May 10 cleaning

On Saturday, May 10, 2014 a good group of helpers joined together for spring cleaning at the Fackler's Grove Cemetery bringing along small chain saws, loppers, clippers, weed whackers and other tools to use.  We thank the Kemmerer, Faltis, Showalter,and Horak families as well as Robert Hach and Clary Illian for their cheerful and willing help!

The gate area was cleared and old fencing taken down in preparation for placing a new gate. An area at the entrance was cleared of brush to allow for parking and improved access for vehicles.  Low hanging and/or dead branches were cut and hauled away from the grounds and the we walked the cemetery to find and remove fallen branches.

Below are some photos:

Calling for Volunteers

Spring is here and the Ely Community History Society is gearing up and planning for more work on the Fackler's Grove Cemetery project.  We are hoping the weather will warm up soon because we are excited to get back to it after the long, cold winter!

Many people have expressed interest in helping with this project. If you are up for some physical work and can commit to a few hours of work this spring and summer, please call Barb at 848-4074, or email us at the address in the right column.

Thank you!

Update on Western Building

Does Western College Still Stand?  Read this article by Michael S. Cash as an update to the video he created (see "A Building in Western).  He shows various views of the building through the years and reveals new information in his quest to find out if the building is, in fact, one of the buildings left when Western College moved to Toledo. (Click the arrow on the right to view full-size.)

Western Hall and early band

Click the picture to enlarge it.

This 1891 photo was donated to the ECHS archives by the late Leo Modracek, who lived very near or on the original grounds of the old Western College that was once in Western.  It shows an early band standing in front of a wooden building with wide steps.  It is labeled "Western Hall (Dance)."  

The man in white standing by the door is Joseph Witousek, who owned the College Square at the time this picture was taken. 

Some of the men in the band are identified: 

(l to r) Frank Buresh(?);  Frank Netolicky, Sr;  Unknown; Unknown; Unknown; Frank Andrle (drum);  John Krejca; Unknown; Joe (or Frank?) Hronik, Sr.; Unknown; Wes Bys; Unknown.

If you recognize any of the band members, please let us know.  Our email address is in the right column.

Help Identify

The below photo donated by Adeline (Jansa) Volesky is of the L. J. Palda C.S.P.S. Lodge organized about 1890 in the town of Western, Iowa.  The lodge moved to Swisher, Iowa in 1916. 

If you recognize an ancestor in the photo, please let us know.  The only identity we have is Frank Jansa, who is in the second row, third from the right, with his hands in his lap.

C.S.P.S. stands for "Česko-Slovenský Podporující Spolek" (Czech-Slovak Protective Society)

Please click on the photo to enlarge it.

July, 2022 - Ed Vavra found an old photo of the CSPS Lodge in Western. (Photo circa 1940)