Mama Atwood's World's Fair Cake

I found my grandmother's cook book yesterday.  This recipe was written inside the back page.

Mama Atwood made this light brown cake with a boiled white sugar frosting on special occasions.
Everybody in the Atwood family raved about it.  I don't think she ever wrote this recipe the same way twice.  She was such an experienced cook, she never put assembly instructions down.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 cups flour sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 eggs


Frosting

2 tablespoons chocolate or cocoa
2 tablespoons hot water (melt over double boiler)

2 cups sugar
3/4 cup milk
butter the size of a walnut

boil about six minutes. Needs to come to soft ball stage.

This always was garnished an sometimes filled with pecan halves.  They were usually arranged on the top of the cake.

There is a page on the web about a hundred-pound cake made for the 1939 World's Fair here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shookphotos/4251872771/  It seems to be a fruitcake made in California by the baker's association.
That is the only reference to a cake named World's Fair Cake that I could find online.

A special wall hanging from 1980 by Pat Reese

A wall hanging of mixed media

detail from the wall piece above

Anne Reese worked in the shop right up until her first baby was born.
(The baby was Margaret Ellen Harrison. Born Feb. 13, 1980.)
Anne was a great help and made it possible for me to have time for art work 

The Van Cliburn keyboard, 1977

In September of 1977 the Van Cliburn competition was held at the Landreth Auditorium on the TCU campus.  I wanted to create a soft sculptured piano keyboard to be mounted on the wall which was 19 feet long.  I raised money for the project by offering small scale models of an octave which were made of canvas, and in some cases, satin.

The Cliburn keyboard, a site-specific installation 

This was  a valentine keyboard made of velvet and satin.
 It was actually a study for the larger ones.

A satin keyboard scaled the same as the finished project keys

One of the octaves from the finished keyboard

After the competition the keyboard went to the Cliburn Foundation, where it hung on their wall for a long time.  I don't know what finally happened to it.  Strings that went up from the keys on the wall were lost after the first installation and never found.

In the back yard at 6633 Campana, later that same year

Margaret Ellen Reese, her cooking

Margaret loved to cook and still does to this day.  She made Christmas cookies and decorated them every year.  They were always beautiful.

She made our Thanksgiving turkey dinner when she was 16.  I got lucky and snapped her taking it out of the oven. MMMMM……

We had a feast at 6633 Campana that day!!!

Aunt Alma Atwood Denny

My father's sister Alma was the second eldest of Mama and Manning Atwood's children that lived.  She lived in Comanche, Texas all of her life.  She was very smart and attended Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth for two years.  

She taught school in Comanche before she married Harold Denny in 1926. She and Uncle Harold had one child, Cleve B. Denny; he is shown as an infant in the photo with his mother. In the large family photo from Christmas she is on the far right, standing.

Aunt Alma was particularly active in the Comanche Garden Club and became a judge for flower shows. She researched and wrote a genealogical survey of the George Atwood descendants including Manning Atwood's family.  This project took many years and she traveled extensively gathering data and meeting other relatives through the years. Every one of her generation of the Atwoods and their children all have copies of her book.

Aunt Alma was an amazing housekeeper.  Not only was her house always clean and tidy but it always smelled fresh.  She and Uncle Harold always had a big vegetable garden behind their house and grew their own vegetables and fruit.  They had pecan, peach and apricot trees as well.  She grew roses that were absolutely beautiful. Late in their lives, when her sister Aunt  Ernestine was in the hospital I remember she cut her most beautiful rose from beside her back door to take to Ernestine that day.  

The guest bedroom in their house was the one that had been Cleve's room when he was a boy and lived at home.  She had a particular picture of a little girl in a rocking chair on the wall in that room.  I loved that picture and when I asked her about it she said it was "just a magazine picture" that she had always liked and she had cut it out and put it in a frame.

After she passed away it must have been sold at her estate sale.  But in 2010 it turned up in an antique store in Fort Worth still in the same frame.  Of course I bought it and now it hangs in my house.

Hayne and Patsy wedding rehearsal August 23, 1957

walking down the aisle.  My brother Bill was acolyte.  When he saw me he burst into hysterical laughter.  I WAS wearing high-heeled shoes. 

On the left are birdesmaids Frances Evelyn Atwood, Kay Vanderpool and maid of honor Quay Williams. On right beside Hayne is his best man, Gene Lewis, and his brothers John and Tommy Reese.

On the left seated is my mother Ann Atwood.  Seated on the right are Tom F. and Marian Reese, Hayne's parents.

Hayne's brothers, Tommy and John Reese on the right.

Father John Salberg on the right, lovely lady facing us is  Linda Simpson, my college room mate

who came all the way from Harlingen.

Quay, Hayne, Patsy and Gene Lewis

I think Daddy was speaking when this was made.  How about those CURTAINS?

photos of Patsy, Bill and Bob in 1954

One day a friend took these pictures in our back yard in Comanche.  I believe the Episcopal priest Father John Salberg took these.  They were slides which have now been digitized. I don't know that anyone else had a camera that made slides in those days.

Bob would have been 4 and Bill would have been 12 about this time.  I think it was Easter Sunday.

Margaret Reese at 15

 Margaret was 15 when these photos were made.  In the photo above she is in the Model A Ford that belonged to a neighbor of her grandfather, TR Atwood, my dad.

I have written earlier about how hard Margaret worked when she was young.  I forgot to mention that she was also very beautiful.

Uncle Edward and Aunt Laura in the 1970's

 Uncle Edward Atwood and Aunt Laura ran the Atwood Hatchery in Comanche for almost 40 years.  They had a very nice house on Highway 16 at Wrights Avenue.  Their hatchery property was across the street on Pearl Street.

In 1976 they had a huge estate sale and loaded a moving van with all of their household goods and moved to Everett, Washington.  Aunt Laura's sister Nora lived in Seattle which was just a short drive away.

These photos were made on their moving day.  Aunt Laura took care of her gardens and trees right up until the last minute, and visited with folks who came by to see them off.

Ann Atwood's Vegetable Beef Soup

Ann Atwood's  Vegetable Beef Soup

a pound of lean beef, cubed

at least one large can of tomatoes, maybe some tomato juice as well

half a large or one small onion

lots of chopped celery Ann: "You can't have too much celery")

can of corn, drained

diced potatoes (one or two, peeled)

2 or 3 bay leaves

black pepper to taste

green peas or green beans about 1 cup

anything else that looks like it belongs in that day's soup

Put all of this in a big pot on the back burner.  Cook on low heat for a couple of hours or more.

Serve this to everybody who comes for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner while they wait for the big meal. Or just have it on a cold rainy day. It's good with cornbread especially.

Mama reviews a serial from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

August 23rd, 1928

Mama Atwood only had a third grade education.  She made lots of spelling and grammar mistakes in her letters but it was her own way, and I feel like she should have this voice that is in her letter.  So, here is the original transcript of her letter:

Believe me I have sure been lonesome this week.  But I have kept pretty bussy  and when I was not so bussy I read something to keep from thinking.  There is a Serial by Warwick Deepening in the Star Telegram now.  Title The Three Generations.  So far I like it better than I did Sorrell and Son.  

It seems as though it will be something like Sorrell and Son only the bond of deep Love and respect will be between the Grandfather and Grandson, as much of it as I have read is worth reading.  Get it from the Liberry and read it, as I think you will like it.There is not even tolerance between the Grandfather and Son an Uncle abhorance but tolerance.  And the father is ashamed of the Grandfather and kept the son in ignorance.  But the Son knows and spends a lot of time with him.. 

"I am a good mind to knock you in the head with this mop handle"

(Mama Atwood had her grown children living with her from time to time when they were struggling to make a living after the Depression.  One day she tangled with her oldest son Edward who was already married to Laura Fischer.)

****You know for over a week he had been eating on me.  And I didn’t like that and was mad because he grumbeled at what I had to eat Sunday.  So he was fixing to take Bud to Sipe Springs and I got through in the kitchen and went into the room where he was & he was sitting on the side of the (bed) with his feet in Laura’s lap & she pollishing his shoes.  I said Well I’ll be durned & Sat down like I was exasperated to death.  And told him I had never pollished my shoes where Frank Thurston Harrold or Jack Rambo was and here he was having his wife pollish his now I am compairing you to Jack Rambo.  He didn’t say a thing.

Laura is doing Ruth's work including Washing & Ironing with mine thrown in for their board.  And the folering day after I told hiim the above I was down on my knees mopping the dust up under the radio and it was playing.  He was just getting up and told me twice to tell Laura to come there.  She was out in Ruth’s kitchen busy.  

I reached up and turned down the radio so I could hear him.  And said what he said never mind rough like and called her and told her to give him his pants.  and when he did I let out on him.  I said I am a good mind to knock you in the head with this mop handle.  The idea of a lazy man calling his wife away from her work to get anything within four steps of him.  and that he wasn’t reared to have anyone get his things for him.  He just looked up at me and said he didn’t know where they was.  

But I told him  he had an Idea where they was.  See he had just told me his old weak mother to get up off her knees and go tell her.  I said nothing about that though.  But if Frank or Thurston had heard him they would have told him to wait on himself.  Well anyway, he helped Laura that day dried dishes etc. and got out and worked in the yard and watered flowers etc . and has worked some every day since even to trying to saw down one of those big mesquite trees with a hand saw.

Alma, Frank and Ruth at school 1924

Frank, Ruth, Alma with her child Cleve B 1928

Dear Mamie,

I got your letter today.  Also one from Alma.  She is practicing up on the typewriter, to get her a job.

Frank started to school this morning :”Wednesday” he is going to specialize on Typewriting, Shorthand and English & Math. I asked him to get them to let him do that, so he can get him an office job. He is so little that he never good make a living any other way.  And he likes to be clean & wear good clothes all the time, too.  

I don't know if I can manage to pay for the course & Ruth’s music too or not.  and keep him in the kind of clothes he wants to wear to school.

Ruth’s music costs me $7.00 per month this year.and Franks course I know will cost $2.00 per month, beside other incidental expences.

Ruth will take domestic science & of course that will be an other expence on me.  Dad will pay Part of Ruths science expenses though.  I may have to make Ruth drop her music but I am not if I can possibly help myself.

She gets a credit for music.  & she is tickled to death about it as she is trying to finish high school in 3 years.

She is a Soph. this year & Frank is still a freshman.  I nearly cry when I think about how my boys has done about high school .  Son is not anything but skin & bones.  and yet I can’t get him to quit work and go to school

Edward quits going to school 1924

(Edward was the eldest child of Manning and Mama Atwood.  He was Mamie's half-brother.  He was a very successful businessman and lived in Comanche most of his life.  His business was the Atwood Hatchery.

Mama wrote her very often about her life with the rest of her brood.)

I can’t for the life of me see why I can’t make or get Son to go back to school.  He got mad because I wouldn’t let him go right that evening & get him a pair of trousers & I can’t get him to go back at all.  I have offered to get him pants and even told him to go & let Gille measure him for a suit & he won’t do it.   

I met one of his teachers yesterday & she said he was passing in every thing & is just simply brilliant in science or chemistry, one or the other I forgot which.  It absolutely is worrying me to death nearly.  Dad seems indifferent about it.  But if I was big & strong enough I wouldn’t worry one bit I would whip him & make him go or put him out to hustle his own grub one or the other.   Well I must close

Lots of love      Mother

a few days later:

I received your letter and check today and am now returning check as I Positively cant get or make him go to school . I dont know what is the matter with him he just gets right bull headed when I speak about it.  so I have about give up if he wants to dig ditches and the like all his life, I can’t help it. he is old enough he ought to realize the value of an education and he is too large for me to whip & make go.

A letter from Mamie at age 11

(Mamie is the tallest child standing in back on this photo.)

Mamie was age 11 when she went to MIssissippi to share holidays with her father's family.  She wrote this letter home:

Dear Family,

I am having the best time.  I got more things Xmas day .  Cousin Fayette gave me a pair of bedroom slippers.  Mattie gave me a chamois skin and three hankercheifs.  Aunt Mattie gave me a hankercheif.

Cousin Hattie gave me a nice book.  Aunt Mary gave me a nice pair stockings.

Uncle George Blair Matties papa gave all of his children cousin Mattie and Couosin Fayette and Aunt Mary and myself a ten dollar bill.  Gordon or Buddy came Xmas morning but he didn’t know I was here.  He said he was going to send me something.

Uncle Will Hover gave me some hankercheifs.   Uncle Morgan Blair Matties Papa’s brother gave me a large nice box of chocolate candy.

Hattie, Mattie, Buddy and myself went to Pickens Monday morning and got back lst night (Tuesday night.)  we had a fine time we went out automobiling and had a fine time.

I have been doing so many nice things I haven’t had time to write.

Uncle George Blair is going to send me a picture of Papa.

I went out to the cemetery while I was at Pickens and saw Grandma. and Grandpa King’s grave,  my two aunts Mamie and Hattie, and aunt Hattie’s children.  I certainly had a nice time.  

Buddy went back to Memphis Monday night.  Mr. Blair went back to Takuloh (?) Sunday night and Hattie is going back to school tonight (Wed. night.)  Me and Mattie will be here by ourselves.

Aunt Mary said if she was able she would write a few lines, but she is in bed.  

One reason I didn’t write sooner, I wanted to tell you all what I got Xmas.  What did you all get?

The cow got her chain around it (water for the garden)

Mama Atwood had only a third grade education.  Her mother took her out of school to help with the chores at her boarding house.  Hence the colorful spelling and grammar in her letters.

August 6, 1932

About the trees that Son set out. One of the pecan trees is just fine and the other one I can’t tell if it has grown any at all since spring. One peach tree looks like it will die in spite of me. Though I forgot to water it at one time when I watered the other ones. Also one in the garden where the cow got her chain around it & peeled all the bark off is still living. ...Twice a week I have to carry 15 buckets of water out of the house around on the east side to the three that are around there. All the others I can reach with the hose, thank goodness.

I have already let a part of my garden die and about the water bill ....last month was a dollar and sixty-five cents over the minimum. And the month before it was fifty cents over, and it will go over again this month because I don't mean to let any more of my garden die. But I don't mean to pay any over a dollar and 75 cents either…... As long as I know others who has no meter. ....

Mother's Day at the Atwoods 1928

May 14, 1928

I tried to get my seeds in the dirt all day Saturday, but I never did. I have so much to do I did not have time to fill the box with good new dirt....my dear little daughters both was cooking as hard as they could cook ...a big Mother;s Day dinner to bring down to my house…..

I hever in all my life saw so many good things to eat....we just had the table loaded down. We had fresh black eyed peas, snap beans, English peas, squash , beets, tomatoes, new potatoes, potato salad, lettuce, boiled ham, fruit salad, pies and cake. I though I never would quit eating.

It rained yesterday and last night and the ground is wet and I will have to wait for it to dry before I finish filling up the (flower) box and plant my seeds. Those black=eyed susans is not what I had reference to. But they look like they will be awfully pretty....perhaps the other package, of Lobelia, is really what I wanted. I had them in Bowie County, and I remember now ....they will bloom pretty quick after they start growing. I think the ones I had bloomed in three or four weeks but they did not last long.

Mama Atwood's gardening

Mama Atwood was a serious gardener; it helped to cope with poverty.  And she used organic pesticides like boiled tobacco juice.

April 15, 1928

Doesn’t it beat all...yesterday I told you how hot....and this morning it has sleeted and snowed all morning. The house tops and part of the ground is covered. it looks a little like it will stop though. And just think about it too. I have green cabbage out of my garden for dinner.

April 28, 1928

Yesterday I had peas and green cabbage and radishes out of my garden ....and Mrs. Spence the lady just behind me hollered at me and said, “You don't mean to tell me you have peas large enough to eat!” and I told her I most assuredly did and her and Mrs. Nabors came to the fence and Mrs. Nabors said, “My you are not lazy; you got up and worked and have a garden before any one else had.”

...my beans I replanted are coming up now and I also have squashes and canatalopes and cucumbers now ....I declare it is rather discouraging with the cold and the cut worms and grub worms and english sparrows and now the little green sucking lice has attacked my greens and if I can’t find something to kill or run them...in ten days time they will be sucked to death…..

I boiied some tobacco and took the juice and sprayed them just now. I don’t know if it will do any good or not. I am so mad because ...I intended to put out some tomato plants this afternoon but I am so sore I am afraid to do it. .....And my flowers are not all planted either....

Letter from Thurston to his mother 1934

Thurston had a job with Texas Power & Light Company selling washing machines.  His brother Watt was already working for them and managed to get Thurston hired.

From Hillsboro on a Tuesday he wrote"

Mother Dear….

Well, I broke the ice--and sold a machine--now I have good chance of selling a few more.

Here is five (dollars) …I bought me a hat.

Now I've written about 4 or 5 letters and haven't heard from you at all.  These Bohemians are hard people to trade with.  They act so darn bashful.

If I could surprise this outfit and sell a lot of washers---I believe I could get transferred into a district job.

I love you Lots…'N... Lots….Son

Oath for Confederate Soldiers upon surrender

This is a transcription of the oath signed by my ancestor. Champion Easter Smith in 1865

I, C. E. Smith, Citizen of the State of Texas, do solemnly swear in the presence of Almighty God, that I will henceforth faithfully support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Union of the States thereunder, and that I will, in like manner, abide by a faithfully support all Acts of Congress, passed during this existing rebellion with reference to slaves, as so long and so far as not repealed, modified, and held void by Congress or by decision of the Supreme Court and that I will in like manner, abide by and faithfully support all Proclamations of the President made during this existing rebellion, having reference to slaves so long and so far as not modified or declared void by a decision of the Supreme Court so help me God.

Sworn and Subscribed before me, this 15th day of June, 1865

signed     C. E. Smith

The above named has dark complexion, dark hair, grey eyes, aged 32 years, and is 5 feet 5 inches tall.

John Phipps
Capt. 34 Division, Provost Marsal.

A letter to Manning from Mama Atwood in California

August 8, 1927

Dear Dady,

We got back from Yosemite last night at 11:45 and found your letter.

…I have seen some wonderfully pretty things in the last two weeks.  And rode most to the top of several of the High Sierra mountains.  and got lots of thrills. And my ticket home calls for a ride on the Ocean from here to San Francisco. And on the S. P. R. R.over the High Sierra mountains past part of the country I was over last week.  Then down through Nevada and part of Kansas to Denver, Colorado to Oklahoma, and on to Fort Worth.

I will have to go miles and miles under a snow shed in the High Sierra Mountains.  I saw the train passing through sheds where I will go.  They were then higher than I was.  And I was looking down on the tree tops many, many feet below me….

Fishing in Aransas Pass, Tx. with Mother, Daddy and my kids

Those little blue crabs were really good to eat.  But one time while Mother was getting them ready to cook one got away and ran all over the camper.

Bill, Anne and Margaret enjoyed swimming in the Gulf.  We had a campsite on the beach at the Goose Island State Park.  It is near the sanctuary where the whooping cranes go for nesting. One of the biggest oak trees in the country is in that park.