Happy St. Patrick's Day and Wedding Anniversary-Pete and Eileen
We all know that March 17 is St. Patrick's Day. A few years ago, when we confirmed actually having Butler ancestor's born in Ireland, it became more significant to us. But, it had already been a big day in our family, because my parents, Pete and Eileen (Kinnick) Smith, were married on this date. Here in 2020 it is the 82th anniversary of that date.
From March 1-17, Pete and Eileen had been preparing the farmhouse that would be their home. They were renting the farm land from his mother's estate, with a house that had not been lived in for some time. Electric lines had not been run to this residence because no other homes were on that road.
Thanks to Mom's detailed diary entries, we have a lot of information on this time period. They were repairing, cleaning and scrubbing, painting and papering. They gathered minimal furniture from family and friends. They waited for the high-line to be brought to their home by the rural electric company. When it arrived, Pete had to run the wire to the house and the barn. He had to wire the house to have light fixtures and outlets where they needed them.
Late in the afternoon, March 17, 1938, with a couple of friends, they drove the 15 or so miles north to Carroll, where they were married in the Methodist Parsonage, by the Methodist Minister. Their friends were the witnesses. Their 'honeymoon' consisted of driving back to the farmhouse on dirt and mud roads to begin their married life together there.
I joined them on July 1, 1939.
Families are Forever! ;-)
