Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - The Separator (the collectible)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - The Separator (the collectible)

On yesterday's 'Weekly Eileen diary update' I included an image of milk/cream separator she mentions from time to time that it is her duty to clean. As a young person, I had that duty as well. The separator, of course, receives the raw milk from the cow in the top, and (either my hand or electical device) spins the milk so that the cream comes out of one spout and the skim milk out of the other. Besides for family use in the kitchen, my family sold the excess of both at the Creamery in Coon Rapids, to which I have referred, from time to time.

This 'collectible' has been in our home for a number of years, in honor of that tradition. It currently sits on the cabinets in the kitchen in our cabin. A Google+ series of comments with +Jane Haldeman
today reminded me of it. Thanks, Jane!  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 8 - Feb 22-28, 1937

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 8 - Feb 22-28, 1937

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school. During the latter half of 2011, commented weekly on these entries.
For 1937, I am transcribing the daily entries, currently, at The KINNICK Project surname blog.

In this weekly blog post, I will make summary comments and observations, and perhaps add a photo, from time to time.
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 9 years old. Pete Smith is her 'boy friend' - fourth month starting Jan 1 (they do marry, in Mar 1938).


Week 8 (Feb 22-28): Before I forget, I want to send out a Thank You to reader, Celia, for answering the "Chivaree" question with the wikipedia definition I was looking for, at the link.

Eileen got a new job, quickly this week, with lawyer Charles Browning.

And more snow and more snow…

Sunday, February 28 was a most interesting day… check it out.

Have you washed a separator?? I have - it is tough to get it cleaned.

Comments welcomed! 



Families are Forever!  ;-)

I'm in it, are you? Your parents?

I'm in it, are you? Your parents?

I've agreed to be a 1940 Ambassador. Have you joined yet? We're now about 35 days away from the release of the 1940 US Census images. We all need to help do indexing in order to make our own research easier. I hope you will both Join the Effort and Spread the Word, if you have not done so already.

To see what others are doing, follow the 1940 Census blog Top Posts - this is week of Feb 20.


Families are forever!  ;-)

Sharing Memories on Sunday - GE and Louisville

Sharing Memories on Sunday - GE and Louisville

Picking up from the last Those Places Thursday, I will try to share some general memories of my experience in the new job at GE in Louisville. They generally all in three categories: 1) actual GE work experience, 2) continuing my education outside of work, and 3) home and family life.

As I mentioned to Allison and Annette (when she was here last weekend), this is the point in my life where 'real life' began, and with it, many things in my memory 'clump' together. It becomes very difficult to connect specific memories with particular times. For this reason, among others, I just pulled out a copy of a resume I wrote while in the Iowa Governor's Office a few years later, to write down some dates for reference: GE Louisville - Aug 64 to Aug 67; GE Traveling Auditor - Aug 67 to Sep 68; Business Manager, SE - Oct 68 to Oct 69; Management Consultant, PMM - Nov 69 to May 70.

As I mentioned at the end of last Sunday's post, work was a real challenge, but I loved it. Whereas my work in the Air Force was mostly becoming accustomed to the organizational issues, my work at GE was certainly that but also a lot more in terms of learning content as I carried out my assignments. I wrote in the resume referred to earlier: "Rotational work assignments in all areas of finance in Consolidated Accounting Operations of Appliance Park. Financial Analyst for Relations and Utilities Operations." I know I was also involved in the Financial Management Program (FMP - which had been BTC) program activities as well during this three years. The group of us in the program would have meetings, speakers from around the country, and some sort of ongoing evaluations - but I honestly do not remember these, at all. I do know we were being trained to be a pool of talent from which to choose those who were on a fast track to top management. That was, and is, the GE Way! One of the guys in this group (and I honestly don't think there was a single female - and it didn't seem strange, at the time) was the son-in-law of the Chairman of the Board of GE, at the time. A little weird, but, I seemed to do every bit as well as he did, so I didn't let it bother me.

I did seem 'compelled,' it seems, to continue my outside education. Looking back, it is a bit surprising, but I think it was that I had doubts in the back of my mind of where this whole GE job thing was going and whether it was really what I wanted to be doing, once I figured out what it was - and who I was, I suppose.

Therefore, I enrolled in the MBA (Master of Business Administration) program at the University of Louisville, which offered an evening set of courses. Over the three years I was there (in Louisville), I completed 12 credit hours of work, 3 at a time, of which I was able to transfer 6 when I later restarted in the MBA Program at Drake University, in Des Moines.

Since this series of memories relates mostly to my work-related stuff, I'll not try to cover the 'more important' home and family stuff here. We have hundreds and hundreds of photos, of course, that are shared, from time to time, and still need to be organized better. We had wonderful visits from family, Bolger's, Smith's, Al, Jim, many more, as well as visits back to Iowa. Allison's first three or so years, including the infamous 'pulling the hot hamburger skillet off the stove' that resulted in some burns on her face. Annette went to private Kindergarten (see graduation photo, below) and then to public school, including 2 shifts to 'make better use of the buildings.' We have photos of her getting on the bus. We were very active in the fine United Methodist Church down the road a ways, singing in choir and all kids activities - real nice minister and his family.

I happened on the following, which I will choose as a representative photo…

One more thing... The gentleman that coordinated the FMP, a Mr. McGinty, who 'shared our evaluation results' with us... only seemed to ever have one criticism of me, to me face: I wasn't very good at 'small talk.' Well, duh, I wanted to say, I had work to do. I was ambitious. I did all I was told to do. I don't have time for 'small talk.'

Finally, one day, the 'word' came down from 'on high' - from up the chain of command - I had been chosen to received the coveted offer of a spot on the Corporate Audit Staff - the Holy Grail of GE assignments. Only 120 slots among 300,000-some employees of the company at that time. I said 'Yes!' And, we were off to Schenectady, New York. It was August, 1967.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

The 1940 Ambassadors - Happy to be one!

The 1940 Ambassadors - Happy to be one!

I am pleased to join the 1940 Census Community project as a 1940 Ambassador. As a 1940 Ambassador, on Saturday and/or Monday, most weeks, I will be posting information about the 1940 US Census and the social environment of the 1940 Census.

Earlier this week, I was pleased to publish two of my Examiner.com articles about the 1940 US Census. If you missed them, click here: first was about the April 2 website for images, and, second was about volunteering to do indexing.

These posts will be labelled: 1940 Census

And, have you signed up to participate? You do so at the 1940 Census site!

Families are Forever!  ;-)

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 8

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 8

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy 2012 prompts suggested by Amy Coffin; thanks, Amy!

Week 8 – Genealogy Libraries: Genealogy libraries (and dedicated departments in regular libraries) are true treasures in the family history community.  Tell us about your favorite genealogy library. What or who makes it special?

This challenge runs from Sunday, February 19, 2012 through Saturday, February 25, 2012.

Three answers to this one:

1. The one that has what I am looking for at the time.  ;-)
2. The Local History and Genealogy Department at the Springfield-Greene County Library - the closest big collection, with extensive local information, along with a fine website.
3. The Midwest Genealogy Center at the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, MO. Over the years we used it a lot.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - Louisville, KY - July/Aug 1964

Those Places Thursday - Louisville, KY - July/Aug 1964


I've already written some, here, here, and here, about our trip east in the summer of 1964 from St. George, Utah, where I was in the U.S. Air Force, to Louisville, KY, via visits to our families in Iowa.

While our new home, based on my civilian job at GE was being completed, we did live in a temporary apartment for a while. We were so busy adapting to our new environment we took few photos, and I certainly do not have any on hand right now.

We really liked our new three bedroom, two bath, brick home (with full unfinished basement) in the suburbs just south of GE Appliance Park. $14,000, by the way. My, how times have changed!  ;-)

Here is a photo of the house, actually taken in January 1972, when we stopped by to check it out, many years later.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Leo and Ida Marie (BELL) KINNICK

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Leo and Ida Marie (BELL) KINNICK

It seems that Eileen's brother, Leo, and soon to be bride (75 Years Ago), Ida Marie BELL, are becoming a bit more prominent in her diary entries. Today, I want to share some photos of them, through the years, for future reference.

Here they are, in 1937, just 75 Years Ago:

 Here is another photo, maybe a little earlier - it was undated:

And another undated - love the old car silhouette in background:

 Here they are with their four children, celebrating their 25th anniversary:

 Here they are at their 50th anniversary:

Here is a recent photo, with their latest great-grandchild, as they approach their 75th anniversary:

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 6 - Feb 15-21, 1937

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 6 - Feb 15-21, 1937

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school. During the latter half of 2011, commented weekly on these entries.
For 1937, I am transcribing the daily entries, currently, at The KINNICK Project surname blog.

In this weekly blog post, I will make summary comments and observations, and perhaps add a photo, from time to time.
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 9 years old. Pete Smith is her 'boy friend' - fourth month starting Jan 1 (they do marry, in Mar 1938).

Week 7 (Feb 15-21): A week of change and transition. The visit of Eileen's friend, Ruth, from out-of-town, came to an end. Eileen learned that the Maytag store is being sold and she will be looking for work elsewhere.

A visit to great-grandma Williams at her home.

I do have a map of Union Twp in 1835 with the Kinnick farm marked on it, red circled 5 just northwest of Coon Rapids town proper.

Note from Coon Rapids Enterprise of February 5, 1937 [as reported in the 75 Years Ago column of the February 16, 2012 edition]: "Since the close of the third month of school, there have been four staff changes in the rural teaching staff of the county… Union No. 6. These schools are now being taught by … Ida Marie Bell of Coon Rapids." Important bit of (soon to be) family news.


Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sharing Memories - Summer 1964

Sharing Memories - Summer 1964

 On Wednesday and Thursday of this week I started sharing memories and photos of the Summer of 1964. It was a time of transition for us as Allison had just joined us and I faced a new work challenge following my three years in the U.S. Air Force.

As I began to mention on Thursday, an additional challenge was that my military commitment was not yet completed, either. I had a six year reserve commitment beyond my active duty commitment. With the war in Vietnam heating up, there was some concern and some trepidation as we moved forward. The first action on this front when we got to Louisville was: Was there a reserve unit in the area with an opening for my occupational code and rank? As it turned out, there was not. There was nothing more I could do, it turned out, except to concentrate on work and family and wait.

Photo taken from USS Maddox during the incident,

showing three North Vietnamese

motor torpedo boats.

One other issue  - and perhaps it became more important later on… with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, following the Gulf of Tonkin incident, nearly every office and airman in my unit was extended a year; most spent at least one tour in Vietnam. What a difference that would have meant in our lives if it had applied to us! ;-)

With General Electric Company (GE) at Appliance Park in Louisville, KY, I began as a recruit in the Business Training Course (BTC). My research had indicated many of the top people in the company had come through this program/course. I was correct on that front, but was surprised on two other fronts. Within a few months, GE changed the name of the BTC (which had been around for many years) to the Financial Management Program (FMP). Second, the expectation was a sound knowledge of accounting and financial practice and theory - neither of which I had. Interesting, huh? I had completed the basic accounting correspondence courses in the Air Force, but nothing more. Kind of like going to Ground Electronic School with no background in electronics. Well, I was successful there; maybe it would work, here, again. What a challenge!


Families are Forever!  ;-)

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 7

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 7

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy 2012 prompts suggested by Amy Coffin; thanks, Amy!

    •    Week 7 – Historical Documents: Which historical document in your possession are you happy to have? How did you acquire this item? What does it reveal about your ancestors?

This week’s prompt runs from Sunday, February 12 through Saturday, February 18, 2012.

After a lot of thought, I keep coming back to the divorce papers from Montana Territory for my Great-Grandfather and mother wherein he grants her full custody of the four children, even though they have been living with him during the one year of separation that he used as the specific cause to file the divorce papers. She had returned to "the states" in Ohio to her parents home with an illness, but had not returned. Her father insisted that she move instead to Iowa where her brother was a local banker. Her father bought four one hundred and sixty acres farms in the name of each of her children, if they were allowed to come live with her; the farms to be in escrow at the bank providing her an income and eventually would go to the children when they became of age. Was it blackmail or extortion? Probably. But, he let the children go to Iowa to be raised. The youngest, my grandmother, of course, met and married my grandfather after a few years in Iowa. I would not exist if that set of transactions did not go as they did. How tenuous are the strands that bind us to our ancestors???  ;-)

I obtained the set of papers, including school documents he had signed in his wife's absence, from a local paid researcher in Deer Lodge, Montana. The papers also included numerous clippings about the family there, in the 1870-1880s period, including birth announcements of each of the four children. Such precious stuff!  ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - In Transit - Summer 1964

Those Places Thursday - In Transit - Summer 1964


When I finished my Air Force active duty tour in July 1964, we moved from St. George, Utah, to Louisville, Kentucky, with some "time-off" In Transit in Iowa.

Leaving St. George, we drove "cross-country" including across Highway 24 through what we now know as Wayne County and through the Capital Reef National Monument ( it didn't become a Park until a few years later). In May of 2011, we revisited that drive. [Annette and Larry now have their home just a few miles to the west! ] You will see three photos taken in 1964, when we first visited, along with the photos in the same locations, in 2011. FUN!

We then continued east, through Colorado, of course, Here is a photo taken in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, where we stopped along the way to have lunch. You can see Annette out 'stretching her legs' - we were lucky she didn't run off down through the trees. ;-)

Yesterday [Wordless (nearly) Wednesday] I posted a couple of photos from our stay in Iowa, before heading for Louisville.


We didn't think about it as significant at the time, but during that trip, things were really 'heating up' over in Vietnam. By August 10, about the time we were getting to Louisville, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution; generally considered the official beginning of "The Vietnam War."


The story continues on Sunday…

Families are Forever!  ;_)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - July 1964 at Bolger's Farm

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - July 1964 at Bolger's Farm


Two photos to share today that were taken in Iowa in July 1964 as we were in transit between St. George, Utah, and Louisville, Kentucky.

First is a family photo in the front yard of the Bolger farm:

Second is a photo I know Allison likes as Grandpa Glenn holds her and sister Annette looks on.

There were lots and lots more photos, but these are a couple of representative ones.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 6 - Feb 8-14, 1937

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 6 - Feb 8-14, 1937

My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school. During the latter half of 2011, commented weekly on these entries.
For 1937, I am transcribing the daily entries, currently, at The KINNICK Project surname blog.

In this weekly blog post, I will make summary comments and observations, and perhaps add a photo, from time to time.

Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 9 years old. Pete Smith is her 'boy friend' - fourth month starting Jan 1 (they do marry, in Mar 1938).

Week 6 (Feb 8-14): Pete still missing on the 8th, but showed up at the store on the 9th. Later, they "Talked things over & came to an understanding. Grand time. So good to be together again."

On Friday, the 12th, we see she mentions the "5 Yr" diary entries. Going to the ball game is a big deal - and they stay out nearly all night. Next day, Saturday, she needs a nap!

Had to wonder if Earl and Edna had chosen Valentine's Day for their wedding, but it is never mentioned in Eileen's diary entry.

Ancient Valentine Card

Also, I enjoyed researching Wayne Cooley, again!  ;-)


Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sharing Memories - St. George, UT (63-64)

Sharing Memories - St. George, UT (63-64)


For Those Places Thursday this week I posted a photo of our house in St. George, Utah, where we moved in the Fall of 1963 while in the U.S. Air Force. We were there a little less than a year, but it seems much more important then that short time period, because of the events of the period.

Until I began writing this, I had forgotten that the Kennedy assassination occurred at this time (Nov 1963). I remember hearing it on the radio in the orderly room, at my desk, but I had not recalled whether we were in Winslow or St. George. It had to have been St. George.

The following photo of Annette is one I had been remembering, because it not only showed her, but also our new car, the blue Chevelle, but the mesa in the background especially well. It also looks west down the street toward our good friends, the Bowler family. They had a daughter about Annette's age that she played with a lot. The dad was the local ward Morman church Bishop. He worked for the electric company, as I recall. The dad next door, between our house and Bowlers, made dentures, in a lab in his back yard. They had two young boys. Funny what you remember.

The singular big event of this period, however, was, of course, the arrival of Allison in Mar 1964, just about 48 years ago (in a couple of weeks). (Nancy did all the work, of course...) Here we are a couple of months after that.

That will do for today. Thanks for joining us on this journey. More to come, of course.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sport Center Saturday - Pebble Beach

Sport Center Saturday - Pebble Beach

A frivolous entry - surely I'm entitled, once in a while...

My closest approach to the Pebble Beach Golf Course, where the PGA Tour is playing this weekend. The closing 18th is right over my head here, in the background. I believe we were up for the weekend, to see U of Arizona basketball team playing at Stanford and Cal. I'll post the photo of Nancy and Arrion taken at the same time, so Arrion will tell us which year this was!  '87?

Obviously, this one is looking south, from approximately where I was standing in the photo above. Quite a view then, still great views to see on TV this weekend.

Families are Forever!  ;-)

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 6

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 6


52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy 2012 prompts suggested by Amy Coffin; thanks, Amy!

    •    Week 6 – Family Heirlooms: For which family heirloom are you most thankful? How did you acquire this treasure and what does it mean to you and your family?

This week’s prompt runs from Sunday, February 5 through Saturday, February 11, 2012.
http://wetree.blogspot.com/
My wife and I each have a woodworking project of our respective fathers from when they were in high school in the 1930s.

My dad made a 'knickknack' hanging shelf - it is in my office. It hung in our family farm home into the 1980s, even after he died. Mom remarried after a number of years. Her second husband was a woodworker, and he refinished the shelf. When she died, it was one of the pieces I received.

My wife's Dad made a desk. It is our loft, with her 'reserve' Mac set up at it. It would be nice to have it refinished. Perhaps one day we will accomplish that.

Having something they each created with their own hands, as young men, is neat, to us. They may not be valuable in money, but they have a great deal of sentimental value to us. They will most likely go to our two grandchildren, one day.  ;-)


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - St. George, Utah (Fall 1963)

Those Places Thursday - St. George, Utah (Fall 1963)

In the fall of 1963 we moved from Winslow, Arizona, to St. George Utah. This move took us from south and east of the Grand Canyon to north and west of the Grand Canyon! The whole detachment, all the radars, all the trailers they were housed in, all moved from the mesa west of Winslow to another mesa on the west edge of St. George. Actually, in the photo, above, looking north and a little west, you can see the north end of the mesa to the far left. The St. George airport is also on the mesa; the detachment was to the south end of the mesa.

It appears this photo was taken at Christmas time; I can see the wreath and other decorations. We lived here until Summer 1964. Allison was born in March. Life marches on.  ;-)

Families are forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - More Winslow visitors

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - More Winslow visitors

My Mom and Dad and three youngest brothers visited us in Winslow, Arizona, Spring 1962, I believe. Brothers, from left, Paul, Tom and Barry; Mom and I in back; Nancy holding Annette on right.

Ok, need Dad in the photo! And, like magic, he appears. Must have just come home from Church! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Eileen KINNICK - 75 yrs ago - Week 5 - Feb 1-7, 1937

Eileen KINNICK
75 yrs ago
Week 5 - Feb 1-7, 1937


My mother, Eileen KINNICK (maiden name), kept a diary from 1932 until her death in 1999. In Feb 2005, I created a website of her 1936 diary, the year she graduated from high school. During the latter half of 2011, commented weekly on these entries.
For 1937, I am transcribing the daily entries, currently, at The KINNICK Project surname blog.

In this weekly blog post, I will make summary comments and observations, and perhaps add a photo, from time to time.
Setting: The family lived in a farmhouse a couple of miles out of town (Coon Rapids, Iowa). Older brother, Leo, lived at home; his girl friend, later wife, Ida, visited regularly. Younger brother, Buzzy (she often wrote Bussy) was 9 years old. Pete Smith is her 'boy friend' - fourth month starting Jan 1 (they do marry, in Mar 1938).

 Week 5 (Feb 1-7):

One of the highlights this week, for me, was the Feb 3 entry (Wed) where "Pete & Charley fixing Chrystal's wringer" in the short version and "Pete came  & he & Charlie finally got the staft out" in the longer version. I hope you enjoyed the image of the 1936 Maytag Wringer Washing Machine, as well.

 From last week, the Jan 29 diary entry (Fri) [as well as my Jan 25 Wordless (nearly) Wednesday post] I want to provide an update - I came across the photo of Eileen's first cousin, Ila Jean Kinnick, that I was thinking of. I believe it is a high school graduation photo. I feel much better having come across it - and recognizing it - and being able to share it here!

And, finally, I have to call attention to Sunday night (posted today): "Pete didn't come over. 1st Sun. nite in 4 mos. I haven't been with Pete. Really lonesome." What do you suppose will happen next?

Comments welcomed! 

Families are Forever!  ;-)

Sharing Memories - RBS Express (62-63)

Sharing Memories - RBS Express (62-63)


On the last Those Places Thursday I shared so photos of my three temporary duty assignments (TDY) to the RBS Express in Nevada, Montana and Kansas. It started with the sun rising over the RBS Express parked in Hysham, Nevada.

This photo is especially meaningful because these experiences are the only time in my life, I think, that I ever worked a steady 'night shift' for any length of time. I was on from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., as I recall, for weeks at a time. It is a different work environment - and I am thankful for the experience. When I later studied Service Encounters as my specialty within Services Management in my doctoral program, being able to recall the 'feelings' of being a worker during those hours really helped me to be able to have a least some feel for a retail worker at a 24 hour business, such as a convenience store. Or, a heath care worker in a hospital, for another examples. It really is a 'different world,' I remember going into the dining car, just coming off my working shift, eating breakfast, then, in a hour or so, going to bed for my 'night of sleep' - getting up in the early to mid-afternoon. The rest of the day and into the evening was free time… back to work at 10 p.m.

Somehow, on some of those afternoons, I became acquainted with a local mail carrier and some local ranchers. I do not recall the exact circumstances, but, I enjoyed riding around the mountainous regions near the train. I'm sure this was on the Montana TDY. There are some vivid images in my memory, but no connecting details. Fascinating.

Even MANY years later, just thinking about that 'night shift' work brings back 'physical' responses in my body. The memories did when I was in my doctoral studies, they do now. Strange how that happens. As a reader, do you have memories of working in the middle of the night in any of your work? Similar, or different memories and responses?

I want to include one more story here, unrelated, except in my mind, they go together. Our oldest daughter, Annette, would have been three in Aug of 1963, just before we moved from Winslow to St. George, Utah. The memory (and this is my story, so I'll tell it my way, regardless of the "truth'' aspect of anything I may say) I have is of Annette, 3, up on a picnic bench at a Winslow-based airman party, doing "The Twist." Chubby Checker first hit #1 with "The Twist" with a single in 1960. As the related dance, "The Twist" took hold, his musical version hit number 1 again, in 1962.


The final memory of this 'set' will be that Nancy was pregnant with Allison as we pulled up stakes in Winslow and moved the family, and the 'Air Force Detachment base,' to St. George, Utah, in the fall of 1963… the story for next week.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 4

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy - Week 4


52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy 2012 prompts suggested by Amy Coffin; thanks, Amy!

    •    Week 5 – Life Experiences: Sometimes the challenges in life provide the best learning experiences. Can you find an example of this in your own family tree? Which brick wall ancestor are you most thankful for, and how did that person shape your family history experience?

This week’s prompt runs from Sunday, January 29 through Saturday, February, 2012.


I cannot claim one individual, but I really appreciate a set, a class, of ancestors WHO MOVED at the right time to meet a spouse in a totally new location that allowed me to exist. A few examples:

• A great-grandfather, born in Iowa, but his family had mostly lived in Illinois; at marrying age, he moved 'back' to Iowa with an uncle, met his wife, and settled there the rest of his life.
• Another great-grandfather, in the gold rush in CA, ID, MT, went back to Ohio for a visit with family. Met and married my great-grandmother and moved her to Montana where their children were born.
• One of those children 'was moved to Iowa' when the parents split; there, she grew up and met my grandfather.

We can dig out some information to justify some of the moves… but if any one of them had not taken place, when they did, across big patches of the USA, the family could have been VERY different. One of the interesting sets of stories that comes from our family history research. What is your story?


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Those Places Thursday - RBS Express (62-63)

Those Places Thursday
RBS Express (62-63)


This is a very special Those Places because it occurred 'while' we were living it Winslow, Arizona, and St. George, Utah… It is the U.S. Air Force RBS Express, a train in several locations where I served during my 3 years in the service.

 The sun rising on the RBS Express parked in Hysham, Montana. It is a few miles west of Miles City, Montana. I had a temporary duty (TDY) assignment here, near Elko, Nevada, and in western Kansas.

This was The RBS Express #2 in full set-up - you can see the flag in the center, and the radar units on top, further back along the roof line.

 Here the airmen are operating the MSQ-39 radar monitoring bombing runs by B-47 and B-52 aircraft. Note that discussion at the wikipedia link talked about MSQ-35 equipment. Did you note that there 21 cars, 17 support and 4 radar… the description is very accurate!

Here was our dining car - we operated 3 shifts, so someone eating about all the time!

 The orderly room. I worked at one of the desks, when I was on shift.

This was the Pullman sleeper car where my compartment was. Very tiny. Each of the above photos was from Aug-Sep 62.

 This was the Nevada TDY assignment, the train is approaching Deeth, Nevada; note the nearby mountains… each terrain was carefully chosen, they told us. This was Mar 63. Once we were 'parked' on our siding, the engines would go on to other work, of course.

 This one is from Aug 63 - likely the western Kansas TDY trip - all the officers and noncoms assigned. I am third from the right, beside the taller commanding officer (a pilot).

A very memorable part of my Air Force experience.


Families are Forever!  ;-)

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Jan 63 Winslow visitors

Wordless (nearly) Wednesday - Jan 63 Winslow visitors

A happy group of travelers visited us at our home in Winslow, Arizona, in January, 1963. Note that both Floyd and Rhoda had their cameras handy as I took this photo of them.

The three Wilson sisters and their cousin, Floyd Offill.

Ladies, from left, Rhoda Wilson, Hazel (Wilson) Bolger, and Laura (Wilson) Anderson

Hazel, of course, is Nancy's grandmother.

Hazel was a babysitter for my brothers and I as we grew up, as well, so like a second grandma! ;-)

Families are Forever!  ;-)