He came from Austria. Dreulach. Or Vorderberg. A place that was always at war. Didn’t stop him from knocking up a woman. Three times, before he fled to America.
Landed in Milwaukee. Finally. A place that needed a carpenter. He settled into his wood shop. Uninsulated. No plumbing. No heat for those sub-zero days. He figured using his hands to work wood—that would keep him warm.
She showed up with three kids in tow. That’s what kept him warm. Or stoked his anger. Or drove him to drink.
Still.
He married her. Had two more kids. He gave away his artistry, little Valentine screen repairs, plugs for holes that let Winter in. Nobody would be colder than he was.
Maybe that’s what led to the divorce. A marriage that couldn’t last a brutal winter. Another drift of snow. More icicles on the eaves. Black ice along the front walk.
He slipped into his shop and stayed there, until he couldn’t be alone anymore. Valentine Mitsche, MTM’s great-grandfather, moved in with one of his sons. His ex-wife lived right down the hall.
She followed him everywhere. Or maybe he followed her.
All the way to the end.
24 Comments
Wonderful story, reminds me of my grandpa. Like MTM’s great grandpa, he was a carpenter, learned the trade working in a shipyard in Jamaica… or was it Belize? Nobody really knew. A mulatto in any case. Knocked up grandma, then another girl, then another, then another. Never married.
When I was in college I took a rare trip back home and one day a cousin I hadn’t seen in a decade showed up where I was staying with a kid in arms. “Cute baby, yours?” I inquired. “Meet your newest uncle” she replied. Still busy the old man. He must have been 85 or so at that time.
Remarkable and humbling
Its so easy to be so comfortable and spoiled with the new stuff.
I always think of my old relatives and say “how could you possibly live like that?!”
I wouldn’t want to discount the brutality of those conditions. I think the strain on relationships would be powerful. Yet they stayed in close proximity. That was probably a practical move, but it’s a tender story despite the rough edges. I love the photograph.
More MTM stories! Actually, it sounds like great-grandfather would be an excellent subject for a book.
And Happy Valentine’s Day to you both!!
Having that kind of history is amazing, I sometimes wish I knew the history behind my ancestors who came here!
Nice new banner, btw. Seems I may have seen something like it lately. 😉
Similar immigrant stories surely are told around many-a-table each day, Andra. At first, I feel sad with hardship, then, one can’t help but admire the pure grit of both Valentine and his wife.
Someday I hope you retire as the town historian, chronicling the fascinating lives of those around you. I love love love what you dig up, and how you present it. You truly have a gift for making what could be presented as just the plain facts as something that reads like a bestselling novel.
I’d buy this whole story.
Wow. What a story! The irony is incredible. A guy named Valentine who was cold at heart. I’m glad MTM didn’t inherit that.
His hands. Those are serious tools.
Your story reminds me the lives my parents and grandparents once lived. What happened to us? Will future generations one day look back on us with wonder and awe because of our hardships?
Both sad and uplifting…depending upon your vantage point.
Not such a leap from carpentry to architecture, but world’s apart in other things. Happy Valentine’s Day to you both.
Happy Valentines Day to you and MTM. And to Great Grandpa Valentine, too.
It’s amazing how we survive and DON’T become our parents. Pain yes, but MTM seems to have a beautiful spirit…which is why you picked each other – two beautiful spirits (and I don’t mean the drinking kind…well, maybe I do…) 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day you two lovebirds!
“Negotiations and love songs are often mistaken for one and the same” — Paul Simon
Well told.
A Happy Valentine to one of my favorite couples… The Cootchie Mama and the ever patient MTM.
That’s a very interesting story, Andra. Not a love story, but it ended up as one with you and MTM. Happy V-Day and I got your mail today. The post office rushed it to me in six days. :-p
I like reading your stories very much 🙂 I hope the walk is going well…uhmm…have been out of the loop for some weeks now 😛
happy valentine’s day to you and mtm, what an interesting history and his hands look huge in the picture. )
He must have told her where he was, it couldn’t have been easy back then to find someone who didn’t want to be found. What a tale, he looks like a tough guy.
Thats some story- my goodness you had my complete attention !
I am endlessly curious about the stories of those who have gone before me. I so wish they had written more things down. But if they had then i wouldn’t get to imagine their stories. Great post.
That line between love and hate is always so blurry…
Extreme emotions, both. They turn on a dime sometimes.
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