I received a letter from Grandpa shortly after my graduation in 1987. Luckily he saved his draft of the letter. Grandma found it after he passed in a box of keepsakes. Grandma said in her letter, "you may have kept the original that he sent to you, but in case you haven't, I thought you want to have this one, I love you, Grandma Margie".
It read as follows...
"Dear Charlie:
Quite some time ago I received a most wonderful letter from you. That letter was one of the most gratifying letters I have ever received. Charlie, I sincerely appreciated your thoughts about me that you express in your letter.
May I express some thoughts about you and some suggestions for you that may help you in your life? Charlie, you possess a wonderful personality. You have a ____ (word illegible) personality. It shines from your face. It will win for you many friends in life. your friendliness to all people is a trait that few of us possess. Your quick wit and fast retorts will be an asset throughout your life. You should find success in whatever field you decided to follow.
I do have a few suggestions for you to follow down the road ahead. Always stay close to your mother and father. Let them help you as you go through life. I suggest that you follow my father's only religions, "Do unto others that which you would have them do unto you". Be careful in forming your friends. Be sure they are honest, faithful and true. Lookout for those who would lead you into unlawful acts. Do not let temptation lure you into the use of any drugs. Make a decision to be and honest law abiding citizen.
Follow these suggestions along with finding the right mate will assure you a happy and productive life. Charlie, I am looking forward to many pleasant experiences that I will have with you as we both progress through life. It will be a pleasure to watch you as you progress through a successful and happy life.
Your sincere Grandfather,
Chas E. Ward"
The Adjustment Years
The Great Depression
Beginning in June 1932 many different course marked the progress of my life. It was the time of life where all of us had to make adult decisions for the first time. Manhood was taking over boyhood. We had to seriously look at ourselves and hopefully make the proper decisions that would make for a happy life from now until life’s conclusion. Those decisions meant gaining our manhood, our occupation, our marriage, our family and the course in life that we would take. Some of these decisions, as always, would come by planning while others would be by accident or by the will of God. To me these adjustment years covered a span of years, 1932 to 1938.
As the Weber College years ended I still had hopes of completing the four years of college. The basic problem of that hope was money. In 1932 there was, of course, the deepening of the great depression. For me to go to college meant I had to get work to earn money for away from home college costs. There were so many married men out of work that it was almost impossible to be employed. The nation’s cry, to all employers was hire the married man first. That left us single fellows unemployed.
As Weber College life neared its end Prof. Leland Monson had proposed a way of making some money for college expenses. There were a number of woolen mills in the northern Utah area. These mills manufactured ladies and men’s clothing. They produced woolen material that was made into shirts, blouses, coats, skirts, pants, etc. Most of their products were sold by door to door contact by individual salesmen. Prof. Monson had in the last few years taken Weber students into the Northwest, Washington and Oregon, and supervised them in learning to sell woolens door to door. In years past Prof. Monson and his sales crew had been very successful. As I have already written, I was completely sold on Lealand Monson. I really loved him. He was magnificent as an English teacher. I agreed to try the sales route. In addition to myself there was Leland’s brother Vern Monson, Orland Fox, Marion Penrod, and Wray Glenn. Shortly after the end of school we left in Leland Monson’s car for Yakima, Wash. This site location was selected because it was lumber country where everyone loved woolen goods. We arrived at Yakima after two days of driving. Leland had set us up in a rooming house which carried a very low rate. He had also made arrangements for us to eat our meals there as long as they were of the cold variety. This was done to save money. Money was something that we had little of. That evening we had a review of how we were to house-to-house sell our woolens out of display cases and catalogs.
The next morning Leland took us into a residential area and outlined what area we would each cover. I walked up to my first house; knocked on the door and waited. A man came to the door. I explained that I was selling woolen goods and could I show them to him. In a polite way he said no and added that he was unemployed and unable to purchase anything. All morning I knocked on doors and met more than ninety percent men; unemployed men. Afternoon brought the same results. At our report meeting that evening everyone has the same story. The next day brought the same results except that I did sell a lady a jacket for her husband.
We were looking dead on at the depression. Leland said let us try one more day and if the results are the same we’ll return to Ogden. One day later we packed our bags for home. W had spent what little we had started with. When I returned to Ogden I was dead broke. The venture told, like we had never been told before, how bad the great depression really was. It made me more grateful to know that my father was still employed at Wheelwright Const. Co.
The first day after returning to Ogden I made my rounds visiting the 12th Street gang. With the exception of Jack Hilton, June Forsha and Ivan Hardy, I found them all unemployed.
Even with the difficulties of obtaining employment the summer of 1932 held some interesting events. With nothing to do, I had the opportunity to visit with my cousin Edwin Myers in Salt Lake City. We had become, over the years, good friends as well as relatives. Edwin did not have the quick wit nor the fast tongue that was more like a Ward; quiet and reserved. We were alike. We enjoyed the same things. We enjoyed visiting and discussing politics, world affairs, the depression and its effect on the youth of the nation, and the negative outlook for the future of America’s youth. We, the youth, were becoming depressed over the effects of the depression. All we could see ahead was social and financial chaos. In our minds we could not vision any recovery of prosperity which would open the doors for the youth. One thing I always remembered about Edwin: Always after these dark pictures we would paint, he would say, “Our country has had many problems in the past and solved them. We, given time, will solve them again.” I never fogot those words. Edwin did not live to see the end of the depression.
Even with the pessimism that existed towards the future we young near-men had many enjoyable periods. After my return from woolen selling in the state of Washington, I found myself totally broke. But as usual something good shows up. One evening Andy Isakson came to my home with great news. His brother E.J. had another school contract. He had some work for Andy, Herb and I. He was building an addition to the Madison Elementary School. We needed the work. The work did not last long but while we were working an incident happened that made us feel that some are thinking of the youth. One day while the three of us were grading the floor inside the building we saw four men approaching. We recognized them as school officials. E.J. was standing with his foreman outside the building. The four men walked up to E.J. and after passing formalities we heard one of them say to E.J., “Eric, you have three un-married young men working here. You, as well as us, know that your contract calls for you to employ only married men. We are here to ask you to dismiss the three young men.” Without hesitation E.J. replied, “Gentlemen those three youths are the men of tomorrow. The want to go to school. I refuse to dismiss them If you insist I will then forfeit the contract. They are going to work.” Little more was said. The men left and we kept working. E.J.’s action raised our spirits for a better future.
Our work on the Madison school came to an end after three weeks. We were unemployed again. Being without work meant being around home with nothing to do. One thing that I did was listen to my sister practice the piano. She was now twelve years old. She had been taking lessons for a year. In that short period of time she had become a fairly good pianist. She was so good that I enjoyed listening to her play. I loved to sit on the porch while she played music that I enjoyed.
By now, July, cherries were ripe. We were back to Frank Moores picking cherries at two cents per lb. Some days we could pick 100 lbs. of Lamberts which meant $2.00. That was better than nothing. We now had a little spending money. We could go to a picture show. We could go the Carl Lancaster’s hamburger shop and get a hamburger for five cents. While there we could get a shot in the optimistic arm listening to Carl tell us how good the economy was. How good the future would be. He was right for he became a millionaire; not in hamburgers but in parking lots and terraces.
Beginning in June 1932 many different course marked the progress of my life. It was the time of life where all of us had to make adult decisions for the first time. Manhood was taking over boyhood. We had to seriously look at ourselves and hopefully make the proper decisions that would make for a happy life from now until life’s conclusion. Those decisions meant gaining our manhood, our occupation, our marriage, our family and the course in life that we would take. Some of these decisions, as always, would come by planning while others would be by accident or by the will of God. To me these adjustment years covered a span of years, 1932 to 1938.
As the Weber College years ended I still had hopes of completing the four years of college. The basic problem of that hope was money. In 1932 there was, of course, the deepening of the great depression. For me to go to college meant I had to get work to earn money for away from home college costs. There were so many married men out of work that it was almost impossible to be employed. The nation’s cry, to all employers was hire the married man first. That left us single fellows unemployed.
As Weber College life neared its end Prof. Leland Monson had proposed a way of making some money for college expenses. There were a number of woolen mills in the northern Utah area. These mills manufactured ladies and men’s clothing. They produced woolen material that was made into shirts, blouses, coats, skirts, pants, etc. Most of their products were sold by door to door contact by individual salesmen. Prof. Monson had in the last few years taken Weber students into the Northwest, Washington and Oregon, and supervised them in learning to sell woolens door to door. In years past Prof. Monson and his sales crew had been very successful. As I have already written, I was completely sold on Lealand Monson. I really loved him. He was magnificent as an English teacher. I agreed to try the sales route. In addition to myself there was Leland’s brother Vern Monson, Orland Fox, Marion Penrod, and Wray Glenn. Shortly after the end of school we left in Leland Monson’s car for Yakima, Wash. This site location was selected because it was lumber country where everyone loved woolen goods. We arrived at Yakima after two days of driving. Leland had set us up in a rooming house which carried a very low rate. He had also made arrangements for us to eat our meals there as long as they were of the cold variety. This was done to save money. Money was something that we had little of. That evening we had a review of how we were to house-to-house sell our woolens out of display cases and catalogs.
The next morning Leland took us into a residential area and outlined what area we would each cover. I walked up to my first house; knocked on the door and waited. A man came to the door. I explained that I was selling woolen goods and could I show them to him. In a polite way he said no and added that he was unemployed and unable to purchase anything. All morning I knocked on doors and met more than ninety percent men; unemployed men. Afternoon brought the same results. At our report meeting that evening everyone has the same story. The next day brought the same results except that I did sell a lady a jacket for her husband.
We were looking dead on at the depression. Leland said let us try one more day and if the results are the same we’ll return to Ogden. One day later we packed our bags for home. W had spent what little we had started with. When I returned to Ogden I was dead broke. The venture told, like we had never been told before, how bad the great depression really was. It made me more grateful to know that my father was still employed at Wheelwright Const. Co.
The first day after returning to Ogden I made my rounds visiting the 12th Street gang. With the exception of Jack Hilton, June Forsha and Ivan Hardy, I found them all unemployed.
Even with the difficulties of obtaining employment the summer of 1932 held some interesting events. With nothing to do, I had the opportunity to visit with my cousin Edwin Myers in Salt Lake City. We had become, over the years, good friends as well as relatives. Edwin did not have the quick wit nor the fast tongue that was more like a Ward; quiet and reserved. We were alike. We enjoyed the same things. We enjoyed visiting and discussing politics, world affairs, the depression and its effect on the youth of the nation, and the negative outlook for the future of America’s youth. We, the youth, were becoming depressed over the effects of the depression. All we could see ahead was social and financial chaos. In our minds we could not vision any recovery of prosperity which would open the doors for the youth. One thing I always remembered about Edwin: Always after these dark pictures we would paint, he would say, “Our country has had many problems in the past and solved them. We, given time, will solve them again.” I never fogot those words. Edwin did not live to see the end of the depression.
Even with the pessimism that existed towards the future we young near-men had many enjoyable periods. After my return from woolen selling in the state of Washington, I found myself totally broke. But as usual something good shows up. One evening Andy Isakson came to my home with great news. His brother E.J. had another school contract. He had some work for Andy, Herb and I. He was building an addition to the Madison Elementary School. We needed the work. The work did not last long but while we were working an incident happened that made us feel that some are thinking of the youth. One day while the three of us were grading the floor inside the building we saw four men approaching. We recognized them as school officials. E.J. was standing with his foreman outside the building. The four men walked up to E.J. and after passing formalities we heard one of them say to E.J., “Eric, you have three un-married young men working here. You, as well as us, know that your contract calls for you to employ only married men. We are here to ask you to dismiss the three young men.” Without hesitation E.J. replied, “Gentlemen those three youths are the men of tomorrow. The want to go to school. I refuse to dismiss them If you insist I will then forfeit the contract. They are going to work.” Little more was said. The men left and we kept working. E.J.’s action raised our spirits for a better future.
Our work on the Madison school came to an end after three weeks. We were unemployed again. Being without work meant being around home with nothing to do. One thing that I did was listen to my sister practice the piano. She was now twelve years old. She had been taking lessons for a year. In that short period of time she had become a fairly good pianist. She was so good that I enjoyed listening to her play. I loved to sit on the porch while she played music that I enjoyed.
By now, July, cherries were ripe. We were back to Frank Moores picking cherries at two cents per lb. Some days we could pick 100 lbs. of Lamberts which meant $2.00. That was better than nothing. We now had a little spending money. We could go to a picture show. We could go the Carl Lancaster’s hamburger shop and get a hamburger for five cents. While there we could get a shot in the optimistic arm listening to Carl tell us how good the economy was. How good the future would be. He was right for he became a millionaire; not in hamburgers but in parking lots and terraces.
Yellowstone - Bear Story
One morning while doing my garden weeding chore, Lester Douglas and Ivan Hardy drove in our driveway. They ahd come to present a plan for a trip to Yellowstone. I had told them so often about my first trip that they were itching to go themselves. Their plan was to take Ivan Hardy’s hard top Dodge coupe. We would build a seat on the trunk, which was flat. On that seat two would ride on the outside. Three others would ride in the single seat. The five would be made up with Andy Isakson, Joe McCracken, Charlie Ward, Les Douglas and Ivan Hardy. Ike Hardy was working for the U.S. Postal department hauling mail from the Ogden Railroad depot to the post office and from the post office to the depot. In 1932 all mail was moved nation-wide by train. The railroads had special mail cars on all trains and also some trains were only mail trains. Ike had vacation time and wanted uys five to go to Yellowstone. We all wanted to go. We calculated that by raiding our mothers kitchen and the family garden we could make the trip on not more than ten dollars each. All we would have to buy would be small amounts of food and the gasoline. We would sleep out under the stars.
We allotted ten days for the trip. We left early one morning; getting as far as Rexburg, Idaho by dark, some 250 miles. We drove at a break-neck speed of 35 miles per hour. In Rexburg we found the public park, then we proceeded to do what we did at each and every new stop on the trip. We tore down the seat on the trunk which was our bedding. From the trunk we took our cooking utensils . We carried a small amount of wood for a fire to cook our food. That came out and some of the food came out for our dinner and breakfast. That night in the dark we cooked our dinner. After dinner again in the dark, we made up our beds on the ground.
Next morning after breakfast we put all the food and utensils back in the trunk. Re-build the trunk seat and took off for Yellowstone. We visited West Yellowstone; then on to Old Faithful. They had heard my fishing stories of Yellowstone River so often that we kept on going until we reached the Dragon Geyser located on the Yellowstone River. There we camped for four days. We were the only ones camped at the dragon Geyser. In fact the entire Yellowstone Park was nearly empty of tourists. The depression was at its deepest point. Very few tourists were traveling. We almost had the park to ourselves. Actually it seemed that there were more bears than people. Upon our arrival at dragons Mouth we hurriedly unpacked the car. Then we raced each other getting ready to fish. Not all of us had the proper flys for the Yellowstone native. I had procured an ample supply which I passed out to those who had failed to bring any. I spent about fifteen minutes explaining how to cast and work the fly in the moving water of the Yellowstone. Then, as if a black bear were chasing us, we raced to the river. Some of us went upstream, some down. Though fishing on that first venture was fantastic two of the crowd returned to camp without fish. Ivan Hardy and Joe McCracken had never fished, they had to learn how and where to throw the fly. I took them downstream for a lesson. In less than an hour they were catching fish. During that first day we caught so many fish that we decided to take fish home for our parents. Realizing that they may spoil a decision was made to wrap them in towels and in blankets in a dry condition. Once wrapped we placed them under the car. The fish saved fro travel were the fish caught on the third day at Dragon Mouth.
On the fourth day we decided to go fishing for the first two hours; then pack up and go to see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. I was the first to return to our camp. Upon doing so I saw a big black bear trying to get under the car to steal our fish. Thoughts raced through my mind on a plan to stop him. I remembered that in on of our food boxes was a can of sardines. Maybe if I opened the can he would decide that the smell of sardines was better than that of trout. He paid no attention to me as I went through the box locating the sardines. Using the opener fastened tot the can I began to open the sardines. The second that the key broke open the can releasing the odor the bear raised his head and started for me and the can. I knew that before he could eat the sardines I had to complete opening the can. Working on the opener, I started around the car with the bear following. As soon as I had the can opened I threw it to the bear. He became totally engrossed in its content. I rushed to get the trout from under the car and placed them inside the car. The bear was still licking the sardine can. I grabbed my fishing pole and headed for the river. When I returned the bear was gone. The fish were saved. I’ve told my two Yellowstone bear stories so many times that I have them memorized. That afternoon the five of us packed up and moved on to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
We allotted ten days for the trip. We left early one morning; getting as far as Rexburg, Idaho by dark, some 250 miles. We drove at a break-neck speed of 35 miles per hour. In Rexburg we found the public park, then we proceeded to do what we did at each and every new stop on the trip. We tore down the seat on the trunk which was our bedding. From the trunk we took our cooking utensils . We carried a small amount of wood for a fire to cook our food. That came out and some of the food came out for our dinner and breakfast. That night in the dark we cooked our dinner. After dinner again in the dark, we made up our beds on the ground.
Next morning after breakfast we put all the food and utensils back in the trunk. Re-build the trunk seat and took off for Yellowstone. We visited West Yellowstone; then on to Old Faithful. They had heard my fishing stories of Yellowstone River so often that we kept on going until we reached the Dragon Geyser located on the Yellowstone River. There we camped for four days. We were the only ones camped at the dragon Geyser. In fact the entire Yellowstone Park was nearly empty of tourists. The depression was at its deepest point. Very few tourists were traveling. We almost had the park to ourselves. Actually it seemed that there were more bears than people. Upon our arrival at dragons Mouth we hurriedly unpacked the car. Then we raced each other getting ready to fish. Not all of us had the proper flys for the Yellowstone native. I had procured an ample supply which I passed out to those who had failed to bring any. I spent about fifteen minutes explaining how to cast and work the fly in the moving water of the Yellowstone. Then, as if a black bear were chasing us, we raced to the river. Some of us went upstream, some down. Though fishing on that first venture was fantastic two of the crowd returned to camp without fish. Ivan Hardy and Joe McCracken had never fished, they had to learn how and where to throw the fly. I took them downstream for a lesson. In less than an hour they were catching fish. During that first day we caught so many fish that we decided to take fish home for our parents. Realizing that they may spoil a decision was made to wrap them in towels and in blankets in a dry condition. Once wrapped we placed them under the car. The fish saved fro travel were the fish caught on the third day at Dragon Mouth.
On the fourth day we decided to go fishing for the first two hours; then pack up and go to see the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. I was the first to return to our camp. Upon doing so I saw a big black bear trying to get under the car to steal our fish. Thoughts raced through my mind on a plan to stop him. I remembered that in on of our food boxes was a can of sardines. Maybe if I opened the can he would decide that the smell of sardines was better than that of trout. He paid no attention to me as I went through the box locating the sardines. Using the opener fastened tot the can I began to open the sardines. The second that the key broke open the can releasing the odor the bear raised his head and started for me and the can. I knew that before he could eat the sardines I had to complete opening the can. Working on the opener, I started around the car with the bear following. As soon as I had the can opened I threw it to the bear. He became totally engrossed in its content. I rushed to get the trout from under the car and placed them inside the car. The bear was still licking the sardine can. I grabbed my fishing pole and headed for the river. When I returned the bear was gone. The fish were saved. I’ve told my two Yellowstone bear stories so many times that I have them memorized. That afternoon the five of us packed up and moved on to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Yellowstone - A Great Journey
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone was responsible for the name Yellowstone National Park. Mother nature had placed a high plateau of earthly material with a beautiful color of yellow in it. She also provided a river to cut a massive canyon through that mountainous area. That river not only cut a canyon but also developed two white clear waterfalls. The first sight of that beauty of nature is awesome. The five of us were so impressed that we spent the rest of the day gawking at its wonder. We hiked to the bottom of lower falls. We pitched camp at the visitors park; prepared our dinner; rolled out our bedding; sand a few songs and then crawled in a bed on the ground. All thankful for the day’s grand ending.
The next day saw us at Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth never impressed me but it mad a hit for Andy Isakson and Les Douglas. They hiked most of the area looking and talking about how those terraces were built by water alone. Mammoth would be the end of our Yellowstone Trip. The next day would begin the return trip to Ogden. I enjoyed my first Yellowstone trip with Dick [illegible] (Weese?) but this trip, with my 12th Street friends, was the best of all my visits to Yellowstone Park.
As we left Yellowstone we thought we would have an uneventful trip home. That was not the case. Up to this point we had experienced zero car trouble. On the return trip we decided to go by the way of Malad instead of Logan. Just outside of Malad pavement ended and gravel took its place. In less than ten miles we had a flat tire. We had no spare, so it meant jacking up the wheel, removing the tire, patching the tube and replacing the wheel. Now that is not a bad condition once, but as we traveled on we continued to have flat tires. How many? We never could remember. One thing we do remember. We had so many flats that we wore out our hand pump and on the last flat we had to stop a car and borrow a pump. Fortunately we came back on pavement and that ended the flat tire epidemic.
The Yellowstone venture was an outstanding part of all of our lives. The enjoyment as the repeated stories told by all of us over the next many years. It was a great trip. What made the Yellowstone trip so outstanding was the combination of the participants.
Each one had a different personality. Each had situations and problems. For instance Ivan Hardy was of a serious nature. He had a certain wit that was dry and you wanted to listen closely to his responses since they always carried a message. Joe McCracken was the wit of the crowd. He always was able to come up with a joke about everything. Les Douglas was the doer. Never did Les remain quiet. He started the fire; put the fire out with water; got the wood; cleaned the camp; did the dishes. All of this with a certain amount of glee. Andy Isakson was the pessimist. He was always afraid something would go wrong; the car wouldn’t start; the fish wouldn’t bite; it would rain that night; we wouldn’t have enough food. Charlie Ward was the authoritative type. He wanted to tell everyone what to do next; where to go next; how long would we stay; who would pack the car; get the wood; cook the fish.
We never had a serious argument. Everything that we did seemed to be done with eagerness and with total agreement. Campfire evenings had their gaiety, with song and laughter. They also had their serous side as we viewed our future lives. Little did we know what life was about to bring to each of us. Nor did we know when or where life would come to an early end or would stretch into old age. As always it was good to not
The next day saw us at Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth never impressed me but it mad a hit for Andy Isakson and Les Douglas. They hiked most of the area looking and talking about how those terraces were built by water alone. Mammoth would be the end of our Yellowstone Trip. The next day would begin the return trip to Ogden. I enjoyed my first Yellowstone trip with Dick [illegible] (Weese?) but this trip, with my 12th Street friends, was the best of all my visits to Yellowstone Park.
As we left Yellowstone we thought we would have an uneventful trip home. That was not the case. Up to this point we had experienced zero car trouble. On the return trip we decided to go by the way of Malad instead of Logan. Just outside of Malad pavement ended and gravel took its place. In less than ten miles we had a flat tire. We had no spare, so it meant jacking up the wheel, removing the tire, patching the tube and replacing the wheel. Now that is not a bad condition once, but as we traveled on we continued to have flat tires. How many? We never could remember. One thing we do remember. We had so many flats that we wore out our hand pump and on the last flat we had to stop a car and borrow a pump. Fortunately we came back on pavement and that ended the flat tire epidemic.
The Yellowstone venture was an outstanding part of all of our lives. The enjoyment as the repeated stories told by all of us over the next many years. It was a great trip. What made the Yellowstone trip so outstanding was the combination of the participants.
Each one had a different personality. Each had situations and problems. For instance Ivan Hardy was of a serious nature. He had a certain wit that was dry and you wanted to listen closely to his responses since they always carried a message. Joe McCracken was the wit of the crowd. He always was able to come up with a joke about everything. Les Douglas was the doer. Never did Les remain quiet. He started the fire; put the fire out with water; got the wood; cleaned the camp; did the dishes. All of this with a certain amount of glee. Andy Isakson was the pessimist. He was always afraid something would go wrong; the car wouldn’t start; the fish wouldn’t bite; it would rain that night; we wouldn’t have enough food. Charlie Ward was the authoritative type. He wanted to tell everyone what to do next; where to go next; how long would we stay; who would pack the car; get the wood; cook the fish.
We never had a serious argument. Everything that we did seemed to be done with eagerness and with total agreement. Campfire evenings had their gaiety, with song and laughter. They also had their serous side as we viewed our future lives. Little did we know what life was about to bring to each of us. Nor did we know when or where life would come to an early end or would stretch into old age. As always it was good to not
A Legal Man
The Yellowstone venture consumed ten days. Upon returning to your home, everything has a better look than when you left. Your mother, your sister and father are fresher, younger and more beautiful. They seem to have been changed some. The house, yard, and living quarters have inviting appearance. What is happening is that your home environment is telling you what a wonderful home you have. And after ten days of your own cooking and on the ground sleeping you know that you have the best at your home.
In less than five days the feeling of unemployment again consumed us. All except Ivan Hardy who was back hauling mail. It was now a know fact that college in 1933 was impossible. Our only chance for more money was picking peaches at Ben Lomond. One great event of 1932 that soon captured my attention was the presidential election. Roosevelt, the democrat versus Hoover, the republican. It was the first election that I would cast a vote. I would be twenty one on September 28, 1932. Though I took no active part in the campaign, I became interested in the proceedings. Roosevelt and the democrats were presenting their programs to cure the depression. I went to public meetings, listened intently to the issues on the radio and spent a great deal of time reading t news paper and magazine articles about the problems and issues confronting the nation. At heart I became, at least, a Roosevelt democrat. I knew, by the first of September that, Roosevelt and the democrats would win the election in November. Supporters of Hoover would have a hard time if the favored him in front of me. At age twenty one I was ready and willing to vocally support my views. It mattered not who they were, young or old, I would openly present my views against theirs. I was not argumentative. The explanation and understanding of issues was what I was looking for.
September 28th, my birthday, was the most important day yet in my life. I was now a legal man. Now I had the right to vote. There were many things that were first for a 21 year old. As I remember neither my mother or father made much to do about it. It was just another birthday. I am sure that I received some family presents. A shirt, pair of sox or some other piece of clothing. My mother baked a cake and maybe may some ice cream. That night some of the 12th Streeters got together and sang happy birthday. All in all just another day.
As the time drew near to the presidential election I found that I would vote at the Garr residence across the street from out home. That was where 12th Streeter Arnie had lived. One day seeing Mrs. Garr on her porch I wandered over and informed her that I would be voter come November. During our conversation she told me it was her responsibility to staff the district election headquarters. She asked me if I was a Democrat. I told her I would be voting Democratic. She then asked me if I would like to b e the Democratic Judge at the district. I did not hesitate. I accepted the immediately. Later I found that I would receive $2.00 pay for my services.
Election Day was the first Tuesday of November. The polls opened at 7:00 am and closed at 7:00 pm. The staff met the day before to orient themselves as to their duty. My duty was to watch the voting procedure and protect the rights of the Democratic voters. From the time the polls opened until they closed there was not a single error made on either Democratic or Republican side. After the polls closed the counters took over to count the votes. In 1931 there were no automatic counters. It had to be done by hand with the only aid an adding machine, which wasn’t electric. Within an hour after the polls closed we were all counters. We did not complete counting until well after midnight. The result was overwhelming victory for the democrats. The same result came from all over the country. It was now the responsibility of the Democrats o put an end to the great depression.
In less than five days the feeling of unemployment again consumed us. All except Ivan Hardy who was back hauling mail. It was now a know fact that college in 1933 was impossible. Our only chance for more money was picking peaches at Ben Lomond. One great event of 1932 that soon captured my attention was the presidential election. Roosevelt, the democrat versus Hoover, the republican. It was the first election that I would cast a vote. I would be twenty one on September 28, 1932. Though I took no active part in the campaign, I became interested in the proceedings. Roosevelt and the democrats were presenting their programs to cure the depression. I went to public meetings, listened intently to the issues on the radio and spent a great deal of time reading t news paper and magazine articles about the problems and issues confronting the nation. At heart I became, at least, a Roosevelt democrat. I knew, by the first of September that, Roosevelt and the democrats would win the election in November. Supporters of Hoover would have a hard time if the favored him in front of me. At age twenty one I was ready and willing to vocally support my views. It mattered not who they were, young or old, I would openly present my views against theirs. I was not argumentative. The explanation and understanding of issues was what I was looking for.
September 28th, my birthday, was the most important day yet in my life. I was now a legal man. Now I had the right to vote. There were many things that were first for a 21 year old. As I remember neither my mother or father made much to do about it. It was just another birthday. I am sure that I received some family presents. A shirt, pair of sox or some other piece of clothing. My mother baked a cake and maybe may some ice cream. That night some of the 12th Streeters got together and sang happy birthday. All in all just another day.
As the time drew near to the presidential election I found that I would vote at the Garr residence across the street from out home. That was where 12th Streeter Arnie had lived. One day seeing Mrs. Garr on her porch I wandered over and informed her that I would be voter come November. During our conversation she told me it was her responsibility to staff the district election headquarters. She asked me if I was a Democrat. I told her I would be voting Democratic. She then asked me if I would like to b e the Democratic Judge at the district. I did not hesitate. I accepted the immediately. Later I found that I would receive $2.00 pay for my services.
Election Day was the first Tuesday of November. The polls opened at 7:00 am and closed at 7:00 pm. The staff met the day before to orient themselves as to their duty. My duty was to watch the voting procedure and protect the rights of the Democratic voters. From the time the polls opened until they closed there was not a single error made on either Democratic or Republican side. After the polls closed the counters took over to count the votes. In 1931 there were no automatic counters. It had to be done by hand with the only aid an adding machine, which wasn’t electric. Within an hour after the polls closed we were all counters. We did not complete counting until well after midnight. The result was overwhelming victory for the democrats. The same result came from all over the country. It was now the responsibility of the Democrats o put an end to the great depression.
Waiting for Roosevelt
In 1932 a new winning president to wait four months before being sworn in and taking office. Roosevelt had told us what he wanted to do but we had to wait for him to do it. The winter of 1932 – 33 was a bleak one for the young men being without work and also without funds for college. A great deal of out daylight time was spent reading books, listening to the radio, shoveling snow when it snowed or playing cards. The 12th Streeters played many hours of cards in John Purdy’s basement. The Purdy’s had a furnace in the basement. We would sit by that furnace by the hour playing rummy, hearts or pinochle pitch. The few who had formed the tobacco habit would light a cigarette and blow the smoke into the furnace. John’s father milt , a staunch L.D.S member would have whaled the daylights out of all us had he caught any of us smoking in his home. His son John was one with the habit.
Doxy Stone, Jack Hilton and I were playing M. Men basketball for the 21st Ward. Doxey and I wore also being cast in three act plays that the L.D.S Mutual program sponsored. Evenings were not difficult but the daytime was a long drag.
In the spring of 1933 the nation’s economy was at its lowest level. Franklin Roosevelt was now our president. Both houses were Democratic Majority. The New Deal was beginning to go into action. In quick order programs were enacted and placed into operation. The W.P.A. was born; designed to put unemployed men to work building needed roads, sewer, water systems, parks, etc. Each employed W.P.A. man would work five days a month and receive about $40.00 dollars per month. It was better than nothing. The C.C.C. program was enacted. It was designed to take the unemployed youth off the street. Sent him into the mountains and deserts to build roads, parks and other facilities for the use of the American public. Each C.C.C. boy would receive $30.00 and board and room per month. The 12th Street gang was represented by June Forsha, Herbie Isakson, Les Douglas and Dave Purdy. I did not enlist because I was at wheelwright Construction Employed working with my father at the gravel plant. Another work making program was the P.W.A. It was designed to build large technical projects which required considerable engineering and planning and that needed to be built by qualified contractors. Of course it was primarily designed to put people back to work. Employees if possible had to be married men. Another program had to do with the farmer. The Roosevelt administration enacted a program to pay the farmer for not raising pigs, sheep, hay, grain and other products. In other words an outright dole. The action alone was the beginning of Franklin Roosevelt’s efforts to change me from a Democrat to a Republican.
Doxy Stone, Jack Hilton and I were playing M. Men basketball for the 21st Ward. Doxey and I wore also being cast in three act plays that the L.D.S Mutual program sponsored. Evenings were not difficult but the daytime was a long drag.
In the spring of 1933 the nation’s economy was at its lowest level. Franklin Roosevelt was now our president. Both houses were Democratic Majority. The New Deal was beginning to go into action. In quick order programs were enacted and placed into operation. The W.P.A. was born; designed to put unemployed men to work building needed roads, sewer, water systems, parks, etc. Each employed W.P.A. man would work five days a month and receive about $40.00 dollars per month. It was better than nothing. The C.C.C. program was enacted. It was designed to take the unemployed youth off the street. Sent him into the mountains and deserts to build roads, parks and other facilities for the use of the American public. Each C.C.C. boy would receive $30.00 and board and room per month. The 12th Street gang was represented by June Forsha, Herbie Isakson, Les Douglas and Dave Purdy. I did not enlist because I was at wheelwright Construction Employed working with my father at the gravel plant. Another work making program was the P.W.A. It was designed to build large technical projects which required considerable engineering and planning and that needed to be built by qualified contractors. Of course it was primarily designed to put people back to work. Employees if possible had to be married men. Another program had to do with the farmer. The Roosevelt administration enacted a program to pay the farmer for not raising pigs, sheep, hay, grain and other products. In other words an outright dole. The action alone was the beginning of Franklin Roosevelt’s efforts to change me from a Democrat to a Republican.
Hyrum Dam - Finding Work
During that early spring of 1922 employment at the Ward home was more than satisfactory. My father was steadily employed. In fact my father was never unemployed during the depression. Though the sand and gravel business was almost to a standstill, he was still the wheelwright plant manager. Through the country’s new deal programs sand and gravel were being used in all make work projects. When the plant did operate I had the good fortune to have some part time employment. Harold, now married, was getting part time work at wheelwright. When I was not working I spent my daytime hours seeking employment. In that effort I met Bob Holmes a construction superintendent for the Ord Bundy Construction Co. And through Bob Holmes I met his son Ray. Ray like all of us singe men, was another unemployed citizen. It was through Ray that I became acquainted with the procedure of seeking employment at the US Federal employment office in Ogden. Ray and I found that the office listed the work position open on all P.W.A projects in Utah. Anyone could apply for any of those positions. In making your applications you stated your qualifications and experience. As a singe man your only chance of employment was that a married man had not applied.
One day Ray Holmes and I saw a new listing for employees to be hired at the new Hyrum Dam in Hyrum Utah. As we studied that list we came upon the listing of scale men. The listing asked for two scale men. Both Ray and I had experienced operating overhead scales, weighing sand and gravel for large concrete mixers. We both thought we had a chance for these positions. We both felt that no married man would apply for these open jobs. We filed our application s and we were right. We were both notified that employment was ours. We were told to report to the J.A. Terteling Construction Co. at Hyrum Utah. Hyrum was in Cache Valley, about twenty miles south of Logan, Utah. At that time the Utah Idaho central electrical railway passed through Hyrum on its route from Ogden. The next day after our notification Ray and I were on our way to Hyrum. We both carried with us one small suitcase which with what we had on our bodies, constituted all the clothes we both possessed. All except the suit my parents gave me from high school graduation.
On arriving at the Hyrum Rail Station we were told, by the station master that a Terteling truck would be by for their mail and that we could ride the four miles it him to the project site. When we arrived at the the site we were directed to a temporary wooden building that had a sign on it, Office. To a man behind a counter we presented our employment papers. He processed us by having us fill out some papers. After reviewing the papers he told us we would be housed in the tent village and that meals would be available at the company kitchen. We were escorted to the tent village and found that we would be in a tent with two others. The tent was canvas, mounted on a wood frame with a wood floor. The papers given us at the office informed us that the cost of housing was $10.00 per month; Meals were $1.00 per day and those costs would be deducted form our pay. Our pay sale would $.50 per hour or $4.00 per day.
That evening we met the other tent occupants. They were heavy duty truck drivers. Both were in their fifties, which to us put them in the older class. At six PM we heard the dinner bell and by the following the truck drivers we found the mess hall. It also was a canvassed covered building with wood floor. There were about eight long tables with chairs seating eight to the table. At one end of the building were the food trays. We lined up and selected from trays the food we desired. The food was fair but certainly not a class with my mothers.
Returning to the housing quarters we spent the evening getting acquainted with our roommates and became somewhat oriented with what stage the dam construction was in. In total there were approximately ninety men working on the project. That included superintendents, foreman, steam shovel operator, cat operators, truck drivers, steel workers, carpenters, surveyors, engineers and laborers. Ray and I were the new scale men.
The first morning after arriving we expected someone to delegate us to our workstation. But no one showed to tell us anything. By noon still no one. We went to lunch and still no one said a word to use. After lunch I told Ray I was going to the office and inquire as to when we would placed into employment. The man in the office hardly knew of our existence. He told us he would inquire about work starting time. The day passed and we went to dinner and still no one said anything about work.
One day Ray Holmes and I saw a new listing for employees to be hired at the new Hyrum Dam in Hyrum Utah. As we studied that list we came upon the listing of scale men. The listing asked for two scale men. Both Ray and I had experienced operating overhead scales, weighing sand and gravel for large concrete mixers. We both thought we had a chance for these positions. We both felt that no married man would apply for these open jobs. We filed our application s and we were right. We were both notified that employment was ours. We were told to report to the J.A. Terteling Construction Co. at Hyrum Utah. Hyrum was in Cache Valley, about twenty miles south of Logan, Utah. At that time the Utah Idaho central electrical railway passed through Hyrum on its route from Ogden. The next day after our notification Ray and I were on our way to Hyrum. We both carried with us one small suitcase which with what we had on our bodies, constituted all the clothes we both possessed. All except the suit my parents gave me from high school graduation.
On arriving at the Hyrum Rail Station we were told, by the station master that a Terteling truck would be by for their mail and that we could ride the four miles it him to the project site. When we arrived at the the site we were directed to a temporary wooden building that had a sign on it, Office. To a man behind a counter we presented our employment papers. He processed us by having us fill out some papers. After reviewing the papers he told us we would be housed in the tent village and that meals would be available at the company kitchen. We were escorted to the tent village and found that we would be in a tent with two others. The tent was canvas, mounted on a wood frame with a wood floor. The papers given us at the office informed us that the cost of housing was $10.00 per month; Meals were $1.00 per day and those costs would be deducted form our pay. Our pay sale would $.50 per hour or $4.00 per day.
That evening we met the other tent occupants. They were heavy duty truck drivers. Both were in their fifties, which to us put them in the older class. At six PM we heard the dinner bell and by the following the truck drivers we found the mess hall. It also was a canvassed covered building with wood floor. There were about eight long tables with chairs seating eight to the table. At one end of the building were the food trays. We lined up and selected from trays the food we desired. The food was fair but certainly not a class with my mothers.
Returning to the housing quarters we spent the evening getting acquainted with our roommates and became somewhat oriented with what stage the dam construction was in. In total there were approximately ninety men working on the project. That included superintendents, foreman, steam shovel operator, cat operators, truck drivers, steel workers, carpenters, surveyors, engineers and laborers. Ray and I were the new scale men.
The first morning after arriving we expected someone to delegate us to our workstation. But no one showed to tell us anything. By noon still no one. We went to lunch and still no one said a word to use. After lunch I told Ray I was going to the office and inquire as to when we would placed into employment. The man in the office hardly knew of our existence. He told us he would inquire about work starting time. The day passed and we went to dinner and still no one said anything about work.
Hyrum Dam - Work Begins
The next day after breakfast I returned to the office an asked the clerk if I could take to someone who was in charge of assigning work to new employees. At that moment a short dark complected man appeared from another office. He asked me my name, what I was sent to do and how long I had been there. I have him that information and he then asked me to return to his office in one hour.
Upon returning he said, “Come get in my pickup.” I did and we proceeded out to the jobsite. He began asking of my work experience, my schooling and my future plants for life. “What do you want to be, Where are you schooling wise, what does you father do, what experience have you had in construction and other subjects”, were what he talked about as we rode along. When we did stop we were at a very large, well open graded pit. There were wood forms going around and up and down the pit. I could see that they were forms to receive concrete. This was where the batched concrete would be cast from the batches of sand, gravel and cement that I would weigh out as the scale man. The small dark complected man stopped the pickup and we got out. He said, “We are not ready to pour concrete yet. Steel re-enforcing must be placed in these forms fist. The steel rods are over there in a pile. They are all tagged. Here is a set of plans showing where they each go. From these plans can you select the correct ones a place them where the steel tiers can place them in position?” I told him I though I could. I went to work right then and there. That night in our tent house one of the truck drivers told me that the dark comlected man was J.A. Tertling, the owner of the construction company. Each day as I worked with the steel I would see J.A Tertling drive by in his pickup looking at me and work. One day he stopped and said to me, ”You are doing this work well. Are you planning to go onto school?” “Yes I am,” I replied. “What courses are you taking”, he asked. “I am majoring in business,” I replied. “Have you ever considered engineering?”, he asked? “Yes I have but I like business better”, I answered. “I have an offer for you. If you would consider engineering and major in it I would send you through college. You would then spend your Career with J.A. Tertling Construction Co.” This offer was perhaps the best shot in the arm that I had received since the leaving Weber College. The depression had certainly depressed my attitude toward the future. Confidence in my ability to ever achieve a suitable goal in life had reached a very low ebb. The J.A. Tertling offer was tempting. I told Mr. Tertling that I would consider the offer and give him my decision.
Ray Holmes, my scale man partner, had been placed in employment as a laborer. Needing someone to discuss the offer of John Tertling, I began to discuss the offer with Ray. Ray was already disillusioned with the Terteling Co. He was critical of all they were doing. He was of no help to me. Ray was discouraged and probably homesick. He lasted but two more weeks and then quit and went back to Ogden. With no one to talk to about the Terteling offer I was left alone to make a decision. Looking at the Pros of the offer, I saw the completion of my college and lifetime position with one of the most reputable construction companies in the United States. Looking at the cons, I saw the possibility of working with engineering which could turn out to be detestable. I also saw myself moving from place to place wherever the construction contracts called. I would never have a permanent home. After a week of deep thought on the matter I called on John Terteling, in his office, and advised him that, though I appreciated his offer, I felt that my love for business administration had made me turn his offer down. He accepted my turn down graciously and he wished me well for the future. I left his office and returned to my steel placement work. As my future turned out I had made the correct decision. However, I was most appreciative of the offer. It told me that somewhere, my ability and personality would bring me a productive and enjoyable life.
After Ray Holmes left another truck driver moved into our living quarters. The make up of our rooming house now was three drivers and one scale man, me. The drivers were rough men. They smoked, drank beer and whiskey and used considerable amount of foul language. One was a single man, having been divorced. The other two had families living in their home towns. All of us had been used to good food and good home conditions. None of us liked living in a tent so we began looking for something in the town of Hyrum.
Upon returning he said, “Come get in my pickup.” I did and we proceeded out to the jobsite. He began asking of my work experience, my schooling and my future plants for life. “What do you want to be, Where are you schooling wise, what does you father do, what experience have you had in construction and other subjects”, were what he talked about as we rode along. When we did stop we were at a very large, well open graded pit. There were wood forms going around and up and down the pit. I could see that they were forms to receive concrete. This was where the batched concrete would be cast from the batches of sand, gravel and cement that I would weigh out as the scale man. The small dark complected man stopped the pickup and we got out. He said, “We are not ready to pour concrete yet. Steel re-enforcing must be placed in these forms fist. The steel rods are over there in a pile. They are all tagged. Here is a set of plans showing where they each go. From these plans can you select the correct ones a place them where the steel tiers can place them in position?” I told him I though I could. I went to work right then and there. That night in our tent house one of the truck drivers told me that the dark comlected man was J.A. Tertling, the owner of the construction company. Each day as I worked with the steel I would see J.A Tertling drive by in his pickup looking at me and work. One day he stopped and said to me, ”You are doing this work well. Are you planning to go onto school?” “Yes I am,” I replied. “What courses are you taking”, he asked. “I am majoring in business,” I replied. “Have you ever considered engineering?”, he asked? “Yes I have but I like business better”, I answered. “I have an offer for you. If you would consider engineering and major in it I would send you through college. You would then spend your Career with J.A. Tertling Construction Co.” This offer was perhaps the best shot in the arm that I had received since the leaving Weber College. The depression had certainly depressed my attitude toward the future. Confidence in my ability to ever achieve a suitable goal in life had reached a very low ebb. The J.A. Tertling offer was tempting. I told Mr. Tertling that I would consider the offer and give him my decision.
Ray Holmes, my scale man partner, had been placed in employment as a laborer. Needing someone to discuss the offer of John Tertling, I began to discuss the offer with Ray. Ray was already disillusioned with the Terteling Co. He was critical of all they were doing. He was of no help to me. Ray was discouraged and probably homesick. He lasted but two more weeks and then quit and went back to Ogden. With no one to talk to about the Terteling offer I was left alone to make a decision. Looking at the Pros of the offer, I saw the completion of my college and lifetime position with one of the most reputable construction companies in the United States. Looking at the cons, I saw the possibility of working with engineering which could turn out to be detestable. I also saw myself moving from place to place wherever the construction contracts called. I would never have a permanent home. After a week of deep thought on the matter I called on John Terteling, in his office, and advised him that, though I appreciated his offer, I felt that my love for business administration had made me turn his offer down. He accepted my turn down graciously and he wished me well for the future. I left his office and returned to my steel placement work. As my future turned out I had made the correct decision. However, I was most appreciative of the offer. It told me that somewhere, my ability and personality would bring me a productive and enjoyable life.
After Ray Holmes left another truck driver moved into our living quarters. The make up of our rooming house now was three drivers and one scale man, me. The drivers were rough men. They smoked, drank beer and whiskey and used considerable amount of foul language. One was a single man, having been divorced. The other two had families living in their home towns. All of us had been used to good food and good home conditions. None of us liked living in a tent so we began looking for something in the town of Hyrum.
Hyrum Dam - The Hansen Widow's House
One day as I was mailing a letter home to Mother I heard a small full grown lady ahead of me in the waiting line say to another person in line. “We have been trying to take in roomers but so far no one has called or asked us about the rooms.: Immediately I stepped from the line and approached her and said, “I heard you talking about having rooms for rent.” She answered “yes I have.” Her name was Hansen. She was about 5’3” tall and old, maybe in the 70s. How could she handle four rough construction men? I was informed that her daughter and her daughter’s husband lived with her. Finding where she lived, I made and appointment for the three drivers and myself to visit her home that evening. Her home was a two storied rock construction building. It was near pioneer vintage. All the rooms were small. She was still cooking with wood and coal; using ice for refrigeration; heating with coal but the place had modern plumbing; basins, toilets and bath tubs. The four of us decided to try the upstairs two bedrooms. They each had two twin beds. So; Scrap Iron, Big Blondie, Clyde and I moved in. It turned out to be just like home. The little lady was just like a mother to us. He cooking reminded me of home; the cheery fire for the approaching fall was more than welcome. The beds were always clean as was the house. Except when they would get drunk the hard nosed truck drivers were an epitome of politeness in that wonderful little ladies home. Since I knew of Blondie’s spending habits I would collect the little Ladies rent from him on payday, before he started to drink away his paycheck. Besides the good home feeling we had we were now able to walk downtown; go to a movie; play pool at the pool hall; and visit with the neighbors on the way.
Hyrum Dam - Discharged
It was now early September. The forming and steel work on the spillway setting basin was ready for concrete. I was now going to perform the work that I was hired for; Run the weighing scales. The aggregate bins and scales were located some four miles from the dam site. There were installed on a spur track of the Utah Idaho Central near downtown Hyrum. The sand and gravel for the concrete was shipped from the Ord Bundy pit at Brigham City. The sand and gravel was unloaded into bins by a power clam shell. Cement in sacks was shipped to the siding in box cars from Devil’s Slide, Utah. It was to be unloaded by hand and placed where it could be emptied into the batched material. The total crew to handle this work was four men. Since we were working about four miles from the spillway we were away from supervision. The construction superintendent placed me in charge of the small crew.
The work went something like this. A dump truck divided into four compartments would arrive from the spillway. It would drive under the aggregate bins. I would weigh out the proper amount of sand and gravel; dump it into the trucks first compartment. I would continue this until all four compartments were filled. The truck then moved up to the cement where bags of cement were dumped into the compartments. It was repetition work. No real excitement.
Working with me was a clamshell operator of middle age; two men in their fifties from Wellsville, Utah dumping cement. One young man from the Bureau of Reclamation, the inspector and of course me, a brash young man of twenty-two, running the scales.
Daily, six days a week, we performed the work through September, October, November and part of December. Then one cold early December day, up on arriving at the batch plant we found the sand frozen in the bins. We began with bars to attempt freeing the flow of sand. It was frozen solid. We couldn’t move it; but we continued to try. I climbed to the top of the bin and began digging to free the sand. While doing this I heard a vehicle drive up. Then I heard the voice of the loop, the spillway superintendent, cursing the two cement men for not getting the batches ready. He was very angry and was being belligerent with the two laborers. Immediately I ceased work and ascended from atop the bins. I confronted the superintendent. I asked him to cease being belligerent, and told him he had no right to treat men in that manner. He looked at me; wheeled, entered his pickup and raced away. The four of us freed the aggregate and proceeded to weigh batches. A company pickup drone up. It was a man from the company office. He left the pickup carrying an envelope. He brought it to me and sheepishly announced that the loop had fired me. It did not surprise me nor did it make me feel chagrined. He was the boss. His decision would stand. Anyway I was to enter Utah State on December 25th. I felt I was right but he had the power to fire. Life goes on. It was the only time in my life that I was discharged from employment.
The work went something like this. A dump truck divided into four compartments would arrive from the spillway. It would drive under the aggregate bins. I would weigh out the proper amount of sand and gravel; dump it into the trucks first compartment. I would continue this until all four compartments were filled. The truck then moved up to the cement where bags of cement were dumped into the compartments. It was repetition work. No real excitement.
Working with me was a clamshell operator of middle age; two men in their fifties from Wellsville, Utah dumping cement. One young man from the Bureau of Reclamation, the inspector and of course me, a brash young man of twenty-two, running the scales.
Daily, six days a week, we performed the work through September, October, November and part of December. Then one cold early December day, up on arriving at the batch plant we found the sand frozen in the bins. We began with bars to attempt freeing the flow of sand. It was frozen solid. We couldn’t move it; but we continued to try. I climbed to the top of the bin and began digging to free the sand. While doing this I heard a vehicle drive up. Then I heard the voice of the loop, the spillway superintendent, cursing the two cement men for not getting the batches ready. He was very angry and was being belligerent with the two laborers. Immediately I ceased work and ascended from atop the bins. I confronted the superintendent. I asked him to cease being belligerent, and told him he had no right to treat men in that manner. He looked at me; wheeled, entered his pickup and raced away. The four of us freed the aggregate and proceeded to weigh batches. A company pickup drone up. It was a man from the company office. He left the pickup carrying an envelope. He brought it to me and sheepishly announced that the loop had fired me. It did not surprise me nor did it make me feel chagrined. He was the boss. His decision would stand. Anyway I was to enter Utah State on December 25th. I felt I was right but he had the power to fire. Life goes on. It was the only time in my life that I was discharged from employment.
Home Again
Immediately after being dismissed I checked out of the Hansen Widow’s home. That day I caught the Utah Idaho Central Electric Railway to Logan. There I spent the night at my cousin Lonnie’s home. It was with Lonnie that I was to reside while attending Utah State University during the 1934 winter and spring quarters. The following day I returned to my home in Ogden. My time away from home while working at Hyrum dam had been near five months. It was the longest time away from home that I had ever experienced. My return was like the return of the prodigal son. It was good to be home. Father was now engaged in moving the wheelwright gravel plant from 20th Street and Monroe to the Weber River site underneath the 24th Street viaduct. Doris was 14 years old and becoming a young lady. She was still hammering the piano and becoming an accomplished young singer. Mother was still her quiet lovable self; keeping a spotless household.
A quick check with the 12th Streeter found continuing changes. Jack Hilton was going steady with a girl named Elanin Poulter. June Forsha was doing the same with Elaine’s sister Melba. Doxey Stone was really serious with June Leavitt. Andy Isakson was being snared by Lucile Gale. All these girls lived close to one another on Cross Street. John Purdy no longer could put up with his dictatorial father, and had joined the Navy. Ivan Hardy, Herb Isakson and Davy Purdy were the only ones free from steady dates or the armed service. The 12th Street gang was coming unglued and looked as though it was going down the drain. I, also, up to this date had remained free from the clutches of a female. What this amounted to was that none of the girls would have anything to do with me. Dancing, a girl’s greatest desire, was still something that eluded me at the age of 22. Girls wanted to dance not sit on the sideline. Besides that I always felt awkward in the company of an individual girl. Girls in crowds did not bother me but just one of my own scared me to death.
One of the 12th Streeter was out of town. Ross Beverly had obtained employment in Pocatello, Idaho with a wholesale grocery business. Ivan Hardy by now had a number of tasks; his post office duty; delivering packages for a number of retail stores and handling some grocery deliveries for AM Food stores.
A quick check with the 12th Streeter found continuing changes. Jack Hilton was going steady with a girl named Elanin Poulter. June Forsha was doing the same with Elaine’s sister Melba. Doxey Stone was really serious with June Leavitt. Andy Isakson was being snared by Lucile Gale. All these girls lived close to one another on Cross Street. John Purdy no longer could put up with his dictatorial father, and had joined the Navy. Ivan Hardy, Herb Isakson and Davy Purdy were the only ones free from steady dates or the armed service. The 12th Street gang was coming unglued and looked as though it was going down the drain. I, also, up to this date had remained free from the clutches of a female. What this amounted to was that none of the girls would have anything to do with me. Dancing, a girl’s greatest desire, was still something that eluded me at the age of 22. Girls wanted to dance not sit on the sideline. Besides that I always felt awkward in the company of an individual girl. Girls in crowds did not bother me but just one of my own scared me to death.
One of the 12th Streeter was out of town. Ross Beverly had obtained employment in Pocatello, Idaho with a wholesale grocery business. Ivan Hardy by now had a number of tasks; his post office duty; delivering packages for a number of retail stores and handling some grocery deliveries for AM Food stores.
Utah State - Cousin Lonnie
I was home about two weeks before it was enrolment time at Utah State. With all my meager belongings packed in a suitcase and a handbag, I traveled to Logan, Utah to live with my Cousin Lonnie’s family on the Island. For clothing, I remember having one pair of shoes; one pair of slacks; three shirts; four pair of socks; one leather coat jacket and a suit of clothes. Lonnie’s wife Alice shared their bedroom closet for my clothes. The lived in a four room house; parents and four children. The children ranged from four years of age to 12 years. My bedroom was the living room where, I at night, folded down the studio couch making it a bed. We all shard the same bathroom. Lonnie and Alice used one bedroom; the four kids the other bedroom; I slept in the living room. Alice cooked and fed us all in the kitchen. It was close but I do believe we all enjoyed it. Alice was a good cook. Her food was always delicious. She baked and we ate a pan cake for every evening meal. There were few days that did not end pleasantly. We all in the home duties and work as fit our age. Lonnie, in addition to his employment; kept some chickens and rabbits. He also made of number of boys in the LDS 7th ward happy being the scout master. Almost all my working time was spent away from the Lonnie Paul home. Five days per week I had an 8 AM class. I walked from the Paul home to the university campus; a distance uphill of about two miles. The classes I registered for were all morning, one hour classes. They were all major business oriented classes. One class, instructed by Dr. Wanlass, continued for both winter and spring quarters. That class was a study of business problems and solutions. From Dr. Wanlass I obtained the knowledge of how to analyze a problem and then how to solve it. This included finance, production, labor, sales, accounting and personal. He and Dr. Hurst of Weber College implanted in my mind the necessary knowledge of a business operation; its problems and solutions. Over the years I have forgotten the other classes and whatever they were about. I have never forgotten Dr. Hurst or Dr. Wanlass.
To continue my daily activity schedule, I normally took a sandwich to school for lunch. After lunch I would stay in the library and study until near 5 PM. I would then return to the Paul home for that well cooked dinner complete with a piece of pancake covered with a delicious topping.
Within a few weeks I had made evening schedules. Immediately upon setting up residence in the Paul home I found myself going with my cousin Lonnie to the LDS church mutual activity on Tuesday evening. That led my being invited to play MMen basketball.
To continue my daily activity schedule, I normally took a sandwich to school for lunch. After lunch I would stay in the library and study until near 5 PM. I would then return to the Paul home for that well cooked dinner complete with a piece of pancake covered with a delicious topping.
Within a few weeks I had made evening schedules. Immediately upon setting up residence in the Paul home I found myself going with my cousin Lonnie to the LDS church mutual activity on Tuesday evening. That led my being invited to play MMen basketball.
Utah State - FIRE!
One incident occurred at the Paul home that winter that was frightening, entertaining and later in life laughable. One Saturday morning, with us all in the home; four children and three adults someone said “I smell smoke.” We quickly began looking. Lonnie going into the children’s bedroom saw smoke coming from the clothes closet. Opening the door obtained instant fire. The house was on fire. A quick call for help and fast work on Lonnie and my part kept the fire to tow closets and one bedroom. The big loss was the children’s clothes and some of the wood-work. How did the fire get started? Little four year old Robert Bud Paul went into the closet with matches and lit the fire and then closed the door. We never let him forget and still kid him to this day. He is only now general manager of AMCOR, the company I helped build and he now manages.
Utah State - Ward Ball
The Logan 7th Ward Church had an excellent basketball program. They had been the Northern Utah Champions for some seven straight years. Their coach looked at my 6‘2: height and said “Do you play basketball?” I said yes and was given a suit immediately. Mutual class on Tuesday; Basketball practice on Wednesday; games played Friday and sometimes Saturday kept most of the evenings filled. I made the first squad and formed some new friends. They consisted of short, sharp shooting Stemmy Hull, a forward; John Broberg big burly 6’6”: at the center; two brothers, Allan and Stan Scoles for the fast, tall guards. On the other squads I had been a center but on this one I became forward.
We played in addition to our church stake teams other ward and commercial teams in Cache valley. Because we were considered a good team we were always being challenged by some team that thought they could defeat us. We remained undefeated as of the middle of March. We were Logan Stake champions. We were going to the LDS church championship tournament in Salt Lake City.
One week before we were to go to the tournament we lost our coach. The company that employed him moved him to somewhere in Louisiana. We left for Salt Lake without a coach or without supervision. We thought that we were good enough without a coach. We had won too many consecutive games. We had the big head.
Our first tournament encounter of all things, was the Ogden 8th Ward team. This was a team that, when I had played with the Ogden 21st ward, had always beaten us. They were a good team and had a good coach. We, now, did not have a coach. But we knew we could beat the Ogden 8th. We had beaten everyone; why not the Ogden 8th. We could easily have been called over confident. In the first half of the game we built a rather pleasing lead. At halftime, without a coach, we talked about how good we were. What we should have talked about was how we were going to keep that lead.
Coming out for the second half I was greeted by two of the Ogden 12th Streeters; Doxey Stone and Jack Hilton of the Ogden 21st. They had come to Salt Lake to watch their friend Charley Ward play.
The second half started. In almost no time that bunch from Ogden 8th decreased our lead to a mere two points. We called time out and without a couch we all talked about what to do. The Ogden 8th played slow deliberate ball and before we knew we were behind. We tried to get better organized; we couldn’t do it. We lost a game we should have won. Yes we found out that we were not as we thought. It was then that we understood what the value of a good coach is. Also the loss was a good lesson on over confidence. Never in all of life underrate your competitor. This is true not only in sports but in all of life’s activities. The selling game is particularly one to watch over confidence. Before you know it your competitor will walk away with the order while you are patting yourself on the back.
We played in addition to our church stake teams other ward and commercial teams in Cache valley. Because we were considered a good team we were always being challenged by some team that thought they could defeat us. We remained undefeated as of the middle of March. We were Logan Stake champions. We were going to the LDS church championship tournament in Salt Lake City.
One week before we were to go to the tournament we lost our coach. The company that employed him moved him to somewhere in Louisiana. We left for Salt Lake without a coach or without supervision. We thought that we were good enough without a coach. We had won too many consecutive games. We had the big head.
Our first tournament encounter of all things, was the Ogden 8th Ward team. This was a team that, when I had played with the Ogden 21st ward, had always beaten us. They were a good team and had a good coach. We, now, did not have a coach. But we knew we could beat the Ogden 8th. We had beaten everyone; why not the Ogden 8th. We could easily have been called over confident. In the first half of the game we built a rather pleasing lead. At halftime, without a coach, we talked about how good we were. What we should have talked about was how we were going to keep that lead.
Coming out for the second half I was greeted by two of the Ogden 12th Streeters; Doxey Stone and Jack Hilton of the Ogden 21st. They had come to Salt Lake to watch their friend Charley Ward play.
The second half started. In almost no time that bunch from Ogden 8th decreased our lead to a mere two points. We called time out and without a couch we all talked about what to do. The Ogden 8th played slow deliberate ball and before we knew we were behind. We tried to get better organized; we couldn’t do it. We lost a game we should have won. Yes we found out that we were not as we thought. It was then that we understood what the value of a good coach is. Also the loss was a good lesson on over confidence. Never in all of life underrate your competitor. This is true not only in sports but in all of life’s activities. The selling game is particularly one to watch over confidence. Before you know it your competitor will walk away with the order while you are patting yourself on the back.
Utah State - Home Brew
At Utah State one of my Yellowstone companions re-entered my life. Joe McCracken the Yellowstone wit, was attending the Aggie school. For the six month period of 1934 Joe and I spent many joyous hours together. Joe’s aunt was financing Joes schooling. He had a two room apartment. We spent much of our free time in his apartment.
Home brew, an alcoholic beverage, had been made in homes during prohibition. Joe suggested we make some home brew. Joe said, “What we can’t drink we’ll sell.” We had both joined Phi-Kappa-Ita fraternity. His idea was to sell it to our fraternity brothers. We purchased a china crock, some bottles, bottle caps, yeast, malt and sugar. With water, malt, sugar and yeast fermentation with the proper heat would soon make home brew. It would take about two weeks per batch with an even room temperature. Our trouble was with coal stove heat we did not have even temperature. This meant we never knew when to bottle the brew. Sometimes it would be too soon and the brew would be wild; sometimes it would be too late and the brew would be stale and dead. Sometimes it would be just right.
We probably made three of four batches. We got wild, stale or the most frightful brew. We drank the just right brew. On a night of a fraternity party would sell the boys some stale or wild brew. They didn’t care what it was as long as it had alcohol in it.
It was a good thing the law never knew of our operation or we may have had a difficult time staying out of Jail. Joe McCracken went through Medical school and became a well qualified Physician.
Through my two years at Utah State were still four quarters short of graduation it was all that I would get. I never went back to school. However I think that the two quarters work was the key to my success in the field of business. Dr. Wanlass’s teaching of business cases that covered so many of all firms problems was printed in my mind. As problems came before me in actual practice, I was able to search my mind for the answer. The answers were not always right but enough of them were to help steer a business towards success.
Home brew, an alcoholic beverage, had been made in homes during prohibition. Joe suggested we make some home brew. Joe said, “What we can’t drink we’ll sell.” We had both joined Phi-Kappa-Ita fraternity. His idea was to sell it to our fraternity brothers. We purchased a china crock, some bottles, bottle caps, yeast, malt and sugar. With water, malt, sugar and yeast fermentation with the proper heat would soon make home brew. It would take about two weeks per batch with an even room temperature. Our trouble was with coal stove heat we did not have even temperature. This meant we never knew when to bottle the brew. Sometimes it would be too soon and the brew would be wild; sometimes it would be too late and the brew would be stale and dead. Sometimes it would be just right.
We probably made three of four batches. We got wild, stale or the most frightful brew. We drank the just right brew. On a night of a fraternity party would sell the boys some stale or wild brew. They didn’t care what it was as long as it had alcohol in it.
It was a good thing the law never knew of our operation or we may have had a difficult time staying out of Jail. Joe McCracken went through Medical school and became a well qualified Physician.
Through my two years at Utah State were still four quarters short of graduation it was all that I would get. I never went back to school. However I think that the two quarters work was the key to my success in the field of business. Dr. Wanlass’s teaching of business cases that covered so many of all firms problems was printed in my mind. As problems came before me in actual practice, I was able to search my mind for the answer. The answers were not always right but enough of them were to help steer a business towards success.
Returning Home
Returning to my home in the sprint of 1934 I found some changes had occurred. The first shock was that I found out that Doxey had married June Leavitt, May 9th, 1934. This was not a surprise, nor was the marriage of Jack Hilton to Elaine Poulter on December 4th, 1934 either. We had all seen these events coming. Available employment had not changed in 1934. Return to any phase of Good times had yet to occur. We, Andy Herby Isakson and I were fortunate to have E.S Isakson again get a school contract. E.J. had a wood mill on 21st and Lincoln Ave. In this mill he had a large wood sanding machine. It was large enough to stand one side of longer 12 feet wide and 20 feet long. It could sand 10 those pieces at one time. EJ. Obtained from the Ogden school board contract to sand all the school desktops that had been damaged over the years by school students with their knives or other sharp objects. It was our task to go to the school, Remove the desktops and by truck take them to the mill. Run them though the sander until they were smooth. The tops were then finished by stain and varnish. They were then returned to the school and placed back on the desks. It was nearly a full summer job.
Sometime during the 1934 summer June Forsha who was dating Melba Poulter obtained for me a date with a young girl, Amar Hickman. The four of us would double ate; doing many things together like going to movies, picnicking, Lagoon, etc. Somewhere along about this time I had taken up tennis. I found that Amar Played tennis. We started to play together and having enjoyment together. I liked her very much but when I made any movement towards lovemaking she would push me off, but she continued to ply up to me and tease me. It wasn’t long until I gave up on Amar.
Sometime during that summer Les Douglas borrowed his brother in law’s car for a date with a young girl. With another couple they went to the resort Lagoon. Coming home Les go speeding and failed to make a turn at high speed. The result was total damage to the car. The miracle about the wreck was that all four occupants escaped with only a few bruises. Les was totally heart broken. He had no money to pay for the car. He was not working so he joined the army. With his army pay he paid off the debt to his brother in law.
Les was to serve two years in the Army. Upon his return to Ogden he was to introduce me to the little girl that has made for me a most happy and enjoyable life. More about that in two years.
It was in 1934 that Harman Perry was first elected Mayor of Ogden. Harm Perry was something new on the political scene. He was not one that believed in the status quo. He wanted to do something new. He started the Ogden Pioneer Days. This was a week long celebration of the Mormon Pioneers entrance into the Utah Valley. Along with events that remembered the pioneers was the beginning of the pioneer rodeo. On the 24th of July a pioneer parade was held. The celebration was eagerly received and since become an event eagerly looked forward to by the Ogden citizens. Harm Perry also was one that was prone to overlooking some of our laws. Open bars and sale of alcohol by the drink was prohibited but Harm had a habit of allowing open bars on 25th St. Many young men of my age felt that Harm was to be criticized for those actions but they were illegal. He was so popular that very little criticism existed for his actions. His popularity continued to exist and he was reelected for some years.
It was in 1934 that I saw a change in my home. My sister Doris was rapidly becoming a young woman. She carried none of the features of her two brothers. She was becoming as beautiful as her mother. Her singing and piano playing was being recognized outside our home. In school and church she was constantly being asked to perform. We at home were beginning to swell with pride as we watched her progress. Even her staid father was beginning to beam with his not too often wide smile.
Another occurrence began to make itself evident. Our next door uncle Percy Decter had after two years been able to get off of the rolls of W.P.A. He was still active in government make work but not classed as one of the unemployed. He was now one of the supervisors of those unemployed. He was now a permanent supervisor in the W.P.A It wasn’t long after he received that position that we all saw his personality return to his conceited self once again. After all it was easer to live with his self conceit that it was to live with his dejection of life.
Sometime during the 1934 summer June Forsha who was dating Melba Poulter obtained for me a date with a young girl, Amar Hickman. The four of us would double ate; doing many things together like going to movies, picnicking, Lagoon, etc. Somewhere along about this time I had taken up tennis. I found that Amar Played tennis. We started to play together and having enjoyment together. I liked her very much but when I made any movement towards lovemaking she would push me off, but she continued to ply up to me and tease me. It wasn’t long until I gave up on Amar.
Sometime during that summer Les Douglas borrowed his brother in law’s car for a date with a young girl. With another couple they went to the resort Lagoon. Coming home Les go speeding and failed to make a turn at high speed. The result was total damage to the car. The miracle about the wreck was that all four occupants escaped with only a few bruises. Les was totally heart broken. He had no money to pay for the car. He was not working so he joined the army. With his army pay he paid off the debt to his brother in law.
Les was to serve two years in the Army. Upon his return to Ogden he was to introduce me to the little girl that has made for me a most happy and enjoyable life. More about that in two years.
It was in 1934 that Harman Perry was first elected Mayor of Ogden. Harm Perry was something new on the political scene. He was not one that believed in the status quo. He wanted to do something new. He started the Ogden Pioneer Days. This was a week long celebration of the Mormon Pioneers entrance into the Utah Valley. Along with events that remembered the pioneers was the beginning of the pioneer rodeo. On the 24th of July a pioneer parade was held. The celebration was eagerly received and since become an event eagerly looked forward to by the Ogden citizens. Harm Perry also was one that was prone to overlooking some of our laws. Open bars and sale of alcohol by the drink was prohibited but Harm had a habit of allowing open bars on 25th St. Many young men of my age felt that Harm was to be criticized for those actions but they were illegal. He was so popular that very little criticism existed for his actions. His popularity continued to exist and he was reelected for some years.
It was in 1934 that I saw a change in my home. My sister Doris was rapidly becoming a young woman. She carried none of the features of her two brothers. She was becoming as beautiful as her mother. Her singing and piano playing was being recognized outside our home. In school and church she was constantly being asked to perform. We at home were beginning to swell with pride as we watched her progress. Even her staid father was beginning to beam with his not too often wide smile.
Another occurrence began to make itself evident. Our next door uncle Percy Decter had after two years been able to get off of the rolls of W.P.A. He was still active in government make work but not classed as one of the unemployed. He was now one of the supervisors of those unemployed. He was now a permanent supervisor in the W.P.A It wasn’t long after he received that position that we all saw his personality return to his conceited self once again. After all it was easer to live with his self conceit that it was to live with his dejection of life.
Wheelwright Construction Co.
In early summer of 1935 Clarence Waterfall, Manager of Wheelwright Construction Co. called me into his office. He offered me a clerical position in the office. Of course I accepted. It turned out to be a fatal experience. I knew nothing of the details that he wanted me to handle. Clarence could tell you what he expected but could not work with you until you knew what he wanted. It was like working in the dark. I failed to understand his procedures and was left with nothing to do when really it was all around me. I lasted for less that two months and was really happy when he advised me that they could do without my services. With that experience I was left dejected. I even felt that what I had learned in college would be of no value to me in life.
After that experience the President of Wheelwrights G. Highly Malan asked me to work with him in obtaining used equipment from a closed cement manufacturing plant. I took the job which turned out to be hauling junk equipment from the plant and storing it in Wheelwright’s yard in Ogden. It disgusted me to see a man acquiring used equipment that would never be put to use.
When Highly Malan finally ran out of his silly venture in the used equipment, I returned to company as a truck driver. We were building the diagonal road between five points and Hot Springs. A highway that eliminated North Ogden and Pleasant View. We were working two shifts; one from four in the morning until twelve noon; the other from twelve noon to eight P.M. I worked the morning shift. I then went to the shop on Quincy where I helped the shop foreman, Denny Moore. Denny was a straight forward, hard worker with full knowledge of what he was doing. You never wondered what he wanted done; how long it would take to do it and like my father, hours or days meant nothing. Getting the work done was all important. Denny liked me and I liked him. Work around him was never a drag. You always felt good at the end of the day.
After that experience the President of Wheelwrights G. Highly Malan asked me to work with him in obtaining used equipment from a closed cement manufacturing plant. I took the job which turned out to be hauling junk equipment from the plant and storing it in Wheelwright’s yard in Ogden. It disgusted me to see a man acquiring used equipment that would never be put to use.
When Highly Malan finally ran out of his silly venture in the used equipment, I returned to company as a truck driver. We were building the diagonal road between five points and Hot Springs. A highway that eliminated North Ogden and Pleasant View. We were working two shifts; one from four in the morning until twelve noon; the other from twelve noon to eight P.M. I worked the morning shift. I then went to the shop on Quincy where I helped the shop foreman, Denny Moore. Denny was a straight forward, hard worker with full knowledge of what he was doing. You never wondered what he wanted done; how long it would take to do it and like my father, hours or days meant nothing. Getting the work done was all important. Denny liked me and I liked him. Work around him was never a drag. You always felt good at the end of the day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)