Uncle Ron

Dad only had one brother---20 years younger than he was. (There had been another boy named Milton but he died shortly as a baby. ) For more photos of Dad and Ron, click here.
Often Ron is that little blip in the corner of the family photos. Mary was 10 years older, Maxine was 14 years older, Norma was 17 years older.
Although he was an "only child" for much of his childhood, he was soon blessed with many nieces and nephews. Bob, Steve and I were actually closer to Ron in age than any of his siblings.
Ron is in the middle with his father Roy behind him. His nephews Bob and Steve are on either side. Ron was only 8 years older than Bob, Steve and myself. Visiting our Long grandparents was always fun because Ron had toys and games for us to play with.
We often viewed him as an older brother. Here are Ron, Steve Adams and Roy Long. I do recall a few things about his teen years. One memory was of him building and racing in the soap box derby. The other thing I recall was shopping with my mother trying to find clothes that he wanted---a button down collar shirt and pants with a buckle in the back. I think it was the first time I was aware that boys had clothing preferences and style.
I wasn't as close to Ron as Steve or Bob was in those years: in part because I was a girl, but also Ron had health issues. I didn't (and don't) handle hospitals and sick people well, so my mother shielded me from a lot of Ron's health problems. He was often in the hospital having orthopedic surgery on his feet. Ron was born with two club feet so a large portion of his childhood was spent in Shriner's Hospital having surgery to correct this birth defect. He is probably in his teens in the above photo. I do recall that his mother (my grandmother) died shortly after this surgery.

While I don't remember much about this time of Ron's life, I do remember going to the Shriner's Circus every year to support the Shriner's work in helping children with orthopedic problems. I also remember hearing that he was like the poster boy for Shriner's Hospital one year---he appeared in the newspaper (above) and he was one of two children to ride in the back of a convertible in the parade.
I was probably closest to Ron when I was in my late teens and early 20's and he was in his late 20's. He and his wife Rose were wonderful mentors and friends to all of us nieces and nephews often entertaining us. But, more importantly, Ron was the first in our family to go to college inspiring all of the rest of us to continue in our education.

Valentines from Grandparents

This Valentine, from the 1940's, is from my grandparents Roy Long and Vivian Maupin Long.
It just reminds me of the art in so many books of my childhood and uses the slang of that era.
This Valentine is also from my Long Grandparents: Roy and Lena Long. Vivian had died and Roy had re-married Lena who was the grandmother most of us remember. They sent this to me while I was in college in 1964. So, Lena included a letter:
In the letter, she relates that they'd been to my mother and dad's house where Grandpa Wicker (whose wife Vennie had died) had brought his "Lady friend". The Longs had been invited to the wedding March 7 and "we are sure going hope your mother have tould you about this."
She then says, "Know you would like her. I think it wonderful for both of them. . .I know it hurts your mother for someone to take her mother's place but it is hard to understand till you get in a place like that. I know how it was with me, but Mother was taking it real good."
This Valentine is from my Grandpa Wicker inviting me to his wedding on March 7th. Note that he says, "Are you proud to get another grandma. . . you will just love her Jannie does and I know you will too."

Well, Janie may have loved her, but Mother never did really "take to" Mae, my grandfather's second wife. It's funny because Dave's dad, Grover was a widower for almost 20 years---I think we would have welcomed a second wife because we hated that he seemed so lonely, but he wouldn't even consider it. I think men often remarried years ago because they didn't know how to cook, clean, do laundry just as the women didn't know how to write checks or pump gas. But, today, we've learned to share household jobs and it seems less important to re-marry. . . and yet with this independence, the companionship is missing.

So, this is a Valentine to my step-grandmothers who provided my grandfathers with love and companionship (and meals) even though the grown children might not have appreciated them at the time. Thanks Lena and Mae.

Birthday Letter to LeRoy from Jaclyn

I wrote this letter to my father for his 75th birthday. Last year, I wrote about my brother Jim's letter to Dad. Click here and you will notice a similar theme in mine---our cars and our family trips! Double click below to read about my memories.
The next section of the letter is about cars I had to drive and the cars/trucks my children remember.

(L-R: Rebecca Morgan Lewis, Rachel Morgan Twenter, Leah Morgan Warren)

"Rachel's favorite---the orange truck. She remembers the time you asked her if she wanted air conditioning. She said yes, so you opened the floor vents and let in the outside air."

Fry Family Reunion: 1969 Jamaica Queen

The Fry Family took a cruise to Jamaica in 1969. Again, the Morgans did not attend, but I do have a report of the cruise probably written by Mildred Fry. The section above tells about their meeting at the Howard Johnson Hotel before boarding the Jamaica Queen :
"after a l-o-n-g, h-o-t wait in line. At 4:45 P.M. we bade Miami good-bye among streamers, confetti and music. Hardly had we gotten our breath and cleared the harbor, when we were instructed in a ships drill as to what to do in case of trouble, abandon ship, etc. Everyone looked very fetching in their orange life jackets. Some clown was circulating trying to bribe women and children to let him go first in the lifeboat. Guess who?"

Double click on any of the photos of documents for more details---the section above is about the entertainment aboard the ship including a costume party which Alfreda and Alderson participated in.
This section tells about the Captain's Dinner: "At the close of the dinner, all the lights were turned out and thee waiters came in bearing the dessert, Baked Alaska, topped with sparklers. All very festive and fun. The Frys toasted the Vogts with champagne for being "such jolly good fellows" and for arranging the trip."

Then, there's a description of Kingston comparing it to West Virginia. Below, describes Port Antonio and the "Family Meeting".
Below are the minutes of the meeting including a statement of how Irene wanted to be "memorialized." She outlived most of her younger siblings dying at 100 years old.

Fry Reunion 1967: A Ranch Reunion

The Fry Family tried a ranch in Texas in 1967. The Morgan Family didn't attend so I don't have many details or photos. The newspaper article above lists the participants, describes some of the entertaiment and lists previous reunion locations. A copy of a brochure below describes the "points of interests".
Double click on the photos to make them easier to read. Below is a map showing where the ranch was.
Here are the letters from Hale to Alfreda giving the details of the reunion.

Fry Reunion 1961: Islamorada, Florida

In contrast to Phil's brief, business-like note, Eloise wrote three pages to introduce and inform the family about the Fry Reunion of 1961 at Islamorada, Florida "100 miles south from the southern exit of the Florida Sunshine Parkway. . . .80 miles north from Key West on U.S. I". She, first, discusses Hurricane Donna which hit there Sept. 1, 1960. Then, she describes the vicinity and the 9 efficiency apartments which she had requested.

She then describes each apartment and the amenities: shuffleboard, sunning beach ("remember you will be living on a reef of coral"), boat dock ("with a long enough rod you can fish from the bedroom window"). She, also, tells them that there are boats available for renting.

"We inquired about man's natural enemy, the mosquito, and Mr. Cucklew stated that a community spraying co-op plan practically makes the area clear of the winged pests. Let's hope so, anyway."
This section of the letter mentions the businesses down the road and tells a little about the Bucklews who own the resort. The price would be $3 per person per day. The big question, though, was whether to have the reunion in July or August.
Eloise would have preferred the reunion in August because so many of the "children" were college age and needed to work. She comments,"We have found that leaving a young person at home to 'batch' for himself is just as expensive as taking them along besides suffering the anxiety about their welfare while they are home alone."

Then, she invites everyone who wants to see some of Miami to stay with Grover's brothers Paul and Lowell who both have pools . She also discusses how sad she is at Hurricane Donna's destruction.
Finally, she re-assures everyone there are no bargains in South Florida during August despite "the fantastic tales". She discusses Aunt Zela's move and requests that the form at the bottom of the page be returned before Christmas.
The newspaper article below indicates the reunion was held July 2-9. Also, it does not mention Dave's name---he insists he was there, but Harry had to stay home because he had a job at Emerson.

Louise Wicker Long and U.S. Presidents

My mother Louise Wicker Long wrote this two years ago---her reflections on politics and U.S. Presidents. The above photo is of Louise and Tab (?) in first grade. (Double click below to make larger then, use the back arrow to come to this page again) This first page is about politics and elections when she was a child in Arkansas.
The second page is about Franklin Roosevelt and when she moved to St. Louis.
The last page is about Roosevelt through Kennedy. I do have to make one correction: the CCC stands for "Civil Conservation Corps" not "Conversation Corp", but she's correct at what they did. The Pere Marquette Lodge (as well as the one at Grand Canyon) were built by the CCC.



The last word was supposed to be "Catholic" but she mis-spelled it and never got around to re-writing it. And we wonder where we got attention deficit. . . .
I love the photo above---it looked just like my mother even at 87 years old! I'm sure my grandmother Vennie made the dress---she was quite the seamstress. Click here for more on my grandmother's sewing. I'm not sure if Louise is supposed to be Betsy Ross or Martha Washington, but I decided this photo was appropriate for President's Day.

Jim's Cycling Memories

From my brother James Long:

"Jaci's Blog.....got me to looking around this AM....This is what I found of Dad's Cycling Gear. I am sure I have a few other things....just need to look harder. Dad did take me to several CRC Bike Parties...even went cycling at the Penrose Park Velodrome Track on a couple of Saturdays. Then came the big race....fell....game over ...back to Swimming.

Now lets get in the mind of a 10 yr old: Cycling - Hot...hard work...falling hurts vs Swimming- always refreshed...babes...how can you fall and get hurt swimming?"

Click here to see a photo of the Velodrome which is still in use. If you want more information on its history and construction, click here.

I recall going with Dad to a biking event at the Velodrome (built in 1961) which might have been Jim's race. To Dad's disappointment, we all became swimmers not cyclists. But, I have to add that my brother did lose a few teeth diving into pools, too.

Memories about Vennie

Wes and Vennie Wicker, St. Louis, 1941

From my sister Jane:

What can I say.... I love her so much. I still get tears in my eyes because she was so special to me. She gave me great memories. Vennie Watson Wicker, 1935

We would always go to the park. She always wore a dress. I always climbed to the top of the jungle gym and would be afraid to climb down. She would have to climb up in her dress and help me down. When we took the bus shopping or to the church ladies circle meetings it was strictly white glove and hat for me. I better be a lady or I would hear about it later. When we walked to do shopping and run errands she still wore a dress, but I got to wear pants. I remember we would always stop at the cleaners for her to talk to a friend. I think about those days when I go into the cleaner and smell that odor.

Virginia and Vennie Wicker, 1939

She would rock me to sleep for my afternoon nap. (I still have this rocker) When I woke up, I got orange marshmallow circus peanut candies and a Dr. Pepper while I watched Art Linkletter. I remember Grandma making tea for dinner. To this day the smell of tea brewing or the fragrance green tea triggers a picture of Grandma in her flat cooking in the kitchen.

Vennie Wicker late 1920's

We would play hearts or old maid at the dining room table. It had a big window across the gangway from Marilyn's dining room window. We[Jane and her friend Marilyn] would talk and get in trouble just talking there. I went with Grandma to the basement and helped her on wash day. I liked the area for washing, but the part with the furnaces was scary.

Vennie Wicker, 1935

I always felt special that she made our clothes and doll clothes. The last dress I remember was a taffeta plaid magenta dress for Rose and Ron's wedding.
I think I am very much like my Grandmother. I am a homebody who just enjoys doing things around the house. In some of the pictures on the blog, I can see I had her smile and nose.
I loved her so much. She was a great influence on my life.

JaneFor more memories, click here