LEWISTON, UTAH
BEGINNING IN THE 1920’s
COMPILED BY JAY BOMAN JUNE/1990
VERDEN BOMAN
ONE OF MY FOND MEMORIES WAS GOING TO BRIGHAM CITY TO GET FRUIT. I DIDN’T GET TO GO EACH TIME AS WE HAD TO SAVE SPACE FOR FRUIT. OH HOW GOOD WERE THE PEACHES, WATERMELON, CHERRIES, CANTALOUPES AND APPLES. DAD WOULD SCARE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME IN SARDINE CANYON.
WE USED TO GO TO GRANDPA PITCHER’S HOUSE FOR THANKSGIVING. SOME OF THE TIMES WE’D HAVE SNOW AND GO IN A SLEIGH. WE HAD A GREY TEAM OF HORSES CALLED KIT AND FOX, LOTS OF STRAW IN THE SLEIGH AND WARM BLANKETS AND HEATED ROCKS. WE’D SING “OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS” AND “THE OLD GRAY MARE”. WE USED TO HAVE SUCH GOOD MEALS AT GRANDMA’S BUT IT SURE WAS HARD WAITING UNTIL THE GROWN-UPS FINISHED EATING——————SEEMED LIKE THEY WOULD EAT FOR HOURS. THEN THE CHILDREN ATE ACCORDING TO AGE GROUPS.
I REMEMBER BEFORE DAD BECAME INACTIVE AND STARTED SMOKING, WE WOULD HAVE HOME EVENINGS ONCE IN A WHILE. WE WOULD ALL SING SONGS, RECITE POEMS AND TELL STORIES AND BEAR OUR TESTIMONY. I REMEMBER MAVIN WOULD REALLY BE SPIRITUAL.
WE WERE ALSO HAPPY WHEN DAD PURCHASED A NEW PHILCO RADIO CONSOLE. WE ALL GATHERED AROUND IT TO HEAR FAVORITE PROGRAMS —- “JACK ARMSTRONG AND LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE”, ETC.
DAD USED TO GET US UP IN THE MORNING TO DO CHORES. THEN HE WOULD OCCUPY THE BATHROOM AND WE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM OUTDOORS. AFTER A FRESH SNOW IN THE WINTER THERE WOULD BE YELLOW SPOTS IN THE SNOW. SOMETIMES WE’D DO OUR INITIALS IN THE SNOW.
IN 1930 WE MOVED INTO THE NEW HOME. WE COULD HANG OUR STOCKINGS ON THE FIREPLACE MANTEL AND HAVE A FIRE THERE ALSO. THE NEXT YEAR WE BOYS RECEIVED A LIONEL ELECTRIC TRAIN FOR CHRISTMAS.
WE KEPT THE STOVE HOT TO KEEP THE GREASE TO THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE FOR DONUTS. I SUPPOSE I GOT TO HOT AND PASSED OUT.
IN 1935 or 36 DAD BOUGHT A NEW TERREPLANE FOUR DOOR CAR WITH MOHAIR UPHOLSTERY AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES. IT WOULD GO 100 MILES AN HOUR. WE TOOK A FAMILY TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE PARK IN IT.
WE WOULD HARK HARD TO HARVEST SUGAR BEETS BEFORE WINTER SET IN. SOMETIMES WE’D NEARLY FREEZE —— IT WOULD BE COLD, WET SNOWY AND WIND BLOWING BUT WHEN WE FINALLY FINISHED, THE FOLKS WOULD TAKE US TO LOGAN TO A NICE RESTAURANT AND HAVE A SALMON STEAK DINNER. MMMMMMMMMM GOOD.!!!!!!!
DAVID BOMAN
MY FIRST RECOLLECTION WAS GOING TO HODGES STORE ON MY TRICYCLE. THE ROAD WAS BEING PAVED AND I COULDN’T PUSH MY TRIKE OVER THE RIDGE ON THE EDGE AND I THOUGHT I WAS STRANDED FOREVER. THEN SOMEONE LOADED ME IN A CAR AND TOOK ME HOME. THE WORST IS I LOST MY PIECE OF GUM CHICK HODGE GAVE ME.
DAD WAS STACKING HAY BETWEEN OUR PLACE AND UNCLE GOLD’S. HE WOULD CROW LIKE A ROOSTER. I WOULD STAND ON THE BACK PORCH AND CROW BACK AT HIM.
DAD WOULD COME IN FROM DOING CHORES AND GET ME OUT OF BED AND SET ME ON THE OVEN OF MOM’S MONARCH RANGE. IT WAS ALWAYS WARM FROM BAKING MOM’S DELICIOUS HOME MADE BREAD. SOME OF MY FAVORITE FOODS WERE 3—5 ICE CREAM CRANKED BY HAND IN THE FREEZER ( AND REMEMBER BREAKING THE ICE IN A BURLAP BAG WITH AN AX), PLUM PUDDING AND SAUCE, SINKERS AND SOAKIE AND CHILI SAUCE AND OF COURSE LEMON PIE. MOM ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL TOUCH WITH FOOD.
A SPECIAL TREAT WAS GETTING TO WATCH AN HOUR OF CARTOONS AT THE THEATER IN LEWISTON AND HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO GO TO TYNER’S DRUG STORE FOR A CHOCOLATE NUT SUNDAE.
I GOT TO WATCH SOUTH WEST LEWISTON PLAY TRENTON AT BASE BALL. DAD WAS UMPIRE. I DIDN’T LIKE IT WHEN EVERYONE HOLLERED AT HIM. I LIKED IT EVEN LESS WHEN I STOOD IN AN ANT PILE AND HAD TO PULL MY PANTS DOWN TO GET THE ANTS OFF. EVERYONE LAUGHED AND HONKED THE CARS HORNS. I CAN STILL FEEL THE PAIN FROM THE BITES.
WHEN JAY AND I WENT TO HOE BEETS WE WOULD TAKE A LUNCH. WHEN HE WASN’T LOOKING I PUT A DEAD MOUSE IN HIS LUNCH. HE WENT HOME TO TELL THE FOLKS AND I ATE HIS LUNCH TOO.
REMEMBER THE RODEO IN THE CORRAL BY UNCLE GOLD’S BARN? DICK GOT HURT. I GOT MAD AT VONDA AND CONNIE. THEY WOULDN’T GIVE ME LEMONADE BECAUSE I HAD NO MONEY.
DICK AND MAVIN WOULD GIVE ME HORSE BACK RIDES ON BEEBEE ON THE FRONT LAWN. IT WAS FUN UNTIL I FELL OFF AND HIT MY HEAD AND STARTED CRYING. THEN DAD WOULD COME OUT WITH THE BELT AND THE FUN WAS OVER.
THE TRIPS TO BEAR LAKE FOR A SWIM AND PICNIC WAS ALWAYS FUN AND TO DOWNATA AND LAVA HOT SPRINGS.
AUNT PHOEBE PUT FRESH BAKED PIES ON THE PANTRY WINDOW TO COOL. I WAS TOLD THE ONE ON THE END WAS AN EXTRA ONE AND IF I BROUGHT IT OUT BY THE POPLAR TREES BY THE DITCH I COULD HAVE A PIECE. IT WENT FINE UNTIL I WENT AROUND THE END OF UNCLE GOLD’S GARAGE AND THERE HE STOOD WITH A LONG BRISTLED HORSE BRUSH IN HIS HAND HE WAS CLEANING. WILLOWS, BELTS, BUGGY WHIPS AND SOME ONE’S SHOE ON THE HIND END IS ENOUGH BUT YOU HAVEN’T LIVED TILL YOU HAVE FELT THE SENSATION OF A LONG BRISTLED BRUSH.
DID ANYONE EVER SEE A WATER DOG? IT SEEMS STRANGE THERE WAS WATERDOGS IN THE IRRIGATION DITCHES WHEN WE WERE TOLD NOT TO GO SWIMMING.
THE BIGGEST INJUSTICE I HAD TO SUFFER WAS TO TURN THE CRANK ON THE ICE CREAM FREEZER UNTIL MY ARMS ACHED AND NOT EVEN GET TO LICK THE BEATER. EVERYONE ALWAYS HAD WORK TO DO UNTIL THE ICE CREAM WAS FROZEN AND THE BEATER CAME OUT AND THEN THEY CAME OUT OF THE WOOD WORK.
WHEN WE WENT FISHING AT EIGHT MILE IN IDAHO, DAD SENT ME DOWN THE CREEK AHEAD OF HIM. HE CAUGHT FISH RIGHT WHERE I HAD REEN. IT WAS DISCOURAGING. WE CAME TO A CULVERT BY A ROAD, DAD TOLD ME TO STAY THERE WHILE HE WENT ON FISHING. WHEN HE CAME BACK I HAD MANAGED TO CATCH A TWO POUND TROUT. I WAS SO PROUD I BEGGED MOM NOT TO FRY IT. IT DID TASTE GOOD.
MOM MADE SUCH GOOD DINNER WHEN I HAD A BIRTHDAY AND HAD FRIENDS OVER. I SURE FELT SORRY FOR MOM WHEN SHE HAD TO CLEAN THE MESS SHIRLEY SPACKMAN MADE WHEN SHE UPCHUCKED ON THE FLOOR.
THE MOST MEMORABLE AND MAYBE THE BEST CAR I HAD WAS THE FIRST ONE. THE FOLKS MADE A DOWN PAYMENT ON A 38 CHEV. IT HAD TO BE A GOOD CAR TO STAND THE ABUSE I GAVE IT. IS SURE PUT THE MILES ON IT.
THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD MEMORIES OF ALL THE FAMILY AND THE FOLKS….IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO WRITE ABOUT. I LOVE ALL OF YOU AND APPRECIATE ALL THE MEMORIES. DAVE.
BECKY BOMAN WALKER
WELL, HERE WE GO—————-,
I REMEMBER PIANO LESSONS IN THE SUMMER WHEN JAY WOULD TAKE ME UP TO MISS EGBERT’S. THEN WE’D STOP AT LEWISTON DRUG FOR PINEAPPLE MALTS.
I REMEMBER WATCHING YOU (JAY) THIN AN ACRE OF IN ONE DAY AND WONDERING IF I WOULD EVER BE THAT GOOD. BOY, YOU COULD REALLY GO.
MILK——————WITH HOME MADE CHOCOLATE SYRUP, THAT WAS THE REALLY GOOD STUFF AT THE END OF A ROW OF BEETS.
HOW ABOUT SHOPPING TRIPS TO LOGAN AND LUNCH AT THE BLUEBIRD————SALMON STEAK AND IRON PORT WITH CHERRY TO DRINK, AND YES BISMARKS AT LOGAN BAKERY.
I REMEMBER THE WARD REUNION AT SECOND WARD WHEN I WAS PLAYING CENTER FIELD, DAD WAS UP TO BAT AND I CAUGHT HIS LONG FLY BALL ( IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HOME RUN) HEE HEE.
HOW ABOUT SUMMERS AT BEAR LAKE AND LAVA HOT SPRINGS. MUSIC (PIANO) FESTIVALS IN SALT LAKE
THOSE WARM SUMMER DAYS SITTING IN OUR TREE BY THE HOUSE AND PRETENDING I WAS RIDING A HORSE, IF NOT THE TREE, THEN THE BACK PORCH ARCH, IF NOT THAT, THEN THE CORRAL FENCE—————ALMOST ANYTHING WAS A HORSE.
I USED TO LOVE TO FILL THE COAL BIN AND TAKE OUT THE CLINKERS ——THAT WAS A NICE HOT JOB ON A COLD WINTER NIGHT.
I REMEMBER HAULING HAY, DRIVING THE TEAM AND STOMPING DOWN THE HAY ON THE WAGONS, I ALSO REMEMBER THE TIME THAT MAVIN AND JAY THREW SNAKES UP ON THE WAGON ALONG WITH THE HAY—————THAT WASN’T NICE. AND THE TIME VEAN ROLLED OFF THE HAY WAGON AND BROKE HIS ARM AND WHEN DAVID DROVE THE BIG TRACTOR DOWN INTO THE DRAIN.
I REMEMBER WHAT SEEMED LIKE 20 FOOT MOUNTAINS OF PEAS TO SHELL AND GREEN BEANS TO CUT AND RASPBERRIES——————RASPBERRIES BOTTLED WERE THE BEST. AND MOM’S PIES———————NEED I SAY MORE.
THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS…WHEN I’M FEELING SAD, I SIMPLY REMEMBER MY FAVORITE THINGS AND I DON’T FEEL SO BAD.
MAVIN BOMAN
MEMORY LANE. RIDING IN THE CAR WITH DAD AND MOTHER SINGING. SOME YEARS BEFORE THAT WE WOULD GO TO GRANDPA PITCHER’S FOR CHRISTMAS AND THANKS GIVING ON A BOB SLEIGH. LATER DAD GOT A MODEL T FORD, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE NICEST THING I HAD EVER SEEN IN MY SHORT LIFE. WE NEVER LEFT GRANDPA’S UNTIL AFTER DARK. THE FOLKS WOULD START SINGING ‘DOWN BY THE OLD MILL STREAM AND OH HOW I MISS YOU TONIGHT….BY THAT TIME WE WERE ALL ASLEEP. I LOVED TO SLEEP IN THE REAR SEAT OF THAT CAR. THERE WAS THE TIME DICK RAN BEHIND THE CHRISTMAS TREE THAT TOUCHED THE CEILING CHASING ME AND IT TIPPED OVER. THERE WAS THE LONG WAIT WE KIDS HAD IN THE BIG WALK IN CLOSET WAITING FOR THE ADULTS TO FINISH CHRISTMAS AND THANKSGIVING MEALS. .THAT WAS FUN.
SPEAKING OF KOOL—AID….THE TIME MOTHER MADE A HALF GALLON OF LEMON LIME, MY FAVORITE,…VERDEN, DICK AND I WERE DOWN AT THE FAR END OF THE FIELD NORTH OF THE BIG DRAIN AND WEST OF THE HOUSE HOEING BEETS, SHE SENT IT DOWN WITH LAEL AND SAID TAKE IT TO THE BOYS. WE WATCHED HIM CARRY IT ALL THE WAY DOWN THE LANE ACROSS THE TRACKS….GUESS WHERE IT WENT??? TOO ALVA AND RAY DOWN IN THE LOWER FIELD. FOR SOME CRAZY REASON I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN THAT.
I REMEMBER THE TIME VERDEN HAD GONE OUT TO DO THE CHORES. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT FIVE DEGREES BELOW ZERO. DICK AND I STAYED IN BED A LITTLE LONGER, THEN WE PUT ON OUR BOOTS, MADE A LITTLE NOISE…CLOMPED TO THE TOP OF THE BASEMENT STAIRS, OPENED THE DOOR AND SHUT IT BUT STAYED INSIDE AND TIP TOED BACK TO BED. NO NEED TO TELL WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT.
ONE LITTLE THING WE WENT TO SCHOOL IN OUR CHORE CLOTHES, MANURE AND ALL.
THERE WAS FUN TIMES LIKE GOING TO LAVA HOT SPRINGS, YELLOWSTONE PARK AND FAMILY REUNIONS AND BEEBEE( OUR FAVORITE PONY) PULLING THE SKID THAT UNCLE GOLD BUILT TO HAUL BEET PULP TO THE COWS AND BRAN TO THE PIGS. GOOD OLE BEEBEE NEVER COMPLAINED WHEN WE ALL LOADED IN THE SKID AND WENT TO THE SUGAR FACTORY AT NIGHT TO EAT BURNT SUGAR. IT WAS TEN MILES ROUND TRIP.
THERE WAS THE TIMES WE WALKED TO THE TENT SHOWS IN TOWN, THE SHOWS WERE SCARY.. .WALKING HOME JUST PAST DENT’S PLACE A BIG THUNDER AND LIGHTNING HIT THE TRANSFORMER AND BANG, A BIG BALL OF FIRE ROLLED DOWN THE WIRES TOWARD HOME. WE RAN ALL THE WAY HOME…WIDE OPEN.
THERE WAS THE TIME OLD BILLY GLOVER IN HIS ROCKING CHAIR TELLING US KIDS TRUE INDIAN STORIES ABOUT HOW THE INDIANS CAME IN HIS HOUSE WHILE HE WAS AWAY…STARTED TO TAKE OFF WITH HIS WIFE JUST AS HE WAS COMING HOME AND STOPPED THEM.
AND WHEN LAEL RAN BY WITH HIS OVERALLS ON FIRE, HE HAD A BUNCH OF LEAVES BURNING IN HIS BACK POCKET….OLD BILLY IN 80’s RAN AND CAUGHT HIM AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. IT BURNT A SPOT ON HIS BUTT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A SAUCER.
SOME SONGS I REMEMBER:
BY PATTI PAGE
WHERE OR WHEN
YOU BELONG TO ME
TENNESSEE WALTZ
INK SPOTS
IF I DIDN’T CARE
THE GYPSY
I DON’T WANT TO SET THE WORLD ON FIRE (REMEMBER DICK)
WE THREE (REMEMBER VONDA)
MY ECHO
THERESA BREWER
TILL I WALTZ AGAIN WITH YOU
PUT ANOTHER NICKEL IN THE NICKELODEON
LET ME GO LOVER
MCGUIRE SISTERS
ON A CLEAR DAY
HE
GOODNIGHT SWEETHEART
SINCERELY
MARGARET WHITING
THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC
I’VE HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE
AND LAST……..TOPPING BEETS ONE OCTOBER 20 LONG AGO ABOUT TEN IN THE MORNING ….WORD CAME FROM THE HOUSE WE HAD A CUTE LITTLE DARK HAIRED SISTER. THAT’S WHEN WE QUIT MAKING OVER JAY AND DAVE……..VEAN YET TO COME
LOVE ALWAYS MAVIN
JAY BOMAN
FIRST MEMORIES. BEING ABLE TO PULL MYSELF UP TO SEE OVER THE KITCHEN COUNTER TOPS. AUNT MAGGIE SPANKING ME WHEN I MESSED MY PANTS WHEN THE FOLKS LEFT ME THERE AND HOW AWFUL IT FELT TO BE HOMESICK. CLEANING THE DIRT OUT FROM BETWEEN MY TOES. PUTTING OUR CLOTHES UNDER THE KITCHEN STOVE EACH NIGHT. DAD COMING INTO VONDA’S BEDROOM WITH A BELT. I WAS BETWEEN MAVIN AND VONDA AND DIDN’T GET STRAPPED. I GUESS WE WERE MAKING TOO MUCH NOISE. RIDING TO BRIGHAM AND SEEING INDIANS ON HORSES PULLING POLES ON EACH SIDE OF THE HORSE AND A LOAD OF SOMETHING AT THE END OF THE POLES. DAD TAKING ME TO A RESTAURANT IN OGDEN AND SHOWING ME THE FIRST BLACK MAN I HAD EVER SEEN AND TELLING ME TO LOOK AT THE WHITE UNDER THEIR PALMS. AND SEEING A WOMAN SMOKING . . . .I REMEMBER THINKING HOW AWFUL. REMEMBER THE WILLOWS BETWEEN OUR PLACE AND GOLD’S AND IMAGINING SCARY THINGS HIDING IN THEM AND RUNNING FAST AS I COULD WHEN STAYING TOO LATE PLAYING WITH ASEL. HOW I USED TO HELP MOTHER CLEAN HOUSE BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND WONDERING IF CHRISTMAS WOULD EVER COME.
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN UNCLE WILL AND AUNT EFFIE USED TO COME FOR DINNER AND HOW SPECIAL IT WAS TO HAVE JELLO WITH WHIP CREAM AND CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ICING. I DON’T REMEMBER GRANDPA BOMAN BUT I REMEMBER THE ROCKER HE USED TO SIT IN AND GRANDMA BOMAN ALWAYS HAD NICE THINGS TO SAY WHEN I BROUGHT HER EGGS AND BUTTER. GRANDMA PITCHER HAD PRETTY AND HAPPY BLUE EYES. I STAYED WITH HER ONE NIGHT AND CUDDLED HER WARM TUMMY. I REMEMBER GRANDPA PITCHER WAS SICK AND IN IN THE BED IN THE ROOM OFF THE KITCHEN AND HE HAD WARM FRIENDLY EYES. I DON’T REMEMBER DINNERS AT GRANDMA PITCHERS BUT I REMEMBER HER BIG ROUND OAK TABLE AND THE PANTRY WITH THE SHELVES WITH ROWS OF PIES.
I TOO REMEMBER HOW MUCH FUN IT WAS TO GO TO LOGAN WITH THE FOLKS AND ON THE WAY HOME WE WOULD EAT BISMARKS AND EVERYONE WOULD SING. AND I REMEMBER DAD ALWAYS DRIVING TOO FAST.
MARY AND I USED TO MIX COCOA AND SUGAR AND PUT IN OUR MOUTHS AND THEN BLOW IT ON EACH OTHER OR LAUGH WITH OUR MOUTHS FULL. AND WATKINS MALT POWDER, SOMETIMES I WOULD EAT UNTIL THE CAN WAS EMPTY.
I TOO LOVED THE TRIPS TO BEAR LAKE AND REMEMBER HOW WE WOULD ARGUE WHO WAS THE FIRST TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE LAKE. IT WAS AN EXTRA TREAT TO GO TO LAVA AND DOWNATA.
I REMEMBER DAD HAD SO MUCH ENERGY AND HE COULD PLANT ROWS AS STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW. ONCE DAD SET ME ON THE STOOL AND CUT ALL MY HAIR OFF. I WAS SURE MAD ABOUT THAT. THINNING BEETS AND WORKING IN THE HAY WAS AWFULLY HARD WORK AND I OFTEN WISHED JUST TEN MINUTES MORE IN THE COOL BASEMENT BEFORE GOING BACK TO WORK AFTER DINNER.
MOTHER WAS SUCH A GOOD COOK AND SHE JUST LOVED TO SEE THE BEAUTIFUL COWS IN THE PASTURE AND HOW BAD WE FELT WHEN SOME OF COWS BLOATED ON ALFALFA.
VERDEN SEEMED TO BE THE BEST BEHAVED AND KINDA WATCHED OVER ME AT BOY SCOUT OUTINGS. . . .AND REMEMBER VERDEN HOW GOOD THAT STEW TASTED AFTER COOKING ALL NIGHT IN THE POT UNDERGROUND UP ON THE HILL NORTH OF PITCHER’S AND PLAYING CAPTURE THE FLAG. VERDEN MADE DONUTS AS SOON AS THE FOLKS LEFT. ONE DAY HE PASSED OUT AND FELL ON THE FLOOR. WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
RICHARD WAS A HARD WORKER AND HE ALWAYS TOLD ME STORIES OF HOW HE COULD BEAT UP ON GUYS TWICE HIS SIZE. I WAS IMPRESSED.
MAVIN AND RICHARD DID A LOT OF THINGS I WONDERED ABOUT LIKE KILLING SPRING FRYERS AND FRYING THEM AND THEY ALWAYS HAD THE BEST LOOKING GIRL FRIENDS. I REMEMBER HOW I CRIED AND CRIED WHEN THEY CAME HOME ON FURLOUGH AND THEY SAID GOOD BYE AND LEFT THE FRONT DOOR TO GO BACK TO WAR.
VONDA USED TO PLAY WITH ME AND SHE LIKED MY MICKEY MOUSE HAT. I ATE TOO MANY RADISHES AND TOLD HER I DIDN’T FEEL WELL SHE HELD ME IN HER ARMS AND I VOMITED DOWN HER BACK. ONE TIME SHE TOOK ME ON A DATE WITH HER AND I FELT REAL GOOD ABOUT THAT.
I REMEMBER WHEN DAVID FELL IN THE DITCH IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND CAME OUT THE END OF THOSE TWO LONG PIPES OKAY. WE USED TO RIDE BEEBEE. I REMEMBER WHEN HE USED TO EAT COAL OUT OF THE COAL BUCKET.
I REMEMBER WHEN BECKY AND VEAN WERE BORN AND FELT EMBARRASSED THERE WAS SO MANY IN OUR FAMILY. BECKY AND I HAD LOTS OF FUN AT MISS EGBERT’S AND PIANO LESSONS
I DON’T RECALL MUCH ABOUT VEAN AS A CHILD BUT I REMEMBER HE BROKE HIS ARM BROKE ONCE AND HE AND MOTHER AND A CALF GOT TANGLED IN A ROPE AND I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE STRANGLED TO DEATH.
WHO WAS IT MOTHER WAS TRYING TO HELP WHEN SHE GRABBED HOLD ThE ELECTRIC FENCE AND FELL IN THE DITCH DOWN TO UNCLE GOLD’S??
I REMEMBER THE OLDER KIDS USED TO PLAY ICE HOCKEY DOWN IN THE CLEARING IN THE SLOUGH AND PLAY TARZAN IN THE BARN.
ONCE BECKY WAS CLIMBING UP THE STAIRWELL TO THE HAYLOFT AND DON THREW A HAY FORK DOWN AT THE SAME TIME.
ASEL AND I USED TO RIDE BEEBEE AND QUEEN UP TOWN TO SEE MOVIES. IT WAS 8 MILES ROUND TRIP. I USED TO TAKE THE TEAM AND WAGON TO THE SUGAR FACTORY AND GET A LOAD OF BEET PULP FOR THE COWS
I WAS IN THE KITCHEN WHEN WE HEARD ON THE RADIO ABOVE THE OLD KELVINATOR REFRIGERATOR ANNOUNCE JAPAN HAD BOMBED PEARL HARBOR. THE JAPANESE AMERICANS WERE MOVED FROM CALIFORNIA TO CAMPS NEAR SMITHFIELD. TWO OF THEM USED TO WORK FOR DAD. ONE NAMED YEONEO WAS GOOD TO ME AND PUMPED ME ON THE BIKE TO SEE MOVIES UP TOWN. DAD HAD GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR WORK IN OUR FIELDS AND I REMEMBER WATCHING THEM AND WONDERING IF THEY WERE DANGEROUS. MAVIN USED TO GO WITH ‘ADELE’ FROM PRESTON. LATER I TOOK HER HOME ONE NIGHT AND KISSED HER GOOD NIGHT. SHE HAD THE HOTTEST LIPS EVER.
WHEN I COME HOME FROM SCHOOL BAWLING ABOUT SOMETHING, MOTHER WOULD ALWAYS COMFORT ME AND SAY ‘NEVER MIND IT WILL ALL COME OUT IN THE WASH’ .
THANKS FOR CONTRIBUTING. . .EACH ONE OF YOU ADDED SPECIAL MEMORIES.
VONDA MORRISON
I ALSO HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THE FRUIT FROM BRIGHAM CITY, THERE NEVER WAS BETTER TASTING FRUIT ANYWHERE, EVEN IN CALIFORNIA. I ALSO REMEMBER WASHING FRUIT JARS AND PEELING PEACHES ETC. SO THE FRUIT COULD BE CANNED. THE SHELVES IN THE FRUITROOM LOOKED SO GOOD WHEN THEY WERE FILLED ALL THE GOOD FOOD THAT WAS THERE INCLUDING MINCE MEAT, JAMS AND CHILI SAUCE…WHICH SMELLED SO GOOD WHEN WE CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL. SOMETIMES MOTHER WOULD HAVE FRESH BAKED BREAD AND WOULD LET US HAVE SOME WITH FRESH CHILI SAUCE OR WARM JAM ON IT. WHY WAS IT THAT WE WERE SO HUNGRY ALL THE TIME?
DAD’S FAVORITE DESSERT WAS BOTTLED PEACHES AND YELLOW CAKE (PLAIN CAKE) WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING. DAD ALSO SCARED ME SOMETIMES WITH HIS EXCITING DRIVING PRACTICES. ALWAYS THE SHORT-CUT THAT TOOK MUCH MORE TIME THAN THE REGULAR ROUTE. DIDN’T CARE HOW MANY CARS WERE BEHIND HIM, AS LONG AS HE HAD THE LEAD. I REMEMBER HOW WONDERFUL THE 1936 TERREPLANE SEEMED, THE FAMILY TRIP TO YELLOWSTONE. THE COOLD NIGHTS AND THE HOME MADE FRUIT CAKE WE ALWAYS TOOK ON TRIPS BECAUSE IT KEPT SO WELL. THAT CAR WOULD GO LIKE THE WIND WHICH IT WAS DOING WHEN IT HAD A BLOWOUT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE SCARIEST TIMES I CAN REMEMBER. THE GREAT FEELING OF WARM WATER SWIMMING AT LAVA HOT SPRINGS. LAVEA, WE WOULD STAY IN THE WATER UNTIL OUR SKIN WAS ALL WRINKLED UP AND THE FOLKS HAD TO THREATEN US TO GET US TO COME OUT. MAYBE THE REAL TREAT WAS GETTING AWAY FROM A DAYS WORK, SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS ALWAYS PLENTY OF THAT, WHICH WAS THE GREATEST BLESSING, EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN’T THINK SO AT THE TIME.
MY FAVORITE HOME EVENINGS WERE THE ONES ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WE WOULD TO TO THE CHURCH FOR A SPECIAL PROGRAM AND A VISIT FROM SANTA. THEN WE WOULD GO HOME AND SING SONGS AND POEMS AND STORIES ABOUT CHRISTMAS. USUALLY SOME OF THE RELATIVES WERE THERE AND WE HAD A SPECIAL TREAT MOTHER HAD MADE FOR US. WE ALSO GOT TO OPEN ONE GIFT WHICH WAS A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE IT HELPED US TO BE ABLE TO STAND THE WAIT TIL MORNING FOR THAT SURPRIZE.
MUSIC ALWAYS MADE OUR LIVES SPECIAL, FROM LULLABYS TO THE SONGS ON THE WIND-UP PHONOGRAPH THAT THE FOLKS BROUGHT BACK FROM THEIR TRIP TO CALIFORNIA. THERE WERE LOTS OF GOOD BALLADS ON THE RECORDS AND MOTHER AND DAD USED TO SING TO US AS WE TRAVELED AND TAUGHT TO US. THEY SANG HYMN DUETS IN CHURCH TOO, I THOUGHT IT SOUNDED SO GOOD. THEN THE PIANO PLAYING OF JAY AND BECKY, BY THE TIME THEY LEARNED A PIECE WE ALL HAD MEMORIZED THE MUSIC. MUSIC WILL ALWAYS BE IMPORTANT TO OUR FAMILY. MAVIN, RICHARD, AND VERDEN SOLD GARDEN SEEDS ONE SUMMER AND AS A PREMIUM GOT ME A PETER PAN DOLL, I WAS SO THRILLED AND PLAYED WITH IT A LOT. I WAS DEVASTATED WHEN ITS HEAD CAME OFF. CONNIE AND OUISE AND I HAD A FUNERAL FOR IT AND WE BURIED IT IN THE OVEN OF THE COOK STOVE. MOTHER BUILT A FIRE IN THE STOVE TO HEAT WATER FOR DOING THE MONDAY MORNING WASHING. THE DOLL WAS CREMATED. I WAS SO SAD AND THE BOYS WERE SO MAD!!!!!!!!!
SPEAKING OF FUNERAL HAD A DOOZIE FOR OLD TINY, MAVIN’S DOG THAT GOT HIT BY A CAR. HE WAS THE ONLY DOG I REALLY LIKED, A REAL FAMILY PET. DAD HAD TO FINISH PUTTING HIM TO SLEEP AS HE COULDN’T GET WELL. NO HUMAN HAD A MORE IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL AND REAL FLOWERS FROM THE GARDEN. HE WAS BURIED IN THE APPLE ORCHARD BUT WE LOST TRACK OF THE GRAVE WHEN THE ORCHARD WAS DESTROYED.
ONE THING THAT IMPRESSED ME WAS THE WONDERFUL MEALS THE HAY-MEN AND THRESHERS HAD WHEN THEY ATE AT OUR HOME OF AUNT PHOEBE’S…THERE WERE MANY HOURS SPENT MAKING PIES AND CAKES AND MASHED POTATOES, MEAT AND GRAVY. THEN THE WASH TUB WAS PLACED ON THE BACK PORCH AND WE FILLED IT WITH BUCKETS OF HOT WATER SO THE MEN COULD WASH UP BEFORE THEY ATE. AS I LOOK BACK ON THAT I HAVE TO WONDER JUST HOW CLEAN THE LAST FEW WORKERS WERE ABLE TO GET. CONNIE AND I WOULD PRETEND WE WERE GROWN UP WAITRESSES LIKE IN THE MOVIES…BUT THE SHOW WAS OVER WHEN THEY ALL WENT BACK TO WORK AND THE STACKS OF DISHES AND POTS AND PANS WERE OUR SPECIAL CHORES.
THERE IS MUCH MORE I WOULD TO SOMEDAY TALK ABOUT, BUT THIS MUST SUFFICE FOR NOW. I AM GLAD I WAS REARED IN SUCH A FINE FAMILY…VONDA
(transcribed by Susan Carey August 2013; original typescript was all caps, so transcription kept this configuration)
(photo of Milton & Mozell on their honeymoon, 1918, in possession of Rebecca Walker)
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