Greetings to Thorp Alumni
Each year the Thorp Alumni Association (TAA) presents scholarships to
graduating Thorp High School seniors who plan to go on to college or
otherwise further their education. In May of 2007, the TAA will award
five $500 scholarships to THS seniors.
In addition, there are families, individuals, and organizations that
support graduating THS seniors with scholarships of varying amounts.
Nancy (Lindquist) Teclaw ’55, at the 2006 All-Alumni Reunion, told of
the Lindquist family and how Thorp High School graduates will benefit
from their legacy.
The Lindquist Legacy in Thorp
Before the turn of the twentieth century, my grandfather, Eph Lindquist,
came to the United States from Sweden with a couple of his friends. They
came to Door County and eventually to Thorp, where they took a job
working for August Soderberg. About the same time, my great-grandmother,
Ingrid Marie Kronberg, lost her husband in Sweden and, because there
wasn’t any future for her there, immigrated to the United States and
came to Thorp to be close to her brother, August Soderberg. She came
with three of her children, Liza Katrina, Charlie, and Pete. Her two
other boys had come before her, John and Mike.
As fate would have it, Liza and Eph Lindquist fell in love, were
married, and homesteaded just north of Thorp. Together they had twelve
children. I remember growing up and listening to the stories my uncles
and my dad told about life during their youth. My dad was probably one
of the best storytellers I have ever heard.
Life during that time was difficult, with Eph farming in the summer and
logging in the winter. But the one thing that was always a given was no
matter what, education was the most important aspect to cherish, and
this was instilled in all their children. This legacy is evident when
you look at the display of classes dating back to the early nineteen
hundreds (the class pictures are displayed each year at the All-Thorp
Reunion). There are eleven Lindquists there, with one missing, Donald,
who died when he was 12 years old. Each of those graduates was the top
in their class, achieving the distinction of valedictorian or
salutatorian. Starting with the oldest, Jennie and Ella were from the
class of 1909, (Jennie was the oldest but because of polio when she was
young, was crippled and waited to attend school with her younger sister,
Ella.) Minnie (Johnson) graduated in the class of 1911, Esther in 1913,
Lawrence in 1914, Charlie in 1917, Ruth in 1919, Russell in 1922,
Kenneth in 1923, Durward in 1929, and Lorraine in 1933. Every one of
these graduates continued on to higher education; some were teachers, a
few were in business, and three, including my father Kenneth, were civil
engineers.
This past year, the youngest of this generation passed away. Lorraine
was ever conscious of this strong sense of education and what it had
meant to her siblings. In keeping with this legacy that was passed to
her, Lorraine saw fit to establish the Lindquist Memorial Scholarship
Fund, and to assure that other students would have the opportunity to
continue their education; she endowed the fund with $66,000 to continue
for the next 25 years. This past year four Thorp High School graduates
received $1,000 each to further their education. These young people will
benefit from the legacy left by the Lindquist Family, instilled by my
grandparents many years ago.
By – Nancy Lindquist Teclaw ‘55
Plans Underway for 2007 All-Thorp Alumni Reunion
Annually, the All-Thorp Reunion is held on the weekend closest to July
4th. In 2007, July 4th is on Wednesday, there-fore the 2007 All-Thorp
Alumni Reunion celebration will take place Friday through Sunday, July
6, 7, and 8.
- Fri.: 2:00-9:00 p.m. Memorabilia and Art Display
- Sat.: Starting at 9:00 a.m., Memorabilia and Art Display; 4:00-5:00
p.m., Social Hour; 5:00-6:00 p.m., Alumni Dinner; 6:00-7:00 p.m., Alumni
Program
- Sun.: 1:30-2:30 p.m., Annual Meeting
All events will be held in the multi-purpose room at the high school.
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