Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Who’s Pa?

Pa’s mother and father

On the back of this photograph was written Pa’s mother and father. They could be anyone. They were found in a book of photographs of unknown members of our family. Who could the people in this photograph be?

Lets start with Pa’s mother since she’s standing. The style of her hair and dress lead me to believe that this photo was taken in the late 1860’s. Dress styles were not as big then as they were during the Civil War time. During the early 1860’s shoulder seams were offset and while this had the appearance of doing so it is actually set straight out of her armpit. Her dress in it’s simplicity is quite beautiful. The only adornment are the contrasting bind of her sleeves and the faux cap of the sleeve. She has earrings and a neck pin which you don’t see much in this time period. You can see that she is tightly corseted. While you think it might be uncomfortable it actually helps her handle the weight of the dress. The yardage that was required for even such a simple dress was great and I love that she casually holds a fold of it in her hand. I just know she would have had a hat and wish I could see her in it.

The first thing I notice about Pa’s father are his stunning and one can only assume blue eyes. And his beard is also reminiscent of the late 1860s early 1870s. His coat has a velvet collar which I think may match his beautiful waistcoat. The simpleness of his pants and boots contrast the elegance of his coat and waistcoat but it all works. And the chair he is seated upon with the tassels just makes the whole photo correct in some way.

I am saddened to not know their names, but until the days comes when we may know who they are, I will gladly remain the keeper of this time in their lives.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Traveling Cousins

Diane Delahunty, Kathie Delahunty (Young), Lois Jorden, Rita Jorden (Smith) in front in side yard of Jorden home on Laura Street, Peoria, Illinois 1952

Summer is the best time to travel when you’re a kid. You’re free from school and it’s fun to travel even to places that are familiar. Here we have Jean’s cousins Diane and Kathie Delahunty. Their parents are Gilbert Thomas Delahunty and Clara Elizabeth Bourscheidt. Clara and our Pop (Frank Burd) were siblings. So they are cousins to our Jean. Both Diane and Kathie were born in Evanston where their father worked for the Republic National Life Insurance Company. They have an older brother not pictured here named Thomas. He is10 years senior to Kathie, having been born in 1931.

I know the time I have spent with my cousins was precious time. You don’t realize it at the time, but it can be some of the best memories of your life; this gathering of family. Our cousins are often the first friends we have as children. Cousins are the best of both worlds, family and friend all at the same time. Cousins are friends that will love you forever. Distance and time can not break the bond you have with them. No matter how long a time between visits a cousin will pick up right where you left off from your last visit.

May my cousins know how appreciated and loved they are.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Workin On The RailRoad

Cleveland Holtman and Bill Jorden Sr and crew working for the CBQ Railroad in 1900

The railroad brought so much to communities. Places that were stagnant or hard to reach, once the railroad arrived it opened up so many opportunities. It was that way in the tiny burg of Beardstown, Illinois.

In the 1870’s the St.Louis, Rock Island and Chicago railroads arrived in Beardstown. They linked The Illinois River towns to the main railroad lines. Now passengers and agricultural and river products could be easily transported along the river. For over 50 years, through the 1920’s trains were the main land transportation along the Illinois River. Bill and Cleveland worked on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad.

Beardstown was a changing point for crew and passengers alike. This also meant that the railroad was the main industry for the community. I wonder how long our Bill Jorden, Sr. was a railroad man. He worked on the tracks during the good years of the railroad being in Beardstown and I’m sure it was a good job to provide for ones family, but a hard job too. Maybe he got the itch to get on that railroad and see more than Beardstown by working and dreaming on the railroad. What a beautiful photograph and a wonderful piece to the puzzle of who those who came before us were.

Photo courtesy of Wilma Holtman Ogden – Thank you Wilma 🙂

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

The Rain Came

Lately it’s been raining a lot here. Every day we have some form of rain. In some parts of the country that’s normal. But here in Kansas, that’s not normal. Usually we have temps approaching the 90’s in May, but this year, it hasn’t reached the mid-80’s yet. Like the photos I have for you today, it’s been gray. For those days when we have some sun, you run outside and soak up every spare sun-ray you can, because you know the rain’s a comin.

Floodwaters on Illinois River, Beardstown, IL – Photo courtesy of Wilma Holtman Ogden

Normal water depth of The Illinois River in Beardstown, Illinois is 9.2 feet. Now that doesn’t seem like much, but it’s enough to get barges up and down the river. The Illinois River has seasons just like many things in life. It has flood seasons and low water seasons. Both of these can have an adverse effect on the town.

They started keeping track of the river levels in Beardstown during floods in 1844. When I found that I wanted to see when it flooded the year that Bill Sr. and Regina divorced. Their divorce was final by 1923. In April of 1922 there was a flood in which the river depth got to 25.10 feet! That’s quite a difference from the normal depth of 9.2 feet. I’m sure the residents of Beardstown felt a bit like I do when the rain kept coming.

The devastation that can come with any act of nature can seem senseless. Things that should have lasted years can be smashed at nature’s whimsy. Today, there’s a big flood gate that greets you when you arrive in Beardstown. Designed to hold out flood waters and keep residences and businesses near the river safe. Hopefully never again to have the devastation that occurred every year during those flood seasons on the river.

On Illinois River at Beardstown, IL – Photo courtesy of Wilma Holtman Ogden
Posted on by Michelle Anderson

2020 A Look Back

Wow I can’t believe that May of 2021 is almost over. Last year at this time we were thinking that it wouldn’t be long before the pandemic was over. Never in my wildest imaginings would I have thought how much could change within a year. Work was stressful. Suddenly child care workers were considered essential, so that frontline workers had a place to take their children. We in the industry have always known we are essential, but getting others to realize that is a bit of a struggle. Many times, I’d start out the days I designate as blog days with the best intention of writing them, only to put them off for something else. So I did not have as many posts as normal, but I still wanted to wrap up the year to be ready to move into this year. 

I’ve been working on developing this new website and I’m hoping that it will work out. I guess if it doesn’t I can always go back to the old sites. Which are still available if you ever want to look back on them, they can be accessed through the Facebook page or the website address. 

With that said, here’s a look back at last year. Hope you enjoy.Â