Appam Reunion: June 26-28th

From Beverly and Gary Sundquist:

The Appam Community Celebration is over. Thank you for coming and making it a great time. A special thank you to our host, Rich Holm, for making each and every one of us feel as if we were an important part of his family. Without his gracious hospitality this event could not have happened. Thanks Rich! We had a wonderful time and created memories to last forever. Thanks also to committee members Arlys Esterby Sovik, Beverly Johnson Sundquist, and Larry Johnson for their generous donation of time and talents as Rich and I (Donna) began planning the activities. Gary Sundquist's band provided a great evening of entertainment with our hosts the Alamo Firefighters. We are so glad that Gary is drinking from the saucer because his cup has overflowed! A special thanks also goes to a great family effort by the children of Stafford and Bertha Johnson as they served a delicious brunch after the Sunday worship service.

Some of those special moments were recorded on digital cameras by our friends and classmates. They are now ready to be shared with each of you. Almost 600 photos have been received by John Anfinson at Comtechnd. He has graciously volunteered his site to house the photos so that you can look at each of them and save or print them as you wish. (If you still have some to share - burn them on a cd and mail them to John at 2015 1st Ave E, Williston, ND 58801 or if you have just a couple to share e-mail them to him at anfinson@comtechnd.com and he will add them to the collection.) Thanks again John.

Click Link to see the Photo Archive

You will then see each of the submitted photos in a small format. If you click on a photo it will appear in a larger format for easier viewing. Any of these photos can be saved and/or printed as you wish at no charge so have fun. Feel free to share them with any and all of your friends and family, especially those who may not have been able to attend the party.

Please find below the Contact List which contains the names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses of anyone who filled out the form during the registration process at either the dance or at Rich's home on Saturday. I am sending a copy via e-mail to each person who included an e-mail address on the form. Again, please feel free to print it and share with other Appamites or forward a copy of this e-mail to classmates who may not have been included on the list. We don't ever want to lose contact with our friends and family from Appam - A small town with a BIG heart!

Clarice Berve Anderson

I received a phone call from Betty Pettis [Holm] and Clarice is in the hospital in Sheridan, WY and is not expected to make it...She has had many complications with the Lupus and is failing right now. Her boys have been called by Betty. Betty has been a true friend. I will keep you posted when I hear anything but please pass the message on to those who knew her so that everyone knows. I hope someone can tell Warren Bilquist as well. You can email me with questions as this is a public blog and I do not want to put too much up right now. Thanks. Please send your prayers.

APS Video

Since no one has posted any new pictures recently (or sent them to me so I could scan and post them), I've created a new video from the pictures I have. It's set to Enya's 'only time' from her 'a day without rain' CD. I hope you enjoy it. But think how much better it could be if you would send your picture, etc., so we could have some new material.

Link to video on Youtube

or view the video below

Videos of old houses (plus a bit more)

The Appam one appears to be Eldon and Oleda (SP) Johnson's house west of Appam. I have no idea of who posted the video. Any thoughts?

Actually this is a good idea. Do any of you have a video camera that you could use to take and post videos of the houses that remain in Alamo, Appam, and the area around there? It would be nice to have a record of what remains. Also - how about more pictures and old movies - I can help get them converted to video, any scanning required, and get them posted. They don't do anyone any good setting in the back of a drawer or in an old box.

Link to Eldon Johnson house west of Appam

Link to house described as being between Appam and Crosby

Link to St Olaf Church

Link to Temple, ND

How cold is it, anyway?

Dave Berry - Why you shouldn't make fun of North Dakota

Adeline Thoring

Today I had the pleasure of attending Adeline Thoring's 80th birthday! Her husband was Raymond Thoring and their farm was just north of Forsberg's and south of ours. Adeline was a Brune. Her sister Rose graduated from Alamo in 1941 and I think her picture might be in one of those class pictures David posted earlier. Her sister Ida also graduated from Alamo. Freddie and Adeline did not as the family moved to Minnesota. I also met George Bibler who now lives in Lewiston, Montana now. I remember Adeline's kitchen as she served me BIG cookies whenever Dad went over to see Raymond. She is sharp as a tack and looks to be in her late 60's early 70's and not 80! I hope I have my info correct. If not, please let me know and I will revise this! The first picture is of Adeline and the second one has Adeline, Rose and George Bibler.

Melodrama

How many of you attended the melodrama that was presented during the 50th anniversary back in 1966. It played down at the old locker and was quite a 'hit'. I'm guessing that there is more memorabilia from this event out there somewhere.

Hartland School Desks

Dennis Johnson sent this to me and said...I quote
"Larry brought me these when he came to california visiting probably 83 0r 84. I have had them in the shed since. I recently had them sand blasted and restored to one day go to my grandchildren. I think they turned out excellent, down to the contour, pencil holder and ink bottle holder. They came from Hartland school on the suburbs of APPAM, North Dakota." Dennis also says
"I started first grade in 1956 when:

January:Elvis Presley records "Heartbreak Hotel.",

March: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 500 for the first time (500.24), Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world.
May: The polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk is made available to the public.
October: New York Yankees baseball pitcher Don Larsen pitches first (and only) perfect game in World Series history in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.
November: U.S. presidential election, 1956: Republican incumbent Dwight D. Eisenhower is reelected by defeating Democrat challenger Adlai E. Stevenson in a rematch of their contest four years earlier."
My mother and both sisters went there as well I believe...if this is the school on the south side of town? I was there a few years ago and should post the picture I have.