By Arlein Fransen, Dunham Historical Society
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However, by 1930 all of the Leischner children had outgrown the cradle. Emanuel was the custodian of the Wessington Springs Congregational (now U.C.C.) church and the Leischners decided to give the cradle to the church to be used on cradle rocking Sundays. What a joy it must have been for Emanuel and Matilda to see all of the babies rocked in the old cradle. Edward, Leonard and Milton saw their children and grandchildren rocked in the cradle in which they, themselves had been rocked. In fact, the cradle was even moved to the United Methodist church on cradle rocking Sunday so that the children of Kenneth and Gladys (Leischner) Kieser could be rocked in the family cradle.
To date no record has been found of all who were rocked in that cradle, but how wonderful for those children to be introduced to the Lord’s house in a cradle so lovingly made by a proud father for his firstborn son.
When the U.C.C. church determined that the cradle was no longer needed, it was returned to Mrs. Kieser who graciously gave it to the Heritage Center. She said that the cradle belonged in the museum among the many treasures of other people who lived in Jerauld County through the years.
The Historical Society would like to compile a list of names of those who were rocked in the cradle at the church.
If you were, or someone you know was one of those children, please call any museum volunteer or send a note to the Society at Box 363, Wessington Springs.
on Mar 1st, 2009 at 10:24 am
I was rocked in the cradle and my three children Kelly, Kristy, and Kirk where all rocked in it and my father Edward was the first and I remember grandfather Emamuel very well. I remember many babies being rocked and then they were registered in Cradle Row. I saw the article from Florence Loveless and I remember her as a friend of my older sisters. My sister Jean worked in the Loveless Meat Market. I hope they can get a list of the people that have been rocked. We had Rock and Roll in the 30′s 40′s and 50′s.
on Mar 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Apparently I was rocked in this cradle that my great grandfather made. My Dad (Dale Leischner) informed me of this as I was too young to remember. I’m glad it will be displayed in the museum for historical purposes.
Kelly Leischner Harris
Buffalo,WY.
on Mar 31st, 2012 at 7:12 pm
[...] Proud first-time father made cradle for newborn son in 1899 – TRUE … [...]