Treasure Chest Thursday: Baaaa

My contribution for this Treasure Chest Thursday blogging prompt is as old as I am.

Don't bother checking my Facebook page to see if I've inadvertently listed my year of birth ... I'll save you the trip: 1953

At the time of my birth, my Dad was serving in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Japan while my mother (and eventually yours truly) were at her parents outside of Antigo. I'm convinced this is the reason I am so drawn to this piece of property, which my husband and I now own. Call it good vibrations, feng shue, karma ... whatever it is, it was where I spent my first few weeks of life and apparently it made an imprint on my life.

To mark the occasion of the birth of his first child, my Dad ordered flowers, pink and white carnations, and they arrived in this lamb vase.

Fast forward some 19 years later to the arrival of my first child and the new father, fulfilling a promise he made to the new grandmother, arrived with carnations for the new mom in the appropriate color (in this case, blue and white) in the lamb vase. Following it's first appearance in 19 years, the lamb vase and its blue and white bouquet made two more encore appearances.

Maybe this year we'll celebrate my birthday with a sentimental vase filled with pink and white carnations.

Copyright (c) 2010 Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski

Almost Wordless Wednesday: The Jones Sisters

Sisters Alma Loretta Jones (left) and Agnes Josephine Jones, photograph taken probably in Winchester, Winnebago, WI, circa 1870s

Daughters of James H. Jones (b. 1821 England) and Esther T. Clarke (b. 1828 NY). Alma Loretta born 14 April 1866 in Winchester, WI, she died on her 75th birthday, 14 April 1941 in Woodward, OK. Nursing was her life's vocation, "Jonesy" followed her bachelor brother Charles Jones, a pioneer of the territory that became Oklahoma.

Agnes Josephine Jones born 7 July 1864 in Winchester, WI, and died 21 April 1954. She married Charles Finley Polar, 10 March 1884 in Neenah, WI. The couple had seven children, naming the third of their four daughters, Alma Loretta, who would become my grandmother.

Copyright (c) 2010 Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski

Tombstone Tuesday: Margaretta Shankle Space

Margaretta Ann Space, otherwise known as Margaret Ann and as M.A. Space, was my second great grandmother.

Born 17 April 1828, possibly in Union County, PA, she was the oldest known daughter of Jacob Shankle and Rachel Click.

Margaretta married Zephaniah Allen Space on 19 Nov 1847 in Armstrong County, PA. The couple had two children: Allen Zephaniah (my great-grandfather) born in 1848 and Sarah Etta in 1853. Both children were born in New Bethlehem, Clarion County, PA.

Shortly after Allen's birth, Zeph traveled to northern Wisconsin to Jenny Bull Falls; a new settlement where investors from Clarion county were beginning to harvest the huge tracts of pine. Zeph and Margaret immigrated to the area shortly after the birth of Sarah Etta. Zeph and Margaret were employed at one of the early hotels but it wasn't long before they established their own hotel. Initially called The Clarion they later changed the name to The Eagle House. The couple played an important role in helping to establish Jenny as one of the important places along the Wisconsin River.

The couple divorced in 1877 after almost 30 years of marriage. Margaret continued to run The Eagle House with the assistance of Allen, who was now married to Nancy Ann Stone. Sarah Etta had married prominent businessman and politician Myron Hawley McCord. Zeph relocated to an area of the county that was just beginning to be settled, eventually starting a new life with his second wife, Harriet Fryer, and eventually another daughter, Olive.

Margaret proved to be a shrewd businesswoman in her own right. At the time of her death in November 1904, among her holdings, she owned all the property along the Wisconsin River in the city of Merrill. Margaret's will indicated her wish that upon her death, this property was to be sold and given to her granddaughters.

Copyright (c) 2010 Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski

Sharing Memories (Week 27): Childhood Pets

Lorine at Olive Tree Genealogy counts down week 27 of Sharing Memories - A Genealogy Journey with the blog prompt of childhood pets. A topic near and dear to my heart as almost all creatures great and small have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

During their childhood, my parents shared their lives with dogs and cats. My father speaks fondly of Spike, the German Shepard who would (with a bit of coaxing from my dad and his siblings) climb a ladder into the hay loft in the barn - and jump to the ground. As a child my mother immortalized her terrier mix, Bingo, in a painting that is a family treasure. I cannot help but smile at the thought of my mother as child, making clothes for her cats, dressing them up and pushing them around in the doll stroller.

Our first dog was a terrier mix we named Sammy. My memories of  him are of a dog fiercely protective and, knowing what I know now about dog behavior, definitely an alpha. Whenever we would visit my maternal grandparents on their dairy farm, my grandfather delighted in having Sammy 'round up the cows.' He had a natural ability to herd, nipping at the heels of a cow who refused to move and instinctively knowing to duck to avoid a hoof to the head.

While scanning these photos, I noticed for the first time, that I had written on the back of this photo: November 7th 1965 Sammy died. He had run away from home and was hit by a car. Funny how I had not thought about that morning, looking down the street and seeing him laying on the side of the road until now. We buried him in my mother's flower bed in the backyard. A number of years later my family named another of 'our' dogs, Sammy, I like to think in tribute to Sammy number one.

It was a number of years before my parents added a dog to our family. It wasn't that neither of them didn't want a dog because they are animal lovers and it certainly wasn't because my sister Lisa and I didn't bring it up whenever we could. Think Ralphie in The Christmas Story and his not-so-subtle hints about wanting a Red Rider BB gun.

One night my Dad came home from work carrying a fluffy ball of apricot poodle puppy. To say it was a surprise is an understatement. The entire house erupted into unabashed joy. We still recall that moment when Dad brought Kila home, Mom burned the Hollandase Sauce and Lisa, holding the puppy exclaimed, "Dad! I thought we'd never get a dog!" It was agreed the as yet unnamed dog would sleep in the room Lisa and I shared with the stipulation that the dog would not sleep on the bed. Of course from that moment on I don't think Kila ever slept on the floor.

This was the first (and last) dog my parents had that was registered with the AKC. We spent days contemplating what to name our new puppy. Looking at the pedigree Lisa and I decided the name Kila was perfect and while my parents initially had reservations the name must have grown on them (or could have been their four daughters began calling the puppy Kila and decided they were going to lose that battle). Someone really wanted to name the poodle Pierre and combined with the regal sounding name of our street (we were the only house on the one block street) we ended up with Tequila Pierre of Yorkshire.

Another wonderful childhood dog ... he endured being dressed up in just anything and everything we thought would look adorable on him. He was a wonderful companion and traveled with us on family vacations: camping in the Black Hills of South Dakota as well as Estes Park Colorado. Our confirmation, graduation and wedding photos all include Kila, he was a gentle funny dog who loved root beer and running through sprinklers. It's no wonder Hollandase Sauce conjures up happy memories of Tequila Pierre.

Copyright (c) 2010 Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski

Wordless Wednesday: Bob & Alice

Another family treasure in my life: Forrest "Bob" Space and wife Alice Friebel Space, affectionately known to me as Uncle Bob and Aunt Alice. My mother's favorite uncle and aunt and a sentiment passed down to the rest of the family. Uncle Bob died unexpectedly of a heart attack while visiting my grandparents in 1962; Aunt Alice continued to remember my parents birthday, and mine, with birthday cards until her death a year ago this past May.

Copyright (c) 2010 Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski

Wordless Wednesday: Luss, Scotland

 

Copyright (c) 2010 Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski

Tombstone Tuesday: Just Me!

Prepartions for our traditional Memorial Day cemetery visits this year included: bug spray (check), grass clippers (check), flowers (check), scissors (check) and in prepartion for this week's Tombstone Tuesday, camera (check, check and doubl check).

My contribution to Tombstone Tuesday is the grave of Stanley "Pete" Gunderson (1913-1993) located in the Hogarty Cemetery in the village of Hogarty, Marathon county, WI. For as long as I have been a regular visit to the Hogarty Cemetery, the grave of Stanley Gunderson has fascinated me. The top photo is a close up of Mr. Gunderson's grave; the bottom photo is an overall view.

Next week I'll post the adjacent grave who I assume is the spouse of Stanley Gunderson as it has a similiar theme. Note to self: check out the Gunderson families in the surrounding area just to satisfy my curiosity!

Copyright (c) 2010 Cindy Bergeron Scherwinski