Great River Road, 2016

Browse Items (40 total)

  • Tags: World War II
Thumbnail Title Description Date Date Added
Bethalto Resident and World War II Veteran Pvt. Edgar Wells This photograph shows World War II Veteran and Bethalto resident Private Edgar Wells. Wells served in the United States army from 1941 to March 1944, when he was honorably discharged. He served in Battery "A", 882nd Field Artillery Battalion, 70th Infantry Division. He was a farmer in Bethalto.

This photograph was digitized as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Civic Memorial High School in spring 2018. It was brought to class by Ethan Hannaford.
1941-1944 September 7, 2018
Charles Woodford Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Charles Woodford was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Charles A. Woodford talks at length about his experience as a B-17 tail-gunner in World War II. He also discusses his childhood in Iowa, a career as an air force employee, and life in the Lincoln Place neighborhood.
November 8, 2001 March 18, 2018
Discharge papers of Bethalto Resident and World War II Veteran Pvt. Edgar Wells This is a copy of the honorary discharge papers of World War II Veteran and Bethalto resident Private Edgar Wells. Wells served in the United States army from 1941 to March 1944, when he was honorably discharged. He served in Battery "A", 882nd Field Artillery Battalion, 70th Infantry Division. He was a farmer in Bethalto.

This photograph was digitized as part of a Madison Historical class visit to Civic Memorial High School in spring 2018. It was brought to class by Ethan Hannaford.
March 1, 1944 September 7, 2018
Edward Fetzer Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Edward Fetzer was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Edward J.F. Fetzer, Jr. was born on April 21, 1921. This interview focuses on his experience as a B-26 “Marauder” in World War II. The interview also includes other phases of his life, such as growing up on a farm in Illinois, moving to California to work in commercial aviation and then joining the air service in September of 1941, completing military training, and flying 75 bombing missions in occupied western Europe. He mentions his insurance career in the Midwest until his retirement in 1985 followed by retirement living in northern Wisconsin.
October 6, 2001 March 4, 2018
Ethel and Jim Hirsch Welcoming Returning Soldiers after World War II in a Highland Bar This photograph shows Ethel and Jim Hirsch (far left) and others welcoming home soldiers returning from World War II in a Highland. Various photographs of soldiers are hanging on the shelf behind Ethel and Jim. The identity of the bar is unknown. One possibility is Kid Walter’s Place, which Ethel and Jim bought in 1952. That bar became known as Ethel's and is still open as of 2018. Circa 1945 August 27, 2018
Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Isabella Vartan and Helen Abbott are the daughters of Armenian immigrants who have been lifelong residents of the Lincoln Place neighborhood. In this interview, they talk about their parent's experience in Armenia during World War I and immigration to the United States, their participation in the Armenian Orthodox Church, growing up as the children of immigrants, involvement in the local community center, and the diversity of the Lincoln Place neighborhood.
October 10, 2001 March 18, 2018
John Percy Oral History Interview This oral history interview with John Percy was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

In this interview, John Percy describes his experience as a P-47 Fighter-Bomber Pilot in the European theater of World War II, his childhood in rural Illinois, learning to fly, his career after the military as a corporate pilot for State Farm Insurance, and his involvement on the board of the Prairie Aviation Museum.
October 6, 2001 March 17, 2018
Leland Ambuehl Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Leland Ambuehl was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Leland Ambuehl came to Lincoln Place as an adopted child from Eastern Europe. In this interview, he talks about his adoption, his experiences in World War II, the diversity of Lincoln Place, and the Lincoln Place Athletic Club.
October 28, 2001 February 16, 2018
Linda Garcia Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Linda Garcia was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History

Though Linda Garcia was born in St. Louis, she only lived there for three years and spent the rest of her life in Lincoln Place. In this interview, she describes her childhood, the diversity of the community, the different jobs her and her sisters had to do to help her widowed mom, her Mexican heritage, and religious experiences.
October 31, 2001 March 4, 2018
Mary Asadorian Oral History Interview This oral history interview with Mary Kambarian Asadorian was part of oral histories conducted in the fall 2001 semester of History 447: Oral History.

Mary Asadorian was born and raised in Lincoln Place, where she spent her life. In this interview, she talks about her childhood, the role of the Armenian Orthodox Church, the diversity of Lincoln Place, the community center, and her family heritage.
October 27, 2001 February 18, 2018