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Abstract
| Holley describes her life in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She discusses childhood, recreation, social life, and family. She also details the career of her father, Otto A. Merman, a prominent La Crosse architect who built several homes and schools in the early 1900s. Topics discussed include: Family ancestry, German, emigrated to Ixonia and Milwaukee, Wisconsin—Early education, La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, John “Bud” Tolands, childhood classmate, 1910s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Family language transition, German to English, World War I (1914-1918)—Grandfather George Merman, employment, American Express Company, family education—Mother’s friends, mother’s adoption (last name Thomason), searching for family members, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Family automobiles, Packard automobile, learning how to drive, speedways, early 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Father Otto A. Merman’s employment, construction, architecture, physical characteristics, divorce, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Father Otto A. Merman’s employment, Parkinson and Dockendorff (architectural firm), draftsman, partnerships, Percy Dwight Bentley (1885-1968), admiration for Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), La Crosse, Wisconsin—Percy Dwight Bentley (1885-1968), inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), architectural achievements, homes, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Father Otto A. Merman, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), architectural achievements, homes, hotels, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Merman family home (136 South 8th Street), Wesley United Methodist Church expansion, house relocation, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Merman family’s home (136 South 8th Street), renting out rooms to students, Wisconsin Business University (W.B.U), 1910s-1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Margaret’s childhood activities, tackle, dolls, swimming, Pettibone bathhouse, 1910s-1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Margaret’s childhood friends, 1910s-1920s La Crosse, Wisconsin—Toland family (founders of W.B.U) moves in with the Merman family, family relations, World War I (1914-1918), La Crosse, Wisconsin—Margaret’s children, La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, learning to swim, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Margaret’s memories, La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, discipline, classmates, childhood feuds, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, teachers, Mrs. Herwood (Edith) Wing, Nanny Caldwell, Mrs. Sherrie Wing, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Childhood friends, Tom Hancock (President of the Trane Company, 1960s), teasing relationship, Argyle Scott, playing with trains, 1920, La Crosse, Wisconsin—La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, childhood feuds, Washington School kids vs. Campus School kids, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Childhood activities, Rivoli and Majestic Theatres, picnicsat Smith Valley, dinner parties, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin—Family river activities, Lake Pepin swimming, drowning accident, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1920s—Lake by Hokah (Como Falls), high school and middle school picnics, Hokah, Minnesota, 1920s—Margaret’s parents, divorce, moving between parents, Beauty Culture School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, employment at Doerflinger’s Department Store, father’s death (1935), La Crosse, Wisconsin. |
| Content | 00:00:32—Family ancestry, German, emigrated to Ixonia and Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
00:01:40—Early education, La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, John “Bud” Tolands, childhood classmate, 1910s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:03:24—Family language transition, German to English, World War I (1914-1918) |
00:04:15—Grandfather George Merman, employment, American Express Company, family education |
00:05:10—Mother’s friends, mother’s adoption (last name Thomason), searching for family members, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:09:40—Family automobiles, Packard automobile, learning how to drive, speedways, early 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:12:30—Father Otto A. Merman’s employment, construction, architecture, physical characteristics, divorce, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:17:16—Father Otto A. Merman’s employment, Parkinson and Dockendorff (architectural firm), draftsman, partnerships, Percy Dwight Bentley (1885-1968), admiration for Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:20:20—Percy Dwight Bentley (1885-1968), inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), architectural achievements, homes, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:21:37—Father Otto A. Merman, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), architectural achievements, homes, hotels, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:25:18—Merman family home (136 South 8th Street), Wesley United Methodist Church expansion, house relocation, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:28:00—Merman family’s home (136 South 8th Street), renting out rooms to students, Wisconsin Business University (W.B.U), 1910s-1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:30:08—Margaret’s childhood activities, tackle, dolls, swimming, Pettibone bathhouse, 1910s-1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:32:46—Margaret’s childhood friends, 1910s-1920s La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:35:32—Toland family (founders of W.B.U) moves in with the Merman family, family relations, World War I (1914-1918), La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:39:04—Margaret’s children, La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, learning to swim, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:39:58—Margaret’s memories, La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, discipline, classmates, childhood feuds, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:44:43—La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, teachers, Mrs. Herwood (Edith) Wing, Nanny Caldwell, Mrs. Sherrie Wing, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:47:40—Childhood friends, Tom Hancock (President of the Trane Company, 1960s), teasing relationship, Argyle Scott, playing with trains, 1920, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:50:40—La Crosse State Normal Campus Model School, childhood feuds, Washington School kids vs. Campus School kids, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:52:20—Childhood activities, Rivoli and Majestic Theatres, picnicsat Smith Valley, dinner parties, 1920s, La Crosse, Wisconsin |
00:56:23—Family river activities, Lake Pepin swimming, drowning accident, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 1920s |
00:57:33—Lake by Hokah (Como Falls), high school and middle school picnics, Hokah, Minnesota, 1920s |
00:59:19—Margaret’s parents, divorce, moving between parents, Beauty Culture School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, employment at Doerflinger’s Department Store, father’s death (1935), La Crosse, Wisconsin |
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