Nu History
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THE FINALE TO THE FAMILY: My story must end and this seems the proper place. There are some things I will do differently next time. I will spend more time with you. I will go to more school band concerts, track meets, football games, and more picnics. Verna and I have had the good fortune to see you grow up with your friends and your families. This has been a pleasant time with you, perhaps we can do it again in another place. It has been great to share this journey with you. -
PEGGY KEN DALE GORDON -
Verna and some of the little friends that followed her home from distant lands. -
Metzger new Sonoma Alcalde By ARI SOGLIN I-T Staff Writer Crawford, Neb. has changed little since Jim Metzger grew up on a ranch there. The 79-year-old Sonoman says about 1,200 people lived in the town after the turn of the century. And the population now is about the same. Metzger, too, has had constants in his life, such as his work in agricultural engineering and his 58-year marriage to Verna. But unlike Crawford, Neb., Jim Metzger has come and gone a long way. A Midwesterner who grew up helping his German immigrant father on his horse ranch, Metzger today is being recognized at a luncheon as the city of Sonoma's Honorary Alcalde for 1987. Between the horse ranch and Sonoma honor, Metzger has defied the stereotype of monotony that often is attached to the engineering field. His work has taken him to Turkey and Amman, Jordan for extended tenures, and he has had special assignments in India, Nepal, Japan and Colombia. But before studying agriculture at the University of Nebraska, Metzger took a shot at ranching. Jim and Verna rented a 2,000-acre Nebraska ranch and purchased cattle and equipment Oct. 1, 1929. THE STOCK market crashed 28 days later, the Great Depression was on and the Metzgers lost their investment. "I was lucky I went broke in three years," Metzger says. "Some of my friends with more money lasted longer but still went broke." After receiving an agriculture degree in 1934, he spent the next 20 years doing irrigation and flood control engineering in Nebraska and Colorado. He began what has become a voluminous passport in 1955 when the U.S. government offered him a position as irrigation advisor in Turkey. Despite the cultural differences, Metzger felt at home in the Middle East. "It was amazing how much of rural Turkey fit my background," he says, referring a childhood that was homework by kerosene light, a wood stove for heating and riding a horse five miles to school. "I got along better in rural Turkey than some of my Turkish counterparts who grew up in cities," he says. THE RURAL atmosphere Turn to A9 Continued from A1 of Sonoma was what attracted him when he first visited friends and family here in 1957. "I love the small-town atmosphere," he said. "You know the people you're working with. I don't know of any better place to live." After Turkey, Metzger's next assignment was in Amman Jordan from 1960 to 1967. While not working, Metzger attended the Rotary International Club there, which acknowledged his presence by conducting its meetings in English. His travels took him to 35 Rotary clubs in 28 countries, he said. A Rotarian for 41 years, retirement in Sonoma in 1976 has given Metzger the opportunity to become involved with a myriad of additional groups: the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, Vintage House Senior Center, Sonoma Congregational Church, Home Care Connections and Branch 41 SIRS. He also was appointed in 1978 by then-1st District county Supervisor Brian Kahn to serve on a Ground Water Advisory Committee, and this year Supervisor Janet Nicholas appointed him to the Sonoma Valley Zone 3A Flood Control Advisory Committee. ALONG WITH those activities, Metzger keeps busy with four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. "I'm a workaholic," Metzger says. "I can't sit around the home; I have to have something to do." As Sonoma's 12th Honorary Alcalde, he'll have even more to do, representing the city with the alcalde cane during various ceremonies and celebrations. Traditionally used as the staff of office in the early days of California, the cane was used to settle property line disputes. The post of alcalde has its roots in the Spanish colonial tradition, and historically the alcalde served as the final authority in the pueblo. Once California achieved its statehood, the position was dissolved. Sonoma was without an alcalde until the City Council revived the post in 1976 as an honorary position. -
ALCALDE Next Honorary Alcalde is selected James D. Metzger, a resident and community leader here since 1976, was selected by the City Council as Sonoma's Honorary Alcalde for 1987 during an executive session at the Oct. 14 council meeting. Mayor Jerold Tuller said the vote for Metzger was unanimous. "Jim is an outstanding addition to the impressive list of dedicated Sonomans who have been honored as Alcaldes for exemplary community service," the mayor said. To receive the ALCALDE nomination, from the City of Sonoma, was the highest honor I have ever received. Sonoma has more dedicated volunteers than any place Verna and I have ever lived, and many have given years of service. A very close friend and confidante, Florence Evans, asked to submit my name for consideration. I am convinced, had she not done this, I would not have received the nomination. My relationship with the community has continued to be enhanced by this appointment, and I will always be grateful to Florence Evans. -
To receive the ALCALDE nomination, from the City of Sonoma, was the highest honor I have ever received. Sonoma has more dedicated volunteers than any place Verna and I have ever lived, and many have given years of service. A very close friend and confidante, Florence Evans, asked to submit my name for consideration. I am convinced, had she not done this, I would not have received the nomination. My relationship with the community has continued to be enhanced by this appointment, and I will always be grateful to Florence Evans. -
Jim Metzger Succeeds Nell Lane -
Jim and Verna Metzger honored by Vintage House In honor of their recent 60th wedding anniversary last month, the family and friends of Jim and Verna Metzger have made a $10,000 donation to the Vintage House Building Fund. The generous gift brings with it the reward of having one of the new rooms at the proposed new senior center named in honor of the Metzgers, with a bronze plaque designating it as the "Metzger Room." The Vintage House Building Fund Campaign Board and board of directors of Vintage House voted several months ago to offer the naming of rooms to recognize gifts of $10,000 or more. Such recognition has already been bestowed on J. R. (Bob) Stone, Myrtle Bowie and Helen Shainsky. THERE ARE a limited num- ber of rooms remaining which may still be named in honor of someone under this special gift recognition program. Peggy Baer, daughter of the Metzgers, made the $10,000 do- nation announcement at the Wednesday morning meeting of the Vintage House Building Fund Board, presenting a cer- tificate of recognition to her fa- ther before the applauding group. -
Jim and Verna Metzger Recently celebrated 60th wedding anniversary -
Solution to flooding proposed by engineer Metzger appointed to Zone 3A board By ARI SOGLIN I-T Staff Writer Jim Metzger took his first splash in the field of flood control 52 years ago. That was when, fresh out of the University of Nebraska, he became an engineer with the U.S. Forest Service in the Cornhusker state. He later worked in Colorado, Turkey, Amman Jordan, Japan, India and south America. While Metzger, 79, now officially is retired in Sonoma, he has not turned away from flooding. And his interest rose with the rain water last winter. "We need to start flood control in the hills," he said at a Sonoma City Council meeting a month after the flooding. "We should delay the flow, rather than hasten it." -
A SONOMA VALLEY vineyard uses the flood control method Jim Metzger espouses. forming on the con- tour so water flows downhill more slowly. Metzger says more Volley farming should be done this way. -
Jim Metzger Serves on flood committee -
From 1934 to 1944, I worked for USDA, I had been an Engineer and Superintendent of a CCO camp, I had been manager of water development projects, but the red tape and inability of the Government to change its ways, was more than I could take, so I resigned and started my own farm management service, and so MIDWEST FARM SERVICES was born. The business soon involved real estate and insurance, and opened up a whole new field of learning for me, knowledge that was going to be of value in later years. In 1955 we accepted the assignment with the State Department, and spent 12 years overseas. In 1967 we returned to the states. Verna's brother Wes, now owned MIDWEST FARM SERVICE. I renewed my licenses for life insurance, and variable annuities. My interest in the Estate Planning field, in business organizations and the stock market became a part time business. We came to Sonoma May 1, 1976. I took all California examinations, for insurance and real estate licenses, but again this was a part time business. The fact that I was carrying a rate book and seeing people, kept me from being bored and added to our retirement income. I had volunteer activities that eventually took all of my time. For 10 years I worked with the Sonoma Chamber of Commerce. I was active on three boards, the Congregational Church, Vintage House,, [sic] and on Monday afternoon for 4 hours, I held office hours at Vintage House to help people who wanted information on Living Trusts, wills, and investments. In 1982 I bought a computer and set up my own stock portfolio, and kept up with the stock market thru Dow Jones Retrieval Service. I kept books on the computer for the Church, and learned to operate a word processor. The word processor opened up a new world to me, and has given me the tools to write a series of short stories of my life. I am now 87, I have retired about 3 times. I find plenty to keep me busy with my writing, the stock market and volunteer work. -
THOUGHTS BEFORE RETIREMENT My first thoughts concerning my own retirement, dates back to the day my parents left the ranch, where they had lived for over 45 years. Dad and Mumsie came to Western Nebraska in 1907, they came expecting to take a homestead but instead, bought what was called a relinquishment, that is they bought the rights of another homesteader. There were several advantages, a good well, a frame house and two barns. A family by the name of Wolff, lived on the place, and years later I met and became a friend of one of the sons, Fred Wolff, who was born in the log house that was on the place. My folks made the decision to leave the ranch in 1943, when they moved to a home in Crawford. Dad was 75 years of age when he retired, because he could no longer do the heavy work, but he remained active until his death at the age of 88. Several of Dad's friends had left their farms and ranches, and moved to town, but died within a few years. I have heard him say of them, "They died because they didn't have anything to keep them busy." This statement made me think, he was right, most of them didn't have anything to do, they had no other interests, other than their work on the ranch, and that was over. Dad kept himself busy with a small garden for a while, but boredom soon set in and it wasn't long until he got in his car, and drove out in the country to call on some of his neighbors. Occasionally one of the neighbors would ask him to bring something from town, such as salt or some feed for their cattle. It wasn't long before he had the idea that perhaps he might make a little money and still visit with his friends He was soon selling livestock feed, salt and mineral and equipment that could be used in livestock care. At the age of 86 the insurance company would no longer renew his auto insurance, and he had to quit driving, it nearly broke his heart. I remember my mother saying that the insurance agent asked her to tell Dad that he would not be able to drive any more, and she politely replied, "You tell him." For several years, Dad was top salesman for the company he represented. He was proud of the honors that he received, but when he lost his drivers license, he lost his spirit. I knew then, that when I reached the age of retirement, I must have something to keep me busy. -
IT WORKED AGAIN It had been a long time since I felt that I wanted something that I didn't already have, but when we moved into West Lake on Nov. 1, 1991 we still owned the home at 29 Mazatlan Drive, I really wanted to sell it and get it off my mind. I decided to follow as closely as possible the instructions that were given in the little book: IT WORKS. After we had prepared the coach for sale, with new carpet, painted walls, clean floors, etc. Peggy listed it for sale. I began at once to follow the rules as closely as I could. I knew what I wanted, so it was not hard to be specific. I WANTED TO SELL THE COACH. and I wanted some one to buy it who could enjoy living there as much as we had. In January people were looking; a couple living in Temelec put in a bid, but it was contingent upon the sale of their home. We offered to take a mortgage on their property and wait until their property sold. They were willing to sign a note but would not let us take a mortgage on their property. They came back to look at the place several times but nothing became of it. In April, Max Beer from Los Angeles put down a payment of $1,000.00. A price of $46,250 was agreed upon, and papers were signed on May 5th., Max was to move in on June 1st., but on May 28th he had a heart attack, and the Doctor told him not to move at this time. Mail was already arriving, and for several weeks we were returning his mail. Max asked if $500 would be satisfactory to with draw his offer, and we accepted and listed the property again. On Aug. 18th, Moon Valley was holding open house for coaches that they had for sale, and we put out a sign at our coach, hoping to attract buyers. Gordon had made a contact with a friend of his, suggesting that it would be a good place for him to live. The result: Bob and Lois Best bought 29 Mazatlan Drive and moved in September 1, 1992. They have been well pleased with their new home, and we have become good friends. I will never know, whether the property sold because I consciously made an effort to instruct my subconscious mind, or perhaps it would have sold without effort on my part. The interesting point is that there were over 20 coaches for sale in Moon Valley, and 7 in Pueblo Serena. It is now three years later, and there are many coaches that were for sale at that time and are still unsold. I believe IT WORKS, but perhaps I will never know. -
IT HAS WORKED; WHY NOT TRY AGAIN? When we left Longont [sic] to go to Turkey, we had a chance to sell the farm. We had lost money on the Safflower project and this looked like an opportunity to pay some of our debts before we left the United States. For several years we had been partners with Herman and his family. We owned the farm, and Herman farmed it. It was a 50-50 arrangement, all farm equipment and livestock were owned jointly. If we sold the farm, we would need to dissolve the partnership, and this would leave Herman without the means to rent another farm. Verna and I spent some agonizing moments in trying to come to a decision. The value of the equipment was about $25,000, and that seemed like a lot of money to us. We finally decided that we could get along with out selling, and that we would take a $12,500 note for our share, [sic] When we were on home leave I would renew the note with Herman. In 1962, I went again to renew the note, but it was obvious by this time that he might never be able to pay it. Could my subconscious mind find the answer? I thought it had worked once, why not try again. When we returned to Jordan I wrote on a small piece of paper, THIS MATTER WILL BE SETTLED TO THE SATISFACTION OF EVERYONE, and placed it inside the top drawer of my desk so that I would see it every time I opened the drawer. In 1964 we were home again, I did not want to see Herman, I was sure he couldn't pay the note and so I waited until the last day before returning to Jordan. When I went to see him, his first statement was: "If you can give me $2000, I can settle the note". Give him $2000! He already owed us $12,500 and that was with out the 6% interest for 7 years. Why should I give him any more money? This is the story: Herman's father died and left him a contract of sale, on a small farm adjoining the city of Fort Collins, Colo. He had not been able to pay taxes and other expenses and was about to lose the property. Two Thousand dollars would place him in position to turn the contract over to us. It didn't take me long to get to the bank and get the $2000.00, but since our plane to Jordan was leaving in 24 hours, I turned it over to our attorney. In 6 years we received the $12.500 plus all interest. THE MATTER WAS SETTLED TO THE SATISFACTION OF EVERYONE. Does it work? I can't tell you for sure, but I believe it did.. [sic] -
filled it out and mailed it to the Foreign Operations Administration. (FDA) in Washington D.C. 18th of June 1954. In a few days I received a letter from FOA, informing me that they had no positions open in my field, but they would place my application on file. For months I direct my thoughts to what I wanted. Nothing seemed to happen, but the little book said, "You don't have to be concerned as to HOW, it is going to happen, just BELIEVE that it will." On March 2, 1955, We attended a luncheon in Denver. I had been appointed Lay Leader of the Methodist Church in Northern Colorado, my assistant was to be Howard Finch, Director of the Agricultural Extension Service, in Colorado at Fort Collins, he had just returned from a two year tour in Turkey. He ask us if we would consider taking a two year assignment in Turkey. Our answer was yes. On March 4th. We received a copy of a letter that Howard Finch had sent to FOA mission in Turkey. March 23rd , A letter from the FOA mission in Turkey. "I understand that you may be interested in an assignment in Turkey. Please contact the Agricultural Division of FOA in Washington, D.C., for further information." April 2, Letter from the Chief of Food and Agricultural Division FOA in Washington D.O. with a Form 57 and a request to complete the form as soon as possible. I wired Washington the same day, informing them that they had Form 57 on file, dated June 18, 1954. May 18. Letter from Office of Personnel FOA; "We need additional information. We can not meet your salary request, but your quarters allowance for you and your family will be $3,000.00. We hope to hear from you soon." May 25th. Received a letter with job classification and description of duties. How can this be? This is just what I have been doing for the last 20 years. June 7, Received notice confirming assignment as Irrigation Advisor to the Turkish Government. "Can you report by the first week in July?" I asked for 60 days to get affairs in order, and on July 20 wired Washington that we could be ready by Aug. 15th. The rest is history, we went for two years but when we came home to stay it had been 12 years. Did the plan WORK, or did it just happen? I will never know. -
IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT YOU CAN HAVE IT. If you KNOW WHAT YOU WANT YOU CAN HAVE IT; Can this really be true? Can I have what I want by merely wanting it? In 1952 my daughter, Peggy came home from college and placed a book on my desk and said: "Dad, read this with an open mind." The book; YOU WILL SURVIVE AFTER DEATH,: by Sherwood Eddy. This book started me on a search that changed my life. I believe that the conscious mind can direct the subconscious mind, and that the subconscious mind will do what it is directed to do. Three rules are set forth in a small booklet, entitled, IT WORKS, by RHJ. 1. Write down the things you want most. Read the list: morning, noon, and night. 2. Think of what you want as often as possible, and BELIEVE that you have it. 3. Do not talk to any one about your plan, except The GREAT POWER within you, which will unfold to your objective mind the method of accomplishment. Can it be this simple? If I tell my subconscious mind to do something for me, does it have the power to do it? In the next few years I was to have several experiences that convinced me that it was possible. In the spring of 1954, Verna and I attended a reception at the University of Denver for the opening of a new dormitory, where Peggy was to be living during her senior year. The father of one of her roommates had just returned from an assignment in Japan with McArthur's occupation forces. I had an opportunity to visit with him about his experiences, and was impressed and envious. Why couldn't I have an experience like that? For days this was on my mind. I knew that this was an experience I would like to have, but how can I get it? I had just finished reading the booklet: IT WORKS, and I decided that this is the time to try it. What do 1 have to do to start the process? I knew from previous experience with the Government, that to apply for federal employment, required a completed form 57, so I went to the Denver post office for the form, -
Thru the years I have developed some ideas that seem to work for me. I no longer feel that I have to accept everything written in a book, as the truth. A book written by an Israeli on the 1967 war in Palestine would tell a different story that one written by an Arab. I believe that there is a super intelligence that exists. It is something that our minds can not comprehend. I believe that our minds are a part of this intelligence. I believe that we can accomplish much thru thought. I believe that thoughts are things. I believe that we can actually create conditions and things thru the mind. Christianity has taught that by communicating with this higher power that we call GOD, and having faith in this power, that we can create the situation we ask for. I believe that a positive attitude creates a good life and that a negative attitude will create the opposite. I believe that thru thought control we can have better health and improve relationships with others. Life thru the years has dealt me many good hands, I have not always played them well but by trying to follow rules of positive thinking, everything seemed to work out very well. The last hand dealt me, and at age 87 it could be the last, is a NO TRUMP hand with many Kings and Queens. For 66 years I have lived with a Lady I find interesting and pleasant to be with. We don't talk much some times but maybe that isn't important. She usually knows what I am thinking and I can usually tell what she is thinking. We have a family of 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. All are in good health and our relationship could not be better. I often have the feeling that I have traveled this route before; perhaps I will travel it again. Reincarnation is not a new idea; in fact it is a very old one. Ancient writings, including the Bible, make reference to this possibility. Can it be that since I haven't found an answer to my questions this time around that I might return and try again? -
BELIEF One of the most difficult tasks I have undertaken, is to put in words, my belief, or creed. The changes that have taken place in my thinking during the years, has caused me to wonder if mankind will ever know what really is a truth that does not change with the passage of time. I was born a Caucasian, of parents who were of the Protestant faith. I was taught that there existed a supreme being that we called GOD, and if I would be good and did every thing I should, that I would go to heaven when I died. I was led to believe that this is the REAL TRUTH and that if I believed in the Bible and understood that it was the word of God I would be saved, what ever that meant. More than 87 years have passed since I was first exposed to the realm in which I now live. I know that my physical existence became possible thru the union of my parents, I also have learned that in time my physical being will no longer exist, and that I will disappear and become part of the earth. What is the real me? Where did I come from? Who am I? What is the purpose in my being here? Where do I go from here? Ever since mankind has been able to ask these questions he has attempted to explain them in the vernacular of the times. The civilizations of the world have done it thru religious writings, The Torah, the Bible, and the Koran, in the part of the world in which I have lived. Peoples in other parts of the world have done it thru other religious beliefs, Buddhism, Hinduism and others. From Genesis to the creation myths of ancient tribes, mankind has been seeking answers to the same questions. I was 45 years of age before I was able to rid myself of a feeling of guilt, if I questioned the authenticity of the Bible as being the word of God. How this became the word of God was never clear to me, and by the time I reached the age of 60 I had lived 12 years with peoples of other faiths. I had been in 28 countries on 4 continents and had been around the world. People from all parts of the world were trying to find answers to the same questions I had been asking. Others seemed to think that their beliefs were the REAL TRUTH and that it should not be questioned. I now believe that mankind may never find the answer to some of these questions. It seems that if we do find an answer, it only creates other questions, whether we are flying in space or splicing genes and creating new life. -
As the life stories unfolded I began to take notice. Ten were in the educational field, Four PhD's, Three heads of departments in Universities, one a project director in a Medical research Lab, three RNs, one of them a head nurse in a hospital; two in the educational field, were directors of private schools, one in Florida and the other in Oregon; an Environmental Engineer for the city of Denver, a CPA with a firm of accountants in Portland, Oregon. There were Successful business men from Colorado, Oregon, Texas and Nebraska. Most of the parents were active in community projects, City Council, School Boards, Scouts, Churches. Thirty percent of those now working were in some form of Social Services. Among those retired were teachers and nurses. One evening was spent singing. The pianist was a professor of music in a University. You name it, he played it. The reunion came to an end after lunch on the third day. How do you say good bye? With lots of tears and hugs, and a vow to stay in touch. The ethical values and principles of FRANK & NETTIE PIELSTICK had made their mark on future generations. I considered that I had done quite well when I married into Verna's family [sic] Frank B 8-25-1875 D 5-22-1948 Nettie B 5-7-1878 D 9-5-1962 Married April, 8, 1897 -
