In His Providence

In His Providence

Joy Holmquist

Copyright © 2012 Joyce Lizabeth Holmquist

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-7209-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-7208-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-7210-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012920101

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/29/2012

Contents

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Chapter 1:   Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1916

Chapter 2:   Moving On

Chapter 3:   West Central Germany North Rhine-Westphalia 1922

Chapter 4:   Reveries

Chapter 5:   Oma’s Faith

Chapter 6:   The History of the Land

Chapter 7:   Ghosts

Chapter 8:   Wartime Memories

Chapter 9:   A New Family

Chapter 10:   The Escape

Chapter 11:   Jackson Street

Chapter 12:   Kutztown 1928

Chapter 13:   The Great Depression

Chapter 14:   A Long Winter

Chapter 15:   A New Life

Chapter 16:   Friendships

Chapter 17:   Prosperity

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Eileen and Trudie for their assistance in proofreading. I also offer special thanks to my husband for his patience and support along the creative process. Additionally, Pastor Tim’s excellent teaching was inspirational in the development of this fictional account of Helga’s journey to understand her emotional struggles in the tumultuous world around her.

Prologue

Helga’s father didn’t return from the Great War. Rudy had served valiantly in World War I, meeting the needs of soldiers on both sides of the ravaging battle. Grandmother Carolena came to live with Helena and the children after her son-in-law was killed in France. With her arrival, the family prepared special foods, practiced generational traditions, and were blessed with a renewed sense of joy. Carolena’s presence proved invaluable, and her love lessened many of the family’s sorrows, but greater sorrows lay ahead.

Carolena had grown old under a government she studied intently. Under its encouraging public policy, she had birthed sixteen children and experienced the loss of some of her offspring. Only two daughters remained with her in Germany. She, like most of her generation, lived a life of resolve and courage. Would the discernment within her diary pass to her descendants when ahead was an oppressive government, growing imperialism, Ellis Island, the Great Depression, and World War II?

Across the ocean, Helga would meet a man whose brave ancestors had arrived in America in the early 1700s. Erik faced hardships, but he was fit for battle in a crazy world.

Chapter 1

Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1916

It was a sunny Sunday in the summer of 1916, and Erik and his father, Ezra, were excited about the train trip they were taking from Lancaster to Willow Grove Park, Philadelphia, where they would hear John Philip Sousa play The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Erik, I know you have waited since your birthday, and we’re going to thoroughly enjoy the day. After all, you only turn sixteen once in a lifetime! exclaimed his father.

Oh, I haven’t minded waiting, Father, reported Erik. There’s not much to celebrate in the middle of winter, and you and Mother gave me a family party. I’ve looked forward to taking the trolley to the park’s entrance. It’s fun going into the tunnel under the tracks at Easton Road.

Ezra agreed. I anticipate the excitement of the park when we get off the train downtown. Until then, I enjoy the scenery and the relaxation of the rocking train.

Erik and his father waved farewell to Mother and Erik’s younger brother, John, as they settled into the cushioned fabric seats. Erik adjusted his suit coat and thought of the park’s dress code. Sousa would be well dressed, wearing a white uniform and gloves, as he performed in the summer heat before a packed audience.

Sometimes Father would take a blanket and they would sit with a large crowd by the lake, where a gentle breeze somewhat abated the warm summer weather. Erik wondered where they would sit today. There was free seating and standing room outside the music pavilion. They had never taken seating in the reservation-only pavilion, which housed five thousand people. The seating around the lake sometimes totaled fifteen thousand, and often there were three thousand or more people standing. People also congregated by the bridge and lakeside pavilion to listen to the concert or to watch boats on the lake. The big restaurant had porches, a rotunda, and many nooks where people gathered to hear the bands.

Father, he said, how many people are supposed to attend this concert?

There are reports of up to forty thousand people, Erik, and there will be additional people in the upper part of the park around the fountain and the amusement park.

Erik speculated as to how many people the park could hold, where even on a hot summer afternoon, the men wore dark-colored pants and suit coats, and the women wore long dresses.

As the train rattled merrily along, a conductor with a developed sense of balance approached each occupied seat to gather or punch a hole in each passenger’s ticket.

As the conductor moved away effortlessly, rocking from side to side, Erik’s father spoke about their upcoming vacation. We’ll go to Margate City, New Jersey, this summer, son. I’ve arranged for a cabin on Absecon Island, south of Atlantic City. We’ll be near Lucy, the wood and tin, zoomorphic, white elephant…

Oh, that’s fantastic, replied Erik. I can’t wait to see that curious elephant. I hear it stands on the sandy shore of the Atlantic Ocean.

Yes, it certainly does. I’m sure we’ll never see anything like it again. Your mother is looking forward to the trip and has purchased a parasol and a fancy bathing suit. It’s rather like a blouse with bloomers, and over the bloomers is a skirt. She’s more excited about the trip than we are about hearing the March King.

Yes, Father, Erik chortled, I’ve seen Mother’s bathing suit. She’ll be more covered than when we worked on our farm.

They spoke of their time on the farm, remembering the shotgun targets and gigging for fish, chuckling over the time Erik’s brother, John, accidentally shot their old rooster. Ezra reminisced about how he had enjoyed carrying a torch consisting of candles with a shield over the top to reflect light into the water as they waded through the streams at night. When the light shone on a glossy fish, he drove the spear-like fork with five or six tines into its body and placed the catch into his shoulder bag.

It’s a shame gigging became illegal. It was a quick way to get some tasty meals, wasn’t it, Father!

Yes, indeed, and it was fun.

When they arrived at the park, Erik was surprised when his father led the way to the big restaurant in front of the music pavilion. The restaurant provided an elevated view of the park. A uniformed man escorted them to seating on one of the spacious porches where one could truly appreciate the sights and sounds of the concert. Previously, they had packed lunches and snacks, never utilizing the park’s refreshment stands, soda fountain, or lunch cafes. Upon a quick glance at the menu, Erik was astounded at the restaurant’s apparent quality and prices.

Father, I never dreamed of anything so wonderful!

Well, you turned sixteen last February, and you’ve been waiting for this special day. We’ve lounged in the park and around the lake to listen to Sousa; today we’ll experience fine dining and quality service.

Thank you, Father. This is an experience I’ll treasure forever.

Son, they even have musical groups on hand during Sousa’s intermission to play while we dine. If we can afford to stay that long. His father chuckled.

Erik thought for a few minutes, and a sly smile came over his face. He knew of his Father’s favorite hobby. He often helped Father care for the horse they kept behind their house in Ephrata, on State Street. They cared for that horse as well as they did any family member, and races were common among friends on roads where the chances of meeting an automobile were slim. In the past, Erik’s grandfather Jacob had made a livelihood selling horses he’d obtained out West.

Father, has Scotty been winning any races?

Erik, Scotty is an active horse; he needs his exercise, and sometimes he exercises longer than any horse around town. He recently exercised much longer than my friends believed he could.

Having a great horse runs in the family. Mother’s father surely had some great horses.

Yes, selling horses earned him money well into his old age.

And racing them! chuckled Erik.

Ezra grinned and changed the subject. Son, do you know that the trolley company operates this restaurant? They maintain its high standards. The park was their idea—something to do with increasing the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company’s business area. They control the trolley lines and the two turnpikes into Willow Grove.

It looks as if they’re making money, replied Erik.

Actually, said Ezra, I heard that the park came about because of financial problems, so the transit company decided to promote development of parks outside town and build lines to create weekend traffic. There are three other parks, although they aren’t as spectacular.

Don’t a lot of people ride their bikes and drive their automobiles to this park?

Some do, but the transit still makes money from turnpike fees and from city people who take the trolley. Still, I’m surprised the park is profitable. Everything costs a lot to operate, and this music mecca has no entrance fee.

It seems they should charge a fee. Not everyone hangs around to spend money after a concert. Probably twenty thousand people leave this park all at once when a concert ends. Many people are simply buying a concert ticket.

Yes, and the PRT had to construct a powerhouse, car barns, and loading platforms, his father reported. I don’t know how they afford everything when they service seasonal crowds.

What do you suppose they pay the bands?

I can only imagine what they pay now. I read articles indicating over sixty thousand dollars for a season a number of years ago; I haven’t read anything recently, but I’m sure it’s an amazing amount.

Well, responded Erik, I hope the park can afford to remain open. People have wonderful times here.

When the concert came to a thunderous end and the crowd erupted in resounding cheers and applause, Erik and his father followed throngs of people back to the loading platforms. Lines of trains and the general populace produced no confusion or problems.

It’s truly amazing how well organized everything is, Erik commented. He and his father cheerfully joined crowds of people on a trolley back to downtown Philadelphia, where they would catch their train to Lancaster.

Traveling home, Erik continued recalling their years on the Landis farm. The farm had come to them from his mother’s side of the family. Why did we leave the farm, Father?

Your mother and I sold the farm so we could move to Ephrata, where life would be more convenient.

Oh, Father, replied Erik, we still have a barn, pigs, chickens, a horse, and a garden behind the house, which take a lot of care.

"Erik, our chores today are nothing by comparison. Maybe over supper we’ll talk with your mother and brother about