3 generations work to preserve legacy

Published 11:46 am Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Three generations of Austin history stood at a key local landmark — the bandshell — Monday to reminisce about its history and make away for a brighter future.

“Because my dad and his dad built it,” said Bev Wehner Ziemer, referring as well to her cousin, Bernard Wehner. “And when you see the graffiti the kids do we wanted to fix it. We thought we would to this to keep things going.”

Wehner Ziemer was among eight relatives, all from the Austin region, working to preserve the family legacy at Bandshell Community Park. The present-day project they completed included new lights across the top of the bandshell stage, which will turn 72 June 16. It was one of two renovation efforts culminated by Austin residents — the second being a painting job by the Ellis Middle School student council mid-May — in efforts to sustain the outdoor concert hall.

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Their work has been topped off by a large donation by the late Lydia Lien, who willed money to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department for the beautification of local parks.

“It’s nice that we’re going our part, and the lady that donated the money did her part, and the students from Ellis did their part,” Wehner Ziemer said. “So everybody really wants to keep it going.”

Built and dedicated by three brothers in 1936, the bandshell has hosted performers from the likes of comedians Bud Abbott and Lou Costello during World War II to Jus Rhyme, a rapper native to Austin, last year.

According to Wehner Ziemer, total construction was $16,000, including the structural ribs, individually cut and hand-crafted.

“The electrical at the time boasted novelty lighting techniques far beyond its time,” Wehner Ziemer said in a written statement.

Grandson to Joe Wehner Sr., Pat Wehner helped wire and mount several new lights on the largest rib of the shell, work he completed Monday.

“Hopefully tonight we’ll be done,” he said. Pat Wehner, who completed the project in about four hours, now owns Blooming Electric of nearby Blooming Prairie, Minn. His father was one of three partners in Wehner Construction Inc. of Austin.

New wiring and replacement of the lighting system was donated by Wehner Ziemer and her nephew Rick Wehner, son of Bernard. Rick works for the city, and was one of several to propose the project in May to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board.

“What we want to do is make it look like it used to be,” Rick said at the meeting, adding, “I think if we fixed it up, people are going to us it.”

Indeed, that’s the hope for the family, which has watched its use dwindle over the decades. This latest project is a recurring one throughout the years, the last being in 1988, when the Austin Jaycees fundraised for a large-scale project. The family couldn’t say how much work was actually completed.

“This has been through many things — floods, a fire,” said Monica Wehner, Rick’s wife.

“I think it’s neat place — you can do lots of things,” Bernard’s wife, Joan, said.

“I’d be nice to see that again,” Wehner Ziemer agreed.