Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner, known as Sally, grew up in Marathon County, Wisconsin. As an adult she spent a short time working in Washington D.C. before returning to Wausau to marry and raise a family. This series of posts takes us page by page through the photo album of her teen years and young adulthood. She was an active and vibrant gal. These photos show her doing things she could no long do when her mobility became limited in the following decades.

She collected photographs. Lots and lots of photographs. She took most of them and posed in many. This series gives us a glimpse of Sally’s young life, through her own pictures.

Camp and Damsels in Distress

The 23rd page of Sally’s photo album continues to show us life at Camp Wakanda. It also shows that Sally and her girlfriends knew how to have a good time. Sally was traveling as part of a trio in these photos. Because she was identified in the album, we know that one of the gals was Elizabeth Lemke. Sadly, the other friend remains unnamed.

No doubt, all three were involved in the Live Y’ers, a Y.W.C.A. club for young professional women. Elizabeth Lemke served as president of the group in 1925 and Sally became the president in 1926.

An article in the Wausau Daily Record-Herald explained the merits of sending your daughter to camp.

“We can assure you that everything is done for the personal comfort and safety of all of the girls. Sleeping tents are all floored and are pitched on a slope so that they drain quickly of rain. Both lake and drinking water are rated perfectly safe by the State Board of Health. Meals are plentiful and well-balanced, and we are very fortunate in being able to secure plenty of fresh vegetables from nearby farms. Swimming and boating are only allowed at stated times and under supervision of qualified life guards. That is much better protection than girls have when they go in small groups for house-parties and week-end trips to private cottages and resorts. There are definite rest periods, strictly adhered to and camp is quiet at 9:30 at night.”

– Wausau Daily Record-Herald, Monday, June 21, 1926.

The newspaper article shared a schedule for a typical camp day at Wakanda.

6:30 – Rising bell.

6:45 – Setting Up Exercise, morning Dip.

7:20 – Flag Raising.

7:30 – Breakfast.

8:00-9:30 – Camp work.

9:30-11:00 – Assembly, Discussion Groups, Handicraft.

12:30 – Dinner.

1:30-3:00 – Rest Period.

3:00-4:00 – Swimming.

4:30-5:30 – Recreation, Games, Nature Walks, etc.

6:00 – Supper.

6:30-8:00 – Games, Boating.

8:00 – Campfire, Stories, Songs, Stunts.

9:30 – Lights out: Taps, Silence!

– Wausau Daily Record-Herald, Monday, June 21, 1926.

The intent of camp was to leave city life behind. Girls were told to leave dress-up clothes, high-heeled shoes, jewelry, and silk hose at home. Instead, they should pack camp clothing, knickers or bloomers and middies. A middie was a loose-fitting sailor-suit type blouse that was the standard wear for sports, gym, and camp. Girl Reserve uniforms (this was probably a white middy blouse, white pleated skirt, and blue silk tie) were to be worn on Sunday and at ceremonial meetings.

Besides the appropriate clothing, girls were to bring plenty of bedding, heavy stockings, a bathrobe or kimono, a warm sweater or coat, knife, fork, spoon, cup, and plate, plenty of mosquito netting, notebook and pencil, Bible, toiletries, towels, rubbers, scissors, and needles. Cameras, flashlights, raincoats, stunt costumes, and musical instruments were optional.

At Camp or on the way?

Sally, Elizabeth, and friend pose in front of building, perhaps the camp store? Or maybe they were traveling to or from camp. Sally is on the left, and Elizabeth Lemke is on the right.

Pictured: From left, Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner, unidentified, and Elizabeth Louise Lemke.

Location: Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926.

Where are we?

Elizabeth and Sally pose in front of the directional signs at camp. This was perhaps a common hiking destination.

Pictured: Elizabeth Louise Lemke and Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner.

Location: Camp Wakanda, near Tomahawk, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926.

Not Diving Today

Sally, Elizabeth, and their friend pose on what appears to be the diving platform at Camp Wakanda. They weren’t dressed for diving or swimming, so perhaps were just capturing some memories before departing camp.

Pictured: Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner, unidentified, and Elizabeth Louise Lemke.

Location: Camp Wakanda, near Tomahawk, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926.

Camp Music

Sally’s friends make some music at camp. Elizabeth appears to be singing as the other girl plays the keyboard.

Pictured: From left, Unidentified and Elizabeth Louise Lemke

Location: Camp Wakanda, near Tomahawk, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926

Tree Climbing

Sally and friends pose for a photo in a tree. Though, perhaps they weren’t quite ready when the camera snapped the picture?

Pictured: Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner (left) and unidentified friends.

Location: Camp Wakanda, near Tomahawk, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926.

Lunch in a Graveyard

A wild guess here is that our trio of ladies had a fun road trip home from camp. The photo is fuzzy, but appears they are eating lunch next to a headstone.

Pictured: Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner (left) and unidentified.

Location: Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926.

Drinking from the hose

Sally’s friend is goofing around, pretending to drink from a hose. Not quite sure what this spigot is for, but it doesn’t look like it is a potable water source.

Pictured: Unidentified.

Location: Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926.

Damsel in distress

Oh no! Poor Sally! Elizabeth plays the villain and Sally plays the damsel in distress in this picture. They must have been having the time of their lives as they, presumably, traveled back to Wausau after their time on the lake.

Pictured: Selma Cornelia Aschbrenner and Elizabeth Louise Lemke.

Location: Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926.

Damsels in distress

This time Sally got to be the photographer and both friends were victims, in the classic tied to the railroad tracks scene.

Pictured: Unidentified and Elizabeth Louise Lemke.

Location: Wisconsin.

Date: circa 1926.

Many thanks to Uncle Chuck Krueger for gifting Sally’s photo albums to me. I suppose I’m the only one who is obsessed enough with family history to spend hours and hours doing something with them. Of course, I thought I should find a way to share.

I didn’t join the Krueger family soon enough to meet Sally. She died 15 May 1983, just two weeks after I started dating her grandson (now my husband). I’m sad that I missed getting to know her. I’m glad that she left a legacy of photos that help me see a side of her that maybe even her own family didn’t get to see.

Many of the faces and places in the photographs are not labeled. If you can help identify someone or someplace, correct any mistake I may have made, or otherwise add to the story, please contact me, for example by submitting a comment. Thanks.

Who is Who?

Fred and Alice Aschbrenner family

Sally Aschbrenner, the subject of this series of posts, was the daughter of Alice Rosalie Fehlhaber and Frederick A. Helmut Aschbrenner. She had one brother named Freddy.

Three-generation pedigree chart

Elizabeth Louise Lemke

Elizabeth Louise Lemke was born on 12 Dec 1904 in Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin, to Anna Kasten and August W. Lemke. She was a graduate of Wausau High School and worked at the American National Bank before marrying.

When she was 25, she married Harold John Reinhart, son of John Reinhart and Bertha Graade, on 30 Jul 1930, in Wausau, Marathon, Wisconsin.

Harold and Elizabeth had one daughter named Mary.

In 1940, she and her husband lived in Atlanta, De Kalb, Georgia. He worked for the West Bend Aluminum Company in West Bend, Washington, Wisconsin, but it seems he was on assignment in Atlanta.

They lived most of their married life in Wisconsin.

Elizabeth died on 10 Oct 1975 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Selected Sources:

“Camping Season is Near At Hand: Local Y.W.C.A. Camp To Open Its Sixth Season At Clear Lake July 16,” Wausau Daily Record-Herald (Wausau, Wisconsin) 21 Jun 1926, page 3 (https://www.newspapers.com/image/272521544/ : accessed 09 Aug 2020).

“The Middy ~ A Photo Essay,” Fuzzylizzie Vintage Clothing (http://fuzzylizzie.com/middy.html : accessed 09 Aug 2020).

The Aschbrenner Family