Marie Walter: A First Christmas in 1887 on the Medveditsa River

It’s been wisely said, “ no one can step twice into the same river. “

Hi. I’m Dave Koehler and this is a special Christmas edition of RiverSpeak Podcast.

Marie Walter, photo circa 1905, Frank Colony, Saratov, Russia.

There are a couple of things that make this a special episode beyond it being a Christmas edition. It’s the story of what inspired the creation of the podcast; and, that story begins with my grandmother, Marie Walter, who was born in 1887 and grew up on the Medveditsa River in Frank, a small German colony in southern Russia.

Like all good rivers, this story meanders a bit.

It concludes with the message of Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All.

We’re excited to bring this episode and Marie Walter’s story to you. For more information about the historical backdrop of this story, visit the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.

Medveditsa River, crossing at the Colony of Frank (now known as Medveditsa, Volgograd Oblast, Russia. Photo Google image 2019.

Thank you for listening. All rivers have stories that ripple.

Be well, and do good work!