Easter Sunday 1958?

From Pam Streeter Wadsworth:

Dave came across this photo taken outside of the 453 Northland Ct (Rockford, MI)  house when cleaning out Byrdie's apartment. I am guessing this to be Easter Sunday, 1957.

Can you name everyone?

 

 

Here is who I have identified (names at the time of picture) :

L-R back row: Pauline & Harold Streeter

L-R middle row: Pam Streeter, Violet Armstrong, Frances Pearl Atwood, Brydie Sarkees & Fred Sarkees

L-R front row:  C. Randy Streeter, Val Streeter and (I believe) Janice Emery

 

That's Grandma Vi's camper in the back (actually in the front of the lot).  Oh the memories...   :)

 

Pam

From Mark Streeter:

This is interesting. I’m not in the picture and I can’t think of a reason why—Randy looks more like three than the two, (and JUST two), he would have been on Easter, 1957. The trailer in the background was already painted, ( Grandpa John had a white trailer painted red and white to complement the red Rambler station wagon he bought for Grandma—which I think was a ’56 or ’57 model), and he painted it sometime after he bought it. I would bet on ’58 and maybe I was out of the picture due to becoming ready for or getting changed after having been baptized at the YMCA, and yeah, I’m with you on Janice Emery. I might be wrong but that’s my shot at it. Cool picture.

From Pam Streeter Wadsworth:

I remember that baptisms happened in the morning at the YMCA before Church.  I recall the white coats that Val and I had that Easter.  It was my pride & joy.  Mark, you were probably reading a book somewhere...  It could have been 1958, but certainly, no later. Looks like we are standing where the garage is currently. I had forgotten about the sidewalk in front of the house.  Don't you love Fred's hat?  And I remember that jacket of Byrdie's and thinking how rich they were...  My guess is Grandpa John was taking the picture.  Fun.

Violet Janey Atwood Williams Armstrong

Here is a favorite picture of my Grandma. She is on a scaffolding, staining the ceiling of the old Bradford Street (Grand Rapids, MI) chapel.  She is probably 25 feet up, doing a chore many of the men couldn't dare do.  She and my Mom taught me gender isn't a factor with most projects.

Pam

Conversation about Violet Atwood Armstrong

from Nikki Wadsworth Garrick I heard the story once from a ward member who knew Grandma Vi.   (Marion Ramirez)   Anyhow, she told me once that Grandma Vi had a teasing relationship with the missionaries.   I believe she said once the elders swiped a pie from her house that she'd made. When she found out they'd done it, she made them another pie- a chocolate pie... made with ExLax! from Sunny Wadsworth Tangren Oh I know I've heard alot of stories about Grandma Vi and practical jokes. I seem to remember one that had to do with a glass that had a hole in it so that it would dribble down the shirt of the one who was drinking and one about one of the missionaries dressing up in grandma's pjs and the other missionary hopping into bed and then hopping out of bed screaming and falling to his knees.   then there was one abouat a couch and electric wire woven in the fabric.   Am I mixing my stories here? from David Wadsworth The stories about the drinking glass and the wire in the couch sound exactly like the ones I've related about an elderly sister that I knew in California while on my mission. from Pam Streeter Wadsworth I think the story you heard was when Grandma was a young woman. Traveling missionaries (zone leaders) would stay with members when in their area. There was a standing invitation at my Great Grandma Pearl Atwoods home, so when these Elders came in late one night, they just went to the bedroom where they always slept -this happened to be Byrdie's bedroom. One of the Elders was a clown and loved to give his companion, a "straight arrow", a hard time. The "clown" got to the bedroom 1st & found a nightgown of Byrdie's & put it on & climbed into bed with the lights out. The "straight arrow" came into the room, left the lights out, got undressed & climbed into bed. The moment he felt the satin nightgown, he was sure it was Byrdie & jumped out of bed, hitting the floor on his knees, praying for forgiveness. I don't remember the story about the ExLax, but it sounds like something she would do.   She told me when she was working in a factory as a young woman, she had some tedious job of stacking a washer, bolt & nut together & placing them in rows on a tray. To keep from going crazy, she would make a game of seeing how fast she could fill the tray. She would just begin the last row when some guy would come up, take her tray & put an empty one down to start all over. She said he did that to her about 3 times when she had had enough. She threatened him if he touched her tray one more time before it was full, he would have a "bloody stub instead of a hand". He didn't do that again. She was a tough lady.   When Mark & I went to the hospital to have our tonsils removed, you had to stay 3 days. Grandma stayed with us the entire time, sleeping on a chair between us. The nurses argued because you were not allowed to stay nights with kids, but she prevailed. I was 7 & it embarrassed me, but I was sure glad she stayed with us in that scarey place. She would do anything for her family. from Gillian Streeter Dad told about having his tonsils out. We feel we have a connection because he bit the doctor's fingers and I bit my dentist's fingers as a child (and I still think he mostly had it coming). Ah, memories...

Grandma Vi's Potatoes

Submitted by Hillary Mack Stirling


Title: Grandma Vi's Potatoes
Description:This mashed-potato casserole is named in honor of Violet Janie Atwood, the inventor of the recipe.   It was also known in our house as "Depression Potatoes" since the recipe came out of the Great Depression.   But don't let that name fool you, this dish is a family favorite!
Ingredients:6-8 medium potatoes (or box equivelant) mashed
2 slices white bread
1/2 cup milk
1 medium onion, diced
4 links breakfast sausage (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:If using sausage, saute onions and sausage together until sausage is cooked and onions are tender.   If not using sausage, saute onions in 1 Tbs butter or margerine.

Tear up the slices of bread into bite-sized chunks.   Add the bread, milk, sausage, and onions to the mashed potatoes and stir together.   Season to taste.

If using sausage, serve as a main dish with a salad and/or vegetables.   If not using sausage, serve as a side dish.

Number Of Servings:Makes 6 3/4 cup servings.

Preparation Time:If using box or leftover potatoes, 15 minutes.   Otherwise, 30 minutes.

Baptism Certificate Violet J Atwood Armstrong

Violet Janey Atwood Williams Armstrong

I found some interesting pictures of Grandma Vi  (b 11 Aug 1908, d 14 Jun 1976) .  This "picture" is a copy of a picture taken of her around 1924-1925. The picture of her with the baby (Pauline) was taken May 1926, Violet was 17. On the back of this picture, Mom (Pauline) writes "Taken the day she met Mary Lou Jontz" (the daughter she had to give up at birth).

The last picture is of Violet and her 2nd husband, John Daniel Armstrong (b 12 Sep 1911, d 5 Apr 1974)  They were married 29 May 1942 in Toledo, Lucas, Ohio.  They did not have any children.  John was not married previously. There is no date on the picture.

~Pam

Frances Pearl Perry Atwood and her children

This picture was take a short while before Pearl died (b 4 Mar 1890, d 5 Nov 1961).  Seated with her are her 5 surviving children :

L to R:

Violet J Atwood Williams Armstrong, Glenn Atwood, Byrdie Atwood Sarkees, Gladys Atwood Armstrong and Clifford Armstrong.

 

Children who died earlier:

Goldie May Atwood (b 6 Oct 1906, d 6 Oct 1906)

Frances Richard Berkley Atwood (6 Mar 1911, d 12 Jul 1911)

Roy Jay Atwood (b 30 Nov 1920, d 25 Jan 1945)  never married

Arver Family

Here is a change of pace.  This is from the other side of the family. As best as I can figure this out, it appears to the the picture of some of Richard (Dick) S Arver and Olive Jane Sitzer children or in law children and grandchild & wife. Here is what is written on the back of the picture: Seated, left to right:    Margaret Catherine Close Arver, Mary Jane Arver (unmarried) Standing, left to right:    Bessie Mona Clark Arver, James Edward Arver, Richard El-Nathan Arver   Bessie and Richard are married Margaret and James are married Mary Jane is the sister of James & is unmarried.   Time for you to do some research.  I know that James and Mary Jane are 2 of the children of Richard (Dick) Arver and Olive Jane Sitzer.  What I believe is Richard El-Nathan Aver is the son of Margaret Close (her father's name is El-Nathan Close) and James Arver. I have no information about Bessie Mona Clark & Richard El-Nathan except he was born 20 Jun 1881 in Rockford, MI and died 1 Jan 1963(which I found on new.familysearch.com).  Who can fill in the blanks?   Perhaps I should also tell you about the link to these people for us.  George Richard Atwood's parents were George Washington Atwood and Frances Adele Arver, sister of James and Mary Jane in this picture.  Good luck! Pam.

Arizona Atwoods

Note from Pam Wadsworth: I feel a family history would not be complete without a picture of the man who did much to keep this family active. Mom (Pauline Violet Williams Streeter) often talked about his dedication to the gospel and to being active. She said he was the one who would invite everyone to ride with him to church when she was a teenager.  Roy had a weak heart and died unexpectantly at the age of 25 while having a dental procedure (family tradition is we never buy or used flat toothpicks because of this - long story for another time).   Roy Atwood, b 30 Nov 1920 d 25 Jan 1945,was a young brother to Violet Janey Atwood Williams Armstrong. On the back of the family picture: L to R in back:   Frances Pearl Arver Atwood, Pam Streeter Wadsworth (topless), Dale Armstrong holding me, Bill Gable behind Audrey Armstrong Gable holding son Brian, and Ronnie Armstrong L to R seated:    Frank Armstrong, Crystal Armstrong Franklin, Barbara Armstrong(wife of Dale), Gladys Atwood Armstrong, Violet Atwood Williams Armstrong, and in the very front, Pauline Williams Streeter.  Date is around 1948-1949. In case you didn't know, brothers (John and Frank Armstrong) married sisters (Gladys and Violet).  Grandma (Violet) used to say that when she and Gladys would argue, they were in laws and when they got along, they were sisters.

George Richard Atwood

Note from Pam Wadsworth:

Some pictures of Great Grandpa George Richard Atwood.  Millie is his 2nd wife that he married 8 Aug 1959.  You can see where some in the family got those long legs.