By Staff
In talking to my artist friend Lou Lou Hawks and telling her about my Wigwam article, she said in May of 1946 she and seven other war brides of World War II were guests at a luncheon at the Wigwam.
This was given by the Junior Arts Club.
She could remember some of them, but not all.
So we went to the library and, in checking the film of the Dowagiac Daily News for the month of May 1946, we found a picture like the one of Lou Lou had shown us.
The eight girls in the picture were Mrs. or Miss Brenda Watson (English), Mrs. Kenneth Wixon (English), Mrs. Robert Allen (English), Mrs. Aubrey Hawks (Belgium), Mrs. Louis Ostrowski (Irish) and Mrs. Albert Schultz (French).
Looks like one half of the eight overseas brides were from England.
Two others, Mrs. Charles Moden and Mrs. Steven Sirovica, were expected to arrive here soon from England.
Mrs. Moden and little daughter were expected the next week and Mrs. Sirovica was to come in June.
The first two to arrive were Mrs. Aubrey Hawks and Mrs. Robert Allen and the third was Mrs. Kenny Wixon.
Another war bride that I knew was Mrs. Stanley Krypinski, who I think was from France.
I'm sure folks remember Stan when he had Division Tire years ago.
Somewhere along the line I was lent a nice photograph of the Sons of Veterans Drum and Bugle Corps.
In the front row, left to right, were Clifford Moulton, Leo Cluchy, Dale Wagner, Edward Stasiak, James Mosher, Ted Terkos, Tom Williams, Richard King; second row, Fred Clarke, Dean Cox, Bill Tinkey, Howard Curtis, Billy Stasiak, Alex Siczek, Maurice Kelso, Billy Wilson; third row, Bill Maxey, Keith Russom, Claire King, Casmir Stasiak, Duane Curtis, Jerry Mosher, Walter Stasiak, Arthur Clark; fourth row, Forrest Stewart, Ancil Hardy, James Dings and William Harding.
Standing on the left of the picture were Drum Major Art Schultz with his big Indian headdress and standing on the right side was Drum Major Eldon Ruple.
The drum and bugle corps was sponsored by Cass County Post 1855 Veterans of Foreign Wars of Dowagiac.
One of the main instructors was Virgil Smith, who was not present for the picture taken in 1938.
I also have a copy of 16 boys who used to caddy at the Dowagiac golf course years ago.
Some of the boys were Joe Ostrowski, Hook Behnke, Joe Habrych, Jack Larkin, Jack Biek, Steve Lasynski, Walt Gaideski, Bill Behnke and Gordon Mumaugh.
Also, a picture of 1957 Polish National Alliance Athletic Club. In this picture are Vern and Ed Fester, Chet Stelmasiak, Lenny Ciesla, Hook Behnke and Alex Siczek.
Also, a copy of the old Goerlich building being painted by Ted Olejniezak and Alex Siczek, a picture of Caruso's Ice Cream truck, one of the old iron-railed bridge before the hill to Riverside Cemetery and a large picture of Dowagiac's 1929 football with their names.