My Maternal Grandparents Herb and Augusta Thies Schmidt

Herb and Gusty Schmidt went through a difficult time for a farm family in South Dakota. Besides raising four girls and no boys, the "Dirty 30s" were tough for everybody and Herb's family survived because he made the decision to buy a truck and make a living driving. It paid off as growing up in the 50s I remember Grandpa had a new Oldsmobile every 3 years like clockwork. He helped my Dad and Mom buy Ralph's Resort and Dad said he was the most honest man he'd ever met. I maintain that Herb and Gusty's biggest contribution was what they gave us genetically. The four daughters, Leona, Twins Caroline and Adeline, and Mildred, produced 14 grandchildren, 13 boys and a girl. In this group, there's an unusually high number of musicians culminating in Gordon Hallberg, for many years the bass trombone player for the Boston Symphony and athletes led by Ry Schmelz, a South Dakota state record holder in the shot put. Even today, my son Reed, both a musician and athlete is going to school on the proceeds of land that Grandpa Herb bought. The picture above is from their 50th wedding anniversary.

Ralph's Resort / Club 20

These are two pictures that my maternal grandparents, Herb and Gusty Schmidt sent my parents while they were in Cleveland, showing them a business for sale. Harry's resort, owned by Harry Smith had a good location on the north shore of Lake Kampeska right next to the lake's outlet about 4 miles out of Watertown, SD. Grandpa Herb helped Dad buy the property in 1950.

There were a couple "Whereases". Mom and Dad had to live in a tiny area in the left side of the building until Harry's new house was finished and they could move into the small house you see in the second photo. Though it doesn't look like it was much of an investment, there was quite bit of property and Dad went on to build Club 20 eight years later.

Here's video of both the inside of Ralph's Resort and Club 20.

Ralph H. Meyer 1924-2007 My Father

Grew up in Cleveland, Ohio during the depression to a single mother. Joined the Army in 1944. Fought in New Guinea. Staff Seargent. Telephone Operator. Thompson Sub Machine Gun. Married Caroline Schmidt 1949. Bought Harry's Resort, Lake Kampeska, Watertown SD with father-in-law Herb Schmidt's help. Renamed Ralph's Resort. Built Ralph's Club 20 in 1958. Moved to Reno, NV in 1979. Worked at Cal-Neva Club. Retired back to Watertown, SD in 1989. 5 children. Ralph 1950, Joseph 1953, Herbert 1957, Richard 1960, Mark 1961.

One interesting story about my father is that during the depression, his mother, who was a hairdresser, had to make ends meet by doing the hair of corpses for the funerals.

This is my Great Uncle George. My Grandma Mae's brother. I really don't know anything about George but some years ago a lady told me that he was my spirit guide. I found this picture of him in SD along with the rest. Now if spirit guides do exist I've always thought that mine must be particularly mischievous. It was the only way to explain a number of things. So, from this picture and the shit eating grin on his face, I'd say he's a pretty good candidate. And it has been fun, if embarrassing at times. Thanks George.

The Killing of Ralph (Curly) Meyer in Cleveland, OH, August 12, 1927.

Now granted, I'm a biased reporter, but after reading all the material I could, this is what I think happened.

Boxing Promoter Lawrence Lupo and Grandpa Curly were members of rival slot machine gangs. Family legend says that Grandpa's machines, at least in part, came from a time when he was a deputy sherriff and tasked with destroying confiscated machines. That Friday night found Curly in the Kitchen of the White Rock Inn roadhouse talking about putting in one or more slots. Lupo was in the main area with friends. Curly left the Inn by way of a back/side door and headed to his car. Lupo saw him leave through a window and motioned for one of his friends to follow him after Curly. A fight ensued. Grandpa Curly was a known badass and evidently was getting the best of Lupo when Lupo pulled a pistol out of his coat and shot and killed him. He and friends took off but he gave himself up 3 days later with a number of his friends saying that it was strictly a case of self-defence. Some weeks after the killing gangsters broke into Lupo's house and shot him in the face with a shotgun. They didn't kill him but he never looked quite the same after that.

Here's probably the most family hisoric pictures that I found in SD. The picture on the left shows my grandfather's family (Grandma Mae, Curly, Dad and Margaret) 2 months before he was shot and killed. The one on the right is obviously from the same party and shows my Dad (age 3) and Aunt Margaret (age 7).

The picture on the left proves that picking one's nose is congenital.

Finally got my pictures home. These are the family pictures that have some family historical significance. This one I'm just having some fun with. I call it 3 Ralphs and a Reed. Clockwise from the top left we have Ralph/Curly--Ralph/Dad--Ralph/R.A.--and Reed. Any family resemblance there?