More from Christmas 1985 at the Williamson Home on 38th Street

 eFrom the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I'm looking out the Fortress' Great Room window at a smoky Utah Valley below.  Smoke from several wild fires is caught in the valley, reducing visibility and giving the air a campfire aroma.  No wonder I'm in the mood for smores.

Pleasant Grove banned 4th of July fireworks here at the Fortress and surrounding neighborhoods.  Our homes sit dangerously close to the mountains.  One firework shot in the wrong direction could set the mountain ablaze along with Jilane and Kevin's home and, heaven forbid, the Fortress.  We will have to be content to sit on the deck, light our sparklers and watch the fireworks from below.  The town puts on a good show at the junior high school beneath the Fortress.

I'm hoping the western fires are far away from all our family and friends.

Two posts back I posted pictures from my 1985 visit home for Christmas.  I neglected to post a few other pictures I found in another file on my photo CD.  Today I post the remaining pictures.  Sit back and enjoy these parting snapshots from 27 years ago.        

Grandma Mattson invited us to her apartment for dinner at the Nearly There Assisted Living Center for the Elderly and Confused west of Rapid City's Bacon Park.  I'm sure it was to celebrate my visit from Utah.

"Grandma, can I help."  Annette said in her helping voice.  Grandma glanced in my direction.  I grabbed my camera and caught her expression, an expression I've seen many times and knew exactly how to read.

"Oh child, you shouldn't have asked that question," Grandma's expression replied.  "Where do I begin?  There's putting away the groceries, cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming the carpet, washing the dishes, peeling the potatoes........"

Annette never made that mistake again.   

 Lisa with her Dad Charles in Grandma's living room posing nicely for the camera while Cindernettie was on all fours scrubbing the kitchen floor.  While modest by most standards, Grandma's tree did the job supplying a Christmas atmosphere to the setting.  The Nearly There Assisted Living Center for the Elderly and Confused wasn't too keen on Christmas decorations.   The year before an elderly gentleman electrocuted himself by chewing on a set of Christmas tree lights strung along the serving line in the cafeteria.

"Who's going to help me clean up?" Grandma asked.  Annette was out the door and down the hallway in a heartbeat, nearly knocking down two of the Center's more unstable residents.  Luella wasn't listening.  The TV was on. 

"I'm too full," Lisa complained.

It was understood Charles was there for the meal only.  That left me and I was glad to do it.  I was always glad to help Grandma.  She was a fine old gal, fun to tease because she gave it right back.  Oh, and those looks of her's were priceless.  Let's hope she doesn't have reason to give us the look from the photo above when we pass over the river Jordan and meet her on the other side.       

Annette back from her daring escape.  Her cheeks were pinched raw by every geriatric she encountered in her travels through the Nearly There's halls and cafeteria. 

 Lisa wanting something back Luella had stolen.  Luella was in a jovial mood.  Can't get over the hair.

Back at the Williamson home on 38th Street.  I believe this was Bo on Christmas morning enjoying his rawhide bone.  I'm not an animal lover so I never remembered many of the family's pets, except for our nearly fossilized cat Inky.  Inky was our cat during my teen years.  She had arthritis and could hardly walk.  She had no interest in anyone or anything and threw up hair balls whenever she attempted to navigate the length of the living room.

Inky gave the family multiple clues she was ready for that final visit to the vet but no one paid any attention. One afternoon she'd had enough and took decisive action in the driveway.   Those who witnessed the event saw Inky sitting at the bottom of the outside porch near the station wagon.  She was waiting for car to back out of the driveway.  Just as the car started to move, she struggled to stand and hobbled with head held high behind the front left tire.   

She went out on her own terms.  You have to respect her for that.

Luella on Christmas morning.  I believe she's holding one of the presents I gave her - a nice Pyrex casserole dish.  She's reading the manual on the dish's proper use.

Luella didn't do a lot of cooking in those days.  In fact, if my memory serves me correctly,  she stopped cooking when dad brought home our first microwave oven (hence the reason for reading the directions to the cookware).  

Lisa with her haul.  Notice nearly all clothes.
Finally, a Williamson had made it into the IN crowd at school, hence the need to
dress in something more up to date than Garage Sale Chic.

 And Annette with her's.  Notice nearly all dolls and their accessories.
Annette was always in training to be a World Class Mom.
(And no one doubts that she's made it.  Annette IS a World Class Mom) 

Baby Jazmine in the kitchen waiting for something to eat.

We were all waiting for Luella to finish reading the Pyrex bakeware manual and cook us up
something completely delicious.

Kim Williamson DelGrosso with her newborn Autumn.

They don't get cuter than this folks.

 Oops, I spoke too soon.  Here she is again, the one and only Jazmine!!

Look at those baby blue eyes.

Stunning.....

And what's even better?  She has something to eat and IS a happy camper (an ice cream cone no less, Luella was having trouble with the Pyrex bakeware.  It wouldn't fit in the microwave.  I tried to explain it was meant for the oven.

"Do I have one of those?" she asked.

Grandma Luella nearly dropping baby Jazmine.

The girls in the morning.  Ashley, Amber and Nichole.

And finally, Jazmine with cousins Brandon and Forrest DelGrosso

Happy Days....

Simply,
Victor

Our 7th Great Grandparents, Guilty of "lightnes and laciviousenes"!"

From the Fortress of Solitude

Pleasant Grove

Hello All,

What are to make of a Great Grandfather found by the courts of Plymouth, Mass., to be guilty of "lightnes and laciviousenes"?  Are we descended from someone of questionable moral fortitude?  Is the Puritan shame pronounced on our family seven generations ago still hanging over our heads?  Should we take care when visiting Massachusetts, knowing that any altercation with the law may resurrect this dishonor?   

We begin with the traditional Relationship Chart:

Thomas Crippen (1650 - 1709)

is your 7th great grandfather.  Married Frances (Bray?)

to

Jabez CRIPPEN (1680 - 1785)

Son of Thomas

to

John Crippen (1720 - 1801)

Son of Jabez

to

James Osborn Crippen Crippen (1788 - 1866)

Son of John

to

Sarah Martha Crippen (1814 - 1891)

Daughter of James Osborn Crippen

to

John Mayberry Dennis (1844 - 1897)

Son of Sarah Martha

to

Vesta Althea Dennis (1892 - 1978)

Daughter of John Mayberry

to

Violet Mae Pierce (1918 - 1987)

Daughter of Vesta Althea 

Violet married Walter Mattson

to

Luella, Linda, John and Marvin

to

US

 

WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Information taken from a web site authored by Donna Younkin Log

Samuel W. Comstock wrote of the history of the Crippen family: "The Crippen family are of English descent. Thomas 'the' earliest known male member of America came over from England not far from 1665 to Plymouth, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. "During the Third Generation some one of them introduced the spelling Grippen and their descendants followed that but the greater number have spelled the name Crippen" Other descendants use the spelling Crippin. It would appear that the majority of families today use the spelling Crippen, so with no priority given, I will use this spelling throughout unless it is known, by record, that a particular descendant used the "in" spelling. Comstock's records also included a number of references to early Crippen families in Virginia. Researchers have speculated that these families are actually descendants Thomas Crippen but, to my knowledge, this has not been proven. Our 7th Great Grandparents, the First Crippens in the New World (That I Know Of) Thomas Crippen1 and his wife Frances (Bray?) were in Plymouth, Mass., on 6 March 1665/66. Thomas Crippen and Moses Rowley bought land in the Quaker Colony, Falmouth, Mass. in 1685/86 called Society of Saconesset. Thomas and his family moved to Haddam, Conn. and he died in East Haddam about 1709. His will was dated 10 May 1705; and his estate inventory dated 24 January 1709, gives 47 lbs, 1 sh. The children, as named in the estate settlement, were: Katharine Rowley, Mary Corbee, Mercy Crippen, Experience Crippen, Thomas Crippen Jabez Crippen The Plymouth Courts, Morality and Sex Stratton, Eugene Aubrey, FASG. Plymouth Colony: Its History and People 1620-1691. Salt Lake City, UT Part Two: Topical Narratives Chapter 12: Morality and Sex . .. Of course, barring confession or a couple being caught in flagrante delicto, it would have been harder to prove adultery than fornication resulting in pregnancy. The Plymouth courts were probably as fair as any courts of the time could be, and the Plymouth magistrates found themselves at times in a very delicate balance between their desire to punish morality crimes and their sense of not wanting to injure the innocent. Sometimes they found a compromise. On 2 March 1651/52 the Court of Assistants ordered Edward Holman, who had been observed to frequent the house of Thomas Shrive "at unseasonable times of the night, and at other times, which is feared to bee of ill consequence," to keep away from Shrive's house, and ordered Shrive's wife not to frequent the house of Holman, and to avoid his company. In another case, on 1 June 1663 the court went one step further, ordering Joseph Rogers to remove his dwelling from Namassakeesett, because he had been keeping company with Mercy, the wife of William Tubbs "after such manor as hath given cause att least to suspect that there hath bine laciviouse acts comitted by them." William Tubbs was ordered not to allow Rogers to come to his house, and Rogers was told that if he should be found at Tubb's house or in the company of his wife, he would be severely whipped. On 6 March 1665/66 the court required a bond of £20 from John Robinson, plus £10 each from two sureties, for his future good behavior, he having been convicted of some lascivious speeches and actions toward Frances, the wife of Thomas Crippin. Crippin was also accused of being a "pandor of his wife in lightnes and laciviousenes," and he, not being able to find sureties, was required to bind over to the court £40 in livestock and other property. Jonathan Hatch was convicted of unnecessarily frequenting the house of Thomas Crippin, giving rise to "suspision of dishonest behavior" towards Crippin's wife, and he was warned to keep away from her or "hee will answare it att his peril." John Robinson was convicted of "lascivious speeches and actions toward Frances, the wife of Thomas Crippen"?  We start with the defination of Lascivious: 1. inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd: a lascivious, girl-chasing old man. 2. arousing sexual desire. 3. indicating sexual interest or expressive of lust or lewdness: a lascivious gesture. Now the plot thickens.  In the ruling, Frances' husband Thomas is accused of being a "pandor..." The court spelling of "pandor" is incorrect.  The correct spelling is "pander".  The defination is below: 1. a person who furnishes clients for a prostitute or supplies persons for illicit sexual intercourse; procurer; pimp. 2. a person who caters to or profits from the weaknesses or vices of others. 3. a go-between in amorous intrigues. To add another level of unbelief, the court convicted Jonathan Hatch of frequenting the Crippen home giving rise as the court says to "suspicious behaviour".  Mr. Hatch was ordered to stay away from the Crippen home or "he will answer to it at his peril".  I've connected the dots from the court ruling and find it hard to believe the facts.  Could our 7th Great Grandfather be guilty of providing services to the Puritan community out of his home?  Was Frances a willing participant?  What would lead Thomas to such behavior?  The fine on Thomas for his part was 40 pounds.  In today's money that would be roughly $3000 to $5000 dollars (although direct comparison with early colonial pounds and today's dollars is nearly impossible).  Thomas couldn't raise the money.  Instead, the court held property and livestock for that amount until he could raise the money himself.  Perhaps the Crippen home needed a second income.  Who knows? My parting comment, these court actions occurred in 1665/66.  Thomas would have been 15 or 16 years old and just newly wed to his wife Frances.  Frances would have been 20 or 21 years old at the time.  Their youth would have been taken into account in the judgement passed against them.  Again, all the more confusing.  There are more questions than answers so, who are we to judge? We leave it to history Simply, Victor

Christmas on the South Dakota Homestead. 1985

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Christmas time in the old country was the best time of year.  We didn't have a lot of money, but there were always presents under the tree.  There was good food on the table and lots of sugary treats. And there was always family.  In the early days, Grandma and Grandpa Leissman were regular Christmas time visitors.  They risked life and limb to drive to Rapid City from Bismarck, North Dakota.  It wasn't the frigid temperatures or the possibilities of Dakota blizzards that put them in harm's way.  They risked life and limb because of Grandpa Leissman's driving.

Grandpa and Grandma Leissman

Grandpa Leissman owned the roads he drove upon.  The entire road was his domain - left lane, right lane and both shoulders (to be used all at the same time if necessary to emphasis his point to any motorist who challenged his supremacy). He would occasional drift across lanes if he grew board with the right lane.  He also considered the fences and fields around the roads his. Off roading in his 1980 Chevrolet sedan was not unheard of, though never recommend in the vehical's owner's manual.  Grandma complained bitterly about his driving, but what could she do?  Grandma Leissman didn't have a driving licenses. She was always a driven woman - choffered to and fro her entire life like a lady of means and status.  Every Christmas I would pray and ask God to deliver them safely to our home.  And every Christmas we cried when they left, not knowing if we would ever see them both alive again.

In 1985 our small three bedroom home on 38th Street played host to a larger family gathering. I was visiting from Utah.  My sisters Kim and Janice were visiting from Colorado with their families. 

"Where are they all going to sleep?"  Charles worried.  Our Rapid City home was small by everyone's standards.  It had a miniature living room, petite bathroom (the second downstairs I won't mention.  Calling it a bathroom would be a stretch of the imagination), a freezing cold kitchen and a sliver of a family room converted into a long narrow bedroom for Kevin and Jon.

"Don't worry.  Things will work out," Luella assured him.  Luella was the person in the marriage who believed in 'the more the merrier'.  Dad was the family's "the glass is half empty" representative.  He sat in family gatherings with his arms and legs tightly crossed.  It was his comfort blanket, protecting him from the social situations his family thrust him into.  He survived the holidays by spending more time at his two jobs, the state highway department and running a few rural newspaper routes in the afternoons.

The years have dulled my memory so I don't remember where everyone slept or how we managed to handle the demands on the bathroom(s) but we managed.  We always did.  It was our Little House on the Prairie.  It was our time on the frontier.
 

Grandma Mattson holding  her Great Granddaughter Autumn Delgrosso.  

Some adults are easily recognized from their baby pictures and some are not.  I am not.  Attempting to find my 54 year old face in one of my baby pictures is a useless endeavor.

Yesteryear's Victor.  Where is the resemblance? 

I believe I've aged well.  I've transformed from the baby my mother hid behind his beautiful older sister whenever we were out in the public, or kept in the bedroom when company came calling, to the pleasant face you have today - free to enjoy at family gatherings - and at my home (with appointment of course). 

Look closely at Autumn.  Look at her eyes. You can tell its her, can't you? Today's Autumn Delgrosso Turley looks like her yesteryear's babyself.   Cute then and beautiful now.  Her husband is a lucky man and he knows it.  She reminds him daily.

This is Autumn's grandmother Luella.  Christmas 1985. 

There were times when even the Mighty Luella threw in the towel.  Here she is on a Sunday morning, dressed, ready for church and completely knackered out, collapsed in a heap at the front door.  This exhaustion was brought on from getting up before the crack of a winter's dawn to deliver the Rapid City Journal to dozens and dozens of homes in the surrounding Black Hills.  

Having to clean up, get ready for church and deal with a house full of children after having delivered the Sunday papers pushed her to the breaking point.  That morning we watched her melt to the floor.  We crossed our fingers hoping she would make the call.

Wait....... wait....... here it comes..........  Quiet, she's about to speak.

"I'm taking this Sunday off.  I'm too exhausted," she sighed.  "Someone help me up and to my bed.  I'm feeling quite poorly." 

At which point everyone in the living room volunteered to stay home and keep her company.

We love our mother dear.  Yes we do.  Some days more than others.

Ashley and Amber DelGrosso in the Williamson living room in Rapid City waiting patiently for Grandma's decision on venturing out into the cold for church.  Ashley is sporting her manufactured smile - good for most occasions, except when sincerity was required :)  Amber is waiting for someone to tackle her morning hair.
 


Nichole Burrows, Janice Williamson Burrows' eldest daughter shushing her mother back.  Amber DelGrosso stands behind her.  Nichole would have none of that "be nice to Grandma.  She's really tired" stuff.

Nichole was dressed to the nines for church and by golly, she was going to go to church.  These South Dakotan's didn't know who she was or the terror she could inflict during a Sacrament Meeting. Our small LDS ward was a fresh, undiscovered field - ripe for the picking. 





It was soon time for supper.  I know because it is dark outside.  There were good vittles at the Williamson home that night.  We're talking Safeway brand hot dogs, pork and beans and a nice healthy salad with Buttermilk Ranch dressing.  Sitting around the kitchen table are (left to right) Nichole Burrows, Forest Delgrosso, Lisa Williamson, Annette Williamson, Brandon Delgrosso, Amber Delgrosso and Ashley Delgrosso.

Forrest is shooting daggers at me with his eyes.  I stopped him from 'digging in'.  One had to be careful if you interrupted Forrie at meal times.

That poor kitchen table was rarely used.  The Williamson tradition was to eat your meals in the living room.  The kitchen table was there only to meet society's expectations that all homes have a kitchen table.   It was there for ceremonial purposes only.  The same was true of the kitchen chairs.  They could hold a child's weight.  Adults found them dangerously wobbly. 

You can tell the picture above was taken at a special occasion because of the hot dog buns.  Hot dog buns were a real treat in our home.  Normally hot dogs in the Williamson kitchen were nuked in our primitive microwave and served hot on a slice of bread.  We knew company was coming if Luella came back from the Safeway with real American hot dog buns!

  

Grandpa Charlie Williamson with one year old Jazmine Burrows.  Jazmine eye's speak volumns.  She wants her mother to deliver her from yet another person in that mad house wanting to hold, cuddle and pinch her fat little cheeks. 


Getting ready for the girl's holiday photo.  Luella applies makeup to eldest daughter, Kim Williamson Delgrosso.  Janice, having pawned her youngest Jazmine off to someone else, is giving Autumn a horsey ride.  It stopped when Autumn spit up on Janice's black outfit. 

Make up applied, it was time for the official Girl's Christmas portrait.  Left to right, Lisa, Luella, Kim, Annette, Grandma Violet and Janice.  The makeup job on Lisa was truly remarkable, completely hiding her look of disgust.  It just goes to show that anything can look good with enough paint. 

Christmas Eve.  Uncle Marvin Mattson in the Williamson living room with son Luke. 

Luke turning on the charm.  Mothers know how to pull 'cute' from their kids.
(that's Cindy's arm in blue).   

Marvin with wife Cindy and children Hallie and Luke

Grandma Violet Mattson with grandchildren Lisa, Annette, Luke and Hallie and great grandchildren Brandon, Autumn, Forrest, Jazmine, Amber, Ashely and Nicole.  That's Grandpa Charlie reflected in the living room mirror returning from delivering the afternoon Rapid City Journal.

"NO, I'm not smiling," Nichole is shouting to her mother.  Jazmine's got quite the belly.  Grandma isn't having a lot of luck with Luke and Hallie.
  

Grandma Violet with Janice, Kim, Cindy, Luke, son Marvin and eldest daughter Luella.  Grandma Violet was wore out by this time.  I had Brandon hold up a glass of ice cold water just before snapping the picture to get that awesome reaction out of Grandma Violet.

Finally, we celebrated Jazmine's first birthday before everyone returned home that holiday season. Does anyone have a picture of baby Jazmine looking at the camera?  Does she look at the camera today when someone takes her picture?

We had a great Christmas in that little house on 38th Street. 

I look at these pictures and think of where all these people are today. It reminds me of that great circle of life.  New generations are added as the old ones depart.  The lesson is to live each day to the fullest and be present in the moment.  

Simply,
Victor

Kevin "Biddy Wid" Williamson Disappoints the Godfather

Kevin "Biddy Wid" Williamson was recently capture by the Omnipresent and somewhat intrusive GoogleCam (pictured below) as he stood outside the Vercellino safe house in a suburb of Los Angeles. Kevin "Biddy Wid" Williamson is wanted by the FBI and Interpol.  The photograph captured him completely unaware of the odd car driving slowly through his neighborhood.  He was conducting mob business with a member of the Cordova Family.  This photograph, published internet wide on GoogleEarth, compromises the safety of the 'Safe House'.     

Charlie "Lucky" Vercellino Williamson, Godfather of the notorious Vercellino Mafia,  called a meeting of the Vercellino Bosses to discuss his disappointment with his son.

"What he done ain't so good," he said during their meeting in the basement of the Pizza Factory in Lindon, Utah.  The Godfather spoke in a heavy accent - a mixure of South Dakota Lutheran with New York Italian.

"What we gonna do boys?"
  

 The Vercellino Bosses

"Cement overshoes, Utah Lake..... You catching my drift," said the dark, dashing, and secretive elder brother Victor, a lieutenant in the Syndicate.  He sat alone in the dark at a table enjoying one of the Pizza Factory's famous bread sticks.  He prefers to sit alone, always in the corner of the room furthest from the entrance.

"Come on Pop.  He done this before.  He don't think.  I mean, how could you miss a freakin car with a dozen or so cameras strapped to its top.  The guy's gotta a problem with connecting the dots.  He ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer - if ya know what I mean."

"He's your brother.  Shut your mouth."  Charlie "Lucky" Vercellino Williamson stood up and walked to the basement's window.  A summer's twilight wind moved through the trees outside the restaurant. The scene reminded him of his childhood in the old country - his beloved Deadwood.
"Biddy Wid is your mother's favorite.  You wanna upset Mad Ma Lue?  Not me.  I gotta live with her.  I'll pay him a visit.  Get me on the next train to LA."

"You got it Pops."  Victor jumped up, adjusted his tie and walked toward the stairs.  He stopped to check himself in the mirror by the door.  "Ain't nothin more beautiful," he mumbled as he took the stairs two at a time.

"Meeting adjourned.  Now get out there and make me some money."  Charlie "Lucky" Vercellino Williamson sat back down and waved the bosses away.  His soup had grown cold.  He picked up the spoon, dipped it into the soup and brought it to his mouth.  The basement was quiet.  It was his time to think.

My Sabbath Birthday Year. Don't Expect Much from Me. Fair Warning

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I start this post by thanking everyone for the many kind birthday wishes and expressions of hope that I'll make it to 55.  My staff and volunteers at the Space Education Center were the first to remind me with cake, cookies and a nearly tone deaf song that another year has been added to the staggering digit used to describe the number of revolutions I've spent circling our sun on this blue marble in space. There were other messages of sympathy sent by my friends in the National Sarcastic Society.   Yea, like I need them too.....

My birthday fell on Sunday this year.  I call birthdays which land on Sundays my Sabbath Birthdays.  When you birthday falls on a Sunday you should proclaim to your friends, family and business associates that you are officially in your Sabbath Birthday year.  They should regarded you as "resting".

 Here are my plans for my Sabbath Birthday Year of Rest:

• I'm considering changing my shaving routine from daily to weekly.  I think I'll do the same for showering, deodorizing, and brushing my teeth.
• On your Sabbath Birthday it is totally permissible to wash clothes monthly.  No one will object to the smells if they understand it is your Sabbath Birthday Year.
• I won't wash my car during this special year of rest.
• I'll show up for work right when I'm suppose to and clock out a few minutes before I'm suppose to leave.  Employers are typically more tolerate of laziness during your Sabbath Birthday Year.  I have the Department of Labor's toll free phone on speed dial if my administrator gives me any guff.
• I'll exert less.
• I'll eat more.
• Exercising is limited during your Sabbath Birthday Year.  Running, jogging, swimming, bicycling, etc. are all to be avoided.  How can you honor your year of rest if your heart is beating excessively and your sweat glands are sweating?   Elbow and hand exercises are allowed as you reach for food, scoop up food and deliver food into your mouth.

I'm in negotiations with our local Gas Station / Convienience Marts on the issuing of special Sabbath Birthday Year Cards entitling you to half price 32 or 44 ounce Gut Buster Sodas delivered to you as you fill your car.   I'm also preparing a letter to National Council of Churches seeking a special dispensation for all Sabbath Birthday Celebrants giving them one year off from all religious obligations.

Its a far shot, but I'm asking for an appointment with my United States Senator.  I  hope to persuade him to join my crusade by sponsoring a bill giving all Sabbath Birthday Celebrants one year off from Federal taxes.

To summarize, this is my Sabbath Birthday Year.  Expect nothing from me of consequence until June 24, 2013.

Thank you for understanding.

Victor

Kevin Williamson's Early Memories of Life in Rapid City. 1963 - 1965.

 Kevin Williamson

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I have a special treat for you.  My brother Kevin was kind enough to take some time this morning and write a few of his earliest memories from the time our small family lived in a modest duplex on Signal Heights in Rapid City, South Dakota.

We moved to Signal Heights in December 1959.  Charles and Luella bought our duplex at 39 East Signal Drive for $14,900.00.  The house payment was $96.00 per month.  We rented out the other half of the duplex for $75.00 per month.  Charles and Luella used their old trailer for duplex's down payment.

Kevin was born on June 30, 1961.  Kim and I were both 3 years old at the time.  Charles predicted his third born would be born on July 1.  Mother went into labor on June 30.  She called the State Highway Department and left a message for Charles to come to the hospital at once.  Dad got the message, went home, showered, shaved, deodorized etc.  He wasn't in a hurry.  Had he not predicted July 1 would be the baby's birthday?  He had the faith of Job in his predictions, therefore there was no reason to rush.

"Is your husband coming?" The hospital nuns asked Luella.
"He's coming, he's coming," Mother assured them.
She wasn't a happy camper when Charles finally arrived. Kevin was born at 7:00 P.M.  Mother chose Kevin's name because Dad got to choose my name and Kim's.

Kevin was known as the mean "widdle kid".  Charles remembers coming home from work one day finding four year old Kevin pushing his newborn sister Jilane in a stroller toward the edge of the hill.   Charles and Luella got to them just in time.  Two more steps and Jilane would have had the wildest ride of her life - much to Kevin's delight.   

And now, Kevin's post on Early Memories from Signal Heights
1963 to 1966.

   

 Hello Family!

Vic and I were talking last week and I thought it might be an interesting idea to have more family members contribute to the ongoing history and saga that Vic has created. Don't get me wrong I don't think anyone in the family will ever be as eloquent with a pen as Victor, but let's face it,  if Vic does all the talking, future generations are going to look at our history and think the rest of the kids never made it out of first grade! And since I had to open my big mouth, Vic jumped on the opportunity to self nominate me first up. So here I sit at 7:30 A.M. on a Sunday morning staring out my window at the Hollywood sign. And yes, in typical Williamson fashion, that means I put it off to the last minute!

This all started from Vic and I reminiscing about our FIRST MEMORIES and thus the topic was chosen. So here goes!

Signal Heights!

For those of you who don't know, Signal Heights was the housing subdivision in Rapid City where we lived from 1959 to 1965. There were at least 100 duplexes perched atop this hill on the eastern side of Rapid City. I was born in 1961 and I will start then....

The Williamson Family's Home from 1959 to 1966

6/30/61 ... Memories. None-on my end... but I was told I almost died due to the fact that the umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck twice.   I came out purple! Cool way to get the party started!

1963... I'm pretty sure that at about 2 1/2 years old I first started having real memories. In those early years the things around me played a crucial role of who I became. For the sake of time and my fear of boring everybody, I will break this down into categories.

1.Taste, Smell and Site .... One word "BIMBOS"!!!!!!!!

At the bottom of our hill sat this magical place where they made hamburgers that tasted like heaven!! This purveyor of tasty delight was called Bimbos! I know you're all asking yourselves why would Kevin bring this up as his first memory? Well let me tell you...First off, there was this big neon sign of Bimbo The Clown out front that fascinated me. Can you say Las Vegas!!

Secondly - the smell... You could be 3 miles from the joint and smell the deliciousness permeating through the more industrial side of town air.

And finally TASTE!! Sorry Mom but Bimbo The Clown had you beat hands down... How could anything be so delicious!! And it came wrapped inside a paper bag with this crazy looking half chef half clown on the front!!! And trust me, I would've gladly sold my newly born twin sister and brother (Janice and Jon) on a street corner for a Bimbo burger, fry and shake!!!

Sorry... Just keepin it real!!

2. Cardboard

Yeah that's right!! Cardboard!

Kids today got screwed with their iPods and video games!! I'm sorry, but nothing can beat a piece of cardboard, a grassy slope and gravity! Now this is where you separate the men from the boys. (The fore mentioned still applies to Kim). Just imagine this scene:   it's a warm summer day,  you walk to the edge of the hill where several neighborhood snotty nosed brats are staring at you with a look of skepticism. Kim, Victor and I know exactly what they're thinking. It's team Williamson. Are they bringing their "A" game today to the slopes? Nothing ever needed to be said because we were all about speed!! You see..we had a secret weapon - wax paper! It's all in the preparation and dedication.

 We would get up early and wax the bottom of our Piggly Wiggly lettuce boxes until they would shine in the summer sun.. This would give us that added 7 mph average we needed to conquer the widow maker!! To this day, nothing can match the thrill of hurdling your body down a steep slope with nothing but an eighth of an inch of cardboard under your butt! Just don't hit a rock because that becomes a religious moment in speech restraint...trust me.

 

3. Music..

I have one song in my head that will never leave.. Roger Miller's

"KING OF THE ROAD" I truly believe that song is why I'm in the music business today.  Dad played that song every day for months - and I still love it! Such a perfect melody, such perfect lyrics, such a perfect voice and such a perfect recording! That song instilled all those things in my head.

 

4. Transportation... The Mighty Rambler!!

Our car was a 1958 American Motors Rambler station wagon. That car taught me a very valuable lesson at an early age.  Transportation was not a right,  it was a privilege.  Half the time driving those early cars was a crap shoot on whether you would make it there alive! Imagine having to get a head start at the hill to get your speed up so you might be able to make it to the top... I could be wrong on this, but I seem to remember people having to jump out of the car while it was still moving so we could make it! Sounds crazy, but to this day that car brings fond memories. I will save the story about the hole in the floorboard for another time.

5. "There's a Bull in the backyard Mom"!!

To some this might not sound strange because we lived in South Dakota. Trust me, we lived in a nice neighborhood on top of a hill in the middle of town. Somehow this bull got loose and ended up in our backyard running around and not very happy! At that age, nothing was more exciting and memorable than watching your mom run around yelling like a crazy person at this equally crazy bull!! Awe...The Midwestern memories.

I think that's enough out of me today.  I found this to be a great exercise in going back and remembering things. I hope everyone will follow suit. Who's going to be next Vic??

Kevin Williamson  6/24/12

Over the River and Through the Snow to Grandmother's House We Go....

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
We have visitors at the Fortress tonight.  Uncle John and Aunt Bev have ascended the mountain bringing pictures of our 1971 trip to Grandma and Grandpa Mattson's home in 1971.  While I type, Uncle John, Aunt Bev, Luella, Jilane and Lisa sit in the Great Room talking.  Uncle John is extolling the vertures of owning a mule over a horse.  The conversation then moved from mules to near death experiences while on horses.

These horse stories, while riveting and well worthy of a post all to themselves, must wait while I post these pictures and deliver them back to Aunt Bev.

Thanks Aunt Bev for finding these gems and bringing them up for scanning and posting.  Remember, I'm always looking for older pictures of our family.  If you can trace your linage to Grandma and Grandpa Mattson and / or  Grandma and Grandpa Williamson, then please look for old pictures and arrange a trip to the Fortress so I can get them scanned before time and light bleed the color away.   

To Grandma's House.  Harbor City, California

In March 1971, Uncle John and Aunt Bev decided to visit John's mother and father in California.  They invited Luella Mattson Williamson (John's sister) to go with them along with her two eldest children, my sister Kim and I to go along.  

This last week Aunt Bev sent me an email saying she had found several old pictures of the trip.  Tonight in our family digital gathering,  Bev and I will share these pictures with you.
  

Kim, Luella and I on "Its a Small World"

Kim and I on the Tea Cups.  I remember being sicker than a dog afterwords

Grandpa Mattson, Luella, Kim, Great Grandma Vesta, me, Grandma Mattson, 

Uncle John holding Kirk.

Same as the picture above, except John and Kirk are in the picture :)

(Bev took the picture. We could have suggested she take a step back to get everyone in the first time, but her way of solving the 'group is too large to fit on the picture' worked fine :)

Uncle John handing his eldest son Kirk to his Grandmother Vesta

Grandma and Grandpa Mattson.  1969

Luella, Bev holding Kirk, Great Uncle Walter (Violet's brother) behind Kirk, Violet, Kim, me, Great Grandma Vesta and Grandpa Mattson.

Great Grandma Vesta (Violet's mother) with baby Gina and Grandma Violet Mattson

Great Grandma Vesta with her two eldest great grandchildren Kim and Victor

Grandma and Grandpa Mattson's home in Harbor City, California

Great Grandma Vesta holding Gina

Grandma Mattson with her mother Vesta and brother Walter

Uncle John with Great Grandma Vesta, Gina and Grandma Mattson

Aunt Bev with Great Grandma Vesta holding Gina and Grandma Mattson.