This week I watched The Dwelling Place 1994 Catherine Cookson▪Full HD. Cissie takes care of her brothers and sisters in a cave. Isabelle is evil. It's a long movie but good to watch this Lenten season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bgwdudxoTk&index=6&list=WL
I fixed cabbage and gnocchi
onions, garlic, oil vinegar. It's great.
Monday I checked out the price of padded cycle shorts at Dick's. They were $30 and passed. Wednesday I found a pair at the Salvation Army. We started a senior cycle class with less volume and the bells n whistles of lights used in the other classes. I also find noise a problem with hearing aids.I like the way it makes me cut a sweat but hate the seat on those sit bones.
Thursday morning I helped with tours at the Lincoln Tomb. There was a staff meeting so I filled in. It was chilly and I think I was thinly dressed but it was nice the day before. Not a big crowd but before I was relieved, I had a nice group of students from Mississippi who also felt under-dressed.
Friday I went back to the Lincoln Tomb from 10:30- 2:30. Lefty was there when I arrived. He volunteered at opening but there was no staff member to open the door and visitors were waiting so finally a maintenance man came to open. That's how short staffed they are. And now the governor wants to open the newly remodeled governors mansion for tours 7 days a week instead of the former twice a week prior to the renovation.
After my tour duty, I stopped by Fr George's visitation at church. The family remembered me from my therapy dog visits to their grandfather a few years back in St John's hospice. After that I helped out with the American Legion Fish Fry. I usually help with the square for credit card reads.
My task list now involves an exterminator after killing this big guy. I also need an electrician for the light in back room.
SETTING: Wimmer Cemetery and Fern is paying respect to her sister, known only as Sissy, that died 1908 buried at Wimmer. Fern has a still born daughter that died in 1933 just like her mother and has been recalled to remember her lost sister.
Outline: Intro 1. Sissy 2. Parents 3. Fern's Family 4. The Great Depression Closure
Intro Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Fern Hay. Let me tell you a story about a piece of my heart is here in Auburn.
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1. Sissy
My mother had a premature baby girl (June 16) 1908. Now it is 1933 and I've been compelled to revisit the grave of my lost baby sister because I too have recently experienced a lost baby girl.
Since I was only four years old when she was born, I don't remember much
about her. Sissy, as I came to call her, was a blue eyed, blond girl and
from what I can remember, extremely small. In this day and age we
would have called her a premature baby. Back in those days, all
that could be done was to wait and see if the baby survived.
Unfortunately, Sissy did not make it.
You are
probably wondering why she was buried here with no family in this
cemetery. Perhaps some background on my family might help explain why
Sissy is buried in Wimmer.
When
Sissy died, mother and father could barely afford the doctor bill, let
alone the burial expenses.
My mother
and father became good friends with the Rucker's and Harris's and
Wimmer's and thus found out about Wimmer Cemetery through these
families. Fortunately for them and other kind souls a plot was purchased so they could bury
Sissy.
Grandpa
and grandma Alspaugh came to Auburn using the Pawnee Railroad and our
Standiford relatives used the INTERURBAN to come from south to attend the
funeral at the house and burial in Wimmer Cemetery. They kept me busy
by having relatives play with me so I did not look in the casket and get
upset. I was way too young to understand. Now that I have lost my own daughter, I can imagine how mother must have felt. The thought of carrying a child and adding to the family only to have the future ripped away is deeply saddening.
Sissy's birth record
Death Certificate of Sissy Alspaugh
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2. Parents My father was
Solomon "Logan" Alspaugh (son of Walter Alspaugh and Emma) and my mother's name was Mary Adeline Standiford Alspagugh. (Or Stanfield). They were married in (25 Oct)1903. I
was born in Indiana on (July 14,)1904 as Stella "Fern" Alspaugh [almost
9 months after my parents married ].
My father was born in Orange County, Indiana in (Oct 25) 1863, in the mid years of the Civil War. He had the typical childhood one would expect with 4 brothers and 2 sisters. He climbed trees, helped on the farm and got into mischief like any boy.
He was living as a boarder in Bono, Indiana with the Standifords. He became well acquainted with Mary Standiford who was born in Orange County, Indiana in (on July 16) 1878. He moved with her family to Bono by 1880. Father grew up with the young Mary and fell in love as time went on. On father's birthday in (Oct 24) 1903, they married in Orange County, Indiana. (see record below). He was 40 and she was 25.
2 years later, father decided ( 1905 ) to moved to Auburn, IL. There were job opportunities in the mines. The South Mine was located on the Patterson farm, about a mile south of Auburn. Robert Solomon and Sons managed the coal mine. The Solomon family promised that Auburn's population would increase from 1,500 to 1,800 along with the volume of mining in the area.
Every house in the region either used wood or coal to heat their homes and thus Auburn was digging the mineral like crazy. Labor was in heavy demand for all sectors of business in the area.
My father had worked on farms all his life and was recruited by a farmer in Auburn to help him on those days when the coal mine was shut down, usually in the summer.
Houses were at a premium by 1905 and few to be found. Anyone who knew how to build them was in high demand. Father and mother rented a room from other families.
Life was good in Auburn, but in 1916 father had heard of a new job so we moved to Iowa. We stayed there one year and then moved to Crocker, Missouri.
By 1919, father's family had settled in Pawnee and that is where we moved for the last time.
Mother died in (February 1) 1920 in Pawnee. (Death Certificate of Mary Alspaugh)
Father then married Mary Emily "Emma" Chisham (findagrave) a year later (Mar 12, 1921). She also was from Orleans, Orange County, Indiana and father met her when helping his parents move from Indiana to Pawnee. They were married for less than 4 years when he suddenly died (on Nov 7, 1925). Emma lived in the area for a short time but decided to move back to Orleans and live with her family until her death (on Oct 4) 1930.
(Death Certificate of Solomon Alspaugh)
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3 Fern's family
I married Frank Hay (b 01 Sep 1901). We had three children: Harold was born in 1929. Harold was conceived in wealth, but born in poverty.
(quoted from Harold via his son, John Hay). Anita was born in 1932 (daughter Connie Reiman Wilkerson?) and a baby
girl that was still born a year later (September 17, 1933). We lived in Divernon
through the the mid 1960s.
Did you know that the village of Divernon took its name after Di Vernon, a character in the novel Rob Roy? Interesting!
Our son, Harold, graduated from Divernon
High School in 1947. He attended Western Illinois University, but in
1949 transferred to
Arizona State College (now University), graduating in 1951. He then
joined the Army, and was discharged about the time the Korean War ended.
I retired from the Illinois Teachers
System. We moved to Pinal, AZ. I also taught in Casa Grande for a few more years to qualify
for a pension from the Arizona system. Frank and I were able to see our
two children grow to be fine adults, marry and have children of their
own.
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4. The Great Depression
We lived through trying times. Many farms were lost during the Great Depression. The stock market crash was a major problem and people were desperate. In addition to banking failures, incentives to expand agricultural in order to feed war-torn Europe after World War I (1914–1918), the federal government's reconstruction policies pushed agriculture over the limit and erosion destroyed farming.
American farmers over-plowed, over-planted, and over-spent. The results
were land erosion, plummeting prices for agricultural products, and high
debts incurred by farmers. Now plunged into the decade of the Great
Depression, farmers had no money to repay their loans, and a record
200,000 farms were foreclosed in the U.S. The depression left as much as 30% unemployment. Many of them farmers and coal miners.
There were riots in Springfield. Protesters stormed the government offices destroying property and those arrested were labeled "communists". It wasn’t until 1937 that the legislature created an unemployment
compensation system. Illinois was the last state in the nation to do so.
In 1932 my husband and his brother
Ralph started the "Hay Brothers Garage" in Divernon. As society's transportation changed from horse drawn carriage to automobiles, the garage helped travelers moving along. This was a convenient location on Route 66 and much in demand with the traffic in the 1950s and 60s as traffic from Chicago headed to St Louis and beyond. The garage was like a welcome oasis to weary drivers in distress when they had car problems. The garage also helped the local business needs. Hay Brothers Garage was later inducted into the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame Members.
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Closure
I was pleased to see flowers at Sissy's grave site. I know that Roberta Meidel (pronounced My-dal) and all the volunteers who have tended her burial site here have done this out of the kindness of their hearts. On behalf of my family, we applaud the efforts of the Wimmer Cemetery Association.
Thank you for listening to this grieving sister tell her family history as I move to a new chapter in my life in Arizona. I never returned to my roots here. I died in January 1983 and Frank died in February 1983, both of us in Casa Grande, Arizona. I've many memories here.
The End
Timeline and Citations
Fern was born July 14, 1904 Indiana and died Phoenix Jan 3, 1983 Buried at mausoleum at Valley of the Sun 1910-1958 years of the Interban https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Terminal_Railroad April 30 to December 1, 1904 "Louisiana Purchase Exposition" . Fern would have been 5 mo old) June 16, 1908, Sissy born and died 1916: Alspaugh moved to IA 1917: Alspaugh moved to Crocker, MO 1920: Mother Mary dies 2/1/1920 1920: Fern married Frank Hay in 1920s March 12, 1921: Father remarried Mary Emily Chisham 1925: Her father, Solomon "Logan" Alspaugh died Fern and Frank's children Harold b. 1929 and Anita b. 1932 (where this story begins) Fern and Frank left Divernon 1968 Frank and Fern both die in 1983 1940 census shows Fern Hay at 35 years old husband, 2 children and brother-in-law, Everette Hay
Marriage Record for Solomon and Mary Oct 24, 1903
Death Certificate of Albert Alsbaugh
Death certificate of Samuel Alspaugh
Obituary Mary Alspaugh
Obit Solomon Logan Alspaugh
Card of thanks from Mrs Logan Alspaugh and Miss Fern Alspaughn on the death of Solomon Alspaugh.
******cut from the original script - losing the farm ********
cut
from script [Father who had been saving up for a hous
e since he was a
bachelor was able to purchase a small house in the new coal miner's
"patch" which was located in the old Armstrong property in the south
part of town. It consisted of two bedrooms, a small kitchen and two seat
out house. Boy I sure remember going out to that out house in the
winter. It was freezing cold and you do your business as soon as
possible. Burrrrr! Mother immediately set up a garden in the back yard
and had father build a chicken coop so that we would at least have eggs
and chickens to eat. These expenditures ate through Father's savings
quite quickly and by the end of the year, he was nearly broke, living
from pay check to pay check.] he rented according to the 1910 census.
******cut from the original script the interurban **************
You remember the interurban
now don't you? No, well it was an electric rail system that started up
in the Peoria area and traveled through Auburn on its way to St Louis.
The trips wee mad to St Louis were so incredible. We would leave the
Auburn Station by six in the morning and be bobbing and weaving our way
along the electric line by seven. We usually went to some fancy shops
using the trolleys in St Louis and had lunch a the Hill section near the
river.
The Rucker's often reminded me about the trip they took to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
(April 30 to December 1, 1904) in St Louis after I was born. They
used the interban as the main mode of transportation by waving it down
as it neared us on the side of the tracks. The first sight they saw was
the Pike. There were 6,000 performers who represented 26 countries.
Sights like a representation of a volcano from Hawaii, a Chinese
village, artisans weaving glass and a submarine diving in the East
Lagoon amazed every visitor. This was no ordinary fair, there were
inventions like the wireless telephone and an early fax machine. One of
the most popular was the x-ray machine which was one of the favorite
exhibits of the attendees. The airplane was another bit hit it flew the
length of the grounds scaring all the the newcomers. Crowds would
gather around the machine when it landed to see how something could fly
in the air.
New
foods were also introduced at this event. Foods that most people in
Auburn and the surrounding area had never experienced in their lives.
The idea of the new puffed wheat cereal that was introduced at the fair
was loved so much that is was in demand laterat the Faust Market.
I've updated my Christmas display to Lent display. My
Lent display. In order of the story: Palm Sunday, Last Supper, Picture
of Scourged Savior from Wieskirche, Pieta, a cross necklace hangs on the wall that has relics of the road from Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem and Resurrection statue (same
statue over our alter at St. Joseph the Worker, Chatham, Illinois.) http://wieskirche.de/pilgrimage.en.html
Monday I wanted a quick snack before taking Sophie to Regency Care. Well that turned out to be a disaster. I burned my lunch. Got the whole house fan running, changed the filter,
rolled up throw rugs, mopped everywhere with Pine cleaner, washing all
linens, and now off to get a filter for the stove hood fan. I used my Orek air purifier on full power. I used Febrez air freshener, burned candles, and made a fresh pot of coffee to cover it up.
Thursday I went to a training session for tours at the upcoming newly remodeled executive mansion. It was dull and covered stuff I already knew like Maslow's Hierarchy of needs and how to greet people. I stopped by Aldi because I wanted to try the chicken stuffed with asparagus that I saw in the ad. I also got some beer batter frozen jalapenos. HOT! I kept eating one to cool off the last one.
Saturday I went to a reenactor yard sale at the Illinois History Museum.
I've always had trouble threading a needle. Even these little wire threaders break on me. Finally something new, the hummingbird threader.
Friday I had an appointment with my Widex hearing aids and then on the way back I had my tires rotated.
Saturday morning I loaded up my car with reenactment costumes that I wanted to get rid of at the reenactor swap meet at the Illinois Military Museum.
As you can see, it's mostly WW2 reenactors and male items. The guy with the colonial shoes wouldn't budge on the price.
I did lighten my load of some size 8 women's boots, hoop and bonnets. I came home and won an eBay auction for a bonnet that will go well with the dress that's in the works.
Sunday I was saddened to learn that Fr George, a retired priest who was a member of our parish and silver sneakers group and passed away in hospice. He left our exercise group a year ago because of his condition.
I did some more work on my up coming presentations on "Victorian Mourning" and "Widows and Orphans" for May 26. I watched the season finale of Victoria. I liked the way it ended with a happy Christmas rather than her mourning the loss of Albert. Besides, that would make for a boring story about a queen in seclusion.
The weather should be nice this week. I suspect I'll have one more opportunity to light my fireplace this year and then I'll find a chimney sweep. I've never had it cleaned except with those creosote logs.
Monday was busy. I did go exercise but then I went to the Lincoln Tomb for the American Legion Pilgrimage on Lincoln's Birthday. Cold day and a bit icy but I saw deer prints in the ice on the sidewalk at the Lincoln Tomb.
Afterward I went to the Old State Capitol for the Lincoln Birthday Ball. Here I am in my ball gown dress.
Here you can see me dancing a 12 Square Reel. This is good when there's more women then men. It's pretty easy to learn. The hardest part is "hey" mash around like a figure 8.
Tuesday we had a double class at Powerworks: core and cycling. The cycling is new and it really works up a sweat like the zumba. I just found that the seat rubs my groin bones.
Lunch was with our Womens Overseas Service League. Our president accepted a check from the Springfield Jaycees from money they raised from their beerfest on veterans day.
In the evening I went to the Dank club's Fasching party. I won best original costume. I won a bottle of wine. Here's the King and Queen with their decorative plunger.
I haven't found the winning photo they took. Then we played a game where us English only had to pronounce some German words off a card. I had milk, exit and screwdriver. That screwdriver work was longer than some of our sentences. Needless to say, I lost that game.
Wednesday I had our senior strength followed by zumba. Powerworks is getting too loud for me even if I take my hearing aids out. I tried our new cycle class and the music was loud. Even our senior zumba seems louder than before. I take my aids out and it's loud. Carol lost one of her aids because she took hers out and never found one of them. I've been taking mine out and have to put them on the floor by the wall. When nobody is looking, I turn the master volume down. I think I'll just do yoga. In the evening I went to our AMVETS meeting. Small meeting at that.
Thursday morning I had an appointment with a different hearing aid company ~Widex. I walked out with a new pair of hearing aids. These aids can be adjusted from my iPhone App. He called me and I didn't need speaker phone. I talk at my phone but receive direct to aids so let's say I'm in a public place, others can't hear the conversation like before. They even have a locator like a gps if I misplace them. In the evening I went to our Civil War Roundtable. We had a moment of silence for the school massacre in Florida. The presentation was about the trip to Tupolo MS last year that I missed due to Spondy.
Friday started off on a wrong note. I couldn't really get into the exercise class. I felt in a bubble because the new hearing aid on the left side would not blue tooth. Afterward I went to the funeral of our past VFW Commander, Don Taylor, who suffered from brain tumors. Then I got the hearing aid problem fixed. In the evening I helped with our American Legion Fish Fry for lent. When the line got busy, I grabbed some tickets and took orders while people were waiting in line so that all they had to do was pay with ticket in hand. The kitchen staff hated it because the number on were out of sequence and they wanted to prioritize on that number. Well it was better customer service and working at the cashier end but not for the servers so I was told to stop.
I found my photo on a tourism promotion for Hilton site.
I fell in love with an original dress so I found a seamstress who can make it happen.
It's to be made in blue silk with black dots to my size.
Saturday I went our Soldiers Aid Society meeting. We continued our ribbon workshop and had lunch at Cafe Moxo.
At 1PM we had our meeting. Looks like an interesting event coming to us the beginning of August with the 4H group. We'll be creating outfits and have a rally recreation of the "Wide Awakes".
In the evening I went to the AMVETS SEC banquet at the Crown Plaza with my son. He was reluctant to go but I paid $70 for both meals. He canceled his guitar practice. Then, yes there's more, I went to the VFW post for the "Cabin Fever" dance supporting "buddy poppy". I only stayed an hour but I was impressed with the crowd.
Well we are looking forward to a rainy week. It's much needed since Lake Springfield is really low. Lake Springfield is about 4 1/2 feet below its full-pool level
What do dog breeders think when they raise pit bull puppies? That there's a demand for pit bull puppies? Take a look at the so called kill shelters. There's no demand for these dogs. Now I'm not saying they're all bad but just that there's no demand for the breed and they still breed them like rabbits. Cute when they're little but they are destined to a bleak future.
Four therapy dog visits this week with winter static shock. I make small talk with the residents and cant help but share Sophie's latest nick name that Sean gave her because she insists that I take her for a walk in the cold: Little Miss Fluffy Butt. Now some seniors call her Fluffy Butt. Thursday morning I wanted to further my horizons by observing the therapy horses from Heartland Mini Hoofs at St John's Hospital. Oh, I was deeply moved from the trailer to the ward.
Everyone had smiles to see the Winnie, Jasper and Bailey. Here I am with the horses as they entered but sad that this picture is a little dark.
This is the vest worn by Bailey, a pinto.
Of the three miniature horses, "Whinny the Minnie" was not shaved of her winter coat.
So many delays in the lobby before getting to the 10th floor. I understand Jasper (on the left) is a favorite of the owner. She's a buckskin miniature. They live to about 40 years old so she has willed them to her daughter who got her started in the business.
All of the resident doctors were smiling and that impressed me.
I told the owner my interest as therapy dog handler and wanted to know about their exam. There are only 4 examiners nationwide for this program and she is one of them. Unlike Sophie's exam, the exam seems to have less on the checklist but those items can be evaluated via video too because of the distance. Here's a link to their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandMiniHoofs
Thursday was a busy day afterward too. I had another TDI visit in the afternoon, a 5PM meeting of the Lincoln Monument Association and a 7PM meeting of the Catholic War Veterans. When I got home, my garage door wouldn't open. Earlier the light on the garage door opener went out so I think that popped a circuit breaker. Later I got the ladder out for and fixed the bulbs. I had some interesting bugs in the cover: a dead dragon fly and some other biggie.
The local scarecrow was updated for Valentines Day.
I think I'm the only one focusing on Mardi Gras.
I cleaned the bottom of my refrigerator. I'm too ashamed to take a "before photo". I guess I avoided cleaning this because I feared breaking the glass. It still had shipping tape on the drawer lid. Getting it back together was difficult.
Saturday I went to the Old State Capitol New dress debut for Civil War Saturday
The candidates for the VFW Voice of Democracy were touring the Old State Capitol after visiting the Lincoln Presidential Museum.
The students made some valentines.
Clipped a few of the photos that Peggy had taken and then I got a good shot of her with all that beautiful red.
Stephanie looked great with her red sontag.
Few shots trying to rid the glare and get the smile just right.
Sunday morning I went to Mass and didn't leave any track in the snow in my driveway because it was ice.
