The Roaring 20's

South Range Main Street

Grandpa's House in Rangetown

Playing Baseball: Grandpa is up to bat and quite happy that he just swung and missed. Note the boardwalks in the backyard to keep out of the mud.

Grandpa, Eino and Eino's friends after a game of baseball. 

Eino and a friend.  During the depression, Eino worked at the South Range Bank (now the museum).  He was the sole income for the family and because of this nobody in the household was eligible to work for the WPA.

Sylvia who helped fund Grandpa's education at Michigan Tech.

Wilfred posing at the lake.

Wilho (Skeezix) drowned trying to save a fellow boy scout a few years later. 

Grandpa swimming at what appears to be a stamp sand area.

Wilfred and Henry.  Note behind them appears to be a break-wall.  This possibly could be the breakers.

Grandpa and Hugo:  Possibly on one of their plant identification hikes.

Hugo

Grandpa and Eino

Eino

What we didn't hear about Mackinac Island

Toini and Tuovi, posing with some park rangers sporting aviator sunglasses.

Toini goofing off with somebody in a fancy coat. Is that a flask she's holding?

Tuovi sporting the classic tourist pose.

The boats of the Island

Either the restaurant that Tuovi and Toini worked at or their favorite bar and grill. 

Viita Jussi and Adolfina

Viita Jussi (John) and Adolfina.  Posing in their Sunday best. 

Adolfina Wiitala sitting in front of the farmhouse.

Adolfina

Adolfina, John, Karla, and Don

Clowning around.

The farm does look better with a Model T parked outside.

Tauno Kilpela: Pictures From The War

On leave in Detroit in Dec. 1943.  Note the Army Air force Badge on the shoulder under the Airborne tab.  Grandpa belonged to the 877th Airborne Engineer Aviation Battalion (AbnEAB) which was attached to the 9th Air Force.  They were trained to fly into enemy territory with gliders carrying small bulldozers and scrapers to repair a captured runway.   Shortly after this photo was taken he shipped out to England and then later to Normandy on D+30.

Dreux Airfeild: After building the first Allied Bomber Airfield in France, the 877th was shipped to England in preparation for Operation Market Garden.  After the 877th was wisely dropped from the operation, H Company was sent from England to do airfield maintenance in Dreux, France.

A few photos of the weapons section that Grandpa belonged to. After spending the winter in Druex, Tauno decided to volunteer for the Army Officer Candidate School to become a Rifle Platoon Leader.  Shortly before completing the training, the war in Europe ended and he ended up being attached to another engineering battalion headed for the Pacific.

Lt. Col Smotherman and other 877th officers.