In the back my Mom, holding my youngest sister, on the left my Grandma Maysel holding my cousin; in the middle my Grandpa Dick holding my middle sister and then there is me with my 8 year old birthday doll Nancy!
Last weekend our home was "filled to the brim" with children, grandchildren, neices and a nephew visiting. So fun for me.
That started me thinking of visits to my Grandma Maysel and Grandpa Dicks house when I was growing up.
A few are things I used to like to do involve:
* Grandmas Hankie Box: I don't know when Kleenex was invented - but definitely not during the time of my growing up. Grandma always carried a beautiful, freshly washed and ironed hankie in her "bosom" or, if we were going to town, in her purse. She kept the hankies in a square box on her dresser and let us look through them - some plain white with lace; others with embroidery and some of my favorites had pansies printed on the delicate fabric. The hankies usually smelled of the "Heaven Scent Perfume" Grandma wore.
* Buttons: In Grandmas Treadle Sewing Machine: Grandma had a drawer of wonderful buttons. It was a special treat to get to play with those buttons during a visit. Some were large and made of bone, some had jewels in them. Grandma would often tell me the story of the "outfit" they were cut off of, who it belonged to and then what new outfit the original garment was turned into.
* Cherries: In the door of Grandmas fridge was a small jar of Maraschino Cherries - always - a small jar of Maraschino Cherries. I'm not quite sure why they were there. It was certainly a luxury that never occurred in the home of our parents. I would get up at night and "sneak" into the kitchen - open the door - and have one or two cherries!! I'M SURE SHE NEVER noticed by the end of the visit!! I do know that she never said anything.
*Alka Seltzer: Another "late night" trick was getting into the medicine cabinet and finding the "Alka Seltzer". If you have never had one - they are a flat disc that when put into water fizzes and creates "quite a little drink".
I know that Grandma created many opportunities for me to have wonderful experiences - horse back riding; boat rides; trips to the Portland Zoo; sewing together; going shopping. I loved them all - but today - I'm thinking of these.
Laura Adalaide Simandl Krythe b. 5 July 1893 d. Dec. 1980. Married Ray Krythe 23 Sept 1923 This picture was taken in 1967. Grandma Krythe was our first house guest in February of 1968 in West Allis, Wisconsin. Tom picked her up in our little Austin Healy Sprite. We had pork roast. We ate on the card table that served as our kitchen table until we inherited her kitchen table when she had to move out of her home 2 years later.
Grandma Laura Krythe was so in love with Ray. She told me that she used to iron his socks. She also wrote notes on the boiled eggs she put in his lunch pail. (Can you imagine ironing socks)After Grandpa Krythe passed away in 1961 Tom, his Dad and Brothers took care of Grandma Krythe's yard work and her other needs. Raymond John Krythe b: 6 June 1896. d: 3 Feb. 1961
Harriet Ann Krythe told me at least 20 years ago that the women in this picture are: Claska, Antoinette, Sadie, Gertie, Lucille and Hazel.
I'm not sure if the order is correct. What I do know is that:
Claska Ringenoldus Krythe is the mother of Raymond Krythe (Antoinettes husband and Harriets father) . Claska was born in 1858 in Holland and died 21 March 1939. While living in Holland my husband recalls that Claska saved someones life who fell through the ice into the water below . She received a certificate for that.
Antoinette Hyink is Raymond's first wife and the mother of Harriet. She was b: 6 Feb. 1894 d: 6 March 1921 (just 13 days after her only child was born). I'm pretty sure she is the second person in the picture.
Sadie is Ray's sister. B. 14 September 1881. Lucille is another sister of Ray's. I don't know her birth date yet.
Cora Ann Butler and Frederick Thomas Sanderson. Married 29 November 1891 Cora b. 3 Jan 1874 Springfield, Wayne County, Indiana d. 10 March 1951 John Day, Oregon Frederick b. 23 July 1862 Russian River, California d. 29 June 1912 in Ashland, Oregon (Frederick was visiting in Ashland from Klamath Falls and had an appendicitis attack. He died in the hospital there). Children: Maysel Ellen Sanderson b: 16 February 1893 d: 6 April 1989 Lawrence Frederick Sanderson b: 12 Dec 1897 d: 21 March 1960 Dorothy Gertrude Sanderson b: 19 Nov 1901 d: 14 April 1948
Sanderson Brothers Store in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Owned by Frederick and his brother William.
The brothers had also owned a store in Coquille, Oregon. Grandma Maysel loved to tell of the day the monthly supplies would come by ship from San Fransisco. The "brothers" would let their children fill the candy jars with fresh candy. The cousins were allowed to eat their fill on that day. Grandma said that she was so sick of candy she didn't really want anymore for a month!
During the time that Fred owned the store in Klamath Falls he also owned the city swimming pool. It was located at a spot where there was a hot spring. It was Grandma Maysels job to work there and also to launder the towels. I'm wondering if this is what started our families great love of swimming.
During this time (somewhere between 1995 - 1911) Fred served as the mayor of Klamath Falls. Grandma Maysel once told me that one of his main jobs was to accompany the County Dr. to the "red light" district monthly to administer penicillin shots to the women who worked there.
August 1973 in on 82nd Street in West Allis, Wisconsin. Table now lives at Tom's brothers home. Beatrice Kemp, Me, Tom, our 1st daughter, Frank Jenske, Hazel Jenske and elbow of Elsie Wilson. Tom's parents and little sister and possibly youngest brother would also have been at this meal. The dress I'm wearing is from fabric that came from my Aunt Erma's trunk. Fabric that she had purchased when she lived in Hawaii.
The rest of the story: Tom graduated with his MFA in Theater from University of Oregon in the spring of 1973. We spent the summer in McMinnville, Oregon where he directed the summer theater. We were POOR - just out of college students. The theater housed us in peoples homes who were going on vacation.
We had a baby, a stroller a sewing machine and a crib. Everything else was in storage. (That included a small table and chairs, a treadle sewing machine and Grandma Krythe's library table. Not much else).
Viet Nam POW's were starting to be released - and the Watergate Scandal was revealed. I remember sewing costumes for the play Tom was directing (Finnians Rainbow) and watching all of this happen on the color t.v. in the home in which we were staying.
At the end of the play Tom needed a job and was applying everywhere he could think of. He decided to go to some National Theater meeting in New York City.
We packed up our car and headed out with gas cans tied to the top. (Gas shortage that year also). One was stolen at the motel in Boise. The plan was that he would leave our baby and I in West Allis and continue the journey on the plane.
We had a great trip. We drove through the Tetons. We visited Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. It was hotter and more humid the closer we got to Wisconsin.
I remember how hard the heat was on our 6 month old daughter. Mom Gill (Harriet) got her a little swimming pool. Dad Gill (Bob) would walk with her at night talking to her in his soothing deep voice. (She was also teething, of course).
Anyway - Tom came back to West Allis from his meeting with a chance to work at a University in the South and not much else. He received a phone call from a community college in Salem. They were looking for a Theater Teacher. Tom had dropped an application at the Dept. Heads home in McMinnville as we headed out of town. Tom was the man!!!
To Salem, Oregon we drove - not a sight seeing trip. I'm thinking we had Tom's youngest brother along and dropped him of in SLC, Utah. We moved in with my Grandma Maysel and Grandpa Dick. We found an apartment. Tom went to work and "life went on".
This is one more Easter Picture for today (many follow). This was April 22, 1973 in Eugene, Oregon. Back row are Tom's dad Robert Gill with his Mom Harriet; my Grandpa Dick and Grandma Maysel; Tom's sister, brother and sister in law. Front Row Tom's "baby" sister, me and Tom's sisters roommates.
Our baby - born in February - is sleeping behind us.
Tom was finishing up his MFA in Theater at the University. He was working on a rock opera "The Survival of St. Joan" that was really quite remarkable! His brother was working at a Plywood Factory and his brothers girl friend (now wife) had come for a visit from BYU. Tom's sister was working as an Accountant at Rosboro Lumber in Springfield, Oregon.
Tom's dad had been laid off as a quality control person at Allen Bradley in Milwaukee, Wisconsin so took advantage of a little time and decided to ride the train with his wife and the "baby" sister out to Oregon to see the family and their first grandchild!
On this Easter Sunday we ate at Tom's sisters home that she shared with several roommates. My grandparents drove down from Salem to join us also. The main thing I remember is that it was a wonderfully warm April day and that Tom bought everyone water guns for Easter. We had a really fun time!!
Cora Ann Butler Sanderson's home(duplex) on 9th Street in Corvallis, Oregon.
I recently found a photo album of my Great Grandmother Cora Ann Butler. Sanderson More about Cora's birth etc. will be found in earlier blogs. During this time it appears that she must have lived in Corvallis. I'm not sure when she moved there.
Grandma Maysel and Grandpa Dick were married June 14, 1918. It was right after their graduation from Oregon State College.
Grandpa worked as a professor at Oregon State College - but sometime during that time he was shipped off to war as a part of a Calvary Troop in the Army. On his way to war - the ship turned around and he returned home as the war was over.
I know that he worked at Oregon State College - I'm not sure of how long. Then, he and Grandma Maysel bought a farm in Lakeview, Oregon where my Mom was born in 1923.
It could be that during the time that Grandma and Grandpa were in Corvallis that Great Grandmother Sanderson (Cora Ann Butler Sanderson) bought a home there to be close to them.
Interesting note - I know that Great Grandmother Sanderson was in Klamath Falls during the time Grandpa Dick went to war as Grandma Maysel returned home; took her maiden name; and taught Home Economics at the High School. As a married lady she would not have been able to teach.
She also involved the girls in making care packages and bandages for the soldiers.
"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers..." Malachi 4:6
I grew up with a Mother who honored this God, this country and family. She instilled in me a desire to do the same as she shared stories of the heroes involved in each.
I was blessed with two grandmothers who shared many stories of family!
I loved sitting at the table in my Mother In Law's home and hearing stories of my husbands family!
It is my goal - with this blog - to share these with you!
As memory is an interesting thing - please feel free to add your memories - they will probably be different than mine!
If there is a picture or story I want to share re: someone who is still with us I will connect with them for permission before I share!
Happy day - Karen
"Bobby" with his pet rabbit "Lenny Fox" and his nurse.
Robert Steffen Gill - West Allis, Wisconsin - 1926
Robert Steffen Gill - West Allis, Wisconsin - 1926 
From New Orleans to Cuba. Middle is Aunt Bea (Beatrice Kemp) with Robert Steffen Gill
"Bobby" with Eunice Meredith in Florida
Hazel, Bobby and Bea
Bobby Jenske and Uncle Bob Gill
In the back my Mom, holding my youngest sister, on the left my Grandma Maysel holding my cousin; in the middle my Grandpa Dick holding my middle sister and then there is me with my 8 year old birthday doll Nancy!
Laura Adalaide Simandl Krythe b. 5 July 1893 d. Dec. 1980. Married Ray Krythe 23 Sept 1923 This picture was taken in 1967. Grandma Krythe was our first house guest in February of 1968 in West Allis, Wisconsin. Tom picked her up in our little Austin Healy Sprite. We had pork roast. We ate on the card table that served as our kitchen table until we inherited her kitchen table when she had to move out of her home 2 years later. 
Grandma Laura Krythe was so in love with Ray. She told me that she used to iron his socks. She also wrote notes on the boiled eggs she put in his lunch pail. (Can you imagine ironing socks) After Grandpa Krythe passed away in 1961 Tom, his Dad and Brothers took care of Grandma Krythe's yard work and her other needs. 
Raymond John Krythe b: 6 June 1896. d: 3 Feb. 1961
Harriet Ann Krythe told me at least 20 years ago that the women in this picture are: Claska, Antoinette, Sadie, Gertie, Lucille and Hazel.
Cora Ann Butler and Frederick Thomas Sanderson. Married 29 November 1891
Sanderson Brothers Store in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Owned by Frederick and his brother William.
The brothers had also owned a store in Coquille, Oregon. Grandma Maysel loved to tell of the day the monthly supplies would come by ship from San Fransisco. The "brothers" would let their children fill the candy jars with fresh candy. The cousins were allowed to eat their fill on that day. Grandma said that she was so sick of candy she didn't really want anymore for a month!
August 1973 in on 82nd Street in West Allis, Wisconsin. Table now lives at Tom's brothers home. Beatrice Kemp, Me, Tom, our 1st daughter, Frank Jenske, Hazel Jenske and elbow of Elsie Wilson. Tom's parents and little sister and possibly youngest brother would also have been at this meal. The dress I'm wearing is from fabric that came from my Aunt Erma's trunk. Fabric that she had purchased when she lived in Hawaii.
This is one more Easter Picture for today (many follow). 
Cora Ann Butler Sanderson's home(duplex) on 9th Street in Corvallis, Oregon.
