When I was growing up, Memorial Day in our town was a little like a scene from Lake Wobegon -- marching bands, decorated veterans, Gold Star Mothers. But it was a day for more personal memorials too -- people made a point of taking flowers to the cemetery to honor loved ones who were no longer with us.
First Sunday Walk to Newton, October 1910
Although the details of my grandmother's life surrounded me, I never had the pleasure of knowing her. My grandfather Fred, on the other hand, was my favorite companion and best friend when I was a small child. He made up silly games, taught me the names of colors, showed me how to make simple drawings, comforted me when I was hurt, and provided unconditional love.
Fred with his sister and a friend
At Camp Peanut, August 1910
LOVE those hats.Have you ever painted them?
ReplyDeleteWith or without the ladies?
What wonderful photos and memories!!
ReplyDeleteHi Margery! There are even more amazing hats in the album -- these were just their everyday hats!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rhonda!! Glad you enjoyed them!!
What fantastic photographs. So clear, sharp and detailed. I wish I had some of my grandparents. What a treasure.
ReplyDeleteWhat a classy group. Such a wonderful heritage you have, especially with your special, encouraging grandpa.
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila!! My mom had this album tucked away for years. I knew about it, but never went through it until recently. It's really a wonderful peek into the family's life.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandy! This album has been quite a surprise as well as a treat. It really gave me a much more complete impression of my grandfather as well as of his family circumstances.
ReplyDeleteChris, Amazing photos of your very handsome family. What a treasure!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post, Chris! Loved seeing these photos. Funny, I spent most of today remembering my Dad, who passed away in '04, and looking through piles of similar family shots of my grandparents.
ReplyDeleteYour grandfather was a handsome guy! Looks like a fun-loving bunch!
Thanks, R. and Liz!1 My memories of my grandfather were of a much older man, so it was a delight to find all the photos of him as a young man. I was quite surprised to discover that he was quite a dandy in his youth!!
ReplyDeleteHello Chris
ReplyDeleteLoved your discription of Memorial Day in your town when you were growing up. Were we neighbors ? I especially remember my mother buying geraniums for the cemetry. I can't plant geraniums without thinking of those days.
Make prints of the photos and have them out so you can see them more often. :)
Hi Janet! Thanks for leaving a comment! You piqued my curiosity, so I cruised through your blog to see if indeed we had been neighbors. Only insofar as we probably both grew up in small to middling towns I guess. For a while, I thought you might have been from Iowa (because of the corn paintings!!) and then we would have been almost neighbors. Funny you should mention geraniums though -- my mom just told me my cousins planted new geraniums on all the family graves last week.
ReplyDeleteI have the whole album on the computer now, thanks to my husband's patient efforts, and also use them as my screen saver. The original photos are very small, so having them on the screen allows much better viewing.
What fine photos, and how lucky you are to have them in such good shape! Thanks for sharing your family!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth! This album is truly a gem. I'm glad you liked the post.
ReplyDeleteA lovely post Chris. As everyone else said, the photos are wonderful. Especially love the one with the walking stick. Such simple days compared to now!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mona.
ReplyDelete