D is for Reverend and Mrs. Drake

I don't remember these people but the names stay in my memory. Reverend Drake was the pastor of our little church in La Puente, California and of course, Mrs. Drake was his wife. I have a couple photos of them taken by my mother long ago.

Immaunel Baptist Church was started in Revered Drake's house in 1953. 

By 1958, the church on Francisquito Ave. was completed. 

Mrs. Maddox, Mrs. Cockrell, Reverend Drake, Mrs. Crane, Mrs. Drake, 1958, Immanuel Baptist Church

Where the Drake house once stood turned into a parking lot, progress at its best. 

Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Crane, Reverend Rich, and Reverend Breland, who was the Pastor in 1958. In West Covina where Rev Drake's home stood when Immanuel Baptist Church was organized.

C is for Christine Edmonds

Christine Edmonds died much too young.

Ella Christine Edmonds was born on July 29, 1930, the middle child of my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Marcus. This is where I share I am always surprised when I see her name because she was never called Ella. Both girls went by middle name and her brother by initials only. Duh, my aunt never went by her first name either so now it makes sense.

The little one is Annette, the older one Christine, both of them holding my mom's hands. The photo was taken in about 1936, somewhere in Texas, probably Wichita Falls. 

 As children, we spent a lot of time in Texas with my Aunt Ruth. Uncle Marcus passed away when we were young and Aunt Ruth went back to school to become a nurse to support her children.

Christine and Martin Wilson. Donna Ruth, David and I. 

Christine grew up and married Martin Wilson in 1948. They had three children although only the youngest was not born when this picture was taken in March of 1953. This in on their farm in Sweeny, Texas. We got in so much trouble after this picture was taken when we discovered the down pillows in the shed. Pillow fights are fun until your parents find you covered in feathers and all the pillows destroyed.

Christine Wilson died on March 11, 1978 after a sudden illness. We were all shocked and saddened by her early death. She was very involved in her community and the lives of her children. She might be gone (and it has been a while) but she has lived on in my memory and was never forgotten.

B is for Bernice Elaine Bergstrom

Bernice Elaine Bergstrom is my "Aunt Bernice".

 

I am going to say that knowing her was an opportunity missed. It wasn't until I was an adult (middle aged at that) before I understood her. As a child, she was a formidable figure who slightly frightened me.  No, she was not mean or threatening in any way, she was just a presence that was larger than me.

Bernice was born on July 4, 1912 in Minnesota. Her father arrived from Sweden in 1880 when he was a toddler. Her mother was born in Iowa. How they met or gravitated to Minnesota is not known but Aunt Bernice was very proud of her Minnesota roots. She was the oldest of five children and was very partial to her brother Kenneth.

I haven't done the research to find where she met my uncle but I do remember when they came to see us after they were married on September 2, 1955.

They made the trip from Montana to Southern California. One of my parent's favorite things to do was to take family to Los Angeles and eat at Clifton's Cafeteria in Downtown. (Clifton's has been closed for years but is reopening soon and I am so looking forward to a trip there.)

Me, Uncle Ralph, Aunt Bernice, my mom Ruby, my dad Ernie and my brother in September 1955 at Clifton's. 

We saw a lot of Uncle Ralph and Aunt Bernice but even as a teen I never felt quite her equal. She was exceptionally smart and had an opinion on everything. She and my dad had spirited discussions and sometimes I think he took the opposite viewpoint just to stir the pot.

Howard Rhea, Anne Rhea, Ralph Rhea, Bernice Rhea, Ernie Rhea, and Ruby Rhea in Walnut Creek, California 1970's.

The Rhea's brothers got together at least once a year. The three couples took the train from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon. Uncle Ralph and Aunt Bernice went to the World's Fair in Tennessee with my parents. If they weren't visiting us, we were visiting them.

It wasn't until years later when my husband and I made the trip to Yellowstone National Park and Billings that I finally understood my aunt. She was in an assisted living facility. It was then I realized she was a kind person with a no-nonsense exterior. I wish I'd seen that before but I treasure the week we spent with her and my uncle.

Bernice Elaine Bergstrom passed away on August 1, 2005.

A is for Alan Philbrick

One of the biggest highlights of my life was a road trip we made from California to Maine. It was a three week journey full of wondrous sights. The idea for the trip came from a visit from the father of a friend.

Alan Philbrick had never been to California. Spending most of his life in Maine, the cross country trip he made also filled him with wonder. He couldn't get over the red rocks in Utah and Arizona. He was in awe of our mountains towing over the valleys.

When he left to go home, he invited us to spend some time in Maine, taking a trip with him on his lobster boat. An educator by trade, his passion was teaching about lobsters, the history of Maine, and then, providing his passengers with a lobster bake in Camden Harbor.

Captain Alan aboard the "Lucky Lady"

We traveled to Maine on Route 66, following it all the way to Chicago. We stopped at so many places and visited friends along the way. We spent several days in Erie, Pennsylvania. We made a stop at Niagara Falls and did the touristy thing on the Maid of the Mist. 

Still, the highlight of the trip was the lobster tour Alan provided. Instead of including us on one of his tours, he took us out all by ourselves. He taught my husband how to navigate the waters around the harbor, we pulled our own lobsters out of his traps, and saw all the lighthouses. We also learned everything there was to know about lobsters. Alan called them the "Serial Killers" of the sea. He told us lobsters used to be prison food until the prisoners complained. Lobster was the easiest and cheapest food available. So much of what he shared is still with me. 

Gary banding a lobster to take back. 

We returned to Alan's house in Rockland to spend an enjoyable evening, pigging out on the lobsters we pulled from the harbor. 

As a family history person, it is important for me to share these pictures since we have lost touch with the family. I don't know if Alan is still living but he looms large in our memory. He is a wonderful teacher, friend, host, and we can never thank him enough for taking the time to share his world with us. And...we will never eaten lobster again because there is no way to recreate the experience of pulling our food from the sea and eating it fresh.  

Thanks Alan!

A to Z Theme Reveal is today

This is easy. The Ancestor Photo Box is pictures of ancestors. They are not necessarily my ancestors but those of family friends and coworkers of my parents and other family members. Some don't have names, some do. Some I can identify by the location only.

I am a family historian with tons of pictures that still have not been scanned or identified. These people had family who loved them and would be delighted to find them. This is the only way I have of making them available to people who are actively searching for family.

Mrs. Drake, Mrs. Crane, Reverend Rich, Reverend Breland, Pastor, 1958. In West Covina where Rev Drake's house used to sit when Immanuel Baptist Church was organized.

This is just one of many. I was a little girl when this was taken. I remember the names but not the people.

I was recently overwhelmed when I joined a Facebook group for the area where I grew up and someone (out of the blue) posted my 2nd grade picture. I had pictures of another member's sister. We spent weeks sharing what we had. What a blessing it was to provide pictures they didn't know existed. We had so much fun!

My dad's Army Air Corp buddies, Dave Waterman and Harley Smith, Sheppard Field Texas, 1944

With hundreds of pictures to scan, there are some gems. In the pictures of my dad with Dave Waterman and Harley Smith, he looks happy and carefree. Most of the pictures of his early years are posed and serious so these are just fun.

I don't know anything about Dave Waterman or Harley Smith. I only have memories of him talking about the fun they had. So, if you know Dave Waterman or Harley Smith, please feel free to copy the pictures.

 Dave Waterman on left, my dad, Ernest Oliver Rhea on the right

Ernest Rhea, Dave Waterman, and Harley Smith

Immanuel Baptist Church, La Puente, California, Church history from 1953 to 1958

Immanuel Southern Baptist Church was my church home from 1953 to 1965. My memories of the church and all those who attended with me seems to take on a magical feel. We lived in the same neighborhood, attended the same schools, and went to the same church. We were a close group that lasted until we went to high school. My mother documented much of the early history in pictures.

Reverend Drake started the church in his home in 1953. That was the same year we moved to La Puente, California. Photo taken in 1954 with my brother and I with Faye Drake, wife of our first pastor. 

In the Spring of 1955, ground was broken for the first building of the new church location at 15847 Francisquito Ave, La Puente, California. My brother and I are in the second picture. I am the one in front of the sign, shading my eyes and my brother is in front of me. 

At the time of the groundbreaking, the church was meeting at the Women's Clubhouse in La Puente, California. The 1954 Mother Daughter banquet was held there. I am in the center picture. 

In 1955, the Mother Daughter Banquet was still at the Women's Clubhouse. Ruth Linda Wadley, my best friend, was sitting between her mother, Lida and big sister, Dorothy 

I am in the center of the picture below. 

September 4, 1955, the first building was dedicated.  Rev. Benny Bates, P Boyd Smith, Rev. Glen Smith, Pastor, Mrs. George Myers holding the Pastor's daughter, and George Myers are gathered at the front door. 

The church was a long rectangular building. In the front, there were church offices, then the sanctuary. In the back was a crying room where parents could still here the message and take care of the baby at the same time. There was no nursery to drop the little ones off and everyone went to church together. This is a picture of the crying room.

September 1956, my family at church. The two young ladies are Patsy and  Sandra Peach.

My mother directing the Primary Choir in April 1957. This was the day of the ground breaking for the 2nd building. 

Most of the work was done by the church family. This is Oscar Moser doing the cement work for the foundation. 

2nd building going up but the church it didn't get in the way of Vacation Bible School. 

The only one I recognize in these pictures is me, scowling in the top photo and Birdie Baker, corralling the kids. She is on the left next to the building. 

The Reverend Clyde Rich was the pastor at the time of the groundbreaking. There would later be a third building, a sanctuary on the corner of the property. I don't have pictures for that but do have lots and lots of memories of the church and the kids I grew up with. I am posting these pictures in hopes that someone will know some of these people. 

I believe that this Southern Baptist Church is no longer active but that does not take away from the time we spent as a church family and the work that God did through this church. 

Helen and Gerald Rawson

Not relatives but very much family. Helen and Gerry were newlyweds the same time as my parents. They shared a house in Los Angeles for a short time but both families ended up in La Puente, California.

Helen and Gerry lived in a big two story home, set back from the street. I remember big trees. I think Helen watched us for a time when we were smaller when my parents were at work.

Gerald Rawson was born in Los Angeles on March 11, 1925 and passed away on December 14, 2008 in South Paris, Maine. Helen was born in Auburn, Maine on March 14, 1927 and passed away on December 29, 2001, in Augusta, Maine. They had four children.

David was born a couple of weeks after me. Rachel was born the same year as my brother. I was five when Johnny was born and eight when Claudia was born. Her birthday is easy to remember because it's also my birthday. All us kids grew up together and I have so many memories of the times we spent together.

Rachel passed away on January 1, 1983 at the young age of 31. My husband and I attended her service and spent the day with the family. Rachel was a sweetheart and is still missed. Helen and Gerry attended my parents 40th wedding anniversary party in 1987. Right now I can only find two of the pictures so those are the ones I'm sharing here.

 Helen is the woman on the right. This picture was taken at my parent's home in Nuevo, California. I don't know the people in the middle but the man on the left is my Uncle Johnny.

Uncle Johnny is now on the right and Gerald is sitting on the piano bench. My sister-in-law Julie is on the left. 

Although I can't seem to find any other pictures, I know they are here somewhere. Still, right now, it's good enough because they are not just names and dates on a chart, they were loving and wonderful people. 

David J Cantwell

David J. Cantwell was born in 1883 and died in 1973. He must be sort of a relative because his family ties in with the Burchett's who are also sort of family. Jewelle kept two pictures.

Dave Cantwell is in this picture and I think the one in the back is Victor Rhea. The house in the back is my great grandmother's house where my grandfather grew up. When we saw the foundation of this house, there was only a road without any of this cleared land. The forest has reclaimed all the land surrounding the foundation.

I guess at the location because I did find another picture on Ancestry.com of Dave Cantwell and his brothers. 

The photo is identified as Jim, Charlie, and Dave Cantwell in Jim's front yard, bordering the Clinch River. 

The other photo is of Victor Rhea and his wife Cornie on the right and Jim Cantwell and unknown female (probably wife) on the left. Victor Rhea was my great uncle and the photo was taken in front of my great grandmother's home, also on the Clinch River in Hancock County, Tennessee. 

My great uncle, Victor, also had a home on the Clinch River. To drive the road now does not show what kind of life they had since many of the homes are gone and the forest has reclaimed its land.

Ernest Oliver Rhea - My dad

It's Father's Day so today I will share a little about my dad. 

Ernest Oliver Rhea was born on October 17, 1921 in Billings, Montana, to William Ogden Rhea and Mellie Farris. He was the youngest of three boys. 

My dad in the front on the left, his brother Howard to the right. Ralph in the back. The look like sweet little boys but looks can be deceiving.

He met my mom, Ruby Ellen Yeakley, during World War II at the USO Center in Wichita Falls, Texas, and they married on July 4, 1947 in Los Angeles, California.

Taken at the La Brea Tar Pits in 1947

It's hard to decide what to share about him. He loved to play tricks on people. He worked for the IRS and then opened his own accounting business. He never really retired and was doing the same work into his 80's. His first love was music and played all the instruments. Unfortunately, World War II interfered with his music education at Michigan State and when he returned home, went to USC to study accounting. 

He was a fun dad and very seldom angry. He was not one to swear so if he said "hell's bells" we scattered. 

We spent a lot of time with family. My grandparents lived in Montana but we made the trek there once a year. My grandmother would also spend time with us in Southern California and then head north to the San Francisco area to visit my uncle Howard and his family. Fellowship with family and friends was important to my dad. 

A 1982 family picture taken in Billings, Montana at Christmas. In the back, my uncle Ralph and his wife Bernice, Uncle Howard and his wife Anne, my dad and my mom. In the front, Gary and Patty, children of Howard, me, my grandpa, William, my brother Marlin, Stuart, son of Howard, my grandma, Mellie, and Billy, son of Howard. 

My dad passed away on February 10, 2006. I know that he is with my mom and that makes me happy.