John C Stoskopf: Reunion - 50 Years of Findahls (1885-1935)

My final entry in what became an 8 part series on the Family of Nels and Jessie Findahl, their children and grandchildren. (1860-present)

April 1935 - The occasion is Grandpa Nels and Grandma Jessie Findahl's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

We're not certain of the exact location but Mom seems to remember it being held at a high-class Hotel somewhere in Galesburg, IL

Update 2021! -- Last Thanksgiving (2020) my Cousin Joanne Johnson Martinez (Daughter of my Aunt Betty Findahl Johnson) identified the building for me as Galesburg's Hotel Custer. She added, "It still stands in downtown Galesburg. All rooms have been turned into an assisted living facility and no longer a hotel. Special parties and dinner theatres are held there upon request. But at the time the anniversary was held it more than likely was the fanciest place to have it in Galesburg. Good food too."

While searching the internet I uncovered some more information on Nels Olaf Findahl. I learned he married Jessie on April 23rd, 1885 and that his father's name was Olof Findahl and his mother's name was Ellna. It could be Nels' middle name was spelled Olof as well and may have been changed when he came to America or maybe we just have it misspelled. Both versions are true spellings of real names.

An interesting thing about the date of marriage. We had that same date as his birthday, however, I did uncover a photo from the year 1942 (shown earlier) with what appears to be my Aunt Betty's writing which states: Easter Sunday, April 5, 1942 - Grandpa's 80th Birthday.

I would be inclined to believe now that April 5, 1862 is Nels' real birthdate given this information than what we thought previously.

This same source indicates Jessie's father as simply "SW. Thornberg" and her mother's name is Betsie. We understood the father's name was Sven. (Incidentally that information which I linked to earlier seems to no longer be available, disappearing almost right after I'd referenced it.)

In the 'front' row seated at the long table from left to right are Martha, Margie (my Mom), Betty, and Gordon Findahl (son of Jessie & Nels with his family) followed by "Aunt" Sadie who came from California to attend (she is the sister to Jessie, sitting next to her), guests of honor Jessie & Nels Findahl, their son Frank (aka Uncle Bert) and his family, daughter Isabel & Shirley and his wife Florence. The final two are Aunt Marcella holding son Bobby Findahl. (Husband Virgil Findahl, Bobby's father & son of Jessie & Nels passed away two years previously.)

Along the back you will find the family of Mabel & Harry Findahl (son of Jessie & Nels) starting with the youngest son Kenny (standing) next to his mother Mabel (also standing) and then sons Wayne, Earl, Dale with their father Harry. The next four people we do not know. The final three are the family of Helen (daughter of Jessie & Nels) & Willard Windom with Helen, their daughter Eileen & Willard.

2022: Finally! Some more information/photos about the Hotel Custer, Galesburg, IL

From a post card on eBay as identified only as being from the 'early 1900s'. Judging from the cars that are drawn here, I'd say this may be pretty contemporary to my family gathering photograph.

Now *this* looks more like the early 1900s. I found some more information about this hotel in an article located online: On the evening of March 2, 1915, the hotel was opened by its owner, Charles Schimmel.

"The sentiment expressed was that the city was stepping up to better things in the building line and that the developments of the past few years would bring about results that would be lasting and bring Galesburg into prominence in a commercial way," read the Galesburg Republican-Register.

The day it opened, hundreds of Galesburg folks were allowed to tour the hotel and examine its features. Schimmel received letters and telegrams of congratulations throughout the day. In the evening, food was served in a program where over 100 "representative business and professional men of the city" were present.

Judge George W. Thompson spoke at the event: "We have heard Galesburg boosted in the past few years but much of the boosting has been merely wind. This is something more substantial," he said of the hotel's erection.

Mayor William O. Bradley said that "we have one fine building in this city erected in recent years - the C.B. & Q. depot - and it is fitting the we should have a hotel building in keeping with it."

Judge R.C. Rice told the crowd that, "when a stranger arrives in the city at the Burlington depot, rides to the business part of the city on a standard pavement, and strikes a spot like this he will know that he has arrived in a city."

Three interior illustrations of Hotel Custer which, until I blew them up to really look at them, realized these were not photographs.

This is how Hotel Custer looked during my day in the 1970s.

The history of the building continues:

The Walton-Van Huffel Co. on South Chambers Street had done the structural steel work.
The Knox Laundry on North Kellogg Street held the contract to do the hotel’s laundry.
The Galesburg Roofing Co. took care of the building of the roof. Kellogg-Drake & Co. furnished the rugs, linens and curtains.
The plumbing and steam heating work was done by J.P. Quigley of South Cherry Street.
Willis Manufacturing provided the “fireproof” metal windows and Lawrence Brothers the silverware.
The walls were built with Purington bricks.
Many more Galesburg businesses provided other aspects of the building, too many to list here.
“It should be a matter of pride to all Galesburg residents that the furniture contract for the new Hotel Custer was awarded to a Galesburg firm,” the paper declared.
“The O.T. Johnson Company were the successful bidders and so have the honor of fulfilling the largest furniture contract ever undertaken in this city.”
There was a billiard room under the charge of Harry Silverman and a barber shop by L.B. Taylor. The was a drug store, dining room, ladies parlor and men’s smoking room.
But why was it named the Custer Hotel, when Custer was not the owner?
O.N. Custer’s newspaper explained the connection.
“The financial problem connected with the new Hotel Custer has been handled from the start largely by Messrs. O.N. Custer, who is a red-handed booster for everything that tends to build up Galesburg, and Mr. Charles E. Johnson, assistant cashier of the Bank of Galesburg and a man who is equally interested in the commercial growth of the city.”
The paper reported that as the hotel plans evolved, $65,000 in bonds were needed to help finance the project (equal to over $1.6 million today). This was toward the total of $125,000 (over $3.1 million today) the hotel would cost before furnishing.
“In recognition of the large part had by Mr. Custer in the financial problem which the enterprise presented the new fire-proof hostelry bears the name of the Hotel Custer… It is named after ‘General’ Custer of Commercial Galesburg.
The five-story (two more stories were added several years later) building was called “absolutely fireproof” and was made up of 100 rooms, which included modern plumbing and telephones.
The hotel would grow over the years, adding not only two more stories, but a ballroom. For decades, it was THE place to stay in Galesburg. Amelia Earhart and Carl Sandburg are among the famous names to lay their heads there.
In 1966, Bennie Amato bought the hotel and under his ownership the hotel declined in its prestige and quality. In the 1980s, it was again sold, this time to a developer who gutted the building and turned it into the Kensington.
Today, it stands as the Kensington, a supportive living home.

Finally, since it is mentioned the hotel was originally 2 stories shorter, here's an illustration of the building as it was originally viewed upon it's opening in 1915.

1935 - The cousins all together in Galesburg, IL to attend their Grandparents' 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Front Row: Betty, Robert (son of, at this time, the late Virgil Findahl and wife Marcella), Margie, Kenny & Shirley

Back Row: Dale, Earl, Isabel, Wayne & Eileen (daughter of Helen Findahl & Willard Windom)

NOTE: Dale, Earl, Wayne & Kenny are all sons of Mabel & Harry Findahl. Isabel & Shirley are daughters of Frank & Florence Findahl.