Message in a bottle
The story of Sister Margaret Teresa Kracum
When my paternal grandfather passed away in December 2021, I inherited a box of family documents, photos, and heirlooms. In that box, I discovered a curious collection of items. Inside of a cardboard pill box that fit in the palm of my hand, I opened it to find tiny, clear capsules that contained some sort of organic material and rolled up pieces of paper. There were also several vials, containers, and a locket with similar contents.
What could it be? My first thought was that perhaps it was soil from the “old country,” which was a thrilling possibility. Or perhaps it was something of a medicinal nature?
In order to solve this mystery, I set up a makeshift archivist’s workspace, put on some gloves, and found a magnifying glass.
Carefully, I pulled apart the clear capsule and unfurled the rolled up paper inside. It read, “Yellow pink + red is first bouquet with 3 different roses | from Geo Anna + Joseph | plain red is miracle roses that flew to ceiling | little capsule is first of ? roses put in capsules | rolled petal is from 1 rose + mass”
Rose petals. The mysterious organic matter was the remnants of flowers. But why? What connection did it have to my family?
George and Anna Palsa were my grandfather (Joseph)’s parents, so it appeared that they had given roses to someone. But what was the note about miracle roses flying to the ceiling?? I was truly perplexed. I asked my grandmother if she had any idea, and she suggested that it may have been connected to my grandfather’s aunt Margaret Kracum.
Although I have yet to discover the full story behind why the roses were saved for future generations, I did find the connection to Margaret.
Born 16 January 1914, Margaret Kracum grew up in Tresckow (Carbon County), Pennsylvania and contracted polio disease at just 11 months old. She developed several complications that left her bedridden for her entire adult life. After becoming a nun, Sister Margaret Teresa was celebrated annually, starting in 1936, with dozens of roses given to her by friends and strangers on the feast day of her patron saint, St. Teresa, the Little Flower of Jesus.
On 09 October 1952, the Standard-Speaker in Hazleton, Pennsylvania reported:
1868 ROSES FOR NUN
Roses - 1868 of them - filled the room of a bedfast nun in Tresckow, because of a heart condition for the past 20 years. Friends, acquaintances and even strangers sent the roses to Sister Margaret Teresa Kracum, O.C., in honor of her patron saint, St. Teresa, the Little Flower of Jesus feast day. The roses and other tributes came from a great distance as well as from the immediate locality.
I have yet to find an article about the “miracle roses that flew to ceiling,” so if you have any suggestions for where to look, let me know in the comments!
This post was inspired by 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks.
Do you have an interesting heirloom in your family? Share your story in the comments!
What an astonishing family heirloom to receive, and such a curious little mystery! So many question lol are there more capsules out there, hidden somewhere? Were they saved as part of some religious belief? I hope you continue to unravel this story and share it with us!