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Show Volume XVI Issue XIII The Ogden Valley news Page 9 July 1, 2009 Century Echoes – Part XIV By Miriam Renstrom Whitesides Note: This is the fourteenth in a series of articles by the same author that will appear in follow- ing issues of “The Ogden VAlley news.” The history was submitted by Jane Renstrom, wife of the late Darrell Renstrom who is the son of Arnold Renstrom and grandson of Andrew P. Renstrom. Also note, the following information has been condensed from the original transcript of “Century Echoes,” a history that combines world, U.S., Utah, LDS, and Ogden Valley history. In September we moved into an old home on the corner of 2nd South and Main Street in Kaysville—another outdoor toilet and no water indoors with furniture we bought second hand. Emil accepted a history teaching job at Davis High School and that meant termination of the Wyoming seminary with some of our belongings left there, which we donated to Julia Harvey who had a big family of boys and could use them. George was married June 1 that year to Catherine Ekman in the Salt Lake Temple. He was working at Woolworth’s store. A reception was held for them by her mother and father at their home on 9th Avenue and B Street. 1926 We moved to Layton in the late summer to the house Dick Knowlton built. This was the third outdoor toilet we had but the house had water indoors. From Huntsville, Carol, with her family, and Gladys left for California to make their home, and hopefully their fortune, where the mild climate would benefit them all, as recommended by the doctor for Gladys and her eyes. 1927 After school ended, Mabel wanted to move back to her home so we piled our possessions anywhere and left for California. It took us one week. The roads were rough, washboardy, dusty, and a good deal of the way under construction. Our car was either too windy or too hot so Emil was constantly changing the curtains, a very tiresome job. I was entertaining and clinging onto our little fireball. She would be two in July. Inquisitive, energetic, and continually on the go, she climbed like a little monkey to the top of the car hanging on perilously from wooden slats that supported the roof. The motels were primitive, dusty, dirty, and even that long ago, full of people. The next year our neighbors bought a Cadillac. I think Caroline knew we were overshadowed carwise so coyly told them, “Well, our car is an open air car.” We had an interesting, rugged summer. Started for home with Caroline a little sick. We thought a cold only but at Victorville her temperature was so high we went back again, knowing we couldn’t cross the hot desert with her. It proved to be measles and after two weeks we started out again via San Francisco the cooler way. Carol had returned to Huntsville from Los Angeles to see Doctor Bartlett. She had a job carrying the McKay milk to an Ogden creamery in an old Ford truck. I moved up to Huntsville for a little while to be with Carol and her two children and it was really fun riding through Ogden Canyon again with our children. Our father was now older and was kind and less irritable; the passing years had mellowed him. Emil stayed at his home and later had a tonsil operation by Dr. McHugh in Salt Lake. Just before school started, we moved to Kaysville in one of Bonnemort’s houses with up-to-date plumbing. We bought our piano then. Erma was married August 15 in Los Angeles to George Martin Petereit; she came home to continue teaching in a Salt Lake school; at Easter time she told the school authorities about it and was fired pronto. There was a law against a married woman teaching. So she went back to L.A. where George was working. Gladys was a clerk in the big May Company store in Los Angeles. Our social life was high school oriented and with a small enrollment, we were drawn together in a way impossible today. That fall, Carol and her children left for California in the old Ford and make it safely to Los Angles where El was working. 1928 Sunday, August 19 at 4:00 a.m., I awakened and knew hospital time was near. Emil and Caroline were sleeping under the stars so I called him and began to pack my suitcase. About 6:00 a.m. I called Dr. Tanner to notify him. Then Caroline was taken over to Layton and left with Grandma. Martha came up to play and scrambling outside together, she fell, cutting her chin quite severely and was take to Dr. Tanner who sewed up the deep abrasion that cause him to be late for the hospital. In the delivery room, the nurses were trying to retard labor and soothe my painful anxiety. Suddenly I called out, “I know what you are doing; get an intern and don’t wait for the doctor.” Startled into action, they did that and about 1:00 p.m., Marilyn was born. She weighted 6 lbs 6 oz. Fragile, a bit on the delicate side, her dark hair softly curling, choking a worrisome little bit when feeding, she soon grew into a beautiful spunky baby. My father visited us occasionally. Moiselle came often for Sunday dinners—sometimes with friends who enjoyed the baby. 1929 We bought a lot from Henry H. Blood and this house was built and we moved in the first part of November. Marilyn celebrated the event by walking alone. We had a bathroom but, alas, a coal range in the kitchen. 1930 In the fall, Caroline contracted typhoid fever and was hospitalized for some time. 1931 That year the Ward revived an old-fashioned play, “The Hand of the Law” with Mamie and Albert Barton in charge. Because Moiselle had played the leading lady when she lived here teaching school, they asked me to take her part. Many of the original cast repeated their roles also—one of them Roetta Horsely. Others had moved or passed away. It was held in the old Opera House, was a success, and a fun-filled experience. Gladys was married to Burton Franklin Owens on November 29, 1931. 1932 That summer Emil and Golden Adams worked for Layton City digging tranches and other hard physical work, but happy to have a summer job. Each night he came home tired and ready for bed. That summer was hot and the days dragged by while I went over the stipulated time to deliver my baby. Stephen was born at 1:30 p.m. on July 8. He weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz. He had blond hair, fair skin, and was a good-looking, happy baby. Winter of 1932-33 That winter was long, cold one. Snow fell deeper and deeper. Emily and Lewis visited often. One day she and I walked up to the library to hear a book review by Maude Mae Babcock her aunt. We followed a winding pathway through snowcreated canyons. Hazel Blood’s family had a pre-marital party for her and if Henry H. Blood hadn’t been the Governor with state snow removers at his disposal that kept the roads open from Layton to Salt Lake, it could never have been held. On January 22, 1933, a Sunday morning, Arnold called from Huntsville to tell me our father had passed away. Arnold and Ruby were living in our house and caring for him. He spent his days reading and visiting old people and friends in town. On one of these visits, he must have fallen through or off an old bridge for he came limping home covered with dirt, scratches, and some blood. Arnold put him to bed. He was rational but weak. After a few days, he grew weaker and on a Sunday morning, he seemed partly unconscious and Arnold in some alarm, said to him, “Dad, I think you are dying.” He opened his eyes and answered, “I’ve waited so long.” Those were his last words. Thursday was chosen for the funeral date. A wise decision for a blizzard raged Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. New roads were dug out of the drifts. Thursday was clear but oh so cold. Friday the snow fell again. The church was cold but the services good. Earl Felt gave a resume of Father’s activities and they were numerous. Don McKay spoke a sermon of tribute, Mathel Allen sang opening and closing songs, and Aunt Eliza was at the organ. Where the cemetery road left the main one, we transferred from cars to sleds. The horses had a difficult climb up the hill. Erma and Gladys had babies, Georgia was born on New Year’s Day, Bruce in September. Carol was ill so they couldn’t come. George, Catherine and her mother came from Ogden, Moiselle from Salt Lake. We drove through the Canyon in walls of snow. The Relief Society women had lunch for us at our old home after the services. When we reached home in Kaysville that night, we made a warm, comforting fire and Moiselle and I talked for awhile about the now forevergone, old home. Reminiscing about him later, I thought my father was born, lived, and died in the storms of winter. My mother was born, lived, and died in the sunshine of summer. They were difficult years for him and for us, but I am happy he traveled it alone and did not marry and have sealed to him another wife. Historical Photo 1960 - 1965 - Valley School Cooks (from left to right), Mrs. Manning, Mrs. Southwick, Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs. Spencer. Not pictures are Mrs. Huddleston, Mrs. Thompson, and Mrs. Melle. Celeste C. Canning PLLC Attorney at Law 2590 Washington Boulevard, Suite 200 Ogden, Utah 84401 Local: (801) 791-1092 Office: (801) 612-9299 Email: ccanninglaw@aol.com Meeting the Legal Needs of Small Businesses and Their Owners FREE Initial Thirty Minute Consultation. Appointments in Ogden Valley upon request. www.iversondental.com |