricade himself in the root
cellar. They decided to send him to the
United States to live with Jake Hirsch in Boone County NE. He adjusted to life on the Hirsch farm and
was very happy and a hard working boy.
His hearing was not good and his ears had a constant ringing and
buzzing. That is probably why he did not hear an approaching storm one year after his arrival in Nebraska. He was sitting on a stool out by the horse
tank and focused on whittling a toy fiddle.
The bolt that struck this time threw him across the tank and into the
cow pasture. He jumped up and began
running down the county road. He didn’t stop running until he reached Beaver Creek, which was
flooding out of its banks.
After several happy years Harry one day strayed away from
the cabin while searching for one of his porkers that was missing. Too late he
noticed the gathering storm and high tailed back to the cabin as fast as he
could go. Unfortunately, he was struck by lightening again, however; this time it
brought back his memory. On a clear day
he returned to the Hirsch farm to tell them where he had been the past 3 years.
They wanted him to move back to the farm but he felt compelled to dig a bigger
and better subterranean dwelling about half way between the Hirsch farm and the
McSwine cabin. This new home was called
“Harry’s Porker Palace,” and at the Porker Palace only the pigs live above
ground.
Harry carries a jug of Kickapoo
Joy Juice with him at all times. And, he takes his pet pig “Pork Chop” with him
wherever he goes. He thinks Pork Chop is a good luck charm that prevents
lightning strikes. However it is a known scientific fact that when you have 6
contact points with the ground you are grounded and will not be struck by
lightning. Harry plus Pork Chop, connected by the leash, equals six contact
points. Voila!
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