The woman in the hammock is my great-grandmother, Anna Sarah Townsend Claycomb (1864-1892), wife of Frank Erwin Claycomb. She is at a TB sanitarium in southern California, possibly Pasadena. The year is about 1892. I can’t prove it, but the family story is that the toddler is her youngest child, George Francis Claycomb, born 1889. George becomes the father of the ‘Idaho Claycombs.’
Her residence was in Sycamore, illinois, but she made this trip to improve her health. It wasn’t successful.
The photo is interesting because of the formal dress on people (family?) and the Asian care takers. I’m glad they are included in the photograph.
Here’s my sister’s class photo from 1945 – Mrs. Anderson’s class at Frances E. Willard School in Pasadena, California. Jeanie would have been about 6, so I’m thinking this is first grade. And Mom labeled the photo – most of the kids anyway. Apologies to those that she didn’t know. The surnames are Morris, Lambert, Curry, Alten, Osborne, Gardner, Grizzle, Hemphill, Sand, Fernandez, Russell, Shirley, Argetsinger, Rhone, Wilson, Claycomb, Hanson, Woods, and Gaston.
Relics from my kindergarten year (1950-1) at Lindo Park School, Lakeside, California. Kindergarten was a time to learn to be away from home, to get along with other people and listen to the teacher, and my favorite parts: graham crackers and milk, and naps. Seems ridiculous to have to mention but there was no homework as there is today. It was a year of fun. There were two classes – I was in Mrs. Lyon’s class and next door was Mrs. Westrick’s class. Mom took the movies and they have those qualities of movies then – no sound, too light or too dark, moving too fast, heads cut off, and yet, brings back memories of those times.
The first video shows the playground activities. I can recognize a few kids: Louise Hayward, Susan Diamond, Celeste Harrison, and maybe Esther Thomas. And Mrs. Westrick. I’m in the red overalls, and that surprises me – I would have expected to have to wear a dress. But you can see, pants are much more practical when you play on the bars!
Dorothy Lyons and kindergarten class.
Dorothy Lyons and kindergarten class.
One day Mom put one of our lambs into the family car and brought it to our kindergarten class for the kids to see. Of course at the time I didn’t appreciate the effort this must have taken.
The second video is our graduation day. I do remember making the construction paper hats. Both teachers are in this. I can also see Dennis Busgen, Susan Diamond, Erin Macgillivray, Ken Walling, Ron Carlson, Esther Thomas, and I think, Pat Fazio. I’m in the blue and white polka-dotted dress.
If you are in these videos, I’d love to hear from you. And if you recognize anyone, we could add that to the post.
I could identify a lot of different trees as a child because we had so many varieties of fruit trees. Easy to know their names. But there was one tree that bore no edible fruit – and it was still my favorite. The California Pepper Tree (Schinus molle).
We had two huge old pepper trees in the large chicken pens. Their branches hung to the ground providing a fine play area and hiding place in the shade. The big kids built tree houses in them which we younger folks eventually inherited – as soon as we could finally climb the thick branches.
We were mean to those trees – pounding nails into them to secure the boards or hang some trinket. And the tree bled – a thick, sticky white sap. The smell of the sap and the leaves today takes me back 60 years to those tree forts. Regrettably there are no photos of the structures but I can picture every detail in my mind.
Mom planted pepper trees along the driveway up to the house about 1950. They are still there.
In town, in Lindo Park there were big pepper trees in the 1950s – old then and some are still there. Many times we played in those trees while the big boys played Little League.
I had a most wonderful, unexpected encounter this last weekend. I had gone to my hometown of Lakeside, California to celebrate Edna Kouns’ 100th birthday. Hundreds of people there – lots of folks from my childhood. Great party, but the special part was seeing my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Hanson. She’s 94 now, healthy and sharp. I know a few of my high school teachers are still alive, but it never occurred to me that some of the elementary teachers could also be.
She’s the only one of my early teachers that I’ve had a chance to thank.
This is our class photo – Lindo Park School, 1954. I’ve put first names where I could, but I’m missing a few. If you are in this photo or know someone who is, please contact me.
Clifford James Duncan was my grandfather’s half brother. Some of their story is here. These photos are from 1921 when he was living in California and had a fine car. Not sure whose house this is, but I think that’s Clifford’s car. And another of Clifford (left) with the car.
The story of our commercial tomato growing has been told here. Now I’ve found some photos of the field of newly planted tomatoes – still under hot-caps. That’s Kephart’s house across Oak Drive (now Oak Creek Drive). Toyon Hill Drive now starts about where that telephone pole is just left of center. Dozens of houses there now. That’s Mrs. Brown’s house on the right – she has her laundry hung out. That tall (and dead) eucalyptus tree in front of her place fell in a storm. I can remember playing on the fallen tree – they made fine forts!
Madison Avenue School, El Cajon, California, Staff 1958. The only one I can identify is my mother, Harriet Claycomb, bottom row 4th from the right. She worked in the office.
Miss Giddings’ 1st grade class at Lindo Park School, Lakeside, California, 1951-2:
My photo was cut out some time ago. These are my classmates. I’m not giving names because most are still living. I’m in touch with several folks in this photo, and would love be in contact with all.
Miss Frances Giddings taught us to read – for that she will be high on my list of favorite teachers.
On August 26, 1918 Charles McCollum wrote to his aunts, Emma Osborne Duncan and Erista Osborne of Racine, Wisconsin. He was stationed at Camp Taylor, Kentucky. He’s in Officer Training School – before Camp Taylor, he was at Camp Lewis, Washington.
He is related to Alfred James McCollum of Salinas, California. And possibly through his mother, he is related to the Osbornes. I haven’t worked out this relationship – it much too ‘shirttail’ for me! Emma Osborne married my great grandfather’s brother. They had no descendants.
Again, I would love to find a descendant of Charles McCollum who should have these letters.
Her residence was in Sycamore, illinois, but she made this trip to improve her health. It wasn’t successful.
This I Leave 