GRANDPA, WHERE DID YOU SERVE IN THE WAR?
I went into the United States Army in November, 1944, five months after Beverly and I had been married. We had lived in a basement apartment at 663 Cortez Street behind the State Capitol and nearly to Ensign Peak. We had my 1937 Ford tudor, but Beverly was not driving at that time, and automobiles were upon great demand due to ware requirements; consequently we sold the car so some one else could use it while I was gone in the army. We moved Beverly back to her parent’s place, and I reported at Fort Douglas, Utah for my enlistment. I was there about 7 days, having the weekend for leave before being transferred to my first training duty. I was able to be with my wife for a day and one-half, then returned to the Fort for pending assignment. I was sent by train from the D. and R.G.W. railroad station easterly to Denver, the later we travelled southeast. It was not until we had arrived in Kansas that our escort officer told us that we were destined to arrive at Camp Fannin near Tyler, Texas for our first location assignment. This was a special basic training camp, after which we were going to be assigned for overseas duty. However, on completion of the training there, I had been accepted for officer’s training and was going to travel to Fort Benning near Columbus in western Georgia. Two weeks after I had been at Benning, I received a message through the Red Cross that my oldest sister Merle was critically ill and that I should return to assist the family, inasmuch as my six other brothers in military were serving in overseas duty. I returned via Columbus and Atlanta, Georgia, flying from there to Kentucky and Chicago, where I had to await for flight to Salt Lake City. I later got aboard and continued home. On arriving at the airport, many family members of mine and Beverly’s were there to greet me; after saying “hello” to most of them, I then asked where was Beverly, because I hadn’t seen her yet. Her mother said, “Didn’t you pay attention to me when I said ‘Hello, papa’?” I then found out that Beverly had gone to the hospital and had given birth to a daughter about four hours before I arrived. This occurred on April 8, 1945. Also, the day before my sister Merle had died. I had two duties then, first stopping at the LDS Hospital to visit Beverly and my new daughter, then assisting my family on funeral arrangements. After a three weeks leave, I returned via Denver, Chicago and Columbus to Ft. Benning to continue my officer training. On August 8 I graduated with my second lieutenant commission and received orders for a transfer to Camp Roberts, California for my next duty assignment. I had a two-weeks enroute leave at Salt Lake City to spend with my new family of Beverly and daughter, whom we named Ann.
I spent three months at Camp Roberts, including a ten-day leave on which Beverly and I returned to Salt Lake City. My brother Richard was home also, and he took me to Los Angeles en route to a hospital where he was under treatment; I continued from there back to Camp Roberts. In December, I was shipped from Roberts on a trainload of officers going East towards overseas duty in Europe. I was at Camp Pickett, Virginia for ten days, then was transferred to Camp Miles Standish in Connecticut prior to departing by boat from Boston to LeHavre, France. We transferred by train to Germany, then I was assigned with others to Heidelberg for duty with an anti-aircraft battalion. We spent two weeks at the town of Erbach nearby being trained on the anti-aircraft equipment, then were later transferred to Heilbronn where our battalion took over operation of a discharge center; this handled receiving of and discharge of German troops being returned from different places, including some from various locations in United States. When this duty was declining, I was transferred to a 14th Infantry Regiment, and travelled to Stuttgart, Germany to serve as the assistant personnel officer. We stayed there about a month, then were transferred to Amberg, Germany, where the personnel office was located while the main troops were training and serving in the fields about twenty kilometers from Amberg. Late in August our division was inactivated and most of the personnel were returned to the states for discharge from duty. I was retained to supervise collecting and shipping of necessary records back to USA headquarters. Upon completion we travelled by vehicles to Bremerhaven, Germany, depositing boxes of records at headquarters for shipment to the states, then we returned by boat to New York City. I was originally destined to go to Illinois for discharge, but was diverted to Fort Irwin, New Jersey instead. This was favorable for me, as I invited Beverly to come back East and spend some time with me and to travel together enroute home. We spent some time at Washington D.C. and the area, to Philadelphia and New York City, then Chicago and Denver on the way. We arrived home in able to have Thanksgiving dinners with our families.
During my military duties I became acquainted with Lt. Ray Wiese from Ogden and Lt. Edward A. Bowman from Oneida, Illinois, and we travelled together enroute on our transfer from Camp Roberts to Camp Pickett. We also spent a weekend at Washington, D.C., and all of our associations provided deep friendships. I have been able to associate with them on occasions, and our friendships have continued. I have met many others in the military throught the years, and still have friendships therein.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Grandpa Wessman's Letter Part 5
WHERE DID YOU MEET GRANDMA? WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE?
On Christmas Day of 1943 I had been to visit with some of my friends, and while I was driving home along Sixth Avenue I saw one of my former neighbors, Mrs. Green and her daughter May, waiting at a bus stop. I stopped and offered to take them to wherever they were going. They declined at first, but after they told me they were going to a family get-together at their daughter’s and sister’s place on Diestel Road, I confirmed that I had no other appointments pending and wouldn’t mind doing their hauling for their benefit. Also, I convinced them that the busses were not running very often, so they accepted my offer. I drove them to the house on Diestel Road and let them out of the car. They invited me in to meet their family and I accepted. I was introduced to many people: the Howard J. Layton family who were hosts, the Noble family and the William Lester Glade family. After meeting most of them, I was served a treat along with others. Later others arrived to whom I was introduced, including a very cute girl named Beverly Glade. Later the families were invited to the Glade home to see the Christmas presents, and I was also invited to continue chauffering Mrs. Green and May, who are Beverly’s grandmother and aunt. I didn’t intend to go into the Glade home, but was convinced to do so after we arrived there. I spent a few minutes there, then departed. I thought about Beverly occasionally, but didn’t make any attempt to recontact her until the following September. I called her one day and offered to take her dancing, which she accepted. On September 10 I picked her up and we went dancing at the Rainbow Rendezvous Dance Hall, a special favorite dancing place in Salt Lake City. We enjoyed each other’s company, and especially enjoyed each other’s dancing. We also met another couple there, Maxine Morgan (a former neighbor of Beverly’s who was at this time living in my ward, the Twentieth) and her fiancé Wallace Tanner (who was ome on leave from his military service in the Army Air Force). We enjoyed their company, and later after they were married and we were married (Beverly and I), their first child was a son named James and our first child was a daughter named Ann; these two became acquainted many years later and were married, joining our two families.
On Christmas Day of 1943 I had been to visit with some of my friends, and while I was driving home along Sixth Avenue I saw one of my former neighbors, Mrs. Green and her daughter May, waiting at a bus stop. I stopped and offered to take them to wherever they were going. They declined at first, but after they told me they were going to a family get-together at their daughter’s and sister’s place on Diestel Road, I confirmed that I had no other appointments pending and wouldn’t mind doing their hauling for their benefit. Also, I convinced them that the busses were not running very often, so they accepted my offer. I drove them to the house on Diestel Road and let them out of the car. They invited me in to meet their family and I accepted. I was introduced to many people: the Howard J. Layton family who were hosts, the Noble family and the William Lester Glade family. After meeting most of them, I was served a treat along with others. Later others arrived to whom I was introduced, including a very cute girl named Beverly Glade. Later the families were invited to the Glade home to see the Christmas presents, and I was also invited to continue chauffering Mrs. Green and May, who are Beverly’s grandmother and aunt. I didn’t intend to go into the Glade home, but was convinced to do so after we arrived there. I spent a few minutes there, then departed. I thought about Beverly occasionally, but didn’t make any attempt to recontact her until the following September. I called her one day and offered to take her dancing, which she accepted. On September 10 I picked her up and we went dancing at the Rainbow Rendezvous Dance Hall, a special favorite dancing place in Salt Lake City. We enjoyed each other’s company, and especially enjoyed each other’s dancing. We also met another couple there, Maxine Morgan (a former neighbor of Beverly’s who was at this time living in my ward, the Twentieth) and her fiancé Wallace Tanner (who was ome on leave from his military service in the Army Air Force). We enjoyed their company, and later after they were married and we were married (Beverly and I), their first child was a son named James and our first child was a daughter named Ann; these two became acquainted many years later and were married, joining our two families.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Grandpa Wessman's Letter Part 4
WHEN DID YOU START DRIVING? WHAT KIND OF CAR DID YOU DRIVE?
When I was thirteen years old, my father one day suggested that I start to drive our family car. One day enroute from the shop, he turned the car over to me and I drove it the rest of the way home. It was a quiet day with very little traffic, and being on streets in Ogden with no traffic lights or stop signs, I was successful in getting the car started, shifting gears, and driving it the rest of the way home and into the driveway at our house. This was in a 1924 Dodge sedan, and father also later acquired a 1926 Dodge 3/4 ton wiremesh truck which I drove quite often. One time my father had driven in the sedan to the town of Malad, Idaho on a business matter; returning home he decided that I should drive the car part way, so mother and the baby (my sister Marilyn, who was about a year or two old) were transferred to the back seat and I transferred to the driver’s seat. The highway was not paved but was a graded and graveled road; on it I kept the car moving readily, but soon got going too fast--35 miles per hour--which father felt was too fast for anybody to drive, and hence he had me slow down. I drove about ten miles, which took approximately twenty minutes, then father took over the rest of the driving back to Ogden. My father’s first car was a 1916 Ford Model T, the nest one was a 1918 Dodge touring, and the following one was a 1923 Dodge sedan, however I was too young to have an opportunity to drive one of these. Subsequent cars which I owned by myself and drove were a 1929 Model A Ford sedan, a 1937 Ford two-door which I owned when I was married in June 1944 and later sold in November, 1944 when I was preparing to go into the Army for an unknown term. In 1947 after I had returned from the military and we had moved into an apartment at 644 Third Avenue in Salt Lake City, I purchased a 1937 Terraplane two-door. Two year later I sold this car to my friend James McQueen when we purchased a 1940 Plymouth sedan from Beverly’s mother and father; we used this car until 1955, at chich time we traded it in on a big 1955 Ford family station wagon. Subsequent cars were a 1964 Mercury Comet station wagon, a 1973 Volkswagen bug, and Audi station wagon about a 1974 or 1975 model, a 1973 Chevrolet four door sedan, then a 1984 new Volkswagen station wagon, on which we traded in the 1973 VW bug, the 1973 Chev sedan and the 1974 Audi wagon, leaving us with only one car. We kept this until October, 1985 when Beverly and I were in the Missionary Training Center prior to our going to France on a mission for the church; Beverly’s uncle Jack Green and his wife Peggy offered to purchase the 1984 VW wagon and they are still using it. After we returned from France in 1987, we purchased in April a used 1986 Audi 5000 four-door sedan, which we are driving now.
HOW FAR DID YOU GET IN SCHOOL, AND HOW DID YOU LIKE IT?
I graduated from Weber County high school in 1935, attended the L.D.S. Business College full time for several months, then continued some classes therein on Monday and Thursday nights to improve my accounting technique. After returning from my was army service, I returned to my accounting duties at the Mountain Fuel Supply Company; to assist, I was also taking accounting classes at nights at the University of Utah, and I did so for several years.
How did I like school? I always enjoyed going to school; the classes were favorable to me, and I always enjoyed the teachers I had. Our family became enlarged up to a total of eight children, I transferred occasionally at Mountain Fuel to other jobs, and I also was attending drill meetings at nights with Reserve Army associations to which I was attached. These conflicted to my completing my university record to a point where I could possibly have acquired at least a bachelor’s degree. My record there indicated that I probably had acquired one-half of the necessary hours. My total formal education training was always enjoyable to me.
HOW BIG WAS YOUR SCHOOL?
My elementary schools were of usual sizes--approximately from 30 to 40 students per class. They started with the Franklin School in Provo, then to the Pingree School, the Madison School, the Washington School, and back to the Madison School in Ogden. Subsequently I attended the Burch Creek Junior High School in South Ogden; this was a smaller school, having about 25 students in the class I attended. I later went to the Weber County High School for three years, which was a fairly large school in Ogden, Utah. The L.D.S. Business College was a moderate one, but the University of Utah was a very large school for comparison.
When I was thirteen years old, my father one day suggested that I start to drive our family car. One day enroute from the shop, he turned the car over to me and I drove it the rest of the way home. It was a quiet day with very little traffic, and being on streets in Ogden with no traffic lights or stop signs, I was successful in getting the car started, shifting gears, and driving it the rest of the way home and into the driveway at our house. This was in a 1924 Dodge sedan, and father also later acquired a 1926 Dodge 3/4 ton wiremesh truck which I drove quite often. One time my father had driven in the sedan to the town of Malad, Idaho on a business matter; returning home he decided that I should drive the car part way, so mother and the baby (my sister Marilyn, who was about a year or two old) were transferred to the back seat and I transferred to the driver’s seat. The highway was not paved but was a graded and graveled road; on it I kept the car moving readily, but soon got going too fast--35 miles per hour--which father felt was too fast for anybody to drive, and hence he had me slow down. I drove about ten miles, which took approximately twenty minutes, then father took over the rest of the driving back to Ogden. My father’s first car was a 1916 Ford Model T, the nest one was a 1918 Dodge touring, and the following one was a 1923 Dodge sedan, however I was too young to have an opportunity to drive one of these. Subsequent cars which I owned by myself and drove were a 1929 Model A Ford sedan, a 1937 Ford two-door which I owned when I was married in June 1944 and later sold in November, 1944 when I was preparing to go into the Army for an unknown term. In 1947 after I had returned from the military and we had moved into an apartment at 644 Third Avenue in Salt Lake City, I purchased a 1937 Terraplane two-door. Two year later I sold this car to my friend James McQueen when we purchased a 1940 Plymouth sedan from Beverly’s mother and father; we used this car until 1955, at chich time we traded it in on a big 1955 Ford family station wagon. Subsequent cars were a 1964 Mercury Comet station wagon, a 1973 Volkswagen bug, and Audi station wagon about a 1974 or 1975 model, a 1973 Chevrolet four door sedan, then a 1984 new Volkswagen station wagon, on which we traded in the 1973 VW bug, the 1973 Chev sedan and the 1974 Audi wagon, leaving us with only one car. We kept this until October, 1985 when Beverly and I were in the Missionary Training Center prior to our going to France on a mission for the church; Beverly’s uncle Jack Green and his wife Peggy offered to purchase the 1984 VW wagon and they are still using it. After we returned from France in 1987, we purchased in April a used 1986 Audi 5000 four-door sedan, which we are driving now.
HOW FAR DID YOU GET IN SCHOOL, AND HOW DID YOU LIKE IT?
I graduated from Weber County high school in 1935, attended the L.D.S. Business College full time for several months, then continued some classes therein on Monday and Thursday nights to improve my accounting technique. After returning from my was army service, I returned to my accounting duties at the Mountain Fuel Supply Company; to assist, I was also taking accounting classes at nights at the University of Utah, and I did so for several years.
How did I like school? I always enjoyed going to school; the classes were favorable to me, and I always enjoyed the teachers I had. Our family became enlarged up to a total of eight children, I transferred occasionally at Mountain Fuel to other jobs, and I also was attending drill meetings at nights with Reserve Army associations to which I was attached. These conflicted to my completing my university record to a point where I could possibly have acquired at least a bachelor’s degree. My record there indicated that I probably had acquired one-half of the necessary hours. My total formal education training was always enjoyable to me.
HOW BIG WAS YOUR SCHOOL?
My elementary schools were of usual sizes--approximately from 30 to 40 students per class. They started with the Franklin School in Provo, then to the Pingree School, the Madison School, the Washington School, and back to the Madison School in Ogden. Subsequently I attended the Burch Creek Junior High School in South Ogden; this was a smaller school, having about 25 students in the class I attended. I later went to the Weber County High School for three years, which was a fairly large school in Ogden, Utah. The L.D.S. Business College was a moderate one, but the University of Utah was a very large school for comparison.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Grandpa Wessman's Letter Part 3
DURING THE 1920’s AND 1930’s, WHAT DID YOUR FAMILY DO FOR ENTERTAINMENT?
Due to our large family, we spent most of our time being associated with each other, and likewise, due to the frequent moving of our family, we had plenty of friends with each other in the family. Some of us would acquire a neighborhood pal here or there on occasion. But mostly we were associated together with family-members. We the boys liked to play with marbles, tops, or other toys, and we did so considerably. We liked to go to the movies; our father and mother encouraged us to go to these, as they were very interesting and enjoyable. First of all, the movies were the silent type; however late 1928 and during 1929, most of the theaters acquired sound equipment so the new sound movies were available. We enjoyed this improvement tremendously. As a family, we did many things together. One of the principal ones was learning to swim. Our father was a remarkable swimmer, and he felt that we should all learn to swim as soon as possible. He used to take us swimming very often, and he taught us many things about being a good swimmer. If we became discouraged about our swimming, he used to demonstrate to us how much we could learn by his swimming very fast or by swimming underwater from one end of the pool to the other. We would then continue to improve our own swimming. We used to go to see local parades on holidays or other occasions, and we used to go to the canyons often for family picnics. Going for family over-night sleeping was very seldom, as it was too difficult to take a large family with many blankets for such events. We liked to play games with each other--out in the front yard, or in the house with card games, checker games, or other commercial games which we received for Christmas or birthdays. We all enjoyed reading books, and used to do a lot of it, as well as reading newspapers.
WHAT WERE SOME PRANKS YOU PULLED ON APRIL FOOLS OR HALLOWEEN?
I do not remember the April Fool pranks particularly, but the Halloween events I can remember. My older brothers took me with them when I was quite young, but at that time we spent our efforts in ringing people’s doorbells, then running and hiding so that the person answering the door would find no one there. We used to laugh with each other when we saw the door open then slam shut. Another favorite was to try to place a tin can full of water on someone’s screen door so that when someone opened the door the person opening the door would become splashed upon. That usually wasn’t very effective--we probably got splashed upon more ourselves while we were attempting to place the tin can upon the top of the door.
HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU GOT YOUR FIRST JOB, AND WHAT WAS IT?
I have previously answered this question earlier in my notes herein.
Due to our large family, we spent most of our time being associated with each other, and likewise, due to the frequent moving of our family, we had plenty of friends with each other in the family. Some of us would acquire a neighborhood pal here or there on occasion. But mostly we were associated together with family-members. We the boys liked to play with marbles, tops, or other toys, and we did so considerably. We liked to go to the movies; our father and mother encouraged us to go to these, as they were very interesting and enjoyable. First of all, the movies were the silent type; however late 1928 and during 1929, most of the theaters acquired sound equipment so the new sound movies were available. We enjoyed this improvement tremendously. As a family, we did many things together. One of the principal ones was learning to swim. Our father was a remarkable swimmer, and he felt that we should all learn to swim as soon as possible. He used to take us swimming very often, and he taught us many things about being a good swimmer. If we became discouraged about our swimming, he used to demonstrate to us how much we could learn by his swimming very fast or by swimming underwater from one end of the pool to the other. We would then continue to improve our own swimming. We used to go to see local parades on holidays or other occasions, and we used to go to the canyons often for family picnics. Going for family over-night sleeping was very seldom, as it was too difficult to take a large family with many blankets for such events. We liked to play games with each other--out in the front yard, or in the house with card games, checker games, or other commercial games which we received for Christmas or birthdays. We all enjoyed reading books, and used to do a lot of it, as well as reading newspapers.
WHAT WERE SOME PRANKS YOU PULLED ON APRIL FOOLS OR HALLOWEEN?
I do not remember the April Fool pranks particularly, but the Halloween events I can remember. My older brothers took me with them when I was quite young, but at that time we spent our efforts in ringing people’s doorbells, then running and hiding so that the person answering the door would find no one there. We used to laugh with each other when we saw the door open then slam shut. Another favorite was to try to place a tin can full of water on someone’s screen door so that when someone opened the door the person opening the door would become splashed upon. That usually wasn’t very effective--we probably got splashed upon more ourselves while we were attempting to place the tin can upon the top of the door.
HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU GOT YOUR FIRST JOB, AND WHAT WAS IT?
I have previously answered this question earlier in my notes herein.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Grandpa Wessman's Letter Part 2
WERE YOU PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY THE GREAT DEPRESSION?
Yes, I was personally affected by the great depression, inasmuch as work jobs were hard to obtain. During my father’s development of the typesetting company, I used to work there after school and on Saturdays to assist father; I also used to go to the shop occasionally on days of the week during summer school vacation to transport type to the printing shops, and to clean up around our shop. One of these projects was to remelt the used type and pour it into molds for re-use by the machine. I started doing this when I was about ten years old, and performed it throughout my years until I was 18 and at the time the machine was sold. I also had started learning to set up type on the machine, but it became interrupted when the machine was moved to Salt Lake City for a couple of years, and later I lost my association with the typesetting operation when the machine was sold.
My father died on March 15, 1929, [actually 1932] leaving a large family at home. There were 12 of us children living with mother, inasmuch as Henry and Richard were working in Salt Lake City. The older ones of us used to work at odd jobs; my brother Paul and I could work as caddies at the Ogden Golf Club after school on week days, and on Saturdays. Sometimes it was favorable, but other days not enough members came to play golf, or the weather would keep them away. After Richard moved the machine back to Ogden, I used to assist him whenever he had enough work to accommodate me. After the machine was sold and we moved to Salt Lake City, I started going to school at the L.D.S. Business College. During my last two years in high school at Weber, I had developed my ability in learning the typewriter; I also had acquired speed and served as a member of the school’s typewriting team which performed on contests at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. At L.D.S. Business College I passed a top-speed typing test, and also passed the English class entry examination which established me as a helper for the English class professor. I would work during one class period with him, and also for an hour after school correcting other student papers. This would total for me about ten hours per week for which I was paid 35¢ per hour to cover most of my school expenses. I also had joined the Utah National Guard, for which I received $1.00 per drill meeting each week and the same pay per day during summer training camp at Camp Williams in Utah County, located at Jordan Narrows at the north boundary of Utah County.
In November of 1935 I was sent by the business college to serve as a temporary typist at the Mountain Fuel Supply Company. I worked there for four days and received pay at 35¢ per hour also. I returned to school and continued for another month. In December, my supervisor in the Company accounting department re-called me to work for another few days typing up financial reports. It turned out that more work was available on November and December business, and I continued working until the end of January, 1936. One of the accounting department employees received a job appointment through civil service and moved away to work in the Salt Lake Post Office. This provided a job opening permanently for me at the Mountain Fuel Supply, first as the clerk of the company mail department, next as an operator for the addressograph machines, then later returning to the accounting department to type up accounting reports, gas supply invoices, and to duplicate reports on ditto machines for transfer to the general office at Findlay, Ohio, located with the Ohio Oil Company, the principal stockholder of Mountain Fuel Supply Company. I continued working with Mountain Fuel for 43½ years, interrupted only be serving for two years in the United States Army during World War II and thereafter in 1944 to 1946. I advanced to other jobs in the Accounting Department until 1953, and in the Legal Department from 1953 to 1979.
WAS YOUR FAMILY OR A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME? (CCC, WPA)
My brother Paul served in the CCC from 1936 until 1939. He worked in the Jericho area north of Delta, Utah first, then transferred to Southern Utah, and later to Southern Idaho. Another brother Philip served in the CCC during 1939 and 1940.
DURING THE DEPRESSION WHAT WERE YOUR FAMILY’S FEELINGS TOWARDS HOOVER AND FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT?
Generally they were changeable-type feelings; first when Hoover was elected, they felt good about him, but after the stock market crash and subsequent depression, they decided that Hoover was not taking proper care of the country. Likewise, when Roosevelt was elected, they felt supportive of him, but in subsequent elections, they wanted improvement for taxpayers and voted for Roosevelt’s opponents. The depression kept businesses down too long, and they were discouraged with the president’s capability. I suppose we all thought someone could change economic conditions faster than was possible.
WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT VIEWS TOWARD THESE TWO MEN?
I feel that none of these two men could have accomplished rapid turn-overs of the economic status without full assistance by all top-American businessmen towards such improvement. Mr. Hoover served favorably after his presidential term in other matters for our country, but Mr. Roosevelt, due to his death in 1945, was unable to perform in after-term matters.
Yes, I was personally affected by the great depression, inasmuch as work jobs were hard to obtain. During my father’s development of the typesetting company, I used to work there after school and on Saturdays to assist father; I also used to go to the shop occasionally on days of the week during summer school vacation to transport type to the printing shops, and to clean up around our shop. One of these projects was to remelt the used type and pour it into molds for re-use by the machine. I started doing this when I was about ten years old, and performed it throughout my years until I was 18 and at the time the machine was sold. I also had started learning to set up type on the machine, but it became interrupted when the machine was moved to Salt Lake City for a couple of years, and later I lost my association with the typesetting operation when the machine was sold.
My father died on March 15, 1929, [actually 1932] leaving a large family at home. There were 12 of us children living with mother, inasmuch as Henry and Richard were working in Salt Lake City. The older ones of us used to work at odd jobs; my brother Paul and I could work as caddies at the Ogden Golf Club after school on week days, and on Saturdays. Sometimes it was favorable, but other days not enough members came to play golf, or the weather would keep them away. After Richard moved the machine back to Ogden, I used to assist him whenever he had enough work to accommodate me. After the machine was sold and we moved to Salt Lake City, I started going to school at the L.D.S. Business College. During my last two years in high school at Weber, I had developed my ability in learning the typewriter; I also had acquired speed and served as a member of the school’s typewriting team which performed on contests at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. At L.D.S. Business College I passed a top-speed typing test, and also passed the English class entry examination which established me as a helper for the English class professor. I would work during one class period with him, and also for an hour after school correcting other student papers. This would total for me about ten hours per week for which I was paid 35¢ per hour to cover most of my school expenses. I also had joined the Utah National Guard, for which I received $1.00 per drill meeting each week and the same pay per day during summer training camp at Camp Williams in Utah County, located at Jordan Narrows at the north boundary of Utah County.
In November of 1935 I was sent by the business college to serve as a temporary typist at the Mountain Fuel Supply Company. I worked there for four days and received pay at 35¢ per hour also. I returned to school and continued for another month. In December, my supervisor in the Company accounting department re-called me to work for another few days typing up financial reports. It turned out that more work was available on November and December business, and I continued working until the end of January, 1936. One of the accounting department employees received a job appointment through civil service and moved away to work in the Salt Lake Post Office. This provided a job opening permanently for me at the Mountain Fuel Supply, first as the clerk of the company mail department, next as an operator for the addressograph machines, then later returning to the accounting department to type up accounting reports, gas supply invoices, and to duplicate reports on ditto machines for transfer to the general office at Findlay, Ohio, located with the Ohio Oil Company, the principal stockholder of Mountain Fuel Supply Company. I continued working with Mountain Fuel for 43½ years, interrupted only be serving for two years in the United States Army during World War II and thereafter in 1944 to 1946. I advanced to other jobs in the Accounting Department until 1953, and in the Legal Department from 1953 to 1979.
WAS YOUR FAMILY OR A MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY INVOLVED IN THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME? (CCC, WPA)
My brother Paul served in the CCC from 1936 until 1939. He worked in the Jericho area north of Delta, Utah first, then transferred to Southern Utah, and later to Southern Idaho. Another brother Philip served in the CCC during 1939 and 1940.
DURING THE DEPRESSION WHAT WERE YOUR FAMILY’S FEELINGS TOWARDS HOOVER AND FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT?
Generally they were changeable-type feelings; first when Hoover was elected, they felt good about him, but after the stock market crash and subsequent depression, they decided that Hoover was not taking proper care of the country. Likewise, when Roosevelt was elected, they felt supportive of him, but in subsequent elections, they wanted improvement for taxpayers and voted for Roosevelt’s opponents. The depression kept businesses down too long, and they were discouraged with the president’s capability. I suppose we all thought someone could change economic conditions faster than was possible.
WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT VIEWS TOWARD THESE TWO MEN?
I feel that none of these two men could have accomplished rapid turn-overs of the economic status without full assistance by all top-American businessmen towards such improvement. Mr. Hoover served favorably after his presidential term in other matters for our country, but Mr. Roosevelt, due to his death in 1945, was unable to perform in after-term matters.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Grandpa Wessman's Letter Part 1
JOHN HAYWARD WESSMAN
Memoirs
7 April, 1989
Born May 24, 1917
Salt Lake City Utah
WHAT WAS YOUR FAMILY’S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STATUS BEFORE THE DEPRESSION?
Our economic status before the depression was generally good, in that my father was ambitious towards obtaining favorable jobs. He had become associated in the printing industry, and he was continually looking for other projects therein that would increase his pay; he desired to do so inasmuch as his family was becoming enlarged and additional income was necessary for their support. By 1929 he had nine sons and four daughters, and he had acquired adequate income for their support. He had established a typesetting shop in Ogden to serve many printers in the area, and he had also been established as a full time typesetter in the local newspaper.
Our social status at that time was moderate, inasmuch as we had moved frequently from Salt Lake City to Bountiful, Mammoth, Provo and Ogden to accommodate his changes in jobs. We, the children, used to associate with each other mostly inasmuch as we didn’t live in each house very long and didn’t become acquainted very long with possible friends. Also, whenever we went any place, we usually went as a family. Also, with my father working hard, he usually spent at least six days a week at it, and this left only Sundays to go visit our other family members or old-time friends of father’s and mother’s. Occasionally we would attend church meetings, but it would require considerable preparation by all of us to get dressed and ready to go to church. When I was born, our family lived in a home which mother and father had purchased, but when father purchased a typesetting machine, he sold the house to accommodate his typesetting moves. Consequently, we lived in rented homes and moved frequently; during the summer of 1935 after I had graduated from high school, we moved to the fifteenth home that we had lived in during my lifetime.
DID THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929 DIRECTLY AFFECT YOUR FAMILY?
The stock market crash of 1929 did not directly affect my family, as we were not involved in stock ownerships. However, subsequent results did involve us.
DID THE GREAT DEPRESSION AFFECT YOUR FAMILY ECONOMICALLY OR SOCIALLY?
The great depression did not at first affect our family economically or socially, as my father was extremely ambitious towards maintaining income for his large family. After a couple years, however, the printing industry slowed down, and not enough work was available to maintain the typesetting shop in Ogden. My first brother Henry (or Harry, as his family name) had transferred to Salt Lake City and had obtained a favorable job there. My father’s brother also had a typesetting shop in Salt Lake City to which father moved the machine; also my second brother Richard went to uncle’s shop to work there and to build up his operating capability with the machine. After a couple of years, the typesetting requirements had slowed down in Salt Lake City, and Richard moved the typesetting machine back to Ogden to attempt building up a business there.
Memoirs
7 April, 1989
Born May 24, 1917
Salt Lake City Utah
WHAT WAS YOUR FAMILY’S ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL STATUS BEFORE THE DEPRESSION?
Our economic status before the depression was generally good, in that my father was ambitious towards obtaining favorable jobs. He had become associated in the printing industry, and he was continually looking for other projects therein that would increase his pay; he desired to do so inasmuch as his family was becoming enlarged and additional income was necessary for their support. By 1929 he had nine sons and four daughters, and he had acquired adequate income for their support. He had established a typesetting shop in Ogden to serve many printers in the area, and he had also been established as a full time typesetter in the local newspaper.
Our social status at that time was moderate, inasmuch as we had moved frequently from Salt Lake City to Bountiful, Mammoth, Provo and Ogden to accommodate his changes in jobs. We, the children, used to associate with each other mostly inasmuch as we didn’t live in each house very long and didn’t become acquainted very long with possible friends. Also, whenever we went any place, we usually went as a family. Also, with my father working hard, he usually spent at least six days a week at it, and this left only Sundays to go visit our other family members or old-time friends of father’s and mother’s. Occasionally we would attend church meetings, but it would require considerable preparation by all of us to get dressed and ready to go to church. When I was born, our family lived in a home which mother and father had purchased, but when father purchased a typesetting machine, he sold the house to accommodate his typesetting moves. Consequently, we lived in rented homes and moved frequently; during the summer of 1935 after I had graduated from high school, we moved to the fifteenth home that we had lived in during my lifetime.
DID THE STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 1929 DIRECTLY AFFECT YOUR FAMILY?
The stock market crash of 1929 did not directly affect my family, as we were not involved in stock ownerships. However, subsequent results did involve us.
DID THE GREAT DEPRESSION AFFECT YOUR FAMILY ECONOMICALLY OR SOCIALLY?
The great depression did not at first affect our family economically or socially, as my father was extremely ambitious towards maintaining income for his large family. After a couple years, however, the printing industry slowed down, and not enough work was available to maintain the typesetting shop in Ogden. My first brother Henry (or Harry, as his family name) had transferred to Salt Lake City and had obtained a favorable job there. My father’s brother also had a typesetting shop in Salt Lake City to which father moved the machine; also my second brother Richard went to uncle’s shop to work there and to build up his operating capability with the machine. After a couple of years, the typesetting requirements had slowed down in Salt Lake City, and Richard moved the typesetting machine back to Ogden to attempt building up a business there.
About Grandpa Wessman's Letter
As previously mentioned, I sent Grandma Beverly and Grandpa John Wessman a list of questions as part of a AA History/English project in 10th grade. Grandma hand wrote seven pages plus a cover letter. Grandpa Wessman typed up 10 pages to answer my questions. He included the questions in his report, so his letter is a little more formal than Grandma's.
With the questions outlined, you can see where Grandma got her topics from: she wasn't just writing random things that we might find interesting. The letters are not life sketches, so a lot of things are missing that would be included in a history.
In typing up these letters, I have been reminded of things that I had forgotton about my grandparents, and learned new things about them. I must have read these letters when I got them 20 years ago, since I had to write a report on them, but I was only 16.
I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I did!
With the questions outlined, you can see where Grandma got her topics from: she wasn't just writing random things that we might find interesting. The letters are not life sketches, so a lot of things are missing that would be included in a history.
In typing up these letters, I have been reminded of things that I had forgotton about my grandparents, and learned new things about them. I must have read these letters when I got them 20 years ago, since I had to write a report on them, but I was only 16.
I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I did!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Grandma Wessman's Letter Page 7
[This is the extra page about learning to drive that Grandma mentioned in her first letter here]
—7—
The spring of the year I was graduating —Age 17— from High School I said to my Dad, “Teach me to drive will you please?” He said, “Sure, let’s go.” We lived on an alley way through the block. There were 2 garages opposite our exit to the alley from our garage. The neighbor had just finished a new double garage. So I got in behind the wheel — but I had never paid much attention to the driving of a car so I said, “What do I do?” Dad said, “Turn the key on, put your foot on the clutch, shift into first, let off the brake and slowly put your foot from brake to gas as you lift left foot off the clutch pedal.” So I did as instructed but my slowly on the gas was too fast and the car shot out of the drive right into the corner of the new garage — I was devastated and so was dad. All my courage was gone — my next try came in 1953 — 12 years and four babies and a husband later.
John taught me — a neighbor taught me. I had to parallel part on a steep hill besides all the other things — go down main street up state turn rt, turn left — I was indeed nervous and he thought I needed more practice parallel parking on a steep hill. I didn’t give up — so I tried again a month later and passed. The written was easy. I loved driving but was nervous with a police officer watching every move I made. I passed and was so happy — especially so I could take children to the Drs. Without having to bother my mother as I did not like to get John off work for such things. In fact in those days you did not call or bother your husband when he was at work except for an extreme emergency. I was thereafter helpful to encourage anyone to learn to drive—
[That's the end of Grandma's letter! Thanks for reading along. Next I'll transcribe Grandpa Wessman's letter. Then I'll scan the pages and they'll be available to anyone who requests them. Send me an email if you want copies or if you want the transscriptions.]
—7—
The spring of the year I was graduating —Age 17— from High School I said to my Dad, “Teach me to drive will you please?” He said, “Sure, let’s go.” We lived on an alley way through the block. There were 2 garages opposite our exit to the alley from our garage. The neighbor had just finished a new double garage. So I got in behind the wheel — but I had never paid much attention to the driving of a car so I said, “What do I do?” Dad said, “Turn the key on, put your foot on the clutch, shift into first, let off the brake and slowly put your foot from brake to gas as you lift left foot off the clutch pedal.” So I did as instructed but my slowly on the gas was too fast and the car shot out of the drive right into the corner of the new garage — I was devastated and so was dad. All my courage was gone — my next try came in 1953 — 12 years and four babies and a husband later.
John taught me — a neighbor taught me. I had to parallel part on a steep hill besides all the other things — go down main street up state turn rt, turn left — I was indeed nervous and he thought I needed more practice parallel parking on a steep hill. I didn’t give up — so I tried again a month later and passed. The written was easy. I loved driving but was nervous with a police officer watching every move I made. I passed and was so happy — especially so I could take children to the Drs. Without having to bother my mother as I did not like to get John off work for such things. In fact in those days you did not call or bother your husband when he was at work except for an extreme emergency. I was thereafter helpful to encourage anyone to learn to drive—
[That's the end of Grandma's letter! Thanks for reading along. Next I'll transcribe Grandpa Wessman's letter. Then I'll scan the pages and they'll be available to anyone who requests them. Send me an email if you want copies or if you want the transscriptions.]
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Grandma Wessman's Letter Page 6
—6—
After he got home apartments were impossible to find. We finally got one in May — in September we bought an old car — a green Terraplane — it ran O.K. John was a good mechanic. He even fixed it in a sand storm in Bluff, Utah — our vacation with the McQueens in Sept. to Southeastern Utah.
My father told us to wait to buy a home — prices would come down after economics settled after the war. Well, 1½ yrs later we could see they were steadily going up in price so finally we bought our first house, a small one on the west side, which we could afford. It was new, a tract house which meant there were 4 floor plans to choose from. I was not thrilled to move on the west side — some of the idealism my parents had somehow ingrained in me. But I also had become realistic and had to settle for what we could afford. John returned to the security of his former job at Mountain Fuel Supply and we were in ours & the banks home with three children and a life ahead of us. It was 1950. Life is not predictable to the extent of what all the influences and forces around us combined will affect. Our lifestyle, we individually can maintain the qualities that keep us on an even keel. These are moral courage, honesty, righteousness, integrity, tolerance, patience, love of others, gratitude, involvement to keep our land free from inward or outside aggression and know truth. America is still the land of the free — We as individuals must keep it that way for all who follow us.
My dear sweet grandchildren and all friends. We have been given so much, even to live in America is a blessing more than you realize. We have been on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean and we know this great United States is the best place in the world to live. We have a priceless heritage. We have more than anyone on the earth because of our background of freedom loving people who came, fought and were inspired to write the constitution which is our law for governing us — the people of the United States of America. It has never been easy and will never be easy, but we must appreciate, guard, and keep our country free that we all may have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is only done by good people who respect one another and keeping the laws of the land based on the Constitution of America.
Love Grandmother Wessman
After he got home apartments were impossible to find. We finally got one in May — in September we bought an old car — a green Terraplane — it ran O.K. John was a good mechanic. He even fixed it in a sand storm in Bluff, Utah — our vacation with the McQueens in Sept. to Southeastern Utah.
My father told us to wait to buy a home — prices would come down after economics settled after the war. Well, 1½ yrs later we could see they were steadily going up in price so finally we bought our first house, a small one on the west side, which we could afford. It was new, a tract house which meant there were 4 floor plans to choose from. I was not thrilled to move on the west side — some of the idealism my parents had somehow ingrained in me. But I also had become realistic and had to settle for what we could afford. John returned to the security of his former job at Mountain Fuel Supply and we were in ours & the banks home with three children and a life ahead of us. It was 1950. Life is not predictable to the extent of what all the influences and forces around us combined will affect. Our lifestyle, we individually can maintain the qualities that keep us on an even keel. These are moral courage, honesty, righteousness, integrity, tolerance, patience, love of others, gratitude, involvement to keep our land free from inward or outside aggression and know truth. America is still the land of the free — We as individuals must keep it that way for all who follow us.
My dear sweet grandchildren and all friends. We have been given so much, even to live in America is a blessing more than you realize. We have been on both sides of the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean and we know this great United States is the best place in the world to live. We have a priceless heritage. We have more than anyone on the earth because of our background of freedom loving people who came, fought and were inspired to write the constitution which is our law for governing us — the people of the United States of America. It has never been easy and will never be easy, but we must appreciate, guard, and keep our country free that we all may have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is only done by good people who respect one another and keeping the laws of the land based on the Constitution of America.
Love Grandmother Wessman
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Grandma Wessman's Letter Page 5
—5—
World War II changed the World. Values, relationships, systems have all been changed in the ensuing years. The patterns of war upset the balance in life and destroys and kills not only people but their value systems, their securities like family, economics, government, homes, ideals. It is an ugly monster. It did affect my life in so many ways. Yet I did not suffer directly as my country was not invaded past Hawaii — I had 2 dear friends killed! I did not finish college. My husband was gone two years. Recovery was slow, many people suffered. War affects everyone, I learned!
John & I met through his friendship with my grandmother Green and her daughter May, who were neighbors to John. He took them, on Christmas Day, to visit relatives — I was one of the ones he saw and met. After 9 months went by he ran out of girl friends and called me up for a date. We went dancing at the Rainbow Rendevous — a popular, really nice dance hall. We were both good dancers and had a great time together, even met a couple that have been our best friends for all our married life, Maxine Morgan whom John and I both knew and her fiancé Wallace Tanner. Little did we dream that each of our eldest children would one day marry. We didn’t even know we would marry — that was our first date! This is what makes friendshipping so fun. That was Sept 10, 1943. I was a traditional June bride. He went in the army in November — then the 2 years in army and finally we settled down after the surrender of Germany May 1945, Japan Aug 1945 — and John’s service in Germany for a year helping displaced people get home again. He returned Nov. 1946. While he was gone I went back home to live with my parents. Your mother Ann, was born in 1945. Basic training Texas then John’s officer school in Georgia, then Camp Roberts, Calif. None was conducive for me to be with him — I tried Camp Roberts but he had orders to go overseas 2 days after I arrived with Ann then his orders were canceled. Finally in Nov. he got new orders to go overseas — and no dependants! Released Nov. 1946
World War II changed the World. Values, relationships, systems have all been changed in the ensuing years. The patterns of war upset the balance in life and destroys and kills not only people but their value systems, their securities like family, economics, government, homes, ideals. It is an ugly monster. It did affect my life in so many ways. Yet I did not suffer directly as my country was not invaded past Hawaii — I had 2 dear friends killed! I did not finish college. My husband was gone two years. Recovery was slow, many people suffered. War affects everyone, I learned!
John & I met through his friendship with my grandmother Green and her daughter May, who were neighbors to John. He took them, on Christmas Day, to visit relatives — I was one of the ones he saw and met. After 9 months went by he ran out of girl friends and called me up for a date. We went dancing at the Rainbow Rendevous — a popular, really nice dance hall. We were both good dancers and had a great time together, even met a couple that have been our best friends for all our married life, Maxine Morgan whom John and I both knew and her fiancé Wallace Tanner. Little did we dream that each of our eldest children would one day marry. We didn’t even know we would marry — that was our first date! This is what makes friendshipping so fun. That was Sept 10, 1943. I was a traditional June bride. He went in the army in November — then the 2 years in army and finally we settled down after the surrender of Germany May 1945, Japan Aug 1945 — and John’s service in Germany for a year helping displaced people get home again. He returned Nov. 1946. While he was gone I went back home to live with my parents. Your mother Ann, was born in 1945. Basic training Texas then John’s officer school in Georgia, then Camp Roberts, Calif. None was conducive for me to be with him — I tried Camp Roberts but he had orders to go overseas 2 days after I arrived with Ann then his orders were canceled. Finally in Nov. he got new orders to go overseas — and no dependants! Released Nov. 1946
Friday, May 22, 2009
Grandma Wessman's Letter Page 4
—4—
I used to make spending money at age 11 by tending children for 10¢ an hour or 50¢ an evening. I’d do dishes, put them to bed and then read. By high school I made $1.00 – $1.50 an evening — even bought books at college my Freshman year. At age 14 one neighbor had me come to his grocery store on Saturday. He phoned his housewife clients and would write their grocery orders and prices on his order book — As he phoned the next customer I would add up the prices. We tried this three weeks. I made $1.50 but he decided it wasn’t worth it. I did not like it either as arithmetic was always hard for me. Math, algebra were hard. Geometry I loved it.
Sewing, geography, English, spelling, art were favorite subjects. I liked school always. East High I discovered a great love for physiology and gym or sports. The University of Utah was great. I didn’t really know how to study and soon learned I had to work at school to get good grades — I just slipped through high school without too much work. It would have been better if I’d had some direction in studying — I just did what I could.
The World War 2 changed my direction. I had wanted to get a degree and be a school teacher but the summer after my University freshman year a friend of mine named Winona Simonsen said, “Why don’t we look for a job at Ft. Douglas?” So we applied at the Finance Office. I went to work the next week for the U.S. Army Finance. I had not had office experience but I could type and had 1 year of shorthand. This was 1942 — after Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. I was taught to run a check writing machine. After a week and a few mistakes they could see my mechanical ability wasn’t perfect so I went to the Mail Section which was just organized — We sorted and distributed mail all day. That lasted 8 months then I learned a computer and checked Commercial accounts where I stayed till I got married and quit to have a baby in 1945. Interesting though, I had a desire to go back to the University and I went two more quarters and loved it, but John and I decided on marriage and then money seemed more important than education — now 50 yrs later I’m sorry I did not pursue the education first — money is not the first, and most important. One needs all the education one can get before marriage. It is a matter of priorities. My father told me the “University of hard knocks” was very worthwhile (working) but I would now say formal training is a first requisite and experience helps but is secondary. Advice: a good foundation (learning – school) a balance in sports, study, social, spiritual things & material things
When World War II came along I was 17 years old. Dec. 7, 1941 — Japan bombed Pearl Harbor — I remembered thinking, “I’m still pretty young the war won’t affect me.” How naive I was. My boyfriends disappeared to serve their country — The University was mostly girls — no dances anymore — then soldiers came and they were from all parts of the country — so many differences in ideals, lifestyles, thinking. I went to a few USO dances and did not enjoy them — I dated some soldiers and heard of war or loneliness. The sheltered, consistent family lifestyle I knew was never to be again.
I used to make spending money at age 11 by tending children for 10¢ an hour or 50¢ an evening. I’d do dishes, put them to bed and then read. By high school I made $1.00 – $1.50 an evening — even bought books at college my Freshman year. At age 14 one neighbor had me come to his grocery store on Saturday. He phoned his housewife clients and would write their grocery orders and prices on his order book — As he phoned the next customer I would add up the prices. We tried this three weeks. I made $1.50 but he decided it wasn’t worth it. I did not like it either as arithmetic was always hard for me. Math, algebra were hard. Geometry I loved it.
Sewing, geography, English, spelling, art were favorite subjects. I liked school always. East High I discovered a great love for physiology and gym or sports. The University of Utah was great. I didn’t really know how to study and soon learned I had to work at school to get good grades — I just slipped through high school without too much work. It would have been better if I’d had some direction in studying — I just did what I could.
The World War 2 changed my direction. I had wanted to get a degree and be a school teacher but the summer after my University freshman year a friend of mine named Winona Simonsen said, “Why don’t we look for a job at Ft. Douglas?” So we applied at the Finance Office. I went to work the next week for the U.S. Army Finance. I had not had office experience but I could type and had 1 year of shorthand. This was 1942 — after Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese. I was taught to run a check writing machine. After a week and a few mistakes they could see my mechanical ability wasn’t perfect so I went to the Mail Section which was just organized — We sorted and distributed mail all day. That lasted 8 months then I learned a computer and checked Commercial accounts where I stayed till I got married and quit to have a baby in 1945. Interesting though, I had a desire to go back to the University and I went two more quarters and loved it, but John and I decided on marriage and then money seemed more important than education — now 50 yrs later I’m sorry I did not pursue the education first — money is not the first, and most important. One needs all the education one can get before marriage. It is a matter of priorities. My father told me the “University of hard knocks” was very worthwhile (working) but I would now say formal training is a first requisite and experience helps but is secondary. Advice: a good foundation (learning – school) a balance in sports, study, social, spiritual things & material things
When World War II came along I was 17 years old. Dec. 7, 1941 — Japan bombed Pearl Harbor — I remembered thinking, “I’m still pretty young the war won’t affect me.” How naive I was. My boyfriends disappeared to serve their country — The University was mostly girls — no dances anymore — then soldiers came and they were from all parts of the country — so many differences in ideals, lifestyles, thinking. I went to a few USO dances and did not enjoy them — I dated some soldiers and heard of war or loneliness. The sheltered, consistent family lifestyle I knew was never to be again.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Grandma Wessman's Letter Page 3
—3—
As mentioned previously our entertainment was a weekly movie on Saturday afternoons which cost 10¢ or after I was 12 yrs. old 15¢ and then 25¢. For 5¢ we got a bag of candy. We carefully rationed it to last through the news, the cartoon (Mickey Mouse began life here), then the feature movie. The movies were usually life situations with happy endings — a superman, or a serial of Buck Rogers in the 20th Century — then musicals became the rage with dancing and stage sets of gorgeous proportions but still all in black and white. We listened to radio serials after school and in the evenings after dinner. For vacations each year we would go camping in the mountains for a week with 5 or 6 families in similar circumstances as ours. There were tents, camping stoves, canned goods, blankets and pillows to pack in the car with only a small trunk on the back. We often had to put radiator water in several times on the way to a camp spot. Our family also went on two vacations to California in my first 15 years.
I remember all the vacations. They were so important. In the 20’s we went to Yellowstone Park before the Great Depression which limited traveling very far for our family, but the camping made up for it. It took creative thinking to be able to figure out fun times in spite of economic strife. We’d sing, tell stories around the campfire. We would hike, play in the river, play paper dolls or card games. We loved the mountains and the parks.
Halloween was always fun to dress up and go door to door for trick or treat to get candy and apples. It was not part of school or as big a scale as it is now — we’d go to the 28 homes which was both sides of Sherman Ave. One year 3 of us girls made rattlers by notching the edges of a wooden spool from sewing thread, putting a nail through the holes & then instead of ringing the doorbell we would roll it on the window & then instead of ringing the doorbell we would roll it on the window & it made a rat-a-tat — but we were bored after 3 houses as it wasn’t so scary or fun to do. I remembered the wild stories of Uncle Bert in Morgan who told of groups of boys on Halloween would tip out-houses over on their sides or take a plank or two out of the bridge over the Weber River and watch the drunks fall thro to the river on their way home at night — They made their own fun!
As mentioned previously our entertainment was a weekly movie on Saturday afternoons which cost 10¢ or after I was 12 yrs. old 15¢ and then 25¢. For 5¢ we got a bag of candy. We carefully rationed it to last through the news, the cartoon (Mickey Mouse began life here), then the feature movie. The movies were usually life situations with happy endings — a superman, or a serial of Buck Rogers in the 20th Century — then musicals became the rage with dancing and stage sets of gorgeous proportions but still all in black and white. We listened to radio serials after school and in the evenings after dinner. For vacations each year we would go camping in the mountains for a week with 5 or 6 families in similar circumstances as ours. There were tents, camping stoves, canned goods, blankets and pillows to pack in the car with only a small trunk on the back. We often had to put radiator water in several times on the way to a camp spot. Our family also went on two vacations to California in my first 15 years.
I remember all the vacations. They were so important. In the 20’s we went to Yellowstone Park before the Great Depression which limited traveling very far for our family, but the camping made up for it. It took creative thinking to be able to figure out fun times in spite of economic strife. We’d sing, tell stories around the campfire. We would hike, play in the river, play paper dolls or card games. We loved the mountains and the parks.
Halloween was always fun to dress up and go door to door for trick or treat to get candy and apples. It was not part of school or as big a scale as it is now — we’d go to the 28 homes which was both sides of Sherman Ave. One year 3 of us girls made rattlers by notching the edges of a wooden spool from sewing thread, putting a nail through the holes & then instead of ringing the doorbell we would roll it on the window & then instead of ringing the doorbell we would roll it on the window & it made a rat-a-tat — but we were bored after 3 houses as it wasn’t so scary or fun to do. I remembered the wild stories of Uncle Bert in Morgan who told of groups of boys on Halloween would tip out-houses over on their sides or take a plank or two out of the bridge over the Weber River and watch the drunks fall thro to the river on their way home at night — They made their own fun!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Grandma Wessman's Letter Page 2
—2—
When I was 5 — the great depression of 1929 hit all the banking system of the United States. I did not know anything about it then or the times afterward — My mother and father did not discuss financial concerns with their three children. So we were never concerned or worried about money. We had an allowance 10¢ a week for which we kept our bedroom clean and helped with dishes, cleaning house and yard. When I was 10 — I received 25¢ a week and could ask for more for anything important — but I never did. I did try to get an ice cream cone once when my father was bringing me home from town but he said “no.” So I never asked again. My mother would give me a little extra for candy, 1¢ or 5¢ for the show on Saturday. We had a rather routine life. My parents were careful with all their money — I never felt deprived but I noticed that three of my friends always had more money for spending (candy) than I did but I knew we had to be content with what we had. I suppose I was a little jealous but it wasn’t important. In later years I had a college education which my father paid for, but my three friends did not go to college. A few of our neighbors were not able to keep their homes due to the fathers losing their jobs during the depression but my father kept his job as wholesale hardware continued to be in demand. In 1934 my father had the opportunity to represent several large national hardware companies so he quit the Z.C.M.I. (the largest and oldest Dept. store in America) and worked by himself as a sales representative.
His parents said he was foolish to leave the security of a steady well-known business but he had confidence in himself and could see the great possibilities ahead financially and the depression was over — President Franklin D. Roosevelt seemed to express optimism for the country with his “new deal”. The people of Utah were Republican and slow for change and supported Herbert Hoover. Now we can see the need for reform in governmental attitudes of the 30’s. Pres. Roosevelt was able to create jobs for more people — He did guide away from the jobless state of common men. He raised the living standard for common people but with his measures came more control of the states by the Federal Gov’t. To this day the influence of Strong Central Government is being felt. The congress, president & judicial system nationally are under one government but by this process individuals have lost a voice in government and the free-enterprise system that is so vital to liberty & freedom in/of America — The united states are all controlled (or lost) The balance of power seems to need to come back to individuals and the states. It is this change that is good for America to keep a balance in power government.
When I was 5 — the great depression of 1929 hit all the banking system of the United States. I did not know anything about it then or the times afterward — My mother and father did not discuss financial concerns with their three children. So we were never concerned or worried about money. We had an allowance 10¢ a week for which we kept our bedroom clean and helped with dishes, cleaning house and yard. When I was 10 — I received 25¢ a week and could ask for more for anything important — but I never did. I did try to get an ice cream cone once when my father was bringing me home from town but he said “no.” So I never asked again. My mother would give me a little extra for candy, 1¢ or 5¢ for the show on Saturday. We had a rather routine life. My parents were careful with all their money — I never felt deprived but I noticed that three of my friends always had more money for spending (candy) than I did but I knew we had to be content with what we had. I suppose I was a little jealous but it wasn’t important. In later years I had a college education which my father paid for, but my three friends did not go to college. A few of our neighbors were not able to keep their homes due to the fathers losing their jobs during the depression but my father kept his job as wholesale hardware continued to be in demand. In 1934 my father had the opportunity to represent several large national hardware companies so he quit the Z.C.M.I. (the largest and oldest Dept. store in America) and worked by himself as a sales representative.
His parents said he was foolish to leave the security of a steady well-known business but he had confidence in himself and could see the great possibilities ahead financially and the depression was over — President Franklin D. Roosevelt seemed to express optimism for the country with his “new deal”. The people of Utah were Republican and slow for change and supported Herbert Hoover. Now we can see the need for reform in governmental attitudes of the 30’s. Pres. Roosevelt was able to create jobs for more people — He did guide away from the jobless state of common men. He raised the living standard for common people but with his measures came more control of the states by the Federal Gov’t. To this day the influence of Strong Central Government is being felt. The congress, president & judicial system nationally are under one government but by this process individuals have lost a voice in government and the free-enterprise system that is so vital to liberty & freedom in/of America — The united states are all controlled (or lost) The balance of power seems to need to come back to individuals and the states. It is this change that is good for America to keep a balance in power government.
Grandma Wessman's Letter Page 1
6 April 1989
Dear Melinda
We were delighted to receive such an informative letter from you and are glad to tell you a little of our remembrances from the “early days” of our experiences.
I was born in Salt Lake City, 21 April of 1924. My mother and father built a new house at 1421 Sherman Ave. the first year of their marriage. It cost $4,500.00 and was larger and nicer than the average home built in that time. It was custom built with gumwood door casings and doors in the dining room, living room and front bedroom. The tile fireplace and bookshelves had the same gumwood trim (the large windows also). There were window-glass french doors between the living room and dining room. The home was beautiful, large and comfortable. All the closets were large enough to walk in to dress or undress. The hall had 2 large closets and linen drawers and a clothes shute to the basement where the washing facilities were — The large breakfast room was nice to eat in. The home was heated by radiators (radiant heat) in each room which had heat running thro from the coal burning (hand shoveled) furnace in the basement. My father worked for Z.C.M.I. as a hardware salesman. A steady good job. He made $100.00 a month. (Better than average wages). He was 28 years old when he married and had already paid for the building lot. My mother was 25 years old and had a good job at a furniture store and had purchased a large 7 pc. Bedroom set (bed, mattresses, night stand, chair, rocking chair, bureau, chifferobe, and dressing table and mirrors. Also paid for a 3 piece living room set, 2 rocking chairs, dining room set and a kitchen table and four chairs. All paid for except house payments. They were frugal and saved money for what they wanted. They built their home in the new southeast section of Salt Lake City — the nicest part of town. They were and ambitious young couple who liked nice things and worked to have them. Neither one had been to college but were very intelligent and worked hard. Their goals were high for a good life and to enjoy cultural activities, a family, and those friends that had high ideals. They were both from strong religious families of high moral character (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). I was their first child and was brought home from the hospital to the only home my mother and father built and lived in all their married life. Both died there — Wm. Lester in 1952 and Lucile Green Glade in 1980. We were all Salt Lakers always.
Dear Melinda
We were delighted to receive such an informative letter from you and are glad to tell you a little of our remembrances from the “early days” of our experiences.
I was born in Salt Lake City, 21 April of 1924. My mother and father built a new house at 1421 Sherman Ave. the first year of their marriage. It cost $4,500.00 and was larger and nicer than the average home built in that time. It was custom built with gumwood door casings and doors in the dining room, living room and front bedroom. The tile fireplace and bookshelves had the same gumwood trim (the large windows also). There were window-glass french doors between the living room and dining room. The home was beautiful, large and comfortable. All the closets were large enough to walk in to dress or undress. The hall had 2 large closets and linen drawers and a clothes shute to the basement where the washing facilities were — The large breakfast room was nice to eat in. The home was heated by radiators (radiant heat) in each room which had heat running thro from the coal burning (hand shoveled) furnace in the basement. My father worked for Z.C.M.I. as a hardware salesman. A steady good job. He made $100.00 a month. (Better than average wages). He was 28 years old when he married and had already paid for the building lot. My mother was 25 years old and had a good job at a furniture store and had purchased a large 7 pc. Bedroom set (bed, mattresses, night stand, chair, rocking chair, bureau, chifferobe, and dressing table and mirrors. Also paid for a 3 piece living room set, 2 rocking chairs, dining room set and a kitchen table and four chairs. All paid for except house payments. They were frugal and saved money for what they wanted. They built their home in the new southeast section of Salt Lake City — the nicest part of town. They were and ambitious young couple who liked nice things and worked to have them. Neither one had been to college but were very intelligent and worked hard. Their goals were high for a good life and to enjoy cultural activities, a family, and those friends that had high ideals. They were both from strong religious families of high moral character (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). I was their first child and was brought home from the hospital to the only home my mother and father built and lived in all their married life. Both died there — Wm. Lester in 1952 and Lucile Green Glade in 1980. We were all Salt Lakers always.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Letter from Grandma Wessman
le 7 avril 1989
Dear Mindy
We made quite a project out of your school assignment but we’re duplicating it also to go in our life story so you get the original copies. It took me 7½ hours Fri. morn to complete — Grandpa is a little faster — so here it is — We’re glad to share our experiences with you — Thank your teacher — It’s great. We did a shorter version for Amy & Eliza.
I’m glad you are having opportunities to work. The letter you sent is so good! It’s newsy, informative, explitive & so great to hear what you are doing. I wish you could have come also with your mom. Your letter came Mon. afternoon after your mom left. It took us til Fri morn to get to it — After I finished my question-answer letter assignment I realized I forgot the learning to drive story so it is on the back of this page because it is funny and you will appreciate the story of it — I think it’s funny now but when I did it — ’twasn’t funny at all. Too serious, me!
Enjoyed your mom here ——— and you are well come here anytime — if you get a chance to come DO IT! You’ll never get the same opportunity ——— that goes for anything in life — If you hesitate — the opportunity never returns the same way — so learn to make good decisions fast. It takes practice. I have have a bad habit of habit of talking myself out of things & then saying it doesn’t matter and then later I am sorry that I didn’t do it — so learn by my mistakes — don’t think too much — do it — (all in rteousness of course!). We’d love to have you come sometime — catch a ride up here this summer.
You have a wonderful family — We enjoyed your mother here — but it was too short a time — we learn to enjoy all the precious moments in life — and these are special ones — being together —
Hope this isn’t too long for you to wade through
Love
Grandma & Grandpa W.
Dear Mindy
We made quite a project out of your school assignment but we’re duplicating it also to go in our life story so you get the original copies. It took me 7½ hours Fri. morn to complete — Grandpa is a little faster — so here it is — We’re glad to share our experiences with you — Thank your teacher — It’s great. We did a shorter version for Amy & Eliza.
I’m glad you are having opportunities to work. The letter you sent is so good! It’s newsy, informative, explitive & so great to hear what you are doing. I wish you could have come also with your mom. Your letter came Mon. afternoon after your mom left. It took us til Fri morn to get to it — After I finished my question-answer letter assignment I realized I forgot the learning to drive story so it is on the back of this page because it is funny and you will appreciate the story of it — I think it’s funny now but when I did it — ’twasn’t funny at all. Too serious, me!
Enjoyed your mom here ——— and you are well come here anytime — if you get a chance to come DO IT! You’ll never get the same opportunity ——— that goes for anything in life — If you hesitate — the opportunity never returns the same way — so learn to make good decisions fast. It takes practice. I have have a bad habit of habit of talking myself out of things & then saying it doesn’t matter and then later I am sorry that I didn’t do it — so learn by my mistakes — don’t think too much — do it — (all in rteousness of course!). We’d love to have you come sometime — catch a ride up here this summer.
You have a wonderful family — We enjoyed your mother here — but it was too short a time — we learn to enjoy all the precious moments in life — and these are special ones — being together —
Hope this isn’t too long for you to wade through
Love
Grandma & Grandpa W.
Grandma & Grandpa Wessman's Letters
In 10th grade, we had an assignment for our history class to call or write to someone who had lived during the Depression, and have them answer a series of questions. I sent the questions to Grandma and Grandpa Wessman, and they were kind enough to answer the questions in depth. I kept the sheets in a manila envelope, occasionally finding them during a move or spring cleaning session. Amy's blog has made me want to locate the pages again, so I spent some time over the past few weeks looking for the envelope. I have been worried that they might be lost. But I dug through everything and located the letters this morning.
To answer the questions on the school assignment, Grandma handwrote 7 legal-size pages plus a "cover letter", and Grandpa typed up 10 pages. The cover letter says that they were keeping a copy for their personal histories. Does anyone know if these copies were actually made? Hopefully, there is another copy out there somewhere.
I have to take these sheets over to Mom and Dad to have them scanned since our scanner doesn't work on legal sheets, but I started to transcribe the letters this morning. I've only finished one sheet: the "cover letter" from Grandma, but it made me miss Grandma very much, being so very much full of her personality.
I'll be posting the letters as I transcribe them, which may take a while. I won't be adding punctuation or correcting spelling, etc. After I get scans, Mom and Dad will have copies, too. I was also thinking of sending the transcriptions to Amy so she can post on her blog, since she has a wider audience.
To answer the questions on the school assignment, Grandma handwrote 7 legal-size pages plus a "cover letter", and Grandpa typed up 10 pages. The cover letter says that they were keeping a copy for their personal histories. Does anyone know if these copies were actually made? Hopefully, there is another copy out there somewhere.
I have to take these sheets over to Mom and Dad to have them scanned since our scanner doesn't work on legal sheets, but I started to transcribe the letters this morning. I've only finished one sheet: the "cover letter" from Grandma, but it made me miss Grandma very much, being so very much full of her personality.
I'll be posting the letters as I transcribe them, which may take a while. I won't be adding punctuation or correcting spelling, etc. After I get scans, Mom and Dad will have copies, too. I was also thinking of sending the transcriptions to Amy so she can post on her blog, since she has a wider audience.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Summer Sky
I renamed my blog. After thinking about it a while, I thought that maybe "no greater work" was a bit presumptuous. I still like the quote, so I left it on the blog to help remind me that I am trying to be a good mom.
Anyway, the new title is from a really nice, short poem by Emily Dickinson. I like the alliteration. Thanks to Becky (or Skye, rather) for her idea about sunshine. From her letter on Sunday:
Anyway, the new title is from a really nice, short poem by Emily Dickinson. I like the alliteration. Thanks to Becky (or Skye, rather) for her idea about sunshine. From her letter on Sunday:
"Today after singing the opening song in Sacrament Meeting, Skye leaned over and whispered 'I do have sunshine in my soul!' I had to agree with her."Someone else already had a blog named "sunshine in my soul" so I looked for other sunny ideas.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Saguaro National Park
Here are some nice photos of our family on our trip to Saguaro National Park yesterday. This one is my favorite of Rob and Emily walking up a flight of steps hand-in-hand. Very sweet.
Here is a photo at the top of Signal Hill. It was very windy.
Allison's hair blowing in the wind. We got some more spectacular hair-blowing-sideways photos, but they were blurry, probably because it was too windy to hold the camera still.
Here's Johanna in the wind.
...and posing in front of the petroglyphs.
Here are the children on a neat formation at Valley Viewpoint.
And Robbie showing off how tall he is... still shorter than me right now.
Here we are at the top of a hill.
Here's Rob, Robbie, Allison, Johanna, Dallin, and Emily under a cactus arm.
Cute Emily wanted to walk the whole way
Dallin being silly
Look at those bright colors!
A Cactus Hug...
And Allison posing at the Visitor's Center
And here's Rob, Emily, and Allison halfway up a very cactus-y slope.
Here is a photo at the top of Signal Hill. It was very windy.
Allison's hair blowing in the wind. We got some more spectacular hair-blowing-sideways photos, but they were blurry, probably because it was too windy to hold the camera still.
Here's Johanna in the wind.
...and posing in front of the petroglyphs.
Here are the children on a neat formation at Valley Viewpoint.
And Robbie showing off how tall he is... still shorter than me right now.
Here we are at the top of a hill.
Here's Rob, Robbie, Allison, Johanna, Dallin, and Emily under a cactus arm.
Cute Emily wanted to walk the whole way
Dallin being silly
Look at those bright colors!
A Cactus Hug...
And Allison posing at the Visitor's Center
And here's Rob, Emily, and Allison halfway up a very cactus-y slope.
Friday, May 1, 2009
The Reading Mother
I've heard the last part of this poem, but thought that maybe you would be interested in the full poem.
THE READING MOTHER
Strickland Gillilan
I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath
I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.
I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.
I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.
THE READING MOTHER
Strickland Gillilan
I had a mother who read to me
Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,
Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,
"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath
I had a Mother who read me lays
Of ancient and gallant and golden days;
Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,
Which every boy has a right to know.
I had a Mother who read me tales
Of Celert the hound of the hills of Wales,
True to his trust till his tragic death,
Faithfulness blent with his final breath.
I had a Mother who read me the things
That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-
Stories that stir with an upward touch,
Oh, that each mother of boys were such.
You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be --
I had a Mother who read to me.
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