Youngtown: Bowers opens house for tour by Costello family
By MARGARET IRELAND
Youngtown correspondent
(620) 382-2713
Mary Beth and Greg Bowers moved their home from its former site north of Tampa in 1982. The last person to live in it at its former site was Agnes Costello. The Costello family had a reunion this weekend and asked permission to tour their grandmother's former home. Fourteen people came to the Bowers' home Saturday and enjoyed renewing memories of times past. They recalled that the house had no plumbing except in the kitchen. Some of the people came from as far away as Washington state.
Rose and Greg Davidson have an exchange student, Christine Schwarz, from Germany, staying with them for the next 10 months. The Davidsons and Christine spent Wednesday through Saturday at the Marion County Fair. The girls participated in the horse show, the style show, and entered their 4-H projects.
Leon and Cate Hayen came Thursday to visit Dorothy and John Hayen. Marilyn Geis joined them for lunch at Florence. Virginia Downing, Dorothy, and John had lunch Sunday at Florence. John reported a half inch of rain early Monday morning.
Kelsie and Keaton Sorenson of Holcomb spent last week with their grandparents, Leonard and Rosalie Klassen. Cora and Don Sorenson came Saturday afternoon and took them home. Leonard and Rosalie attended the reception for Ryan and Christy Vogt Saturday night at Hesston. The Klassens visited Eleanor and Ray Davidson Sunday night.
Eileen and Skip Sieger and Shari Blehlke were Saturday night dinner guests of John and Maurine Pruitt at their home in Wichita.
Adam Turk of Baldwin City spent Tuesday and Wednesday with Faye and Jerry Makovec. Jeannine Bateman and Faye worked Thursday night in the Republican booth at the Marion County Fair. Jerry and Faye attended the polka Mass, reception, and dance for Alex and Jean Stuchlik at Pilsen Sunday.
Jackie Hett was a Friday evening dinner and music theater guest of Ken and Melinda Helmer. They saw "Ragtime." Jackie attended the Hett family reunion Sunday noon at the Marion Senior Center. She helped Ed McGinness celebrate his 80th birthday Sunday afternoon at McGillicuddy's.
I spent all day Wednesday at the fair helping place exhibits on display for viewing in the senior citizens' booth.
Don Spinden of Fort Collins, Colo., ate Friday supper with Howard and Beth Collett. Howard and Beth attended the Marion County Fair parade and took in the exhibits.
I spent the weekend in Wichita with Jo Gearhart. We attended the Wichita Music Theater production, "Ragtime," Sunday afternoon and had supper at Piccadilly's afterward to celebrate our birthdays.
Mary Beth Bowers, Rhonny and Luke drove to Wichita Friday. Rhonny spent the day with Brent Lowe, son of Rick and Debbie Lowe. Luke and Mary Beth visited Exploration Place. On the way home, they visited Doug and Janelle Paden in Newton.
Edmund Steiner and Vicki Smolik attended the 40th wedding anniversary celebration of Alex and Jean Stuchlik on Sunday. They attended the Mass, reception, and dance in the Pilsen activity center. Alex is a brother of Angela Tajchman and she also was at the celebration.
Youngtown FCE met on Tuesday at the Stone City Café. Gertie Mahoney brought the lesson on the past practice of front porch sitting. This brought back memories to all of us. Other members present were LuCretia Winkley, Roseva McLinden, Lorene Smith, Darlene Schmidt, and Margaret Ireland.
Alvina Hoffman has returned from Avon, S.D., where she and Laverne recently drove to attend a Ratzlaff family reunion. Alvina has been busy for some time writing her life story. Laverne made her work into a book with her picture on the front and the book was dedicated to Leonard, the son who died many years ago at an early age. Each cousin attending the reunion was presented with a copy of the book.
Bryce and Breanna Bowers spent Friday and Saturday with Shirley and David Bowers. David and Shirley met Brian and Shelinda Bowers and children at BETO junction for luncheon Sunday to celebrate Paige's eighth birthday.
Roy and Rose Olive Hett had breakfast Thursday morning with Paul and Jane Hett. Wanda Coe came on Saturday to visit her parents before she gets busy teaching school for another year. Roy and Rose Olive attended the 84th annual Hett family reunion Sunday noon at the Marion Senior Center.
