Ah- now we are getting into the genealogy that feels more familiar...
What follows below is the story of Grandma Hazel's parents, her siblings and of course a little bit about her history...
Wedding Portrait- 12.31.1902
Martin Volla and Helen "Lena" Larson
Not pictured were the best man- Lorents Oines and Ida Larson-maid of honor
In the Penn document- it was noted that on New Year's Day-1902- the newlyweds, with their possessions in a box car, boarded a train bound for Flandreau South Dakota.
They had rented a farm and borrowed $100 to buy a team. "The banker discounted the loan as he didn't have money to buy the team." With this lesson, this was the last interest borrowed outside the family.
The couple would welcome their first two children while living in South Dakota
Virgil Volla (b.1904)
Hazel Volla (b.1906)
When the young couple could finally afford to buy land, Flandreau land was too expensive. Martin scouted out land in NW South Dakota around the towns of Lemmon, Bison, Chance and also in the Red River Valley ( a region that is between the western border of MN and the eastern border of ND).
Finally, the couple decided to return to Wisconsin in 1911 and bought the sandy coulee farm that they named Maple Shade Farm. Martin would cut the logs and build the house and farm buildings. Soon after their return to Wisconsin, the couple would welcome their third child, Evelyn born in 1911.
Aerial view of Maple Shade Farm-
date unknown
The couple were considered to be good farmers. They grew the first alfalfa in the area, had central heat, running water and continually stressed education at all levels.
Hazel and her sons-
in front of the Volla's "in town" house
In 1930, they retired and moved to Holmen. Martin again cut wood for the construction of their new house in town.
They rented, and then sold the Maple Shade Farm to Hazel and Norman. We'll learn more about the Maple Shade farm in another entry- as Grandma Hazel saved the deeds and notes on what they paid for the farm.
Martin on one of the farms he would own during his life
In addition to the Maple Shade farm, the Penn document notes that Martin "after returning he bought, rejuvenated and sold at least two other farms. He was the farm director of the Bank of Holmen. Martin, with two other members of the community were able to keep the bank open through the 1929-1932 depression and was the only one to Lacrosse County to do so. He earned more each day than they spent.
It is also said that Martin and Lena encouraged, admired and loaned to young people as they started to school or to farm.
Let's hear what the Penn Document says about the three Volla siblings- I also will add some information to help with flow and provide clarity.
Virgil
Virgil (b.1904 d. 1985)
Lillian Nikula (b. 1908 d. 1995)
Martin V. (b. 1942)
Steven (b.1946)
Virgil is the oldest of the three Volla Children. When he was attending River Falls- he developed severe asthma and it was recommended that the family look for a better climate for Virgil.
Mother and daughters
Hazel, Lillian and most likely Lena
circa early 1920s
After helping build a home for Uncle Helmer in North Dakota, the entire family took a year off to go to the northwest part of the United States and travel down the west coast, finishing up in Los Angeles. 
West coast or Bust?
circa early 1920s
Martin, Lena, Virgil, Hazel and Lillian
As it turns out- Virgil would remain in California. He would graduate from UCLA. He'd marry Lillian in 1942 and together they would raise their two sons- calling both Glendale and Laguna Hills, CA home. He would go on to have a very distinguished career- raising up through the ranks of the Los Angeles County School District- ending up as an assistant superintendent- responsible for building construction and maintenance. Not bad for a farm kid born in South Dakota, eh?
Photo courtesy of Google- circa 1958
A poet in the family? Who knew.
As I've shared in other blog updates- there has been an odd assortment of bits and pieces found in Richard's collection. One such item is this poem by Virgil. It begs the question- was this a hobby he enjoyed his entire life- or like Richard picked up painting in his retirement era- did Virgil dabble in poetry? Regardless of the answer- I felt it was worth adding to this blog entry.
Hazel
Hazel, like her brother Virgil was born while the family lived in South Dakota.
I recall Richard saying something about it being a sod house? Who knows if this is true-but it could make sense-given what appears to be some ongoing struggles in homesteading in the Dakota territories
photo courtesy of google images.
After the family returned to Wisconsin- Hazel would attend the nearby community school- Maple Shade School- located near the family farm
Maple Shade 8th grade graduation-1920
Remember the family adventure to California? Well, once they got home- she would go on to graduate high school and make plans to leave the farm life behind in pursuit of a college education.
Hazel 1924
It is reported in the Penn document that she attended college at both the Normal School in Lacrosse and in Steven's Point.
What's a "normal school?" Well- thanks to a little poking around- I learned that the Normal Schools were places of higher education where both men and women would train to become teachers.
Lacrosse was the 8th and final normal school to be built for this purpose. Many of these schools are still in operation- having now been transitioned over to the University of Wisconsin college system.
So- now this unlabeled photo found in the stash- might make sense. I'm guessing that it is a photo taken of Hazel- during her college years at some sort of homecoming type festival?
Once she had graduated- Hazel would take on a teaching assignment in the nearby community of Cashton, Wisconsin.
Hazel with her students in 1927
and 1928..
I love seeing her distinctive handwriting!
The Penn document goes on to tell the story of Hazel-one that we are all familiar with but it's interesting to read it from someone else's perspective.
So- here's their story- through the voices of Raymond and Evelyn Penn
Hazel and Norman would have two sons- Richard and Robert. Over time- it was noted that the sandy hilly coulees region was too steep for a tractor to work- this prompted the couple to sell Maple Shade Farm and bought a larger farm adjacent to Holmen. When Robert decided he wanted to farm- Hazel and Norman rented and sold this farm to him, except they kept the 40 acres adjacent to Holmen. On this land- they would go on to build a small home- which we have come to know as the "Holmen House".
Family dinner- 1951
Norman, Martin, Robert, Hazel and Lena
Norman was raised on a small farm near Maple Shade- he would die of Cancer in November on 1978. Hazel would remain living in the Holmen House well into the 1980s- when she would relocate to an assisted living community in the nearby area. Evelyn
Evelyn was born December 3, 1911- soon after the Volla family had returned to Wisconsin. Evelyn also attended college- at River Falls State College (these days known as University of Wisconsin- River Falls). She would earn a degree in English and graduate in 1933. She too would pursue a teaching career- teaching English and history at Maiden Rock and later at Onalaska.
Evelyn would marry Raymond Penn in 1937 and the couple would go on to have four children. Starting with son David in 1944 (I'd say he's the cousin that Richard was closest too?) and ending up with Mary Penn born in 1955, with John and James in between. Raymond had a very successful career as a professor of economics at the University of Wisconsin Madison.
taken for the Volla 50th wedding anniversary-
Mary would not make her debut until 1955
There is other information in the Penn document (remember- she was part narrator of this document) that leaves me chuckling. As they recorded not only where she went to school- but how much she was paid, how she saved her money and what they paid for various properties. Ok- this is most definitely a Volla-Granum way of journaling- as I have found notes in Grandma Hazel's handwriting along with Richard's journals that comment on the price they paid for various items. So fun to see familiar similarities in narrative writing styles!
And so that pretty much sums up the family history of our Grandma Hazel-
from her parents to her siblings.
What I've learned this far
Celebrate the major events in life!
In amongst the treasures is a lovely book- dedicated to the 50th anniversary celebration of Martin and Lena Volla. There is even a newspaper article that details their party. 
What a treat it was to find this book and connect it with the press clippings and my own memories of stories that were told about Grandma and Grandpa Volla!
Family matters!
Volla family 1926
I am most impressed with the Volla story. With one sibling moving across the country, another one moving frequently with her spouse's work, and the third sibling staying close to where she grew up- it impressed me how the three Volla siblings remained in touch even when their own family lives went in different directions. In an era long before texting, and even when phone calls were costly and airfare was ridiculously expensive- somehow the Volla siblings made it work! 
She was committed to the success of her family- whether that meant trying her hand at homesteading, or returning back home in defeat- she had what it took to make things work. Even uprooting the family and taking her first born across the county in hopes that his health would improve. She was a rock star in that regard- and I never even met the woman.
The Volla siblings
late 1960s-early 1970s
I think that's a testament to how these three were raised- at the end of the day- family is what's most important!
Look beyond the photo-and hear the message being shared
Lena Volla and young Uncle Bob
with the family dog
In pictures of Grandma Volla- I thought she looked weary and older than her stated years. But after spending way too much time reading the Penn document- I have a different impression of this woman.
She was committed to the success of her family- whether that meant trying her hand at homesteading, or returning back home in defeat- she had what it took to make things work. Even uprooting the family and taking her first born across the county in hopes that his health would improve. She was a rock star in that regard- and I never even met the woman.
Finally- I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the Penn family for taking time to put down a family history. This document reminds me that what we write need not be perfect-nor comprehensive-what matters is the messages conveyed through the written word. For long after we are gone-our descendants can still hear our voices!
Until next time...
Be grateful for the gifts of simplicity-
as Hazel is receiving a light fixture as a Christmas present in 1951
And always Save room for cake!
Martin and Lena Volla-50th wedding anniversary 1952
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