A Trip To Michigan

Yes, we had just made the trip from Florida to Missouri and now we were on the road again a week later.  There was to be the 65th reunion of the Hensler clan in Freeland Michigan (always held the second week-end in July) , and seven of my siblings had plans to attend.  It seemed to be an important trip to make.

On Saturday there was a gathering of just the Hensler cousins at the old family homestead and farm.  I did write of this place when we were there about seven years ago.  Two Hensler families still own and live on this land- but not much going on anymore as far as our family farming the land because renters are now doing that.  There are a few cows in the barn.  It would be nice to keep this farm in the family as it has passed the century mark and holds many memories for all of us.  In the picture  above is the old homestead,  where my mom was born.  A total of 11 children were raised here.  There are 50 first cousins and about one-half that number gathered at the farm Friday evening.  A few more showed up for the main event on Sunday, at which one hundred and sixty-five attended.  Hard to believe that some of us first cousins now have great grandchildren!

A trip to visit family in Michigan always includes a trip to Frankenmuth, a town which still today celebrates its German heritage.  John and I, together with all my siblings, ate at the Bavarian Inn restaurant for lunch on Saturday.  A roaming musician dressed in lederhosen certainly contributed to the German ambience of  the restaurant.  And on the walls are displayed the coat of arms of many of the original families from the area, one of which we found belonging to our mom's side of the family- our Rau heritage.

Saturday afternoon we visited the Saginaw History Museum, which use to be the old post office built in 1897.  John and I have visited this place in the past and enjoyed it because the history displayed there has a lot to do with my Mom's history before she married our Dad.  As a young adult she had worked at Lufkin Rule Company, which was founded in 1892 back in the day when Saginaw was a booming lumber town.  The company manufactured steel, wood, and cloth rulers and tape measures. . Also on display in the museum is  information concerning the Herzog Art Furniture company founded in 1899- the Herzogs are part of Mom's family.

Pictured above is the Bavarian Inn and Cass River which runs through Frankenmuth.  The weather was perfect for our week-end of outdoor activities, a nice break from the 90 degree temperatures which we had experienced both in Tampa and St.Louis.