Details of Conrad Hugo /Redlitz/

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CATEGORY: Event
TYPE: News Article
DATE: 29 Jan 2009
NOTE: Handmade creation - complete with candles and wings - has adorned many a Christmas.
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Byline: Ed Patenaude

COLUMN: So I've Heard

The Christmas tree in Conrad Redlitz' residence at Killdeer Island on Webster Lake was handmade by his late father around 1910.

Hugo H. Redlitz was an immigrant to this area with his parents and siblings from Russia in earlier years. The family resided at 45 Whitcomb St. in Webster as long as his grandparents were alive, says Conrad Redlitz.

Dating the homemade Christmas trees is difficult because Hugo made a couple of them about the same time. One stayed with his parents and another went to Augusta Ramm, who lived on Lincoln Street in Webster.

Mrs. Ramm wanted to dispose of her handmade tree after many years and decided to contact Conrad Redlitz because the prototype was central to his family home at Christmas, even before he was born. It might be 100 years old. Conrad Redlitz had both trees at one time, gaining the family one because none of his siblings wanted it. It ultimately had to be disposed of because it wore out.

The tree Mrs. Ramm had saved was in pieces and Conrad Redlitz rebuilt it some years ago, following his father's original pattern, while improving some of the materials and components.

Called "the pyramid" by his family, it is still used as a Christmas tree, says Mr. Redlitz. It has 16 high candles and overhead wings that give it a circular motion when it is illuminated and warm air from the candles rises, he says.

The wings, made originally from wooden roof shingles and placed at the top of the tree, turn on a heavy-duty sewing needle set through the center post, he explains. The wings are attached to the post, actually a broom handle, and also have lower shelves with miniature animals riding on them. This depicts Noah's Ark.

"The pyramid was all handmade from cigar boxes and the like and carved with a pocketknife," says its current owner. "The original one of my childhood had fresh-cut hemlock branches placed on each corner post every Christmas," Conrad Redlitz recalls.

The greenery is now fireproof and stands about 5 feet high, Mr. Redlitz reports.

While he has always taken commonsense precautions with the tree, Conrad Redlitz now follows rules that might satisfy the fire marshal for the state of Texas. His son, Mark Redlitz, holds that position, working from offices at the state capital in Austin. "I sent him a (current) picture of the tree," said Conrad Redlitz, "and he sent me a note back: `I don't see a fire extinguisher there.'" There's actually one fairly close to the tree, adds Conrad. It just wasn't in the photograph.

While the tree still has Christmas appeal for his family, it has become a winter display, says Mr. Redlitz. It gets packaged and put away when spring points to summer.

Mr. Redlitz worked for many years as a master plumber and was the plumbing instructor at Bay Path Regional Vocational School for 15 years before he retired.

Maintaining the 100-year-old Christmas tree is an avocation. His father was just a young man, not yet married, when his family came to Webster. He learned how to make Christmas trees in the part of Russia where his family lived.

Leonard Boutin of Putnam, one of the regulars at Dunkin' Donuts in downtown Webster, remembered the 1930s on a recent evening, mentioning "flat toast."

It was a staple in some Great Depression-era kitchens, when wood-burning stoves provided heat for cooking and warmth. A piece of hand-sliced bread, placed on a stove lid, and weighted by a teakettle, produced "flat toast" in quick order.

I shared Mr. Boutin's recall but it brought wonder to his wife, Therese. She's a few years younger than Leonard and, besides, her family apparently had a gas stove.

He'll have to improvise, using a frying pan, but Mr. Boutin promised Therese "flat toast" with breakfast one of these mornings.

Leonard had another bread memory. Faucher's bakery, in his native North Grosvenordale, sold day-old bread to neighborhood people for 9 cents a loaf in the '30s. "I think it was 15 cents a loaf fresh-baked."

Standing in front of a meat case at a town supermarket recently, shoulder-to-shoulder with caterer Clemence A. Starosta, Mr. Starosta offered a prediction: "Everything will be fine in '09."

Roland G. Lavallee happened along and the men, both of Webster and both retired meat-cutters, exchanged warm greetings. "We go back with one another more than 50 years," Mr. Starosta. said.

ART: PHOTOS

PHOTOG: PHOTO COURTESY OF CONRAD REDLITZ
PLAC: Webster, MA

CATEGORY: Event
TYPE: Obituary
DATE: 18 May 2015
NOTE: Webster Conrad Hugo Redlitz, 90, passed away Monday, May 18, 2015 at the Lutheran Home in Worcester. His wife of 58 years, Betty A. (Stamp) Redlitz died in February 12, 2007. Mr. Redlitz leaves 7 children, Mark C. Redlitz of Round Rock, TX., John H. Redlitz of Orange Park, FL., Kurt M. Redlitz of Norfolk, MA., Faith E. Surprenant of Fullerton, CA., Gail N. Endorf of Lake Ariel, PA., Deborah J. Donaldson of Springfield, N.J., and Leah M. McGaughey of Holbrook, MA., 14 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, a sister, Elmira Surozenski of Largo, FL. He was predeceased by another sister, Gretchen Hoenig. Conrad was born in Webster April 13, 1925, son of the late Hugo and Minnie (Schur) Redlitz and lived here all his life. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, as a Motor Machinist Mate 1st Class, and saw action in both the European and Pacific theaters. Mr. Redlitz was a Master plumber for many years, he worked as a union plumber, and was a foreman for Anderson Plumbing and also was self employed, he later worked for 15 years as a plumbing teacher at Bay Path Regional Vocational High School in Charlton before retiring. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and was very active with different committees at the church, he was a stamp collector, enjoyed boating and fishing, but most important to him was that he Loved his Family and grandchildren and great grandchild. Conrad’s Funeral will be Friday, May 22, 2015 with a Service at 10AM at Zion Lutheran Church, 70 Main St., Oxford, burial with Military Honors provided by the Webster-Dudley Veterans’ Council will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Webster. Calling Hours will be Thursday, May 21, 2015 from 5PM to 8 PM at the ROBERT J. MILLER FUNERAL HOME and LAKE CHAPEL, 366 School St. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to: Zion Lutheran Church, 70 Main St., Oxford, MA. 01540.
PLAC: Worcester, MA