Richard Gelatt:
CLASS OF 1960
Alexander High SchoolClass of 1960
Nekoosa, WI
Nekoosa High SchoolClass of 1960
Nekoosa, WI
Concordia High SchoolClass of 1960
Oakland, CA
Humke Elementary SchoolClass of 1954
Nekoosa, WI
Richard's Story
I attended the 50th reunion in the summer of 2010 as a guest. Thanks to all of you for making me welcome (and my wife Sue too!) It was great to see old friends, meet new friends, and see classmates and others from town.
Story: One day I realized that I was alive, and it was on my grandfathers' farm (Peter & Elsie Anderson), South of Nekoosa by seven miles, As far South as Sunset tavern on Hwy G, but 1 mile E, and then a few hundred yards back North. Continuing N a few more hundred yards was Oakridge School, which I later attended. I was always the only student in my class! My mom, Ruth Gelatt and my brother Roger also came to live on the farm. My grand-dad always wanted a little 'place up north in Wisconsin' (As so many wanted a little cabin on a lake). He had worked as a machinist in Chicago (Where I was born - 1942). When my dad Wallace Gelatt joined the US Army, my mom and 'us kids' moved back with her mom and dad. We tagged along to the farm. The farm was 160 Acres on 2 different plots of 80 Acres each. The plan was to do a little farming. It was still a few years until my grand-dad could retire, and the $ became short, so he let the farming rest for a bit, and worked in the Nepco Foundry in Nekoosa until he retired. The dam was going in at Petenwell, but the water level was still low. One winter, everyone was encouraged to travel out on the ice, cut any standing wood, so when the dam gates closed, motorboats would not get stuck on trees or brush near the surface of the water. I was little then. A while later, we got word that my father had died while in France. He caught cold, from nights sleeping in un-heated barns, etc, and finally died from complications that left him weak from initial illness. We were all saddended, and especially when we did not get the news until months after he was gone. The Military paperwork finally was brought up to date, and his mom was first notified at once, but records did not initially show the marriage to my mom, or our 'new' address on Star Route of Nekoosa WI! The Western Union man from town was the one that brought us the news, and we were devastated. We finally knew what sadness was when the Western Union man told us that he had lost his son and was notified the same day. He had to copy the message himself, and there was no one there to share a hug or a tear with. At that point we all learned of the greatest sadness. ...More than anyone should ever have to endure!
My brother and I grew. We had visits to Chicago, and met some people that my Uncle Vincent Anderson knew. My mom was introduced to a fellow that had 2 daughters, and after a time of dating and such, we traveled back towards Nekoosa, where Lloyd Goetz married my mom and the fellow with the 2 girls. Our home was in Chicago to start, and my Kindergarten year, and part of first grade was spent in Chicago, on Olcott St, Near Belmont and Diversey. The step-dad also wanted a place 'up in Wisconsin, and during first grade, our new family moved to Cornucopia WI. Our 'farm' there was on Hwy 13, 4 miles from Cornucopia and also Herbster WI. Both those little towns are still unincorporated, with less than 250 people each. Our school was in Herbster, where I finished 1st grade and started 2nd grade. While on this farm, I had a calf to raise, a dozen piglets to slop, 100 chicks to feed and raise, and also picked apples from our orchard there, as well as blackberries, raspberries, currants, ...Expand for more
blueberries, and the like. The road was the last road in Northern WI, before Lake Superior. On clear nights, we could see northern lights in the sky. On clear days, we could see across the lake to part of Minnesota. Iron ore boats made a continuous path across the lake from Duluth and Superior to the smelters near Gary IN, or Detroit MI. This new step-dad was a very jealous person, and especially when he had something to drink. It was not long, and my mom could not bear the beatings that she received nor could stand it when my brother and I were spanked 'for no good reason'. Finally, on a winter night, she packed a few things in a suitcase, and we started walking down the road to a neighbor. Our cars seldom would start in the cold of the winter. The step-dad took care of the daughters, and we made our way to Ashland WI to friends, and later rescued one of the cars and traveled back to the farm in Nekoosa. A divorce soon followed. We were free of the person who had 2 personalities! We visited a short time with Grandma and Grandpa, and then were off to Chicago to meet with friends, where we could not be found. I finished 2nd grade and started 3rd grade in Chicago. I finished 3rd grade at Oakridge school (Nekoosa, Juneau County, Township of Armenia). I started 4th grade there too! My grandma had been troubled with Asthma, and the Dr advised her that a move to Arizona or San Diego CA would be a climate much more suited for someone with asthma. After some thought, the farm was sold, and we were off to San Diego CA. Our home was in the suburb named Hillcrest, Near Balboa Park). I finished 4th grade at Alice Birney Elementary School (in the old Univ of San Diego Buildings). I read a lot during the summer. Many times, more than 10 books a week. I finished the summer reading program in 6 days. (20 books!) The librarian was amazed. For fall, I started 5th grade in the new buildings for the elementary school, on the same property. My grandparents health was fine there, but they were homesick for the farm in WI, so we moved back to WI, and rented a farmhouse from the 'Petersons', which was 'on the WI river', and near the old farm. I was now a mile farther from Oakridge school, but I continued 5th grade at Oakridge School. Before the school year was up, my mom had found work in town, and we bought the house at 268 Wood Ave in Nekoosa. It was the same plan as the Ploetz residence, a few blocks west of us, but we were on the N side of the street, and they were on the S side of the street. Our old house has been moved somewhere else in town, and now a street runs through where our house was. Our neighbors were Sanger, Mans, Britten, Spice, Gilman, Koester, etc. I finished 5th grade at Nekoosa Elementary School in Mary Hale's class. Our class outing was to Chicago, and some our stops were the museums, Ford Factory, and Aquarium. I have some pictures from that trip, and will share them, as soon as I can scan them. Today, they are hilarious, to see the styles, hairdo's, etc. The trip was traveled by bus, but there were 3 more students than seats, so folding chairs were set up in the aisle of the bus, so we could slide around. Thank God that the bus was not in an accident!
I will have to continue later. ...by 14th grade (College Sophmore), I was at my 14th school, not counting the same school more that once, even if I attended there more than twice..... Be well my classmates. I miss you ALL ! !
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