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By Jim O'Leary
An e-mail newsletter for and about Waverly people

Don came upon this by-line while reading the Howard Lake memory section. He did some search and found a wealth of material about Waverly, in the days when Grandpa was living there. I have enjoyed reading these so very much, and think you will, too. --DMA Who better to tell us about our Irish ancestors than another Irishman? Thanks, Mr. O'Leary.

Excerpts from several newspaper columns follow:

Easter Eggs

The Waverly Community Store, A.S. Mellon, prop., was advertising Easter specials in this issue. Mr. Mellon was not above a little sermonizing in order to lure customers to his corner grocery: "What a joyous time is Easter!" he wrote. "The world is getting green again and young again. Every moment of life should be enjoyed. Your meals should be enjoyed! They will be, by you and your whole family, if you make it a habit to shop at the Waverly Community Store, where good foods are always procurable and where moderate prices are always maintained."

Some of the prices posted in different ads were: raisins seven cents a pound and canned Tomah salmon (pink) were at 10 cents. Eggs were seven cents a dozen, Folger's coffee, vacuum packed, 29 cents a pound, and a 10-pound sack of sugar sold for 48 cents. Even at those prices, many people could not afford to buy groceries.

Mr. Mellon was Waverly's Mayor in 1933 and, later was elected and re-elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. He also served one term in the Senate of Minnesota.

Although he ran the "Protestant" grocery store in town, he seemed to hire many Catholics to work for him, including Betty Gritz, and the gorgeous Eleanor Diers.

Even though Mr. Mellon was a highly regarded leading citizen and very popular, Mr. Francis ("Marks") McDonnell, "Ye Olde Editor" of "Ye Towne Gossip" seemed to have it in for him. Marks never failed to give a weekly negative health report on Mr. Mellon, who did, in fact, live to a ripe old age, despite the gloomy prognosis Marks gave him week after week. In the Easter issue was this alarming item: "Word was received in Waverly this week stating that Mr. A.S. Mellon, who is a patient at the Mayo Hospital at Rochester, was just holding his own. It will be at least a month before he will be able to return home, if at all. He went to Rochester last week."

Elaine,

Would you be willing to write about the story that you and DeLoris told me, about Grandpa Anderson's few times away from the farm? Where and when and why he never went again. How hard he worked, etc. Thanks, Donna

Travel, Years Ago
by Elaine

Travel during Harry and Cleo's life was rare, as it was with most other families. Some relatives who worked on the railroad section lines got PASSES so they could go places on the train. One wonders WHY they did not travel more?

To begin with, Harry was drafted in 1918 and took the train. He got as far as New Rockford, North Dakota, when the armistice was signed and the soldiers were returned home. That is as far as he got from home before he got married.

After marriage, the babies came (No Pampers, either!) and that was a hard thing to travel with little ones, often two in diapers at the same time. One time they did take a trip to Jamestown, North Dakota, to see an old aunt there. On the way home, Elwood opened the door on the old Model T and fell out -- the car wheel ran over him. As I remember, a police car escorted them to Fargo to a doctor. This happened around Casselton; I am sure that put a damper on traveling with three little ones!

These were the days of the Model T and later came the Model A, and many roads were dirt, or in some places graveled. We did not have the blacktopped roads and road maintenance that we have nowadays. Then came the dirty thirties. And one was just thankful to have a HOME to be in, and no one thought of traveling -- as who had the few cents for a gallon of gas?

However Harry did get a trip to Sioux City, Iowa, with the Dwight beekeeper, who was trucking some honey (or bees) to that area. We kids stayed home with Mom and we enjoyed hearing about that BIG TRIP!

In 1941, we moved to the farm. Here we had a barn full of animals that needed a lot of daily attention. These were the years the folks really had to work hard to pay for the farm. I remember Dad telling that pig prices were good for a few years, and that's what paid for the home farm. One did not go far, as they were home to tend the animals, do the haying and to take care of all the winter chores that go with animals.

In 1947 Harry got his FIRST AND ONLY NEW car; it was a maroon colored DODGE. The drawback ... it was a two door!!! Can you imagine a couple with seven growing children and Grandpa trying to navigate into a two door? And with egg crates and cream cans to take to town to exchange for groceries? And so it seemed only one or two persons went to town each time!

In the 1950's, Mavis was working in Fargo, and she had a vacation, so she took Harry and Cleo to Swift Current, Canada, in the big old Chrysler to see Harry's brother Maurice, and his family. Harry was impressed with the large wheat farms, etc. and seemed to enjoy this trip.

It seems much of the traveling was to local friends and family, and to this day I am thankful that they both enjoyed their HOME and appreciated that. I find there was not the money for travel; the family's needs came first, which is hard to understand in this age of modern cars and roads, and salaries that people have nowadays. When you pick chickens for 2 cents each ... or do hard manual labor at the Dwight Farm for 25 cents an hour -- as Harry did -- one does not have much time for travel. I find it rewarding to see how they progressed from these jobs, to buying farmland to leave something for each one of us kids today. May we ever appreciate the value of hard work and contentedness in the little things each day.

Elaine

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LET'S GET BETTER ACQUAINTED
by Donna

I have a question, to any of you that feel like sharing... (If you receive this Bulletin, you are an eligible contributor; please don't feel like you are just a wallflower or onlooker!)

What is the earliest memory you have?

An Early Memory
by Gert
(Gert is my "little" sister)

Donna's question is an interesting one and the earliest memory was something I thought about, too. I truly believe that a vivid memory will be something of trauma or fear when you are just a little one, because love and warmth are wrapped around you and make you feel safe and protected. Maybe that is not right, but that's how I feel.

The earliest memory that I have (and a feeling I carry with me yet in life) is walking on the bridge over the Mississippi in Monticello. The bridge then had steel gratings on it and the horrid fear of falling took over. Why we were there, I don't know, unless after meeting at Grandma Olson's we went to see Moldenhauers. To this day, I do not like being up high, and if I am, I have a fear of falling. I was about 3 years old at that time.

(No, we weren't going there that time, Gert; we were on our way to Rush City to visit Dad's cousin, Rolly Haines and family; also to see Aunt Jane and Uncle John Haines. We made an overnight stay at their place -- and I was scared on the bridge, too!)

Here is another question. I would still enjoy having your answer!

1.Describe a wonderful vacation you have taken. What made it great?--

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To Ireland
by Char
(Mavis and Tom's daughter)

Hi! Just a little addition to the bulletin about our trip to Ireland. It truly is as green and lush as the pictures you see. It rains often to maintain this, but we were very lucky, and only got in on a couple showers.

We attended a church convention, which ran from Sat.-Tues. We met a lot of new people and even some old acquaintances (Heidi Hites, for those who know her, and her fiance).

We traveled with another couple from Minnesota, so there were 11 in our group. We were quite amazed how our husbands turned into real gentlemen, coming around and opening the car door very often for us. Although, it could be that they forgot that the steering wheel was on the other side of the car!!! We did enjoy it while it lasted, though!

We toured the east coast after convention, stopping to wade in the Irish Sea, and observe the jellyfish. Then we traveled into Northern Ireland. It is a beautiful coast -- rugged and picturesque in places and sandy in others. Hiking around Giants Causeway was great. It's a huge rock formation made from the lava cooling from a volcano. Went to Londonderry, the "walled" city. It was built for protection in the 17th century.

The kids were sooo impressed with all the castles. Some in ruins, and some restored. We stayed in a "haunted" one one night!

My relatives live in Cork, which is in the southern part. We stayed with them for four days, and saw the sights in that area, including the places where the Morgan ancestors had lived. Waterford is a town in the southern part where crystal is manufactured, so of course we had to bring back some souvenirs.

Lastly we toured the west side; again, breathtaking views along the coast. There is a place called Cliffs of Moher, where you can hike along the edge of the ocean. It is gorgeous, but has a 700 foot drop down, extending about five miles along the coast. Ideal for anyone into photography!

Driving was interesting, to say the least! The steering wheel was on the opposite side of the car, the stick shift had to operated with the left hand, and you had to drive on the left side of the road! A lot of the roads are unbelievably narrow. Built for carriages, with stone walls on either side, it would be a major task to widen them. We were told that they don't make cars with cruise controls on them, and I can understand why. There is not a straight stretch of road anywhere, not to mention stopping for sheep or cattle!

We had a busy two weeks, and enjoyed every minute. I would definitely recommend it for a great place to visit.

Char Myron

+ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR?
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I really appreciate "The Bulletin" and all the news and information. I wish to continue to be a subscriber. Hopefully, I can find something to contribute, also.

Love,
Merna

Mom:

Thanks again for the Bulletin! It was fun to hear from Carol.
Take care
Love Marlene

Again, you have an interesting column. so many good writers in the family! fun to hear. Take care. Keep up your good work... Elaine.

Excellent! As always, enjoyed it immensely. You've gotten some fun, new additions and will miss your trip story when it's done, really enjoyed that!
Donna

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY: There are two theories about arguing with a woman ... neither works. --Will Rogers

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EDITOR'S POLICY: If you wish to subscribe to The Bulletin, simply send me a statement of that fact. If you wish to keep receiving it I hope you will contribute to one of the columns that are running in this family epistle (at least occasionally!). My e-mail address is dma49261@juno.com

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This Bulletin is copyright Dorothy M. Anderson; the contents are also copyrighted by the authors and photographers and used with their permission, and the contents are not to be used for any commercial purposes without the explicit consent of the creators.

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