Childhood Photos 1946-47 - 2nd Grade

 

Childhood Photos 1946-47 - 2nd Grade

On further examination, I think this is still First Grade, perhaps Spring of 1946, because the lady in back on the right is teacher, Mildred Peverstorf, in center, Pat Thomas, and on the left, Berniece  Peverstorf (sister of teacher). Youngsters from right to left, Jim Tolsdorf, Dick Hunter, Wilson Thomas, Charlotte Shirbroun, Shirley Woods, Billie Smith, Gary Hunter, Robert Hunter and the last two I just don’t recognize at this time. The photo was taken in our front yard, looking north. This is Willow #3, I count 12, so a couple are missing, but we were always a small school in my experience.

Back on track, this is my 7th birthday on July 1, 1946, with Angel Food Cake and tent as primary gift.

This is a marvelous photo of the age, a panoramic view!! I am standing behind the tent, Wilson Thomas is with the dog, that I think is actually the first photo of Whitey… my favorite dog. More on that next time. Brother Jim is standing in front. Fall has arrived. Note the car and all the out building. Neat. Light  pole in the center of the photo and the yard. Prominent in so many photos.

December 4, 1946… another dated photo… love them…an all-time favorite. All my closest friends through these early years. The occasion is the Birthday of Dennis Ford, he was eight years old, a cousin six months older than me; at the Ford farmhouse.
From left, Donna Grim, Nancy Bolger (So Sweet!!!), Kay McLaughlin, Wilson Thomas (back), Tom Rees (front), Billie Smith (back), Dennis Ford, Wayne Grim, cousin David Thomas. What a group!! ;-)

Willow #3 school children along side the school. My guess is spring of 1947. Pat and Beverly in back. Front, from left, Charlotte, Dick, Billie… Wilson Thomas on far right.

Don’t know where to put this one. So here it is!! ;-)

I’m putting this as Jimmie’s third birthday in April 1947. All dressed up!! ;-)

With Kinnick’s at the Harvey Place on the Gladden Road north of Coon Rapids where Grandpa and Grandma Kinnick lived for a few years … this where Uncle Buzz returned from Japan after his army service - in 1947.
From left, back, Karen, Billie, Kathleen
Front, Kelton (approaching 2), Jimmie (3+)
Love those cars and barn in the background!! ;-)


See your down the road! ;-)
 

Childhood Photos 1945-46 - 1st Grade

 

Childhood Photos 1945-46 - 1st Grade

I can’t be sure exactly when this photo was taken, but I’m going to assume 4-County Fair in Coon Rapids, likely in Summer of 1945, and go from there. I just love this photo!! ;-)

Again, this was likely a church related party, in the backyard at our farmhouse. Quite a spread. One of few photos we have of this side of the farmhouse in full.

Billie with first cousins, Kathleen and Karen Kinnick. Interesting background of barn and tractor.

 

Cute photo of brother Jim and I. I do not have an occasion or a date, again. Background interesting again, featuring the garage.

This one features Mom and Jim, again… quite the pose! Again, consider the background, the buildings, the car... as World War II was ending, as well, time-wise! ;-)

When school started in the fall, I had the same teacher, neighbor Mildred Peverstorf. Here is the announcement in the paper:

75 Years Ago - The Coon Rapids Enterprise
August 24, 1945
The three rural schools in Willow township, Greene County, will be taught by Coon Rapids
girls this year. Mildred Pevestorf at No. 3, Etta Scott Fick at No. 4 and Ruth Pfieffer at No. 9.

Jim and I in Winter attire, again, note Barn and Crib behind.

Dad got the “new” - to him - Farmall M - that is Jim with him - I think this was Feb 1946. But, the most important element of this photo is just behind Dad, above the tire... the old front porch was replaced by a wonderful new indoor bathroom... complete with tub and toilet!! Also, a 'front door' that never worked out that way!! ;-) Little things mean a  lot! ;-)

This is likely Bible School, June 1946. Nancy sitting in front of me. I’m second from right, standing, if you cannot tell.  

NOTE: As a reminder, compiling these black and white photos from this era is an exercise for me and my family. I'm sharing it widely, and I hope each of you find it interesting and worth our time to view, but, it is mostly for my gratification. Thank you.

See you down the road... ;-)

Childhood Photos - 1944-45

 

Childhood Photos - 1944-45

Moving ahead, I’ve slid to ‘school-year’ periods. Some photos are dated, which helps. Others, I’ve made my best guess (may be a year or so off). Big thing I’m learning from these exercises is how normal my childhood really was… I was not really isolated on the farm. Our family did all sorts of things. I should have fully realized from Mom’s diaries, but I’m just now “getting it.” Live and learn!

First big change was that a brother, Jim, or Jimmie, at the time, arrived in April of 1944.

Again, I had a birthday angel food cake, that year…5 years old, 1 Jul 1944..

Click on photo to get larger image

After Kindergarten, June 1945 I assume, we had our first Vacation Bible School at the Star Church. Lots of familiar faces, even brother Jimmie on the shoulders of one of the Ford twins, just left of center, back row! Nancy and I are 2nd and 3rd from the left, side by side, for the first time in a photo. Donna Grim is on the left of Nancy, Kay McLaughlin to my right, then Charlotte Shirbroun. Roberta Ford behind Nancy. Moving right, Donna Gymer, Donna Ford, Ford twins, ??, DonnaBelle Shirbroun. Far right, Joan Bowman and Bob Bolger in overalls. Dave Thomas in sweater. Dwight Brown. Many others!! ;-)

Larry Johnson did a nice job of isolating us. Love this image!!! ;-)

Sorensen family gathering at Louise and Rasmus Nielsen home south of Bayard… kids lined up:
Jimmie, Judy, Billy, Marie, Darrell, Winona. 15 July 1945.


See you down the road… ;-) 

The year 1943 and me - in photos

 

The year 1943 and me - in photos

This was the last year before I started to school. It began with what has now become a familiar photo - the first one I have of Nancy and I together in the same photo - dated 14 Jan 1943:

Bob, Bill, Roger, Barbara, Carolyn, Nancy

This was at a gathering of Grandma Kinnick’s Sorensen relatives. I love it, but my Mom, Eileen, always hated it, because she had her hair in curlers to look good later in the day… while the visitors were all dressed already (Especially her cousins from California!). She is right behind me just left of center.

This was a typical gathering at the Leo Kinnick residence, mid-year I am guessing. I’m lower left, holding my Dad’s hand. Cousin Dennis Ford is to the right, looking at Leo.

Here is my birthday photo, assume I got the trike bike for my 4th birthday:

Here is my next favorite photo of the year, with Mom, Buzz (Freshman in High School), and me in the fall, on the road just south of the house, looking east:

Families are Forever! ;-)

See you down the road...

Trip to Austin, 15-19 October 2020

 

Trip to Austin, 15-19 October 2020

I was able to spend Oct 15-19 in Austin visiting Arrion, Ben, Alex and Kaylee. It was an excellent trip, all around. We mostly just spent time together. Neat, huh?!

I took Kaylee a scarf that Annette had noticed that Nancy had used regularly when Annette was young. Annette especially remembered it from Nancy wearing it over curlers… when did you last wear curlers?? If anyone has a photo with Nancy wearing this scarf, we would love to have a copy!! ;-)

Bandit and I got reacquainted. He gets all excited upon arrival, but then settles in and treated me as a regular family member, after a bit. Here he is begging for attention.

Here, he is social distancing in his own way… most of the time.

We only went out, for a few minutes, to visit the local pumpkin patch at the church next to the high school (I posted this earlier on Facebook). I stayed in the car, but enjoyed seeing the upgrades at the high school.

Before I left, I got ‘formal’ photos of us together:

Alex was 16 last spring, now a Junior in High School.

He continues to grow, as I shrink... ;-)

Kaylee becomes an official teenager in a couple of weeks.

She is in 7th Grade in Middle School.

She is studying Classical Guitar, and plays really well!! ;-)

These photos are on the new Screened in Patio that 

Arrion and Ben have added and enjoyed so much.

It is really neat!! TV, lots of seating, wet bar and barbecue...

See you down the road...

Families are Forever!! ;-)

Smiths Family Group Photo from 1938

 

Smiths Family Group Photo from 1938

Earlier, we’ve looked at the Smith family group in 1923, 1946, and 1955. Here is the same grouping (nearly) in 1938.

Individual ID's are a challenge here: From the right, Orrin and Max (holding Gary) Hilgenberg; Pete and Eileen, Pop (he died the following year). I believe we have half-brother, Grant Ballard and his wife, Rita, next. Merle Bower in back, Betty Smith in front. Then Toots in the back, with Verle Thomas (in back) and LVene. Then Irene in front and Pauline (Polly) at the far left. That seemed work. Big group. 

I also came across this photo of “The Homeplace” farmhouse:

Also, in this view of the farm, from the air, notice the farmhouse…

Families are Forever! ;-)

The year 1942 and me - in photos

 The year 1942 and me - in photos

Last week we looked at 1941. In Mar 1942, we moved to the farm that Mom and Dad bought and where I lived the rest of my youth.

In this first image, cousin Karen and I are checking out the qualify of the soil, in March, it appears:

In one of my more infamous photos, in May, I’m leading the chickens away from the chicken coop, it appears. In the High School Prophesy, they suggested I would be a chicken farmer… has haunted me all my life! ;-)

In July, Uncle Buzzy and cousin Dave Thomas and I check out the yard east of the house, in front of the “Wash House!” It was already there, and we mostly used it for storage during my years there:

In August, with Grandma Kinnick, cousins Karen and Kathleen, in her back yard in town:

This one is obviously dated 18 Oct 1942… I do not know the occasion:

I do not have a date on this one at family gathering:

Finally, the one on the woven stool…still have that stool, by the way… my artifact for my ancestors:

Families are Forever! ;-)