letter from my grandmother Ruth Barry Ricketts

This was written August 6, 1958, five days after the birth of my daughter, Anne Flavia Reese by my grandmother Ruth Barry Ricketts to my mother Anna Louise Ricketts Atwood.

Dear Anna,

I am sending you a list of the names of "Ann's" in my branch of the family as follows:

Mary Anna Fisher Barthel   …my mother's mother 1st generation (nineteenth century)

Anna Mary Barthel Barry…..my mother    2nd generation

No Ann's in my generation (my mother goofed.) I was eldest child, and a daughter however.

Anna Louise Ricketts Atwood   4th generation

Patsy Ann Atwood Reese    5th generation

Anne Flavia Reese     6th generation

Ruth Barry at age 12

Baby Bill Reese

Bill was born on June 28, 1960. We named him William Hayne Waring Reese.

 Anne liked him, I think.  But every time I sat down to nurse him, Anne would run out the front door. (She had figured out how to move the little lock on the screen.)

We had a very busy summer.  Bill grew fast; he stood at 8 months and walked by the time he was 9 months old.  I really enjoyed both kids that year.

Anne's birthday tricycle

Anne Flavia was two years old on August 1, 1960.  Bill was just 2 months old.  We were living on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo in a garden-style apartment.  For her birthday Anne got a new red tricycle.

She is so well coordinated, by the end of the day she could not only ride but back up and turn around.

More from the scrapbook featuring Anne Flavia Reese during the 22 months before her brother Bill was born.  Photos from Iowa City, Iowa, Buffalo, and Lockport, New York.

The song I sang here was a favorite of all 3 kids. It is
The Old Woman and the Little Pig from a record by Jean Ritchie.

Anne Flavia's first week, 1958

These photos were made in Iowa City before Hayne and I moved to Buffalo, NY for his first teaching job at the University there.

Granny Reese (who is in the lower photo )came with her husband,
Tom F. Reese to Buffalo to help us move.  Anne travelled well since she was just two weeks old.

Austin reunion of Mother's family 1959

Left to right: Patsy Atwood Reese, Ann Atwood, Ruth Ricketts with Anne Flavia on her lap, and Donald Ricketts.  these were Mother's parents at the home of mother's sister Elna Hanks in Austin.

There are 4 generations of first daughters in the top photo.  Later on when Anne Flavia had a daughter Margaret Ellen Harrison, the five generations picture was made. By then Donald Ricketts has passed away.

a Christmas letter from 1960 by Patsy Reese

75 Janice St., Apt. 79
Buffalo 7, New York
December 12, 1960

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

We are all well and expect a white Christmas up here.

Anne Flavia is 2-1/2 now; she makes small decisions, long sentences, and peanut butter sandwiches for herself and Kitty, who came to live with us in September.

Bill is 6 months old Dec. 28 and at about 17 pounds is beautifully co-ordinated.  He is constantly on the move, and his curiosity is matched only by his ambition.

Hayne is well-liked at the University of Buffalo….too busy is you ask me but he enjoys the work, especially his research. We plan a long trip home this summer with stops at almost every relative's house and a couple of weeks in Mexico, baby-sitting compliments of Ann and Thurston Atwood.

I haven't taken any course yet, but have joined a group to play chamber music once a week (amateurs) and I'm librarian on the board of La Leche League, a group for breast-feeding education.  They helped me a lot before Bill was born (he's still nursing) and I enjoy helping them.

Here's hoping we get to see all of you this summer and that you have a great New Year!

Love,

Patsy

Holiday dinner at the Atwoods' 1978

This is in the Atwood kitchen in Mineral Wells.  That is Patsy with the long braids.  Anne Flavia next to me, and Bill on the right.  In the background are Margaret and Mother, Ann Atwood.  I think the year was 1977 or 1978.  Look at the splendid turkey dinner!!!  It was either Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Anne, Bill and Margaret with their Atwood grandparents

I am pretty sure these photos were taken by my mother, Ann Atwood.  I am positive that the one below was made in the Atwoods' front yard in Mineral Wells.

And the ones on the right were made at Lake Comanche, when all 3 kids went with their grandparents on a camping and fishing trip.

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.