Growing Up in Rome, Illinois

Pretty much the entire elementary school population of Rome in the mid 1930's with our teacher, Evelean Placher - such a great lady. I can still see and hear her standing and reading to us and crying if it were a sad story. In the picture, my sister is the first little girl in the second row that is seated. I am the second little girl in the row behind. Our little brother, Bud, was not in school yet. Again, this picture has been on my other blog but it also needs to be here with the rest of the old photos. Naturally, I have been thinking Christmas - and it dawns on me that there are absolutely no pictures at all of any of the Christmases in our childhood. In this day and age when almost everything a child does is documented by photo after photo and videos, also, there is nothing for many of us who grew up back in the old, old days. I wish I did have some to see what we wore, how things were decorated, or just what it "looked" like when we were little. You have pictures in your mind, but they are not always the true facts. I do enjoy the few pictures we do have and hope you enjoy them also.

One of the memories I have is of the school's Christmas program. I do not remember just what it was but everyone would gather in the school on an evening before Christmas. There was a stage at the back of the one room school and the school was set up in the auditorium, I guess you would call it. On that night, they made room for chairs for the audience and the program was held. My big memory was that a train came through at a certain time on the Rock Island Track that ran alongside the school and after the train had passed through, Santa miraculously came in with candy for everyone! Big deal, huh? Really, we thought it was. I never was really sure who "Santa" was! What is so nice to remember is the fact that we were happy with small things - none of the kids got very much so you were thrilled with what you did get. Everyone was in pretty much of the same boat in Rome, Illinois, so there certainly wasn't much of trying to keep up with the Jonses! A few people had more but I think that was just accepted. (Click to enlarge)

A Little Guy with a Gun

I found this photo someplace on the internet and it just made me keep looking at it - it looked so much like Bud when he was little. Uncanny! However, the military hat would have had no meaning in our family. Although we were used to guns since my dad did so much duck hunting. I have no idea what kind of a gun this is except I am quite sure it is too big to be a beebee gun. Dad had one gun which was a 410 or something like that which he let us use to shoot at cans sometimes. We knew not to mess with Dad's guns - they were just a part of our life. Anyway, I am just drawn to this picture and it certainly does look like my little brother. Not many pictures such as this taken nowadays! Kind of scarey in a way.

From the Old Catalog

The other day when I was scanning pictures from the old catalog, this picture leaped out at me. It looked so familiar - it reminded me of a picture we have of Sherry. Well, the other day when I was looking in some of the old albums, I found this one! What do you think? (Click to enlarge)

All Dressed Up

These pictures were most likely taken before we went to church and I cannot remember whether it was on Christmas Eve or on a Sunday in the Christmas season. Again, this was in 1961 in Ft. Madison, Iowa. At the time we weren't aware of the fact that our next Christmas would be spent in Topeka, Kansas, where Ray was transferred later in the year. There were two more transfers after that - to Newton, Kansas, and then to the Kansas City area. As one of the Santa Fe wives said - you finally get towels to match your new bathroom and they transfer you again! (Click to enlarge)

Another Tree in the Snow

Here is another Christmas tree outside in the snow - this time on the Pearce porch - with Aunt Leah sitting prettily beside it. This was probably in the late twenties since she is wearing a short skirt, cute shoes and bobbed hair. Actually, it was probably taken around the same time as the one of Ray who was born in 1926 so his picture was taken either in 29 or 30. Maybe that was a popular thing to do back then. Regardless, it's a cute picture of Leah, my favorite aunt. (Click to enlarge)

Little Ray at Christmas

A sweet picture of Ray when he was a little fellow pobably three or four years old. Cannot figure out why the Christmas tree is in the yard although it would certainly be an easy little tree to carry around. It almost looks like one of those old German artificial trees. What a nice wheelbarrow Santa brought for Ray. This picture was taken about 80 years ago. Old pictures are so much fun! (Click to enlarge)

Sitting on Santa's Lap

Back in 1956, my mom and I took our little kids into Peoria to Block and Kuhl's, a big department store, so they could see Santa Claus. I so love this picture of Sherry and Bill--such great little kids - and now they are great adults! This was a pretty good looking Santa, too, albeit rather young looking. I am sure the kids were well pleased with him. I posted this picture on Funoldhag last year, but I think it should be here, also, as part of Pieces of the Past. Heavens, I just happened to think this was taken 53 years ago!!! WOW! (Click to enlarge)