Som-TRUCKSTAR FESTIVAL took place at theTT circuit in Assen. For the ones that don’t know what...

m Come to the 3rd Somsen Reunion in 2007!

m Somsen-Truckers

m Bitterly cold Holland

m Mimi inspects the dikes

m Marco defies a hurricane

m Liberated, but no clothes to put on

m An Acrostic from 1901

m Memories of Woodville, WI.

m Liberated: 60 years

Half-yearly family magazine

Volume 8 - number 16 - November 2005

Som-

Past, present and . . . future:

SOMSEN HORIZON Volume 8 - number 16 - November 2005

2

Cover:

Contents

Board and Advisors, Colophon, Objective of the Foundation, Contents 2Preface 3Come to the 3rd worldwide Somsen Reunion 4Somsens at the 25th Truckstar Festival 5Bitterly cold Holland 6Mimi inspects dikes of the IJssel River 8Marco defies Jeanne 9Liberated, but no clothes to put on 10Picture Puzzle 11An acrostic from 1901 12Crashmuseum in Lievelde 13From Dinxperlo to St. Catharines (vice versa) 14Campingweekend IJzerlo 16Memories of Woodville, Wisconsin, USA 17Family Announcements 19

Isolde Hogervorst-Somsen[505] together with son Jona[4934] and baby Isabel[5428] (see page 19)

Board of the Somsen Foundation

Johan Somsen [1089], chairman and translator(English)Schietbaanweg 11, 8162 GP Epetel.: +31 578-629 893 / 6 290 324 84E-MAIL: [email protected]

Margriet Iserief-Somsen [2878], secretaryJan Tooropstraat 2, 3817 PZ Amersfoort tel.: +31 33-461 96 43E-MAIL: [email protected]

Jan van Daatselaar-Somsen [679]treasurerEsstraat 22, 7131 CT Lichtenvoordetel.: +31 544-375 783E-MAIL: [email protected]

Gree van Daatselaar-Somsen [53]vice-chairmanEsstraat 22, 7131 CT Lichtenvoordetel.: +31 544-375 783E-MAIL: [email protected]

Wim Somsen [518], vice-secretaryHoge Heurnseweg 8, 7095 CJ De Heurnetel.: +31 315-652 115E-MAIL: [email protected]

Berto Somsen [423], vice-treasurerBurg. Wilhelmweg 27, 7151 AA Eibergentel.: +31 545-476 272E-MAIL: [email protected]

Helmut Somsen [1562], memberProvinzialstrasse 70, 46499 HamminkelnBundesrepublik Deutschland (BRD)tel.: +00 49-287 35 36E-MAIL: [email protected]

Ada Somsen [75], memberLeusdenhof 298, 1108 DP Amsterdam Zuidoosttel.: +31 20-696 18 34E-MAIL: [email protected]

Theo Somsen [227], member and editor Somsen HorizonHindenhoek 11, 8172 AC Vaassen tel.: +31 578-572 867E-MAIL: [email protected]

Advisors of the Somsen FoundationDick Somsen [130], genealogy and databasesMonteverdilaan 175, 8031 DL Zwolletel.: +31 38-454 23 60E-MAIL: [email protected]

John Somsen [2353], USA and Internet35 Springdale Avenue HolyokeMA. 01040-3421, USAtel.: 001 413 538 77 24E-MAIL: [email protected]

Ben Somsen [396], audio-visual supportLariksweg 1, 7151 XW Eibergen tel.: +31 545-472 546, fax.: +31 545-475 359E-MAIL: [email protected]

InternetSomsen website: http://www.somsen.org

Bankaffairs USAMrs Marieke Edwards-Jager Gerlings [725]920 East Bay Dr. NE# 3D301, Olympia,WA. 98506-1222, USAtel.: 001 360 786 15 83E-MAIL: [email protected]

Colophon

Somsen Horizon is issued by the Somsen Foundation

Published: Twice a year in May and NovemberPrintings: Dutch: 200, English: 100

SupportersThe magazine is sent free of charge to all who transfer an annual gift of at least $ 20,- to Mrs Marieke Edwards, 920 East Bay Dr. NE#3D301 Olympia, WA. 98506-1222, USA. A gift above this amount will be greatly appreciated!

Editorial staff Somsen HorizonE-MAIL: [email protected]

Copy fot the next issue before March 1, 2006

Lay-out: Bep Berkhoff-van den BoomPrinted by: Felua-Groep, Apeldoorn

We gladly permit copying of articles on condition that the source is mentioned

Objective of the Foundation

The aim of the foundation is:To preserve and promote the solidarity between people bearing the family nameof Somsen, those who are/were related to them or those who are interested inthem.

The foundation will try to archieve this object for example by:w doing historical research into the family history and the history of the regionw collecting documentation and genealogical dataw keeping and taking charge of a family archive and data basesw publishing a periodicalw providing information to persons, institutions and official authoritiesw organising activities so as to realise the object of the foundation

Preface

In the last issue of Somsen Horizon Iappealed to you for help to preparethe third WORLDWIDE SOMSENREUNION in 2007. Your responsewas overwhelming: Somsens mas-sively volunteered and there is evena team of American Somsens thatwill come over to Holland in advanceto make themselves useful… toobad, this could have been a wonder-

ful dream but reality is different: up tonow we have not got a single volun-teer. Of course we understand thisvery well, because everybody is sobusy with his or her own life and allthe affairs in it. Still that does notalter the fact that we accept the chal-lenge to launch this third reunion.Most of us still very clearly remem-ber the first great reunion of 1997. Itwas a terrific happening, whichstretched out over quite a number ofdays and we realise very sharply thatthis can never be equalled. We donot want to strive for a repetition, then.In August 2002 the second world-wide Somsen reunion was held inBaldwin, WI, USA. About 130Somsens from all over the USA andThe Netherlands gathered there anda splendid atmosphere arose, whichturned this reunion also into a veryspecial highlight.Then the seeds were sown for thenext reunion in 2007. The oldestSomsen present, Henry Northrop[2456], 92 at the time, but extremelyvital, can be held responsible for this.In an impressive speech this formerattorney pleaded ardently to organ-


3

Reünie 1997

ise a reunion in 2007 and he regis-tered as the first participant! It wasnot only moving and heart-warming,but it also obliged us to comply withhis wish. Of course we do not feelobliged only because of his words;we also owe it to ourselves. It is ne-cessary to continue this beautiful tra-dition so that also new generationsof Somsens can draw inspirationfrom this for the future.

Elsewhere in this magazine you willfind more information about thereunion in Aalten (The Netherlands)on August 18 and 19, 2007.Please do not hesitate to offer yourassistance to one of the members ofthe board! Every contribution, how-ever small, is more than welcome.

On behalf of the board,Johan F. Somsen

After the first unforgettable reunion inAalten in 1997 and the equally magnif-icent reunion in Baldwin, Wisconsin,USA, in 2002, there will be anotherfamily reunion in The Netherlandsafter 10 years. A must for everybody!Later you should be able to tell yourchildren and grandchildren about it.Moreover, this is a unique opportunityfor all Somsen descendants to getacquainted with the ‘Somsen-feeling’.It is inevitable that this reunion will bedifferent, but it will certainly be unfor-g e t -table again.

A selection from the temporary (!) programme:

Friday afternoon, August 17,2007Informal welcome for all Somsensfrom abroad and all the other fans inthe camping farm ‘t Hoftijzer in IJzerlo(Aalten); so as to get in the proper mood already!

Saterday, August 18, 2007Festive morning programme in thehalls of De Pol in Aalten. Nursery andprogramme for children. Lunch all together.Walks, through Aalten, Bredevoortand/or the swamps Much time andopportunity to meet one another.Evening programme full ofsurprises.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Festive commemoration at theSomsen Lime-tree in IJzerlo, the placeof our roots.Ballooning or Pleasure flights overAalten and IJzerlo. Old-Dutch games(also forchildren!)Trip by gondola in Bredevoort.

Farewell dinner all together.Lingering at the dinner-table ‘obliged’!

From Monday, August 20, 2007Would you like to see and experiencemore of The Netherlands?We offer 2 possibilities:Three-day round trip of TheNetherlands by coach.Five-day cycling tour through the Netherlands.

NOTE IN YOUR DIARY NOW:


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Come to the 3rd worldwide SomsenReunion!

17 - 19 August 2007


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In the last weekend of July thisTRUCKSTAR FESTIVAL took placeat the TT circuit in Assen. For theones that don’t know what this means, I’ll try to explain.Truckstar is a monthly magazine fordrivers. And as you could read inSomsen Horizon number 8, some ofthese truckers live in Slagharen. Mybrother Willem [1378] and I havebeen subscribers of this magazineTruckstar for a long time.From thebeginning this magazine has organ-ised a big happening for and with drivers once a year.

The first festival was in 1980 andtook place in the Groenoordhallen inLeiden. From 1982 till 1992 the loca-tion for this growing Festival was atthe race circuit of Zandvoort. Since1993 the TT circuit in Assen hasbeen the place where the biggesttruck show of Europe takes place.During this weekend you can seeeverything that has to do with trans-portation and trucks. All the big man-ufacturers are present. There is a bigtrucker market. Of course there isalso a truck show where you can seemany beautifully painted and/orrebuilt trucks. And in front of the mainstand of the circuit you can watch dif-ferent spectacular actions with trucks

Somsens at the 25th Truckstar Festivalby Chris Somsen [1382]

The Netherlands owe their prosperity to trade. Everywhere in the worldgoods are bought and subsequently sold to another place; of course ata profit! So the Dutch drag those goods from pillar to post; by boat,plane, train and . . . truck. A few Somsens keep up this tradition: the Somsen-Truckers. Theyenjoy driving those huge trucks. And once a year, together with theirfamily, they enjoy the Truckstar Festival!

TruckstarMagazine

as the main attraction like: go-and-stop races, chase races, slalom andtruck haulers loading andunloading. But the most beautifulpart of the weekend for most truck-ers is parking their own trucks along-side the circuit.

continued on p.15

Truckers and familyl-r: Chris, Bart Smit, Miranda Somsen-Bouwhuis, Dave, Chiel, Koen and Willem Somsen

While enjoying a snack and a drink (Grolsch-beer!)l-r: Koen, Bas Smit friend), Willem, Chiel and Dave Somsen (son of Willem)


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… We then returned to Brussels andEmily and I began the Somsen leg of the trip.

Johan Somsen [1089] and YvonneReijs-Edel [3926] picked us up inAmsterdam, and we spent a lovely(bitterly cold) afternoon there. e had coffee and incredibly deliciousapple pie in the oldest pub in the city,we took a boat tour of the canals andwent to the Van Gogh museum,where Emily passed on some of herwealth of art knowledge to me. It wasquite a learning experience. Walkingthe streets of Amsterdam was quitean experience as well: the houses are amazing.Yvonne was our hostess for thenight. We relished in traditionalDutch fare of "stompen endive" (Iknow I have that wrong! (IndeedCoby; it's called "stamppot andijvie",editor), which was a perfect dish forthe insanely cold temperatures wewere enduring. I believe our travelscoincided with the coldest weather inEuropean history (I know that's ahuge exaggeration, but it's how we

felt at the time) but we enjoyed everysecond if it all the same!! After 10days in various hostels, the luxury ofYvonne's cooking and hospitalitywas relished to the fullest extent.

The next morning we were passedon to Theo Somsen [227] andenjoyed a couple more days of fabu-lous Somsen hospitality. Our first daywe spent hours driving along thedikes, admiring the views and stop-ping in various wonderful villages.

Bitterly cold Hollandby Coby Somsen [2699]

For four months Coby LynnSomsen from Fort Dodge , Iowa,travelled across the world. FromAmerica, via Europe to Africa. Butactually she discovered thatHolland is the most beautifulcountry of Europe, even if it wasbitterly cold there from 6 – 8March 2005!

Emily, Coby and Yvonne

The Cannenburgh Castle

Wooden shoes from Oene

Tulips from Elburg

Theo turned out to be a fabulousguide, and we got to see a lot ofplaces off the beaten path. One of our first stops was the castle in Vaassen.

I was particularly enamored by howmany villages in the Netherlandshave their own castle, a novel ideafor this American. We also stoppedat the wooden shoe factory and Iprocured several pairs for mynephews and niece, which made mevery popular on my return home! After taking pictures of ourselvesclad in "klompen", we decided we'dbetter find some tulips, we wouldn'twant to miss fulfilling any stereo-types!

The next morning we went on aSomsen pilgrimage in Aalten, visitingthe Somsenhuus , the place wherethe first person to use the Somsenname lived, as well as the homes ofmy great grandparents: Jan Hendrikand Janna Somsen-Rauwerdink[308+309], who emigrated to the USin 1881. It was powerful, and a littleemotional, to stand where theystood, and to see where they hadgrown up.

Memorable to say the least. In theStates, Somsen isn't a very commonname; I'm constantly repeating it,spelling it, then repeating it again.


7

Coby and Theo in front of farmhouse"Pakkebier", where Jan Hendrik and

Janna used to livebefore they emigratedto the USA in 1881

It was an experience to see it printedin so many places, even a potatofarm!

After an exciting meal of "uitschmeit-en" (uitsmijter, editor), we headed toGermany to stay with more Som-sens, Helmut and Liesel Somsen-Blecking [1562+1569] and theirdaughter Julia [1571], who alsotreated us fabulously. I'm so grateful for my family!

Potato farm Prinzen-Somsen in IJzerlol-r: Coby, Helmut and Theo

I found myself thinking over and overagain how proud I am to be in thisfamily, to have such a rich, solid his-tory. Emily said a couple times thatshe envied my family connections.Theo tried to find her a Somsen to marry, but we didn't have any luck. After 2 weeks of European adven-tures, I headed off to my third conti-nent, onward to Africa!

Farewell at Haldern station (Germany)l-r: Julia, Liesel, Coby and Emily


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In the daytime or in the evenings Ilove to go for a walk of about 7 miles.I really love it and when I am almosthome again I often think: ‘If I wouldalso take this track I could cover another piece of dike.‘Almost home again’ has been a flex-ible concept to us for the past fewyears.The last ten years that we still lived inEde and partly in Spakenburg I usedto go for long walks. Sometimes withmy husband Marien [446] but mostlywith others for whom walking alsohad therapeutic value.In 2000 we moved to Kampen whereI developed a totally different walkingpattern. Not only did I just haveMarien as an occasional companion,but also the tracks were totally differ-ent. Varying from a walk to the dikealong the IJssel River (about 3miles), a walk to the new bridge

(about 5 miles) or a walk to the wasgood for a walking-tour f 8 to 10miles. I really love that and I still thinkwhen I am almost home: „Shall I gofor a few more miles along the dike?“

When we moved to Kampen our twochildren, Jobim [2034] and King[2035] already lived in nearbyZwolle. That’s why I soon gotacquainted with the trip to Zwolle,either on my bike or walking, whichwas just great. Alternatively I tookthe dike along the IJssel River withthe river foreland or the routethrough the polders, sometimes withpieces of woodland, the locks in theriver, the Engelse Werk and theOude Mars with the forest nearby. In winter there are not so manyopportunities in Kampen to go for awalk in the evening. In the darknesswith the moon and the stars the dikecan be very attractive (even duringrainstorms) but still I do not go out sooften then. Yet, by accident, I discov-ered that there are many deer andfoxes in this area at dusk.

Since August 2003 our daughterKing has lived in Doorwerth with herfamily. When I went there for the firsttime to have a look at their newhouse and to go for a ride on my bikein the environment, I immediately feltthe need to live in the woods againand to be with the people with whomI could go for long walks as in thedays before we moved to Kampen.By now we have settled inAmersfoort where we moved in thewinter of 2004-2005 and we canrefresh old memories of the daysthat we lived in Spakenburg, whilewalking or cycling. In February 2005we were back in Kampen again,looking for a place to settle in that area!

Note of the editor:

In October 2005 Mimi and Marien moved toDoorwerth (situated on the southern border ofthe Veluwe and on the River Rhine). A nicechance for Mimi to inspect the dikes of this river from now on!

Mimi inspects dikes of the IJssel Riverby Mimi Zwarts-Somsen [445]

Without dikes more than half of The Netherlands would be flooded.But: who, actually, inspects the condition of the dikes? Take forinstance Willemina Hendrika (Mimi) Zwarts-Somsen, even though shedoesn’t use the word ‘inspect’ (out of modesty?)

Mimi inspects the dikes of the IJssel River near Lathum (Gelderland)


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Florida September 24 – October 5 On September 23 my dad BernardSomsen [513] and I flew fromAmsterdam to Orlando, Florida. Mybrother Herbert [543], who lives inFlorida, took us to his house in PortSaint Lucie. We were going to stay inhis beautiful home, but it was thewrong time to be in Florida. We hadjust arrived at Herbert’s place whenthere was hurricane-warning on tele-vision: Hurricane Jeanne is comingto… Port Saint Lucie!Soon we were busy barricading thewindows and we covered the roofwith blue plastic. When the hurricanecame close by we took along asmuch as possible and drove to ashelter. We arrived in a solidly builtschool where already 100 men,women and children sheltered fromthe hurricane. Alongside the wall wehad a place for ourselves. Food anddrinks we could get in the kitchen orwe could eat our own food that wehad taken along.

That night, when the hurricane raged over the city, I slept badly.The next day, Sunday, September26, we got breakfast and I talked to other evacuees. Around 12 o’clock we were allowedto go home again. We drove toHerbert’s house which looked all right, at least at a first glance.

When we walked around the housewe saw the damage to what used tobe the lean-to roof around his pool.Everywhere there were pieces ofshingles from the roof in the grass.The blue plastic of the roof wasripped. A palm tree stood slanting in the garden.The days after hurricane Jeanne wewere busy cleaning up the messaround Herbert’s house. The factorywhere he works had also been damaged seriously.

After we had cleaned everything itwas time for a real vacation! OnTuesday, September 28t we drovedown to Miami. There we walked onfamous Miami Beach. A day later wevisited a safari park (Billy SwampSafari). Together with the othertourists we took an airboat tourthrough a swamp full of alligators. AtBonita Beach we walked along theGulf of Mexico on a beach full with

beautiful shells. We also stayed aday close by home and drovethrough Herbert’s home city PortSaint Lucie and some places in the neighbourhood. On Friday, October 1, we drovethrough Florida to St. Petersburg andTampa, where we crossed the enor-mous Skyway Bridge. In the week-end of October 2 and 3 Herbert andI went fishing in a river near the city(we caught nothing!). Only once Iswam in the pool at the back ofHerbert’s house. And one timeHerbert’s boss took us for a boat tripthrough the watery area.

On Monday, October 4, we packedour suitcases and drove to Orlando.There we looked for the house of Jonand Karen Somsen-Ryan [2389+3873] and a while later we sat withthem in the living room. Jon’s par-ents, Roger and Marilyn Somsen-Dallman [2387+2388] were alsothere; they had just got back from avisit to Wisconsin (see SH-15, page8, for the picture of their meeting).Together we ate and we had a goodtime. Unfortunately we had to leavefor the airport where Herbert led usto the right gate. And so my dad andI flew back to Holland in the middle ofthe night after an unforgettable Florida-trip!

Marco defies Jeanneby Marco Somsen [545]

When your Dutch brother lives and works in Florida you would like tosee how he lives there. So, off you go to beautiful Florida in the fall of 2004.But that you would also meet disastrous Jeanne, that he did not tellyou…

Marco defies Jeanne

This used to be a roof

Miami Beach: Herbert, Marco andBernard Somsen

Herbert’s house after the hurricane


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Liberated, but noclothes to put onby Theo Somsen [227]

After the liberation of Holland bythe allies in the spring of 1945there were some meagre years forthe Dutch. Rebuilding the countryand the economy became the firstpriority and therefore the popula-tion had to tighten its belt. Therewas an enormous shortage ofpractically everything. Manygoods were rationed and distrib-uted. The Somsens in Baldwinknew about this and started send-ing clothes to their relatives inGelderland who were in need.

Jan and Anna Somsen-Kemink[352+353] visited Jan’s cousins inBaldwin, Wisconsin, in the summerof 1949. From their diary, which theykept at the time, I selected a numberof their experiences (see SomsenHorizon 15). Sien Overduin-Somsen[400], who was 15 in 1949, reacted to this article:The article about Uncle Jan and AuntAnna in Baldwin brought many mem-ories back to life again. I can stillhear their stories during a visit toEibergen, especially about eatinghabits: hanging on the table, one armaround the plate and a fork or aspoon in the other hand. Neat AuntAnna could not appreciate that!Shortly after their visit we received apackage with clothes for the (war)cousins in Eibergen. The Somsengirls and the Klijn Hesslink girls gotsuits from the distant cousins from Baldwin. In my photo album there isstill a picture of Riek Klijn Hesselink,my sister Wil and myself in thoseclothes. I believe that the Arnhemrelatives also received a package.

To be sure, the Johan and MarieSomsen-Meijnhardt [226+354] familyfrom Arnhem also received theseclothes packages. Very proudly theyhad their pictures taken for whichthey dressed in the clothes andshoes they had received. AriaanRodenburg-Somsen [389], 10 at thetime, still remembers that her motheris wearing shoes in the picture thatwere a bit tight actually.

The family picture was sent tot thecousins in Baldwin: Jennie, Dena enElla [335+337+339] (three profes-sional needlewomen!) as an acknowl-edgement of receipt and as an expression of gratitude.

The Baldwin Somsens did not onlysend clothes packages. Among theclothes (very good casing) theytucked away household articles likea currant juice bowl, which Riek deGroot–Klijn Hesselink still remem-bers:

I have always used that bowl for cur-rant juice. When my mother, Johan-na Berendina Klijn Hesselink-Som-sen [358], was still living in theWhemerhof (an old people’s home)in Eibergen there were two dessertsshe never got: tutti frutti and semoli-na pudding with currant juice.

When my mother stayed in Nijkerkmy sister Gesina Hendrika (Sina)Vermeiden-Klijn Hesselink [609]always made tutti frutti for her andwhen she stayed with us in Emmen I always made semolina puddingwith currant juice. And I always putthe currant juice in the bowl fromAmerica. And we still use it for currant juice today!

The three Eibergen belles 1949l-r: Willemina Hendrika (Wil) Somsen[398], Hendrika (Riek) Klijn Hesselink[611] and Gesina Johanna Theodora

(Sien) Somsen [400]

Somsen-Meijnhardt Family, Arnhem 1947l-r: Ariaantje Klaasje [389], Johanna

Berendina [392], Johannes Theodorus[226], Theodorus Dirk Frederik [227].

Maria Johanna Meijnhardt [354] and DerkJan Willem [391]

The currant juice bowl

COME TO THE

REUNION

IN 2007


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from top to bottom and left to right:

row 1 : Jan Hoopman (1886-1950), Willy Veldhorst-Kemink, Riek Kempel-Kemink, unknown, Johannes Theodorus (Johan) Somsen (1894-1967), Derk Jan (Jan) Bussink (1911-1984), Unknown, Willemina Hendrika (Drika) Somsen-Smits (1908-1993), Dirk Johan (Dirk) Somsen (1905-1988), unknown, unknown.

row 2 : Rudolf Kemink, Hanna Kemink-Westerfeld, Fritz Alofs, Gerrit Kemink, unknown, Lisa Kemink-Schalthoff, Maria Johanna (Marie) Somsen-Meijnhardt (1906-1990), unknown, unknown, Gerd Alofs, unknown, Johan Meinen Sr. (1884-1961), unknown, unknown, Jan Bakker, Jan de Vries (Amsterdam).

row 3: Wilhelmina Johanna (Jo) Somsen-Kämink (1882-1976), Lies Alofs-Kemink, Johanna Willemina (Anna) Hoopman-Somsen (1889-1962), unknown, Engelina Kemink-Koskamp (3rd wife of Frits Kemink, father of the bride), unknown, Jan Willem (Jan) Somsen (1892-1974), Johanna Frederika (Anna) Somsen-Kemink (1893-1992), Berendina (Dina) Bussink-Somsen (1883-1957), Hendrina (Drika) Meinen- Somsen (1886-1958), unknown, Harmina Hendrika (Riek) Heinen-Rots (1904-1998),Sientje de Vries-unknown (Amsterdam).

Picture Puzzle

Just after the Second World War Jan and Anna Somsen-Kemink [352+353] celebrated their 25th weddinganniversary in restaurant Stegers in the Marketplace in Aalten. Though they married on September 3 in 1920, the wedding was celebrated in August 1945. Innumerable family members and friends were present and a fine group photograph was taken of the wholecompany. It is still clear to be seen that during the war the restaurant was damaged. Of many of the party-goers we know the names, but not of everybody. Therefore we need your help. Especially from our readerswho live in Aalten, Dinxperlo, Suderwick (Germany) and Bocholt (Germany). For every addition the SomsenFoundation will reward you with a surprise! Your solutions can be forwarded to our editor Theo Somsen (see Colophon) by phone or mail.

Partygoers 25th wedding anniversaryJan Willem (Jan) Somsen and Johanna Frederika (Anna) Kemink


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An acrostic from 1901by Gus Somsen [97]

At every wedding there are presents and sometimes these are even homemade, for instance a poem. Butwho has still got time these days to make an acrostic, a poem of which the first letters of every line formyour family name? Or even a double acrostic? Gerrit and Geertje Somsen-van Driel received such a splendid wedding gift in 1901. Maybe a good idea to do it yourself?!

My grandfather and namesakeGezinus Somsen [19], born in Aaltenon March 10, 1868, graduated as ateacher at the age of eighteen. Afterhaving taught in Aalten for a shortperiod Gerrit, as he was called,moved westwards because of anappointment in Charlois, a munici-pality south-west of Rotterdam; ithad been annexed by this city in1870. Next to his teaching he went onstudying and on August 24, 1893 hegraduated as a headmaster. Soonafterwards he was appointed as ateacher at a denominational schoolin IJsselmonde, a suburb of Rotter-dam. From a letter of recommenda-tion from 1895 by a member of theboard of the school in IJsselmonde,Mr H. van Winkelhof, it becomesclear that he aspired to get the posi-tion of a headmaster. The letter wasaddressed to the denominationalschool in Noordeloos, but Gerrit didnot get the post, though. Some yearslater he was more successful. OnApril 1, 1898, he was appointedheadmaster of the denominationalschool in Bolnes. Not long after-wards he got to know Geertrui(Geertje) van Driel [79]. On January31, 1901 they married. Not longbefore his wedding Gerrit received apoem from his friend GideonBoekenoogen who lived in Friesland.He had been a Christian Reformedminister in Rozenburg from 1896 to1898 and he from 1898 he was min-ister in Sint Annaparochie. The poemis a double acrostic, in which boththe first letters and the last letters ofeach line form a name. It was verypopular in the Renaissance andobviously also for the Reverend Boekenoogen.Even though this poem is somewhatartificial today, in the eyes of ournineteenth century ancestors it isbound to have been different.

Denominational School – Bolnes 1902right: Gezinus (Gerrit) Somsen

The poem follows here:

Somsen

Soms en geeft het niet dan zegeNOp wat wegen onze God ons leidt; van ’t weEMerkt men niets, van ’t wel des levenSSmaakt de ziel véél zoets; toch kwaMEvenals de zon na regen,’t lief na ’t leed, zoONu ook: God kroont ’t werk na ’t kruiS

Soms, en nú vooral, mag ’t klageNOp uw “Slagen” allerminst geschiên, die ’t dêEMaakte ’t aambeeld stut des mookerSStil dies ’t Staal gewet ! Al kwaMEerst na ‘t “blokken” ’t blij genieten;’t goud uit schuim; zoONeemt nu ’t lied toch ’t kleed des lofS

Somsen U gelukkig prijzeNOp wat wijzen’t hart de snaren stemt - ‘k doe meEMocht g’als Hoofd in ’t vuur uws geesteSStalen Hollands knapendoM!En wees dra - “in éigen kring - Souverein” ! ZoONoem ‘k u hoofd van “School” èn “HuiS”

t.t.Gideon


13

Gideon Boekenoogen, for that mat-ter, was all but an artificial person. Asa minister he always went straight forhis aims in everyday language. Thisbecomes clear from a newspaperarticle by A.J. Klei in the daily news-paper Trouw of August 13, 1983 onthe occasion of the publication of abook Gideon on the dance floor inSint Annaparochie, in which we aregiven information about the Rev.Boekenoogen. I borrow two eventsfrom this article. After a meeting ofthe church authorities they havesome rather expensive rolls in a cof-fee house. Then Boekenoogen saysgrace after the meal: „We thank youfor these rolls, even though they costa fortune“.And when there is a partyBoekenoogen is responsible for asong: „We sing at this party in honourof the Lord, but we also enjoy in waggish conversation“.My grandfather celebrated his 25thanniversary as headmaster of theschool in Bolnes in 1923 and he diedin 1925, just before his 25th weddinganniversary. Gideon Boekenoogenserved Sint Annaparochie until hisretirement in 1928. He died in 1937.

Finally: above-mentioned H. vanWinkelhof was Hendrik van Winkel-hof’s [116] grandfather, who marriedGeertrui Gezina Somsen [88],Gerrit’s youngest daughter. Some-times history shows remarkable patterns.

Crashmuseum in Lieveldeby Johan Somsen [1029]

During the Somsen Camping Weekend in IJzerlo in August a group of21 Somsens visited the Crashmuseum in Lievelde, where they weregiven a guided tour by the very enthusiastic administrator, Mr. J.Geerdinck. The Crashmuseum has a large collection consisting ofremains of planes that crashed in De Achterhoek during The SecondWorld War. Furthermore it plays an important role in the completionof the list of people missing.

In the Second World War 7.500 aircraft crashed in The Netherlands, 400 ofwhich crashed in The Achterhoek. In The Achterhoek a foundation wasestablished, the AVOG Foundation (Achterhoek Aircraft Excavating Group),which has been busy detecting and salvaging aircraft wrecks since 1972.Since they have found many wrecks they have also been able to discoverthe identities of many crew members and Mr Geerdinck could tell usabout it with a great deal of enthusiasm. The many contacts with old-pilots and also with many relatives of air forcemen who were killed give this museum a very warm and humane atmos-phere whereas at first sight it is a large collection of old aircraft engines.Our visit was very much worthwhile and not in the least because of the enthusiasm of our guide.

Crashmuseum

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On Tuesday we return to St.Catharines where we have beeninvited for dinner by Teun’s daughterJane [189] and his son-in-law Bertde Bolster [192]. And of course wepay a visit to Bert’s greenhouses.Thursday: Niagara Falls! Howimpressive, what a great experience!Friday evening we go to a concert ina very nice town and the nextevening we have dinner at a restau-rant with a splendid view of thewater. On Sunday I meet Dutch people in church who have relativesin Dinxperlo; what a small world! OnMonday my stay with Teun is finished and I leave for my next host:Gerrie Hengeveld, who is fromDinxperlo, and who invited me someyears ago to visit her in Mississauga,a suburb of Toronto (are there anymore nice people who invite me for a visit?).

Together we visit Toronto, the CNTower and an Indian village: one partshows what it is like today andanother what it was like in the past.On Friday my trip to Canada is fin-ished and the next day I am back in Dinxperlo, safe and sound.

June 2005: On my way to theAchterhoekEmma had made „wentelteefjes“, atypically Dutch dish, for lunch onSaturday, June 11. In the afternoonwe made a cycling-tour and visitedthe Borderland Museum in Dinxperlofirst. Then we cycled along the smallriver AA-Strang to Anholt in Germanywhere we visited the gardens of theCastle of Anholt.

We also went to Small Switzerland, abio topical nature reserve with bearsand wolves. We finished that day inEmma’s home and had deliciousNasi Goreng.

On Sunday afternoon we went by carto the bordering village of Suderwickin Germany where we saw the sculp-tures of the smuggler. Then we wentto the smallest church in Holland:The Rietstap. We continued our tripto the iron museum in Ulft, BerghCastle in ‘s Heerenberg and hillyMontferland, where we made a walk.Via Beek and Elten we went to HochElten (Germany) where we had pancakes.

September 2004: On my way toCanadaAfter a good flight Teun meets me atthe airport of Toronto. In the eve-ning we borrow a bike from a neigh-bour and reconnoitre the environ-ment, especially the harbour of St. Catharines.The next day we buy enough provi-sions for a long weekend in a holidayhome of friends of Teun, about a 4 to5-hour drive to the north. Halfway wehave a break at the house of Teun’sson Tom [191] and his family wherewe have coffee. The more we gonorth, the more beautiful the sceneryis, especially the autumn colours ofthe Indian Summer. The holidayhome is situated in a very quiet area,a beautiful walking-area with manylakes. We also go fishing, which isnot a great success, but the boat-tripis very nice.

From Dinxperlo to St. Catharines(vice versa)by Emma Somsen [1190]

Emma Somsen [1190] and Teun Hunse [68] were both present at thereunion in 1997. Teun visited that reunion together with his wife JoSomsen [63], who unfortunately passed away a few years ago.Together with Jo, Teun emigrated to Canada in 1950. After the reunionTeun Hunse quite regularly revisited his native country. During thesevisits Teun and Emma met at Somsen camping-weekends or onSomsen boat-trips and consequently they decided to pay each other a visit.

Emma in front of the holiday home

Teun crosses the ‘green border’ at Essinkweg in IJzerlo


15

Next we drove to the German city ofEmmerich on the River Rhine andthen we returned to Dinxperlo byway of the villages of Netterden,Mechelen, Gendringen and Voorst.On Monday we had dinner in theJugoslav restaurant „Milo“, which issituated on Heelweg (“Heelstreet”) inDinxperlo, right on the border.Heelweg (“Heelstreet”) itself is theborder between The Netherlandsand Germany. People living on theone side of this street live in TheNetherlands and the neighboursacross the road live in Germany. This is very special.

We made another cycling-tour onTuesday. We went along the border,mainly on the Dutch side of it,towards Winterswijk. We crossedseveral „green borders“ (border-crossings which used to beunmanned and which could only beused by neighbouring farmers, edi-tor). After a lunch in the bio-dynamicfarm, The Ypenburg, on the border ofthe towns of Aalten and Winterswijk,we headed for the nature reserveThe Bekkendelle. Seated on a parkbench we enjoyed beautiful natureand ate bananas and apples.Our cycling-tour was not over yet, forby way of the „Italian Lakes“ and thecheese-farm Harminehoeve we rodevia a green border-crossing to Barloin Germany. There we visited theCaste „Schloss Diepenbrock“ wherethey serve delicious food, which we enjoyed very much!

Fully satisfied we rode back toDinxperlo by way of the Germantowns of Bocholt, Holtwick andSuderwick.

see p. 5

With the exception of the part in front of the main stand the rest of the cir-cuit is reserved for the subscribers of Truckstar to park their trucks thereand spend the weekend with their family, friends and colleagues.

Sleeping and eating (barbecue)takes place around the truck whilethe trailer is used as a dining andbedroom. The Saturday night isvery special. For when the dailyvisitors have gone the partybegins with a barbecue. After thatwe go to the drivers’ quarterswhere you can watch many per-formances. The annual highlight isHenk Wijngaard about whomeverybody says that they don’thave any music by him, but when„De vlam in de pijp“ sounds overthe ‘Drentse heide’ (surroundingarea) everybody sings at the top of their voices. We also visit the fair and after thatwe go home, that is, to the truck.We spend the rest of the eveningmeeting and talking to colleagues

while enjoying a snack and a drink. When on Sunday we have finished thebacon and eggs we make a round along the different stands, show trucksand demonstrations. At four o’clock the gates open again and the trucksgo home in convoy. Hundreds of people stand alongside highway A28 towave goodbye. This return journey gives you such a good feeling that therest of the year you can laugh away all the bad things that happen on the road. Every year we have to wait and see if we are lucky in the raffle. There isplace for 2.000 trucks, 500 of which have already been reserved. Theother 1.500 places are raffled amongst 4.000 truckers who have regis-tered. The condition is that you are a subscriber of Truckstar. I was so lucky in these raffles that I got tickets eight times.

Because there were seven Somsens present this year, it seemed to me agood moment to let you know that the Truckstar Festival is also visited by the Somsens .With thanks to Oegema Transport who made „my“ car available!

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CampingweekendIJzerloby Wim Somsen [518]

The weekend was different from allthe other weekends. I didn’t stay onthe campsite myself this year andwasn’t present during the activitieson Saturday either. Then you missthe right atmosphere, you are morelike a visitor. There were someheavy showers so that those whoslept in a tent got really soaked.

We received a most distressingmessage on Friday morning. MrVeerbeek, the inhabitant of theJapikshuis, had passed away onThursday. Every year the VeerbeekFamily used to give us a hearty wel-come during the Somsen weekendwhen we paid them a visit and whenwe could admire our Somsen lime-tree. Counting from the worldwidereunion this would have been the tenth time.The loss will be great for theVeerbeek family but we will alsomiss Mr Veerbeek. The pleasantwelcome every year, a welcomedrink, being together in a verypleasant atmosphere; these are good memories.

As usual the weekend begins onThursday evening with a boardmeeting, this time at the home ofBen Somsen in Eibergen. We havemade daring plans about which youcan read more elsewhere in thismagazine. On Friday the campinggradually fills when all the guestswho will stay for a few days arrive.That is the hard core that never fails to attend these weekends,though some are forced to pack up their things on Saturday eveningbecause of heavy rainstorms.Very early on Saturday morningTheo leaves for the antiquarianbook market in Bredevoort. Sincehe has retired and is no longer in aposition to fill in his own income taxpapers he has to increase hisincome by selling second-handbooks.

After the rainstorm from Thursday to Friday

Johan and Hanna VerbeekReunion 1997

On Saturday afternoon a fairly largegroup visits the Crash-museum inLievelde. Afterwards I hear enthusi-astic stories about this visit. There are about 40 people who jointhe traditional barbecue. RudolfBrunsveld has, in spite of the busy-ness around the IJzerlo festivalwhere he is the director of the open-air play, managed to prepare verytasteful food. We are very glad withour oldest participant: Aunt Zus [87]and we can even welcome Somsenvisitors from Switzerland. Theatmosphere is, as always, veryrelaxed, family ties are renewed, oldmemories are called up and in themeantime everybody enjoys the food and the drinks. In spite of the appealto the men that they may also assistin doing the dishes there are farmore women who make themselvesuseful. mancipation of womenseems to have been forgotten for awhile, but thanks to the regularwashing-up team everything is per-fectly clean again.

As always it is late again. For someSomsens there is long trip by car andthe die-hards disappear to the camp-site. Joke and I go to The Heurne onour bikes.

We hope to see you again in the sec-ond weekend of August next year.

When I received my Feb. 23 editionof the Woodville Leader and read thefirst headline: “Why is This BuildingStill Standing????????”, I felt verysad. The first reason is that my fatherRay Somsen owned the WoodvilleElevator and that business helpedhim earn a living to raise five chil-dren. The second reason is that it isone of the last iconic buildings intown that remind many of us of whatWoodville used to look and sound like.

When my sib-lings and I lookat the Elevatoras it is today(and yes, wewalk throughtown, sit on thebench in frontof the oldCitizen’s StateBank buildingwith the rippledglass in thedoorway and

look at the Elevator) we see manymemories. We kids and our friendswere always welcome at the “feedmill” as it was also referred to. Wewatched Dad, Grandpa and UncleHarry wait on customers (when wewere small enough, we could standin the open space under the counter,hiding from the farmers while Dadand Grandpa helped them) and wefound plenty of ways to play in thebuilding.

As we look now at that structure in itspartial condition, we are surprised atthe things that are still there. Thedoor at the sidewalk level is thesame door we always enteredthrough in the evenings. I wonder ifthe skeleton key for the door at the

top of the stairs is still on the ledgeabove the landing. As the metal hasbeen ripped from the building, wecan see a light blue color on parts ofthe building. We had forgotten thatthe entire building used to be thatcolor. The doors to that south store-room had been covered up com-pletely with the siding, so it was inter-esting to see them and remember their former existence.

As for what the elevator meant to thetown of Woodville, it was one of thebusiness hubs. Five and half days aweek, the elevator’s mill ran. Iremember checking what note thetone of that sound was. It was either a G or A on the piano!


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Memories of Woodville, Wisconsin, USAby Paula Crist-Somsen [816]

When she read an alarming newspaper article about the WoodvilleElevator Paula Crist-Somsen wrote down her childhood memories fora local paper of that town, the place where she was born and bred. TheElevator, which had been founded by her grandfather, William Somsen[326 ], and which afterwards was run by her father, Ray Somsen [810],plays an important role in her story. We have abridged her story forSomsen Horizon and only used the relevant passages that revealsomething about the history of an American Somsen.

Woodville Elevator 1934

William Somsen 1934

The Somsen-Forman family, ca. 1960l-r: Sally Somsen-Forman [811], Paula [816], Jan [818], Cindy [814],Bill [815], Mary [820]

and Ray Somsen [810]

Woodville Elevator 2005

17-19august2007

3rd worldwideSomsenreunion!

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18

Note in your

diary

now!

Farmers were in town on a regularbasis. On Fridays, especially, thefarmers and their families came totown for the shopping. Someoneprovided a Friday movie for us kids,pulling a huge white tarp onto twohigh posts by the building we

referred to as “the pickle factory”near Mrs. Gossel’s house on MainStreet. We kids would bring blanketsdown, buy penny candy from thedrug store, have our moms makepopcorn for us, and we watchedmovies like “Ma and Pa Kettle” and“North to Alaska” while the adults didtheir shopping and visited with eachother in different locations on MainStreet. The farmers kept businessesthriving in Woodville.

Woodville also had two train depots,one on each end of town. Trainswere a regular event in town; theElevator always got its grain deliver-ies by train, delivered to that backdoor of the south store room. It wasa common sight to have some traincars standing on the tracks behindthe elevator. And it was a commonsight to see us kids climbing all overthem when they were left unattend-ed. We always wished we could getinto the cabooses, but the best wecould do was peek through the windows.

As I said, the farmers kept business-es alive in Woodville. So, when I look

at the elevator building, I don’t seethe eyesore that it has become tomany. It is one of the last remainingreminders of what Woodville used tobe. I was saddened by the unemo-tional headline as much as I am sad-dened by the impending disappear-ance of a building that has meant somuch, at least to me and my family.The old phrase, “Beauty is in the eyeof the beholder” holds so very true inthe case of the dilapidated build-ing that still stands at the end of Main Street.

Dad, Grandpa, Grandma and Janare gone. Mom is 90 years old and isliving at Park View. Our personalconnections to Woodville haveweakened, but in our hearts it is stillhome and always will be. Our familyhouse is filled with another familywith several kids. That is the waythat house should be enjoyed: withkids. It was a wonderful home for usand we will always have deeply emo-tional memories of our idyllic and lov-ing childhoods. As our children lookat what things DON’T happen inWoodville, we love telling them thestories of what USED TO happen.And I am sure we are not the onlyones who have these stories to tell.Woodville was a great little town togrow up in. I am thankful that theElevator is still standing if for noother reason that it gave me a goodchance to write a letter I have beenthinking about for quite a while.

l-r: Paula, Sally and Bill 2005

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Family Announcements

In this column we would like to draw your attention to the family announcements that have reached us. Weare very much pleased to present them to you and are grateful to everybody who took the trouble to informus about the merry and sad events in their and our family. This also enables our advisor Dick Somsen fromZwolle to keep our genealogical files up-to-date, so that we, in turn, can inform you in Somsen Horizon. Wereally appreciate it very much that you send in your family announcements (together with pictures please!)to our secretariat: Somsen Foundation, Jan Tooropstraat 2, 3817 PZ Amersfoort, The Netherlands.

Deceased

15-03-2005Wilhelmina Luiten-ter Horst

[992], 92Aalten

12-07-2005Leida Voltman-de Jong

[3039], 81Aalten

19-07-2005Mary Janet Somsen-Flaskamp

[2324], 90 Avon, Connecticut, USA

05-09-2005Willemina Hendrika(Wieke) Overduin

[417], 43 Utrecht

Married 50 years

23-09-2005: Bernardus ChristiaanSomsen [513] and Hermina Johanna Klanderman [515]

Backpage::

1945-2005: 60 years liberation

On the backpage you will find a photo collage of a number of posters andtexts that were spread all over the country just after the liberation in 1945.

Born

11-03-2005: Isabel Raven [5428] d.o. Franck Hogervorst [4933] andIsolde Elise Somsen [550]12-06-2005: Nathan Daniel [5427]s.o. Marcel Raymond Somsen [1196]and Paulina Jochiema (Lione) van Klij [4961]17-08-2005: Friso Theodorus Coert[5429] s.o. Marnix JohannesCornelis Somsen [228] and AlletteWillemine Zoethout [3757]

Registered Partnership

24-02-2003: Christopher JohanHerman Somsen [529] and LéontineMarquerite Hélène Kalmijn [5424]

„Living-together“ contract

10-12-2004: Jan Dijksterhuis [5421]and Willemina Johanna (Jos)Somsen [1426]

Janet Somsen-Flaskamp

Hermien and BernardSomsen-Klandermand

Friso Somsen

1945 - 2005 1945 - 2005 Liberation: 60 yearsLiberation: 60 years

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