Updated Feb. 13, 1999
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Published Saturday, Feb. 13, 1999
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The Herald received six letters from couples or their family members saying how they've managed to keep the magic going all these years.
Here are their heartfelt stories:
Wedding pig lands Martin Schumacher in jail
I was born in Yugoslavia and so was my future wife. During World War II, we lost our home and had to emigrate to Austria. I eventually ended up in 1947 in refugee camp No. 121 in Haid.
Our biggest recreation then was sports and the Saturday and Sunday night dances. Food was very scarce and to drink, we only had water. Soon I met and fell in love with my future wife, her name was Maria Sonntag.
She was born in Bogdanovci by Vukovar, Yugoslavia. We went to the dance hall most every Saturday and Sunday nights. Her mother used to chaperone every night and so did the other girls and boys' mothers.
In the Spring of 1948, I proposed to Maria and we planned to be married June 18 and 19, 1948. I rented the dance hall and the orchestra for the reception for June 19. I purchased a black suit on the black market. Maria made her wedding gown from a used parachute silk, also purchased privately.
The food coupons then were very limited and Maria's parents saved many of them and purchased many items, like sugar, butter and nuts on the black market. They baked many cookies and a total of 10 tortes.
My parents lived far away at the time in the southern Austria. I roamed through the countryside from farmer to farmer in hope one would sell me a suckling pig or calf. Finally, I found one, about 15 kilometers from camp, who agreed to sell me a suckling pig illegally, because all farm animals were registered.
On Friday, June 18, 1948, we had our civic wedding in city hall, which was the law and considered as our legal wedding day. After the ceremony, my brother-in-law, Vinko Pujic, and his wife, Olga, took off on bicycles to the farmer. He had our pig ready and we divided it into three parts to fit into our bags.
Olga took the first. Vinko followed 15 minutes later. I was the last 15 minutes after him.
We had to pedal through the small town of Neuhofen and their gendarms (policemen) were always on the lookout for black marketers, or as they called them -- hamsterers.
As bad luck would have it, we were caught, arrested and the meat confiscated. I was allowed one phone call to notify our family in camp. I also explained everything to police and pleaded to be let out on bail the next day for the church wedding and reception. All pleading was futile and the three of us were locked up without being charged officially.
On the morning of our church wedding, I had to lead a policeman to show him the farmer that I got the pig from because I didn't know his name or address. Unknown to me was that the farmer reported to the police the day before that somebody stole a pig from him. This all came to light months later when I had to testify in court at the farmer's trial, for lying and black marketing.
On Saturday, June 19, 1948, all the guests arrived for the wedding but the groom was missing. We had no other option but to cancel the wedding. We had no refrigeration at the time, so all the tortes had to be sold at the dance hall piece by piece. My despair was unexplainable.
My aunt Rosina was a pre-war court clerk. She tried many times for an appointment with the local judge but to no avail. We actually never appeared or were charged with anything yet. Finally, after 10 days, my aunt went to the district judge in the county court and explained to him the situation we were in. The district judge made a few phone calls and the next day we appeared before the local judge. The charge was illegal purchase of meat, sentenced us to two weeks of jail, which we already served and were released immediately.
That was Friday, July 2. We set the new wedding date for Sunday, July 4, 1948. Everything for this day had to be planned and accomplished in a hurry. I learned from my past experience, so I purchased food coupons on the black market and got the meat legally at the meat market. Instead of a rented hall and orchestra, we hired a lone accordion player and had the reception at my in-laws apartment.
The guests were mostly relatives and a few close friends. It was a happy wedding after all. We celebrated till 5 a.m. but had to chip in with the clean-up, so it was almost noon before my bride and I could retire to our apartment.
One more thing about jail time, though we were actually legally married through the civil service, my wife, Maria, or anybody else, was not permitted to visit with me. Regardless, she came daily, stood across the courtyard in the neighbor's garden while I stood on a chair on top of the table by the small jail window. We talked to each other that way, screaming because it was a good distance and our cell was on the second floor.
This is how I spent my honeymoon because my two weeks vacation was over and I had to return to work on Tuesday. We have two wedding dates: June 18, our legal one, and July 4, 1948, our church wedding, which we honor. We emigrated to the United States in August 1956 and on July, 4, 1998, celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary.
We raised five sons and have five grandchildren and through all the years were faithful to each other. Our biggest happiness is our family. We love each other very much and would never have wished or changed any minute of our life.
Officially, we have never gone on a honeymoon. We had our honeymoon daily for over 50 years.
Contributed by Martin Schumacher, Hermitage.
My grandparents, George and Betty Wood, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last March 5. When Valentine's Day comes around it makes them think of the long happy life that they have shared.
George and Betty were married on March 5, 1948. They had one child together, and George adopted the son Betty had to a previous love. Though their love for each other is still here today, George Wood is incapable of showing the love he feels. One week before their 50th anniversary, he was put into a nursing home with Alzheimer's disease.
My grandmother visits him daily, and spends time with the man that she has loved for so long. They have shared so many memories. On this special day people tend to wonder what it would be like to love someone for 50 years, "having faith in God and love for one another is all you need," my grandmother says.
It was one hot Sunday in July 1947 that Betty, then Betty Hamilton, walked the few short blocks to church. She had no idea that she was about to meet the man she would spend the rest of her life with.
It was George Wood, who, after coming to town to work, had decided he would take a break and go to the town church this Sunday. George walked into church and spotted a stunning woman who he couldn't take his eyes off of, and he didn't. Throughout the entire sermon, George looked over his shoulder and stared at Betty.
After the church service, Betty started walking home. George, thinking that this was his only chance to ever speak to the woman of his dreams, caught up to her in his car. Betty was unsure of this man she had never met, for her heart had just been broken and she was not ready to start another relationship. George, however, insisted that he take her out for a soda. Betty agreed to go out with him for a soda and she also went to the evening sermon with George. They began a life long friendship.
After getting to know each other, George finally proposed to Betty in October of 1947. In December, he had saved enough money for a diamond ring and Betty got up enough courage to say yes. By March, they had all arrangements worked out and got married on the fifth, in a small church in St. Petersburg. At this time, Betty's son, Fred, was eight-years-old. Shortly after they were married, George adopted Fred. Fred was then and always would be a Wood. Their happy family had started.
They lived in Eau Claire until October of 1948. They then moved to an apartment in Grove City until Betty got pregnant. They decided they needed more room so they built a house. George was working and didn't have much time to work on the house and they lived in the basement until the house was finished. In October of 1950, they moved in. Meanwhile, Betty had a baby girl, Hope Elaine Wood. That house would be the home of the Woods for the next 47 years. Then in 1995, they moved to an apartment in Grove City to be closer to medical help if ever needed. In 1998, George went into a nursing home.
George and Betty rarely fought or disagreed. If by some chance they had a disagreement, they would sit down and talk it out. They would decide to put the matter into the hands of God. Also to solve disagreements, George could always make a joke to break the ice. He always had a great sense of humor. With all the discussing, praying and laughing they would soon forget the reason for their disagreement. Therefore, they never stayed upset for very long.
As far as money troubles went, they really didn't have any. George worked at Cooper Bessemer for 30 years before retirement. Betty worked at Washington School as a custodian for 11 years, then retired. George would bring home his check and give it to Betty, who paid all the bills with it. When their children went to college, they both worked two jobs to pay for their living expenses and their children's education.
In this day and age their love for each other remains strong and true. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have had a long joyous life together. Even though they can't live together after their almost 51 years of marriage, they still are very close in their hearts.
Contributed by the Woods' 13-year-old granddaughter, Melissa Smith of Mercer.
Our oldest grandson got married in July. The wedding was beautiful and so was his bride. It brought back so many memories to my husband and me. Our wedding in March 1948 was in the beautiful Coolspring Church.
Neighborhood showers were followed by the usual serenade. How could we ever forget the ride in the back of Arthur Baxter's pickup truck where he had a big round sawmill blade hanging on a bar? It was hit by a hammer every few minutes to make sure our romance was still burning and the magic alive when we arrived in Fredonia.
I remember the ride in a wheelbarrow with a bent wheel pushed by the new groom around the square there.
And we didn't forget to have candy bars for everyone there either.
The years hurried by and we had four lovely children and "the proudest grandparents" in the area.
Too soon they were out of school and getting married themselves. We still considered ourselves very young but wait -- now we were going to be the proudest grandparents. Ten grandchildren later and we still ask our friends, "Do you want to hear about our grandchildren?'' They certainly have kept the magic alive in our marriage.
What will we do on Valentine's Day? It's on a Sunday so we will go to Countryside E.C. Church for Sunday school and church as we do every Sunday.
This is another way we have kept the magic alive and the romance burning in our marriage. We thank the Lord daily for his loving care of us and our family.
Contributed by Dolores Linn, 114 Yeager Road, Clarks Mills
My husband and I have been married 54 years come Aug. 8, 1999.
Here is a poem he wrote:
Holding Hands
We have been together many years
Since I bought that wedding band.
I don't need many riches
As long as I can hold her hand.
We know that life is running out
Like little grains of sand.
But it really doesn't matter
Because we are holding hands.
Don't know where we're going
Up above or down below.
But we'll still be together
I want you all to know.
If we go to heaven
I want you all to understand
When we go through those pearly gates
We'll still be holding hands.
We have four wonderful children, nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and are very happy remembering our wedding vows.
Contributed by Leona Speer, 30 Speer Road, New Wilmington
My husband's parents John and Helen Beggs (5908 Sandy Lake-Polk Road, Sandy Lake) were married 70 years on Oct. 6, 1998.
They said they kept the magic alive by not having arguments, keeping harmony in the family and going places together everywhere they could. They go to church every Sunday when weather permits. They enjoy their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
They never believed in going into debt, built four houses in their lifetime and traveled extensively to Mexico, Alaska, Germany, Scotland, Ireland, the Holy Land and all the United States and lived in Florida in the winter for 24 years.
Mr. Beggs worked at Cooper-Bessemer for 35 years and raised beef cattle for 22 years. Mrs. Beggs worked at Polk Center for 12 years.
Contributed by Nancy Beggs
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My name is Gladys Knauff but most everyone calls me Belle. My husband is Melvin. I am 69 this month and he is 70. We will be married 52 year this August. We are both retired and have seven children, 27 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.
We also keep foster boys; we have three now and have had 48 over the years.
We have had a good life together to love each other very much. We have always done everything together.
Where I am he is.
We never keep secrets from each other. I have always taken care of the money and bills. We trust each other and love God.
Our health isn't the best but we take care of each other.
I just love kids as you can tell.
He loves TV and I love to shop at Wal-Mart.
Contributed by Gladys Knauff, 66 Pine Grove Trailer Park, Mercer