Circa 1926, the Petersen family members gathered for a reunion at Lindsborg, Kansas. They toured the Bethany College campus and nearby Smoky Valley Roller Mill.
Bethany College
Established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ECLA). Swedish-Lutheran settlers worked with the Rev. Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson, Bethany’s founder, to establish Bethany Academy on October 15, 1881, in the sacristy of Bethany Lutheran Church in Lindsborg, Kansas, with ten students. Growing rapidly, Bethany evolved from Academy through 1885, to Bethany Normal Institute in 1887, to Bethany College in 1889. Notable Bethany presidents in the 20th century include Rev. Dr. Ernst Frederick Wilhelm Pihlblad (1873–1943), who was a Professor from 1895 to 1904, and president from 1905 to 1941. Under Pihlblad, Bethany was accredited and became a member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Downloaded December 7, 2014.
- WHAT: Posing for a snapshot in front of Bethany College Library while touring Bethany College.
- LEFT TO RIGHT: Hilda Ida Brunken, Elsie Ida Hagelman, Leona Margaret Arndt, Unidentified
- WHEN:Circa 1926
- WHERE: Bethany College Library
- SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
- WHAT: Having their picture taken in front of an arched entrance.
- Back Row, LEFT TO RIGHT: Unidentified, Clara Marie “Mary” (Petersen) Brunken, Mathilda (Petersen) Arndt
- Middle Row, LEFT TO RIGHT: Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified
- Front Row: Caroline Marcella Arnd
- WHEN: Circa 1926
- WHERE: Bethany College
- SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
- NOTES: There was no caption in Hilda’s album.
- WHAT: Touring Dorms – A continuation of the tour of Bethany College.
- Back Row, LEFT TO RIGHT: Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified, Hilda Ida Brunken, Leona Margaret Arndt, Unidentified
- Front Row: : Unidentified
- WHEN: Circa 1926
- WHERE: Bethany College
- SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
- NOTES: Hilda is taking a picture of the photographer. Maybe there are more snapshots yet to be discovered.
- WHAT: A picture taken in front of a statue of the Founder of Bethany College
- LEFT TO RIGHT: Leona Margaret Arndt, Hilda Ida Brunken, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified, Unidentified
- WHEN: Circa 1926
- WHERE: Bethany College
- SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
- NOTES: After the death of college founder Dr. Carl Aaron Swensson in 1904, funds were raised for this statue which was sculpted in Italy. The life-sized statue was originally placed in front of Old Main, then moved to the west edge of campus, and finally to its current home, atop a fountain in front of Presser Hall at the south entrance.
- WHAT: A tour taken of the Smoky Valley Roller Mill while the Petersen relatives were visiting at Bethany College. People are on an overlooking ledge.
- WHO: UnIdentified – Probably the same people who took the tour of Bethany College.
- WHEN: Circa 1926
- WHERE: Lindsborg, Kansas
- SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
- NOTES: The pictures are of the mill dam and sluice of the Smoky Valley Roller Mill near Lindsborg, Kansas.
- WHAT: Smoky Valley Roller Mill
- SOURCE: Old Mill Museum web site http://www.lindsborghistory.org/oldmill.htm
- NOTES: “The present Smoky Valley Roller Mill was built in 1898 to replace an earlier mill which had been destroyed by fire. Originally water powered, the mill was later converted to steam power and then to electricity. Now a part of the McPherson County Old Mill Museum complex in south Lindsborg, the mill is put into operation once a year during the annual Millfest celebration in early May”. Downloaded December 14, 2014 from the Old Mill Museum web site.
- WHAT: Petersen Family Photo
- WHO:
- a = Hilda Ida Brunken (1906-1946)
- b = Edna Margarethe Petersen (1912-2007)?
- c = Elsie Ida Hagelman (1901-1973)
- d = Unidentified
- e = Anna Catherine (Petersen) Hagelman (1874-1955)
- f = Ruby Petersen (1914-2006)
- g = Alwina Johanna (Hoefelman) Petersen (1890-1981)
- h = Clara Marie “Mary” (Petersen) Brunken (1884-1972)
- i = Mildred Lorena Brunken (1920-2014) ?
- j = Tetta Hanna (Johannes) Petersen (1898-1972)
- k = Caroline Macella Arndt (1914-2002)
- l = Mathilda (Petersen) Arndt (1876-1935)
- m = Edward Arndt (1875-1951)
- n = Maxine Ruth Petersen (1925-2011)
- o = Christian Broder “Chris” Petersen (1894-1974)
- p = Melvin Carsten Petersen (1917-1999)
- q = William Leopold Brunken (1878-1941)
- r = Carsten Petersen Jr. (1882-1959)
- s = Mabel Florence Petersen (1924- )
- WHEN: Circa 1926
- WHERE: Lindsborg, Kansas
- SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
- WHAT:Petersen Family and Cars
- WHO: See Identification Photo Crops Below
- WHEN: Circa 1926
- WHERE: Lindsborg, Kansas
- SOURCE: Hilda Brunken’s Album
- NOTES: Possibly this pictures was taken just before everyone returned home.
- WHAT: Identification Picture 1
- WHO:
- a = Edmund E. Arndt (1906-1984) or Raymond William Arndt (1906 – 1976) – twins
- b = Walter C. Arndt (1908-1993)?
- c = Herbert E. Arndt (1905-1980)?
- WHAT: Identification Picture 2
- WHO:
- d = Edmund E. Arndt (1906-1984) or Raymond William Arndt (1906-1976) – twins
- e = Christian Broder “Chris” Petersen (1894-1974)
- f = Caroline Macella Arndt (1914-2002)
- g = William Leopold Brunken (1878-1941)
- h = Mildred Lorena Brunken (1920-2014)
- i = Maxine Ruth Petersen (1925-2011) – about the right age and in her mother’s lap.
- j = Tetta Hanna (Johannes) Petersen (1898-1972)
- k = Carsten Petersen Jr. (1882-1959)
-
- WHAT: Identification Picture 3
- WHO:
-
- l = Anna Catherine (Petersen) Hagelman (1874-1955)
- m = Mabel Florence Petersen (1924- ) – in front of her mother Alwina and about the right age.
- n = Alwina Johanna (Hoefelman) Petersen (1890-1981)
- o = Clara Marie “Mary” (Petersen) Brunken (1884-1972)
- p = Ruby Petersen (1914-2006)
- q = Mathilda (Petersen) Arndt (1876-1935)
- r = Hilda Ida Brunken (1906-1946)
- s = Rueben Arndt (1913-1984)?
- WHAT: Identification Picture 1
- WHO:
- t = Edward Arndt (1875-1951)
- u = Unidentified
- v = Leona Margaret Arndt (1909-1997)?
- w = Melvin Carsten Petersen (1917-1999)? cannot see face but correct apparent age
- x = Edna Margarethe Petersen (1912-2007)? possibly
Notes
Why Petersen family reunion:
- Possibly to visit the Bethany College campus for checking out attending by several of the cousins.
- Possibly one of the cousins is attending Bethany College and is in a musical presentation.
- Possibly to attend one of the musical performances that Bethany College was well known for.
- Or maybe this was the graduation of one of the cousins?
Some of the Carsten Petersen, Sr. children and families who have not been identified as being in the picture are the following:
- Minnie Christina (Petersen) Grossnicklaus and family
- Cecelia Margaret (Petersen) Weber and family
- Lucia Bertha “Lucy” (Petersen) Griepentrog and children
- Frieda Ida Petersen
- Emma (Petersen) Mueller family – Emma had passed away in 1913.
- Some of Clara Marie “Mary” (Petersen) Brunken’s children – Looks like Hilda and Mildred are in the picture but where are the other three children? Possibly Hilda is with her parents because she has graduated from high school (May 1926) and her sibs have been left home because they would miss school?
There are five cars parked behind the group – so possibly five families
- Edward and Matilda Arndt
- William and Mary Brunken
- Anna Catherine (Petersen) Hagelman
- Christian Broder “Chris” and Tetta Hanna (Johannes) Petersen
- Carsten (1882-1959) and Alvina Petersen
There are 24 people (plus the photographer) which gives on the average, 5 people per car.
Who took the picture? Elsie Ida Hagelman does not seem to be in the picture so maybe she is the person who took the snapshot.
