Grandma’s sewing machine finds new home at historical society

I guess you could say Dodge Center was, is and always will be an important part of my life.
I lived there from age birth to 2 years old, but those two years were not my whole history in that small, quaint town. My mother, Vivian (Cottrell) Kraemer met my father, Richard Kraemer in Dodge Center.
You see my mother was the new teacher at the little school at Pleasant Corners and needed a place to live.  My grandmother (Amelia Kraemer) rented out several of her bedrooms to single individuals.  She called them “roomers.” 
Long story short, my mother’s title changed from “roomer” to “daughter-in-law.”
Fast-forward 30 years, my twin sister and I were around 10 years old (with no adult) when we took the Greyhound bus from Shakopee, where we lived, to Dodge Center. 
We spent a week in the summer visiting not only Grandma Kraemer but also several other relatives who all lived in Dodge Center. The week we were there just happened to be the town celebration with a Main Street parade. Our Grandma solemnly rode atop of a float because she had lost one of her five sons in World War II. She was a Gold Star Mother. I was proud of her.
One of my other recollections about my summer visit was the big, mountains of sweet corn that had been dumped in the canning factory’s yard. 
My Grandma Kraemer was now living in the big, white house across the street from the canning factory.  She would give us a brown, grocery bag and tell us to “fill it up”.  She said “it’s the least they can do for me since they are parking big trucks all around my house.” 
I always felt a little guilty as I took (stole) the sweet corn. My guilt was drowned in lots of butter as I ate the magnificent sweetness.
Another amazing thing about visiting Dodge Center was that my other Grandmother (my mom’s mom) now lived on the same street as Grandma Kraemer. It was the place to be. 
My twin and I would skip along the short block back and forth to visit both Grandmas. I remember the sidewalk being buckled and broken from roots of the big trees growing on that block. And in some places it was just a dirt path with rocks and cement protruding.
I’m not quite sure how many times we fell going back and forth but we were living our best life. 
This other Grandma was a little lady. She had a morning ritual that I loved to watch and I still remember her saving her hair strands that had come out while she combed her long hair in the morning. She would put her hair up in a back bun (similar to the Granny on Beverly Hillbillies). 
Grandma Cottrell would then tuck those loose hair strands (that she had saved) into the crown of her hair to make it look fuller.  I’m almost to the age where I will use that beauty trick.  Thank you, Grandma.
Grandma Cottrell was a seamstress. She could sew anything with her 1910 model Singer.  She “took in” mending for the whole town.  I was there when women would drop off and pickup sewing items. She would hem, sew buttons on, and put in new zippers. She charged a dime or a quarter. Not only did she do the mending, she also made drapes. I hope she charged more than a dime or a quarter for those. She made her grandchildren stuffed Teddy Bears (way, way before Build a Bear at the mall). Another one of her specialties for us kids was “Sock Monkeys.” I still have my monkey and my Teddy Bear.  (I’m 60 years old)
Other relatives living in Dodge Center at that time of my life were my Great Aunt Lil and Uncle Carty (who ran Cartwright’s greenhouse in the same neighborhood as my grandmas lived.) 
My Uncle Verle Cottrell (who drove a gas truck) and Aunt Mary Cottrell (who worked in the bank), Aunt June (Cottrell) Bosanco and Uncle Swede Bosanco who worked for Mr. McNeilus. I had 3 uncles (and aunts) who farmed in the area. Louis and Viola Kraemer, Wally and Delores Dallmann, Doug and Elaine Kraemer. 
We also visited a relative (Delzers) that lived very close to the cemetery in Dodge Center. A few years ago, I visited the graves of my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles at the cemetery. I know in this little town all of my family worked hard, worshiped at the area churches and grew their love in family and friends.
I’m thankful for this rich history that has made me who I am. Thank you Dodge Center!
Grandma Meta Cottrell’s sewing machine has just been accepted into the Dodge County Historical Society in Mantorville. It is a Singer 1910 model 66-1 Treadle 7-drawer oak cabinet. Collectors have named that type of machine a “Red-Eye.” It has a Brass Plate signifying the Singer trademark.