Early Years: A Significant Person
Written by Bob 7/1/08
All of us have friends or family members that were a significant part of our lives during our formative years. For me, one of those people was my grandmother on my mother’s side. At seven years of age, Agnes Knebel was one of eight siblings who arrived in New York from the Saxony area of Germany in the fall of 1886. Almost immediately the Knebel family settled in the town of Rockville, Connecticut, a largely German community, some 25 miles northeast of Hartford.
Agnes married Robert Seidel in 1903 when she was 24. A little over a year later, they were blessed with the arrival of my mother, their only child. They moved to the town of Manchester, about twelve miles south of Rockville in 1919. My grandfather died in 1928. Soon thereafter she returned to Rockville to live with one of her sisters and her sister’s husband, the Hensigs. It was at the Hensig’s three story home on Nye Street that I got to know this truly wonderful human being, Agnes Seidel.
She was one of the most sensitive, generous, and hard working women that I have ever known. I always enjoyed visiting her. During the summer of 1949, right after high school and just prior to attending the University of Connecticut, I worked in the meat department at the A&P grocery store on Main Street in Rockville. I remember as though it was yesterday walking the mile or so to the Hensig house and always having a delicious noon meal prepared by my dear grandmother, known in our family as Rockville Gram.
It was not long after that summer, perhaps 1952 or 1953, that she had a fall while going downstairs to the basement. She would have been about 73 or 74 at the time. Fortunately, it did her no harm, only a few bruises, but it did result in her returning to Manchester to live with us on East Middle Turnpike. It was a joy to me to have her present every day to be able to see and talk with her. We often played Parcheesi and Flinch. Her favorite television programs were the Lawrence Welk Show, Liberachi, and Perry Mason.
In June 1964, while working as a civilian at a U.S. military base outside of Tokyo, Japan, I learned of her passing at the age of 85. Each time I go to Connecticut, I always visit her grave site at Grove Hill Cemetery in Rockville.
We were all touched by Bob’s story about his maternal grandmother. By the end of the story, we all felt like we had known her. If not, we would have loved to have known her. Too, we were inspired to be better parents and grandparents. What a legacy she left. This was indeed a heart felt story about a priceless relationship between a grandson and grandmother. I am certain one day my son will be sharing similar sentiments about his grandmother. This is why I find it so important to get our stories in print. So that others may be inspired.
As a footnote, Bob told us he was in his early 20s when she lived with them on East Middle Turnpike. I would like for him to add the names of Agnes’ parents as well as his mother’s name.
Agnes married Robert Seidel in 1903 when she was 24. A little over a year later, they were blessed with the arrival of my mother, their only child. They moved to the town of Manchester, about twelve miles south of Rockville in 1919. My grandfather died in 1928. Soon thereafter she returned to Rockville to live with one of her sisters and her sister’s husband, the Hensigs. It was at the Hensig’s three story home on Nye Street that I got to know this truly wonderful human being, Agnes Seidel.
She was one of the most sensitive, generous, and hard working women that I have ever known. I always enjoyed visiting her. During the summer of 1949, right after high school and just prior to attending the University of Connecticut, I worked in the meat department at the A&P grocery store on Main Street in Rockville. I remember as though it was yesterday walking the mile or so to the Hensig house and always having a delicious noon meal prepared by my dear grandmother, known in our family as Rockville Gram.
It was not long after that summer, perhaps 1952 or 1953, that she had a fall while going downstairs to the basement. She would have been about 73 or 74 at the time. Fortunately, it did her no harm, only a few bruises, but it did result in her returning to Manchester to live with us on East Middle Turnpike. It was a joy to me to have her present every day to be able to see and talk with her. We often played Parcheesi and Flinch. Her favorite television programs were the Lawrence Welk Show, Liberachi, and Perry Mason.
In June 1964, while working as a civilian at a U.S. military base outside of Tokyo, Japan, I learned of her passing at the age of 85. Each time I go to Connecticut, I always visit her grave site at Grove Hill Cemetery in Rockville.
We were all touched by Bob’s story about his maternal grandmother. By the end of the story, we all felt like we had known her. If not, we would have loved to have known her. Too, we were inspired to be better parents and grandparents. What a legacy she left. This was indeed a heart felt story about a priceless relationship between a grandson and grandmother. I am certain one day my son will be sharing similar sentiments about his grandmother. This is why I find it so important to get our stories in print. So that others may be inspired.
As a footnote, Bob told us he was in his early 20s when she lived with them on East Middle Turnpike. I would like for him to add the names of Agnes’ parents as well as his mother’s name.
Photo: Google Images
Copyright © 2008 by The Write Workshop. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2008 by The Write Workshop. All rights reserved.
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