New book published about Streeter, ND

December 10, 2000

The new book, "Gazing Forward, Glancing Back, Remembering Always: Memories Retold and Relived by the Community of Streeter, North Dakota" by Sandi Dewald has been published by the Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, NDSU Libraries, Fargo.

Sandi Dewald shares a wonderful story of special memories from many of the longtime Streeter families: Becker, Buck, Dewald, Dockter, Erbele, Gienger, Graf, Hoffer, Iszler, Ketterling, Lang, Moos, Opp, Rau, Schauer, Schmidt, Schultes, Schulz, Schumacher, Spitzer, Strehle, Zenker, Zentner, Zinck, Veil, Williams, Wittmer, and Wolff. Sandi Dewald is a life-long resident of Streeter and a local historian. She is of Germans from Russia heritage.

Sandi Dewald states in the introduction: "This book is a tribute and thank you to all the people who have shared their ideas, insight and love with us. Without the help of each and every one this book would not have been possible. The stories and advice found in this book are true-life experiences with the credit given to the individual whenever possible."

"So much of our heritage will be lost if we, the middle-agers, don't start to record these things. Years ago everyone had a garden, raised and cleaned chickens and turkeys, raised kids and milked cows. There weren't any freezers, no electricity and for sure no running water. Nowadays how many of us have a garden patch, sew, cook or bake?"

Featured in the book is the history of Matilda Schlenker Dockter born on July 31, 1895, born at Kloestitz, Bessarabia (today in southern Ukraine). Matilda celebrated her 105th birthday on July 31, 2000, at Streeter, ND. When she was seven years old, Matilda came to the U.S. with her parents and seven brothers and sisters. They were on the ship for 21 days and she remembers many people were very seasick. The family landed at Ellis Island, New York. They traveled by train to North Dakota.

Many photographs are included throughout the book of Streeter and families, as well as persons who share their memories. Valuable historic photographs are printed, which were donated to the Streeter Centennial Library by Frances H. Wardell Morris.

Price of the book is $14 plus $3 postage payable to the NDSU Library. To order the book, write to: Germans from Russia Heritage Collection, Streeter, ND Book, NDSU Libraries, PO Box 5599, Fargo, ND 58105-5599 (Tel: 701-231-8416) (web address: http://library.ndsu.edu/grhc/order/nd_sd/dewald.html).