History article written for the GFHS website,Roesiger Diaries — Part 3 We’ve published some excerpts from the diaries of Richard “Dick” Roesiger, the man who discovered Lake Roesiger and after whom the lake was named when the area was officially surveyed. The exploits of this hardy homesteader started locally in the late 18805, but he was a young German immigrant who had come to America for the opportunities it represented. Skipping forward over 110 years, his grand-niece Monika Teuscher, herself a German living in Switzerland, had always been fascinated by his adventuresome spirit and found the opportunity to collaborate with Elsie Sorgenfrei (a Lake Roesiger resident) in the preservation of Dick’s diaries. Monika traveled to the States to visit the area in which her granduncle pursued his great adventure, and ultimately published a hard-cover book covering Dick’s life, based on the details from hundreds of hand—written pages. Surprisingly, Dick wrote his innermost thoughts and details of his family life in English! His spelling and grammar were extraordinary, though he had no formal schooling in the States . . . and Monika’s challenge included translating all of those thoughts back into German for her book! Upon seeing the articles published here recently, Monika and her close friend Gisela Dirac- Wahrenburg emailed me, providing additional information on the Roesiger saga. Before we continue the story of Dick Roesiger and his life as a family man in our community, let’s take a brief detour through a delightful story of how Dick’s wife helped to beautify the lives of many and serve as an additional source of pride in Dick’s hometown of Ortrand, Germany. (Remember, Dick started a Post Office near Lake Roesiger, with the official name of “Ortrand, WA”). Dick’s literacy and intelligence led to him being the official patriotic speech—maker at the first July 4th celebration at Lake Roesiger in 1891. Quite by coincidence, here‘s the letter from Monika and Gisela, sent on Independence Day exactly 122 years later! : 4 July 2013 Hand-painted china plates made by Caroline Roesiger-Hfibner Dear Mr. Cruger In 2012 a lovely lady from California, Jennifer Sims, contacted me via my Roesiger website: www.webhost02.ch/Richard_Roesiger . She was searching for descendants or relatives of Richard Roesiger as she wanted to donate some hand—painted china plates, made by Richard Roesiger’s wife Caroline, to that person. After some extended correspondence, she sent the plates to my address in Switzerland. In June 2013 I brought them over to the museum in Ortrand, Germany, Richard Roesiger’s home town. In the past, I have donated some other Roesiger items to the same museum. They honor and appreciate the collection very much. Some years ago, the town of Ortrand has given Richard Roesiger’s name to a public place with the flag of the State of Washington in the middle. Moreover, the authorities have placed a memory plate at his birth house. In 2012, the town celebrated Richard Roesiger’s 150th birthday with a special exposition about him. He would have been so proud about all that! Please read Jennifer Sims‘ e—mail of July 2, 2013 concerning the china plates in which she allows us to talk to you about the plates. You may publish her letter, if you wish: I like Jennifer’s idea that other owners of Caroline Roesiger’s plates may want to donate them to the Granite Falls Historical Society. Ortrand will celebrate its 775”I anniversary in November this year. The historian of the town is very happy to introduce the plates to the public at that occasion. Kind regards Monika Teuscher The email from Jennifer Sims to Monika and Gisela reflects the same pride in the legacy of Dick Roesiger and the commitment they have for preserving pioneering history: Dear Monika and Gisela, , Accession/Object ID: No accession number, Object Name: , Title: "Back in the Day" article, Author: Fred Cruger, Description: History article written for the GFHS website, Date: , OCR Text: Roesiger Diaries — Part 3 We’ve published some excerpts from the diaries of Richard “Dick” Roesiger, the man who discovered Lake Roesiger and after whom the lake was named when the area was officially surveyed. The exploits of this hardy homesteader started locally in the late 18805, but he was a young German immigrant who had come to America for the opportunities it represented. Skipping forward over 110 years, his grand-niece Monika Teuscher, herself a German living in Switzerland, had always been fascinated by his adventuresome spirit and found the opportunity to collaborate with Elsie Sorgenfrei (a Lake Roesiger resident) in the preservation of Dick’s diaries. Monika traveled to the States to visit the area in which her granduncle pursued his great adventure, and ultimately published a hard-cover book covering Dick’s life, based on the details from hundreds of hand—written pages. Surprisingly, Dick wrote his innermost thoughts and details of his family life in English! His spelling and grammar were extraordinary, though he had no formal schooling in the States . . . and Monika’s challenge included translating all of those thoughts back into German for her book! Upon seeing the articles published here recently, Monika and her close friend Gisela Dirac- Wahrenburg emailed me, providing additional information on the Roesiger saga. Before we continue the story of Dick Roesiger and his life as a family man in our community, let’s take a brief detour through a delightful story of how Dick’s wife helped to beautify the lives of many and serve as an additional source of pride in Dick’s hometown of Ortrand, Germany. (Remember, Dick started a Post Office near Lake Roesiger, with the official name of “Ortrand, WA”). Dick’s literacy and intelligence led to him being the official patriotic speech—maker at the first July 4th celebration at Lake Roesiger in 1891. Quite by coincidence, here‘s the letter from Monika and Gisela, sent on Independence Day exactly 122 years later! : 4 July 2013 Hand-painted china plates made by Caroline Roesiger-Hfibner Dear Mr. Cruger In 2012 a lovely lady from California, Jennifer Sims, contacted me via my Roesiger website: www.webhost02.ch/Richard_Roesiger . She was searching for descendants or relatives of Richard Roesiger as she wanted to donate some hand—painted china plates, made by Richard Roesiger’s wife Caroline, to that person. After some extended correspondence, she sent the plates to my address in Switzerland. In June 2013 I brought them over to the museum in Ortrand, Germany, Richard Roesiger’s home town. In the past, I have donated some other Roesiger items to the same museum. They honor and appreciate the collection very much. Some years ago, the town of Ortrand has given Richard Roesiger’s name to a public place with the flag of the State of Washington in the middle. Moreover, the authorities have placed a memory plate at his birth house. In 2012, the town celebrated Richard Roesiger’s 150th birthday with a special exposition about him. He would have been so proud about all that! Please read Jennifer Sims‘ e—mail of July 2, 2013 concerning the china plates in which she allows us to talk to you about the plates. You may publish her letter, if you wish: I like Jennifer’s idea that other owners of Caroline Roesiger’s plates may want to donate them to the Granite Falls Historical Society. Ortrand will celebrate its 775”I anniversary in November this year. The historian of the town is very happy to introduce the plates to the public at that occasion. Kind regards Monika Teuscher The email from Jennifer Sims to Monika and Gisela reflects the same pride in the legacy of Dick Roesiger and the commitment they have for preserving pioneering history: Dear Monika and Gisela, , Granite Falls Historical Society,Documents (articles, clippings, letters, papers),Local History Articles,Back in the Day (local),Roesiger Part 3.pdf,Roesiger Part 3.pdf Page 1, Roesiger Part 3.pdf Page 1