Family Tradition

After writing about family stories, I got to thinking about one of the traditions in our family that had been going on ever since I could remember.  I figured there must be a story behind it, so I turned to my mother, Arvene (Stodolski) Van Hout, for the history behind our Christmas Eve oyster stew.

Here is the story, as recounted by my mother.  For clarity, her dad was Matthew Stodolski and her Grandpa and Grandma she is referring to, are Joseph and Lucy (Beaudry) Stodolski.  The story:
 

"In our family Oyster Stew started with my Dad's folks Grandpa and Grandma Stodolski.  Many years ago, we were not allowed to eat meat the day before a holy day, so we had to have a meatless meal Christmas Eve.  As a very young girl, we would go to Grandpa and Grandma's farm for oyster stew before Christmas Mass at midnight.  We would then come home and Santa would have come, so we had our Christmas.  When the weather was bad Grandpa and Grandma would come to town and Grandma would make stew here. We also had salmon loaf. So it started with the Stodolski clan.

  One time when we had to be in town Santa made a visit, another time I remember we heard noise in the basement and wouldn't you know Santa left the toys there."

 

 

This tradition remained relatively unchanged as far back as I can remember.  I recall going out to my great grandparent's house when I was very young.  When Grandma died and Grandpa was in the nursing home, we began going out to Grandpa Matt's house for oyster stew.  One thing that was added to the meal somewhere along the line, was Grandma Margaret's olive hot dish (for those who didn't want to eat oyster stew).  The tradition of Santa showing up while we were at Grandma and Grandpa's continued, with either Dad pulling out the gifts while we were getting in the car or slipping out while we were at Grandpa's and running home to play Santa.

After Grandpa Matt died, the Christmas Eve meal was moved to our house where my mother and Grandma Margaret would prepare the stew.  One of the things we looked forward to during that meal was whether or not someone was going to find a pearl in their oysters.  It always seemed that my dad would find a small one each year.  Of course, Santa couldn't come while we were eating anymore, so he came during the night.  By then, however, Santa had become that spirit of Christmas we all get when we are too old to believe he exists.  We did, however, continue for a while at least, the gift exchange we had done for years.

The tradition still lives in my family.  I have continued it over the years with varying degrees of excitement by my children.  None of them care much for the stew, so the amount we make is not much.  Tater Tot hot dish replaced the olive hot dish, since we didn't have the recipe and my kids love Tater Tot hot dish.

Like the stories of our families, often our traditions die off with the older generations.  I hope you will share some of your traditions that you either had, or perhaps still have.  We would love to help you keep them alive.

The Scheele Clan

Mathias & Mathilda Scheele

 After my visit with Kermit Scheele, I was able to really begin sinking my teeth into adding more people and information into the Scheele branches of my tree.  Mathias and Mathilda (Stielow-pronounced "stee-low) Scheele are my 2nd Great Grandparents on my mother's side and are currently the furthest back I go with that family.

Scheele Family Farm

They lived on a farm northwest of Big Stone City, SD until 1911 when they moved into town. 

Mathias Scheele and his horses

 Mathias and Mathilda had six children, five girls and one boy.  The picture below does not show their youngest child, Irene.  This picture was taken before 1909, the year Irene was born.  Irene died at the young age of 28 from a pulmonary ailment.

Mathias Scheele family, pre-1909

Family names that fall under the Scheele branches include Maack, Madden, Rammer, Kargleder, Stodolski, and Johnson.  These, of course, break down even further to Slobe, Reymund, Vosburg, Hammerstrom and others.


It has been a huge learning experience working on these families whom I was not overly familiar with.  We have some pretty amazing people in our family and I am proud to be getting to know some of them.  Facebook has made it possible to meet, at least virtually, many relatives I would have never met at all.

If you are a descendant of Mathias Scheele, please feel free to add something to this story.  Also, if you have any old pictures you wish to share, please do that as well.  Don't be afraid to add some new pictures as well!

War Without a Rifle

Private Kermit Scheele

Back in July my wife and I visited my1st cousin 2X removed on my Mother's side, Kermit Scheele.  Kermit is 88-years-old and lives in an assisted living apartment in Washington, DC with his dog, Ling Ling.  During our visit, Kermit  told us about his experience in World War II.

It seems he was drafted in June of 1943 and processed into the Army in Minneapolis, MN.  In January of 1944, he was sent over to England.  When he got there, he had no idea where he was or what he was to do.  A duty Captain, from Michigan, welcomed him and sent him to some barracks to get situated.  While he was there, one of his duties was to pick up Anti-Aircraft brass (casings of the shells fired at the German bombers).

He was later sent to Cheltham and then on to Cherburg, France during Bastille Day.  There, he was responsible for escorting a group of 12 female journalists who were traveling around getting stories to send to a Soldier's hometown.  Kermit was never issued a rifle or even fired one and never did have one his whole time in Europe.

The same Captain (now a Colonel) that met him upon arrival put Kermit in for a commission and he became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps.  Kermit was discharged from the Regular Army and entered the Reserves in Richmond, VA where he served until 1953.