By Paul A. Tenkotte
Special to NKyTribune
World War I was one of history’s most unfortunate and confusing conflicts. Europe’s major powers literally bungled into it. At first, the United States attempted to remain neutral. In fact, Wilson’s campaign slogan in the presidential election of 1916 was, “He Kept Us Out of War.” However, the Zimmermann Telegram and increasing hostilities against American shipping led the US Congress to declare war against Germany on April 6, 1917.
In prior columns of Our Rich History, we’ve examined how the war affected our region, from America’s entry in 1917.
This week, we continue that exploration, with May 1918.
Mrs. Anna Marie Winterberger, Kentucky Post, May 23, 1918, p. 2.
In May 1918, 92-year-old Mrs. Anna Marie Winterberger died at her home at 1120 Holman Street in Covington. She had been born in Alsace, along the Rhine River, in what had then been France. But during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, her homeland was seized by Prussia. In fact, at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War, Prussia declared the beginning of the Second Reich of Germany in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles palace. The place and the timing of the event were not accidental, but meant to thoroughly humiliate France.
Ironically, the residents of Alsace and neighboring Lorraine were border people. Many spoke both French and German. Culturally, they were a mixture as well. Of course, some Alsatians identified more as French. This was understandable, as Germany really did not exist as a modern nation until the declaration of the Second German Reich and subsequent unification efforts. The First Reich, by the way, was the Holy Roman Empire. It had ended when Napoleon invaded it in 1806.
Joe Overman, of West Covington, delivered the Kentucky Post for eight years to area homes, before joining the US Navy at age 16. Kentucky Post, May 29, 1918, p. 2.
The obituary for Mrs. Winterberger read as if she were the very definition of a French citizen. Having immigrated to Covington with her husband Frank in 1853, the article stated that she “from time to time spoke of her desire to see the Germans beaten and Alsace restored to France” (Kentucky Post, May 23, 1918, p. 2).
Three of Mrs. Winterberger’s grandsons were fighting for the United States in World War I. Mrs. Winterberger — like many of her compatriots — was buried from Mother of God Church on West Sixth Street in Covington, Northern Kentucky’s oldest German-American Catholic parish.
As more American troops joined the war effort in Europe, nurses and doctors were desperately needed. Young women between the ages of 19 and 35 were encouraged to gain credentials as nurses. By May 1918, Speers Hospital in Dayton, Kentucky, had provided seven women as nurses and four men as physicians for the war. Its nursing program paid young women a small salary while in training, and also provided free room and board at the hospital’s nursing residence at Fifth and Clay Streets.
On Tuesday, May 28, 1918, Judge Frank M. Tracy of Kenton County Court called a grand jury to investigate gambling in the county. Tracy clearly tied the investigation to the war effort: “At the present time, when the government has made a special appeal to put all men to work or induct them into the army, it is up to you jurors to see to it that these gamblers are stopped. They are expending energy, which, if directed to other channels, would help to bring victory closer to allied arms” (Kentucky Post, May 28, 1918, p. 1). The twelve members of the grand jury were: C.R. Costello; J.K. Gough; William Hawley; L.K. Lantz; W.D. Losey; H.W. Miller; H.R. Musser; E.C. Osborne; Julius E. Scheibla, John G. Terwort; Jacob Van Velzel; and John Zimmer (foreman of the grand jury).
Speers Hospital, Dayton, Ky. Courtesy of Paul A. Tenkotte.
Covington Police Chief, Theodore Kluemper, likewise issued an order against gambling in the city. Covington’s crackdown was probably the most significant factor in the grand jury not returning any indictments against gambling. Stated Stephens L. Blakely, Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney, “Covington is the cleanest city in the state in proportion to its population.” In obvious reference to Newport, Blakely claimed that “there is more gaming in a certain one of those cities in one night than there is in Covington in a year” (Kentucky Post, June 8, 1918, p. 1).
We want to learn more about the history of your business, church, school, or organization in our region (Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky). If you would like to share your rich history with others, please contact the editor of “Our Rich History,” Paul A. Tenkotte, at tenkottep@nku.edu. Paul A. Tenkotte, PhD is Professor of History and Director of the Center for Public History at NKU.
