Dad Remembers Woody's Big Day on the Basketball Court

Woody and the Deadwood Championship Team of 1954. Woody was number 22.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
I talked to my Dad (Charles) about his first cousin Woody Williamson this evening. He told me the story of Woody and Deadwood's 1954 Championship Basketball Team. I'd like to share that story with everyone this evening.

Woody Williamson and the 1954 Deadwood Bears Basketball Team, won the 1954 South Dakota State “A” Basketball Championship.

Dad (Charles Williamson) playing on the Belle Fourche Team. Dad is number 25.

Woody played for Deadwood, my dad (Charles) played for Belle Fourche. The two cousins played each other throughout the 1953-54 school year. Both teams ended up facing each other in the regional playoffs.

“Woody played a great game,” Dad said. “We lost because of our 6’4” Center messed up on his free throws. Throughout the whole season he was making 95-98% of his free throws. During our game against Deadwood he was lucky to be making 45%. We lost.”

Deadwood went on to play for the Championship Title at the State A Tournament held in Huron. Woody was number 22.

Deadwood, a town of 3000 played Sioux Falls, a town of 70,000. Sioux Falls had one high school with a student body of nearly 3000 . Deadwood had 300 students in the entire high school.

“Woody was amazing during the game against Sioux Falls,” Dad remembered. He was listening to the game over the radio back in Belle Fourche. “From what I remember Woody made six basket in a row from what would be 3 point range today. Of course in those days we didn’t have 3 point baskets. Woody couldn’t be stopped. I think Woody’s playing was a major reason Deadwood won the tournament. You could hear from the radio that Sioux Falls fell apart. They were demoralized.”

The following was taken from a write up about the game found on the internet:

The 1954 Deadwood High School basketball team had a terrific season, only losing one game during their regular season. They qualified for the State A tournament, which was held in the Huron Arena that year. The arena seemed like Madison Square Garden. The team had never played before 6000 people.
The first game was against Sioux Falls Washington High School. Very little hope was given for the Deadwood Bears against a school with 3000 students. Deadwood’s victory got a lot a people’s attention. The second game was against Huron who had the home advantage. It was a close game but once again Deadwood surprised the prognosticators. The championship game was against Parkston and once again, the Deadwood Bears surprised everyone. After the final game a young sports reporter by the name of Al Neuharth interviewed Coach Burgess. This same reporter is the founder of USA Today and is responsible for the Al Neuharth Center at USD in Vermillion.
The team had a wonderful reception upon their arrival in the Black Hills before they ever got home. The Sturgis Scoopers were out on their Main Street to greet the team. There was a huge reception when the team reached Deadwood.

A Recent Reunion of the Surviving Players from the 1954 Championship Game. Woody is standing directly center next to the trophy.

Hats off to you Woody for a great game and great memories!

Simply,
Victor

Henry Willis and Mary Pease. Our 9th Great Grandparents on the Williamson Line.

Proud to be British!

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello to All,
Well, I’m tired. I’ve been searching for a family tie to England for several months now. You might want to call it an obsession but I'd say more of a curiosity. This has turned into kind of a hobby. I like to write and history was always my favorite subject in school. Come to think of it, the History Channel is a favorite also. So, you put all of that together and "Presto!" this blog.

Those of you that read the blog know of the brick wall stopping us in our search for the first Williamson immigrants from England or Wales to America. Remember, our current theory is our Williamson ancestors came from outer space. We will leave it at that until something else pops up in my research. For sanity’s sake, I’m giving that area of research a rest and decided to pursue another line to see if I can drag our family ties across the Atlantic to our homeland - England.

Now, how do I do it? Well, I'm interested in the stories of our ancestors. I want to know who they were and what they did. A name on a family tree chart is where I start. Once I settle on a name I beat it to death is multiple internet searches using Google, Bing etc. Throw in hours spent on Ancestry.com and other genelogy sites and, with a little bit of luck, I'll find something that will lead to something else which usually leads to someone in the family that knows the family history we share and was kind enough to post it to the web.

Tonight I pronounce SUCCESS! We’ve finally jumped the Atlantic and can directly trace our Willis line to England, all the way back to the 1500’s. I’ll have more to post on this over the next several weeks so keep reading.

Tonight I introduce you to the first in our Willis family line that crossed the Atlantic.
OK, Williamsons, are you ready to meet your first English relatives? They were devout Quakers (buy a box of Quaker Oats in their honor the next time you are wandering Walmart's aisles) who suffered persecution for their beliefs while in England, thus prompting their immigration to America.

First, the family line:

Henry Willis and Mary Pease my 9th Great Grandparents.
to
John Willis
to
John Willis
to
John Willis
to
John Willis
to
Bennett Willis
to
Jonathan Willis
to
Margaret Ann Willis - George Matthew Williamson
to
William J. Williamson
to
The Nine Williamson Children (our parents and grandparents)
to
Charles Williamson
to
Me.

HENRY WILLIS was born 09/14/1628 in Warminster, St. Denys, Wiltshire, England, and died 09/11/1714 in Westbury, Long Island, New York. He married MARY PEASE 09/14/1654 in Warminster, St. Denys, Wiltshire, England, daughter of ROBERT PEASE and MARGARET KING. She was born 06/12/1632 in Warminster, St. Denys, Wiltshire, England, and died 04/23/1714 in Westbury, Long Island, New York.

The following information was taken from Hicks, Benjamin D., Willis Family of Long Island, (New York: New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, Oct. 1884 Vol. XV reprinted in Hoff, Henry B. Genealogies of Long Island Families Baltimore :Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987]), p. 743.

Henry and Mary resided in the town of Devizes until 1667, where their three elder children were born. The year after the great fire they moved to London, where they lived for seven or eight years and had several children. It being soon after the rise of the religious sect called Quakers, of which they were members, they suffered, in common with their friends, imprisonment and persecution at the hands of the officials, and much abuse and annoyance from the rabble because of their peculiar views.

About the year 1675 Henry and his family (except the eldest daughter Mary) emigrated to America and found a temporary home in the town of Oysterbay, on Long Island. A year or two thereafter he purchased of Captain John Seaman a piece of land in the adjoining township of
Hempstead (now North Hempstead), where he permanently settled, giving the place the name of Westbury, after a town in his native county in England, which it continues to bear to the present day. Henry Willis died in Westbury July 11, 1714, and his wife Mary on April 23, 1714.

A Death in the Family. Woody Williamson.

Woody Williamson and his Wife Joyce

Woody Williamson passed away this morning. Our Sympathies go out to Woody's wife Joyce, his sisters Pat and Gail and his children: Dan, Scott, Kelly and David,

I received this email from his sister Pat Biggs.(email: patandchanbiggs@bresnan.net)

Hi Victor,

Another sad e-mail. Our brother, Walter C. (Woody) Williamson passed away this morning. He was the son of Walter L Williamson and Frances E. Plato. Woody was 72 years old. He had been having several health issues over the past few years, but things caught up with him while vacationing in Alabama. Woody is survived by his wife, Joyce, 4 children - Dan, Scott, Kelly and David, their spouses and children.No services at this time as Woody's wife is undergoing surgery today for a hiatel hernia.

Joseph Henry Phlegar. Confederate Soldier and Williamson Cousin

Joseph Henry Phlegar

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello to All,
In tonight’s virtual family reunion we discuss the email I received from a distant Phlegar cousin from North Carolina sent to everyone in an earlier email. I’m currently interested in our family’s historical military service, which is why you’ve seen several posts recently covering their heroic service. We are all proud of our family members who served and currently serve in the armed forces. On the Williamson side we currently have cousin Andrew Williamson currently serving in the armed forces, having returned from active duty in Afganistan recently. We are proud of him.

In tonight’s post I’d like to introduce you to a Phlegar cousin who served in the Confederate Army. His name was Joseph Henry Phlegar. He was our 2nd cousin four times removed.

First his relation to all of us is outline below:


And now the Story of our cousin, Joseph Henry Phlegar

Simply,
Victor

Joseph Henry Phlegar

Joseph was born to Isaac George Phlegar and Sarah Catherine Rutherford on Thursday, August 15, 1839 in the rolling hills of Floyd County, Virginia. He was the first of 5 children for Isaac and Sarah. Joseph married the love of his life in 1860, Angeline C. Epperly.

Joseph and Angeline were blessed with thirteen children, with the first being expected when Joseph enlisted in the 54th Virginia Infantry, CSA, April 15, 1861. April 30, 1862 in Virginia, Joseph was one of 4 enlistees diverted by Captain Culpepper Pelham from the 54th to Stuarts Horse Artillery. Captain Pelham had promised his men that Stuarts Horse Artillery would be very active and on the move in the months ahead.

Captain Pelham kept his word, moving from Culpepper through Richmond, then to the Virginia peninsula, taking part in many skirmishes in early May of 1862. Although close by, roads had become almost impassable due to rains and prevented them from assisting in the Battle of Seven Pines.

Early June, the Brigade moved to Hanover C.H., and June 25th joined forces with Stonewall Jacksons troops in the Shenandoah Valley. They encountered enemy troops at Cold Harbor, White House, Bottoms Bridge, Providence Forge and back to Malvern Hill.

Early July the brigade was encamped on the banks of James River in Charles City County. There purpose was to harass the enemy transport boats and gunboats, including the Monitor.

Most of July and August was spent in the Northern Neck area of Virginia, with many skirmishes and protecting the Virginia Central Railroad in Gordonsville, VA.

August 29th Battle of 2nd Manassas, September 17th, Battle of Sharpsburg, then crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains in late October, and was involved in the Ten Days skirmishes. From there, Stuart was ordered to Fredericksburg, Virginia in early December.

On Saturday, December 13, 1862 at the Battle of Fredericksburg Joseph receive a serious wound by an enemy shell, resulting in the loss of his right forearm.

Joseph was ultimately sent to a converted tobacco warehouse in Lynchburg, Virginia to recuperate. Joseph had fought at the side of many great Confederate leaders, General Robert E. Lee, Lieutenant General James Longstreet, Lieutenant General Thomas J. Stonewall Jackson, Major General James E. B. Stuart, Lieutenant Col. John Pelham, Major James Breathed, and Captain Robert Beckham. After being released from the hospital in Lynchburg, Joseph was to spend the rest of the war at home with Angeline and a growing family.

Submitted by Carolyn E. Austin, wife of Thomas E. Austin, Great, Great, Grandson.

Tom and Jesse Bingham, Our Third Great Half Uncles and Wind Cave National Park.

Levi Dennis and Sarah Crippen Dennis (3rd Great Grandparents)

to
John Mayberry Dennis
to
Vesta Dennis
to
Grandma Mattson

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello Family,

In our virtual family reunion tonight we sit around the digital camp fire to hear about our 3rd Great Grandparents Levi Dennis and Sarah Crippen. So if you'll quit talking for a moment and give me your attention I'd appreciate it. Yes, you too Lisa. You look fine and I guarantee the misquotes don't carry malaria.

A New Discovery Tonight, The First Picture found of Sarah Crippen Dennis Bingham

Our 3rd Great Grandmother Sarah Crippen Dennis Bingham was born in 1814 at Knox Tennessee. She died on Feb. 22, 1891. She married our 3rd Great Grandfather Levi Dennis on November 3, 1842.
This is their Wedding License. Notice they were married by the Justice of the Peace. Mom says they may have run off to wed. Doesn't seem likely. Dennis was 30 and Sarah was 28. Also perhaps a new discovery. Our records end with this couple. We don't know their parents. That may not be true. Below is the actual license (click to enlarge). Notice the witness signatures. If I'm not mistaken isn't that the signature of a William Dennis? Could be Levi's dad or perhaps a brother. More research to be done....


It was short marriage of four years. Levi died about 1846 in Sullivan Missouri. She was left with two small boys, our 2nd Great Grandfather John who was two years old at the time and his brother Edward who was newly born (John Mayberry Dennis was born on September 9, 1844. Edward Dennis was born in 1846. John died on April 28, 1897). Sarah then married Samuel Bingham in 1847.

OK, What Does That Have To Do With Wind Cave National Park?

In 1881, while riding their horses up a draw, Sarah and Samuel’s two sons, Tom and Jesse Bingham, heard the sound of blowing wind on a calm day. Following the sound, they came upon a hole in the ground. When Jesse looked into the hole the wind blew his hat right off. The story of a hole that will blow the hat off quickly spread and other people ventured out to the area to see this blowing hole.

Great Uncle Tom Crippen

Jesse and Tom took credit for the cave’s discovery. Later, the story was modified. It was said that Tom’s hat was blown off (as you’ll notice in the official story of the cave’s discovery below). Tom received most of the credit because of Great Uncle Jesse’s brush with the law for cattle stealing in 1889. Their discovery became Wind Cave National Park. The park was established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, it was the seventh U.S. National Park and the first cave to be designated a national park anywhere in the world. The cave passed Hölloch cave in Switzerland on February 11, 2006 to become fourth-longest in the world with 119.58 miles (192.45 km) of explored cave passageways. The cave's current length is 131.04 miles (210.89 km), with an average of four new miles of cave being discovered each year.

The next time you visit South Dakota, stop at the National Park, take the tour and tell them that Tom and Jesse Bingham were your Great Uncles (Actually 3rd Great Half Uncles to be precise for my generation).

Jesse and Tom Bingham’s story is below from Wind Cave’s Website

Simply,
Victor

Wind Cave History

American Indians of the area have many stories about a hole in the Black Hills that blows wind. Tipi rings near the natural entrance indicate that they knew of Wind Cave. In 1881, two settlers, Jesse and Tom Bingham, were also attracted to the whistling sound of the wind coming from the cave entrance. As the story goes, the wind was blowing out of the cave with such force that it blew off Tom's hat. A few days later when Jesse returned to show this phenomenon to some friends, he was surprised to find the wind had switched directions and his hat was sucked into the cave. Today, we understand that the direction of the wind is related to the difference in atmospheric pressure between the cave and the surface.
The mission of Wind Cave National Park is to preserve and protect the natural resources. Wind Cave National Park is 28,295 acres. Because of its relatively small size and because there are missing parts, park managers must take an active role in helping the ecosystems function as they might have in the past. This requires understanding how everything in the park relates and how the naturally operating system would have functioned. Park rangers work with researchers to replicate that natural system using prescribed fires, bison round-ups, and biological control of exotic plant species.
How we accomplish the mission of the park is determined by what we know about the park. The land, the animals, and the cave are all related and it is only when we understand the resources and their connections that we can best protect Wind Cave National Park.

Our Sixth Great Grandfather Died Beside His Son in Battle

Battle at Fort Ticonderoga

Benjamin Hill - Betsy (Elizabeth) Dudley (6th Great Grandparents)
to
Betsy Hill
to
Deborah Dearborn
to
Almira Swift
to
Isabel Deanora McCrilles
to
Vesta Dennis
to
Grandma Mattson

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

I’m looking down on the valley from the Fortress. The sky is gray with low hanging clouds. Rain is falling and has been for an hour or so. I’m in my rocker listening to the dripping from the rain gutters outside the front window. It is a cold, wet evening in Pleasant Grove.
It is time to gather all from the Mattson side of our family to tell you about our sixth Great Grandfather, Benjamin Hill and his son, our 6th Great Uncle, Nicholas.

Benjamin Hill was born at Brentwood, N. H. He married Betsey Dudley, of Stratham, N. H., and raised a family of eight children. On the 18th of March, 1752, Benjamin Hill moved with his family from Brentwood to Northwood, N. H, farming the land which has ever since been occupied by the Hill family. Its present occupant is Frank R. Hill, a lineal descendant of Benjamin, and of the fifth generation from him.

Benjamin Hill was drafted into the Revolutionary War, and his son, Nicholas Dudley, not wanting him to go alone, also enlisted. Our Great Grandfather Benjamin died at Ticonderoga. Nicholas survived the war and returned home. He became the head of the family and cared for his mother and siblings. Nicholas Dudley Hill was born at Brentwood, N. H., and was the eldest of his father's family. He married Mary Crockett, and they also had eight children

The Battle at Fort Ticonderoga.

Fort Ticonderoga lay on the shores of Lake Champlain. Called Fort Carillon by the French, it was renamed Ticonderoga by the British after it was captured in 1759. The fort was positioned to cut the colonies in half, and two Americans, Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, were determined to capture the fort. Allen was approached by Connecticut citizens to lead his men known as the Green Mountain men to take the fort. Meanwhile Benedict Arnold had himself been appointed to the same task by the Massachusetts committee of safety. The two men argued over command, but this did not deter them from attacking the fort. On May 11th, all the men who could fit were loaded in boats and set off for the fort. The men defending the garrison of Ticonderoga were surprised in their beds. Allen called out to Lieutenant Joceyln Feltham, "Come out of there you dammed old rat!" When Feltham asked on whose authority, Allen stated,"in the name of Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress." The fort, with its heavy artillery, fell without a shot being fired. Two days later, Crown Point fell as well.

And so we add another name to our growing list of Ancestors who fought and gave their all for this new nation.

Now, its time to shut the computer down and move on to other things that need attention. Let me just say how excited I am to share these histories of our our ancestors. Their stories should not be forgotten and won't be as long as you teach your children about their roots and this proud American family they are part of.

Simply,
Victor

A Happy Easter to All.

A Prayer for Your Travels through Life.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

I want to wish all of you a Happy Easter in the knowledge of Christ risen.
We are a family of many faiths. Our faith enriches our lives today as it did for our ancestors.

Researching family history gives us a better understanding of who we are and where we came from. One character trait stands out over all in the history of our ancestors, a strong Christian faith. Although I've not posted all the stories and remembrances I've found relating to their faith, that one fact is paramount in much of what I've read. Today is a good day to remember that.

Our ancestors will live forever as long as they are remembered. This blog is as much a gift to them as to all of you.
Happy Easter.

Simply ,
Victor

Two Great Uncles, Civil War Vetrans for the North.

Monument to the Ohio 82nd Regiment, Civil War.

From the Fortress of Solitude
Pleasant Grove

Hello All,
Two of our 4th Great Uncles from our Cantwell family line served in the Civil War.
Col. James Cantwell and his younger brother Jacob were the brothers of our 4th Great Grandmother, Martha Cantwell. The Genealogy line is below:

James and Jacob Cantwell, Brothers of Martha Cantwell (Our 4th Great Grandmother)
to
Frances George
to
Eldora Elizabeth Fiddler
to
Walter Edwin Pierce
to
Violet May Pierce (Grandma Mattson)
to
Luella, John, Linda and Marvin
to
Us, Grandma Mattson's Grandchildren

Col. James Cantwell

Two days after the Civil War began, James Cantwell left his Ohio farms, his business, his six children and his wife Sarah to join the Union Army.

The Ohio Civil War Battle Flag

In 1861 the Governor of Ohio gave Colonel James Cantwell, our 4th Great Uncle and Lieutenant Colonel Bradford Durfee, and Major James Robison authorization to form and recruit a regiment of volunteers to fight the Confederate South. Their 82nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service on December 31, 1861 with 968 men ad Camp Simon Kenton under the command of our Great Uncle. On May 8, 1862 the regiment received its baptismal of fire when it engaged the rebels in combat for the first time at the Battle of McDowell. Three were killed and 17 wounded. They retreated. The regiment then took part in following after Confederate General Jackson through the Shenandoah. They engaged General Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain. They prevented the rebels from taking Waterloo Bridge.

Col. Cantwell's Battle Sword

The volunteers first heavy engagement came on August 29 at the Second Battle of Bull Run. It lasted two days and our Great Uncle was killed in battle while he was attempting to rally his men against Gen. Jackson’s line.

General Milroy said upon his death,

"...his men loved, obeyed and respected him as a father. Truly the loss of such an officer in these trying times is a great calamity."

Col. Robinson assumed command of the regiment.

Dr. Jacob Cantwell

Our 4th Great Uncle Jacob was a surgeon of the 82nd Ohio. He was treating the wounded at the Stone House when his brother was killed. During the war Dr. Cantwell was under fire during twenty battles and suffered a severe wound at the Battle of Cross Keys, Virginia.
Commissioned Surgeon General of U.S. Volunteers, he was a Lieutenant Colonel when mustered out of service. After the war Dr. Cantwell worked as a physician in Mansfield, Ohio and as a planter in Decatur, Alabama. He died February 12, 1883.

Simply,
Victor

Dad's Early Day in Lead, South Dakota (Cont)

Dad says this picture is beyond the power of his unique, all powerful memory. So suffice to say, this is dad when he was three. Skinny as an Ethopian but recognizable as Charles Williamson.

Dad attended Ted Pascoe's wedding on August 10, 1941. He remembers this suit. It was light blue. The Pascoes were family friends. Dad is standing in front of the Pascoe home. Dad was five years old. The Italians in Lead either hated the Catholic church or loved it. Dad's grandfather (Elda's father) hated the Catholic church.


Dad always played cowboys with his two other best friends. Dad was always the Lone Ranger. They were always the bad guys. He's holding a cap gun. He says you couldn't buy caps for the gun because of the shortages during World War 2. Dad says he couldn't make the shooting sound effect for six weeks when he turned 6 because he had his tonsils out. He says that everyone had their tonsils removed when they were 6 years old. They were removed whether or not they were bad. The doctors thought the tonsils had no purpose whatsoever.



Simply,
Victor

Charles Ray Williamson as a Young Boy in Lead. Poor Kid Looked Malnourished.

This is a picture of Charles Ray at 5 and 1/2 years old. Grandma Elda's handwriting is at the bottom of each. You can tell Grandma missed every day they taught penmanship in school when she was growing up. Notice how she wrote her Y's.

The picture above was taken in Dad's front yard. The Williamson house sat on today's Glendale Road. A rest home sits where dad's house once stood today. The gravel road you see in this picture is Montana Ave. It ended right in front of their house.
The big vacant lot belonged to Homestake Mine. It was surrounded with a chain link fence with barbed wire. It was used to store equipment. The white house in the background belonged to Claude Schmidt. His boy, Bobby, was Dad's friend. Bobby grew up and owned a Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Rapid City. The house behind Schmidt's belonged to Harold Luedeman.
His boy Clint was Dad's other friend. The three boys were inseparable. They played all day together. They were called the three musketeers. Clint's dad Harold later became the mayor of Lead. The big house on the right of the picture belonged to the Burlington Railroad. It was called the RoundHouse. This is where they turned the locomotives. The three musketeers used to crawl under its large door and play. Today the Roundhouse is a high class restaurant in Lead.

There is a little road coming down the hill near the Schmidt's home. That's the hill that nearly killed dad when he was six. He went sledding that day with his friends. He came down the hill out of control and couldn't stop. The sled took him out into the street and right into the path of an oncoming car. He ran right into the front tire. The collision threw him off the sled, knocking him out. The sled continued under the car and was crushed by the tires. The driver thought the sound of the cracking wood was the sound of dad's bones. Chester Pascoe heard the commotion, came outside, picked dad up and laid him on the side of the hill until he came to. He waked dad home and told Grandma what had happened.
"Things were different in those days," dad said about his accident. "No fire truck or ambulance or police came to the scene. People just took care of things themselves."
Elda called the doctor on the phone. He told her to look in dad's eyes to see if one pupil was larger than the other. If not, it was mild concussion and that was the end of that.

Dad lived in the Italian part of Lead. Dad says Grandma spoke Italian during day and English at night when his dad was home. All their neighbors were Italian which makes Dad wonder why he never picked up the language.

In this picture you see dad (Charles) standing in front of a big, long common garage for the five homes owned by the Pascoe family in the area. Dad's house was one of the five. Dad is wearing a black sailor suit. Ted Pascoe was in the Seabee's, a branch of the Navy. It came from the CB's for Construction Battalion which is where dad got his nickname. Ted sent dad all kinds of memorabilia from World War 2. The CB's went in right after the Marines secured an island to begin construction of roads, buildings and air fields. Dad wore so many of the CB t-shirts that his friends in Belle Fourche started calling him SeeBee. Dad remembers that he and his friends like to play with matches in this garage

Here is a picture of Grandma and dad standing in front of the same garage.

This picture was taken on May 16, 1942. Notice the amount of snow on the ground and on the roof of their Lead home. Dad is standing in the doorway. The house is gone. A rest home sits there now. Ted Pascoe and dad's dad, Charles, built the house. Rent was $18.00 per month. Dad is standing in the doorway to the Kitchen. The other door is the door to the living room. Dad slept upstairs. His bedroom had a door leading out onto a small deck. You can see Grandpa shoveling snow away from the clothes line. There were no dryers so your wash was hung outside, even in the winter.
They had a chicken coop in the back of the house. In those days you could have animals in the town.

Dad says they didn't have a refrigerator. Grandma and Grandpa had a hole in the backyard dug out with a post hole digger. It was about five feet deep. At the bottom of the hole was a 5 gallon cream can. That is where they kept the eggs, milk, cheese etc. Whatever you needed to keep cool. They pulled the can up with a rope to access the dairy products.

This is a picture of dad standing beside the clothes line made from the tops of two old telephone pole. Grandpa ran line between these two poles. Dad is beside the old chicken coop.

That wraps up tonight's visit to Lead, South Dakota in 1942.

Simply,
Victor