Adèle Loew

  General Notes:

NOTE FROM ADELE (STERNEMAN) MOORE:

Adèle Loew was the third daughter of four that survived. Her mother died shortly after child birth when Adèle was around four years of age, and the girls were sent to different relatives. Adèle lived with two unmarried aunts in a remote area of the Alps near Basel. At fourteen she was sent as a governess to a French family. In exchange they subsidized her education. Returning to her aunt's home, she worked in Basel as a store manager. Evenings were spent making lace and embroidery to sell at the store. There was little to do in the winter, and they hand carved wooden blades in order to ice skate. She met her husband during her employment at the store. A few months after her husband left Switzerland for America, she followed, on the SS Lapland, Antwerp to NY July 8, 1912. She didn't know English except "milk for baby" and "which way St. Louis?" She later said that each time her ticket got smaller, she knew she was getting closer to her destination.

John and Adèle (Della) called each other Chassy (for Caesar) and Delli. Adele converted to Catholicism in 1927. Prior to this she had attended a church next to the jail. Adèle's hobbies were gardening, ceramics and painting with oils on canvas.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Immigration, 8 Jul 1912, New York. ⁵ She arrived aboard the SS Lapland from Antwerp,. Reg. No. 9-27006.

2. Letter: to her sister Martha, 25 Oct 1922, St. Louis, MO. Dear sister!

This afternoon I received your kind letter, it is good to hear from you all. I have been waiting for a long time to get a letter from you, because mother had written in her first letter that she will send you my address. It is depressing that everything is so unbelievable expensive. I can imagine well that it is hard to get along under these conditions. You need much patience and persistence but it cannot go on like this in eternity. I think a true upright German man will not give in. I think it is soon getting better, I tell you why. About two years ago you could not find anything in a shop - whatever it was - with the trade-mark “Made in Germany”. And now you can hardly find any toys or dolls without that trade mark. That proves that trade starts again.
You should not think that here people have a bad opinion of the Germans, all the soldiers who had come back report how nobly the Germans had treated them. My dear, also with us “all that glitters is not gold”, of course, I admit that we feel well in comparison to you. Everything is rather expensive as never before, but as long there is a job and good health one should not complain. I only wish I could have you here, wouldn’t that be nice? Please, do not think I had forgotten you, you at last, as we have the very picture of you in our family. I do not know how often I said to Caesar, does not Hansi Look like Martha? He is the eldest, he is almost eleven years old, I do not know whether you saw him.
Do not lose courage, as long you can keep up your head there is hope, if not all is lost. If I wrote you about all I have done you would think I were mad. It is true here a woman has much more to do than abroad.
When a man cannot find a job, a woman will always find something. In this way you have to grant it to the Americans they accept any work whatever it is if it only brings. Money. Actually you can live here in a much simpler way than abroad.
Just now you remind me of the Bible: Martha, there is too much trouble and sorrow, don’t worry so much about a furcoat if you can but one it is o.k. if not don’t let one day be spoilt. You can buy a furcoat at all time but you can never fetch back a lost day. If I tell you I have bought one hat for the summer and one for the winter as long as I have been in this country you will think this is not true, but it is. Of course, every year it is modified, once I cut off, one I piece on, once there were ribbons on it, another time feathers. You never know what you can do with an old rag. I wished I had you coat here, I would make something of it. I would take it in good hands. Don’t let grow gray hair because of an old furcoat, better let it grow on the coat. Take a liter of water with three or four spoons of ammonium chlorid, a good brush and brush the whole coat, then hang it outside. When it is worn out cut off or piece on.
Now about the postage stamps. You do not write whether you want to have your stamps back or all of the other countries. I can send you heaps of ours if they are of any value.
My dear, I will close now, I could write even ten pages more, but I will hurry that you get this letter soon. You will get a photo at Christmas. Now I must close, it is ten o’clock and I have not yet fed the chickens, I have not only five children but also 75 chickens. Please, answer soon.
Kind regards and kisses for you both.
Yours Delly

3. Letter: to her sister Martha, 9 Mar 1923, Evansville, IN.
Dear Martha,

I got your letter. We left St. Louis for Evansville Indiana. Here Ceasar has a better job that is why we decided this way. I have not been well since some time because something is on the way. Every time I have bad pains in my legs, they are swollen so I cannot wear shoes. I do not know how I can sew all the things on the sewing machine as not a single piece is left from Walter’s. In August he will be four years. I thought I would no longer been bothered, it is no end of trouble. I got a letter from aunt Elise, I think she is in München stein again. I would like to have her here. Believe me sometimes I am tired, I have enough. I am glad that Caesar has a better job now, so I can buy some pieces and housework will become easier. We rented a house but they have to repair it and we hope we can have it next week. I am relieved when I am in my own house. I cannot yet give you the new address but next week I will send you an Easter card, then I will know the name of the street and the number.
I close and hope to hear from you soon. I hope you both are well.

Kind regards and kisses

Your sister Delly


I have lots of postage stamps but I must wait till my things arrive then I will send them to you.

Adèle married Hans Cäsar (John) Stirnimann, son of Jakob Stirnimann and Maria Luise Moser, on 15 Feb 1912 in Basel-Stadt, Switzerland.¹ (Hans Cäsar (John) Stirnimann was born on 20 Nov 1889 in Daro, Tessin (Ticino), Switzerland,² died on 14 Dec 1949 in Evansville, IN ^3,4 and was buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, Evansville, In..)