Relate a story about a mouse in the house.
I don't remember about any particular story about a mouse in the house, but we did catch mice in small traps.
Share a memory about a bat in the house.
We never did have a bat in the house, but I enjoyed watching them fly about in the evening hours.
How did you get to and from school?
We walked to and from school, except in bad weather. The first grade school I went to was 1 mile and 1/2 to school. The second school was only across our front yard to school.
Tell about pulling or losing a baby tooth.
One time I had a loose baby tooth and I was afraid to pull it as I was afraid it would hurt, so my Dad tied a piece of thread around it and jerked it out, it didn't hurt a bit.
Where did the clothes you wore come from?
The clothes that I wore came from a clothing store in Essex, Iowa. Then I wore some that came from a clothing store from Red Oak, Iowa. Then I wore a grey suit that I bought in Clarinda, Iowa.
Share a favorite fall memory.
In the fall, I like(d) to get up early and go outside and enjoy the weather, when it wasn't too hot or too cold.
Did you ever pick apples?
Yes I have picked apples. I really enjoyed a good apple that was picked from the tree.
What is the farthest (or fastest) you ever ran or walked?
The fast(est) that I ran was, one time that my brother and another man was in a Model A Ford. When the man was driving I ran by the side of the car. I think it was maybe 10 miles per hour.
Tell a story about a time when you dressed up in a costume.
The time that I dressed up in a costume, was one Christmas I was Santa Claus in a country school program.
Share a memory about being very scared.
I remember one time when it was dark a neighbor man grabbed me and I was scared.
What did people do at Halloween?
In the neighborhood where I lived there were not any trick or treaters. We didn't do much of anything special.
Do you have a special Halloween memory?
The special Halloween memory I have is that I made a jack-o-lantern out of a pumpkin.
Did you ever tell ghost stories?
I suppose that we did tell ghost stories when my two brothers and sister were together.
What is the strangest thing you ever saw in the sky?
When I was about 6 years old I was in the barnyard and my brother came running out of the barn and we saw a dirigible in the sky. It went overhead right over our farm. That was quite a sight.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Celebration of a life - part 19
NOTE: I added more pics on older posts.
Who was the best teacher you ever had?
Ruth Abbot was my eighth grade teacher and she was the best teacher I had because she helped with math which was hard for me.
What made that teacher good?
Miss Abbot also help(ed) me in many other ways. After I took my eighth grade exam and I showed her my report card that I had passed she was very happy for me.
What was your favorite sport to participate in or watch?
As far as watching sports that was when after Mother and I would watch our children play football, baseball, and softball. When they were in different schools. This answer is aside from the question, but I thought you might enjoy this what I wrote.
Grandpa's children - Janet, Don, Rick, Ken. I still have one of dad's (Ken's) softball jerseys - like Grandpa like Granddaughter, I guess.
Did you ever have a good friend who did something mean to you?
I had a good friend but I don't remember if he done anything mean to me.
Do you remember a school custodian?
Our grade school custodian was our teacher.
Tell about your school lunches. Did you have a lunch box? What did you eat?
We had lunch box(es) for our lunch the first 5 years. We had sandwiches, small goodies in our lunch boxes. Then the last 3 years we lived close to school, so we went home for our noon lunches.
Did you ever have a crush on a teacher?
No I never had a crush on a teacher.
Do you have any special memories about raking and burning leaves, or mowing the lawn?
I don't remember much about raking or burning leaves but I sure do remember about mowing the lawn because we didn't have a power mower. We just had push mowers. We would tie a rope on the mower and my brother would pull the rope and I would push the mower, which made it better to mow.
What allowance did you get?
Where we lived on the farm we didn't get an allowance, but we got spending money when we went to town. We had chores to do on the farm.
Did you have to earn it?
We kind of earned our spending money working on the farm. We had small jobs, that is the best way I can explain it.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Celebration of a life - part 18
Tell about a favorite doll, teddy bear, or other stuffed toy.
I had a teddy bear when I was about 2 1/2 years old, it was a brown teddy bear.
Tell about another favorite toy.
My other favorite toy was a toy hand gun, when the trigger was pulled it would shoot out harmless sparks. There was a flint in the gun which made the sparks. It was fun to shoot it in the nighttime.
Did you have to abide by a curfew as a youth?
No I didn't need to abide by a curfew when I was a youth.
(August 25) If you ever had a hero, tell who. Tell why.
Yes I had a hero. His name was Harold. He was about 15 years older than me. When he would visit me and my brothers and sister, he would tell us stories and spend time with us. We all thought that he was great, and he was.
Describe how you used the phone to call a friend.
When I was at home in the country, our phone was an old style that was fastened to the wall. One long ring (by turning the crank) would get central, then ask her to ring my friend whose number was 8 on 3. 8 would be 1 long ring and 3 short rings.
Did you ever have a fire in your home or accidentally catch something on fire?
No I never had a fire when I lived at home, but after I left home and moved to Wichita my folks' home burned to the ground. My folks lost a lot of valuable things and keepsakes.
Tell about an incident when you were very angry with your mom or dad.
I can't think of any incident that I was really angry with my Mom or Dad.
Tell about an incident when your mom or dad was very angry with you.
When I was growing up there was an incident that my Dad was really upset with me. It was something I should not have done. But things worked out.
Share a memory involving an outhouse.
I lived in the country and our house had no indoor plumbing so we had to use the outhouse.
Do you remember any Labor Day traditions of your youth?
When I was a youth I don't remember any Labor Day traditions. I suppose there was tho' in the towns close by.
Do you have a memory involving V.J. Day?
The memory I have of VJ Day is that I was in the U.S.A. navy.
What do you remember about your first day of school?
I really remember my first day of school, my Dad took me to school and carried me in the schoolhouse and set me by a desk in the very first row.
Tell about a school bully.
The school bully in our school was a big guy. But one day my brother and two other kids jumped him and held him to the ground. I think that sort of cured him.
What do you remember doing at recess?
At recess we would go outside and play different games.
Tell about the playground equipment at your grade school.
In my first 5 years in grade school we didn't have any playground equipment, then our family moved to a different farm so we went to a different school. In the last three years in that school we had swings and a big slide.
Tell about who you thought was the smartest kid in school and why.
There was a girl in my class and I thought that she was the smartest kid in school. She got good grades and she was on the honor roll.
Tell about who you thought was the dumbest kid in school and why.
This kid I thought about wasn't the dumbest, but school was hard for him and he was one of my friends.
Tell about the naughtiest kid in school.
I can't think of any kid that was the naughtiest, but I think that most kids in grade school are full of mischief.
Name the schools that you went to.
Rapp School, High Prairie School
Name the teachers you remember.
1.
2.
3. Miss Burr
4. Miss Nelson
5. Miss Ray
6. Miss Tornguist
7. Miss Linburg
8. Miss Abbot
Describe your typical school day outfit.
My typical school day outfit was bib denim overalls, blue denim long sleeve shirt and shoes that laced above the ankles.
If you were ever in a fight, tell about it.
I can't remember if I was ever in a real fight, but I am sure that between my two brothers and one sister we must (have) had small fights.
Tell about your worst report card.
I don't remember my worst report card, but I do remember my last report card which said that I passed my eighth grade exams.
If you ever had a hero, tell who.
If you check back on August 25th it tells of my hero.
Tell why.
Check on August 25th.
I had a teddy bear when I was about 2 1/2 years old, it was a brown teddy bear.
Tell about another favorite toy.
My other favorite toy was a toy hand gun, when the trigger was pulled it would shoot out harmless sparks. There was a flint in the gun which made the sparks. It was fun to shoot it in the nighttime.
Did you have to abide by a curfew as a youth?
No I didn't need to abide by a curfew when I was a youth.
(August 25) If you ever had a hero, tell who. Tell why.
Yes I had a hero. His name was Harold. He was about 15 years older than me. When he would visit me and my brothers and sister, he would tell us stories and spend time with us. We all thought that he was great, and he was.
Describe how you used the phone to call a friend.
When I was at home in the country, our phone was an old style that was fastened to the wall. One long ring (by turning the crank) would get central, then ask her to ring my friend whose number was 8 on 3. 8 would be 1 long ring and 3 short rings.
Did you ever have a fire in your home or accidentally catch something on fire?
No I never had a fire when I lived at home, but after I left home and moved to Wichita my folks' home burned to the ground. My folks lost a lot of valuable things and keepsakes.
Tell about an incident when you were very angry with your mom or dad.
I can't think of any incident that I was really angry with my Mom or Dad.
Tell about an incident when your mom or dad was very angry with you.
When I was growing up there was an incident that my Dad was really upset with me. It was something I should not have done. But things worked out.
Share a memory involving an outhouse.
I lived in the country and our house had no indoor plumbing so we had to use the outhouse.
Do you remember any Labor Day traditions of your youth?
When I was a youth I don't remember any Labor Day traditions. I suppose there was tho' in the towns close by.
Do you have a memory involving V.J. Day?
The memory I have of VJ Day is that I was in the U.S.A. navy.
What do you remember about your first day of school?
I really remember my first day of school, my Dad took me to school and carried me in the schoolhouse and set me by a desk in the very first row.
Tell about a school bully.
The school bully in our school was a big guy. But one day my brother and two other kids jumped him and held him to the ground. I think that sort of cured him.
What do you remember doing at recess?
At recess we would go outside and play different games.
Tell about the playground equipment at your grade school.
In my first 5 years in grade school we didn't have any playground equipment, then our family moved to a different farm so we went to a different school. In the last three years in that school we had swings and a big slide.
Tell about who you thought was the smartest kid in school and why.
There was a girl in my class and I thought that she was the smartest kid in school. She got good grades and she was on the honor roll.
Tell about who you thought was the dumbest kid in school and why.
This kid I thought about wasn't the dumbest, but school was hard for him and he was one of my friends.
Tell about the naughtiest kid in school.
I can't think of any kid that was the naughtiest, but I think that most kids in grade school are full of mischief.
Name the schools that you went to.
Rapp School, High Prairie School
Name the teachers you remember.
1.
2.
3. Miss Burr
4. Miss Nelson
5. Miss Ray
6. Miss Tornguist
7. Miss Linburg
8. Miss Abbot
Describe your typical school day outfit.
My typical school day outfit was bib denim overalls, blue denim long sleeve shirt and shoes that laced above the ankles.
If you were ever in a fight, tell about it.
I can't remember if I was ever in a real fight, but I am sure that between my two brothers and one sister we must (have) had small fights.
Tell about your worst report card.
I don't remember my worst report card, but I do remember my last report card which said that I passed my eighth grade exams.
If you ever had a hero, tell who.
If you check back on August 25th it tells of my hero.
Tell why.
Check on August 25th.
Celebration of a life - part 17
Tell a memory about riding on a ferry, bus, train, or plane.
I rode on a ferry in the year of 1935 when I, Delbert and three boys were on a trip and we crossed the Missouri River on the Brownsville Ferry at Brownsville, Neb.
Share another memory about a ride.
The first train ride I had was from Essex, Iowa to Shenandoah, Iowa, it was the distance of five miles, was I ever thrilled. My older sister was with me. I was 6 or 7 years old then.
Describe your childhood home and neighborhood.
My childhood home was a wood frame house in the country. A big yard to play in. The neighborhood was nice, with many children to play with.
Do you have a good piece of advice for me?
The piece of advice I have for you Kerri, is to stand up for your Christian belief.
Tell of an experience climbing a mountain or hill.
When I was in my first grade school from 1st thru 5th on our way to school there was a big hill called Bucks Hill. It was extra steep and hard to walk up, it was extra hard when it was muddy. But it was fun going down in the winter on a sled.
Tell a memory about having company at your house, or of a family party.
On Sunday afternoons it was common to have company, people would come to visit and then have coffee and goodies.
Tell about board games you played as a child.
The board games we played when I was a child were checkers, carrom, spinner games.
Tell about card games you played.
The card game we played was called Old Maid.
Did you ever have a weight problem as a youth?
No I didn't have a weight problem when I was a youth, I could eat and eat and didn't gain weight because I was very active and full of energy.
What was your best talent?
As far as musical talent I had none, but a couple of other talents I used were using tools for carpenter work and also tools to work on machinery. When I was growing up I used to make small gadgets.
(August 10) Tell about a time when you got lost.
I don't remember of a time that I got lost.
Today was my 79 birthday.
Did you ever play in the sprinkler or hose?
No I never did play in a hose or sprinkler. In the summertime we would make boats of pieces of wood and play with them in the livestock watering tank.
Did you have any favorite family songs that you sang together?
I don't remember of any favorite family songs we sang together, but I do remember my Mother playing hymns on the old pump organ.
Tell about your bedroom.
When I was growing up I didn't have a bedroom of my own. My two brothers and I shared a bedroom. I had the single bed and my brothers had a double bed.
Share a memory of staying overnight with a friend.
When I was in the 6th or 7th grade I stayed overnight with a schoolmate of mine.
Do you remember being really curious about something?
Yes I remember once when I was really curious about something. My sister made a dish for our supper meal, and she wouldn't tell me what it was. Then at supper time she served it to us, it was a nice custard pudding. I was around 10 years old then.
Share your childhood experiences with roller skates.
My childhood experiences with roller skates was when we borrowed a pair of roller skates from a friend, and I roller skated a lot on our farm home cement sidewalk.
Did you ever experience home sickness?
One afternoon I went to visit my cousin and his wife. I was to stay overnight, then at supper time I began to cry as I didn't want to stay overnight, then they brought me home, that's when I experienced home sickness. I might have been 7 or 8 years old then.
Share an early experience with shaving.
What I remember my early experience with shaving was my Dad bought me a safety razor (not electric). I done quite well with my first time at shaving. At least I think I did.
I rode on a ferry in the year of 1935 when I, Delbert and three boys were on a trip and we crossed the Missouri River on the Brownsville Ferry at Brownsville, Neb.
Share another memory about a ride.
The first train ride I had was from Essex, Iowa to Shenandoah, Iowa, it was the distance of five miles, was I ever thrilled. My older sister was with me. I was 6 or 7 years old then.
Describe your childhood home and neighborhood.
My childhood home was a wood frame house in the country. A big yard to play in. The neighborhood was nice, with many children to play with.
Do you have a good piece of advice for me?
The piece of advice I have for you Kerri, is to stand up for your Christian belief.
Tell of an experience climbing a mountain or hill.
When I was in my first grade school from 1st thru 5th on our way to school there was a big hill called Bucks Hill. It was extra steep and hard to walk up, it was extra hard when it was muddy. But it was fun going down in the winter on a sled.
Tell a memory about having company at your house, or of a family party.
On Sunday afternoons it was common to have company, people would come to visit and then have coffee and goodies.
Tell about board games you played as a child.
The board games we played when I was a child were checkers, carrom, spinner games.
Tell about card games you played.
The card game we played was called Old Maid.
Did you ever have a weight problem as a youth?
No I didn't have a weight problem when I was a youth, I could eat and eat and didn't gain weight because I was very active and full of energy.
What was your best talent?
As far as musical talent I had none, but a couple of other talents I used were using tools for carpenter work and also tools to work on machinery. When I was growing up I used to make small gadgets.
(August 10) Tell about a time when you got lost.
I don't remember of a time that I got lost.
Today was my 79 birthday.
Did you ever play in the sprinkler or hose?
No I never did play in a hose or sprinkler. In the summertime we would make boats of pieces of wood and play with them in the livestock watering tank.
Did you have any favorite family songs that you sang together?
I don't remember of any favorite family songs we sang together, but I do remember my Mother playing hymns on the old pump organ.
Tell about your bedroom.
When I was growing up I didn't have a bedroom of my own. My two brothers and I shared a bedroom. I had the single bed and my brothers had a double bed.
Share a memory of staying overnight with a friend.
When I was in the 6th or 7th grade I stayed overnight with a schoolmate of mine.
Do you remember being really curious about something?
Yes I remember once when I was really curious about something. My sister made a dish for our supper meal, and she wouldn't tell me what it was. Then at supper time she served it to us, it was a nice custard pudding. I was around 10 years old then.
Share your childhood experiences with roller skates.
My childhood experiences with roller skates was when we borrowed a pair of roller skates from a friend, and I roller skated a lot on our farm home cement sidewalk.
Did you ever experience home sickness?
One afternoon I went to visit my cousin and his wife. I was to stay overnight, then at supper time I began to cry as I didn't want to stay overnight, then they brought me home, that's when I experienced home sickness. I might have been 7 or 8 years old then.
Share an early experience with shaving.
What I remember my early experience with shaving was my Dad bought me a safety razor (not electric). I done quite well with my first time at shaving. At least I think I did.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Celebration of a life - part 16
Did you go fishing in your childhood?
In my childhood I did go fishing some.
Tell about your biggest or best catch.
The biggest fish that I caught was a carp. It weighed a pound. I was really proud that I caught such a big fish. "HA HA"
Do you remember having a favorite candy? How much did it cost?
Yes, my favorite candy was peanut clusters, one pound cost 25 cents. Also I liked Milky Way candy bar. One bar cost 5 cents.
Do you remember having a favorite snack that you made at home?
Yes my favorite snack that I made at home was plain soda crackers and vanilla frosting. I put the frosting on the crackers and it was good. I made the frosting with powdered sugar and water.
Share a memory about going on a picnic.
The memory of a picnic was a surprise to me as my folks had arranged to meet another family for a picnic in a park in Red Oak, Iowa. That family had moved to another farm from our neighborhood so the get-together was very nice, as we hadn't seen each other for some time. As a family we had many picnics with friends and relatives.
What kinds of party games or party activities were popular?
In my childhood, the parties I went to was birthday parties. The games we played was no doubt some sort of small kids games.
Share a memory involving a heatwave or drought.
The drought that I have a memory of was in 1934. Very little rain in spring, so the corn crop was very poor.
What did you do to stay cool?
To stay cool we would play in the shade as much as possible. At night we would have the windows open. We didn't have electricity on our farm so we couldn't use electric fans.
Share a birthday party memory.
I don't recall any special birthday party, but I do remember in my teen years, a cousin of mine from Poplar, Wis. visited me on my birthday.
Tell about the neatest shoes you ever owned as a youth.
The neatest pair of shoes I had was a pair of brown oxfords.
Share a memory about a power outage.
When I was growing up at home on our farm, we didn't have electricity, then we didn't have a power outage.
Relate a memory involving a flood or cloudburst.
When I was in grade school I can remember going home from school, after it had rained, crossing over on a bridge, the large creek was quite full.
Relate a memory of a tornado, hurricane, or destructive wind.
In my childhood there was a tornado in the town of Clarinda, IA. where my uncle lived, his home wasn't damaged. After it was over with he told us how bad it was.
What memories do you have of lightning or thunder during your childhood?
In my childhood I can remember seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder, it really was bad sometimes, but I don't remember being afraid.
Share a special memory about riding in a boat.
When I was a teenager a group of us boys went on a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks, then we had a ride in a speed boat on the lake. It was my brother Delbert and I and three other boys that went on this trip.
Tell about a family vacation trip.
The family vacation trip we took was from Essex, Iowa to Greenfield, Iowa, about 100 miles one way. We had relatives who lived there. My two brothers and sister were so thrilled to be able to go on such a long trip, at least we thought it was far. We had a very good time, I was about 13 years old.
Share the best vacation experience you can recall.
The best vacation experience I can recall is when a group of our young people from our church went to a Bible camp. It was in northern Iowa. Our young people's group was from Fremont Covenant Church.
Share the most unpleasant vacation experience you can recall.
I don't remember of any unpleasant experience we had on a vacation.
Do you have any other memories about a river, lake, or beach to share?
When I was growing up we had a place called Porter's Lake, it was a few miles from our home. It was a very small lake. We enjoyed going there for picnics and there was a roller skating rink there also.
I couldn't resist adding this pic of Grandpa, Dad and I at a beach in California, early 1970's.
In my childhood I did go fishing some.
Tell about your biggest or best catch.
The biggest fish that I caught was a carp. It weighed a pound. I was really proud that I caught such a big fish. "HA HA"
Do you remember having a favorite candy? How much did it cost?
Yes, my favorite candy was peanut clusters, one pound cost 25 cents. Also I liked Milky Way candy bar. One bar cost 5 cents.
Do you remember having a favorite snack that you made at home?
Yes my favorite snack that I made at home was plain soda crackers and vanilla frosting. I put the frosting on the crackers and it was good. I made the frosting with powdered sugar and water.
Share a memory about going on a picnic.
The memory of a picnic was a surprise to me as my folks had arranged to meet another family for a picnic in a park in Red Oak, Iowa. That family had moved to another farm from our neighborhood so the get-together was very nice, as we hadn't seen each other for some time. As a family we had many picnics with friends and relatives.
What kinds of party games or party activities were popular?
In my childhood, the parties I went to was birthday parties. The games we played was no doubt some sort of small kids games.
Share a memory involving a heatwave or drought.
The drought that I have a memory of was in 1934. Very little rain in spring, so the corn crop was very poor.
What did you do to stay cool?
To stay cool we would play in the shade as much as possible. At night we would have the windows open. We didn't have electricity on our farm so we couldn't use electric fans.
Share a birthday party memory.
I don't recall any special birthday party, but I do remember in my teen years, a cousin of mine from Poplar, Wis. visited me on my birthday.
Tell about the neatest shoes you ever owned as a youth.
The neatest pair of shoes I had was a pair of brown oxfords.
Share a memory about a power outage.
When I was growing up at home on our farm, we didn't have electricity, then we didn't have a power outage.
Relate a memory involving a flood or cloudburst.
When I was in grade school I can remember going home from school, after it had rained, crossing over on a bridge, the large creek was quite full.
Relate a memory of a tornado, hurricane, or destructive wind.
In my childhood there was a tornado in the town of Clarinda, IA. where my uncle lived, his home wasn't damaged. After it was over with he told us how bad it was.
What memories do you have of lightning or thunder during your childhood?
In my childhood I can remember seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder, it really was bad sometimes, but I don't remember being afraid.
Share a special memory about riding in a boat.
When I was a teenager a group of us boys went on a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks, then we had a ride in a speed boat on the lake. It was my brother Delbert and I and three other boys that went on this trip.
Tell about a family vacation trip.
The family vacation trip we took was from Essex, Iowa to Greenfield, Iowa, about 100 miles one way. We had relatives who lived there. My two brothers and sister were so thrilled to be able to go on such a long trip, at least we thought it was far. We had a very good time, I was about 13 years old.
Share the best vacation experience you can recall.
The best vacation experience I can recall is when a group of our young people from our church went to a Bible camp. It was in northern Iowa. Our young people's group was from Fremont Covenant Church.
Share the most unpleasant vacation experience you can recall.
I don't remember of any unpleasant experience we had on a vacation.
Do you have any other memories about a river, lake, or beach to share?
When I was growing up we had a place called Porter's Lake, it was a few miles from our home. It was a very small lake. We enjoyed going there for picnics and there was a roller skating rink there also.
I couldn't resist adding this pic of Grandpa, Dad and I at a beach in California, early 1970's.
Celebration of a life - part 15
Did you have a special nature place where you went to explore?
No I didn't have a special nature place that I went to explore, but in our grade school, in early spring the teacher would take the kids in school to a woods close to the school and look for wildflowers.
Did you ever go skinny-dipping?
Yes I did once, in a small creek about a couple of miles from my home.
Did you ever make mud pies?
I don't remember if I ever made mud pies.
Did you go barefoot in the summer?
No I didn't go barefoot in the summertime.
If so, relate an experience about stepping on something.
I have no experience of stepping on anything.
Tell about a bike you had.
As I lived in the country and the country roads were dirt, I didn't own a bike. It would be hard to ride a bike on dirt roads.
Tell about your first very own car.
The first car that I owned was a 1929 Model A Ford. I paid $110.00 dollars for it. When I got home with it I borrowed $1.00 from my brother so I could put some more gas in it. I was very proud of it.
Did you ever have or make a swing?
Yes I had a swing when I was in my childhood. It was under a big cottonwood tree. I and my brothers and sister really enjoyed it.
Tell about something you thought was very beautiful.
The thing that I thought was very beautiful was a rainbow. If I remember right, I saw a triple rainbow one time.
Describe an outside game you made up.
I don't remember if I made an outside game, but I did have a miniature golf course, that I fixed in our barnyard. It was real nice and a friend of mine played on it, and he really liked it. I still have one of the golf clubs now. It is a hedge stick, sort of shaped like a club.
Describe an inside game you made up.
I didn't make this game up, but the inside game we played was a person would think of some item or color of something in a room and describe it, then the other person would try and guess what it was.
What kind of fireworks did people have when you were a youth?
When I was a youth we had all kinds of fireworks, there were torpedoes, 1/2-inch long to 4-inch long firecrackers, cherry bombs, sparklers, roman candles, sky rockets, spin wheels, also we had caps for cap guns. I still have my cap gun.
Tell about Independence Day traditions of your childhood.
During my childhood the 4th of July or I.D. was a great day. We always had a Sunday School picnic on our church lawn at noon. Had lemonade and ice cream also which was a treat to us kids. In the afternoon we had a S.S. program, at night we had our fireworks at home or at a friend's place. A great day always.
Do you have a special July 4th that you remember most?
The special 4th of July that I remember most was when I lived in Wichita, the year 1941. We got the 4th of July off from work at Beech, and a friend of mine and I drove home to my folks in Essex, Iowa to spend the 4th. My friend's folks lived around Essex also.
Did you ever go to carnivals or amusement parks? Where?
Yes I have gone to a carnival. It was in Shen. Iowa. When I was a youth a group of young people from our church went to a Young People's Bible Camp, one evening after services a bunch of us went to an amusement park, it was called Arnolak Park. It was in northern Iowa. That week was a great summer outing.
What kind of rides and games were there? How much did they cost?
There were different kinds of rides and games, but I rode only one and that was the roller coaster. That was the first time I rode one and it was quite a thrill. I didn't play any games. The cost I don't remember as it was when I was a youth.
Tell about any State Fair or County Fair experiences.
The experience I had a a county fair in Clarinda, Iowa was when my oldest brother, my Dad and I were there. I spent some money on a spinning wheel, when it stopped on a certain number I got a cheap tin whistle. My brother told my Dad that I gambled. Boy was I ever afraid. But my Dad didn't punish me.
Tell about going to a circus.
When I was a youth, I and a friend of mine went to a circus in Shen. Iowa. It was a Tom Mix Circus. Tom Mix was a well-known cowboy star in my day.
Tell any favorite summertime memory.
The favorite summertime memory is that I would play with our dog Jack.
No I didn't have a special nature place that I went to explore, but in our grade school, in early spring the teacher would take the kids in school to a woods close to the school and look for wildflowers.
Did you ever go skinny-dipping?
Yes I did once, in a small creek about a couple of miles from my home.
Did you ever make mud pies?
I don't remember if I ever made mud pies.
Did you go barefoot in the summer?
No I didn't go barefoot in the summertime.
If so, relate an experience about stepping on something.
I have no experience of stepping on anything.
Tell about a bike you had.
As I lived in the country and the country roads were dirt, I didn't own a bike. It would be hard to ride a bike on dirt roads.
Tell about your first very own car.
The first car that I owned was a 1929 Model A Ford. I paid $110.00 dollars for it. When I got home with it I borrowed $1.00 from my brother so I could put some more gas in it. I was very proud of it.
Did you ever have or make a swing?
Yes I had a swing when I was in my childhood. It was under a big cottonwood tree. I and my brothers and sister really enjoyed it.
Tell about something you thought was very beautiful.
The thing that I thought was very beautiful was a rainbow. If I remember right, I saw a triple rainbow one time.
Describe an outside game you made up.
I don't remember if I made an outside game, but I did have a miniature golf course, that I fixed in our barnyard. It was real nice and a friend of mine played on it, and he really liked it. I still have one of the golf clubs now. It is a hedge stick, sort of shaped like a club.
Describe an inside game you made up.
I didn't make this game up, but the inside game we played was a person would think of some item or color of something in a room and describe it, then the other person would try and guess what it was.
What kind of fireworks did people have when you were a youth?
When I was a youth we had all kinds of fireworks, there were torpedoes, 1/2-inch long to 4-inch long firecrackers, cherry bombs, sparklers, roman candles, sky rockets, spin wheels, also we had caps for cap guns. I still have my cap gun.
Tell about Independence Day traditions of your childhood.
During my childhood the 4th of July or I.D. was a great day. We always had a Sunday School picnic on our church lawn at noon. Had lemonade and ice cream also which was a treat to us kids. In the afternoon we had a S.S. program, at night we had our fireworks at home or at a friend's place. A great day always.
Do you have a special July 4th that you remember most?
The special 4th of July that I remember most was when I lived in Wichita, the year 1941. We got the 4th of July off from work at Beech, and a friend of mine and I drove home to my folks in Essex, Iowa to spend the 4th. My friend's folks lived around Essex also.
Did you ever go to carnivals or amusement parks? Where?
Yes I have gone to a carnival. It was in Shen. Iowa. When I was a youth a group of young people from our church went to a Young People's Bible Camp, one evening after services a bunch of us went to an amusement park, it was called Arnolak Park. It was in northern Iowa. That week was a great summer outing.
What kind of rides and games were there? How much did they cost?
There were different kinds of rides and games, but I rode only one and that was the roller coaster. That was the first time I rode one and it was quite a thrill. I didn't play any games. The cost I don't remember as it was when I was a youth.
Tell about any State Fair or County Fair experiences.
The experience I had a a county fair in Clarinda, Iowa was when my oldest brother, my Dad and I were there. I spent some money on a spinning wheel, when it stopped on a certain number I got a cheap tin whistle. My brother told my Dad that I gambled. Boy was I ever afraid. But my Dad didn't punish me.
Tell about going to a circus.
When I was a youth, I and a friend of mine went to a circus in Shen. Iowa. It was a Tom Mix Circus. Tom Mix was a well-known cowboy star in my day.
Tell any favorite summertime memory.
The favorite summertime memory is that I would play with our dog Jack.
Celebration of a life - part 14
Tell about a hot dog or marshmallow roasting.
Yes we had hot dog and marshmallow roasting parties. One time I remember when my folks had a surprise hot dog and marshmallow roast on my oldest brother's 18th or 19th birthday. A number of his friends were there.
Did you ever go on a camp out? Tell about it.
When I was a youth I don't recall of ever camping out. As a family we had picnics and outings together. We did not have a tent or camping equipment.
What food did you learn to cook or prepare first as a youth?
As a youth the first thing I learned to cook was corn pudding.
Share a horse-riding story.
The riding horse we had was skittish. One snow(y) afternoon I rode her to see my brother on another farm, the snow had melted some in spots and she seen the brown dirt spot and she was a little afraid of the brown spot.
What was your first job?
The first job I had was working for a neighbor on his farm. He didn't have a tractor, so the farm implements were pulled by horses.
How much did you get paid?
The pay scale for farm work when I was a youth was 50 cents a day, at the end of a 6-day week I got the sum of $3.00. I sure thought I had a lot of money.
Tell about any other paying jobs you held as a youth.
As a youth I didn't have any other paying job except farm work.
(From Grandpa's scrapbook - "But we do grow CORN")
Were you ever chased by some animal?
On my Dad's farm we had sort of a mean cow and one day she chased me and I ran to a gate in the yard and got on the other side of it, so then I was safe.
Tell a memory about a parade.
I remember when the circus came to the town of Shen. There was a parade on the main street of Shen. It was interesting for a country boy like me to see a parade, with different wild animals in cages.
Share a childhood memory about a death that affected you.
When I was 11 years old I had an uncle that passed away. I went to the funeral with my folks. It was the first funeral I went to and it affected me in a sad way.
Relate your happiest memory as a youth.
The happiest memory as a youth was in 1929 when my Dad traded our old 1924 Model T Ford car for a new 1929 Ford Model A car. The 1929 Model A Ford car was a much improved car over the Model T.
How did you learn to swim?
I learned to swim by myself. I would practice and work at it. My trouble was that I worked at it very hard and that tired me out very fast, then after a few strokes I would have to stop and rest a while. After a while tho' I done pretty good.
Where did you go swimming?
We went swimming in the public pool in the town of Red Oak, Iowa. That is where I went swimming when I was a youth.
Tell a favorite memory of your father.
The favorite memory of my father was that he spent much time and played with myself and my two brothers and my sister.
Tell about some good advice your father gave you.
My father's advice was giving more by action than words. We would always be in church early as he was Sunday School Supt. and he wanted to get things ready before S.S. started.
Did your father ever make a special gift for you?
A special gift my father made for me was a bow to shoot arrows with. It was made out of a hedge branch.
Yes we had hot dog and marshmallow roasting parties. One time I remember when my folks had a surprise hot dog and marshmallow roast on my oldest brother's 18th or 19th birthday. A number of his friends were there.
Did you ever go on a camp out? Tell about it.
When I was a youth I don't recall of ever camping out. As a family we had picnics and outings together. We did not have a tent or camping equipment.
What food did you learn to cook or prepare first as a youth?
As a youth the first thing I learned to cook was corn pudding.
Share a horse-riding story.
The riding horse we had was skittish. One snow(y) afternoon I rode her to see my brother on another farm, the snow had melted some in spots and she seen the brown dirt spot and she was a little afraid of the brown spot.
What was your first job?
The first job I had was working for a neighbor on his farm. He didn't have a tractor, so the farm implements were pulled by horses.
How much did you get paid?
The pay scale for farm work when I was a youth was 50 cents a day, at the end of a 6-day week I got the sum of $3.00. I sure thought I had a lot of money.
Tell about any other paying jobs you held as a youth.
As a youth I didn't have any other paying job except farm work.
(From Grandpa's scrapbook - "But we do grow CORN")
Were you ever chased by some animal?
On my Dad's farm we had sort of a mean cow and one day she chased me and I ran to a gate in the yard and got on the other side of it, so then I was safe.
Tell a memory about a parade.
I remember when the circus came to the town of Shen. There was a parade on the main street of Shen. It was interesting for a country boy like me to see a parade, with different wild animals in cages.
Share a childhood memory about a death that affected you.
When I was 11 years old I had an uncle that passed away. I went to the funeral with my folks. It was the first funeral I went to and it affected me in a sad way.
Relate your happiest memory as a youth.
The happiest memory as a youth was in 1929 when my Dad traded our old 1924 Model T Ford car for a new 1929 Ford Model A car. The 1929 Model A Ford car was a much improved car over the Model T.
How did you learn to swim?
I learned to swim by myself. I would practice and work at it. My trouble was that I worked at it very hard and that tired me out very fast, then after a few strokes I would have to stop and rest a while. After a while tho' I done pretty good.
Where did you go swimming?
We went swimming in the public pool in the town of Red Oak, Iowa. That is where I went swimming when I was a youth.
Tell a favorite memory of your father.
The favorite memory of my father was that he spent much time and played with myself and my two brothers and my sister.
Tell about some good advice your father gave you.
My father's advice was giving more by action than words. We would always be in church early as he was Sunday School Supt. and he wanted to get things ready before S.S. started.
Did your father ever make a special gift for you?
A special gift my father made for me was a bow to shoot arrows with. It was made out of a hedge branch.
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