Kretmeier & Baer Families Remembered - Pampa Street Names |
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Eloise Lane
(The Kretzmeier and Baer stories were written for Gray County Heritage published in 1985. On the Chamber of Commerce map of Pampa for 2000, Kretzmeier Street is D2 and Baer Street is E-G2.)
Stanley Kretzmeier, born 1906 in Clay Center, Kansas, was the son of Otto and Elizabeth Baer Kretzmeier. Both of his grandparents had come from Germany in the middle 1800's to avoid compulsory military service. A grandfather's clock made of wood from the Black Forest of Germany stands in the Kretzmeier home. When the Panhandle area was opened for farming in the early 1900's, Otto Kretzmeier and his brother-In-law, Chris Baer, made an inspec- tion trip to Pampa from their home In Kansas. The sight of nothing but grass waving in the wind as far as the eye could see was awe-inspiring. Only an occasional windmill could be seen for miles in any direction. Otto and Chris bought and equally divided 640 acres of land for $12 an acre. The farms demanded much hard work but there were some fun times. Once Stan (about 12) and his brother Roy (about 10) hitched their half- Indian pony to their grandfather Baer's best buggy. The boys started throwing corn cobs. One hit the pony and caused him to break into a run. The low-hanging branches of a tree caught the top of the buggy. The top flew off and so did the seat. For a few days the boys had to stand when they ate. Cuyler Street was only two blocks and one lot long on a Halloween night when some boys dis- mantled the farm machinery in Nels Walberg's implement store (location of present Rose Build- ing) and pushed it into the street. They disman- tied buggies and hauled them by ropes onto roofs of buildings lining Cuyler Street. The boys had to return all of the machinery and buggies the next day before they could attend classes at school. When Stan played football in high school, the practice field was on the lot where the Gray County courthouse is now located. He finished high school in Kansas where he learned the basics of blacksmithing. Because he was mechanically inclined, his father gave him the responsibility of keeping the farm equipment In good running order. Because of health problems, Otto gave up farming in Texas and left Stan (age 20) and Roy (age 18) In charge of the farm. They did all their own financing and paying the bills. At a party given by Stan's aunt on his twenty- second birthday, he met Theresa Wehling who had come to Texas to visit her brother. They were married and had four children: Mary Adair of Amarillo; Margaret Ann Hartman of South Gate, Kentucky; Roberta Schwind of Borger and Stanley Warren Kretzmeier of Fritch. Through the years they had many struggles. Farming did not always provide a steady source of income, and Stan had to supplement his finances with outside jobs. The dirt storms of the 1930s were especially devastating. Stan learned to tell the origin of the storm by the color of the dust that settled after the winds died down. White dust came from Colorado; red dust was from the Dakotas, and black dirt blew in from Kansas. Theresa Wehling Kretzmeier died August 17, 1984. White Deer Land Museum Archives
In 1913, Chris Baer (brother of Elizabeth Baer Kretzmeier) and his wife, Freida Schroeder Baer moved from Clay Center, Kansas, to their farm located two and one-half miles northwest of Pampa. The farm was one-hall section of land but later another quarter of a section was purchased which was always referred to as the "south quar- ter." Since they had six children to feed and clothe, it was not long until they were experi- menting with growing all types of grain and food. Many friends and neighbors scoffed at Chris when he planted an orchard, but he had faith in the land, and in time he was producing a variety of fruit, such as apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries, also two black walnut and two pecan trees. He also planted a grape arbor and blackberry and raspberry bushes. A large gar- den was planted each spring which kept the fam- ily in vegetables in the summer, and what was left over was canned and preserved for use In the winter months. The strawberry patch was a delight to the family and to many friends who partook of the berries, especially when Freida made her famous home made ice cream. Chris and Freida were active in the Methodist Church all of their lives. Freida, a teacher in the children's department for 15 years, enjoyed mothering the "little ones." Chris was on the board of stewards and was a leader in the move to build a new church which was at the same location as the present church. They were active in community affairs and in the farming commu- nity where they lived. Freida was often called to sit with and administer to some sick neighbor or friend, and she always went willingly. All six children graduated from Pampa High School and some went on to higher education. Even through hard times they had a good life and a lot of fun. Harold, Al and Isabel passed away in the 1970's, but three are still living. Franklin lives in Dumas, Carl in Rockport and Florence (Baer) Oates in Pampa. Many of the artifacts that the pioneer farmer used in his everyday work may be seen at the White Deer Lands Museum, the old anvil, the forge, the blacksmith shop equipment that Chris used every day in the work on the farm. Since horses had to be shod and plow shears sharp- ened, these things were a necessity to the pio- neer farmer. In fact, he had to be "a Jack of all traes," and most of them were. The farm house still stands on Price Road just off Kentucky Street. It is now surrounded by oil fields and commercial buildings. The orchard and shade trees that were so lovingly planted are all gone now, but the memory of them still lingers on.
Florence Oates
Stanley Kretzmeier, born 1906 in Clay Center, Kansas, was the son of Otto and Elizabeth Baer Kretzmeier. Both of his grandparents had come from Germany in the middle 1800's to avoid compulsory military service. A grandfather's clock made of wood from the Black Forest of Germany stands in the Kretzmeier home. When the Panhandle area was opened for farming in the early 1900's, Otto Kretzmeier and his brother-In-law, Chris Baer, made an inspec- tion trip to Pampa from their home In Kansas. The sight of nothing but grass waving in the wind as far as the eye could see was awe-inspiring. Only an occasional windmill could be seen for miles in any direction. Otto and Chris bought and equally divided 640 acres of land for $12 an acre. The farms demanded much hard work but there were some fun times. Once Stan (about 12) and his brother Roy (about 10) hitched their half- Indian pony to their grandfather Baer's best buggy. The boys started throwing corn cobs. One hit the pony and caused him to break into a run. The low-hanging branches of a tree caught the top of the buggy. The top flew off and so did the seat. For a few days the boys had to stand when they ate. Cuyler Street was only two blocks and one lot long on a Halloween night when some boys dis- mantled the farm machinery in Nels Walberg's implement store (location of present Rose Build- ing) and pushed it into the street. They disman- tied buggies and hauled them by ropes onto roofs of buildings lining Cuyler Street. The boys had to return all of the machinery and buggies the next day before they could attend classes at school. When Stan played football in high school, the practice field was on the lot where the Gray County courthouse is now located. He finished high school in Kansas where he learned the basics of blacksmithing. Because he was mechanically inclined, his father gave him the responsibility of keeping the farm equipment In good running order. Because of health problems, Otto gave up farming in Texas and left Stan (age 20) and Roy (age 18) In charge of the farm. They did all their own financing and paying the bills. At a party given by Stan's aunt on his twenty- second birthday, he met Theresa Wehling who had come to Texas to visit her brother. They were married and had four children: Mary Adair of Amarillo; Margaret Ann Hartman of South Gate, Kentucky; Roberta Schwind of Borger and Stanley Warren Kretzmeier of Fritch. Through the years they had many struggles. Farming did not always provide a steady source of income, and Stan had to supplement his finances with outside jobs. The dirt storms of the 1930s were especially devastating. Stan learned to tell the origin of the storm by the color of the dust that settled after the winds died down. White dust came from Colorado; red dust was from the Dakotas, and black dirt blew in from Kansas. Theresa Wehling Kretzmeier died August 17, 1984. White Deer Land Museum Archives
In 1913, Chris Baer (brother of Elizabeth Baer Kretzmeier) and his wife, Freida Schroeder Baer moved from Clay Center, Kansas, to their farm located two and one-half miles northwest of Pampa. The farm was one-hall section of land but later another quarter of a section was purchased which was always referred to as the "south quar- ter." Since they had six children to feed and clothe, it was not long until they were experi- menting with growing all types of grain and food. Many friends and neighbors scoffed at Chris when he planted an orchard, but he had faith in the land, and in time he was producing a variety of fruit, such as apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries, also two black walnut and two pecan trees. He also planted a grape arbor and blackberry and raspberry bushes. A large gar- den was planted each spring which kept the fam- ily in vegetables in the summer, and what was left over was canned and preserved for use In the winter months. The strawberry patch was a delight to the family and to many friends who partook of the berries, especially when Freida made her famous home made ice cream. Chris and Freida were active in the Methodist Church all of their lives. Freida, a teacher in the children's department for 15 years, enjoyed mothering the "little ones." Chris was on the board of stewards and was a leader in the move to build a new church which was at the same location as the present church. They were active in community affairs and in the farming commu- nity where they lived. Freida was often called to sit with and administer to some sick neighbor or friend, and she always went willingly. All six children graduated from Pampa High School and some went on to higher education. Even through hard times they had a good life and a lot of fun. Harold, Al and Isabel passed away in the 1970's, but three are still living. Franklin lives in Dumas, Carl in Rockport and Florence (Baer) Oates in Pampa. Many of the artifacts that the pioneer farmer used in his everyday work may be seen at the White Deer Lands Museum, the old anvil, the forge, the blacksmith shop equipment that Chris used every day in the work on the farm. Since horses had to be shod and plow shears sharp- ened, these things were a necessity to the pio- neer farmer. In fact, he had to be "a Jack of all traes," and most of them were. The farm house still stands on Price Road just off Kentucky Street. It is now surrounded by oil fields and commercial buildings. The orchard and shade trees that were so lovingly planted are all gone now, but the memory of them still lingers on.
Florence Oates
