Dancing at 75

Thurs., January 30, 2003 - Myrtle called in a.m.  It was my turn to call but I became interested in a movie on TV.  Mitch & Anna here this evening.  Nancy & Mary went to a country music deal.  Tom came for the usual routine.  He brought barbecued ribs from Famous Dave's for the 4 of us.  The kids played Rummikub with Tom & after he left we played cards & Rummikub.

Fri., January 31, 2003 - Played lazy all day.  Went to movie in library this evening "Heaven Can Wait."

Sat., February 1, 2003 - Made trail snacks for tomorrow.  Nancy came with groceries late in afternoon & I showered.

I'm not sure what country music thing Nancy and I would have gone to, but I'm guessing maybe Trace Adkins. I'm not betting any money on it, though.

I wonder which Heaven Can Wait was showing at the Pioneer House that night.  I know there are at least two versions; I've seen only the one with Warren Beatty.  Pretty funny, yet somewhat poignant, too. The wikipedia plot summaries of both movies are rather long, so I'm going to take a pass on posting those.

Instead, here is a curious and fun little article from the Sioux City Journal on December 2, 1925.  The lady featured is my second great-aunt, sister of Maren, with Maren being the mother of William Andersen who married the lovely Anna Brogren and fathered Marian and Ray.

The things that stay with us

Sun., October 27, 2002 - Mary & the kids came after dinner.  Mary left to do cleaning for a lady.  The kids & I played UNO.  When Mary came back she ironed for me.  Mitch turned all the clocks back.  The 3 Yosts played several games of UNO before they went home.
Mon., October 28, 2002 - Played cards downstairs in evening.  Stopped at Dolores' afterward & played Rummikub.
Tues., October 29, 2002 - Papa died 82 years ago today.  I feel so bad that I remember so little about him.  The HandiVan took me for my hairdo & Mary brought me home.

I never recall Grandma mentioning the anniversary of her father's death, but obviously it was a date that she remembered, even 82 years later.

Sandwiches

Tues., October 15, 2002 - This was my dad's birthday.  Had my hair washed, etc.  Nancy came after work & took me to "Jim's", a place that specializes in home health.  New "skis" were put on my walker -- take the place of the tennis balls (Called Greta to report on dental deal).  We then went to Staufers' Restaurant & had chicken fried steak, etc.  Was really good.
Wed., October 16, 2002 - Went to Book Club in evening.
Thurs., October 17, 2002 - Called Myrtle this morning.  Also called Marjorie C.  Tom came in evening & brought some special sandwiches.  The usual routine of laundry, shower & Rummikub.

Speaking of special sandwiches . . . Mitch, Mom and I hosted 15 of our family members (plus Tanner and Willa) for a meal Sunday at Mom's of traditional Danish open-faced sandwiches.  Well, we researched and were as traditional as we could manage.  We were a bit nervous as to whether everyone would like the nutty, malty Danish bread but very little of anything went in the trash at the end of the meal.

Afterwards, some of us played Squeak -- something we had not done after a family meal in a very long time.  Needless to say, it was great fun.  So glad everyone could come and that they enjoyed our efforts.  We should probably do it again sometime, I think.

Skipping around

Grandma took a little break, two of them really.  The last entry in my last post was August 30, and now we are to September 6.

Sun., September 6, 1936 - Howard went to Andrew Andersen's for a corn binder.  We had a very heavy rain late this afternoon.  Howard took me to town to church tonite -- Mission Festival.

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Sun., September 13, 1936 - John B. Jensen here for dinner.  He brought a little calf from Von Seggerns.  Raymond and Allen here awhile this p.m.  Tonite we took Annie's hens back to her.  Mom went along.

Mon., September 14, 1936 - Raymond and Howard cut corn this a.m.  This p.m. Mom, Howard and I went to Washington in the V-8 to Trina and Andrew's silver wedding.  Stopped in Fremont so I could get some slippers.  We stopped at Adolph's.  Mom stayed there while Howard and I went to Mildred's.  We stayed all night at Mildred's.

Trying to keep this straight in my own mind, but Andrew Andersen was Grandpa Bill's first cousin, with Andrew's father being Niels Andersen, brother to Bill's father Ole C. Andreasen.  It appears Trina (or maybe Trena) died in 1952 and Andrew in 1975, with both of them buried in Washington County.  I have in my Ancestry family tree that they had at least one child, a son Raymond born in 1914.  I do not know who Adolph nor Mildred might be.  Unless Mildred was the Mildred once married to Uncle Chris but not married to him in 1936.

Perhaps Mom and I need to go on another cemetery trip to visit the graves of what I believe are quite a few Andersens in Washington County.

And here's a corn binder with me throwing a complete dart as to whether it resembles what Grandpa might have used.

Drama over and a silver lining

Thurs., December 5, 1935 - Robert came this morning for his things.  He's going to town school.  Now I don't have an 8th grader to worry about at exam time.  Went to Helen's program tonite with Ray and Emma D.  Howard brought me home.  Helen had a good crowd considering the foggy night.
Fri., December 6, 1935 - Ray took me to the 2-mile corner this morning.  Tillie E. gave me a ride tonite.  I went to bed early.  Ray took some basketball boys to Norfolk tonite.  Edwin stayed tonite, roads too bad to go to Ola's.
Sat., December 7, 1935 - 
Sun., December 8, 1935 - Ray's day off.  Ola and Howard were here to have Ray help them fix on their cars.  Both here for dinner and Howard here for supper.

Nice how Uncle Ray worked on cars and his dad had a mechanic's shop.

Glad Grandma saw the silver lining to having a student transfer to town school.

Kennard

March 1, 1933 - I mailed the invitation to Dist. 21 for our St. Patrick's Party.  March came in like a lamb.  All the folks except Mr. Walker and me went to church this evening.  I read awhile and went to bed about 8:30.
March 2, 1933 - All week I've been wondering why I feel so tired.  It just dawned on me today that it's because I've been playing at noon with the kids.  I'm not used to such strenuous exercise.  Hektographed some material and listened to the radio this evening.
March 3, 1933 - We planned our menu for our party.  Ray came after me about 3:30.  I took two of Walker's jig-saw puzzles home with me. Tonite Mom, Ray and I each had a puzzle.  Grandad tried to help all of us.

Hmmm.  So staying out until 3:30 a.m. doesn't make one tired, only long recesses.  Okay, Grandma.

John and I went up to Sioux City last week and took one route up and a different one back.  The way back took us right by Kennard in Washington County where a lot of the Andersen bunch lived.  I had it in my head that Kennard was much further away from Lincoln and Ceresco than it is.  Just a way east of Fremont.  I will have to plan that cemetery visit I have been mentioning off and on for a year or better now.

Wikipedia has only sparse information about Kennard; this is about it -- It was established in 1869 when the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad was extended to that point.  It was named for Thomas P. Kennard, the first Secretary of State for Nebraska.  The town was incorporated in 1895.  According to the 2010 census, the population was 361, ten down from the 2000 census.

Undaunted, I looked for information on Thomas Kennard.  The first to pop up was actually information about the Thomas P. Kennard House in Lincoln.

The Thomas P. Kennard House, also known as the Nebraska Statehood Memorial is the oldest remaining building in the original plat of Lincoln, Nebraska. Built in 1869, the Italianate house belonged to Thomas P. Kennard, the first Secretary of State for Nebraska, and one of three men who picked the Lincoln site for the new state's capital in 1867. The house was designed by architect John Keys Winchell of Chicago.

In 1965 the Kennard House was designated the Nebraska Statehood Memorial, and became a museum.  It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 1969.

The house is a 2-1/2 story stuccoed brick building with a frame cupola on the shallow-pitched hip roof.  The house was extensively altered inside and out before its designation as a memorial and required major restoration work to return its appearance to its original state.

So, I had to keep digging to get the above photograph and the following about Mr. Kennard from the official Nebraska government website (note they go on and on about the house):

Thomas Perkins Kennard was born near Flushing, Belmont County, Ohio, in 1828.  At the age of seven his family moved to Indiana, where Kennard lived until coming to Nebraska.  In his youth he worked in a woolen manufacturing plant, then joined his brother, Jenkins, in purchasing it. He also began reading law. Selling his interest in the woolen plant, he practiced law in Indiana for several years, then in 1857 moved with his oldest brother, Levi, to the former town of De Soto in Washington County, Nebraska Territory. He soon became involved in Nebraska politics and was elected secretary of state in 1867. In later years he served a short time as a state senator and held several federal appointments, while pursuing an active career as a Lincoln lawyer and businessman. In 1879 he founded the Western Paint and Glass Company, with which he was associated for the rest of his life.

While in Indiana, Kennard married Livia Emily Templeton. One son and two daughters lived to maturity. Mrs. Kennard died in January 1887, and that same year the present Kennard House was sold. The reason for this decision is unclear, although it has been speculated that it was in mourning for Mrs. Kennard. From 1887 until his death in 1920, Kennard occupied a house (razed in 1962) built for him in 1887 at the southwest corner of H and Seventeenth Streets, two houses east of the 1869 mansion. The town of Kennard in Washington County remains to perpetuate his name.


After 1887 the Kennard House was used as a boarding house, fraternity house, and a single-family dwelling at various times. In 1961 the state of Nebraska acquired the house through the purchase of all lots on the north half of the block on which the house is located. This purchase was made in conjunction with a plan to provide additional state parking and office space and to improve the aesthetic appearance of the area surrounding the present statehouse. The house was in danger of demolition, but a concentrated preservation drive resulted in the 1965 passage of Nebraska Legislative Bill 609, introduced by state senators Fern Hubbard Orme of Lincoln and Jerome Warner of Waverly. This bill designated the house as the "Nebraska Statehood Memorial" and appointed the Nebraska State Historical Society to restore and refurnish it. Renovation began in December 1966, the house was opened to the public on August 18, 1968, and it was formally dedicated on October 5, 1968.

Picnic, or no picnic?

September 11, 1932 - Ray came in this morning.  He's going to fix his car, so it's "good-bye picnic."  Mom and I went out to Ola's with him.  I washed my hair this afternoon and Lilly finger-waved it for me.  I fixed hers for her, too.  Ray brought me back to Walker's this evening.
September 12, 1932 - The League had a treasure hunt tonite.  We started at the church and went east and south of Hoskins, through stubble fields full of sand burrs and everything  We went about 5 miles before we found the treasure which consisted of suckers.  Played games at the church when we got back.
September 13, 1932 - Played ball this noon.  I went home with Ronald tonite.  We were over to Green's a few minutes this evening.  Willard Maas' birthday.

Well, it seems Uncle Ray is tinkering with his sister's destiny here.  But, as we know, all was right in the end.  Sorry for the teaser, but I wrote the truth when I said there was an Iversen sighting.

Speaking of Uncle Ray, Mom and I went to the Memorial Day program at Winside yesterday.  I had not been since high school, I'm pretty sure.  Honestly, I had forgotten about it until the speaker, who was several years behind me in school, mentioned that the school band performed at the program each year.  School was out, but we had one more band obligation to fulfill.  Not that it was a onerous obligation, just bad timing if you were really anxious for summer like most kids were.

We heard Uncle Ray's name called during the reading of the roster of deceased veterans.  As Mom commented later, the crowd was very quiet during the seven to eight minute reading.  One would expect that to be so, but often there are some folks that just have to whisper about something or other.  We didn't hear any of that kind of thing.

I know I am going to forget someone, but the other names were heard read from the family were Uncle Chris Jensen, Ramon Nielsen, Uncle Raymond Iversen, and a newly-realized cousin, Peter Petersen from William Andersen's (Grandpa Bill's) branch on the family tree.  I thought I saw a Legion marker by Uncle Chris Andersen, but Mom doesn't remember him being in the service, so it's more likely that I'm not remembering correctly.

In skipping ahead a bit in the Winside history, I note that in October of 1932, W. C. Lowry, the last of the Civil War veterans in Winside, died at the age of 89.  I am sure we heard his name called as well.

The photo is of the flag on Grandpa and Grandma's house, before he was gifted the flagpole.  Looks like it was before there was a birdbath there, but I do see the boot scraper.  Wish I'd grabbed on to that when we were getting the house emptied and ready to sell; could sure use it now.

Handsome fellers

June 10, 1932 - Marked my design on a rug and painted part of it.  Annie and kids came in this noon and Mom and I went with her to the graduation exercises for the 8th graders at Wayne.  Saw Jane and stayed with her.  Went up to the park to the band concert this evening with Jane, Mabel Levi, Elizabeth Woods and Mae Beckenhauer.
June 11, 1932 - Went down town with Jane and a.m., saw Uncle Chris at the garage.  Went down to Aunt Mildred's this p.m.  I had supper there.  Tonite they took me to Carroll.  Mrs. Trumbaur, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis, Jane, Helen Kilmer and Sonny went along.  Stopped at Mrs. Smith's.  Ray met me there and we went to the dance, had a good time.
June 12, 1932 - To S.S. and church this a.m.  Ray went up to Uncle Hans' and Mom went out to Ola's.  Lydia, Evie and Mote came after me this p.m.  We went to Wittler's and watched the boys play baseball.  Went to church to the Children's Day Program tonite.  Arnold took me home.  Mrs. C.A. Andersen's and Grandma Andersen's birthdays.

What's this thing with painting rugs?  I don't recall hearing Grandma talk about that.  What was painted on exactly?  Inquiring minds.

And does anyone know how long Uncle Chris had the garage?  Obviously, he carried on after Grandpa Andersen died, but for how long?

Off visiting

 

August 14, 1931 - Mother finished her dress today.  We cleaned up the house and got our clothes lined up.  Mother and I each got a marcel tonite at Anna Boyd's.
August 15, 1931 - We got up at 5 o'clock and left Winside at 7 o'clock.  We were in Fremont at 11:00 a.m. and saw Uncle Hans' on their way home.  We got to Mildred's at 12 o'clock and had dinner.  We went to Kennard this afternoon and saw Aunt Sophia.  Tonite to the Silver Wedding dance at Washington.  I went with Mildred and Henry Krueger.  Had a real good time.  Francis Neilsen has been down here a week and is going home with us Monday.  We're staying at Andrew's tonite.
August 16, 1931 - We had dinner at Carrie and Pete Olson's.  Walter came over and we went to Blair to see the swimming pool and bridge.  I drove and Ray, Raymond, Mildred and Edna Olson went along, too.  We had lunch and supper at Alvina's.  Tonite Ray and I went with Howard and Walter to a dance at the German Hall.  We had a real good time.  Ervin Ruschman was there.  He cracked 3 ribs today when he was playing ball.  We're staying at Alvina's and Adolph's tonite.  We visited with Aunt Carrie and Uncle Nels before supper.

I am guessing the photo is of the Alvina Grandma is talking about.  She would be Maren Pedersen Andreasen's niece or first cousin to William Andersen.  Cute little doggie she has there.

My quick internet search revealed that a Marcel hairstyle looks a lot like fingerwaving, but maybe there is a nuance I am missing.

A nightmare, indeed

February 12, 1931 - Had a test in Algebra and Rural Sociology today.  R.K. called up tonite and I'm going to get to go to the party dance at Norfolk tomorrow nite.  Hip! Hip! Hooray!  Talked to Chris, too!  Told him I was going to a dinner party tonite.  He asked me to think about him.  I did at three different times.  We had a real good time.  Guests were Opal and Dorothy Beckendaur, Lila and Florence Jeffrey, Barbara Careive, Mrs. Doris Jones, Aunt Midge and I.  For dinner shoestring potatoes, gravy, steak, peas, celery, olives, hot rolls, jam, tomatoes with rice, coffee, angel-food cake, ground peanut brittle in whipped cream.  Played Hearts.  Doris Jones booby, Barbara 1st prize.  D. Beckendaur played piano, rest sang.
February 13, 1931 - Momma and Ray came after me tonite, we had lunch here.  Uncle Soren has been here to see Grandma, but he left for Des Moines this afternoon.  I'd like to have seen him.  The folks had a surprise for me.  Ray's and my room is papered.  Annie helped them.  My room looks cozy now.  Went to the party dance at Norfolk with Ralph.  I had a real good time.  Martha came back from Omaha today.  Chris R. asked me for a date for tomorrow nite.  Ralph said that he didn't care so I'm going to go.
February 14, 1931 - Washed up my clothes.  Got a finger wave this afternoon at Louise Volck's.  Went to Pilger tonite.  Ralph, Chris and I.  There was a terrible crowd there.  You couldn't dance, you just stepped on other people's feet.  A fellow from Norfolk got the Chevrolet.  Went back to Wayne after the dance.  That ride home seems like a nightmare or a bad dream to me.  I don't believe I'll ever forget it.  I'll never break a date or step out on Ralph as long as we are going together!

Uncle Soren is someone I know from the new ancestry/genealogy information from Cousin David in Washington State.  Soren is the son of Kiersten, and Kiersten is the sister of Maren and Maren is the mother of Bill/Papa.  And just to do it before I forget, there will be a future reference to Uncle Pete, and I am guessing that is Soren's brother since he did have a brother by that name and I don't know of any other Pete that would fit the bill.

I must chuckle at Grandma counting the times she thought of Chris.  She doesn't mention how many times she thought of Ralph.  But maybe that is because he didn't ask her to do that.  So, there!  I see it turned out to be a disaster to go out with Chris, especially since Ralph was along, too.  Kinda nutty.  But she seems to have learned her lesson.

The photo is of Grandma Anna, Uncle Ray and Grandma.  I am not sure when it was taken.

Job hunt

January 31, 1931 - Francis went home about 9:30.  Washed my hair and F.S. finger-waved it for me.  Annie and Ola took me to apply for schools.  Went to districts 36, 41, 74, 79, 83.  36 and 41 sound most favorable.  Mom, Ray, Willie and I went down to Schellenberg's tonite.  F.S. and I went down town about 8:30, saw R.K. and I.R., asked us to go to dance at Carroll, we said yes, took our mother's 1/2 hour to say it.  Wasn't any dance so we went out to [???] and Marie's.  Played cards and had lunch.  Irwin is going home tomorrow.  Chris B. is going to take him back.
February 1, 1931 - Momma's 20th wedding anniversary.  Fixed my clothes for school.  Ralph came about 6 o'clock and we went to the first show at Norfolk.  The show was "Charlie's Aunt."  I never laughed so hard in all my life.  Got a box of Johnson's Chocolates tonite!
February 2, 1931 - Groundhog's Day and also Pete Petersen's birthday.  Prof. Chinn lectured for quite a while upon the groundhog and the falsity of the superstition about its shadow, etc.!  Got my package form Aunt Nan.  A ready-made print dress with beads to match.  It fits (the dress) me just fine.  Wrote some letters tonite and went to bed about 11 o'clock.  Went to hear the "Welsh Imperial Singers".  It was marvelous, that's all I can say.

I find it interesting that Grandma calls it her mom's wedding anniversary, but not her mom and dad's, or parents, etc.

I looked up "Charlie's Aunt" and the synopsis was too lengthy for posting here, and I didn't even read it.  (It is late, the power was out due to the rain, and my wakefulness is quickly fading; maybe another day I'll study up on Charlie's Aunt -- I think a character named Lord Fancourt Babberley is worth more investigation.)

Here is another old photo, older than 1931 but it's pretty cute. 

That is all I have on this.  Perhaps if I were more awake . . .

Big news

August 7, 2002:  Am trying to reorganize some of the cupboards.  Finished the bottom layer in the "pantry", the cupboard in the hallway.  Attended Book Club in evening.
August 8, 2002:  Myrtle called this morning.  Her voice sounds real good.  Tom came this evening.  He did the laundry, I showered, we ate and then played Rummikub.
August 9, 2002:  Went to Dolores' this p.m. and played Cribbage.  Mary, Mitch and Anna came after supper and we played Rummikub, SevenUp and then visited.  A most enjoyable evening.

I am glad, and wholeheartedly agree, that Grandma had a most enjoyable evening on August 9, 2002 -- we always had a grand time over at her place.  But, I cannot be overly distracted by that bit of past good news in this post -- there is just a bit too much going on here in 2013.  Stuff that Grandma would most certainly be delighted with.

As previously mentioned, Mom submitted her DNA sample to Family Tree DNA.  She got her results yesterday.  I am proud to say the two of us muddled through the online report over the phone together without toooo much trouble.  Of course, we were excited enough that we pretty much disregarded the guided tour they offered and just plowed right in.  Somewhat disappointingly, the report did not break down how much Danish she is compared to German or gypsy or anything else.  It was a big shock to both of us to learn she is 100% European! -- just kidding.  The map they highlighted to show this European-ness missed all of Scandinavia, but I read further and that particular part of the site is still being tested and developed.  We know our people came from Scandinavia, so it wasn't a big deal, just a bit of a puzzlement.

We got over that rather quickly when we came to the part where Mom was matched with people sharing a decent part of her DNA.  There was one lady that did not provide her family tree, so we are not sure how we (I say we -- even though it was Mom's DNA -- to mean all of our family, Grandma included) are related, but the information she did give indicated a strong Swedish background. I emailed her asking if Ola Svenson Brogren was our common ancestor and gave her the basic details we know of him.  I only emailed her yesterday afternoon, so it is not surprising that I haven't gotten a reply yet.

However, the bigger news is that we are related to a 95-year-old lady in Montana and her son in Washington State.  From the family tree they had posted, I can see we are related through Grandma's father's (William Andersen) grandmother.  I really did not think through the import of that association when I emailed these two cousins.  I got a response from the son very quickly.  I do not have a lot of details yet (we are going to email and work through the questions/puzzles I run in to) but he said we are surrounded by family in this part of Nebraska and he has a photo of William Andersen's grandmother from when she was still living in Denmark.  He also has, or at least had, contact with a cousin still in Denmark, related even further back on the family tree.  Needless to say, this is very exciting.  Since we knew so little about "Bill" -- Mom and her siblings have trouble calling him Grandpa since they never knew him as such; he died when Grandma was 8 -- to have any kind of information or contact with that part of the family is something really neat.  I have to believe that Grandma would agree.  I wasn't there to hear it, but I was told she wondered in her last days if she would get to see her dad after she died -- a 93-year-old woman still had that little girl inside her that always missed her "Papa".

Back to this distant cousin -- I recalled after a bit that I had some old letters Grandma had received from a different cousin in Blair.  I found them (quickly, I might add with some surprise) and in the first one I read, the writer mentioned these newly-found Montana and Washington cousins!  It is fun when things pull together so quickly, even though I have to work hard to keep the names and relationships straight.

More excitement -- when Mom was looking for another old letter (more on that in a future post -- this one is getting rather long!) she found diaries of Grandma's from before she was married.  I am ready to suspend 2002 and dive in to those for a change of pace.  She also found the little papers Grandma had saved from her bridal shower.  The guests wrote down pieces of advice for the new bride.  Grandma showed them to me when she was still in Winside.  I mentioned them awhile back, wondering where they had ended up.  Since Mom found them, I can use them in future posts as well!  This is too much, I better go sit back in the recliner and absorb it all.  I will say in closing, that the evening of August 31, 2013, like the one in August 9, 2002, was most enjoyable.

There's William Andersen in the middle.  His brother, Chris, is on the left.

River Dance and other stuff

"April 21, 2002:  Tom, Merilyn, Nancy and I went to a restaurant for brunch.  Then to Lied Center to see the River Dance -- a really wonderful program.  Afterward we stopped at Runza and took our lunch back here to eat.  Had a wonderful day.
April 22, 2002:  Called Raymond for his birthday which was last Saturday.  Played SevenUp in the party room tonight.
April 23, 2002:  Mary took me for my shampoo.  Had a new girl -- liked her just fine.  Played Scrabble here tonight with Dolores."

It is funny, but sometimes when I am reading Grandma's words I can distinctly hear her saying some of the phrases.  Other times, not so much.  But with this one, I can definitely hear "liked her just fine." 

I bet they did have a good time watching River Dance.  Me, I get exhausted after watching about two minutes' worth.

I see I have had a lapse in blogging longer than any other lapse so far.  Tsk tsk and shame on me.  I will endeavor to do better.

This very short excerpt from the Winside history book is rather fascinating, I think.  Here are the population numbers from 1890 through 1940:

1890 = 130
1900 = 400
1910 = 450
1920 = 488
1930 = 483
1940 = 451

and from a quick internet search, 2010 = 427.

The green "Winside, pop." sign I remember most growing up said 420.  So, it has had some variances, but has been in the 400's apparently for over 110 years.  My question is, so why do we (I still say "we") not have a  dentist and a hotel like we did in 1940 if the population is relatively the same -- 1940 being the most recent year for which I have history information?  I suppose with automobiles being faster and more efficient, a hotel probably wouldn't make it.  But people still have teeth that need fixing.  The other businesses from 1940 that are no longer in Winside and which are self-explanatory include:  blacksmith, cream station, and harness shop.  The times, they are always a-changin'.

The photo is of two Winside businessmen, William and James Andersen who owned the garage for a time.

Assisted living

"April 6, 2002:  I called Jean -- her eyes are better.  Mitch didn't feel well so kids didn't come tonight.
April 7, 2002:  Tom brought my laundry in a.m.  We played several games of Rummikub.  Nancy came in p.m. with my groceries.  We ate supper and played Rummikub.  I showered.
April 8, 2002:  Rained a little this a.m.  Played Seven-Up in party room this evening.  Afterward Dolores came and we played Cribbage."

I think I have already mentioned that Grandma bragged about being in "assisted living" -- Nancy assisted with this, Tom assisted with that, etc. etc.  Her mention here of Nancy bringing groceries reminded me that I did not get to do grocery assistance very often at all.  Apparently, Grandma had Nancy trained and she knew precisely which brands and which quantity of things to get.  I did not have that training and managed to goof it up the few occasions I did go buy groceries.  I did not take it personally, though, and Grandma managed to downplay her vast disappointment in my feeble efforts.  (I am being sarcastic, of course.  She tolerated my foibles just fine.)

The Winside History book has some great and confusing events listed for 1912, the year Grandma was born.  Here's the list in its entirety:

January 4, Mrs. Morrow started the first of a series of stories for little children this week.  She reviewed Captain June.
January 18, Wm. Wilt sold his blacksmith shop to Robert Johnson of Sioux City, taking possession March 1.
January 25, Fire Chief Chas. Unger, Marshal Strong and Wm. Kallstrom have been making the rounds regularly this winter inspecting water hydrants.
February 1, during 1911, 51 cars of lumber, shingles and posts were shipped into our two local lumber yards.
February 15, Peterson Bros. and Tom Johnson sold their pool hall and restaurant to Reed and Custer of Fremont, Nebraska.
February 22, W. D. Whitaker, railroad agent here, refused $100.00 for a copy of the New York Gazette, an old paper dated April 29, 1789.
February 29, Frank Weible purchased a $500.00 National cash register and Ernest Grauer bought one for $275.00.  Mr Grauer will take his with him to his new location where he is opening a store at Campbell, Nebraska.
March 1, Walter Gaebler and Ernest Grauer dissolved partnership.
March 13, the W. B. Club, composed of young unmarried men over 23 and not to exceed 13 in number opened a club room over the carpenter shop.
March 13, Brune and Co. have purchased the garage from Frank Weible.  A. C. Gabler will be the manager.
April 7, the terrible mud on main street is dry enough to allow a drag to be used.  Hope the authorities take the hint.
April 7, George Needham passed away in Los Angeles.
April 13, C. E. Benshoof and family left for Riverside, California, where they will make their home.
April 22, the second Commercial Club has been organized.  The first one passed out with the wind several years ago.
April 26, George Sweigard bought an E M F car.  After he had been gone about 30 minutes he phoned in that he was just about eight miles out and would soon be home.
May1, H. E. Siman was conferred the highest honor of the K of P lodge, Grand Chancellor.
May 16, Judge M. H. Dodge passed away.  Mr. Dodge was the first Justice of the Peace in Winside in 1887.  He left Winside in 1898.
August 15, L. C. Clark is the new R. R. agent.
August 22, Fleer Bros. have purchased the two corner lots from Brune and Co. and will erect a brick building 50x100 feet.
September 5, Dr. A. B. Cherry retires after 24 years of practice in Winsdie.  Dr. J. G. Neely is his successor.
September 12, E. W. Cullen disposes of his implement business to Pryor and Jaszkowiak.
November 30, Fleer Bros. moved in their new building.
December 25, Walter Hoffman threw Russel Harve of Sioux City at the opera house.

I do not know about anyone else, but I like it; a club for unmarried men, hints about maintaining Main Street, competing cash register purchases, phoning in one's arrival to town in a new car, and throwing people around at the opera house.  Also, "passed out with the wind".....an expression for something having gone by the wayside?  Sounds untoward.

The photo is obviously from later than 1912, but Grandma and Uncle Ray are fairly small, and that is why I selected this one.  I may have mentioned when I posted before, but the shadow is probably Papa's hat.

More normal stuff here

"February 25, 2002:  Had prescriptions delivered from National Pharmacy.  Organized my birthday cards.  Played Seven-Up in party room in evening.
February 26, 2002:  Very cold and windy today.  Mary took me for my weekly shampoo, etc.
February 27, 2002:  Called Marjorie C. this morning for her birthday.  Mary here at noon and I took my shower.  Book Club tonight."

I was surprised when I learned (prior to today) that there were still pharmacies in Lincoln that made deliveries.  I figured that was something that had gone by the wayside over time.  I imagine there is a fee, but I do not know that for sure.  Regardless, it is a very nice service that I am sure many people appreciate.

I had forgotten that for awhile there I took Grandma to her hair appointment one day and then came to lunch the next.  I know eventually we got down to me picking her up from the beauty college and having lunch the same day.  Grandma didn't shower those days since we visited over lunch.  I think I still was there for a shower now and then, but I just don't recall how that worked.  I suppose I will find out in time as I go through the journal.

I am trying to figure out which photos I may not have used at all, or used only once.  I believe this is one of those.  Grandma Anna's husband is in the middle.  He is with, as I understand it, other members of a threshing crew.  It may be Uncle Chris, his brother, there on the left.

Changing clocks

"October 28, 2001:  Moved the clocks back an hour.  Nancy brought more "stuff".  Bill, Jenny and Patty here in evening.  Later Tom and Jeff came -- Tom brought Runza lunch.  He had been helping Dale do brick work.
October 29, 2001:  Talked to Ray in a.m.  Mary took me to Beauty College for hair-do at 5:00 p.m.
October 30, 2001:  ??"

My journal doesn't have question marks, but if I miss a day, I just put "a normal day".  If there was something extraordinary, I would probably remember so normal is fairly safe.

In other instances, I know Grandma had Mitch come over and change the clocks.  He was tall enough to reach them and seemed to be pretty adept at it.  Grandma was so tickled at how quickly he got them all done.

Someone in the know can correct me, but I believe this is Grandma and Uncle Ray.  If so, I wonder if that is their dad's hat's shadow at the bottom.

Oh, a point of interest.  A year ago yesterday was when I started this blog.  How time flies.  Or in the words of Grouch Marx, "time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."

Doctors everywhere

"July 20, 1994:  Bonnie F. took me to Dr. Sprik at Norfolk.  He made an appointment with Dr. Wadzinski -- thought I might need laser treatment on my left eye.
July 22, 1994:  Pinochle at Elta J.'s.
July 25, 1994:  John and Helen took me to Sioux City to Dr. Wadzinski.  I won't need laser treatment.  Lester had knee surgery.
July 27, 1994:  Greta has ear infection."

I am drawing a blank on Lester's knee surgery.  I don't think he had a knee replacement or refacing done, but other than that I'm lost.

I have no internet search ideas for this post.  It is going to be a short one to be sure.

I did look ahead and Grandma wrote up to August of 1995 in this particular journal, so I should probably be thinking ahead and looking for the next one to blog from.  This one took a beating and the front cover (just a little spiral notebook) came off and is held on by a rubber band.  So, it's a good thing it is nearing the end of its service.

For no particular reason, here's a photo of Grandma and Uncle Ray having fun.  And the shadow of the hat of the person that took the photo.  Their father, maybe?  He liked taking photos we know.

Cards and Scrabble, but no meteor

"April 10, 1992:  Pinochle Club at Stop Inn -- Marie H. hostess.
April 12, 1992:  Played Scrabble in p.m. with Helen.
April 15, 1992:  Busy Bees at Irene M.'s.  Helen was sick so I presented her lesson.  We decorated Easter baskets."

Such a drought lately.  It would have been nice for me if a meteor fell on the football field or the town's water turned orange or people suddenly started skipping everywhere they went.  Then I would have something meaty to write about.  But I guess one of the things people like about Winside is that it's quiet and peaceful.  Maybe that's why Papa (left) and his brother James decided to live and have a business there.  But then again, Papa was going to move the family out to Gordon.  And we would have been Sandhills folk but we wouldn't have been us because Grandma probably wouldn't have ended up marrying Grandpa. 

I better quit since it's getting weird now.  Happy trails!

Welcome to Post 100!

"October 11, 1991:  Put brick variation quilt in frame.
October 16, 1991:  Busy Bees at Ruby R.'s.
October 17, 1991:  Went with Greta in the evening to see Irene."

Woo hoo!  I have internet at home again.  Life is good.

I must admit that this post, the 100th, is a bit lacking in pizzazz.  But glad to know Aunt Irene got visitors.

I'll have to veer off a bit since I am already out of things to say about Grandma's entries.  While I was finding these writings of hers in my still-unorganized sewing room, I also ran across her dolls -- I am entrusted with keeping three of her childhood friends.  One is in pretty good shape other than her hair, another is in pretty bad shape (probably fixable, but her eyes are gone and there is a big crack in her neck which together make her look a little creepy), and one is rather in the middle of the two.

I found a doll hospital in Omaha on the internet.  The doll doctor lady said she would give quotes if supplied with photos.  I took some shots of the doll in the middle and sent them to her.  She answered pretty quickly.  Said that this particular type of doll is her favorite to work on.  She said the doll is by Armand Marseille (doesn't that sound fabulous?).  She has a bisque socket head and German glass blown eyes.  She would definitely have had a tongue at one time.  I find that curious to be sure. Once fixed, the doll should have an insurable value of about $650 and a resale value of half that, not that I would sell it.  Interesting to know, though.

I will take her to Omaha when I can and get her fixed up.  Will post before and after pictures here whenever it is all accomplished.  I will also take the two other dolls up to show the doll doctor.  She can probably tell me some trivia about them at the very least and I can decide if I want to fix them as well.  I'm a sucker for stuff like that, so likely all three will get face lifts.

I don't know if Grandma had any of her dolls when this photo was taken, but she sure looks like a little doll.  Her papa took and developed the photo, a fact I find very cool.  That's Uncle Ray with her, of course.

The Stop Inn and catching up on comments

"May 17, 1991:  Pinochle at Ella M.'s.
May 18, 1991:  Dinner at the Stop Inn for Ella B.'s birthday.
May 22, 1991:  Lila took me to Wakefield in a.m. to buy flower plants.  In p.m. Margaret K. and her nephew from Montana came to visit."

The Stop Inn was the place to be if you were in high school.  Especially if you didn't drive yet and/or you didn't feel like driving around.  Michele worked there for a while as I recall.  It is the place where I gave one Kim L. mono because we played pinball and shared a pop often after school.  This also started a small mono epidemic at school.  The other Kim L. and I fell into a pool match with some older guys from out of town that we didn't know.  Due largely to Kim's skill we managed to beat them, much to their surprise.  Interesting how Kim continues to play pool and has gone to tournaments around the U.S. and does pretty well for herself.  She met her husband playing pool.  In short, I have fond memories of hanging out at the Stop Inn.

As for comments since the last time I commented on comments -- in fairness to Kyleah, there were photos taken very close in time to the one where she is pouty and unhappy and she was having a great time.

We are obviously a very hard-hearted family since we did go ahead with the meal where the three guests of honor couldn't make it.  But, I guess if everything was ready to go . . .

Both Mom and Nancy recalled that some of Grandma's teachers were also their teachers.  Mom noted one was alive and well when she started at the bank in 1971.  They sure grow healthy people up there in God's country.

There seems to be quite a bit of surprise and regret that more questions weren't asked about Grandma's father when there were people alive that could answer them.  I must admit I didn't ask any, but I am sure that is because I was following others' lead.  I do need to find and post his obituary.  I found it in the Winside Journal and it is from the days when they did more than just report the bare facts.

There was no "Grandma" Ruschman.  Mom says it was an honorary title give to Grandma Anna's friends since Mrs. was too formal and kids just didn't call such folks by their first name.  I am relieved to hear this; I would have been blown away if we had some other relatives that I didn't know about or completely forgot.

Mom made a good point; seeing the Capitol while it was under construction might have been why Grandma was so tickled to be able to see it from her place at Pioneer House.

Radish sandwiches are bread, butter, sliced radishes and salt.  I will trust those that say they are delicious.  I will have to develop an appreciation for the taste of radishes before I can test the theory.

Mitch remembers "helping" in the garden by breaking up dirt clumps -- a fine, fine job for a little boy to have to do.  He also remembers eating veggies right off the vine, an experience all kids should have in my opinion.

He also commented that it is always nice to see photos of Grandma without Maude around. 

He is also enjoying the photos of "THE house".  I must admit I'm loving the one with Grussmother and Grussfather outside at the corner of the house.  For some reason it just struck me, in my "wish I was there then" mode, that there they are sitting in a spot that I have walked and ran over numerous times.  Why it struck me that way since I have also spent thousands of hours in the house they lived in, I don't know, but it did.  Mitch seems to have thought something along those same lines.  In his words, the staircase (since he didn't have to haul things up and down it much) and its sharp turn was "the bee's knees".  I am proud to say he correctly guessed what a chamber pot was.

And speaking of the house, I agree that it is neat that Tom has the porch columns and is keeping them safe and sound.  I am sure he will alert us if he is tired of having them.

Speaking of Mitch and the garden, the photo obviously shows he and Anna by some very bodacious cabbages.  I am guessing no one took a bite out of them right then and there.