Model-T Ford, a Model-A, and others. In later years rides were pooled with other
neighbors who were also sending their children to Christ Lutheran School. Many
hours were spent riding to and from school; much of that time was spent in memo-
rizing Luther’s Small Catechism. It was not unusual to spend extra time on the way
to school stuck in the mud on the hills near the Bill Loseke place or on the Wahl hill.
Snow shovels were always ready in winter to help get through the snow drifts so
the children could get to school.
Emil purchased his first car, a Haynes, in 1915. The next car he purchased
was a Cole-8, a very interesting model. To start it, Rosa would manage the choke
inside the car while Emil was outside the car turning the crank. Sometimes the
crank would kick back and hit or even break the arm of the person doing the crank-
ing. The Cole-8 was completely open with only a top on it. Side curtains could be
snapped on in case of rain or colder weather. This car was very long and had two
extra jump seats that folded down into the back and front seats when not needed.
Clarence, Velma, and Gilbert sat on the back seat, while Edna and Ann sat on the
jump seats. Emil and Rosa sat in front with whomever was the baby at that time.
Cars of that era had no seatbelts, but speeds were not too great due to the poor
condition of the roads.
In summertime the Emil Grotelueschen family would take a number of Sun-
day trips. A hot lunch of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, and sweet
rice with fruit on top would be packed into a box called a Fireless Cooker. The meal
would be hot at noontime when it was time to eat. The family would take Sunday
trips to Bancroft, Nebraska, where they would go to church and visit friends, or to
Genoa, Nebraska, to watch the Indian boys play ball.
The fireless cooker was also used when the family would go to Columbus,
Nebraska, early in the morning to see the great circus parade and attend the 3-ring
Ringling Brothers Circus in the afternoon. The circus was complete with ele-
phants, tigers, lions, clowns, monkeys, and many other circus entertainers. Lunch
was eaten on the circus grounds where many other families were gathered to see
the animals and the circus.
Not one of Emil’s nine children ever went hungry for lack of food. A large
garden was a family project and much canning was done. Crocks of sauerkraut
and meat in brine were canned for the winter. There was a smoke house for pre-
serving meat. Potatoes, apples, carrots, pumpkins, and onions were stored in a
deep cave that also served as a storm cellar. Chickens, eggs, milk, cream, cottage
cheese, and butter were everyday products that the family had to gather or pre-
pare.
Only during the depression in the 30’s was Rosa rather concerned about a
lack of food. Crops and gardens couldn’t produce in adequate amounts due to
drought and grasshoppers. Some days there was very little feed for the chickens.
Emil and Rosa planted an orchard soon after they started farming. They had
100 fruit trees in their orchard that was planted on the southeast corner of the farm
place. Usually there were more apples, plums, cherries, and pears than the family
could eat. During the depression the grasshoppers ate all of the leaves off of the
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