Al and Dorothea obtained a marriage license on October 22, 1937 at County Clerk's Office, Clayton, St. Louis County, Missouri; recorded in book 40, page 196. Alfred Reinhardt Ernst Hoemann, son of Otto Hoemann and Ida Nething, married Dorothea Josephine Marie Berg, daughter of Henry Andrew Berg (Sr.) and Lydia Marie Schoettle, on October 23, 1937 in Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri.
Alfred Reinhardt Ernst Hoemann
Alfred Reinhardt Ernst Hoemann was born on July 13, 1912 at Lyon, Franklin County, Missouri. His mother died of complication from the birth; Al was baptized beside his mother's casket by Reverend Hammerdinck, who was conducting the funeral service July 17, 1913 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Port Hudson, Franklin County, Missouri. Te sponsors were Ernst Nithing and Renbe Hoemann. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, The Reverend and Mrs. John Nething, and by his mother's sister Paula. He affirmed his baptismal covenant through the rite of Confirmation at Berouf Creek Lutheran Church by the Reverend P. T. Schmidt. His only question during the examination was correctly answered by reciting John 3:16.on May 16, 1926. He was a trumpeter and leader of Al. R. Hoemann's Novelty Band, the 11 piece band traveled throughout Missouri and Illinois, performing at many outdoor events and benefit concerts between 1935 and 1960 at Webster Groves, St. Louis County, Missouri. Dorothea and Al lived in 1949 in Webster Groves. Residing with them were their children Courtney, Kingsley and Huntley. He and Dorothea lived from 1950 to 1994 at 135 Peeke Avenue, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri. He was an instructor with the Dale Carnegie Courses in 1960. He was honored on July 12, 1987 at Union, Franklin County, Missouri, on the occasion of his 75th birthday with a party at his farm on Highway AJ. He and Dorothea Josephine Marie Berg were honored on September 13, 1987 at Highway AJ, Union, Franklin County, Missouri, on their 50th wedding anniversary, music in the afternoon was performed by the original Al Hoemann Band. He turned over the operation of the jewelry store he had operated for 46 years to Laura Berg's sister Mary Jane (Maury) Gann who had worked in the store off and on for 30 years in August, 1992. He died on November 20, 1997 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, at age 85 of advanced age and heart failure. His funeral service was held on November 23, 1997 at Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri and a second service was held on November 23, 1997 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Port Hudson, Franklin County, Missouri. He was buried on November 23, 1997 at Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery. Al received his early childhood education at the Union Public School and, for grades 6 and 7, at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. He went to live with his father during his high school years, graduating from Webster Groves High School. He was interested in music and the jewelry business. For music he pretty much taught himself. For his jewelry business he attended New York University in New York City, and for appraising skills the Chicago Lapidary.
Because of his watch-repairing ability, he was assigned to the Air Path Instrument Company located at Lambert Field in St. Louis during WWII, providing a great service for his country in designing and making instruments for flying airplanes.
Following the end of the war in 1946 he assumed the jewelry business that his late uncle, Walter C. Hoemann, had conducted in Kirkwood for 35 years. Al started and ended his business in the same store.
Al was well known throughout the Midwest for his work with clocks, particularly Grandfather Clocks, and made many "house calls." As a businessman in Kirkwood, he was known for his honesty, faithfulness and hard work. He served the community in many capacities, including as President of the Kirkwood Area Chamber of Commerce and the Kirkwood Optimist Club. In 1980 he was chosen as Kirkwood Citizen of the Year.
Al was always very involved with the Church. He loved traveling with his pastor grandfather, was the head usher at Christ Lutheran Church in Webster Groves for seventeen years, and was an active usher at Concordia Kirkwood which he and his family joined in the 50's, and where Al remained a member until the time of his death. He maintained a great affection for Ebenezer Lutheran Church all through his life.
His music career covered many areas, but it began in the church, particularly for picnics and outings. He and his brass group played for the Easter Sunrise Service at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Des Peres for many years. He directed the band program at Concordia School for four years. He could have been a "name dropper," had he chosen to, of the musicians with whom he had played.
Al was the owner of Al R. Hoemann Jewelers at 123 West Jefferson for 47 years until he closed it in the early 1990's. He continued to do clock and watch repair until his death.
In a news article in 1989, he stated that in 1927 while he was playing trumpet in the Webster Groves High School Band, John Philip Sousa came to a practice. Their music director, Hans Lemcke, had been a student of Sousa's.
Dorothea Josephine Marie Berg was born on December 10, 1914 at Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri She was baptized on January 10, 1915 at Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri She lived with her parents, Lydia and Henry, in 1920 at 135 East Monroe Avenue, Kirkwood.
She was enumerated with Henry Andrew Berg (Sr.), as "Dorothy Berg", on the 1920 U.S. Census at Bonhomme Township, Kirkwood, St. Louis County, Missouri, she was listed as a five-year-old white female born in Missouri. She lived with her parents, Lydia and Henry, in January, 1924 at 135 East Monroe Avenue, Kirkwood, Missouri. She lived with her mother, Lydia Marie Schoettle, from 1928 to 1932 at 406 East Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood. She was confirmed on April 1, 1928 at Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kirkwood. She lived with her mother, Lydia Marie Schoettle, in 1934 at 712 North Geyer Road, Kirkwood, Missouri. She was a stenographer from 1934 to 1936 in St. Louis County. She lived with her mother, Lydia, from 1936 to 1938 at 7429 Lyndover Place, Maplewood, Missouri; some of the neighbors on Lyndover Place were Edward M. Anderson, Alois C. Dempsey, and Ralph B. Slugert in the multi-family building. She was a clerk in 1938 at St. Louis County, Missouri She was a member of the Concordia Lutheran Church Ladies Aid Society in 1949. Dorothea and Alfred lived in 1949 in Webster Groves. Residing with them were their children Courtney, Kingsley and Huntley. She and Al lived from 1950 to 1994 at 135 Peeke Avenue, Kirkwood, Missouri. She and Alfred Reinhardt Ernst Hoemann were honored on September 13, 1987 at Highway AJ, Union, Franklin County, Missouri, on their 50th wedding anniversary, music in the afternoon was performed by the original Al Hoemann Band.
She died on January 19, 1994 at Kirkwood, Missouri, at age 79. Her wake was held on January 21, 1994 at Bopp Chapel, Kirkwood, Missouri Her funeral service was held on January 22, 1994 at Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, a second service was held on January 22, 1994 at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Port Hudson, Missouri where she was buried.
From the history given out at her funeral:
Dorothea was born December 10, 1914, in Kirkwood, Missouri, to Henry A. and Lydia M. (nee Schoettle) Berg. She was baptized on January 10, 1915, attended school and was confirmed April 1, 1928 at Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, MO.
She was married to Alfred Hoemann on October 23, 1937, at Concordia.
For eleven years, Dorothea managed the Hallmark Card & Gift Shop in Kirkwood. She was ill with cancer for over three years, dying in her home early in the morning of January 19, 1994.
Interment will be at Ebenezer Lutheran Church Cemetery, Leslie, Missouri, following a service at Concordia and a service at Ebenezer Lutheran Church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood.
Dorothea wrote her autobiography before she died:
I will try and write a little history concerning me. My birth took place at 135 Monroe Avenue, being delivered by a midwife Lizzie Roseman who belonged to St. Peter's Church. She often was called upon to assist medical doctors on difficult births and was distant relation.
The day I was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church, there was ice and snow on the ground. My Mother was afraid that my sponsor Uncle Joe Berg (my Father's brother) would drop me on the walk to church, it was so bad. My other sponsor was Hilda Lochaas who was my mother's cousin. Her sister was Ella Lochhaas Goeggle Baumbach (Walter Goeggle, her first husband died and she married William Baumbach.) Her children were Irvin Goeggle, deceased, Walter and Francis. The brothers in the family were William and Christian, bachelors and Leslie. Leslie's first wife Frances died and he married Esther Heinemann. Her father taught school at Concordia and was my teacher.
My Father had a beautiful large grape orchard very close to the house and in the summer we played underneath in the shade. Underneath this arbor was the cistern, beyond this he had a large garden and among some of this crops, he raised a few rows of peanuts. Yes, peanuts. In later years he made very delicious pork sausage and horseradish and people came for miles to buy it. He set up a shop toward the back and to the side of the garage. When they no longer made the sausage and horseradish and decided to sell the equipment, as a little girl I didn't want them to.
My brothers and Henry raised pigeons and sold squabs, usually having orders for them when they got big enough to eat.
The hill from Clinton on Taylor to Monroe Avenues was often blocked off during real cold snow and ice. The City did this for the children to have a good sleigh riding hill. The city sent the Fire Department to put water on it and made it a great place for fun. My brothers were well know for making good bob sleds and they had lots of good times on the hill as well as putting the bob sled behind a car. My mother was very worried that they would get hurt.
My brothers always went hunting and used goose grease on their boots to make them waterproof. The also wrapped their feet and legs in newspapers before putting on the boots.
My father went walnut hunting and on returning, would spread them on the ground to await the first frost. Then they would turn brown and the brown husk would have to be removed.
My brother Henry one time wanted some marbles and Father and mother said no. He then went to Heege's store to buy some and proceeded to charge them. When Father discovered this, he made Henry drop them one by one into the cistern. What a hard lesson to learn.
When my Margie was dating Elmer, she would bring us children a bag of broken cookies from Loose-Wiles where she worked occasionally.
My grandfather George J. Schoettle (buried in Collinsville, Illinois) roomed in St. Louis and when he came to visit us, he brought us fruit. We watched him from the bottom of the street and when we saw him (after he crossed Kirkwood Road) we yelled and ran to meet him. He often told mother, "Lid (Lydia being her name) I don't know if they are happy to see me or the fruit I bring. He later came to live with us and died of cancer at our house at 135 Monroe Avenue.
I was delegated to do the grocery shopping for the family and took a wagon to haul home the purchases. Sometime, she asked David but he most of the times go out of it. One time when I was returning from shopping at dusk he talked Mary into being covered with a sheet and hiding behind a tree. At David's signal, she appeared waving her arms. The whole neighborhood heard me screaming and Mother punished both of them by sending them to bed without supper. David was always getting Mary into trouble. She was younger and would go along with his shenanigans.
Across te street lived the Crowders. Dr Crowder was a veterinarian and Elmer said he was part Indian. His horse liniment couldn't be beat, but he die with his secret. They had 2 sons and 1 daughter Laura. She taught me how to carefully wash her silk stockings, when I was around 8 or 9. She later married a fireman from Maplewood Missouri by the name of Dotti.
My father also had a garden spot in the front and raised vegetables. It followed a creek or ditch. One time we played in the ditch as it only had water in it when it rained and we cut and pulled long switches. It turned out that the switches were poison ivy and I really got a good case with my eyes almost swollen shut. After that no more playing in the ditch.
The Palmer family lived on the corner of Taylor and Monroe and had at least 5 children, mostly girls. They were all older that I was but Sarah (Mary's age) and a boy Lawrence. Mr. Palmer went to the Baptist church every Sunday with his Bible in his hand. The children didn't go very often at all. They were a little on the wild side and one was known as Kirkwood Kate. Their names ere Beulah, Virginia, Katherine, Sarah and Lawrence. could be I have missed mentioning one or two.
The Strawtirs lived further down Monroe. He was a fireman of long standing in Kirkwood. They had Albert, and Wilbert.
The Negro family lived across from us and Mr. Davis was a retired superintendent of Scullin Steel. Mrs. Davis played the organ every Sunday at a church in St. Louis. They had two sons, George the oldest played with Henry a lot and Mitchell who later became quite a drinker. George retired from the postal service and married a college graduate who taught school. George was well liked by many, many people and told me Henry and I sole many a watermelon. When he retired, the people he delivered mail to had a big party and there was a big write-up in the St. Louis newspaper.
Also when Dr. Crowder died, Davidsons moved into the house and he and Mr. Dennis Phelon had a coal and ice business for many years.
Up the street toward Kirkwood Road lived a family by the name of Domrese. Norman used to go visit them, but mother always said don't ask for anything. So when he was there and saw an apple, banana or orange he would tell them" I like apples, I do" The told my mother and thought that was cute.
The Robinaus lived across the street but toward Kirkwood Road. They had a daughter and a son Raymond. We played Lie Low Sheep outside and in the street with all the neighborhood children and Car and Edward Moeller. Their Father was the owner of City Ice & Fuel bought out later by (--?--). Monroe Avenue ran into their property that fronted Fillmore Avenue. There were also 2 girls in the family Edna and Helen. The banner thy used was "Polar Wave, we've come to stay." On rare occasions when we took a wagon to buy ice, they would let us enter the icehouse and give us a few chips of ice to eat.
My Father bought some stock in the Kirkwood Ice Cream Company. The neighborhood children would stand by the window and watch them dip ice cream making real good Eskimo pies. Rarely would they give the children a treat although we hoped they would. I have a tin tray from this company in my possession that I prize highly. The company went bankrupt.
My Mother had a large chicken yard and raised chickens, selling both eggs and chickens. She had a small egg incubator in the basement and really took care of the eggs hoping for a large baby chick turn out. She also had "cluckers" and the old hens did the incubating of the eggs.
Mother made apple butter and apples were peeled the day before. I searched the chicken yard for peach pits that were scrubbed and boiled and put in the copper kettle to keep the apples from sticking to bottom. The copper kettle belonged to Moellers and received apple butter in return for its use. Aunt Mayme (my father's sister was one of the stirrers and it was an all day job, but oh how we all enjoyed it during the winter months especially.
Charles Jacobi and his sister Ida visited mother. At Christmas Miss Ida brought a small box of delicious cookies. She never would give mother the recipes but after she died Mr. Charles called on mother and asked what she would like to have to remember Ida by, my mother asked for a few recipes. He brought her complete book and I made a copy of everything in it. In later years Mr. Charles came in the afternoon and left before dark, so people wouldn't have room to talk. Mr. Charles was a lawyer, but never practiced law because of so much dishonesty. He read meters for the City of Kirkwood. His father was a judge and high up in the Masonic Order. One Christmas Miss Ida took me to a Christmas Party at the George R. Robison home at Argonne and Woodlawn, given by the Episcopal Church. There was a large Christmas scene and movables on a table much, much larger that a Ping Pong table. What an exciting evening for me. In the china closet is a green glass bud vase that my mother gave Miss Ida for her beautiful roses.
When the Target Building was being built, the large holly tree could not remain standing, so the architect said and it was moved to (--?--). As we had a summer lacking in rain, hope it will survive to remain a joy to others in future years.
In 1928 we moved from Monroe Avenue to 406 East Jefferson and lived there until the depression when we moved into Elmer and Marge's home at 712 North Geyer and rented our house out. Marge and Elmer bought a mercantile store at Lyon, Missouri. We never did move back there. The curve in the front yard sidewalk was made by my brothers to save a beautiful tree, which has now bee gone for some years. When Norman put the brick railing around the front porch, all of us helped. We had a cornerstone laying and in one of the piers is the paper inside a jar telling who did what. What a happy day that was.
I graduated from Concordia Lutheran School on a Thursday and started Business School known as Speedway on North Grand Avenue and Hebert which was across the street from the old Sportsman's Park. It was a long way to go back and forth each day. Exactly 13 months later I got my first office job earning 12.00 per week. My employment started while Mother was in Oklahoma going with her cousins to visit cousins. Never told her I was working but had asked my boss if I could keep them to show her on her return. Well she hadn't been home very long t al when I handed the envelopes to her and she said I'll look at them later. This was such a letdown but later she said why didn't you tell me about this good surprise.
It later turned out, that I was the only one working in the house during the depression. However, I later was laid off, as there was a man in the office who had a son and he got my job. I then worked as a waitress in a very nice restaurant on Kirkwood Road now part of Target, catering to personnel at the Missouri State Highway Department. We had tablecloths and fresh flowers on the tables every day. It had 5 tables and 6 stools so it was very mall. Owned by Edward Dierkes and wife.
I later did office work for a Justice of the Peace, Judge Robeman and from there went downtown to work in the Arcade Building for E. D. La Rue's insurance claim department. Judge Robeman, Dr. Poole, a prominent dentist (mine) and several others were killed by an irate Negro man who Judge Robeman had sentenced to prison. Irene Schmidt, whom I had broke into the routine was there when the horrible thing happened.
From the insurance claim department, changed jobs to Duro Chrome Corp who manufactured tubular furniture which was shipped all over the world. At the time of my marriage, I had moved up to be the owner's, L. M. Michelson's private secretary. My cousin Christian Lochhaas was a plater there and was held in high esteem. I rode to Kirkwood occasionally with him.
Aunt Annie worked as housekeeper at Dana's located at Argonne and Harrison Avenue (southwest corner) Bill Lane (an architect) now owns it. Aunt Annie was there when electric came to Kirkwood.
My mother worked as housekeeper in the 200 block of East Jefferson. She go up one morning to get the fires going and to cook breakfast when she discovered the house was on fire. Everyone go out okay, but it was a total loss. Several days later William Lochhaas and Mother went to the scene to dig and look for any treasures through the rubble.
After I sold the old homestead at Pleasant Ridge, they tore down the house, out buildings and the blacksmith shop. What a disappointment to me. Through the years, I wanted your father, my mother, Grandpa Hoemann and my brothers to give me permission to buy it and fix up the blacksmith for a dance hall but no one thought that was a good idea. Years later they changed their minds but it was too late.
Somewhere in my belongings is a write up that a plank road went by their house. There are pictures of the old house. Many of our relatives are in the cemetery at Pleasant Ridge. Others are buried in Collinsville and Edwardsville.
Leslie Lochhaas, my cousin, sold me in 1981, a set of dishes from Alberta Canada when he and his wife Esther went on a tour there. I also bought 23 Lenox glasses and sherbet dishes and a curio cabinet. I hope to still buy 2 sewing cabinets and a very old plat book. He gave me a plate advertising Hoege (Heege) store (located at Kirkwood Road and Madison Avenue, southeast corner). This is the store that Uncle Henry charged the marbles.