Communion Register – Genealogy Tool

Communion Register – Genealogy Tool

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cass Lake, Minnesota retains all of their original record books. The first volume/register provides a history of the church by listing members, baptisms, confirmands, marriages, communicants, deaths and pastoral sermon topics. Lutherans believe that there are two sacraments, rites that are … read more

Immanuel Lutheran Church Register

Immanuel Lutheran Church Register

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Cass Lake, Minnesota was formally organized in 1902 as part of Die [Deutsche] Evang.-Lutherische Synode von Minnesota und anderen Staaten  – the [German] Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Minnesota and Other States. This synod would eventually become part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri … read more

Boat for Sale – Secret Found Out

Boat for Sale – Secret Found Out

Because I’ve been researching my family for over 30 years, I have most of the names and dates added to my charts. So, now I focus my attention on discovering more stories about my ancestors. Years ago, newspapers were the social media of choice. The … read more

Immanuel Lutheran Confirmation 1925

Immanuel Lutheran Confirmation 1925

Julius Neils was a successful Minnesota lumberman. With westward extension of the railroad, he set up an additional sawmill operation in Cass Lake. In 1899, Mr. Neils purchased town lots for a church, school and parsonage. The house of worship Mr. Neils built was Immanuel … read more

Birth of Konstantin Nörenberg

Birth of Konstantin Nörenberg

Konstantin Nörenberg (1889-1955) came to America in 1909. In order to find information about his birth, I took a clue from his original Confirmation certificate.   Confirmation Konstantin Nörenberg born 11 December 1889 baptized [blank] Confirmed 25 April 1904 at _________ Church of Elisabethpol Dated … read more

My Grandparents’ Table

My Grandparents’ Table

During most of my life, my paternal grandparents, Mae Lydick (1910-2003) and Otto Norenberg (1911-1997), lived in the same house on the west shore of Cass Lake. Because of the attractiveness of their property, my family did not take sightseeing vacations; we went to Grandma … read more

Galishkys – What are they?

Galishkys – What are they?

My great grandmother, Bertha Arndt Norenberg (1893-1970) came to America in 1910 and married Konstantin “Charlie” Nörenberg seven months later. At Christmastime, great grandma always made cabbage rolls. These wonderful-smelling packets of wintertime warmth are a Norenberg tradition. My family calls them galishkys [gah-LISH-keys].   … read more

Crocheted Christmas Snowflakes

Crocheted Christmas Snowflakes

Christmas memories and traditions are different for each of us. For me, my favorite part of Christmas is decorating the tree with my grandmother’s crocheted snowflakes.   Mary Mae Lydick Norenberg My Grandma Mae was born May 1, 1910 to Susan Roy and Horace “H.S” … read more

Karrie’s Confession

Karrie’s Confession

It’s my day, so I’m writing about myself. Buckle up as we go back to 2014 for one of my favorite, genealogy-trip stories.   Adair County, Kentucky My family has lived in Adair County, Kentucky since the early 1800s. Naturally, I wanted to visit their … read more

Charlie’s Life and Legend

Charlie’s Life and Legend

Family tradition tells us that Charlie Norenberg [also known as Konstantin or Constantin] was a hard-working man. Let’s look at his work life through written records.   Charlie’s Work Life When Konstantin Nörenberg immigrated to the United States in 1909, he listed his occupation as … read more