Alma Historical Society

Alma Historical Society Recapturing the Small River Town Atmosphere of Early Alma, Wisconsin As a result of these meetings the formation of the Alma Historical Society was begun.

In the spring of 1978 several local residents of Alma, Wisconsin began meeting to organize a group with the idea of recapturing the small river town atmosphere of early Alma.

09/04/2022
EXCITEMENT After A Great Day Of Summer Fishing!
07/19/2022

EXCITEMENT After A Great Day Of Summer Fishing!

SUMMER FUN In The 1920sVisitors From Chicago IL to Alma WI Summer Fishing FunMany thanks to Darcy Theisen for sharing he...
07/19/2022

SUMMER FUN In The 1920s
Visitors From Chicago IL to Alma WI
Summer Fishing Fun

Many thanks to Darcy Theisen for sharing her family photos.

The Buffalo Rifles had an important role at the Railroad Cut on July 1st.
07/01/2022

The Buffalo Rifles had an important role at the Railroad Cut on July 1st.

Fought over the first three days of July in 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg marked a turning point not only in the course of the American Civil War but for the future of the United States.

At Gettysburg National Military Park, join National Park Service Rangers during the 159th Anniversary for a series of free guided walks and talks that discuss, explore, and reflect on this important chapter in our nation’s history.

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/gett/planyourvisit/battle-anniversary-159.htm

Image: The sun sets over the battlefield. Two cannons from the Rhode Island Battery A "Arnold's Battery" sit along Cemetery Ridge near The Angle.

06/21/2022

I have just posted my latest video: "Steamboats on the Lower Chippewa River WI". on my You Tube channel. This is a presentation I gave at the "Academy for Lifelong Learners" June 7,2022 at UWEC. The link is: https://youtu.be/Pxj6jVOJAow The Best... Brian

05/28/2022

HONORING Orma Aurelia Schreiber From Alma, Wisconsin
World War I, U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Died In Service
Died of the "Spanish Flu"
1 of 2 Buffalo County War Time Casualties Who Were Women
Marker Placed On Her Grave 99 Years After Her Death

This story starts with reading the Buffalo County Journal last September 2016 under "From The Area In Years Gone By: 100 Years Ago" which read "Orma Schreiber had made the required grade at the examination for trained nurses."

In October 2016 while walking the Alma Cemetery, we came upon Orma Schreiber's grave in the Alma Cemetery. You see she died of influenza about 2 years after the little news blurb in the Journal ... caring for soldiers who were ill with the Spanish Flu (influenza) at US Army Base Hospital No. 45. She was in France as a WWI Red Cross Nurse and died on October 9, 1918 ... she had been in France at Base Hospital No 45 for only one month. She was buried in France with full military honors and in 1921 her remains were shipped home to Alma for burial at the Alma Cemetery.

Orma Shreiber is one of two known war time casualties from Buffalo County, WI who were women (both WWI nurses) and we honor her today, Memorial Day. Her headstone says "Died In France" but it didn't have a military grave marker or an American Flag. We asked the Alma American Legion for a World War I marker and placed it on her grave on May 29, 2017, Memorial Day ... 99 years after her death.

JOURNAL, NURSING NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS 1918
"In October, at Base Hospital No. 45, France, died of meningitis, Aurelia Schreiber, class of 1916, Cohl Hospital, St. Paul, Minn. Although given but a short time to serve her country, Miss Schreiber did it cheerfully and without complaint, only saying there were not enough hours in the day to do what should be done for the comfort of the boys. She was buried with military honors at sunset of the day she died."

DONATION: After speaking with the Schreiber family, they've donated material the family kept on Orma Schreiber to the Alma Historical Society. It's anticipated that her information will be added to the Museum's military exhibit.

LESSON LEARNED: Read The Buffalo County Journal! There's so much about Alma and Buffalo County for today as well as our history.

PHOTOS: U.S. Army Base Hospital No. 45, World War I Photograph Collection
https://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_virginia/sets/72157608734378870/

MORE INFO:
U.S. Army Base Hospital No. 45 in the Great War
https://gallery.library.vcu.edu/exhibits/show/basehospitalno45

Military Nurses In World War I
http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/rr/s01/cw/students/leeann/historyandcollections/history/lrnmrewwinurses.html

Contributions of the US Army Nurse Corps in World War I
https://e-anca.org/History/Topics-in-ANC-History/Contributions-of-the-US-Army-Nurse-Corps-in-WWI

Address

505 South Second Street
Alma, WI
54610

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Alma Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Alma Historical Society:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Step Into “Living” Wisconsin History

In the spring of 1978 several local residents of Alma, Wisconsin began meeting to organize a group with the idea of recapturing the small river town atmosphere of early Alma. As a result of these meetings the formation of the Alma Historical Society was begun.