Trumbull – Dear Elsie – Family History Concerning Our Grandmother – Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion (5) – July 8, 1940

This letter from Grandpa to his sister, Elsie May Guion, included news of the death and funeral of a close family friend which I will not include, and the very interesting Biography of their Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion. The story begins with Clara’s Grandmother, Juana Cadoret and will fill the entire week.

About three years after his marriage (to Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck), Mr. Guion entered the ministry of the Episcopal Church, and many years later, while living in Louisiana, where much of their married life was spent, he became a Chaplain in the U.S. Army. His wife did not discontinue her teaching, and many years were spent in the school room either as his assistant or as a governess or as the head of a boarding school for young ladies.

Alfred Beck Guion, my great-grandfather

11 children were born to them – John Beck (Oct. 14, 1840), Clara Beck (Dec. 14, 1842), Josephine Beck (Dec. 15, 1843), Elijah Beck (Dec. 6, 1845), Adolphus Beck ((Oct. 3, 1847), Covington Beck (July 24, 1849),  Elizabeth Beck (Aug. 23, 1850),  Johanna Beck (Oct. 14, 1852), Alfred Beck (Sept. 23,1853), Almira Beck (Dec. 21, 1855) and George Beck, who died in infancy. Each child received for his second name that of Beck. John, Johanna and George died in infancy. Adolphus grew to manhood and died. Covington, when he was four years old, fell out of his bed and became blind. The other children married and became parents.

On 19 October, 18__, Mme. (Josephine) de Beck passed away in New York City. A great celebration was being held in honor of the opening of the Croton Waterworks. As she lay dying she heard the sound of a clarinet beautifully played. Calling her daughter, she said “Clara, do you hear that clarinet? That is your father playing that.” The poor wandering mind had gone back to the happy days of her youth with the beloved husband from whom she was no longer to be separated.

In 1874 Mr. Guion’s health failing him, his wife went to California to become a teacher in St. Mary’s Hall – a large church boarding school for young ladies in Benicia. Her husband soon followed her. While there, she was reunited with her brother Adolphus Gustavos de Beck) whom she had not seen since the early days of her married life. At that time he went from Cuba to the United States where he made his home, dying in California soon after his meeting with his sister, leaving two children, Mercedita and Francis Edwin.

Mr. Guion and his wife finally went to New Almaden, where he died January 17, 1879.

Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion

At the present time (Christmas, 1893) his wife, my grandmother is still living.

She died February 15, 1896 and her grandchildren will remember her as an extraordinary woman, accomplished to an extraordinary degree, skilled in cooking, needlework, teaching, a fine linguist, a better pianist, with a voice, which, when in its prime, was second only to the finest singers of her generation and which has yet by no means lost its strength and sweetness.

Back through the years of a long life she can look and note its many and great changes. The petted and only daughter of a wealthy Spanish family, the wife of a humble American clergyman, the mother of a large and widely scattered family, ending her days among a few of her children on the extreme western coast of the United States – the land of her adoption – the dearly loved country of her many descendants.

Tomorrow and Sunday, I will post more of the Early Years with the Memories of Elizabeth Westlin (Guion) Zabel.

Judy Guion

 

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Trumbull – Dear Elsie – Family History Concerning Our Grandmother – Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion (4) – July 8, 1940

This letter from Grandpa to his sister, Elsie May Guion, included news of the death and funeral of a close family friend which I will not include, and the very interesting Biography of their Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion. The story begins with Clara’s Grandmother, Juana Cadoret and will fill the entire week.

The page of the Journal where Clara’s marriage to Elijah Guion

A sketch of the marriage Certificate and a Bible

She (Josephine de Beck) was a wealthy woman and henceforth her life, as well as her mother’s (Juana Cadoret), was devoted to her two children. Their home was furnished with every luxury and the children were surrounded with all the evidence of wealth and refinement. Mme. Cadoret was already of great culture and dignity and her influence upon her grandchildren was not small.

When little Clara was five years of age she fell one day while playing, and fractured one of the bones in her ankle. Before she had recovered she was seized with the measles and all of the humor of the disease seemed to center itself in the wounded ankle. For seven years the child was entirely unable to walk. The wound was treated most severely causing her, at many times, great agony. She was strapped to a cot while the wound was burned with caustic until, at last, a hole was formed which reached through the bone, but all treatment was unavailing and the physicians told her mother that amputation was all that was left.

To this, Mme. de Beck would not consent, and when a trip to America was suggested, she seized the idea at once and brought the child to the United States where, in about a year, she recovered the use of her foot. During all this time her education had not been neglected. She was taught with great care and was lifted from her sofa to the piano stool to practice when her health would permit.

A lawsuit had been pending when Mme. de Beck left Cuba. This was decided against her and she lost her wealth. She had been boarding in the school where Clara was a pupil, and the latter now gave lessons in the school to support herself and her mother.

After some time had elapsed she met a gentleman,  and an attachment was formed. Her mother forbade the engagement without giving a reason. Clara, while acceding to her mother’s wishes, could not remain with her.

The page in the Journal where Clara’s marriage is recorded

A sketch of the Marriage Certificate and a Bible

She (Clara) offered herself as a teacher in a large school, was accepted and arrangements were made for her to enter upon her duties at once. The principal promised to send his secretary, Mr. Elijah Guion (my great-grandfather)  to escort her to the school. Claira then told her mother of her plans and although her mother entreated her to withdraw from the agreement, it was too late. At the appointed time she was met by Mr. Guion, escorted to the school and there she began her work. In the course of time Mr. Guion won her consent to accompany him upon the journey through life and on January 2, 1840 they were married in New York.

Tomorrow, the final portion of this journal, which has recorded some of the major life events of three fascinating and courageous women.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Dear Elsie – Family History Concerning Our Grandmother – Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion (3) – July 8, 1940

This letter from Grandpa to his sister, Elsie May Guion, included news of the death and funeral of a close family friend which I will not include, and the very interesting Biography of their Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion. The story begins with Clara’s Grandmother, Juana Cadoret and will fill the entire week.

Meanwhile, Josephine had met with many changes. After the departure of her brothers and sisters, she became friendly with a fellow student, Celestine Montalon and her mother. Celestine was the daughter of a wealthy planter whose plantation was in the suburbs of Baltimore, and the granddaughter of Mme. Le Masurier. The family became much attached to Josephine, who was a highly educated girl and a great favorite. She sang and played well and gave lessons in the school. When Celestine finished school, her friend was invited to go with her to her home which she did.

Shortly after her arrival she heard, one evening, a clarinet beautifully played. In reply to her query Mme.  Montalon told her that the player was a gentleman named de Beck, whom she would take the pleasure of presenting to Josephine. This she did, when in a few days he called upon Mme. Montalon. He inquired of his hostess as to the singer whose sweet voice he had heard, and was presented to Mlle. Cadoret.

The mutual love of music soon drew the young couple together and their engagement took place. When calling on his lady love one evening, Mons. de Beck told her that he had brought her a musical instrument and, laughing at her look of surprise, for he had entered the house empty handed, he drew from his pocket a tiny guitar, about 5 inches in length, beautifully inlaid and ornamented, which upon opening, proved to be a needle case.

Sketch of the tiny needle case

After a short engagement the young people were married, and Mlle. Cadoret became Mme. Adolphus Emmanuel de Beck. Her husband was born in Germany about 1785, his father’s family living in Berlin or in Hamburg. At the time of his marriage Mons. de Beck was a merchant, a member of a firm doing business in Baltimore and in Havana. His partner had charge of the house is Havana but Mons. de Beck, knowing his wife’s desire to be with her mother, succeeded in effecting a change by which his partner came to Baltimore and Mons. de Beck was able to make his home in Cuba.

They embarked for Havana when their only son, Adolphus  Gustavus, was four months old. When the ship was opposite the coast of Georgia it was shot upon and stopped by pirates who boarded the vessel. The captain calmed the passengers who were half dead with fright, bade them secrete their jewels and invited the ladies to assist him in entertaining their unwelcome guests. He spread before them a sumptuous meal and treated them so well that they left the ship and passengers unharmed and went their way. Mons. de Beck and his family reached Cuba in safety and he was able to make the acquaintance of his mother-in-law.

When their little son was 2 1/2 years old, a daughter was born, July 18, 1819 (my  Great Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion).

Among the many names, that of Dolores was given her as a complement to her godmother, the wife of Mons. Facon.

When the child, Clara, was 20 months old, her father was one day playing the Piccolo, a small flute, the playing of which was very trying to his lungs. His wife was standing behind him when his head fell against her, and she saw blood flowing from his mouth. Assistance was in vain, he had broken a blood vessel and in a short time Mme. de Beck was a widow.

Tomorrow and Friday, I will continue the fascinating story of my Great Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Dear Elsie – Family History Concerning Our Grandmother – Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion (2) – July 8, 1940

This letter from Grandpa to his sister, Elsie May Guion, included news of the death and funeral of a close family friend which I will not include, and the very interesting Biography of their Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion. The story begins with Clara’s Grandmother, Juana Cadoret and will fill the entire week.

Her three sons had been sent to England before their father’s arrest, to be educated. Lorenzo, the eldest, was studying for the Ministry in the Church of England. Francis began the study of medecine, but the sight of blood always caused him to faint, and he was obliged to give up his studies.

A ship was bought, named by the new owners “Les Trois Soeurs”, and placed in the charge of a friendly captain. The vessel narrowly escaped being seized by the government, but the six children succeeded in reaching it with the governess without being detected. The vessel at once left port and the unfortunate family had soon bid adieu forever to their native land.

Sketch of the Island in the Journal

The voyage was begun in time for them to reach Cuba in the fall before the yellow fever should begin. They were delayed, however, by contrary winds, and when about three leagues from the island of Las Noevitas, in the old Bahama Channel, they met stormy weather. The passengers awoke one morning to find the vessel on one side. A strong wind from the Gulfstream arose every day and there was every prospect that the vessel would capsize. The passengers took their clothing and jewels, and were placed in a small boat, with biscuits and water, and rowed to the island. It was inhabited only by wild animals, to avoid which they climbed the trees. They hoisted a flag of distress, and on the morning of the third day, discovered a sail. They experienced great anxiety lest their signal should not be seen, but it was noticed and the vessel came to their rescue. She proved to be an American ship from New York, bound for Cuba. The captain –Hicks – treated them with Christian kindness, set a sumptuous table for them, and landed them safely in Cuba where Juana Cadoret gladly welcomed her children whom she had given up for lost. The voyage had taken six months and they had arrived in the midst of the dreaded yellow fever season.

The mother at once sent them with their governess to Philadelphia where the girls were placed in a boarding school on Chestnut Street. A week after their arrival, Frederick, the youngest son, was assassinated in the street, being mistaken for someone else. The two oldest girls, with their governess, disliked the climate and were dissatisfied and unhappy, and at the end of six months the whole family, with the exception of Josephine, returned to Cuba. They scarcely landed before the governess and the two young men, the older of whom was about 24, died of yellow fever. The sisters were smitten with the fever, but recovered. Afterwards, Katrine married Mons. Noel ______, a French physician, who died leaving her two children, Hypolyte who followed in his father’s profession, and Roseline.

Jane (Jeanne) married a Spanish gentleman, who rendered her life miserable because of his mad jealousy of her beauty. At the end of four or five years he was obliged to be away from his wife for a few hours, and having finished his business, started for home, in spite of a furious storm, so fearful was he to leave his wife alone. When but a few miles from his home he was struck by lightning and killed. His rider less horse reached home and a search was made for his master, whose lifeless body was discovered on the ground.

Tomorrow and for the rest of the week, I will continue the story of three remarkable women, my Great Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion, her Mother, Josephine (Cadoret) de Beck and her Grandmother, Juana Cadoret.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Dear Elsie – Family History Concerning Our Grandmother – Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion (1) – July 8, 1940

This letter from Grandpa to his sister, Elsie May Guion, included news of the death and funeral of a close family friend which I will not include, and the very interesting Biography of their Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion. The story begins with Clara’s Grandmother, Juana Cadoret and will fill the entire week.

The original Journal compiled by Florence Gay Osborne

The following bit of family history concerning our grandmother, Clara de Beck Guion, was compiled by my first cousin, Mrs. Florence Gay Osborne, daughter of my Father’s sister, Clara Guion Gay, about 1893. Since then, cousin Florence has died.

Alfred D. Guion

July 8, 1940

Title page

Page one

BIOGRAPHY OF CLARA MARIA DE LOS DOLORES MARINA DE BECK GUION

Clara Maria de los Dolores Marina de Beck Guion was a descendent of Mons. Jean Cadoret, a wealthy French nobleman who, about the middle of the 18th century, married Mademoiselle Juana _____________, a widow, whose parents belonged to the nobility of Spain. She (Juana) was probably born in Castile, and when she was seven years of age was betrothed to a Spanish nobleman, many years her senior.

Juana took no pains to conceal the dislike she entertained for her future husband, in spite of his many gifts to her.

On one occasion, she prepared for his next visit to her by filling the seat of the cushioned chair with pins, pointing upward. When he called, the little Juana received him with unusual cordiality – to his great gratification – ushered him into the drawing room and offered him a chair, running quickly away without waiting for him to seat himself, which he did, rising with the utmost haste and with an angry protest to his perspective mother-in-law. The mortified lady ordered the child to be brought into the room, but she was not to be found until a prolonged search revealed her hiding place under a heap of charcoal. To be obliged to appear with face, hands and once white dress in a pitiable plight, was sufficient punishment for the dainty lady who no doubt repented of her misdoings.

Her married life with this gentleman was none too happy, and his early death left her a childless widow.

Mons. Jean Cadoret had been sent into Spain, probably as the Minister from France, where he married Juana and took her to France. Six children were born to them: Katrine, Lorenzo, Francis, Jeanne, Frederick and Josephine, the youngest, who was born in Brittany on June 13, 1780.

Her three sons had been sent to England to be educated. Lorenzo, the eldest, was studying for the ministry in the Church of England. Francis began the study of medicine, but the sight of blood always caused him to faint and he was obliged to give up his studies.

The page with the story of Jean Cadoret’s death

Close-up of the drawing of a guillotine in the original journal

During the French Revolution, Jean Cadoret, who was an ardent Royalist, while at a public dinner, expressed himself in strong terms in favor of the King. Upon leaving the banquet hall he was met by a gendarme, who, saying “Monsieur est mon prisonier”, hurried him off to prison. He never saw his home again, but after lying in prison for several months, was guillotined. His wife and daughters made several visits to him but they were in danger of arrest and were secreted by friends in a sort of tower near Paris. As soon as possible, arrangements were made for Mme. Juana Cadoret to flee from France. She was concealed in a Cracker Barrel, cushioned and lined, let down secretly from a window and hurried on board a vessel bound for Cuba, where she would be safe under the flag of her native land. She had in Havana, a cousin, the wife of Tacon, a wealthy slave owner, and afterward Governor of Cuba. Mme. Juana Cadoret made a home for herself and in a year sent for her children.

Tomorrow and for the rest of the week, I will continue to post the fascinating story of three very strong women, my Great-Great Grandmother, Clara Maria de los Delores Marina de Beck Guion,  her Mother, Josephine (Cadoret) de Beck, and her Grandmother, Juana Cadoret.

Judy Guion

“Liquid Heaven” (20) – Special Pictures and Memories – A Different Time (1) – 1945 – 2022

Our Family Island Retreat was purchased in 1945 from Rusty Heurlin’s family because they no longer used it and Grandpa’s family was growing. Grandpa and his children thoroughly enjoyed any time they spent there.

From now until the end of the summer, and perhaps into the fall, I will be posting pictures of places on the Island and sharing stories and memories of these unique places. I hope you can enjoy a few peaceful moments while I share these memories with you.

1. Dock

2. The Point

3. Bathtub Rock

4. Big Rock

5. Sunset Rock

6. Sandy Beach, Big Flat Rock (to the left, Baby Beach)

7. Toothpaste Landing

8. & 9. – Screen Porch and Cook Cabin

10. Sleeping Cabin

11. Fire Pit and Sheba

I would like to share Special Pictures and the memories that go along with them but are not directly linked to a specific place on the Island.

This picture could have been taken on any given afternoon in the late 1950’s. The Dock is directly to the left. The red board was pulled behind our “speed boat”, a 25′ open boat with a 25 Johnson motor on the back. It was powerful to pull up water skiers or the board for the younger children. Notice the black inner tube from an automobile tire. We had many of these when my family was there with four or five other families. Some of the older women would float around the Island in the late afternoon and some of the younger kids, including me, would swim around the Island. It was a ritual I still continue. I try to float around the Island once a day sitting on a noodle.

Lad (my Dad), Chet and Pete, childhood friends who came up with us each year with their families. My Dad very rarely drank but on the Island, he had beer. They are standing next to the Bathtub.

Another ritual carried out by some of the men was going out fishing late at night. Chet and Charlie show off one nights bounty. The men would scale and de-bone the fish then put them in the freezer. Every night the frozen fish supply would grow until there were enough fish so that about 20 people could have a  fish-fry for breakfast. This occurred about once a week.

These are the children who were usually on the Island with my family each summer during the last two weeks of August. They are from my family and four others. All of the parents were my father’s childhood friends. I am the tallest one in the back row, although there are two others who were older than me. This was the first (and last) time I ever had a permanent. I was twelve at the time.

Next weekend will probably be the last posts about “Liquid Heaven”, our Family Island Retreat.

Judy Guion

“Liquid Heaven” (19) – Special Pictures and Memories – Sheba – 1945 – 2022

Our Family Island Retreat was purchased in 1945 from Rusty Heurlin’s family because they no longer used it and Grandpa’s family was growing. Grandpa and his children thoroughly enjoyed any time they spent there.

From now until the end of the summer, and perhaps into the fall, I will be posting pictures of places on the Island and sharing stories and memories of these unique places. I hope you can enjoy a few peaceful moments while I share these memories with you.

1. Dock

2. The Point

3. Bathtub Rock

4. Big Rock

5. Sunset Rock

6. Sandy Beach, Big Flat Rock (to the left, Baby Beach)

7. Toothpaste Landing

8. & 9. – Screen Porch and Cook Cabin

10. Sleeping Cabin

11. Fire Pit and Sheba

Sheba between the Cook Cabin and the Sleeping Cabin.

The Fire Pit (hidden by the chairs) and Sheba in front of the Sleeping Cabin in 2007.

Sheba, named by my children and maybe not called that by any other members of the family, is a large rock located between the Cook Cabin and the Sleeping Cabin. My daughters wanted to sit on top of the rock but I would not allow them to go up there until they could show me that they could run up the face of the rock and sit down on top all by themselves. I never wanted to place them up there and take the chance that they might fall off.

When I was a child, we had to take the same test and it was one of the first “rites-of-passage”.

Lad and Pete Linsley in front of the fire pit, with Sheba to the right, in the late 1950’s.

Fire in the Fire Pit in 2020. The Fire Pit has been enlarged and improved over the years.

Tomorrow, more of “Liquid Heaven”, Special Pictures and Memories.

Judy Guion

“Liquid Heaven (18) – Special Pictures and Memories – Sleeping Cabin (2) – 1945 – 2022

Our Family Island Retreat was purchased in 1945 from Rusty Heurlin’s family because they no longer used it and Grandpa’s family was growing. Grandpa and his children thoroughly enjoyed any time they spent there.

From now until the end of the summer, and perhaps into the fall, I will be posting pictures of places on the Island and sharing stories and memories of these unique places. I hope you can enjoy a few peaceful moments while I share these memories with you.

1. Dock

2. The Point

3. Bathtub Rock

4. Big Rock

5. Sunset Rock

6. Sandy Beach, Big Flat Rock (to the left, Baby Beach)

7. Toothpaste Landing

8. & 9. – Screen Porch and Cook Cabin

10. Sleeping Cabin

11. Fire Pit and Sheba

A close-up of the stairs to the Loft and the Front Door. The doors at the top of the stairs are two 4×6 sheets of plywood that swing out and are held open by hooks.

The addition next to the stairs is a bathroom. Originally it enclosed a Composting toilet but that was deemed unsatisfactory. At present, it is just a storage area. I have dreams of an electric incinerator toilet. There are a few visitors to the Island who do not like to walk to the Outhouse, especially at night in the rain.

This is a view of the Master Bedroom in the Sleeping Cabin. The back door leads to Bathtub Rock.

This is the Master Bedroom taken from the door. The two rooms with out bunkbeds have very appreciated ceiling fans. The walls and ceilings of the Sleeping Cabin are covered by graffiti from all the family and friends who have stayed there. 

This is one of the two front rooms, each with four bunkbeds. These have been constructed over the more recent years by our amazing Maintenance Team and their friends.

I do not remember when the original windows were put in the Loft but it was probably only a year or two after construction. A big hole was cut into the wall and  two window screens were mounted horizontally and held in place by bent nails. They were not very tight and did not keep mosquitos out, but they did allow a refreshing breeze to flow through when the doors were open. On the outside were two doors just like the ones at the other end which could be closed during the winter. A few years ago, the Maintenance Team installed new windows. What an improvement. As you can see, the divider has been removed.

The new windows in the Loft, above the back door, which leads to Bathtub Rock.

Tomorrow I will begin a week of letters written in 1940. Lad is working in Venezuela for the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, which eventually became part of Mobil Oil. Ced and Dan are planning on leaving in the beginning of June to try their luck and find better paying jobs in Alaska.

Judy Guion

“Liquid Heaven” (17) – Sleeping Cabin (1) – Special Pictures and Memories – 1945 – 2022

Our Family Island Retreat was purchased in 1945 from Rusty Heurlin’s family because they no longer used it and Grandpa’s family was growing. Grandpa and his children thoroughly enjoyed any time they spent there.

From now until the end of the summer, and perhaps into the fall, I will be posting pictures of places on the Island and sharing stories and memories of these unique places. I hope you can enjoy a few peaceful moments while I share these memories with you.

1. Dock

2. The Point

3. Bathtub Rock

4. Big Rock

5. Sunset Rock

6. Sandy Beach, Big Flat Rock (to the left, Baby Beach)

7. Toothpaste Landing

8. & 9. – Screen Porch and Cook Cabin

10. Sleeping Cabin

11. Fire Pit and Sheba

In 1955, my family was on the Island with three other families and we were all sleeping in a 20×20 Army Tent. We children had finished our lunch and were in the tent for “quiet Time”, while the grown-ups ate their lunch and had an hour – or more if they could convince us that an hour was not up yet – when they did not have to worry about where the 12 children were or what they were doing. A bad storm came over the surrounding mountains and the wind lifted the corner of the tent closest to Sunset Rock. The rain poured in and it scared us so much that we all ran out of the tent screaming for  our parents.

That winter, the guys met at Pete Linsley’s house and made plans to a 20×24 wooden structure with four bedrooms downstairs, a dog trot between the front door and the back door, and a loft for some of the children to sleep in. As soon as the snow had melted, they were up on the Island building this Sleeping Cabin, which was ready for occupants by July.

 

This is probably the earliest picture of the Sleeping Cabin. It is taken from the path leading down to Bathtub Rock. There is no window in the upper section, the Loft.

Notice the unpainted squares? These are the bent nails made by those who helped build it in 1956. I believe the next year, small white life savers were placed around each bent nail and the name of the person responsible was added. My twin brother , ten years old at the time, created one bent nail.

This was the foundation of the Sleeping Cabin, 50-gal. drums filled with cement. You can just make out the year 1956 on this one.

This is a side view of the Sleeping Cabin, with the Fire Pit and Sheba in front.

This is a picture of the Sleeping Cabin taken from the roof of the Cook Cabin. I was up there removing moss and had my camera with me. The stairs to the Loft were added many years after it was built. We used a ladder inside the cabin, in the dog trot, to climb up into the Loft. It was determined that it was not the safest way after a few bad falls and a broken arm.

The Loft was divided in half lengthwise and the Big Girls (two 12-year-olds, one 10-year-old (me) and a nine-year old) slept on one side, while the Little Girls (a nine-year-old who was friends with my 8 year-old sister and a 5 year-old), slept on the other.

Tomorrow more of “Liquid Heaven”, the Sleeping Cabin and Special Pictures and Memories.

Judy Guion

“Liquid Heaven” (16) – Special Pictures and Memories – Cook Cabin (2) – 1945 – 2022

Our Family Island Retreat was purchased in 1945 from Rusty Heurlin’s family because they no longer used it and Grandpa’s family was growing. Grandpa and his children thoroughly enjoyed any time they spent there.

From now until the end of the summer, and perhaps into the fall, I will be posting pictures of places on the Island and sharing stories and memories of these unique places. I hope you can enjoy a few peaceful moments while I share these memories with you.

1. Dock

2. The Point

3. Bathtub Rock

4. Big Rock

5. Sunset Rock

6. Sandy Beach, Big Flat Rock (to the left, Baby Beach)

7. Toothpaste Landing

8. & 9. – Screen Porch and Cook Cabin

10. Sleeping Cabin

11. Fire Pit and Sheba 

When I was young, there was no electricity on the Island. We used flashlights and kerosene lanterns. Only the older children and adults could carry or use the lanterns. We were taught at a very early age to be careful and we never had a fire, even when four families were sleeping in the 20′ x 20′ Army Tent. Electricity arrived at the Island via an underwater line from the mainland in the early 1960’s.

The cooking area of the Cook Cabin. The door is the back door where we children picked up our meals. Just outside, there was a drop-down shelf where the wash and rinse dishpans were. We were expected to wash and dry our own dishes. 

Marian, my Mom, was the General of Organization. Aside from our meal duties, we were also responsible for getting water and gathering firewood and dead branches. Getting water was only done by the older children and it was a privilege. We gathered the containers, 10 gallon Army containers painted Army Green, loaded them into the row boat, rowed over to the mainland, carried the containers uphill to the Spring House, pumped the water and filled the containers and then had to carry them back to the rowboat. Once we were back at the Island, we had to carry them uphill to the back door of the Cook Cabin. A lot of work but we were proud to do it.

This is the eating area which is also used for smaller groups playing cards or doing puzzles. Sheba is outside the right side window and the Fire Pit is outside the two left side windows. The table legs are pieces of the tent poles used to hold up the 20′ x 20′ Army Tent we slept in prior to 1956.

The barrel stools originally contained the nails used to construct the Sleeping Cabin. My Dad designed and constructed the tops and Mom added padding and covered them with vinyl.

The bench seat on the right is as wide as a single bed. It has a large storage area beneath the seat.  It has been used many times, especially if someone comes up in the winter. One night, I was up later than my children and grandchildren, and when I went out to the Sleeping Cabin, the door was locked. One of my daughters thought I was already inside and locked the door. I used the bench to sleep on that night. Needless to say, she was shocked,  quite dismayed and apologetic when she found me in the morning.

Sunset Harbor, the 1000 piece puzzle completed on this table while we were up on the Island in August, 2022

The finished Cook Cabin Porch. The picnic table is 8′ long and can accommodate at least a dozen people, more if there are small children. On the bench closest to the outside, there are two outlines of BIG fish that have been caught by someone. They are not identified and there are no names or dates of the fisherman. 

Here we are playing “Dump on your Neighbor” in 2011

This is what the porch looked like after a strong wind and rain storm in 2012. 

Next weekend I will be sharing pictures and memories of the Sleeping Cabin.

Tomorrow I will begin posting a week of letters written in July and August of 1942. Dan was inducted into the Army in January and is in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina for further training. Lad went in May and in currently at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland to continue his training.

Judy Guion