Full audio file. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 1 - Introduction. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 2- Her birth and family background (The Gregor family of Lincoln was Bohemian). Tape 1, Side 1, Part 3 - Her mother was Alice Deprez of Dyckesville - a Belgian. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 4 - Mabel's father was born in Bohemia and came to this country at 6 months of age. The Gregor family were squatters in Manitowoc when they first came. Later they bought land in Lincoln Township. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 5 - Mabel's reaction to being of mixed ethnic heritage. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 6 - Lincoln was a community of mixed ethnic groups. Since both of her parents spoke English, Mabel was not bilingual. However, when they visited her Belgian or Bohemian relatives, she felt left out since they all spoke Walloon or Bohemian. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 7 - Religion - differences between Bohemian and Belgian. Religion in her family (there was some skepticism toward religion in general). Tape 1, Side 1, Part 8 - Protestants in the community - most of the Germans were Lutheran. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 9 - Belgian religious schisms - especially the Spiritualists. (Her mother told of episodes of "possession.") Tape 1, Side 1, Part 10 - Vilatte schism - churches at Duvall and Gardner. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 11 - Ethnic composition of the churches - totally Belgians at Dyckesville, Rosiere, and Lincoln. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 12 - Lincoln area was all Bohemian (with a little German) in the early days - the Belgians have moved in more recently. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 13 - Comments on the "Holy Jumpers" at Lincoln - many Catholics joined this group. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 14 - Description of her religious upbringing. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 15 - Language of the churches - Latin or English in the Lincoln church, although the Bohemian and German churches did have some services in their own languages. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 16 - Attitudes toward family planning and divorce. "Grass widow" was a term used to describe divorced women. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 17 - Education - she taught for 6 years (at Highview, Duvall Graded, Gregor, and U.S. Grant in Luxemburg, from 1927-1935 intermittently) and was a librarian after that. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 18 - Language problems for the Belgians - reading and spelling were harder for the children when Walloon was spoken at home. "Belgian" was spoken at the dances especially. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 19 - The Belgians were a more "clannish" community. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 20 - The Belgian children always could speak a few words of English. Often the children would visit school with an older brother or sister the year before they actually started school themselves. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 21 - What happened after 8th grade - most went on the high school in Dyckesville or Algoma. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 22 - Depression it went down to $65 per month. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 23 - Her educational training. Door-Kewaunee Teachers College. She was the only one in her class to go on to college. She boarded in Algoma for one year, then commuted with neighbor boys (she paid them $1.25 per week). Tape 1, Side 1, Part 24 -Changes in the rural schools that led to consolidation. Teachers in the one-room schools were willing to do maintenance (build fires, etc.) and put in long hours. In recent years it became more difficult to hire teachers for the county schools. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 25 - Therefore, consolidation took place about 1956. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 26 - Each school had its own school board (before consolidation) and she and Hugh served on the Gregor School Board. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 27 - Elections and financing of rural schools (based on a property tax levy). Tape 1, Side 1, Part 28 - Controversy surrounding consolidation (fear of higher taxes, etc.), especially the boundaries were disputed. Lincoln township was divided among three school districts (Algoma, Kewaunee, and Luxemburg). Tape 1, Side 1, Part 29 - Belgian attitudes toward higher eductation. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 30 - Gregor School District Records - what happened to them. Tape 1, Side 1, Part 31 - Algoma library - hear also side 2. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 1 - Annual town meetings for Lincoln - description of the April meetings. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 2 - Women's role in local politics. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 3 - Shopping practices when she was young (Algoma was their main shopping center). Tape 1, Side 2, Part 4 - Peddlers cam around. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 5 - Patent medicines and home remedies. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 6 - Preparations for the cows - medical care for the animals. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 7 - Medical doctors (Dr. Kerscher and Dr. Halloin, who delivered Mabel), and health care. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 8 - Hugh describes his experiences with Dr. Kerscher (Hugh and his driver). Tape 1, Side 2, Part 9 - Dental care - haphazard. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 10 - The schools often fulfilled the health care needs of the children - county nurses visited the schools, "Crusader" program kept track of the health habits of the youngsters. One year of physiology was taught. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 11 - More anecdotes about about Hugh and Dr. Kerscher. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 12 - Belgian attitude toward money - they were usually very conservative. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 13 - Attitude toward mortgages, moneylenders, etc. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 14 - The existence of poetry, diaries, etc. was scarce. Mabel's aunt did do some writing, however. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 15 - Mabel's experiences with the library in Algoma (where there was less than total support for the library). Tape 1, Side 2, Part 16 - Method of funding the Algoma library. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 17 - The Algoma and Kewaunee libraries are actually city libraries. Until 1976 there were no county facilities at all. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 18 - Now a county library board has formed. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 19 - Door and Kewaunee Counties did participate in a bookmobile a few years ago, but the townships voted it down. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 20 - The attitude has been that one doesn't need libraries after he gets out of school. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 21 - Belgian foods. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 22 - Kermis - changes which have taken place in the celebration. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 23 - Her family background - three children (her folks did not believe in large families); all of the children went to high school, her Dad had a library of about 500 books, although he only had a third grade education. Tape 1, Side 2, Part 24 - When she taught school and boarded in the Belgian community they had certain foods unique to them.
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