Friday, March 13, 2009

Wish I knew then, what I know now.

John helped Grandma Nellie with her leaves.
After the wedding in May 1970.


This guy's carefree days are over.

Stories of our houses.
One of the things I learned, which was a new experience for me, that homes had names. It made it very easy, you did not have to give directions to your house, just give the name of your house.
One day while visiting Nellie, she lived in the Hubbard House, I noticed a for sale sign in front of the house just 2 doors away. The house between the 2 was the home of Mr and Mrs Montgomery. I ‘suggested’ to Jock, this would be a great house in which to raise a boy. It’s name was the Cox House. When I went back to visit Cox House in the 80's, I was so happy to see how they had fixed up Cox House just the way I had wanted to. The lady told me the Walkinshaw’s use to live there, but don’t think it ever had the Walkinshaw name. What a wonderful place it was. So much room. That big wrap around porch, was a great place for boys to play on rainy days and after I added an old wrought Iron Bed (purchased for a couple of bucks), it made a great place for boys to ‘camp out’.
Frank Hubbard built (or had built) their home in 1915.
I pulled up the original copy of the 1920 Census. Owen Lavely and his mother, Susie, is living next door to Nellie (age 11) Hubbard Walkinshaw. She was a neighbor to my great Uncle’s mother-in-law. My world is getting smaller. I would give anything to have know that then. She may have met my Uncle!
One of the funniest stories regarding the imagination of children came from Nellie. Seems Owen was to keep on eye on his baby sister while his parents were away for a while. When they came home, the little sister was sitting in middle of the floor, Owen had nailed her skirt to the floor so it would be easy to watch her.
One of the saddest stories came from Nellie. When she was a child, there had been a torrential downpour. A man and his family were crossing a creek (I guess it was) west to town. The current was too strong and the current swept the wagon with his family in it away. They all died. She said he was brought to the Cox House. He was out on the porch and Nellie heard the most awful cry she had ever heard. A sound that only Grief can create. She did not know his name. Wonder if any one else had heard that story.

4 comments:

Phil Foust said...

You're doin' good, Iris!

DFCox said...

The Cox House, as you know, was the home of my grandparents, Gramp and Gram. I spent many hours there as a child as I suppose your Johnny did after me.
There was a family washed away by a flash flood on Cedar Creek west of town. They all drowned except one male infant. I don't know why they would be at the Cox House, but I'm sure Gramp would have been involved in the rescue attempt. There is more on this episode in the blog if you care to find it. About 5 or 6 month ago.

Iris (Tew) Walkinshaw said...

Were your grandparents Harry and Alice? I was going through Census on Caney St in Cedar Vale. I found them and 2 sons, Hubert and Harold. Harold Cox, I believe is who I referred to in earlier postings. The house was built in 1897, do you know who built it. It was a one story home, the second story was added later, is what Nellie told us. I loved that house!! Never had a house I loved before or since.

Unknown said...

Whenever I would visit with Roy at his house, his mom (Nellie) would always have home-made cookies to share with the hungry boys. She was a special person, if only for that.