Interview with Richfield's Senior Citizens
FRIESS LAKE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES WRITING - 4TH GRADE (2006)
"Ralph Kohl, Ruth and Orrin Schneider, Edna and Al Peterson, Beulah Timm, Shirley Leininger, Betty Kindem and Jean Happel are all people you should meet if you want to learn about Wisconsin's history and their life. I learned a lot about them. We should be thankful because our lives are a lot easier. Our interviews took place at our school, Friess Lake."
Bryce, "Seniors Ahoy!"
"Ruth Schneider and Orrin Schneider have lived on a farm. Orrin is 
German and Ruth is Irish and Canadian. Orrin has 2 brothers, and Ruth was the only child in her family. When Orrin was a child, he played with his pigs. Ruth played with puzzles, marbles and jacks when she was a child. Orrin went to Richfield School when he was ·a child. It had only 1 room! In our school, we have so many rooms I have lost count. When Orrin did his chores, his allowance was to eat! Now a days, we receive 10 dollars a week for an allowance!"
Rachel, "Senior Questionnaire"
"Al Peterson's school was Pleasant Dale, but he called it Unpleasant Jail. Ralph Kohl went to Golden Dale Catholic School. It was interesting that Orrin Schneider went to Richfield School, right next door. I never heard of this school, but Shirley Leininger went to ·Beaver Dam Brook School. Now, enough about schools, let's learn about Richfield."
Cal, "Senior Citizens in Richfield"
"Most of the people lived on farms. They watched the cows so they 
wouldn't get away. They milked the cows. Mostly all of the people we interviewed were German. By the way, I am German, too. Back when they were younger they had big families. Ralph Kohl had seven brothers and sisters. That is one example of the big families they had. The schools that the seniors went to are Goldendale School, Richfield School, Slinger School, Alabama School and Pleasant Dale Catholic School. The best school of all is FRIESS LAKE SCHOOL!!!!!!!
Bryce, "Seniors Ahoy!"
"I was surprised to hear the details about the economy and cost of living during this time. It was very different from what we experience today. There were no T.V.s and nobody had ever heard of a computer. Jean Happel stated that 'shoes were $3.00 and gas was $0.25 per gallon.' Betty Kindem shocked us all when she said 'the price of bread was 10 cents per loaf and a gallon of milk 40 cents per gallon.' This sounds really cheap but the residents reminded us how little money they made back then."
Nathan, "Interviews with Richfield Residents"
"While there was a lot to do on the farm, there was still time for school and friends. You'd be surprised at how different schools were back then. Often, they had only one room. Some schools like St. Boniface, the school Ralph Kohl went to, had strict nuns for teachers. Many kids' best friends were their own siblings!"
Olivia, "Senior Citizens Interview"
"Children had many jobs. Most of the time, they would work on the farm. 
Back then, the families were very large; some with seven children and even grandparents living in the house! Every child in the family had chores to do, receiving no money, except for Beulah Timm, who received one cent a week. Some of the typical chores would include carrying in the wood, working in the garden, feeding the ducks and the chickens, and mowing the lawn with a hand powered mower."
Emily, "Senior Citizen Interview"
"By interviewing the senior citizens, I had an interesting and educational experience! I learned to appreciate the things that we take for granted everyday such as the food we eat, running water, and, of course, electricity. I am glad to have received information first hand from people who have lived through good times and bad times of the twentieth century."
Olivia, "Senior Citizens Interview"
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