This rock arched celler is another outstanding example of fine craftsmanship. With its wide rock staircase, elaborate updraft vents, and iron hooks, it appears to have been built by the same mason as the Gary Baum cellar.
Gustav Hirsch owned this farm immediately before his retirement. His daughter Elsie was born here. The farm features the "Baum Pond" where Berthold Baum drowned in 1929. The case has always been shrouded with questions as to whether it was accidental- or murder! What was Baum doing in the woods so far from home, late at night? Was there perhaps a midnight rendezvous with someone else? We will never know for sure, but the legend and eyewitness testimony are as follows.
Berthold's wife Lena, and son Harold G. both say that he had an ear infection of the mastoid bone. There were no antibiotics at the time to treat such infections. The infection caused incessant pain and ringing in his ear that eventually drove him to the brink of insanity. They said he was in a panic that night, and ran with abandon into the woods in a desperate attempt to numb the pain. He ran headlong into the pond, which finally delivered the eternal relief he was seeking.
No one knew where Berthold went that night. Fred Johnson told me that several days later, Elsie Feldmeier had a vision that he was in the pond. Elsie was 'witchy!" The men of Maeystown assembled a recovery crew and a boat to drag the pond. Melvin Faus told me that, as a 10 year old, he followed the men and the wagon carrying the boat from Maeystown to the farm. Melvin says he saw footprints at long intervals leading to the pond, consistent with those of a man running. They were able to recover Berthold's body after dragging the pond for several hours.
The eyewitness testimony seems to bear out an accidental cause of death!
Gustav Hirsch owned this farm immediately before his retirement. His daughter Elsie was born here. The farm features the "Baum Pond" where Berthold Baum drowned in 1929. The case has always been shrouded with questions as to whether it was accidental- or murder! What was Baum doing in the woods so far from home, late at night? Was there perhaps a midnight rendezvous with someone else? We will never know for sure, but the legend and eyewitness testimony are as follows.
Berthold's wife Lena, and son Harold G. both say that he had an ear infection of the mastoid bone. There were no antibiotics at the time to treat such infections. The infection caused incessant pain and ringing in his ear that eventually drove him to the brink of insanity. They said he was in a panic that night, and ran with abandon into the woods in a desperate attempt to numb the pain. He ran headlong into the pond, which finally delivered the eternal relief he was seeking.
No one knew where Berthold went that night. Fred Johnson told me that several days later, Elsie Feldmeier had a vision that he was in the pond. Elsie was 'witchy!" The men of Maeystown assembled a recovery crew and a boat to drag the pond. Melvin Faus told me that, as a 10 year old, he followed the men and the wagon carrying the boat from Maeystown to the farm. Melvin says he saw footprints at long intervals leading to the pond, consistent with those of a man running. They were able to recover Berthold's body after dragging the pond for several hours.
The eyewitness testimony seems to bear out an accidental cause of death!
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