Tomorrow, another Special Picture. This one will be pictures of Lad’s Uniform jacket and dress hat.
Next week we’ll be looking at letters written in 1942. Tell your friends. They might really appreciate it.
Judy Guion
Category Archives: Award
Trumbull – Yellow Gold Seekers And Black Gold Hunter – July, 1940
We’ve moved back in time to 1940, when Lad is working in Venezuela for the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company and Dan and Ced have sailed from Seattle on their way to Anchorage. They have no job but lots of high hopes.
Epistle R-83
July 8, 1940
Indicted at Trumbull, Conn.,
And dispatched to ye two
Yellow Gold seekers in Alaska and
ye Black Gold hunter in Venezuela
To all of whom GREETING:
Last Tuesday by way of celebration of the fact that Richard had graduated and David just skinned by his first year and will next year attend Bassick, their father decided to blow them to a trip to the Big City. We drove down to a parking lot in back of the Tudor hotel via the Merritt Parkway in the little old Plymouth which Arnold had rejuvenated (he found a cracked cylinder which he replaced with another used unit at a cost of four dollars which he said did not include his charge for labor), and then took the elevated railroad (this mode of transportation is rapidly going in the discard — the 6th Avenue El being now only a memory) to the extreme end of the city. As Dick said he had never seen the Battery or the Statue of Liberty, we boarded the Staten Island ferry, which gives about the longest ride for a nickel across New York harbor that I know about, and then turned around and came back again. It was a beautiful day and the trip quite enjoyable. We then hiked up Broadway to Wall Street, saw Trinity Church, J.P. Morgan’s office, had lunch and took the subway back to Grand Central Station where we arranged with Elsie to have dinner with us that evening. We then walked over to Broadway and I bought tickets for “Hell’s a-Poppin’” for that evening and we then all went to the movies. Dave and I then walked up Fifth Avenue and inspected St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Dick had a sore foot and did not want too much walking). We then met Elsie and had a very enjoyable meal together. We all thoroughly enjoyed the show and started back home about midnight, arriving in Trumbull at about 2 AM. Just before we reached the toll station at Greenwich we were held up by red flares and bunched cars, but finally got through. There had been an accident of some sort and we saw some poor dock laid out on the grass, very still, with his shirt front all covered with blood. For a while after that Dick drove slowly.
I quote a letter just received from Aunt Anne: (from St. Albans, Vermont) “At last I have come to the point of writing you. I am sorry to be so long about it. I am enclosing a check to cover at least some of the expense you occurred during our very pleasant stay with you. I hope we were not too much bothered since we would like to be wellcome another time when we are able to visit with you again. Thank you so much for everything.
All of the imaginative planning I did for a quiet vacation has gone up in smoke more or less. I am getting more vacation and quiet than I bargained for. I expect to go into the hospital within a day or two to be there for probably six weeks. I told the Doctor I’d love a couple of weeks of it, but six weeks — no. But he said people get used to being in bed and after a while they don’t seem to mind it, so I suppose I’ll follow along like the rest. I have been having some trouble with my stomach which they find is abnormally low. Anyway, I’ll certainly get a good rest, probably put on pounds and pounds and come out feeling much better. So, I will not be tripping anywhere this summer. Thanks anyway for all the data you so thoughtfully got for me. I’ll have lots of fun looking it over and imagining how much fun it would be — if. I could perhaps store up some ideas for another time.
The children are down at Georgia’s shore, stay with Kemper and Ethel for the present while I have been going through their examinations. I can’t speak beyond the present though because I don’t yet know what will develop out of this predicament. I’m sure it will work out favorably somehow. Love to all the family and again, thanks. Sincerely, Anne.”
A letter from Ced mailed from Ketchikan, Alaska, the first stop made by the boat, dated June 28, two days out from Seattle, indicates a pleasant voyage with the exception that their bag and duffel were stored beneath tons and tons of baggage and they were forced to wear rough traveling clothes. It is characteristic of Dan, as it is with most others in this world who know what they want, to go after it in spite of seeming difficulties, that in desperation he started searching for the lost bags and found them right on top where they had been all the time. Ced writes the meals are only fair in quality but plentiful. People are friendly and they are having a good time dancing, playing games and looking at the scenery, including views of whales, etc. This steamer S.S. Mt. McKinley is old and the engine sets up quite a vibration.
This morning I got a brief postal from Dan mailed at Juneau, the second stop, or rather the third because he mentions stopping at Ketchikan and the fact that there were about five hours of darkness the night before.
A letter from Lad received July 1 mentions sending his electric razor back to the manufacturer in Stamford to be repaired, the fact that he has decided to stay with Socony-Vacuum at present due to changes the war has made in Venezuelan Petroleum’s plans. Mr. O’Connor told Lad to be sure to see him before he went home as he might have an offer to make to him at that time. He took some pictures of a live Anteater one of the men had brought into camp, but it was soon released because of the terrible odor. He must smell worse than Mack. He also tells of a visit to a German family, the Beckers, where they had German pancakes. He is attending a Spanish class and finds the patois spoken at the camp is not pure Castilian. Incidentally, I just came into possession of an interesting historical of my grandmother on my father’s side, your great grandmother. I learned for the first time that her father was German, so you boys have English, German, Dutch, French and Swedish blood in your veins. You should be able to master many languages quickly. Lad says he would like to be going with you boys to Alaska although things are not too bad down there for him. He will again be in charge of the garage for a few days while Chris is away. He contributes a South American joke: “What did the mayonnaise say to the refrigerator? Close the door, I’m dressing.”
I am enclosing a few clippings. One is a big Fourth of July parade they had in Bridgeport in honor of the opening of Park Avenue to the Merritt Parkway. You will recognize old John Hameseder and his arc.
Mrs. French told me that Dan Wells killed a copperhead in the long grass just beside his house the other day.
The last three days of last week Trumbull has had a Pageant. Dave took part in it. I understand it did not go over very well financially. It was for the benefit of the recreation fund.
And that’s all for this evening. Maybe there will be more news from all of you next week when this serial will be continued. I still don’t know what the news is regarding the sale of the Willys and whether the boys made contact with the Stolls in Seattle. I don’t even know what their address will be Alaska, so I’m sending this care of general delivery, Anchorage, hoping it will have better luck in finding them than my previous letters written to US points.
Toodoloo.
DAD
For the rest of the week, I’ll be posting letters from Grandpa to his sons in far off places and maybe we’ll find out more from the boys themselves.
Judy Guion
THE WORD PRESS FAMILY AWARD – 5.18.2013
Thank you, Sheila, at The Family Kalamazoo, (http://thefamilykalamazoo.wordpress.com ) for nominating me as a member of The WordPress Family. Sheila writes this blog which is a genealogical site devoted to the history of the DeKorn and Zuidweg families of Kalamazoo and the Mulder family of Caledonia. Her family is descended from French Huguenots, just as mine is, and I find the history fascinating. Make sure you check it out.
The following is an explanation of the award from Shaun who started the award – I just don’t know when. The rules are simple.
This is an award for everyone who is part of the “Word Press Family” I started this award on the basis that the WordPress family has taken me in, and showed me love and a caring side only WordPress can. The way people take a second to be nice, to answer a question and not make things a competition amazes me here. I know I have been given many awards, but I wanted to leave my own legacy on here by creating my own award, as many have done before. This represents “Family” we never meet, but are there for us as family. It is my honor to start this award. (from Shaun @ http://prayingforoneday.wordpress.com)
Rules:
1. Display the award logo on your blog.
2. Link back to the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate 10 others you see as having an impact on your Word Press experience and family
4. Let your 10 Family members know you have awarded them
5. That’s it. Just please pick 10 people that have taken you as a friend, inspired you or made a difference and spread the love
I would like to highlight the following bloggers (in no particular order) for membership in The Word Press Family. They inspire me, encourage me, intrigue me and help me grow as a blogger sharing my family story.
1) Rick at http://thegreatamericanlandscape.wordpress.com
2) Martha at http://homethoughtsfromabroad626.wordpress.com
3) Sue at http://lovereadinglovebooks.wordpress.com/
4) 09history at http://addyourpieceofhistory.wordpress.com
5) WARTURDADAM77P at http://itinerantneerdowell.wordpress.com
6) Jim at http://authorjim.wordpress.com/
7) Aisling at http://letitcomefromyourheart.wordpress.com
8) Laura at http://memoriesinthewind.wordpress.com
9) Old Mainer at http://oldmainer.wordpress.com
10) Gallivanta at http://silkannthreades.wordpress.com
A special “Thank You” to each of you.
Judy Guion
Something Quite Different
Viva Violet you made my DAY WEEK !
WOW…. I just don’t know what to say. I was blown away when I read your comment telling me that you had nominated me for this Blog Award !!!! I certainly never expected to get an award. I can’t wait to check out the other bloggers that you nominated – and I’ve already checked yours out. Yours fits your personality quite well, and I just love that cute little worm. Does he (or she) have a name? Now my readers are going to have to go to All Those Small Things.wordpress.com or click on Viva Violet’s name to find out what I’m talking about.
(Liebster means sweetheart)
Here are the rules
1. Thank your Liebster Blog Award Presenter on your blog and link back to their blog
2. Answer the 11 questions from the nominator, list 11 random facts about yourself and create 11 questions for your nominees.
3. Present the Liebster Blog Award to 11 blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been chosen.
4. Copy and Paste the blog award on your blog.
Okay, the 11 questions:
1. If you could have any job in the world what would it be?
A Secret Guest and Shopper for Time Shares around the world.
2. What’s your favorite non-profit organization?
Hope For Haiti, Sharon Congregational Church, Sharon, CT, which has been helping to furnish supplies and services to the Hospital Albert Schweitzer and the
surrounding communities for over 25 years.
3. Who was your favorite teacher and why?
Mr. Pozzi because he gave me “special permission” to use a ball point pen instead of a fountain pen – you see, I’m ;left-handed and all a
fountain pen would do was poke holes in the paper,
4. Would you rather have a telescope or a spaceship?
Definitely a telescope because I could see a lot more area in space than just a straight line.
5. If you could spend the day with one celebrity who would it be?
Believe it or not, I really have no desire to spend a day with a celebrity.
6. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Shark Fritters.
7. If you could be one age forever, what age would that be?
40, somewhat mature but young enough to (hopefully) not have any health problems.
8. What’s the best movie adaptation of a book you’ve ever seem?
I can’t think of a really good one, so I don’t generally go to them.
9. What are you most afraid of?
Something terrible happening to my children, sons-in-law or grandchildren.
10. What’s your favorite thing about yourself?
I’m very willing to change my plans on a moments notice and “fly by the seat of my pants”..
11. What’s your favorite ice cream?
No question, Mint Chocolate chip, hands down !!!!
Random facts about me:
1. I’ve driven across the country 5 times, twice totally by myself.
2. I’ve ridden a Camel.
3. I’ve gone Para-sailing.
4. I would prefer to drive a manual shift instead of an automatic.
5. I’ve traveled to Israel, England, Bahamas and the Caymans.
6.I really want to go to Alaska.
7. I’ve towed a 30′ boat from Tampa to Syracuse and back at least a dozen times.
8. I crochet prayer shawls for my church.
9. I was on the Gymnastics Team in college.
10. I was on the Synchronized Swimming Team in college.
11. I love the wind and the water, but hurricanes are too much.
Here are your questions:
1. What was the Year, Make and Model of the first car you drove?
2. How far have you traveled from your place of birth?
3 . Do you write in cursive or print?
4. What was the name and nature of your favorite pet?
5. What are your favorite pizza toppings?
6. What is your favorite number?
7. What sport do you enjoy the most – as a participant or observer?
8. Do you speak another language?
9. Has your picture ever been in the paper?
10. Do you prefer speedboats or sailboats?
11. Who was your best friend in grammar school?
I’m going to nominate the following blogs for the Liebster Award for being absolute sweethearts.
(Please don’t be insulted if you have more (or even a lot more) than 200 followers. I just cruised around and picked the ones I liked, some new, some more mature)
http://youwhoineverknew.wordpress.com
http://pacificparatrooper.wordpress.com
http://eavesdroppingonconversations.wordpress.com
http://thepeopleofcalgary.com/
http://bottledworder.wordpress.com
http://thoughtsfromanamericanwoman.wordpress.com
http://hairballmelblog.wordpress.com
http://silkannthreades.wordpress.com/
I love your word (or work) !!!!
"Greatest Generation" Life Lessons 