Memory Annex"Dort" Waldsmith and Cousin John share more memories of The Clan. Dorothy O. Waldsmith 1500 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, 2, Sarasota, Florida 33580 August 2, 1972 Dear John and Carrie, I just wrote a short letter to Biddy-(your sister Grace-always "Biddy" to me). I've been remembering how much it meant to Nan that last summer (when she was ill [Sept. 1960])-when you came to Reynoldsville; and Jane and Louise brot Biddy-to see her. It was our last reunion-but one I won't forget. I know it meant a lot to Nan, too. I'm happy to have James E. Mc's book-"These Are the Mc's". It took a whole lot of work. It's fine! They are good friends of Norris and Mary-and they called on Jack and Marion in Oakmont recently. James wrote about how very much they think of N and M. When I came to "John and Eliza's family"-I wanted Kathi and Judi to know them-as we do. So I wrote briefly about just Grandfather and Grandmother and their children. After I'm gone-just maybe it may shed a little light,-but only our generation can do a little reminiscing-and disagreeing, if you wish-but we've been pretty lucky to belong to the same folks and places! Devotedly, Dort. August 3rd, 1972 P.S. I tried to have the picture from Uncle Maj's book run off. It isn't good-very dim, but I like it so included it. Gosh-your boys-I'm so glad they are in education-and their children-It isn't hard to guess how much you cherish them. L, D (On outside of envelope) I will write Biddy very soon. Clearfield, Pa. Labor Day-1972 Dear Dort: There! I finally got started-a month late. Carrie has been na-uh reminding me ever since we received your letter and that exceptionally fine family tree-tise. So, THANKS. (Looks like Dad's typing, doesn't it?) We have enjoyed it so much. I have been through it three times and it is still fun. John and Jo Ann were here and they had a good time with it. Jo Ann feels more "belonging" to the tribe after reading it. It is "so well written and so human". And we all agree, including Dean and Jacque. They were here for a day last week. Yes, they brought the children along for us to see and hear. Dean's Tom, the only boy (in the world), is 14 and is 6'2�"! Elaine is 10 and is as tall as Carrie. Handsome children, of course. John's three little angels have white wings while sleeping and black ones when awake. Typical girls! I could tell you more about those grandchildren but time and space are limited. Your stories stirred my memory (which certainly needs stirring) and brought to mind a few specific instances that you might recall. I wasn't around when you lived with "Gramma", and you were in Akron when I spent much time in DuBois. (You were so much older!) I was just three years old when Grandfather died, so my memories of Grandmother center around McLoyd Terrace. I can see all those plants in her dining room window-and Uncle Bill on that couch (his nest) reading. And her greeting: "Have you eaten? Will you have---?" And I usually had-and had! Like Eliza, I have been so thankful that we raised our boys before viruses and allergies became rampant. Germs were enough worry. I always spent part of each summer at Aunt Sue's. I really enjoyed helping Joe with the haying, probably because I didn't have to help. And I had my share of those wild strawberries you mentioned. Did you ever sit in that black cherry tree and read a book while getting stuffed with cherries? That is a very pleasant memory, as is the cold buttermilk after bringing in a load of hay. I even did some of the plowing one year, with the horse-mule team. Joe was at war. I am not so ambitious now. Like Uncle Mac, I see so many things to be done that I "don't know what to fly at first", So, like him, I take a nap! Somehow, I never spent too much time at Uncle Maj's. The twins grew up too fast for me. But I did have some good times with roller skates and basket ball on the third floor on Long Avenue and riding Pedro at the Wigwam. I do remember one time at the town house when my cousin Dorothy gathered us innocent children around her and taught us "some Bible stories that you never heard before"! I can still sing several of them. She was a born teacher. In later years, we enjoyed visiting with Aunt Alice at the Wigwam and in the Presbyterian Home in Phillipsburg. What a wonderful woman she was. As you say, we all gravitated to BB and Aunt Lill. That woman ran a motel, hospital, filling station and amusement center for all the McCreights and Wises in the area. And she was always cordial, hospitable and jolly. You mentioned her laugh. I can still hear it and see her shaking "like a bowlfull of jelly" the time BB gave me some preventive medicine when we returned soaking wet from the Notre Dame game at State. At the supper table, my tongue got loose and I couldn't catch it. Of course, my bride of five months was embarrassed. Can't you just hear Lilly? I never missed a circus at DuBois and was always there when Johnny Jones brought his carnival to town. Aunt Lill loved the midgets and usually had them at the house if she could manage it. And while camping at Croyland, she and my Mom sure did things with the kitchen stove. Were you at Croyland the time we started to Portland Mills (there were several girls there from DuBois) and I had to practically carry Catharine across that long trestle, with her screaming in fright at every step? You marvelled at your Aunt Sally's cooking and her ability to serve up a meal while dummy in a bridge game. She believed in the adage "many hands make light work", so she used those "hands". She was no dummy! Take it from an old hand. But it sure was nice to have the gang there. I wish that A.J. and B.B. could have shared the pleasure I had watching Dad get two trout on one cast. He always used two flys, about six feet apart, and on this one cast he hooked a 14-inch brown and a 10-ich rainbow. It was quite a battle, but he netted both of them. I knew better than to offer to help. Those other two fishermen would have flipped at the sight! Akron and Cleveland always trigger pleasant memories. Ambrose and Lillibell were trigger happy! I do remember getting scolded for going out alone in a canoe on Turkeyfoot. And at table, A.J. says "That's mighty good cake, Lil", then that devilish grin while watching me try to locate the cake. And the time he brought me home after a nasal operation. Were you there? Details are a bit hazy, but I do remember that I wanted no supper. They had to go out after supper, so A.J. left three small glasses of "medicine" on the table, advised me to try to sip them, maybe be able to eat something, and feel better. I sipped, I ate, I felt. When they returned (I still think you were there) I had the phonograph going, was dancing and singing-with my nose stuffed! I can still see A.J. hanging limply to the mantel and Lillibell convulsed on the couch. Where were you? Those two and their lovely daughter in Akron were so very kind to a lonely young fellow trying vainly to make it in the rubber factory. Tannery stink was better for my nose. But I did enjoy the time spent with you folks, wherever we were. Here I am, just another old man living in the past. But, with the wonderful folks who provided the memories, it is a pretty nice place to live! Maybe some day I wil come back to the present and bring you up to date with things here, but for now-loads of love from Carrie and John P.S.-That "some day" finally caught up with me-as many, many have done before. No doubt you have guessed that the foregoing was done by fits and starts (my starts are usually delayed, somehow) over a period of some time (almost four weeks!). Really not much to tell about us. My health has been about perfect, but Carrie's ulcer and diverticulosis have limited her activities somewhat. Of course, she has been teaching Sunday School and puttering with her flowers, of which we have had some blooms all summer. Nice view from the kitchen window. We have only a few tomatoes and carrots this year, so lots of flowers. "Having a fine time. Wish you were here." Honest. I am still on our Scout Troop committee, but limit my activities to writing the checks and attending a few meetings. Church work has taken a little time. January will end a term on Presbytery's General Council and I must serve until next June on the General Council and Board of Trustees of the Board of Pennsylvania-West Virginia. Interesting work. I like to preach to preachers! Thought we might get up to see your friend Biddy this week, but Carrie is too sick. Missed her Sunday School last week-and probably next. Talked with Grace last week and she seems to be fine. Still on the go. Walking every decent day. One mistake in the geneology, which you copied, was the date of my Dad's death. It was 15 January 1946 not 1945. He was 88 years. You noted that Dad always ran up the stairs. I still take them two at a time. Acquired the habit when quite young. Procrastination. And I have Dad's love of children and flowers, especially pansies. About a month ago, we visited Martha (she seems pretty well) then found Ian and Rachel in their new home. Ian has not been well, but still works part time. Rachel is quite well now and they have a lovely home. Once more-Thanks for the memories. And more love. John October 16th, 1972 Dear John I need Carrie here to give me a good nudge--to answer the best letter I have had since 'Hec' was a pup.--If you didn't start the "remember wheels" turning! I've read and reread it-each time thinking of things I must remind you of when I finally get to writing. I've a bit of "specs" trouble-(I have to have an alibi). If you want copies for the boys of E's and John's Family (a la my memories) I'll have some more run off as soon as my company leaves-in case the boys really want them. No trouble at all. How grand it is for you and Carrie when you can enjoy your "own". Talking about the McLoyd Terrace and Gramma's plants. Do you remember a 'poinsettia' -she cherished from one Christmas to the next. It wound all around the room-tied up near ceiling. The stem was a great thick ugly thing-not a leaf-and finally when, it reached the wall over the archway into living room it gave birth to one tiny pale puny blossom-smaller than the diameter of that bare stem! I don't see how Uncle Bill could stand it-I mean "lay it out"-maybe his aromatic pipe etc.-done it wrong. How she loved every growing thing. Remember the Morning Glories and Portulaca? How could you help loving children an flowers.-You are a Pied Piper-plus. Remember how she usually had some schmierkase simmering on back burner and she drank the whey-because it was so nourishing-if she couldn't persuade one of us to down it. Her buns she called them "rusks"-I think-rusty-light-hot-buttery. That was a darned steep climb to get there-and Aunt Sue-would come up on the street car & go and get her a little dish-for jelly-or a small pitcher or bowl-at the dime store and traipse up-the hill-for maybe an hour-then back to her cores. I never heard Aunt Sue complain-and her work was never done. Gee, it's good to know you have "Paradise" memories, too.....Company came... October 28th 'Droopy Dorty' will try it again! They left Tuesday-and I'm still in a slump! Sorry to see them go but so darned weary. Still dragging. John, I'm so very glad-about your Boys' families. You bet you could write a book about them, and it would only be the beginning-! You and Carrie have much to warm your hearts-and it couldn't happen to two nicer guys. It's so nice to know you, too, spent part of the summers at the farm. By then Gert, Joe & I had stopped climbing trees-and the Palace was a memory tucked away forever-for Gert & me. Ethel McC, too, probably had left the school house-for the Reynoldsville P.O.-where she was post mistress until she retired at 75-Then she bought a car-learned to drive it-and she and Nan drove out to S. [Shaker] Hts. to surprise me, & she was a whale of a good driver.-e went everywhere. She & Nan were great cronies-(& me too-I loved being with them). At the farm again-do you happen to remember the "Mulldacurry Shop"? (that was Uncle Mac's choice term for it.) It was surrounded by Golden Glow-a short walk from the Spring House. One time Virgin was in there with the Sears-R-catalogue & Don Mc & his friend, Ed Taylor, were part way up the hill with a "22" & every time V. tried to open the door to emerge-they'd shoot al around it. after G, J & I had had our laugh-we told Aunt Sue . Wasn't that view from the big grove great? Those black cherries were something, & I don't know how we held so many wild strawberries-once in a while-if you weren't watching-you'd pop one in that had a "stink bug" on it-Ugh!-& Joe would howl with unholy glee. And you helped with the haying-& that horse mule team! We used to dance on 3rd floor at M.I.'s on Long Avenue-"DropIns"-several-could play the piano-remember the little room where they developed pictures? -You missed it-roller skating-(we did that down near the railroad) but we had so much fun-singing-dancing-at M.I.'s or Merris' (Pat's & Helen's) or at Coles (Newtons) John, how Aunt ill loved those midgets-the word "carnival"-means only Johnny Jones. Aunt Lill & I rode on an elephant-me-pretty small-can't you hear her chortling? I was camping at Croyland & over that darned trestle-with Cath yelling so loud you couldn't see the shaking of some of the rest of us. Remember that dam? I learned to swim on my back-so I waited until I had an audience & started across-& suddenly sat up in the middle of it. The toilet paper rack had a sign-"use corncobs"-in it & I never had baked ham taste so good! Bert & Nan were with us there one time & they got all dressed up to go to Ridgway shopping-the rest of us (looking awful) followed them in and sang "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" to them-while engine took on water. They could have killed us! You bet Aunt Sallie and Aunt Lill made that stove sing. Such food-such happy days! John, I can well imagine what a tumble J.J. & B.B. would have had at Uncle Joe's landing 2-a 14 inch & 10 inch trout. Nobody ever did that. I've got a followup in the same vein, tho. One summer U.J. & A.S. went with us to Buford Lake on the Bruce Peninsula-above Owen Sound-where, the Clarks, our friends had 80 acres-1/3 of it part of Buford Lake. They built a few cottages, & several years took Jack with them-(Boy Scout age).-So there was a nice cottage for us-near them. Lake Isaac was near, & Lee Clark came down to get Uncle Joe to rush over to Lake Isaac where the sunfish (good to eat) were biting like mad. I went along-& A. Sally & Nan went shopping with Mrs.Clark. As fast as they could drop lines in, they pulled them out with as many fish as there were hooks on lines. Uncle Joe?-he took his fly rod & he'd play one fish-just as he would a trout. The Canadians & campers watched him play-one fish-for such a long time-(chortling-& having a whale of a time-). They stopped fishing, watched him-I remember Lee saying, "Well I'll be d____d!" He really had a circus. John, my eyes are too tired to write anymore now-please do get Carrie's nudging elbow lubricated so I can look forward to another letter. I'll be in better "fettle" next time I write-those Shaker School Marms done me in. Love to you both as always, Devotedly, Dort Tuesday-October 30th 1972 Dear John, I wrote to Norris about your letter about our gang, and he asked me to send him a copy of it. So-I'm hitching one onto my-impulsive splurge as it adds more color to our memories, than I could generate! Your guys should be reading that! So-I'm mailing a couple of our couple. Of course I was at Croyland!-and on that darned trestle-just as scared as Cath-she just out shrieked & out wobbled me.(No, I didn't yelp-but I sure hurried and then watched you struggle to get her over!) I never could swim further than I could hold my breath,-so I got smart and swam on my back-and tried to show off at Croyland by swimming across the small dam. I suddenly sat up in the middle of it, on mud, while my dear cousins enjoyed the mess I was in. Were you there the morning Nan and Bert got all dressed up to go to Ridgway? (I believe the engine took on water there.) and our motley crew-looking just terrible-followed them on to the train and serenaded them with, "Let Me all You Sweetheart" (off key). They tried to ignore our existence. Aunt S & Aunt Lil-oh, such food! It seemed especially good-there in that beautiful place. We've been lucky! Jack was a very small baby-Wally and I were on N. Hill & you were a frequent visitor-not to see us-but so you could carry our baby around. Did you intimate you might be like your Dad? Kathi came and brot Jennifer my g.g.daughter-her hair is slow growing so they call her 'Sam'-and she's great. They will be popping in-and I gotta go get busy in the kitchen. Loads of love to Carrie and you, Dort Don't think you had a corner on that black cherry tree-I'm surprised there was any left-for you-small fry. |
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