|
|
|
May 8, 2000
Seifert quads throw party as they turn 5013 other quadsattend eventBy FRITZ BUSCH Journal Staff Writer SLEEPY EYE -- Quads came from as far away as Leonard, N.D. to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Seifert quads Sunday afternoon at the Orchid Inn. It was more than just a celebration of the quads -- Marie, Martha, Michael and Monica, born to Arthur and Dolores Seifert of Stark township a half century ago. It was a celebration of all quads born in the state, their families and friends. Newspaper clippings from 50 years ago documented the Seifert quads and stories of other Minnesota quads in a large display. The event came off thanks to the work of Seifert quad Martha Andersen, who used the Internet to do much of her research work. She started last August. She also sent out a survey, asking families if they had any births after their quads were born. "Some said 'no,' others said 'no way,' 'no way Jose,' or 'no thank you,' said Andersen. "Somebody asked my mother once how she enjoyed the quads. She said she wouldn't give them up for anything but wouldn't give a nickel for another set." She admitted the task was tough, but it got easier as she moved along. "It took months of work, but it was well worth it," Andersen said. "I was wondering for a while if many of them wanted to come or not. Once most of them said they could, it made it all worthwhile." She found the birth dates of other quads on the Internet, but there were but no names or birthplaces. Some of the names and birthplaces of other quads were found in her mother's scrapbook. Finding quads that knew other quads was also key in Andersen's research. She found 27 sets of quads in Minnesota, 21 of them born in the 1990s. Fourteen of them turned out Sunday at the Orchid Inn. Nine of the 14 are age seven or younger. There were ten sets of quads in the country in 1950. Odds of quads being born were one in one trillion a half century ago. Experts claim that the recent rise in quads is due to fertility drugs. Martha, Monica and Marie all got married between 1973 and 1975. They all wore the same wedding dress and used the same bridesmaid dresses for their attendants. Martha originally studied accounting after high school, Marie went to school to become a beautician, and Monica studied nursing. Marie Hoffmann is now a school paraprofessional in Worthington. Monica Clayton is a nurse in Colorado Springs, Colo. Mike farms the home place in Stark Township. As small children, the Seifert quads once rode a large buggy that also carried their neighbor, family friend and concertina player, Leon Helget. Helget and his polka band played for their party Sunday. Among the favorite memories of the quads was playing on the first-ever Stark girls' fast-pitch softball team. "We had a good time and we were pretty damn good too," said Monica. "Marie and I traded pitching and catching duties and Martha was our roving shortstop. She was all over the place catching fly balls." Soon after the girls' team began at Stark, it was drawing bigger crowds than the men's baseball team did, according to Monica. "There were lots of guys, probably watching us girls," she said. Mike admitted he felt a little left out when he was a teen with so many boys were chasing his sisters. Sleepy Eye Mayor Jim Broich, who used to operate the Dairy Queen , turned out for the party with a 44-year-old photo of himself giving the quads a free Dairy Queen treat on their birthday.
|