Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Anderson’s 1970s Style

Outdoor photos are some of my favorites. You don’t have to try to arrange a big group in a small space, and nature is always a good backdrop. Here we have the Anderson family commemorating what appears to be a casual summer get-together.

The first person I notice is Howard. His shirt makes him the focal point of the photo for me, perhaps because of the print. With his mother-in-law, Hazel Katz, standing next to him, also in a printed shirt. Everyone else is in solid colored clothing, so now I’m going back and forth from right to left. First to Sherigay and Dick Anderson, to Nancy and her husband, Gary Conover. I love how Sherigay is looking at Dick. You can see the love she has for him captured in her expression. I love how Nancy is holding a dog, making sure it’s included in this photo.

Then I look at the children with the oldest flanking the youngest. From left to right we have Kirk Anderson (holding a dog) Cary Conover, Chad Conover, Cris Anderson and Todd Anderson. And I know instantly that this photo is from the 1970’s.

Summertime in the 1970s was different for me than any other time. Long days that seemed to stretch forever and lasted until we would collapse once the sun went down, falling to sleep almost before our heads hit the pillow. Summer time meant being outside, either cooking meals because we didn’t want to heat up our houses or doing chores, and eating popsicles that seemed to melt faster than we could eat them. Life seemed to happen slower in the summer, the laughter was louder, and we wanted to capture and savor every moment. It’s proof that the best memories are never staged, just lived out.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Dick & Nancy

Sometimes, when we get a new sibling, it’s like your birthday and Christmas all rolled into one. I bet that’s what Dick thought when Nancy was born. Suddenly, he had a new best friend, and what friends they were. Dick looks to have his hands full, trying to ensure Nancy’s safety where they were seated for this photograph. I’m unsure if the family still lived in Climax at this time or they had moved.

But aren’t they cute. All Dressed up for a brisk winter day. Nancy looks to be about 6 months old. With tights and a warm outfit and cap, Nancy looks to be ready to spend time outside. Dick in his warm gear and rolled up pants, looks like he’s already been playing outside for awhile, just waiting for Nancy to get out there.

I’ve often wondered why so many of our family photos of this time or earlier are taken outside. Perhaps it has to do with lighting. So I did a little investigating. Flash bulbs for cameras were not Invented until the 1930s. Flash bulbs were only usable once and cost about 10 cents per bulb. However, when purchased in a pack could be pricy. And there was no guarantee that even with a bulb, your photo would develop well. So ones best bet was to go outside to have your photo taken.

Brother and Sister, together as friends, ready to face whatever life sends. Joy and laughter or tears and strife, holding hands tightly as we dance through life. Suzie Huitt

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Christmas 1971

Christmas can be the absolute best time or the most stressful. Before I had children, I did not appreciate how carefree my Christmases were. And then, after the children came, the time to get presents bought and wrapped seemed to compete with just our everyday schedules. Time was a commodity that some days was scarce. Now, with a house free of children, we are back to a more carefree Christmas attitude. We can place ornaments on the tree wherever we want. If we don’t want the Holiday music on, we don’t play it, and if I want to watch every version of A Christmas Carol, I do! Here we have the Anderson – Conover – Katz family, who are experiencing each of these Christmas feelings.

Lets start with Hazel. She sits by the tree and holds Yo Yo June’s toy poodle. According to Cris Yoyo was Hazel’s favorite. Sitting in front of Hazel is Todd, patiently waiting to open presents. Aunt Nancy Conover and oldest son Chad are behind Todd. Chad looks to be as much of a handful as the dogs. Gary is standing behind Nancy, but none of the Anderson boys can remember the name of the dog that Gary is holding. So if someone knows it, I’d be happy to include them.

Next to Nancy and Gary is Howard and June. June is holding Jigger, their other dog. Howard told Cris that he was named after the small device you could use to hold the gas pump lever down to keep gas flowing into the gas tank. This was called a jigger, and Jigger the puppy could fit in his pocket just like the gas device. Sitting next to June is Kirk, who looks ready to open presents, although maybe not as patiently as Todd. Sitting on his mom’s lap is Cris – I figure he’s about two and a half in this photo. And Sherigay looks like she’s ready for Christmas to begin. King the German Shepard is sitting next to Dick. All the dogs look ready to get out of the way of the opening of presents.

As I went through this photo and looked at each face, I thought about all the good times at June and Howards house on Christmas Eve. I’ve heard it said if I knew that this would be the last time we’d be together, I’d have stayed longer and appreciated it more. May those who are no longer with us have a Heavenly Merry Christmas, and may we have a holiday season filled with cherished old memories and wonderful new ones.

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Duck, Dick and Nancy

Thanksgiving is a time most of us have turkey, but here we have Dick with a duck. It just makes me smile to see. Dick is sitting so nicely. I imagine he was trying to get the duck to allow him to pet it. And Nancy, like a good little sister, is right there with him. I love how you can see Audie’s face in his shadow on the building. At first, I overlooked it, but it’s turned into my favorite part about this photo.

There’s no date or writing to accompany this photo. I imagine it was taken at Audie and Hazel’s -piece romper coat with a lodge in Manhattan, Kansas. And from the looks of Nancy and Dick, I imagine that it was taken around 1946 or 1947. Dick is all bundled up with a warm coat and cap. Nancy is all prepared for cold weather in a one-piece romper coat and scarf on her head. I wish we knew if this was a pet duck Hazel and Audie had or if they were grooming it for Christmas or Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving originates from the Native American philosophy of giving without expecting anything in return. The Wampanoag people and the English colonists, known as Pilgrims, shared a harvest feast to celebrate the harvest. The feast included wild turkeys, ducks, geese, fish, corn, green vegetables, and dried fruits.  So we could have many things for Thanksgiving, but most of us will have turkey for our Thanksgiving dinner.

There are so many things I am thankful for this year, but at the very top of the list are all of you. Thank you for taking the time to engage with my blog posts on this website or social media. Your support and feedback are what inspire and motivate me to keep writing. Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday filled with the warmth and happiness of the season

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Confirmation

I’ve never not known the Holy Spirit. I remember looking at my children’s bible when I was a child. While I couldn’t read yet, the pictures drew me in. I loved the one of John baptizing Jesus. I wanted to know what it was like to get baptized. While it’s a blessing indeed to have lived with God’s promise my whole life, it wasn’t until I was older that I realized that’s what my confirmation did. In the Lutheran church, you spend two to three years working with a Pastor being taught the doctrine of the Lutheran church and why we believe getting confirmed prepares someone to live out their faith in the church. It also marks our passage from childhood to adulthood. Once confirmed, you are now considered an adult in the eyes of the church.

Here we have Dick and his family on his confirmation day at St. Pauls Lutheran Church. June looks so proud and stylish as always. I know she had a Lutheran background as I’ve found records of Hazel’s family attending the Swedish Lutheran Church in Manhattan. Nancy seems sad that it’s not her confirmation day and Howard too looks ready for Dick to be confirmed. I’m unsure of the date as there was no information on the photos. Depending on the synod of Lutheran Church would depend on what age you were when you got confirmed. To me, Dick looks like he’s about 13 here. I was confirmed in June the year I graduated from junior high. It’s a rite that Dick seems pleased to take on. He looks comfortable and relaxed, to confirm his faith in Jesus Christ.

I remember Dick saying that when he was confirmed, it was before St. Pauls moved to their current location in Waco. And that photo definitely doesn’t look like the current St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, so where was it? Luckily I have the part of Ancestry.com in which you can access newspapers. I figured if the church moved, surely it would have been in the Eagle. Sure enough, I found not only the location of where it was moving to, but where it had been. The church used to be on the corner of 8th Street and Market. I was able to locate a newspaper article from March 31, 1956, which reported that St. Pauls was undertaking a building project and moving. The groundbreaking occurred on January 8, 1956, and the new building was to be completed in November 1956.

Former St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – Wichita, KS

The former St. Pauls is now a homeless Shelter for Men

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Cooking up Fun!

One of the funnest things to do when you’re a kid is to try new things. We all need to start somewhere, and it looks as if Nancy and Dick are having fun learning how to cook. Nancy has that bowl held tight, and just in case, so does Dick. Like all good brothers, he’s there to help her and ensure their bakery item gets made to the best of their ability. 

I love Nancy’s hair. She’s such a cutie. And Dick with his Levi’and long-sleeved shirt which would look normal today as it did then. I love how he has keys attached to his belt loop. That must be an Anderson genetic trait as his sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons wear their keys this way. 

I like the wallpaper pattern in the kitchen and find myself wondering whose kitchen this was. Were they having fun at home or with Audie and Hazel? No matter whose kitchen it might be, I am glad we have this cooking gem to cherish and enjoy. 

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Happy Super Day!

This week has been hard! Come join me as we talk about some of the challenges I faced this week. The HUGE rabbit hole I went down when looking for ancestors and I’m also going to discuss some more free websites for you to use when looking for ancestors. 

If you haven’t subscribed yet I’d love for you to do so. This way you’ll never miss a post! 

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Audie & Kids

Nancy Conover, Audie Katz, Dick Anderson

I love black and white photos. But the last several black and white photos I’ve found for this blog, have shown me that I’m not very good at trying to get them adjusted.  They either come out too dark or remain too light.  

But the focus shouldn’t be on how the photos look, but in who is in them.  Here we have Audie Katz and some familiar children.  Isn’t Nancy cute in her dress and ankle socks.  And Dick look like he’s trying to be a tough guy with his hands in his pockets.  

Unknown child with Audie Katz

Now I don’t know who this little guy is, but I’m assuming it is probably a nephew of June’s.  He’s pretty adorable with Audie in his overalls and hat.  And you can just see a shoe, not sure if that’s Hazel’s or prehaps someone else’s.  I’m assuming they are also at Audie and Hazel’s house it looks like one of the cabins in the background.   

And at least it’s a nice sunny day for a photo.  While I may never master adjusting black and white photos, I will continue to appreciate them and bring as many as I can for you to appreciate as well.  

Posted on by Michelle Anderson · 2 Comments

A Meal With the Katz’s

June 10, 1951

I find myself wishing that I had been invited to this meal. Eating outside on a nice summers day when you can enjoy the food and the sun is one of the best ways to eat. The only thing on this photo is the date, June 10, 1951. That means that 70 years ago the Katz family got together and someone took this photo. I just wish I knew who was who.

I think that June is in the dark dress at this table facing the photographer. The scallop neckline on her dress and beads are so representative of that time. To me June was always fashionably dressed and what’s more fashionable then a dark garment and white beads. She appears to be looking at one of her brothers, maybe it’s Bill. I just love the lady sitting opposite him with her dark glasses, I just love her hair style. Every curl seems to be put in place. Behind June you can just see who I think is Howard and three others, one of which I believe might be our Dick. To the right of Dick, with her back to the camera is a curly head which might belong to Nancy.

The contrast between the light from the sun and the dark of the shade may be what appeals to me the most. And while, I didn’t get to participate in this meal, I think a meal like this would be such a nice experience.