In the Beginning….Harrison Svendsen

Foods Class

Spring 2008

My Family Background “Heinz 57” refers to the Heinz company’s many diverse products, and it also is slang for someone with a varying background, like me. On my biological mother’s side, I am:

½ Bohemian (Czechoslovakian) ¼ English ¼ German

On my biological father’s side, I am: ½ Mexican

If you throw in my adoptive father’s side, I am also:DanishScottishFrenchIrish

Czech Republic

Czech Republic – Czech is spoken. The population in 2007 was approximately 10 million. The Czech Republic is located in central Europe and is a member state of the Europe Union. Historic regions include Bohemia and Moravia. The country has a temperate climate with relatively hot summers and cold, cloudy winters.

Denmark

Denmark – Danish is the language. The estimated population for 2008 is approximately 5.5 million. Denmark is located in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe. The climate is cold during the winters and warm in the summers. In the 8th – 11th centuries the Danes were known as Vikings.

England

England – Native language is English. England is the largest and most populous constituent country of the United Kingdom, with an estimated population of around 50 million. England has a rich and prominent literacy heritage.

France

France – They speak French, which was once the language of choice in the world. The population of France in 2007 was about 64 million. The climate is mild in the summer but can be cold in the winters. France is known for its rich, gourmet foods and wines. In the summer they host the Tour de France, a bicycle race, in which Lance Armstrong from the U.S. has won many titles.

Germany

Germany – German is the official spoken language. The population in 2007 was about 82 million. Germany is located in central Europe. Germany is one of the leading motor sports countries in the world and is also known for its good beer and sausages. It is also the maker of some of the best vehicles in the world, with their superior engineering capabilities.

Ireland

Ireland is the third largest island in Europe. Irish is the spoken language, which is like English but with a heavy accent. Ireland is a small country with a population of about 6 million. The climate in Ireland can be changeable but mild. St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish holiday, is celebrated in the United States each March, with parades and traditional Irish food, songs and dancing.

Mexico Mexico – They speak Spanish. Mexico is a large country with a population of 108 million. Mexico is the fifth largest country in the Americas and is our southern neighbor. Many Americans go to Mexico annually to enjoy the nice, warm weather. Mexico has a rich heritage that is enjoyed daily by the U.S., including food, dance, drinks and clothes. Bullfighting is also an event many Americans go to Mexico to enjoy.

Scotland

Scotland – Scottish (English with a heavy accent) is the language spoken. With a population of 6+ million, the country occupies the northern third island of Great Britain. The climate is mildly humid during summer and cold in the winter. A traditional Scottish instrument is the Bagpipe.

My Maternal Background

The Bohemians were generational farmers who settled in Wisconsin. My grandmother, Catherine Adametz (photo on far left), was raised on a farm in southwestern Wisconsin. She had an older sister Emily and two brothers, Bill and Jim (pictured on left).

My great, great grandmother Katherine Palan, who came from Europe (holding the twins); my great grandparents, Annie and Fred Adametz, posing by the automobile.

The Adametz Family• The art of quilting was passed down from generation to

generation.

• Some things my grandma remembered about growing up:– Held large, family reunions every year at elder’s house.– Grew large vegetable gardens and sold strawberries and

pickles.– Silent movies were shown in town on Saturday nights.– Raised, geese, chicken, ducks; kept feathers for pillows.– Christmas gifts were sparse but her uncle brought

candies, cookies, and fruit and let her order something from the Sears catalog.

– Milk was taken to factory in by horse and sleigh during the winter.

– Not many conveniences: windmill pumped water but not when it wasn’t windy; got electricity in 7th grade; first tasted potato chips and store brought bread when about 13 years old.

“Bohemian” was spoken at home; my grandmother could understand but didn’t want to speak it. She’s shown above with her sister and mother.

The Frye Family

• Harold Frye, my mother’s father, was born from Elizabeth Davies, a cook (whose grandparents came from England) and Irvin Frye, a 3rd generation German American who was an auctioneer and a blacksmith. They lived in Platteville, Wisconsin. My grandfather dropped out of his senior year in high school to join WWII and was later drafted for the Korean War. He was in the navy and assigned to a naval destroyer.

• Right after WWII my grandfather met my grandmother at a roller rink in Madison. They got married and soon after my grandfather was deployed to Korea. My uncle, Terry, was born while my grandfather was in Korea. He’s pictured with my grandmother in a sailor suit.

The Frye’s 1950s--

The Svendsen Family – Paternal Side• I never got the privilege of meeting my grandfather,

Carl Svendsen, but he was a World War II hero.• My grandfather grew up in Fayetteville, NY, a child of

Carl Svendsen, from Denmark and Catherine Cameron, from Scotland. He joined the service during World War II and was a co-pilot and bombardier on a B17 flying fortress in the Army Air Corps now called the U.S. Air Force.

• He was awarded the Purple Heart (wounded in battle) and Silver Star (courage and valor) medals. When flying a bombing mission in Europe in April 1944, a fragment of flack struck Lt. Svendsen in the throat. He was gushing blood and was unable to speak, yet managed to put one hand on the wound and the other to release the bombs. After successfully closing the bomb-bay doors, he collapsed and the navigator was able to give him first aid.

There were a number of newspaper articles about his bravery.

The Rue and McNally Family• My grandmother, Eloise McNally, was born

in Medina, New York, to John and Victoria (Ruh). John was a carpenter. They had three children. Both John and Victoria came to the U.S. when they were children.

• My grandparents met in the 1940s, got married while my grandfather, Carl, was in the Army Air Corps and eventually settled in Rochester, NY. Eloise was a good artist but gave that up to raise four children, Donald, Gail, Marty (my father) and John, who was named after his great grandfather, John – his middle name, Cameron, was his grandmother’s maiden name.

• My grandmother’s father, John, died when she was a teenage of an accident. My great grandmother Victoria died when she was 94.

Photos: John and Victoria McNally; the only surviving trunk that held the families’ possessions when immigrating to US.; grandma McNally with sister; Carl and Eloise Svendsen as young adults.

The McNally Coat of Arms

McNally Family Tree

The Svendsen’s - 2000

Heritage Celebrations

• Cinco de Mayo (Mexico’s independence celebrated May 2-60 – festivals, food (we eat Mexican food, such as tacos, quesadillas or burritos)

• St. Patrick’s Day – parades, food (we eat traditional corned beef and cabbage)

• Tea drinking – as a child, my mother used to drink tea almost nightly with her grandma, whose heritage is English (we all drink tea in our family, both hot and cold)

• Grilling brats (but you don’t have to be German to enjoy them!)

• Oktoberfest

• Bagpipes – from Scotland, used at both funerals and celebrations

• Though not always celebrated in Wisconsin, the “Vikings” are big celebrities in Minnesota

Match Photo With Heritage