The Princess and the Nuernberger

After church Sunday, I was talking to Vic’s sister-in-law. I told her that I would like to get with her and her mother soon to do some research about the family history on the farm. Mary Jo proceeded to tell me the story about how far back they had been able to work on the geneology. I believe she told me they were able to get back to the late 1700’s, but the exact dates will be in my paper. The exact names will also be in my paper, but I was so excited to hear this story that I just wanted to brief all of you in my blog this week of this finding. Apparently, there was a princess in Germany that married a Nuernberger. Way back then, when you were of royalty and married a commoner, you were dethroned. This princess apparently loved this Nuernberger guy so much that she decided to give up her royal title. I am so anxious to get with Mary Jo and her mother to get these facts. Mary Jo told me that she can prove the geneology, but that she cannot prove the fact that this ancestor was a princess due to the fact that she was dethroned. I am so ready to get started on this paper! So far I have heard so many different stories that I believe I could write a book!

I'm allergic to corn

I have been riding with Victor on the combine harvesting corn up until last week. When I rode with him while he combined wheat, I had no problem with allergies or sinuses. This corn, however, gave me a sinus infection. This problem started Saturday before last when my ears starting ringing. As four days passed, my ears were still ringing and I felt horrible! I had intentions of going to the doctor last Tuesday afternoon, but I canceled to get caught up on some homework. Last Thursday morning, I woke up at 3:30 A.M. with a fever of 102, so off to the doctor I went. He said I had fluid in my ears and I was clogged up in the head (more than usual!!!)and gave me Amoxil and told me to stay home until I was fever-free for 24 hours. He then asked me if I was usually bothered when the farmers were out in the fields combining corn. I told him that it never bothered me before, but I did not tell him I was actually on one of those combines. He proceeded to tell me that a person can develop allergies at any given time. The corn harvesting is almost complete, but next are soybeans. I will ride on the combine one night during the bean harvesting and see how I react. I am hoping that it is only corn I am allergic to!

Combining Corn

Well, I had my first experience combining corn Monday evening. Just climbing up in this combine was a bit scary for me. I am afraid of heights! I got inside this big piece of air conditioned machinery and sat quietly in the "buddy seat". Away we went at an average speed of 3.8 miles per hour up and down rows and rows of corn. If you have ever played the video game, "Pac Man", you may be able to understand what I was visualizing as I was riding along. This process also had me mesmerized, just like an open fire will draw me in and keep me staring into it for minutes at a time. I watched as this combine would knock over the cornstalks and just as quickly as it did this, shelled corn would pour out behind me in the rear window as the big bowl of the combine collected the nicely shelled corn. When the bowl was full of corn, Victor took the combine to the eightteen-wheeler farm truck and this long tube would come out of the side of the combine and would empty the corn from the combine into the truck. Away we would go again and get more corn until all the trucks, wagons, and combines were full of shelled corn. Since it was late evening, combining and filling wagons were all we did. Stayed tuned for more exciting events from the life and times at the Nuernberger Farms!

COLLEGE OVERLOAD!!!!

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed this week!  I have too much homework!  I need to get more disciplined in my studies, I guess.  I have classes five days a week.  I have a part-time job, children, grandchildren, a boyfriend and lots of homework.  Trying to juggle this new life can be totally overwhelming at times!  Sometimes I think I have made a mistake in wanting to return to college and further my nursing career at my age.  After a few hours without opening a book or looking at a computer screen, however, I find that renewed strength and keep on going on.  I have a lot of determination.  Also, for a graduation present, I am looking forward to getting a Mustang convertible!  I keep reminding myself that this hard road ahead will all be worth it in the long run!  I just have to keep on thinking and typing, typing and thinking, researching and studying, and so on!

Well I have to go to Algebra now.

Permission Letter

8 September 2010

  

Dear Mr. Nadziejko and Classmates:

I would like your permission to write about the history of the Nuernberger Farm.  This farm is located about two miles east New Athens, IL and to present extends almost to Marissa, IL.  It has been in the family for about one hundred sixty three years.  This is a subject I find very interesting and I have a lot of access to the family and all who help make a success of this farm.

This farm was first purchased in 1847.  The large farmhouse that now stands was once just a log cabin.  Underneath the original log cabin are still logs holding up the structure of this part of the home.  The home was added on to in the earlier years and now consists of nine rooms.  This home still has steam heat radiators.  Victor, the youngest of this generation of Nuernberger men, now resides in the farmhouse.  This is also the home he grew up in along with about seven generations of his ancestors.  There are some interesting stories about certain "ghosts" in this home and on one stormy night, I think one of these "ancestors" tried to protect me from getting struck by lightning.  This is a part of the story I will tell you about if you decide to let me write about this farm.

Other members of the Nuernberger family I will be interviewing are Dan and Mary Jo Nuernberger, Victor's older brother and sister-in-law, and Julie Nuernberger Main, Victor's older sister.  Others who take care of this farm include Victor's nephews, Ed and Brad Main.  There are several brothers of Julie's husband, John Main, who help at the farm.  I will also be interviewing very good family friends who own some of the newer farm acreage along with the Nuernberger family. 

I have spoken to most of the family members about my interest in writing this paper.  Victor has told me so many different stories already about his experiences on this farm.  He took me on my very first ride in a combine during the wheat harvesting.  These farmers are now busy harvesting corn.  Harvesting soybeans and planting wheat will come next.  I will be involved in all of this. 

The Nuernbergers no longer have cattle or horses, but they have had them in the past.  Today they continue to raise, sell, and butcher hogs.  Butchering season is in December.  I plan to be right in the middle of this whole process!  From the pictures of have seen, I am very glad I have a strong stomach!

The Nuernberger family is very prominent in the community of New Athens and in St. Clair County.  They are a very giving family to their community and highly respected.  When St. John's United Church of Christ has the Fall Wurstmart, all of the meat is donated by the Nuernberger Farm.  I have seen certificates from several different organizations hanging on the walls of the farmhouse.

These people are excited to help me out and most have told me they will have their own story about the happenings on this farm.  This paper will not be limited to riding in combines and plowing fields.  I will tell you about the original cost of the farm in 1847, the several generations of Nuernbergers that have lived on this farm, the changes in farming from 1847 to the present, planting and harvesting seasons, butchering seasons, and the hobos that lived by the farm at one time.

I can also ask about the cost of the some of the large equipment they have to use, how the economy is affecting the farm, how the government likes to dictate how they can no longer plow fields under and cannot use certain pesticides.  I will ask if being a farmer still seems like a rewarding profession. 

I visit the farm often and already know who I want to interview and about what topic I want each of these family members and all who help out to tell me about.  I can also ask a few villagers what makes this farm so special to the people of the New Athens. 

Sincerely,

Deb Reeves