Interview with William H. Lieske, Concordia College class of 1937, from Matairie, Louisiana, in 1981. Pastor Lieske talks about, among other things, his classmates and what they did upon graduation, Concordia's first two presidents ' Theodore Buenger and Martin Graebner ' as teachers, pranks played on professors, the gradual diminishment of hazing and the gradual rise of coeducation, free time activities, the geography of the campus and its old tunnel system, the deaths of three students during his time there, and participation in musical groups and athletic teams. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Wesley Kuhn, Concordia College class of 1940, from Biloxi, Mississippi, in 1981. Pastor Kuhn talks about, among other things, the prevalence of and secrecy surrounding hazing ('shagging'), what outstanding professors did, working as student body president with the school president Martin Graebner, working to earn extra money, what the students had to pay for (not tuition), the effect of the depression on the school and students, physical education requirements and intramural sports, and attitudes towards Germans, Germany and Hitler. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Walter Volz, Concordia College class of 1956, from Plantation, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Volz talks about, among other things, how he and his brothers would ride their bicycles to Concordia even in winter - after doing their paper routes, the young professors who came on at this time, their excellent forensics/debate team led by professor E.J. Otto, the literary societies on campus and their role in the all-male dramas (Shakespeare and such) performed on campus, participation in the campus printing and yearbook activities, interesting memories of professors, the respect students had for professors who disciplined them (like Professor Edgar Streufert), President William A. Poehler waking up the younger students in the morning, sneaking out to study while being a chapel acolyte, exploring the tunnel system of the old Reformatory school (seeing ball and chains, solitary confinement cells), giving President Poehler's daughters a hard time, his happy recollections of Concordia, and his very busy ministry in south Florida. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent).
Interview with Walter Haag, Concordia College class of 1934, from Marianna, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Haag talks about, among other things, why he went to Concordia, homesickness and some details of hazing ('shagging') incidents, memorable school work, various professors and pranks played on them, the close bond the students shared, the untimely death of a roommate, the effects of the depression and working at school for extra money, transportation, nicknames of students and profs, and the school's expectations about dating. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Rudolph Ritz, Concordia College class of 1935, from Largo, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Ritz, whose mother was the chief cook for Kaiser Wilhelm II, talks about, among other things, why he came to study for the ministry at Concordia, how public school teachers sacrificed extra time to help him learn English and math, the president's long list of responsibilities at the school (leading chapel, night watchman, his own secretary), outstanding profs and what made them great, the dissection of stray animals for biology classes, how city boys at Concordia avoided hazing and who got it the worst, classroom clowning and fun, playing sports, the difficulties professors faced, the scandal of dating students (dancing, movies), extracurricular night lectures by a professor on sexual matters, a 'rebel' student newspaper (the 'Rebel Comet'), pro baseball and the St. Paul Saints (Babe Ruth), work outside of school, the conversion of a co-worker to Christianity through his preaching, and an interesting story about a personal letter from President Nixon. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Robert Gaiser, Concordia College class of 1914 (?), from Gulfport, Florida in 1981. Mr. Gaiser talks about, among other things, how his father was a pastor at a congregation ' at one time pastored by a man who became the President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (Friedrich Pfotenhauer) ' that provided a steady supply of pastors and teachers for the church, hazing incidents and 'payback' years later (at a theological convention!), harmless pranks, the disciplined education received, professors at the school, students working outside of school, transportation and various entertainments, the old campus buildings (the old Reformatory School) since torn down, sports, his later career as a realtor and builder, his convictions about the importance of the church and its mission. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Orville Quast, Concordia College class of 1938, from Lumberton, North Carolina, in 1981. Mr. Quast talks about, among other things, being a small town boy coming to St. Paul, how hazing was good for him, needing parental permission to smoke at Concordia when 16 years old, Professor Paul Stor's interesting biology classes, hitchhiking to school, his responsibilities as his class president, the accreditation of the high school, the effects of the Great Depression on the school, participation in sports and singing groups, being justly punished by upperclassmen, his musings about when President Martin Graebner slept, mandatory study time before early breakfast and in the evening, why he dropped out of seminary after Concordia, and the other people in his class. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Marlin Mentz, Concordia College class of 1943, from Douglasville, Georgia, in 1981. Pastor Mentz talks about, among other things, how his grandfather encouraged him to be a pastor, his transfer to Concordia in 1941, the teachers the students respected and why (particularly professors John Berger and Lorenz Blankenbuehler), school President Martin Graebner's many gifts, issues created by World War II, social activities including tavern visits and effectively avoiding the President's supervision, classroom and dormitory exploits and pranks, the school's museum, food service improvements, Dr. Graebner's remarkable office manager Lydia Caldwell (Dierks), the school nurse Anna Gutz, spiritual life on campus and off, and the value, in retrospect, of his deeply classical education at Concordia. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Luth
Interview with John Naumann, Concordia College class of 1925, from Lehigh Acres, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Naumann talks about, among other things, his birth in India, how he and four of his brothers attended Concordia, resenting the hazing/'shagging' and then doing it himself, the faculty's attitudes towards the practice, working as President Theodore Buenger's 'private secretary', memories about his professors, traveling to do music concerts both as a student and professor at Concordia, pranks pulled on him as a professor and pranks he did as a student, dinnertime and working in the kitchen, President Buenger teaching the students about constellations in the evenings, the limited social life due to the need to work, being quarantined due to illness yet playing hockey in the attic of the building called 'Old Main', visiting other places around the school, experiencing 'campus arrest' where one could not leave the campus without permission, and his great fondness for Concordia. This i
Interview with James Mack, Concordia College class of 1945, from Rome, Georgia, in 1981. Pastor Mack talks about, among other things, his childhood and the church-worker-producing congregation he came from, crying himself to sleep in a room of 45 boys due to homesickness, former school president Theodore Buenger inviting him to go for a drive with him, President Martin Graebner's brilliance in Latin, getting caught staying out late by President Graebner, working in the library and elsewhere to help pay for school, being forced to get cigarettes for the older boys (part of the 'shagging,' or hazing, that occurred), nurse Anna Gutz's great concern and generosity, playing and coaching baseball, proving English professor Edgar Otto wrong, pranks (mild and dangerous) played on professors, the food donated to the students by local churches, working for a local radio station WMIN, meeting his future wife at a local church event (through the 'Walther League'), their ensuing courtship, city c
Interview with Howard Patten, Concordia College class of 1956, from Conover, North Carolina, in 1981. Pastor Patten talks about, among other things, his upbringing in the small Scandinavian-dominated town of Roseau, where he was one of the few Missouri-Synod (German) Lutherans. He also discusses being a green northern Minnesota boy at Concordia, how he decided on the train ride to St. Paul to be a pastor instead of a doctor, learning about how dancing was sinful, falling asleep in class due to working so hard, his great Greek teacher Fred 'Quickie' Wahlers, how girls helped 'civilize' the campus, his disappointments with teachers and fellow students, his being student body president and his own rebellious streak, being told by the school's president William A. Poehler to attend the worship services he was skipping, Poehler's intellect and imposing presence, organizing a dance at Como Park and attending dances at the University of Minnesota (not permitted at Concordia), hearing really
Interview with Herman Glienke, Concordia College class of 1947, from Hialeah, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Glienke talks about, among other things, attending Concordia after high school at the age of 18 in order to become a minister, taking extension courses via the University of Minnesota in 1947, receiving hours of extra tutoring from Professor Edgar Streufert, the lack of social opportunities because of the necessity of working to pay for school, some positive social effects of hazing/'shagging,' being 'green' due to starting late, his concerns about the changing attitudes towards keeping tabs on the students starting at that time, and his thankfulness for the kindness and help shown to him during his years at Concordia. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Harry H. Smith,Concordia College class of 1928 (?), from Orlando, Florida, in 1981. Chaplain Smith talks about, among other things, being the first non-German student at Concordia, studying foreign languages for the first time (German, Latin, Greek and Hebrew), how he was over-indoctrinated but years later found meaning in his religious faith, lots of student pranks and hijinks, the different views of the farm kids and city kids, how his class had all their classes together, how their class president was selected, transportation in the city, places to visit, getting 'pin money' by selling shoes and magazines door to door, becoming a chaplain for the fire department and hospitals, and preaching at Disney World and funerals. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with E. G. Runge, Concordia College class of 1932, from Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, in 1981. Pastor Runge talks about, among other things, how a generous man paid for his first year at Concordia with 'no strings attached' to see if he would like it, streetcar and other modes of transportation, the 'Rebel Comet' student newspaper and its editor, excellent professors and what made them memorable, working off campus and off-campus activities, the lack of dating among students and why, getting enough to eat in the dining hall, his 'close call' with pneumonia and appreciation for the school nurse Anna Gutz, buying a photography business from a fellow student, and hazing / 'shagging' and the 'Supreme Court' young students might face. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Donald Kurtzahn, Concordia College's High School class of 1952, from Atlanta, Georgia,, in 1981. Mr. Kurtzahn talks about, among other things, his desire to be a pastor in junior high school, working to put himself through the high school, the food service, playing pranks on professors, playing on the first Concordia football and hockey teams, avoiding hazing by virtue of being a bigger kid and athlete, classmates marrying one another, losing a classmate to a car accident, having parties with friends, cutting classes, being paddled, getting a super education at Concordia and what he did with that education. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Delbert Roth, Concordia College class of 1952, from Conover, North Carolina, in 1981. Pastor Roth talks about, among other things, transferring from a Lutheran school in Nebraska to Concordia in St. Paul in part because he needed to work during school, traveling to St. Paul and back home via train, memorable professors he had, stores on campus, being in an oratory competition, participation in sports, being made to work in the campus kitchen for smoking, rolling shot puts down the dormitory halls, choir activities including student direction of, church activities and services in the city, how the girls brought 'social life' to the campus in 1951, positive impressions of Concordia staff and the Christian people he met in the upper Midwest. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Carl W. Schrader, Concordia College class of 1931, from Memphis, Tennessee, in 1981. Pastor Schrader talks about, among other things, the difficulties he experienced as a very young student (age 12) at Concordia (a boarding school), the loneliness and hazing he and others experienced, some interesting tidbits about his teachers and their classes, his participation in athletics, what he and fellow students did for leisure, and the nearby geography of the school at the time. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Bernard Kurzweg, Concordia College class of 1945, from Tallahassee, Florida, in 1981. Mr. Kurzweg talks about, among other things, how the hard discipline of the dorm monitors was good for him, the practice of hazing or 'shagging,' study periods in the morning, old buildings and their use, the patient and saintly school nurse Anna Gutz, the cost of room and board ($185/year), how the faculty chose him to be President of his class and his responsibilities, enforced evening study hours, the challenges of learning Latin and other languages (Biblical, German), standout professors (Paul Stor and Martin Graebner), the debate team, jobs the students had and extra work done for the war effort, reasons for attending Concordia, reflections on the high level of education received, homesickness in early years (was 13 when he first attended), transportation, what classmates are doing now, and comparing the past with the present. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Ben G. Hoffman, Concordia College class of 1928, from Matairie, Louisiana, in 1981. Pastor Hoffmann talks about, among other things, coming from a family of 11 children, his pleasant experiences at Concordia with his roommates and 'Room Buck' (the older students who led in the dormitories), the simple and wholesome lives of the students, harmless pranks, how wonderful the teachers at Concordia were, recreational activities, nicknames, outbreaks of disease, doing grounds keeping at the school, and the old Concordia campus. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Interview with Arlys Fittje Springer, Concordia College class of 1959, from Zephyrhills, Florida, in 1981. Mrs. Fittje-Springer, a graduate of one of Concordia's first women classes, talks about, among other things, how she ended up attending Concordia, working in the school's library, her professors, doing babysitting to pay for school, gym classes, dorm life and dorm rules, learning to read music and the music lessons at school, evening devotions and mandatory chapel, air raid drills, the quality of her education, and the 'placement service' for church teachers. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Reflection by Albert H. Ziegler, Concordia College class of 1918, from Marianna, Florida, in 1981. Pastor Ziegler talks about the events leading up to his two missionary trips to China, the first coming in 1922 (four years after graduating from Concordia) and some of the joys and trials of those experiences. He also talks, among other things, about being POWs (prisoners of war) after the Japanese takeover of Hong Kong in 1941, his children's return to America and Concordia for their education, and what those he graduated with are currently doing. Finally, he discusses his professors. This interview was conducted by librarian Margaret Horn (at Concordia from 1956-1987) during a summer sabbatical, and was made possible in part by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now 'Thrivent').
Concordia Academy track team of 1937. Front row: H. Bentrup, E. Krause, H. Schauland (captain), P. Janzow, C. Peter. Middle row: A. Ahlman (manager), E. Bentrup, E. Kramer, R. Ehler, H. Neunaber, L. Ewald. Back row: W. Kerber, R. Bohlman, L. Wachter, R. Brandt, R. Peter, T. Mack.
Concordia Academy track team of 1939. Back row: Ondov, Witte, M. Wolfram. Center row: C. Peter (manager), Heyne, Klinkenberg, J. Wolfram, Braem. Front row: Vrudny, Waechter, Hughart, Neumeister.
Concordia Academy track team of 1938. Top row: Kramer, H. Schroeder, Waechter, R. Ehlers, Kerber. Bottom row: W. Mueller, Janzow, H. Bentrup, T. Mack, C. Peter (manager).
College track team of 1933. Back row: Rueber, Sylvester, Dorn, Kelling, E. Friedrich, Zimmerman, Schlecht, Starke, Oster, Adascheck. Front row: Claussen, Dohrman, Drevelow, Draheim-Trainer, Dorisch, Borowski (manager), Wetzeman.
Southern Minnesota Junior College conference Champions. Back row: J. Tews, A. Oster, V. Gierke, H. Borowski, W. Buck, H. Sylvester, J. Rognstad (coach). Front row: R. Weiland (manager), A. Fenske, A. Betram, L. Finke, M. Otto.
College varsity tennis team, 1933. Students in photo: Standing left to right: E. Streufert, M. Wahl, A. Drealow. Squatting l-r: H. Belsheim, F. Schauland (manager).
Concordia Academy tennis team of 1934. Left to right: B. Streuter, P. Friedrich, W. Beutow, R. Buck, H. Rudolph, L. Blankenbuehler, C. Bremer (manager).
Concordia Academy tennis team photo of 1936. Standing: H. Schauland, L. Blankenbuehler (manager), A. Wittkopp. Kneeling: A. Schornack, L. Graebner, A. Drevlow.
Concordia High School tennis team of 1937. Left to right: A. Wahlers, E. Heyne, A. Wittkopp, P. Puseman (manager), L. Graebner, H. Schauland, P. Janzow, R. Koch.
Exterior view of the President's home, on the east side of the campus. This was the oldest stone house in the state of Minnesota, and was torn down in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Note: the building is no longer standing.
Group portrait of some of the members of the Wahlers and Graebner family. Martin Graebner is on far left and Art Wahlers is sitting on the woman's knee.
Students lying on grass outside with brooms, mattresses and blankets hanging on clotheslines. The brooms are used to beat the mattresses clean. Taken near the old dining room.
Students lying on grass outside with brooms, mattresses and blankets hanging on clotheslines. The brooms are used to beat the mattresses clean. Taken near the old dining room.
Students lying on grass outside with brooms, mattresses and blankets hanging on clotheslines. The brooms are used to beat the mattresses clean. Taken near the old dining room.
Concordia High School basketball team of 1945-1946. Standing left to right: Vernon Wroge, Mart Hargens, Duane Putz, Rosie Lindemeier, Dick Siebert (coach), Darrell Lubbens, Duane Bohrer, H. Schuett, Arlo Janssen. Seated left to right: Bill Beck, Bob Berger, Arlie Alpers, Ben Ailts, Mobs Streufert.
Concordia High School freshman basketball team of 1937. Second row: N. Spomer, P. Mueller, N. Brandt (coach), T. Mack, W. Fuerneiss. First row: R. Brandt, W. Priebe, A. Wahlers, E. Linse, F. Ross.
Concordia High School sophomore basketball team of 1940-1941. Front row left to right: H. Klawetter, D. Schmidt, K. Muecke, R. Klingebiel, O. Henrichs. Back row left to right: F. Schwieger (coach), J. Huber, M. Meyer, A. Beck, V. Janssen, W. Hoffman, L. Grumm (assistant coach).
Concordia High School basketball team of 1940-1941. Standing left to right: J. Fehner, E. Marquardt, H. Brockopp, C. Nahnsen, W. Johnson, J. Wolfram, W. Friederichs, N. Hannemann, T. Braem, M. Hinrichs, M. Strohschein, L. Grumm. Seated: M. Wolfram (manager), D. Siebert (coach).
Concordia High School baseball team of 1938. Back row: E. Bentrup, L. Graebner, V. Gerike, E. Dubs. 2nd row: F. Schwieger, W. Link, Schroeder (coach), N. Spomer, R. Brandt. Sitting: W. Werning, R. Ehlers, A. Soeldner (manager), I. Janssen, E. Kramer.
Concordia High School baseball team of 1939. E. Kramer, H. Nuetzmann, G. Beck, N. Spomer, W. Fuerniss, F. Ehner (mascot), R. Brandt, A. Marquardt, L. Ewald (coach), John Volkert, H. Schroeder (manager), E. Dubbs, W. Werning, E. Bentru, F. Schweger, T. Mix.
Concordia High School baseball team of 1940. Seated left to right: Marquardt, Wahlers, Fuerniss (manager), Link, Brandt. Second row: Bentrup, Nahnsen, Hanneman, Wohlfeil, P. Reed (coach). Third row: Spomer, Ellinger, Grumm.
Concordia Academy basketball team of 1935-1936. Standing: H. Neunaber, R. Brandt, R. Rist, E. Gerike, E. Nieting, A. Operheu, A. Wessler. Seated: C. Boye, B. Frey (manager), L. Ewald (coach), O. Quast.
Concordia Academy basketball team of 1936-1937. Standing: O. Cloeter, F. Schwieer, E. Heyne, R. Ehlers, Ewald (coach). Seated: C. Boye (manager), A. Wittkopp, R. Brandt (capt), E. Nieting, E. Kramer.
Concordia Academy basketball team of 1938-1939. Back row left to right: C. Peter (manager), Spomer, Fuerniss, Brinkman, Waechter, Beck, Ross, R. Siebert (coach). Front row left to right: Werning, Kramer, Heyne, E. Bengrup, Schwieger, Wahlers.
Concordia Academy baseball team of 1934. Front row: H. Beltz, Dommer, Kaphingst, Nachtseim, Lange, Rolf (mascot). Middle row: Schweigert, Quast, V. Mack, Drew, F. Kruger. Back row: H. Mueller (manager), Lieske, M. Mack, Hansen, Petersen, Prof. Krueger (coach).
Concordia Academy baseball team of 1936. Back row: R. Aho, E. Nieting, E. Bach (manager), P. Klett, E. Gerike. Middle row: R. Ehlers, R. Brandt, E. Kramer, L. Halvorson, L. Ewald (coach). Front row: C. Boye, W. Steinke, O. Quast, L. Bartz, R. Rist, F. Schwieger (mascot).
Concordia Academy baseball team of 1936-1937. Back row: Seebach (coach), E. Krause, N. Spomer, H. Mix, D. Kasischke, E. Lemke (manager). Middle row: R. Ehlers, R. Bohlman, V. Gerike, V. Brandt, W. Werning. Front row: C. Boye (capt), F. Schwieger, E. Kramer, R. Brandt, E. Bentrup, A. Lemke.
Concordia Academy baseball team of 1933. Back row: Schweigert, Kaphingst, Allison, Bruns (manager), Jahnke, H. Mueller. Middle row: Beltz, Ritz, Drew, Hansen, Siegal, Lieske. Front row: F. Kruger, A. Koch, Fenske, O. Kruger (coach), Schmidtke, L. Peterson, M. Paul, DeVries (mascot).
Postcard sent to parents; the back reads "Dear Folks: I received that package from Sears Reobuck and Co. this morning well I will thank you before I forget it. Say those gloves fit the shoes too, I will certainly be able to make use of the gloves as it is getting pretty cold up here already. Say now before I forget it I must tell you to send me some stamps again as I run out, just about Best Regards, Your son and Brother Werner Krug""
Top photo is a print of the campus in 1878. Bottom photo is a view of the campus in 1895, from the college to northeast. It shows part of 1 1/2 mile long, 8 ft high fence enclosing the discontinued Kittsondale Fairgrounds and Racetrack north of St. Anthony Avenue.
Taken from second floor of the new building. the gymnasium is on right, the tall building in back is the dormitory, and the two story building to the left is the study building.
