Steve Etzel of Farmington holds a photo of his grandfather, Leon Emery. (Franklin Journal photo by Dee Menear) Picasa
Steve Etzel of Farmington holds the helmet his grandfather, Leon Emery, wore during World War I. (Franklin Journal photo by Dee Menear)
Steve Etzel of Farmington says his grandfather’s gas mask probably saved his life because it was hit with shrapnel during a World War I battle. (Franklin Journal photo by Dee Menear)
Personal keepsakes from World War I are among the items Steve Etzel of Farmington discovered in a suitcase in his attic. The church program pictured here is most important, Etzel said, because it is dated exactly 100 years prior to the discovery of the artifacts. (Franklin Journal photo by Dee Menear)
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A handwritten note on canvas indicates it is a piece of a rudder belonging to a French fighter plane. The note was among artifacts belonging to World War I veteran Leon Emery. (Franklin Journal photo by Dee Menear)
FARMINGTON — Steve Etzel was searching through the attic of his childhood home on Anson Street exactly one month ago. He was looking for a leaf for his dining room table but as he rifled through items collected and stowed away by the generations before him, a pair of suitcases caught his eye.
The first, he said, was empty.
As he lifted the second, he could tell by the weight that something was stored inside. As he unlocked the latches and raised the lid, he was greeted with an exhibit of personal and historical documents, artifacts and memorabilia.
The items belonged to Etzel’s grandfather, Leon Emery. They were all attributed to Emery’s time as a U.S. soldier during World War I.
“The first thing I noticed was a church program, dated Feb. 23, 1919,” Etzel said. “I opened this suitcase exactly 100 years later. That is what strikes me the most about this.”
Emery was born in 1895 and lived on a farm in Industry. He would stay at boarding houses in Farmington while attending school. Since farm chores took priority, it was a long process to graduate, Etzel said.
It was during one of these stays at a boarding house that Emery met Lelia Hatch, who would become his wife.
During World War I, Emery served with the 26th Division, 103rd Infantry, Company K and spent time in France.
“Even though he was fighting a war, he was fascinated with French museums,” Etzel said. “I’m not sure how much time he spent in them, but I remember him talking about them.”
Amid personal papers and mementos from his time overseas, Emery packed away his helmet, gas mask, part of a rudder from a French fighter, and artillery shells. He also saved local newspapers announcing the departure of local troops and a program for the Farmington Armistice Day celebration in 1920.
“I remember seeing his helmet when I was young,” Etzel said. “I remember putting it on. I wasn’t sure what had happened to it by though.”
As he picked up his grandfather’s gas mask he pointed to a hole in the bottom corner of the canvas carrying case. “That is not the work of a mouse,” Etzel said. “That is from shrapnel that hit the bag, possibly saving his life.”
The program from the 1920 Farmington Armistice Day celebration lists a parade route that zigzags through a number of downtown streets including High, Broadway, Main, Anson, Court, Perham and Quebec. “It just kept going and going,” Etzel said.
Notecards packed away among the mementos indicate at least some of the items were on display at some point, but Etzel is not sure where.
Most of the artifacts are in excellent condition for their age and such casual storage techniques. However, some of the artifacts, including a canvas remnant of a fighter plane are fragile and in need of professional care to preserve them.
Etzel has been in contact with Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap to help determine where the items would best be housed.
Etzel grew up in the family home and lived in Lewiston before moving back about seven years ago to help care for his mother and father, who are now deceased. The house, he said, contains a lot of family history, but he was surprised to uncover something with such historical significance.
“I am not doing this to bring attention to myself,” Etzel said. “I am doing this to honor my grandfather.”
dmenear@thefranklinjournal.com
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