Category: Swing, Velma Marie

Heirloom Highlight: the Camellia Dishes

Posted on by spuddled

This week’s theme is a slight departure from the usual doom and gloom. Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll be back to the depressing soon enough. But first, I wanted to incorporate a theme intended to explore some of the many heirlooms with which I am surrounded. To my knowledge, none of the heirlooms have significant monetary value, but all are priceless.

For our first Heirloom Highlight, I’m taking a closer look at a set of dishes I inherited from Grandma Hoffmann. The “Camellia Dishes” are a set that Grandma had for as long as I can remember and always brought out for holiday dinners. Mom, also, when I interviewed her and Dad based on questions found in To Our Children’s Children by Bob Greene and D.G. Fulford, included the camellia dishes as one of her memories of her childhood kitchen, noting Grandma had had the dishes “for a long time.” The earliest photos I’ve found of the dishes (so far) are from 1970. Here is one taken before digging in to the holiday meal, and one after. Grandma seems very startled in the latter.

I don’t know exactly when Grandma acquired the dishes, nor whether she purchased the entire set at once or piece-by-piece over time, but I have learned something of their general history. A quick reverse image search of the maker’s mark led me to the W. S. George Pottery Company and the (sure enough) Camellia pattern, which often used the Bolero shape. The Bolero shape refers to scalloped edging that appears on some of the pieces.

The W. S. George Pottery Company was founded in 1904, with plants eventually in East Palestine, Ohio, and in Canonsburg and Kittanning, Pennsylvania. The company would close in 1960 after having gone bankrupt in 1955.1 Vintage ads for W. S. George wares can be found on the Laurel Hollow Park website; these include other patterns using the Bolero shape, but not our friend the Camellia. Etsy, eBay, and Replacements.com all include Camellia dishes for sale, but I don’t think any new additions could compare to the originals that have been used by family over the years. Not to mention I don’t think there’s much room left in the china cabinet.

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._S._George_Pottery_Company ↩︎

Y Is for…Yuletide

Posted on by spuddled

Only four more days until Christmas, and the season always seems too short. Though when we were children, the opposite was true, and Christmas seemed to be soooo long in coming. But either way, there are always memories to be gleaned from Christmases past. I’m bringing a sampling here of ~50 years of journals and diaries and other recorded memories. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

ca. 1936, recorded in 1994: Looking through stuff in Grandma’s [Hoffmann’s] basement once, I found a neat little compact.  Gram remembered that Grandpa had bought that for her while they were dating. He’d asked her what she wanted for Christmas. She’d listed several things, & he bought her all of them.

December 1941 Diary of Grandma Hoffmann

Sun. 7 — U.S. attacked by Japan
Mon. 8 — Work U.S. declared War on Japan.
Tues. x 16 ? — Finished ironing & mended. Went to Caldwell at nite.
Thurs. 18 x — Got telegram — left for home 12:00 noon.
Sun. x 21 — Hoffmann’s for supper — stayed at folks all nite.
Mon. 22 — Mom’s birthday — Bill [Grandma’s sister Marilyn] & Fran married. Went home w/Sam & Norm
Thurs. 25 — Christmas — stayed at Joe’s Mother’s all nite.

Christmas Memories by Mom, Recorded by Me

Christmas remembered most — so exciting. By. Nov. 25 would keep track, maybe mark off calendar — couldn’t wait to put up tree, Gram let put up 2 weeks before (in front of living room window as now). Would get box from Illinois — Gram & Aunt Leona made candy (some kind of caramels, & yummy divinity) — candy separate & opened before, but wrapped presents waited to open. Fifth grade or so, really wanted Heidi book; usually knew they’d probably get what they wanted (no real outlandish wishes).

Never went to Christmas services on Christmas; opened gifts Christmas morning; might’ve for a while chosen one to open Christmas Eve. Got quite a few presents, maybe 10 or 12, not all big. Stockings probably behind chairs, etc., in living room — always oranges and candy canes. Grandma [mom’s mom, that is] always made Christmas fun. Weren’t supposed to get up before 7 — but once Mom and Jay got up really early — Santa presents weren’t wrapped, and one year Paula really wanted a doll buggy (still there!), & Mom & Jay saw it & were really excited for her & thought it really neat she’d gotten it.

Memory, ca. 1955, Sent to Me Years Later by Aunt Linda (Montgomery) Schor

One of my favorite Christmas stories happened when Laura and I were about four and five years old respectively. It was a few days before Christmas and Deanna, Gene, and Ted were whispering and laughing. The Christmas tree was up but I don’t remember if there were any presents under it. Deanna made Laura and I go in the bathroom and shut the door and promise not to peek! We listened for a few seconds at the door and then cracked the door open just a sliver. The three of them were looking at two big packages that held the three foot dolls that were so popular that year. Laura and I had seen them at the local grocery store on one of their high shelves. I don’t remember if we had asked for these particular dolls, but Deanna, Gene, and Ted seemed very excited to be wrapping them. I remember they chose the dark haired one for me and the blonde one for Laura. I closed the bathroom door and in a few minutes Laura and I were allowed to exit the bathroom. I don’t even remember opening the doll packages at Christmas or if Laura and I acted surprised to receive them. The memory most indelible was the excitement and happiness that my older siblings experienced giving the two of us a present for Christmas.

December 1975: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Monday, Dec. 22, 1975:  Joe still didn’t feel good so went to the Dr. & his lung was collapsed again.  Put the tube in & it came up. Then started bleeding so had to take it out again. Gave him a shot of Demarol & he had a reaction to it. They wanted to operate tomorrow but couldn’t get his blood back to normal. Had a bag of plasma two pints of blood. Put him in ICU.

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1975:  Decided to operate. Dad had quite a time making up his mind to it but finally decided it had to be. Set for 8:00 tomorrow morning. Jay & Nancy went up to trailer tonite. Will be down tomorrow. Girls were all over to see Dad tonite & will be with me tomorrow.

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 1975:  Day before Christmas! Jay , Nancy, & Mike come today. Got up at 6:15—got ready to go over to hosp. Ice about 1/8 thick on everything when I went out. Saw 2 cars in median on way over—one on its top. Paula went off road twice on way over. What a day! Linda didn’t try to make it & I was glad. Got over about 10:30. All went well with surgery. Stayed till about 10:00. Jay & Nancy came about 5:00. They made it O.K. Came home & put out stockings & went to bed. Paula & Jim came & I fixed bed for them & I slept on couch.

Thursday, Dec. 25, 1975:  Got up around 8:00. Opened gifts & then Linda, Ted & kids came over. Sure missed Dad. Called over about 9:00 & they said he was doing fine. Can only go in about 10 min. every hour, so pretty tiring waiting. Had a nice Christmas except for missing Joe. Came home & had dinner—kind of a buffet—then went back & spent the evening.

Friday, Dec. 26, 1975:  Got up & had breakfast. Went over to see Dad in afternoon & stayed all evening, since Jay & Nancy, Paula & Jim went skiing. Linda kept Mike. They came over to see Dad & I kept the kids in waiting room. Then went I went home, I picked Mike up at Ted’s folks….Mike went right to sleep for me. He’s so good! A dear little boy. Dad still pretty groggy.

December 1976: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Friday, December 24, 1976:  Cleaned living room & kitchen. Brought up rest of gifts. Got supper. (Washed & put up my hair). Took shower & got ready to go to Matt & Meg’s program. Jay Nancy & Mike got here about 5:30—just in time for supper. The program was nice & Matt did just great on his piece. Really enjoyed it.

Saturday, December 25, 1976:  Christmas Day. Paula & Jim slept in camper with doggies. Carla & I downstairs & Dad and Mike upstairs. Got up about 8:30. Opened gifts. Just got a good start when Linda & Ted & kids came. Had a great time! Got the turkey in about 11:00 so ate about 6:00. Linda & Ted went home fairly early as kids were tired & Paula & Jim left about 9:00. I finished cleaning up about 10:30. To bed about 12:00. Leona called & may come Tuesday.

December 1977: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Seal – A –Meal – 10.00 – Nancy
Bean bag chair 13.00 – ?
Little lamp – 5.00 – Nancy
Jackets – 3.00 – Matt Mike
Top – 2.25 – Meg
Dishes – 54. – Linda & Ted

December 1978: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Wednesday, December 13, 1978:  Wrote letters. Mailed the bulk of my greetings. UPS. Picked up my pkg. this A.M. Ironed Matt’s robe. He & Linda came over – think the robe is going to do just fine. Fixed his beard and head scarf. Linda is going to fix his crown.

Thursday, December 14, 1978:  Got the tree – $7.00 and it’s not very big. We ate at new Red Steer and saw Mr. & Mrs. Reid there. Picked up Mattie at school. Kids came home with me for supper. Tried Matt’s robe on again since I worked it over and really looks neat. He really likes it.

Sunday, December 24, 1978:  Got up about 9:00. Fixed breakfast. Took shower & washed hair. Paula & Jim came while I was putting it up. They went to run & kids stayed here. Finished cleaning up house. Carla came. Paula & Jim went down to his folks. Linda Ted & kids left. I fixed supper. Kids came back about 6:45 & I fixed them some supper. Linda & Ted came back for them & they all went down to his folks. I got ready to go to church with Carla. Everybody came back at same time. Linda went home pretty soon & Paula, Jim & Dad played cards. Carla & I (over) went to Boise to Mass. Got home about 2:00. Paula, Jim & Dad were still playing cards. I got to bed about 3:00.

Monday, December 25, 1978:  What a hectic day! Got up about 8:15. Ted had to go on a service call. Linda & kids finally came over about 9:00. Started opening presents. Didn’t get to see anybody open gifts because Dad had to get the coffee going & I had to help. Got the turkey in about 12:00. Ate about 5:00.  Kids had a big time. Carla left around 8:00. Linda, Ted & kids around 9:00 & Paula & Jim a little after that.

December 1979: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Saturday, December 15, 1979:  Wrote letters. Got pkgs. ready to send. Jelly to Alice & Al, candy to Sams, Leona & Marie. Got lunch & supper. Meg not feeling very well in morning so suspicious. By evening she was breaking out so has the chicken pox. Cried & cried when she found out because she won’t get to go to Church program tomorrow nite. 

Tuesday, December 25, 1979:  Mike came down & woke us at 7:10. Got up & opened presents. Then had breakfast. Got turkey in oven at 11:00, then did dishes. Washed & dressed. Fixed cran. sauce & jello. Cleaned off tables & got them set. Finished up supper & ate about 6:00. Did dishes, then Paula cut my hair. Did more dishes & straightened kitchen. To bed about 12:00. Boy! Am I tired!

December 1980: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Thursday, December 25, 1980: CHRISTMAS! Up at 7:30. Cloudy, raining still. Dad & Mike up. Waited for Carla & Bill to come, then started opening presents. Got done about 8:30. Fixed breakfast. Made dressing & got turkey in oven. Made jello. ← (Washed & dressed). Did dishes. Set out lunch. Made pies. Took tiny nap. Finished up dinner. Ate about 5:00. Turkey very good. Cleared up & did dishes. Carla & Bill left, then later Linda, Ted & kids. Paula & Jim about 11:00. Got to bed about 1:00. Was a nice Christmas.

Friday, December 26, 1980: Up at 8:30. Matt & Megan over to play with Mike good part of day. To bed about 1:00. Matt & Megan stayed over & the 3 slept in sleeping bags in family room.

December 1981: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Thursday, December 17, 1981: Dad gone fishing. Tire on car low again so took Linda’s. Went to banks, ate lunch, got groc., went to Sears, MW, 88¢ store, tel. co., got Matt. Then to P.W. Drug. Forgot my list so didn’t get everything there. Darn! Picked Megan up from Brownies & took her to dancing, then went home, unloaded & put away groc. Matt stayed with me. Linda came back & we picked up Meg. Ate sandwiches at Jacks, then went to Meg’s dance program. She is very good. Afterwards came home & Dad was here. Says he couldn’t see well enough to fish. Has eye Dr. appt. Monday after Christmas so hope he can help him. Linda & Matt stayed a while. After they left Dad soon went to bed.

Thursday, December 24, 1981: Up at 8:40. Snowing! Finished getting ready for Christmas. Snowed off & on all day – about 3-4 inches. Looks like we’ll have a white Christmas for once. Got supper. Got ready to go to church program with Linda, Ted & kids. Enjoyed it. When I got home, I did dishes, read paper, (also, cleaned turkey, cut up celery & onions, & got bread ready for dressing) watched TV. Paula & Jim came about 10:30. Soon all went to bed. I finished getting stockings ready, wrapped Matt’s eagle, etc. To bed at 1:00.

Friday, December 25, 1981: WHITE CHRISTMAS Up at 8:00 – alternate sunny & cloudy, mostly sunny, really a nice day. Had coffee & rolls. Carla & Bill came. Linda soon called & kids walked over. Then Linda & Ted came so we opened gifts. They soon left to go to church. I got turkey in oven. Washed & dressed, made bed. Then I made cran. jelly, set Jello. Lindas came back, then Paula & Jim went out to Marilyns for a while. We cleared off dining room table & girls set table. Used the red cloth & my new dishes – really looked beautiful. Ate about 4-4:30. Afterwards cleared up, did dishes. Carla & Bill left. Said the roads were pretty clear when she called. Linda, Ted & kids left about 8:30 or so. Paula wanted to play pinochle so we played until about 10:00. Then they left. Beautiful Christmas. Except Jays weren’t here.

December 1982: My Diary

Friday, December 3:  Went to Kings and to see the big Christmas tree lit up.

Saturday, December 4:  Me & Ma went to a bazaar. I bought a teeny candle & a [arrow to “teeny”] picture. Me & Mommy went to King’s. Got a pen & candy canes. & Matt a Christmas present. Me & Pa picked up Matt. Ma worked at the bazaar from 4 to 5.

Saturday, December 11:  Watched cartoons. Matt’s greens came. We took them to Wendy’s & Grandma’s. Bryce came over, then Randy, Will, Mark, John, then Karl and we went to Chuck E. Cheese’s for Matt’s birthday party. Washed hair.

Monday, December 20: Went to Matt’s pack meeting. & a fake Santa was there & gave out candy.

Thursday, December 23:  Went to Grandma’s H. We watched game shows before we left. It snowed a bit. Mike came to our house. We went back And ate Supper there. Watched part of A Christm. Carol at Grandma H’s. finished it at home.

Saturday, December 25:  opened presents & then stayed at Gramma H’s all day. Stocking-stufers: piggy-bank-pendant two suits for dress-me-snoopy. orange, a fan, Spanish doll, wind-up-cradle-doll Presents: Clydsedale pretend horse, a dress-me-Snoppy a Dutch doll, Baby Snoppy, a color with yarn kit, a yarnkins kit, and a needlepoint kit, a dollhouse, and dollhouse furntle [?]

December 1982: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Wednesday, December 22, 1982:  Worked on doll house again, washed another load of clothes. Found rest of porch roof. Linda came & left Megan, Mike went with Matt. Got supper, did dishes. Linda, Matt, & Megan came over again. Jay & Nancy went downtown. I made more candy. Snowed this evening & kids were excited.

Thursday, December 23, 1982:  Clear, quite a bit of snow. Not too cold. Matt & Megan came. Linda went downtown & kids stayed here. Then Nancy & I went downtown & kids stayed w/Linda. Matt & Megan here for supper. Linda & Ted came about 8:30 & they went home about 9:00. Read paper, not much on TV.  Then I went down & worked on doll house.

Friday, December 24, 1982:  Up at 8:30.  Washed & fixed cranberry sauce. Nancy made green jello. Fixed celery, carrots, cauliflower for tomorrow. Kids went over to Lindas so Nancy & I cleaned up the house. Paula & Jim came. Jay, Nancy & kids went to church program. When they got home, Jay & Paula worked on the doll house. Got it nearly finished except for porch railing. 

Saturday, December 25, 1982.  WHITE CHRISTMAS AGAIN! Up at 7:45. Carla called & woke me. Mike & Cindy opened their presents from Santa Claus. We fixed breakfast & then Carla & Bill & Linda, Ted & kids came. They had breakfast, I fixed dressing & put turkey in oven. Then we opened rest of presents:  Kids had a big time. Made bed, did dishes, then laid down & took a nap. Got up about 3:15 & then finished up supper. Ate about 5:30. Everything tasted real good. After supper Carla & Bill left. We cleared up & did dishes. Paula & Jim left then Linda Ted & kids.

Sunday, December 26, 1982:  Matt & Meg came &, after a while, Linda & Ted. I helped Meg with doll furn. Linda fixed them some supper. Kids decided to stay all night so we fixed their beds. Linda & Ted went home. Kids finally went to sleep.

December 1983: My Diary

Sun., December 25:  Christmas! Stormy ran away very early. I got up at 3:15 am & watched the clock periodically til 5:30 AM when we got up. Opened presents. Daddy searched for Pooch & found him. Went to Gramma H’s. Worked on Macramé kit with Aunt Paula.

December 1983: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Sunday, December 25, 1983: Up at 7:45. Mike woke us. Made coffee & called Paula & Jim. Kids finally started opening presents & then Paula & Jim came. Carla called & they soon came & then Linda, Ted & kids. After we opened presents, got breakfast. Then I got turkey ready & put in oven. Did dishes & ran dishwasher, then Ted put in new garbage disposal. Drain still leaks but just needs new gasket. At least could use sink. Put my new curio cabinet together but have to redo it: door upside down. Started snowing again. Finished up dinner & ate about 5:30. All very good. Worked X-word. Carla & Bill left early. We cleared up & did dishes, then Linda, Ted & kids left. About 9:30 Paula & Jim left.

December 1984: My Diary

Thursday, December 6:  Had singing & violin program. Sang “White Christmas” & “Silent Night” played “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas”, “Jingle Bells” & “Silent Night.”

Saturday, December 8:  Marched in Girl Scout parade. Went to a craft & game things. Painted ornaments from King’s.

Monday, December 24:  Went to King’s. Matt got a Cabbage Patch Preemie. Went to the Christmas eve service. Held candles.

Tuesday, December 25:  Opened presents. Christmas presents. A snow suit & a rose petal doll from Gram H. A tote bag & a candy cane with M & M’s in it from Gram, Gramp, and Aunt Laura. Cody clothes from Aunt Paula & Uncle Jim. Orchid doll from Aunt Carla & Uncle Bill. A Playpour kit from Aunt Nancy, from Cindy a little bead pin & some other stuff. Snow on ground. Not real cold. Opened presents at our house, then went & opened them at Gram H’s. Got a grape pen, a small pen for my violin, 2 candy canes, a big sucker, some Rose Petal place doll clothes a birthday book, a science kit, Spirograph & a light for my bed, a Daffodil doll, & care bears from Mom. Turkey, dressing cranberry sauce vegetable tray & cracker, milk, water, turkey, green jello, fudge, frozen fruit

December 1984: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Sunday, December 23, 1984: Got ready & went to church, took Mike and Nancy. The program was very nice. Had coffee & cookies after church. Nancy & Mike & Cindy went out for lunch w/Linda & Ted, I came home & finished cleaning dining room & back porch. Left for Boise shortly after 6:15. Plane was a little late. Carla & Paula were there. So good to see Paul. Got his luggage, then came home. Got here about 9:30. Visited a while, looked at paper. Fixed sandwiches for kids, then they went home.

Monday, December 24, 1984: Made bed, Mike came over & soon Cindy & Nancy. They decided to go to Boise to try & get Mike’s gift. Cindy stayed with me. I cooked cranberry sauce, Linda picked up few groceries for me. She pressed her choir robe & then I pressed Carla’s skirt. Wrapped her gift, also Ted’s for Linda. Put on meat for supper, asked kids to stay, too. Ralph called. Paula & Jim came & brought gifts, then went down to his mom’s. I cleaned turkey, after supper we cleared up & I rinsed dishes. Cleaned & cut up celery & onion. Nancy & kids went home about 8:30, Paul to bed about 10:00. I emptied dishwasher, Linda, Ted & kids came a little while.

Tuesday, December 25, 1984: Woke about 6:30, went back to sleep until about 8:00. Paul was up. He had coffee, then took shower & shaved. I had breakfast, Paula & Jim came. Nancy & kids came and then Carla & Bill. Ted, Linda & kids soon after & we opened presents. Everyone seemed pleased with gifts. I got turkey in oven about 10:30, then washed & dressed. Carla tried on skirt, then helped me make bed. I fixed dips & set out veg. & crax. Also cheeses, lunch meat & bread. Rested a little, then fixed potatoes, green beans, etc. Paula & Meg set table. Ate about 5:00. Afterwards, cleared table, rinsed dishes & ran 1 load. Carla & Bill left & Linda, Nancy & Cindy went over to cemetery. All went home by about 9:30. Paul & I watched TV & I finished clean up kitchen.

December 1985: My Diary

Monday, December 9:  Had Christmas Concert at Jefferson. In orchestra, we played “Rudolph/Holly Jolly Christmas Medley”, “Candy Cane Christmas”, and “The Little Sleigh. In Christmas choir, we sang Angels we have Heard on High, Joy to the World, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, & African Noel

12-18-85:  Christmas: Every year, I give little presents to people in my family. I usually buy them at bazaars. The presents, not my family. I already owe my mom $10.08 for presents I bought with her money. The lead in this mechanical pencil keeps bouncing up & down every time I lift the pencil so it writes messy. On Christmas morning, we open presents at my house & then go over to my grandma’s & stay for most of the day. Today, I am going to buy the rest of the present for my family.

12-19-85:  Yesterday: Yesterday, my mom picked me up from school. We went Christmas shopping at Trolley Square, King’s, and Summer’s. I’m done now except for my Grandpa. Then my mom took me to piano lesson. I think the farthest Christmas back that I can remember is the year I got my furniture. All I remember is the part at my grandma’s. We went over there, and everyone was eating bacon and sausage for breakfast. I got some toy furniture. Everybody ate oranges out of their stockings. One year I got a little food cart.

12-20-85:  The weekend (14 days): After school today, I have a piano recital. I’m going to play “The Happy Fiddler”, “March of the Troll Dolls”, “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer” and “Holly Jolly Christmas”. I hope that won’t take too long. Then, since I am done with Christmas shopping, I will sleep in until noon everyday except for Christmas, Saturday, and Sunday. Saturday is the church program practice, Sun. the program, and, well, Christmas is Christmas.

Wednesday, December 25:  Went to Church after opening presents. Then we went to Gram H’s & opened more. Snow on ground Turkey Mashed potatoes corn green jello Paula Jim Carla Bill Nancy Mike Cindy Dom Buffy Ted Linda Matt Megan Gram H Uncle Paul Lil Matt Cody Josie Rafael Rachel Jaybird Melinda Travis Me: Heart Family Barbie Bed Peaches & Cream Barbie Prince, her dog Day to Night Ken Heart Family Nursery; Playset Quilt Glo shirt Jeans  Cody: Xylophone dinosaur clothes Played Michigan Rummy

December 1985: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Thursday, December 19, 1985: Drove over to see little Xmas tree at cemetery, looks so pretty.

Wednesday, December 25, 1985: Christmas I started working on turkey, Paula & Jim & kids came over so we opened presents. Carla & Bill came about the time we started. I went back & got turkey in oven about 10:30. When Linda, Ted & kids got back from church we opened rest of gifts. Kids all played Tripoli, I laid down & took nap. Sure did feel good. Got up about 3:00 & peeled potatoes for supper. Finally got everything ready about 6:00, everything real good. Ran load of dishes in dishwasher, Carla & Bill left about 7:30. After a while Paula & Jim left, too, and then the rest about 9:00.

December 1986: My Diary

Saturday, December 13: G. Scouts went to Molly’s early. We decorated their truck & were in X-mas Parade. Then we sang at a retirement home. SNOWED.

Sunday, December 14: Went to S.S. & Church. Molly, Steph Rainey, & [I] played X-mas music of violins for prelude. Cindy, A. Nancy, Mom, & I went w/S.S. to sing X-mas carols to shut-ins. Went home. Snow melted. BOO!! Me, Mike, Cindy & Matt helped Gram H. decorate for Xmas.

Tuesday, December 16: Had Xmas concert. Played “Edelweiss,” “Silent Night” , “Little Drummer Boy” & “Happy Hannukah”

Thursday, December 25: Woke up at 7:30!!! Too late. Opened stockings & presents. Went to Gram H’s. Mom & Dad went to church. Opened presents, etc. at Gram H’s. Taped people on tape recorder.

December 1986: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Saturday, December 13, 1986: Sat down & wrote letters until about 11:30. Got ready to go to Parade. Found a good place to park on Cleveland across from Odd Fellows Hall; nice parade. Snow on the ground now.

Thursday, December 25, 1986: 8:30 when I woke up again, got up & soon Paula got up too. After a while Nancy & kids came over, later on Paul came. Matt & Megan came & then Carla & Bill so we started opening gifts. Later on Linda & Ted came from church. We all had breakfast & then Paula & I worked on the turkey & got it in the oven about 11:30. Watched TV, read paper, etc., about 3:30 peeled potatoes & finished up supper. Was very good. Afterwards, cleared up & ran one load of dishes. Carla & Bill left, then Paula & Jim. Linda, Ted & kids a little later & then Nancy & kids. Paul left I guess soon after Carla & Bill. Sam [the cat] was so glad to get to come back upstairs. Got slippers, scissors set – Paula; wall decor. – Linda; games – Carla; microwave dishes – Paul.

December 1987: My Diary

Saturday, December 19:  Went to Christmas program practice. I have a big part. I have to sit up on this platform w/Greg Hopp & Mr. Navis. Me & Mom went shopping. Got presents for everyone. Martin ate a big Hersheys kiss.

Thursday, December 24:  Went to Christmas Eve service.  Matt was Gabriel, Mike Joseph, Matt S a wise man. Dumb old Matt couldn’t figure out where to turn the page. Lit candles at the cemetery. Went to Gramp & Gram M’s.

Friday, December 25:  Got up. Opened presents. Went to Gram H’s. Opened presents. Received from:  Aimee-a Japanese fan, miniature gumball machine, mini. food cans  split pea bag  Betsy-reindeer pen-holder Fob-handkerchief Mom-nightshirt 4 shirts poster stocky stuffers Mike-$3 A. Carla & U. Bill-$15 A.Paula & U. Jim-a sweater A.Nancy-4,5,6, Anne books Gram-black sweatshirt, mirror Given to:  Mom-bathroom soap-rock Dad-stocking full of candy bars Cody-cow puzzle Meara-Pound Puppies Playform Titus-chocolate Santa Mike-stocking w/assorted candy Gram H.-a thimble Gram. M, Gramp M., A. Laura-a neat box for cotton balls Aimee-ring, candy money, funny pen Molly –  Stenny-lip glosses (3) Teresa-a little doggie Betsy-a notepad w/pencil Amy F.-a notepad-chicken thing

December 1987: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Candy – 1 dbl. w/o nuts – in Nov.
1 “ w/nuts – 12/7/87

Saturday, December 12, 1987: Did my shopping at Kings, then watched parade. Never did see Cindy or Nancy, was a pretty nice parade. Went to Summers afterwards, then home. Started to put ornaments on tree, Bill & Carla came. Nancy came over, also Cindy. She helped decorate tree & put icicles on. When we finished I said something about the floor being full of needles & tinsel so she went & got the carpet sweeper & cleaned the floor.

Sunday, December 20, 1987: Woke at 7:15, had been dreaming about those songs for choir. Got ready to go to church, called Paul & asked him for supper. Left about 10:00, practiced a little downstairs. Program went pretty good & guess our songs were O.K. too. Megan & Cindy did real well, could hear them real well upstairs.

Thursday, December 24, 1987: Woke at 7:20, got up & watched VCR a while. Got turkey in, dusted in fam. room. Listened to Xmas carols, Paula called. I called Linda, baked pecan pie. Had breakfast, cleaned & washed turkey & put it back outside. Cut up celery & onions, cooked so they’re ready for tomorrow. Got ready to go to church, had supper. Read paper & watched for Linda & Ted, services went pretty good. Got home about 9:00, watched rest of original Walton program “The Homecoming”, read paper. Wrapped rest of gifts, finished stockings.

Friday, December 25, 1987: CHRISTMAS DAY Turned up heat, turned on Xmas lights & unlocked doors. Mixed up dressing, stuffed turkey & put in oven. Also put in ham. Cindy, Paul & Ruth came, also Paula & Jim. Then Matt & Megan & finally Carla & Bill. Linda & Ted came & we started opening presents. Didn’t realize Nancy & Mike weren’t here yet – he had a nosebleed & Nancy’s Dad called. After we got through opening gifts, fixed breakfast. Did dishes & ran dishwasher, talked with Judy. Set out stuff for sandwiches, veggies & dips, etc. Soon was time to finish up supper, all turned out real good. Some played games, some worked on jigsaw.

December 1988: My Diary

Sunday, December 25, 1988: Woke up around 7:00. Opened presents. Went to church & SS. No one came to SS, so we watched ‘The Little Troll Prince’ in opening w/others. Johanna gave me some nice stationery. Went to A. Paula’s around 1:00. Opened presents. Read new books & got autographs for family book, etc. Ate. Yummy. Sat about. Went home.

Presents

Mom – Shakespeare book, myth book, black pants, white/grey/black socks, earrings/pin set, family history book, candy, 
Matt – Mozart book
Dad – for me & Matt – car horn that plays songs for when we get a car
Gram H – a sweater
A. Carla – a lovely diamond ring.
A. Paula – ‘A Day in the Life of America’
Gram’s stocking – candy, plastic jewelry box, walking California raisin, little diary, chapstick
Cindy – a Miss Piggy doll, candy cane bracelet

December 1988: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

CHRISTMAS. Sunday, December 25, 1988: Set jello, made raspberry dessert. Carried all presents, etc., to the car. Got ready to go to Paula’s. Nancy, Paul, Cindy & Mike came over to see her gift – Paul & Mike carried it home. They said I might as well ride with them, so we transferred everything to Paul’s van. Roads to Boise were real [?] going over, icy when we came back. We visited, fixed the table, etc. After Carla & Bill came & then Linda, Ted & kids, we opened presents. Everybody seemed happy with what they got, was a nice Christmas. We finished up dinner, ate about 4:30. Cleared up & Paula ran load of dishes. We left for home about 7:00, made it O.K. Put away gifts, then read paper & watched TV. To bed at 12:10.

December 1989: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Saturday, December 9, 1989: Got ready & went down to Christmas Parade, saw Cindy & Nancy. Parade was pretty long, wind got pretty cold by the time it was over.

Thursday, December 21, 1989: Nancy called, wanted me to come over & see her poinsettia Paul brought down. It is huge & beautiful. Went back to wrapping gifts, Cindy came over. Later Megan & 3 friends came & brought me a “Christmas Gram,” played “Silent Night” on cello, viola & 2 violins. Was very pretty! Cindy came over, I made that marshm. divinity. Sent some home w/Cindy & they said it was good!

Sunday, December 24, 1989: Finished getting ready for church. Left about 8:50, went through program. Actual performance went real well & think everybody liked it. I called Paula, Nancy, Paul & kids came over. We all went out to J.B.s for supper, then went to church. Was a nice service, mostly carols.

CHRISTMAS DAY ‘89  Monday, December 25, 1989: Turned on all Xmas lights, put on Xmas records. Cleaned off kitchen table, put in ham to warm. Got in rolls & bread, put socks in living room. Nancy, Paul & Mike came over & took ^their candles & my candles to cemetery. Carla & Bill came. Cindy came with Ab, soon took him home. Paula, Jim & Judy came & then Linda, Ted & kids. Started opening gifts, Linda, Ted & Megan went to church. All got such nice gifts, had lots of fun. Fixed breakfast and got turkey in oven, got sleepy so laid down a while. Linda, Ted & kids went down to see Ted’s folks, when they got back we ate. Everybody played games, we ran a load of dishes. Cleared up some more. Everybody finally left about 10:30. I straightened up some. To bed at 1:15.

December 1990: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

Started snowing about 9:00. Thursday, December 13, 1990: Made a big batch of fudge, half w/nuts & half w/o. Then worked on cards the rest of the day. Got ready to go to Cindy’s concert, had supper. Nancy came about 6:45 & we went to Jewett, roads pretty slick.

CHRISTMAS EVE! Monday, December 24, 1990: Mike stopped by. Later on Meg & Cindy were here, called Linda about church. Washed & changed clothes & got ready. Had soup & salad, Linda & Ted picked me up. Church service was very nice & we sang a lot of songs, both choir & congregation. Got home about 9:00, Linda, Ted, Meg & Cindy stopped by & brought in presents. Had candy & Linda looked at cards.

CHRISTMAS Tuesday, December 25, 1990: Turned up heat & turned on all Xmas lites, played Xmas carols. Mike came over & swept my sidewalks; Nancy, Paul & Cindy came & we had breakfast. Linda, Ted & kids went to church, got here about 11:15. Rest late, too. I got turkeys in oven about noon, then we opened presents. Everyone did their thing till I got dinner ready about 4:30-5:00. Carla & Bill left about 6:00, dogs were not behaving. Ran 1 load in dishwasher, had a concert (Cindy & Megan) about 7:30. Rest played Farkle & 31.

December 1991: Grandma Hoffmann’s Diary

CHRISTMAS DAY. SUNNY DAY – NO SNOW. Gorbachev resigned. Wednesday, December 25, 1991: Turned on Xmas lights. Put ham in oven & made coffee, Carla & Bill soon came. Then Paula & Jim, Paul, Nancy, Mike & Cindy & then Linda, Ted, Matt & Megan. We opened presents, then Linda, Ted & kids left to get ready for church. I fixed breakfast, then everyone laid down & slept except me. I emptied dishwasher, then rinsed dishes. Linda & Ted came back so I fixed their breakfast, rinsed rest of dishes & ran dishwasher. Linda went home to fix Jello & Carla & Bill left. We sat & talked & then I laid down a little. Got up & changed clothes, etc., left for Bill & Ruth’s about 4:00. Everything looked so nice & was really good. Jim helped do dishes afterward! Afterwards they played Farkle. Carla & I played w/Peaches. He loved Carla –sure is cute. Came home about 9:45, Mike drove us home & we brought Judy home.

P.S. If you’ve read this far and want to read more of Grandma’s adventures, you can find them here.

Q Is for…Quit

Posted on by spuddled

Grandma and Grandpa Hoffmann were married in Peoria, Illinois, in March of 1938. In the 1940 census they were enumerated in Moline, Illinois; Grandpa was listed as a welder at a sheet metal factory, and Grandma as a typist for the Rock Island Arsenal.1 Soon after this, they decided to make the move to Idaho. That first fall Grandpa spent most of his time hunting, while the two of them lived in a little trailer at the bottom of Canyon Hill in Caldwell. Grandpa didn’t want employment to interfere with his hunting, but Grandma got tired of living in the trailer so found a job of her own with the Selective Service in Boise, and they moved to a little house on North 20th there. Then Grandpa did find work, at the Sawtooth Company on Grove Street.

Grandpa continued his hunting trips, though. It was while Grandpa was on one of these trips and Grandma was home alone that she learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor. That same month, Grandma and Grandpa were planning a trip back home to Illinois for Christmas on the Portland Rose at midnight. At 9 a.m., though, Grandma’s father called to tell her that her mother’s appendix had ruptured. They were able to get tickets for the noon train instead, but still weren’t sure what they’d find when they arrived. Luckily, sulfa had recently been discovered, and it was this that Grandma credited with saving her mother’s life. Grandma did stay on in Illinois for a couple of extra weeks after Grandpa had returned to Idaho, to help care for her mother.

Soon after her return to Idaho, Grandma learned that she was expecting a baby. And soon after that, Grandpa’s draft classification was changed to 1A, meaning he was eligible to be drafted. With Grandma expecting, Grandpa did not relish the thought of being drafted (he was also 34, which might have made an impact as well). So they decided to make the move to Portland, Oregon, so Grandpa could work as a welder in the shipyards. Since this was war work, it meant Grandpa’s classification was changed to 4F. After working for the shipyards for awhile, he worked for a while for a company building large metal trailers for hauling military equipment. Then he went back to his original employment with the Swan Island Shipyards. On 13 October 1942, at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Mom was born.

Grandpa continued his work at Swan Island for a while, working on oil tankers. Grandpa must have been a skilled and fast welder; his foreman came to him and told him he needed to slow down, as he was making the other welders look bad. Grandpa refused, and his foreman told him he would be fired. To which Grandpa replied, “I quit!” The foreman told him he’d be sent directly into the service. However, Grandma and Grandpa moved again, to a small farm east of Caldwell. This was in late March 1943. They worked raising sugar beets; this was beneficial, both because it meant the sugar company would let them buy 100 pounds of sugar at a time (before that their sugar had been rationed), and also because their farm work was considered a war effort, so Grandpa was no longer in danger of being drafted.

Grandma relayed to me her memories of learning of the end of the war. She heard the news over the radio and shouted, “The war is over; the war is ended!” and began to cry. By now Mom was not the only baby in the family; she had been joined by little brother Jay, and the two of them, not understanding, stared at Grandma as if she were crazy. Two years later, Grandma and Grandpa would end up moving into the house they had had built on Canyon Hill (not the trailer at its base this time), and they would live there for the rest of Grandpa’s life, and most of Grandma’s. Grandpa would also start Hoffman Sheet Metal with his brother Lee, and he didn’t quit again.

  1. Year: 1940; Census Place: Moline, Rock Island, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00875; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 81-38 ↩︎

M Is for…Marriage Records

Posted on by spuddled

I’m going to trust the idiom about pictures and thousands of words and focus on the former for this blog post regarding marriage records. Here are the records I have (or of which I have copies) for the first few generations of my direct ancestors.

Generation 1:

26 August 1961
Caldwell, Canyon, Idaho
Theodore Richard Montgomery and Linda Jo Hoffmann
(parents)

Generation 2:

17 September 1930
Winner, Tripp, South Dakota
Lawrence Theodore Montgomery and Blanche Agnes Wilson
(paternal grandparents)
Not a marriage record, exactly, but an article from the Bloomington, Illinois Pantagraph (which makes me wonder…do I actually have the official document somewhere in all my piles?)
12 March 1938
Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
Joseph Benjamin Hoffmann
and Velma Marie Swing
(maternal grandparents)

Generation 3:

The marriage of paternal great-grandparents Charles William Montgomery and Laura Blanche Walker on 22 February 1883 in Richland County, Illinois appears in Ancestry.com’s Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800-1940, but this database doesn’t include images, unfortunately. So moving along…

13 March 1907
Boone County, Nebraska
Carl Ozro Wilson and Sophie Christine Roberg
(paternal great-grandparents)
7 December 1902
Fairbury, Livingston, Illinois
Paul Hoffmann and Emma Alice Slagel
(maternal great-grandparents)

Another one that’s missing (why have I not written away for these??):
18 June 1913; Peoria, Peoria, Illinois; Albert Carl Swing and Lena Agnes Hunkler (maternal great-grandparents)

Generation 4:

25 December 1858
Hamilton County, Ohio
John Montgomery and Belinda Simmons
(paternal great-great-grandparents)
15 February 1857
Noble, Richland, Illinois
Marcus Walker and Mary Ann Conklin
(paternal great-great-grandparents)
Another not-quite-document, but an excerpt
31 August 1879
Brush Creek, Fayette, Iowa
Wellington David Wilson and Lucinda Blanche Davis
(paternal great-great-grandparents)
Another one that’s more of an excerpt…
3 December 1878
Rushford, Fillmore, Minnesota
Anders Mathis Roberg and Agnette Evensdatter Lien
(paternal great-great-grandparents)
17 January 1875
Renaucourt, France
Jacob Hoffmann and Christine Schmidt
(maternal great-great-grandparents)
30 November 1875
Fairbury, Livingston, Illinois
Samuel Slagel and Mary Demler
(maternal great-great-grandparents)
17 February 1884
Fairbury, Livingston, Illinois
Albert Carl Swing and Catherine Marie Hoffmann
(maternal great-great-grandparents)
14 December 1886
Peoria, Peoria, Illinois
George John Hunkler and Maria Elizabeth Rusch
(maternal great-great-grandparents)

These are not all the marriage records I have, though they do become more sparse from here on out. I would keep adding more here, but I figure this blog post is already 13,000 words long, so that will do for now.

J Is for…Justice of the Peace

Posted on by spuddled

Today we are examining one of the more familiar occupational titles, that of Justice of the Peace. I tend to think of this title in terms of 19th century weddings (surely you remember that episode of Little House on the Prairie where Nellie Oleson was married and un-married all in the same night), but as we shall see, Justices of the Peace have a much longer history than that.

I was able to locate a number of relatives in our family tree who held this position. We’ll take a look at four of them. Andrew J. Slatten, my third cousin four times removed, was born sometime between 1831-1833 in Illinois. He was the son of John and Nancy (Adams) Slatten and a descendant of our Sweeney line. In 1850 he was 17 years old and living with his parents and six younger siblings (Rebecca, Statirah, Margaret, Xantippe, Zarilda, and Benjamin) in Clinton, Illinois. Andrew was then a college student, and his father was a merchant. On 4 November 1858 Andrew married Clarinda S. Bassett in Warren County, Iowa. By 1860 Andrew and Clarinda had moved to Des Moines. He was then 38 years old, and Clarinda was 16. The census lists Andrew’s occupation as Attorney at Law. Clarinda and Andrew had two children: Douglas A., born between 1860-1861; and Shastebutte, born between 1862-1863. On 4 May 1861 Andrew enlisted in the 2nd Iowa Regiment. Less than a year later he was wounded in the right leg and left temple at Fort Donelson, and he died of his wounds on 18 April 1862 in St. Louis. Centennial History of Polk County, Iowa, by J. M. Dixon, has an account of his military service and death, and it is here that we learn that Andrew was “at one time Justice of the Peace in Lee Township.”1 We also learn that he was an “eccentric young lawyer,” for what that’s worth.

Amos Bee, my first cousin 5 times removed, was older than Andrew Slatten but outlived him by more than 40 years. Born 28 February 1828 in Harrison County in what would become West Virginia, he was part of our Seventh Day Baptist contingent of relatives, and his mother was one of the long line of SDB Davises. In 1850 he was still living at home with his parents Ephraim and Catharine and numerous siblings. He was then working as a tanner. On 20 March 1856 in West Union, (West) Virginia, Amos married Melissa Welch. Between 1860 and 1880 Amos and Melissa were enumerated in West Union along with their growing family. Amos was listed in 1860 and 1870 as a farmer, and in 1880 as a tanner once again. Their children were Genevra, Amos Alonzo, Anna B., James A., Clara Virginia, Ephraim E., Kate, and Mary. In 1900, still in West Union but now living with just his wife and daughters Clara and Mary, Amos’s occupation was listed as Justice of the Peace. Amos would die four years later and is buried in West Union’s Blockhouse Cemetery. He shares a headstone with his wife and sons James and Ephraim that I photographed there in 2010.

Robert C. Childers, second cousin five times removed, was also a Sweeney descendant. He was born 21 November 1815 in Grant County, Kentucky and was the son of Thomas Goolsberry and Mary Elizabeth (Thomas) Childers. By 1836 he had moved to Falls County, Texas, and in 1840 in Milam County, Texas, he married Sarah Adeline Moore. In 1850 Robert and “Adaline” were enumerated in Milam County, and Robert is listed as a hotel keeper, but according to Moses Sweeney Descendants, by J. Harvey Sweeney, Jr., in August 1850 Robert was Justice of the Peace in Bell County.2 From 1860 to 1880, the family is in Bell County, Texas, and Robert is engaged in farming. According to the obituary of Robert and Adeline’s son Joe, Robert’s farm was the first to operate in Bell County.3 Robert died on 20 June 1895 in Temple, Texas, and is buried in Temple’s Hillcrest Cemetery. The Childers family has one of the more amazing gravestones I’ve seen (though I’ve only seen this one virtually).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16024935/robert-childers: accessed August 23, 2025), memorial page for Robert “Bob” Childers (21 Nov 1815–20 Jun 1895), Find a Grave Memorial ID 16024935, citing Hillcrest Cemetery, Temple, Bell County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Imagraver (contributor 47349450).

For our final Justice of the Peace, we have to jump back in time by a couple of centuries. Joseph Clarke, my 11th-great-grandfather, was born 9 December 1618 in Westhorpe, Suffolk, England, which Mom and I visited in 2014. By 21 February 1639, he had immigrated to America, as on that date he was admitted as an inhabitant of Portsmouth, Rhode Island.4 He became a member of the First Baptist Church in Newport in 1644, married a woman named Margaret,5 and then on 22 March 1661 was one of the group of individuals who purchased Westerly, Rhode Island.6 In 1667 he is listed as being a Justice of the Peace.7 From 1668-1672 he was a deputy in Westerly, and then in February 1680 he moved to Newport. He died there on 1 June 1694.8

I still think my favorite Justice of the Peace story, however, is one told by Grandma Hoffmann. She relayed to me the story of a Justice of the Peace in Peoria, Illinois. Every time she would cross the bridge into Peoria, she would see the sign for his office: “Herman J. Bridegroom, Justice of the Peace.” For years Grandma had seen his sign and thought how neat it would be to be married by someone named Bridegroom. As Grandma said next, “And I was!” She believed many people must have felt the same way she did, as next to his office was a neat little parlor, fixed up with carpet and soft lighting. Herman J. Bridegroom’s fitting name even landed him in a humorous cartoon, as well as articles about his own wedding in 1947. Though apparently he wasn’t sold on the idea of a wedding by a Justice of the Peace himself. Was he thinking ahead about Little House on the Prairie?

The Orangeville [Illinois] Courier, 8 August 1941, p. 8
Journal Gazette and Times-Courier [Mattoon, Illinois], 14 June 1947, p. 4
  1. Ancestry.com. Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data: Dixon, J. M.. Centennial history of Polk County, Iowa. Des Moines: State Register, print., 1876. ↩︎
  2. J. Harvey Sweeney, Jr. Moses Sweeney Descendants. n.p: 2006, n.d. ↩︎
  3. The Waco [Texas] News-Tribune, 8 October 1940, pg. 1 ↩︎
  4. Cyrus Clarke Van Deventer, Henry Clarke–Catherine Pendleton: Ancestry & Descendants (n.p: 1902, n.d). ↩︎
  5. Earl P. Crandall, Crandall Web Pages. ↩︎
  6. Cyrus Clarke Van Deventer, Henry Clarke–Catherine Pendleton: Ancestry & Descendants (n.p: 1902, n.d). ↩︎
  7. Ibid. ↩︎
  8. Ibid. ↩︎

Invite to Dinner: the Brother Older than Lee

Posted on by agnette

Grandpa “riding the rails”

Joseph Benjamin Hoffmann was the eldest son and third child (of 10) of Paul and Emma (Slagel) Hoffmann and was born 22 August 1907 in Fairbury, Illinois. Paul’s parents were Jacob Hoffmann and his second wife, Christina Schmidt. Grandpa and his father didn’t always see eye to eye on things, so Grandpa left home fairly young and spent time living in Chicago, among other places.

Meanwhile, Velma Marie Swing had been born 19 February 1917 in Francesville, Indiana. Her father, Albert Carl Swing, was the son of Catherine Marie Hoffmann, daughter of Jacob Hoffmann and his first wife, Annette Meyer. In 1921 Grandma’s family moved to Wing, Illinois, about 11 miles from Fairbury, then to Forrest, only 6 miles from Fairbury. It’s not surprising that the Hoffmann and Swing families were somewhat familiar with each other; Grandma’s grandmother and Grandpa’s father were half-brother and -sister. Apparently Grandma wasn’t thoroughly familiar, however, or she wasn’t all that interested in tracing the tangled web of relatives, as we shall see.

In 1933 Paul Hoffmann, patriarch of the Hoffmann clan, was killed when a train struck the car he was driving. You can read more about that tragedy in this earlier post. His death left his widow responsible for a farm, animals, machinery, and with several of the younger children still to care for: Sam was 16; Paul 13; Ralph 10; and Clyde 7. It appears that Paul, Sr., may not have been the best money manager, and there was fear that Emma might lose the farm and her income. As a result, Grandpa left his work in Chicago to return home and help his mother save the farm.

Sometime after this was the eventful gathering of the Hoffmanns and Swings. Grandma, then around 16 or 17 but already a high school graduate, saw, across the room, a dark-haired man not quite 10 years older than she. She was struck by his good looks but was sure it was no Hoffmann relative – after all, wasn’t Lee, born in 1912, the eldest son? She whispered to her mother to ask who he was…and learned that he was, in fact, a cousin she hadn’t known she had – a Hoffmann brother older than Lee.

Velma Swing

And the rest is history, more or less. Apparently as the attraction between Joe and Velma grew, and it seemed likely they might marry some day, the two mothers, Emma and Lena, discussed the family connection. Were they too closely related to be encouraged to marry? But they eventually decided that a half first cousin once removed relationship was not one that elicited too much concern. And, as Grandma would delight in adding at the end of the story, “All our children turned out to be very smart!”

 

Sentimental Sunday -Grandma Hoffmann

Posted on by agnette

Grandma Velma Marie (Swing) Hoffmann died nine years ago today at the age of ninety. Even after nearly a decade, she continues to play a role in the lives of those of us who knew her, sometimes quite literally, as on one Thanksgiving when, reaching to pull rolls out of the oven in preparation for sitting down at the dining room table spread with her dishes, I could inexplicably detect her scent.

One of Grandma’s books I inherited was her copy of the 1928 pioneer novel A Lantern in Her Hand. I can’t count the number of times I read this book while growing up (and afterward) but I remember most clearly seeing Grandma’s old copy sitting on the end table in the living room. This book and the story of Abbie Deal became entwined through the years with my thoughts about Grandma, but it was actually Abbie’s husband Will Deal who, before his untimely death, had told his wife that if he were to be taken from her, he would “go on with her, remembering…”

Beloved mother and grandmother, Velma M. Hoffmann was born Feb. 19, 1917, at Francesville, Ind. She died July 3, 2007, at Boise.

Velma was the daughter of Albert Carl and Lena (Hunkler) Swing, the second of three children. At the age of 2, she and her family moved to Elmwood, Ill., to live on her grandparents’ farm, then later moved to a farm south of the town of Wing, Ill., and then to a house in Wing. In the mid-1930s, Velma and her family moved to Forrest, Ill., where Velma attended high school. She graduated from Forrest Township High School as valedictorian of her senior class in 1933, at the age of 16. It was about this time that Velma met her future husband, Joseph Hoffmann of Fairbury, Ill., at a family gathering.

In February, 1934, Velma began working at the Corn Hog Assn. in Peoria, Ill., and in 1935, took her first trip to Idaho, along with her brother, future husband and several friends, all in a Model A Ford.

She married Joseph Hoffmann on March 12, 1938, at Peoria. She continued working for the Corn Hog Assn., then later worked at the Rock Island Arsenal where she was employed until 1940 when she and Joe moved to Idaho. They first lived in an 18-foot trailer parked below Canyon Hill, then moved to Boise where she worked for the Selective Service. In May 1942, they moved to Portland, Ore., where Joe worked in the shipyards as a welder. Their first daughter, Linda, was born in Portland. They returned to Idaho in 1943, first to a farm in Kuna and then to a farm outside Caldwell. At this time, their son Jay was born. In 1947, they moved into a house on Canyon Hill in Caldwell and while living here, Velma’s third and fourth children, daughters, Paula and Carla were born.

Velma assisted her husband in his business, Hoffman Sheet Metal, until Joe’s death in 1983. She was active in PTA in the Caldwell School District while her children were attending school there. Velma’s primary occupation was mother and homemaker, which were to her the most important and valuable jobs any person could have. The most important thing in her life was her family and her happiest times were when all her family joined together for holidays and special occasions. She was always a lover of children and of animals and in particular cherished the companionship of her last loving pet, a Siamese cat named Sam.

She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Caldwell and greatly valued her membership in the church choir there.

She is survived by three daughters and their husbands, Linda and Ted Montgomery of Caldwell, Paula and Jim Johnson of Boise and Carla and Bill Oestreich of Eagle; a daughter-in-law, Nancy Hoffmann of Caldwell; four grandchildren, Matt Montgomery and wife Cheryl of Palmyra, VA, Mike Hoffmann and wife Erika of Redondo Beach, CA, Megan Montgomery of Waynesboro, VA and Cindy (Hoffmann) Crabtree and husband Aaron of Eagle and three great-grandchildren, Will, Leo and Owen Crabtree of Eagle.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, her son, Jay, a brother and a sister.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Alterra and Ashley Manor for their kindness and their care. They would like to thank the members of St. Luke’s Hospice for all their support. In addition, they appreciate beyond measure, the continuing visits and ministries of Pastor Philip Bohlken of Grace Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 9, at Grace Lutheran Church, 2700 S. Kimball, Caldwell. Friends may call Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at Flahiff Funeral Chapel, Caldwell.

Perhaps the most fitting words to describe Velma and her life are those of the Roman philosopher, Marcus Aurelius: “To live happily is an inward power of the soul.”

Amanuensis Monday – Early Diary Years

Posted on by agnette

Grandma on horseback on a hunting trip

Grandma Hoffmann began keeping a diary in earnest in about 1975, and I have a separate blog dedicated to those posts.  Grandma was always a record-keeper, however, and I’ve uncovered some documents which essentially constitute a much earlier diary record.

A series of sheets of paper, about 3″x 5″, fastened together with now-rusty paper clips, each sheet covers one month and has some sections pre-typed.  It seems Grandma originally intended the sheets to track her work schedule, with “Work” typed next to each weekday, and “Work A.M.” typed next to each Saturday. Grandma then added further details about her daily activities.

At this time, Grandma was 24 years old and (I think – someone may be able to confirm for me) working for Selective Service. This, as well as the date of this month’s diary sheet, makes it particularly fitting for this Memorial Day. She and Grandpa had moved from Illinois to Idaho within the previous 18 months. Both loved the West, but when Grandpa seemed more interested in the hunting and fishing that had drawn him there, Grandma was the one who first went out and got a job. An earlier record sheet indicates Grandma began work on January 29 1941, and Grandpa on February 17.

DECEMBER 1941

Mon. 1 W/□ – W/o□ Work [check mark]
Tues. 2 – Work [check mark]
Wed. 3 x – Work [check mark]
Thurs. 4 – Work [check mark]
Fri. 5 – Work [check mark]
Sat. 6 [check mark] – Work A.M. [check mark] Get permanent
Sun. 7 – U.S. attacked by Japan
Mon. 8 – Work [check mark] U.S. declared War on Japan
Tues. 9 – Work [check mark]
Wed. 10 – Work [check mark]
Thurs. 11 – Work Quit working – last day.
Fri. 12 – Work Washed & cleaned basement
Sat. 13 – Work A.M. Quit working Cleaned house
Sun. x 14 – Went to Helen’s
Mon. 15 x – Work Ironed & went downtown
Tues. x 16 ? – Work Finished ironing & mended. Went to Caldwell at nite.
Wed. 17 x – Work Mended, etc.
Thurs. 18 x – Work – Got telegram – left for home [Illinois] 12:00 noon.
Fri. 19– Work – Night of Xmas party.
Sat. x 20 – Work A.M. Go Home (?) Arrived home 1:20 P.M.
Sun. x 21 – Hoffmann’s for supper – stayed at folks all nite
Mon. 22 – Mom’s birthday – Bill [Grandma’s sister Marilyn] & Fran married. Went home w/Sam & Norm 
Tues. 23 – Stayed at Marie & Herman’s all nite
Wed. 24 – Folks all nite.
Thurs. 25 – Christmas – stayed at Joe’s Mother’s all nite.
Fri. 26 – Went to Bill & Millie’s – stayed at Lee & Eileen’s.
Sat. 27 x – Came home – Stayed folks’ all nite.
Sun. 28 – Roy & Phyllis went home – Martha’s for supper.
Mon. 29 – went to Peoria – saw Ann & Mary.
Tues. 30 –
Wed. 31 – Sam & Norma’s New Year’s eve.

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Friday Funny – Grandma’s Pants

Posted on by agnette

 

Velma Swing Wearing Roy’s Pants

This photo is one of many shared with me by Grandma Hoffmann. Luckily I had Grandma’s word for it that this was actually a picture of her, wearing her older brother, Roy’s, pants. I don’t know if there was a particular occasion for this cross-dressing, or if Grandma regularly wore Uncle Roy’s hand-me-downs, but it’s pretty entertaining. I also like the pump there in the corner.

This picture always reminds me of a funny story Grandma once told during a family interview.  Eventually I’ll finish transcribing the interview, but this particular anecdote involves Grandma, storytelling, and a slop bucket. When about three years old, Grandma was talking to her family and walking backward while doing so. She stumbled up against a big bucket in the kitchen where they put scraps and dish water for the hogs, and poor Grandma sat right down in the bucket.  “And everybody laughed at me.  It wasn’t a bit funny.” Though relaying the story all those years later, Grandma was able to laugh.

It reminds me of another NOT FUNNY experience someone else had that involved falling into water accidentally. And also being dressed in someone else’s clothes….

 

Family Recipe Friday – Grandma’s Cranberry Jelly

Posted on by agnette

Another recipe from Grandma Hoffmann‘s recipe binder – this one written on the back of a ticket to the Van Buren School Carnival.  Back when it cost 30 cents, apparently. This is the cranberry jelly that makes its appearance on the Thanksgiving table every year.  The story I have heard is that both this version and canned cranberry had to be served when Mom, Jay, Paula, and Carla were little.  Uncle Jay, in particular insisted on “the kind with the ring.”  Now if only we had had this recipe close at hand for Thanksgiving 2012 – somehow that year we remembered things incorrectly and boiled at length.  FYI – this results in a thick sticky glop.  Grandma’s instructions, when followed, result in a much more successful end product.