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Here, gathered in our beloved South Dakota, are a few members of our Williamson / Mattson Clan. Charles and Luella are to be blamed (be kind, they didn't know what they were doing). We're generally a happy bunch and somewhat intelligent (notwithstanding our tenuous grasp on reality). I'm also proud to say that most of us still have our teeth.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Sunday's Assortment of Windows to the Past: 1950's to the 1980's.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,

I've got a few interesting and fun old photos for you today.   It's a smorgasbord from several decades and I make no apology about it.  I wouldn't keep writing this blog if I felt I had to organize these stories and photos in some kind of chronological order.  It would take too much time and effort.  Time and effort make for good New Year's resolutions, but have little prolonged sticking power.  I keep this history blog believing that sometime in the future, someone in our family will organize these posts into a logical series of events in a chronological order.  I'm trusting you.  Make me proud - whoever you are.

My sister Jilane called yesterday afternoon asking if I'd help her set up her daughter Brooklynn's 16th Birthday Party dance set to a 1980's theme at the Vibe Dance Studio.

"Meet us there at 5:00 P.M.," she ordered.

At 5:00 P.M. I sat in the Battlestar at what I thought was The Vibe.  The parking lot was empty.  The Vibe signage was removed from the door and canopy.  Then I remembered the studio moved locations several months earlier.  I fumbled for my cell phone, lost amidst the junk I keep in my arm rest storage unit.  The phone powered up, then immediately shuta down.  I rarely use it so I keep forgetting to charge it.  The phone was bought for emergencies only.  Well, this was an emergency and the phone wasn't charged; hence my reason for paying the $12.00 a month for my 30 minutes of peak time was meaningless.  I drove to a nearby convenience store to use a pay phone.  There were none to be found.  Pay phones are extinct - soon to become the next exhibits in science and industry museums.   I drove back home, called Jilane, and got the address.


 Brooklyn Bodily
Sweet 16 and Driving.
Keep your pets indoors for at least a few months.

Brooklynn had a great party.  I take partial credit.  I provided cookies and ice for snow cones (a small contribution from a loving uncle).   Jilane looked like 700,000 dollar's (a million bucks in 1980's money).  I'd swear she stepped out of a 1985 Sears Roebuck Catalog.  She spent much of the dance encouraging the reluctant boys to the dance floor.  I sat back in the semishadows away from the spinning lights from the disco ball with Annette, Kevin and Chaz.  Chaz was in charge of the music.  He did a good job, WHILE he watched a football game on his computer.    It was classic Chaz.

At 9:30 P.M. I decided to call it a night.  It was approching my bed time.  I'm a creature of habit.  It would take something more than a 16th birthday party to get me to change my routine :)  I wound my through the writhing bodies on the dance floor to get to  the refreshment table .  I loaded up on chips, cookies, candy and popcorn to take home and wished everyone "Good Luck".

Happy Birthday Brooklynn.

And now, today's photos....


Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg Mattson (right) with a friend holding her granddaughter Luella.  Luella was 21 months old.  October 1941.  Montana.  



Great Grandmother Ida Tornberg Mattson with Granddaughter Luella.  October 1941.



Luella Mattson with bunny.   Easter, early 1940s on the Mattson Ranch in eastern Montana.


Our Great Uncle Walter, brother to Grandma Violet Pierce Mattson.  Luella's uncle. 



Grandma Elda Vercellino Liessman, mother to Charles Williamson, in the Black Hills.  1950s. 



A Valentine's Day card sent to Grandma Elda from Luella.  Valentine's Day 1965.  Read the dedication in Luella's handwriting.  Can you guess who "?" turned out to be?  Yes, Jilane.
Jilane was born a month after the card was mailed.  



Lisa's second birthday perhaps.  July 5, 1973.  Karen Holtz is there from next door with her two sons Glenn and David.  Jonathan Williamson is standing behind Karen.

   
 An unknown person sitting in our living room at 2214 38th Street, Rapid City.  One of my siblings must recognize her.  Let me know.  I'm guessing it was taken in 1973 about the same time as Lisa's birthday.  You can also tell that its the early 1970's by the dress she's wearing.  



Lisa's 4th Birthday.  July 5, 1976.  Gina and Angie Mattson are with her.


 This is either Forest or Brandon DelGrosso taken on our front lawn in Rapid City.  I'm thinking its Brandon because Forest was scrawny kid.   

August 19, 1979.  Uncle Ed and Aunt Iris Vercillio at their 40th wedding anniversay in Belle Fourche.  Uncle Ed was Grandma Elda's little brother.   He and Iris rand the 5th Street Market in Belle Fourche.  He was a kind, quiet man.

Uncle Ed and Aunt Iris's family.  I remember Karen (standing beside Iris).  She was their eldest daughter. 
 


Janice and Luella sitting in Grandma Mattson's trailer in Rapid Valley.  The blonde coffee table use to belong to us.  I remember it from our house on Signal Drive.  I used to play under it as a child.  


And finally, Lisa Williamson during her high school days.
She will need to tell the story that goes with this picture.


 Thanks for reading.

Victor