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.