Ancestry Chapter 47
1935-1936 Recollections, More Weddings
The Norek family, 1935, Chicago
The chronological placing here is somewhat happenstance. These are random family recollections.
Mentioned earlier is that Michael Norek was a horseman, and he could make a horse dance on his hind legs. The family owned a cottage, first in Deer Grove, and later in Palatine. Michael also sailed, and was a member of the Ravinia yacht club.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and belonged to a special mounted unit thereof. His swords that hung on the wall at Mozart Street were his Knights of Columbus swords. (Is this where legends became confused -- that his swords were from Germany, and that he was a special mounted honor guard to the Kaiser? More than one person has identified the swords as from the Knights of Columbus.)
Michael Norek also belonged to a German singing club. He loved to sing, and he loved to dance.
And the children learned to sing and to dance from their father. Dolores loves to dance. Ruthie wrote of how she loved to sing and dance like her father. (I am rather certain that Michael Jr. did neither, or at least did neither well.)
It has also been said that Michael Norek "presided" over the family meals. And Antonia served the meals, cooked the meals, etc., etc. I have not heard of Antonia riding, or singing, or sailing. I did hear that Antonia was a secret woman's rights advocate.
Antonia and Michael told stories to the children, including stories of God, Christ, Mary, the angels and the saints. They had a holy water font at home. (I recall we did too.)
Evenings at home were the time for games and songs. Weekends were spent at the family cottage, hiking or playing around. Papa Mike loved to dance, and all the children followed his example -- hold it right there –again, Michael Jr. dancing? Sometimes, but ...
Medley of photos of the Norek's at play.
Top left, Josephine holding Gertrude by her ankles.
Top right, the Norek football team enmass.
Bottom left, Mike contemplating kicking the ball.
Bottom right, Josephine with George on her shoulders.
Photo
on page right. Josephine and Gertrude, posing in the back yard on Mozart.
Gertrude's outfit is a type of jumpsuit.
Josephine Norek marries Chester, 1935, Chicago
Josephine, 23, marries Chester, 24, in 1935, in Chicago. Josephine is the first of Antonia's children to marry (the first the second-batch children to marry).
1935. The Social Security Act is passed into law.
A wedding photograph. The bride is Betty and the bridesmaid is her sister Lucille, both children of Lucy.
Larry
born, 1936, Chicago
Josephine and Chester's first child, Lawrence (Larry), is born in 1936.
He will be among the four very often photographed little grandchildren.
Left photo. Jo with baby Larry in the front
row on the left.
If anyone recognizes the backyard, or the other gals or any of the children, let me know.
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