1.04.157

Print, Photographic

1918

Waseca County World War I Enlistees at Courthouse, September 4, 1918. Material: paper. Size: 8 3/4" x 6 3/8". Description: black and white photograph of the group of Waseca County men who enlisted to serve in the U. S. Army during World War I, WWI, shown posing beside the Waseca County Courthouse on September 4, 1918; identified L-R: (front row) John Michael Mathews, New Richland; Henry Sylvester Mulcahy, Waseca Route 6; Henry Carl Bauman, Otisco; unidentified, Elmer Franklin Heckes, New Richland; Clarence Walter Korman, Waldorf; Edwin C. Grunwald, Roy Kruesin, Ernest Frederick, Waseca; Wobschall, Richard John Strenge, New Richland; unidentified, William Brady, New Richland; (middle) Walter A. Berndt, Janesville; Ernest Hobart Ferry, Waseca; Leo C. Weckwerth, New Richland; Herbert Ernest Suemnicht, Minnesota Lake; William Hiers, Walter John Foels, New Richland; Harry R. Jensen, New Richland; Palmer Orlando Hagen, New Richland; Grant A. McColley, New Richland; George Bell, New Richland; (back row) Martin Edward Mittlesteadt, Janesville; Walter Emanuel Sprengeler, Janesville; John George Barbknecht, Janesville; Ewald Richard Kuehn, Janesville Route 1; Frank Maas, Janesville, Route 4; Elmer W. Peterson, Ruben H. Johnson, William E. Curran, Edward Bruno, Waseca; photographed by Geo. Kopman. White print on front: "Left Sept. 4, 1918, Waseca, Minn."

The evening before the boys left, a dance with Perrin's orchestra providing the music was given by the Waseca Fire Department. The boys were admitted free. The next day, a banquet was spread at the Odd Fellows Hall where Lt. John Bullard, home on furlough, spoke about army life. Later, a program at Trowbridge Park and parade down to the train station saw the boys off to war. Over 600 were now in various branches of the service. A later scan was taken of a duplicate photo submitted as a loan by Daryl Slechta of Albert Lea.