Margaret Ellen Reese starts school

Margaret Ellen Reese was always a pretty girl and knew how to smile for the camera.  I always bought red and navy clothes for her so whatever she wore would go together.  I am not sure which of these shots is the younger one, but they are from kindergarten and first grade where she attended Harlem Road Elementary School in Buffalo.  We lived in a duplex right behind the school.

Anne, Bill and Margaret in Door County

When Hayne married Nancy Mann a few months after the divorce, they got a summer place in Door County, Wisconsin.  The kids would go there in the summer for a week or so to visit.  I got lots of funny letters from them and some real good photos, some of which I haven't found yet.  But here are three that I am pretty sure were made there.

More about Bill Reese's early days

These photos are both from visits to T.R. and Ann Atwood, Bill's grandparents, my parents.

On the left he was celebrating his first birthday I think, sitting on TR's lap.

A couple of years later, he was in the back yard at the same house, probably getting ready to play in the lawn sprinkler.

Bill was a good-humored baby, but he wanted to do everything for himself, and didn't spend much time sitting around.  

He started walking at about nine months old. The person who had the most influence on him was his sister Anne.  When their baby sister Margaret was born they almost drove me crazy.

high button shoes on little girls

My mother always told me about getting up on her grandmother's bed where Mama Barry would help her button her shoes.  I finally found this picture of Anna, on the right, with a neighbor's girl, both wearing the high-top buttoned shoes that well-to-do children all wore in those days.

Anne, Bill and Margaret

The picture on the right is Anne, Bill and Margaret made shortly after Hayne and I separated. Bill was 5.  Anne was 7 and Margaret was three years old.  

The year was 1967.


Above is a couple of years later.  At this time we were living in Buffalo in the duplex on Harlem Road which was a block from the elementary school they all attended.

I was working at Hengerer's department store in downtown Buffalo as an interior designer.

My friend Joe Waring

This is my friend Joe Waring.  He was Hayne's cousin who grew up on Windy Hill Farm in Comanche, and lived there all of his life except when he was in the military in WWII.  

Joe became the town hero.  He was a fireman, an EMT, and a Civil Defense warden.  He would never refuse to take me (and./or my friends) on an outing in Comanche County. The first picture was made on a boat on Comanche Lake.  He once took me up in his private little plane to look at Comanche County from the air.  

One day at Windy Hill farm around 1976 we found a nest of baby rabbits..  The young man in the photo above is Rick Waring, Joe's nephew who was living on a nearby farm. 

Baby Bill Reese in the woods by a stream

The baby in my arms is Bill Reese.  Anne and Hayne are in the other pictures made that day; when I find them I will add them to this post.

We were in upstate New York at a state park.  We spent many of our weekends on outings like this.

Letter from my mother when I was a baby

Dec. 19, 1938   ( I was three months old)

Dearest Mamie:  (Mamie was Daddy's older sister who lived in Los Angeles)

…..Bill and I are so very proud of our baby, and I am glad all of his family seem to be so
 fond of her. (Bill was Thurston (my dad's) nickname in the family.  Everybody called them Bill and Ann.)

…..We have been in Comanche for just a little more than a month and are with Alma an Harold.  Alma and I take turns cooking and it works out fine.  Of course taking care of the baby is a big job itself, but Bill is very sweet to help me a great deal, and does the entire washing, even for Alma and Mrs. Atwood.

 …..You can never know how much my life with him means to me…and I suppose no one can except me.  We believe we are the happiest people in the world, even if we haven't become rich or famous.

Sincerely

Ann

Lake Eanes Park in Comanche, 1944

This was a company picnic for the people who worked at Camp Bowie in Brownwood with my dad.
The picnic was at Lake Eanes Park, a favorite place for family reunions and church outings.  In the background right you can see the pavilion where dances sometimes happened in my high school years.  All it took was somebody to open up his car windows with the radio on.

The huge tree in the center was one of many. The rock table and benches were all made of local rock by WPA workers in the 1930's who built parks all over the country in little towns.  One or two of the table bases had limestone imprints of dinosaur tracks.  The limestone in our creeks often held tracks like that.
I guess the most famous ones are in Glen Rose.

Beatrice Pinales

Beatrice Pinales gave me this picture ini 1954 when she was 11 years old.  It was her school picture that year.

The Pinales family lived down the street from us on College Ave. in Comanche.  Their father worked as a bootmaker with Dan Trujillo in his custom boot shop.  Beatrice was the eldest of five children.

She was in a Brownie Scout troop that year. I was a Junior camp leader and taught the girls songs.  We had a lot of fun.

Eventually the Pinales family moved to Fort Worth and I went off to college.  Once in a while I would get a letter from Beatrice during the year before I married.

About ten or twelve years ago Beatrice sent a letter to me from San Antonio by way of Comanche. Some one in Comanche knew my Fort Worth address and forwarded it to me.  In it Beatrice told me she had fifteen children, and that her youngest daughter was named Patsy after me.

I tried to get in touch with Beatrice in San Antonio where the letter was from.  But I never found her.
If you are out there, Beatrice, let me hear from you.

More about Marion Reese

This clipping shows Marion with three of her granddaughters.  Vivian the baby is closest to Anne Flavia in age. Marion was very active in the Ladies Auxiliary of St. Matthews Episcopal Church and so was her sister, Laura Lu Bruton.  They enjoyed making the garments, aprons, and other items.

At one time Marion was president of the auxiliary I think.

Be sure to enlarge the picture so you can see the date, and Marion's pretty face.

response to Mama's letter from Patsy Reese

208 Winspear Ave.
Buffalo, NY
May 30, 1962

Dear Mama,

I can't tell you how glad we were to get your letter about Margaret. We think she has a fine name and are proud of it..and of her.  We wouldn't think of calling her "Mag"  just Margaret, or "Marget" as the other children say it.

We plan to have her christened in Dallas.  Mrs. Reese is making the arrangements; it will be in early June.

It is wonderful to hear that you are feeling good and strong…and that you think of us. We will be sure to bring all 3 of the children to see you while we are in Texas.

Much love,

Patsy

letter from Mama Atwood re: Margaret Ellen Reese

Dublin, Texas
May 14, 1962

Dear Patsy and husband,

I have no way of (unintelligible) my  hand correctly so can't write very Plane but will try to.

I was glad to hear from you, and so glad you think enough of me to name your Baby after me.

I like the name Margaret, or Maggie. But don't do like most of my people do and call me Mag.  Mama and Papa never Did. My oldest Sister was named Ellen so you see she is named after two of us.

I wish I could send you something for her.  But I have no money now. (Mama was in a nursing home in Dublin at the time.)

Honey I have (?) strength so please forgive me for not writing more.

Love to all of you,

Mama

a letter from Granny Reese 1957

Right after Tom F & Marian Reese left Hayne and me in Iowa City in our new home, Marion wrote me this letter.

Mrs. Reese was a considerate and loving mother-in-law whose memory I will always treasure.

Dallas, Tx. Sept 26, 1957

Patsy, Dear:
     We got to Dallas last night about six.  We stopped off in Grandview to see Tom F's 94 year old aunt Ola.  She is remarkable..can get out of bed and sit in a wheel chair.
     Then we went to Martin City to see a cousin Tom F. hadn't seen in 45 years.  He visited Aunt Ola when he was twelve years old and hasn't seen the cousins since.  We went down through Carthage to see another cousin Henry, and they have your house…a huge white frame with great big living room, sun porch (with marble floor) breakfast room, kitchen and glassed in back .  Downstairs four bedrooms, a sleeping porch and 2 bathrooms with marble floors and walls half way up.
      Their only daughter got married June 14th, and she and her husband are in Yale U. and their son is married and lives in New York.
     The trip back was pleasant..cool weather…it had rained last week.
     The enclosed bills are for you..put them aside till you get homesick, then go to the show, get  haircut, or something.  I'm sure that you have already got the apartment all arranged the way you were working.  I hope you didn't wear yourself out.  We are so happy that Hayne has someone of his own with him.  He must have gotten pretty lonesome sometimes.  With your nice personality you will soon make lots of friends.  I hope there are some nice couples in the apartment (building)

     Did you get the TV to work?  I hope so they have some good programs.
     If you think of anything vital you need, let me know.  Idon't remember seeing any pillows in the apartment. I''m sure you will arrange things over a few times till you get them to osuit you.  It's all fun, and here's "good housekeeping" to you.  Make Hayne help….

Love, Marion

P. S. I'm sending some thread, needles, etc.  The recipes are good if you have someone over.  They are nota very expensive.

Christmas 1961: Anne and Bill

 For Christmas in 1961 Bill and Anne got matching red pajamas with Santa hats.  They hung up their stockings, and as you can see at left, Santa brought them both lots of toys.  He filled their stockings, too.

Anne's second birthday

 Anne learned to ride her tricycle on her second birthday.  She got it for her birthday, and by the end of the day she could ride, forward and backward, and turn around.  She was really something!!

The lower picture is Bill.  It was originally a black and white photo but at some point I hand-colored it myself.  Isn't he cute?.  

The front porch at 208 Winspear, fall 1961

We were sitting on the front porch of our house in Winspear, on the Buffalo University campus.  The lady on the left is Charlotte, Claflin.  She was a friend of ours and Bill's godmother when he was christened.  In the first picture you see Hayne with Bill next to him and Anne next to Miss Claflin.  

Hayne took the second picture so I am in it.  I was obviously pregnant with Margaret Ellen Reese who was born January 30, 1962.

A telegram for Mama Atwood 1935

I am sure this warmed her heart.  Mama Atwood really missed her boys when they left home.  And Thurston was the last to go.  He was working in east Texas selling appliances with her brother Watt when he sent her this telegram.  

1962: here comes Margaret Ellen!!

Margaret Ellen Reese was born January 30, 1962.   She was named for my grandmother Margaret Atwood and for my friend Margaret Waring.

We lived at the time in a house that belonged to the University of Buffalo. It was on Winspear Avenue bordering the campus. 

From the first Margaret was a happy baby and very easy to care for. She had a sunny disposition and knew how to get along with people.

Anne Flavia and Bill again

 In the summer of 1961 I was pregnant with Margaret.  Hayne and I decided to go on a second honeymoon to Mexico City.  Anne and Bill stayed with my parents Ann and Bill Atwood in Mineral Wells.  It looks like they may have enjoyed their back yard.

Anne and Bill had pictures made when they were six and four.  That little dress was one of the sweetest dresses Anne ever had.  It was pale blue and green with a ribbon sash and a little bouquet at the waist.

Shen she was in first grade Anne was chosen for a newspaper feature about her school activities. We were proud and kept the newspaper clipping, but it looks like it may have gotten a couple of ink blots or some younger sibling artwork on it.  Anyway here it is….isn't she cute???

My cousin Bobby Hanks

I am going to visit him in Austin tomorrow.  Bobby is the son of mother's sister Elna and her husband Bronson Hanks.  Here is a photo of them made in June of 1938:

Bobby is a little younger than I am.  He was born December 16 and we have always been good friends, except for the time when I was six and he tore the hair off my favorite doll.

Why I love chickens

Uncle Ed and Aunt Laura Atwood

I spent a lot of time with Aunt Laura looking after the chickens at the Atwood  Hatchery.  I remember watching her "grade" eggs with a machine that had a "candle" light to see if the egg was fertile. If it was fertile it had a  tiny drop of blood in it.  The machine sorted the eggs according to their weight.  Double yolk eggs were good to eat but not to hatch chicks from.

I went with her to feed the chickens in each chicken house.  She had to knock on the door so the silly things could get all excited and fluttery and settle down again before we could go in.  The egg boxes were along one wall.  I was allowed to help gather the eggs and put them in wire baskets that she carried.  I just had to be sure I counted how many I added.

Always I have loved to watch chickens, and to listen to them talking softly to each other, and see them turn from tiny balls of fluff to little ugly things with pinfeathers, to big bustling hens over the weeks.  I never cared to go near a rooster, although I think they are beautiful.  When you are a little person, a rooster will try to scare you and even attack sometime if he thinks you are after his hens.

lullaby from Daddy

I never heard this song anywhere except when Daddy sang it to me as a lullaby while he rocked me in the rocking chair.

Baby pictures of Anne Reese and Bill Reese

We had a next door neighbor who was an amateur photographer.  His name was Bill Woods. His wife was named Jean and  they had a little girl, Shannon, who was close to Anne's age.  We had good times together.

Bill Woods made these pictures in December of 1960.

Anne Flavia and Bill Reese

Anne Flavia seemed to like baby Bill unless he got hold of something that belonged to her.

But she ran away every time I sat down to nurse him.  She had figured out how to unlock the screen door.  Sometimes she would get more than a block away before I could catch up to her.