Senior Connections Senior Connections Sept 2019

BIRTHDAY from Pg 11 a one-year normal school training class in Hutchinson. She took the Luce Line train to school and back. Sandquist remembers that the train conductors would make a special stop for her at the top of a hill close to her home on the farm. “I just walked down the hill home,” she said. Back to school Following her teacher training, Sandquist taught for ﬁ ve years in Rural District 48 school. When she began her teaching career, she had 20 students in her classroom, and she taught eight grades. “I was also the janitor, and started the ﬁ re in the morning,” she said. “I was the only adult there.” Sandquist said there were advantages to having nu- merous grades in the same classroom. “The younger students would listen to the older and learn,” she said. Voted #1 Orchard, and #1 Apple Fritter on Twin Cities Live Luce Line Orchard Opening Saturday, Aug. 31 FREE ADMISSION, FREE PARKING! OPEN Weekends through November Wed. - Sun. from 10 am - 6 pm Full Service Sat. & Sun. 7th Annual Star Gazing Party with WCCO’s Mike Lynch SATURDAY, SEPT. 7 • 7:45 - 10 PM Eat at the grill, enjoy corndogs, cheese curds, a cocktail bar, and listen to bluegrass from the band “Mash Tun”, 5:30 - 7:30 pm! FREE ADMISSION • FREE PARKING STARTING SAT., SEPTEMBER 7 We will be serving corndogs and cheese curds! The Raptor Center • Saturday, Sept. 14 • 1-3 pm Four birds of prey and Q&A Sheep Shearing • Saturday, Sept. 21 • 1-3 pm Climb the tire tower Photos courtesy of the Sandquist family Top, sisters Janice, Bernie, Lucille, and Lorreta posed for a photograph with their parents, Carl and Jeanette Carlson, in front of their home on the farm. The farm site is now home to the Luce Line Orchard. Above left, Carl Sandquist showed oﬀ his horses in front of a barn on the property Above, right, Bernadette Carlson (Sandquist) posed outside her farm home on the occasion of her high school graduation in 1942. A family of her own One day, Sandquist and a sister took the bus home from Minneapolis where they had been shopping. Located in the friendly river city of Watertown �� www.lucelineorchard.com 12 Senior They stopped at the Hollywood Store, which served as a grocery store and a bar. “And there was Cliff,” she said. (The Hollywood Store site is now home to the Hollywood Sports Complex.) One thing led to another, and Cliff and Bernadette married. The pair decided she could stay home, and retire from her teaching career. Soon enough, son Jim came along. “I had been married awhile,” Sandquist recalled, “and a teacher shortage happened. The school board begged me to come back.” Sandquist complied, and taught for several years at the Oak Lake School. The teacher shortage continued, and Sandquist soon found herself in even higher demand. “The Watertown superintendent begged me to come teach,” she said. Sandquist complied again, and upgraded her teach- ing degree at the university in St. Cloud. She went on to teach fourth grade for several years, before ﬁ nish- ing her career working in special education. Although Sandquist didn’t mention she was a pop- ular teacher, her niece, Nancy Rodgers did. “A 40- year reunion class from Watertown invited Bernie to attend because they loved her so much,” she said. Still spry at 95 And we have beer and wine for sale! 2755 Rose Ave., Watertown Photo by Nancy Dashwood Bernadette Sandquist had smiles and hugs for the many family members and friends who attended her 95th birth- day party on the farm site where she grew up. The site is now home to the Luce Line Orchard, in rural Watertown. �� Connections September 2019 The party for Sandquist’s 95th birthday at the Luce Line Orchard turned out to be a real bash. More than 50 friends and relatives attended, and many brought family photographs and stories to share. The lady of honor welcomed each guest, and added a few photos and stories of her own. Attendees got to nosh on a BBQ meal, with chops grilled just for them by Luce Line Orchard owner Pawelk. And, of course, there were presents and a big, bright birthday cake. The smile never left Sandquist’s face. She was sur- rounded by family, and happily, home once again. Senior Connections HJ.COM

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