san antonio
ed (22) dad, mom, dad (19)
|
WE LOOK ONCE MORE AT SIXTY-FOUR
It happened again! In spite of all good resolutions to the contrary, the annual newsletter didn't get written until well into December. Even though the year is pretty well along by December 1, the spirit of procrastination dies hard... It's so darned easy to put things off a few days at a time. Ideally, any annual effort should be written as of December 31st, and dreamed up some six weeks in advance by liberal use of a crystal ball. Then the printer and the mailman would have plenty of time to do their respective parts well before Xmas. But crystal balls seem to be of plastic these days, and give confusing results. So the literary dilemma of covering a year a bit early is still with us.
What was the year like for us? Well, as you might guess, Les got in a lot of travel, covering quite an assortment of geography. It started in February, with a return to Venezuela, where he spent a month. En route, he stopped over in Mexico City, and was greatly impressed by that bustling metropolis. Venezuela was quiet compared with 1963. The political terrorism abated after the December elections, and so he was able to get in some interesting side trips on weekends. One was to Mérida, high in the Andes, where he rode the highest teleférico in the world, reaching up to over 15,000 feet. It was a scenic marvel. On another trip he got deep into the Motilone Indian country on the west side of Lake Maracaibo.
The next trip was by car in April. Sis came down from Buffalo for Fiesta Week so, to start things off, we three drove down into Mexico, swinging around through Saltillo and Monterrey. Sis came back loaded with souvenirs! Fiesta is always a big occasion in San Antonio. Then followed another trip out to Stanford, attending a technical meeting. It was a busy, interesting week. For several months there were only a few trips around Texas, but late in July business took Les to Pittsburgh, Pa., and Niagara Falls, N. Y., so he was lucky enough to see all the improvements at the Falls and visit the folks in Buffalo. The honeymooners who never got to see Niagara Falls back in the days when it was a Mecca for newlyweds, would certainly be surprised today.
Back in 1959, Les attended a Foam Symposium up on Campobello Island, where he was a guest at the Roosevelt cottage. August took him there again, but this time the cottage bad been turned into a national monument. Those at the meeting all commuted from the Maine shore, using a new International bridge. This particular trip was highlighted by hours of tired, aching feet - the result of weekends en route spent at the World's Fair. The Fair is a tremendous spectacle, and well worth while, but it sure is a physical challenge. There's so much to see, and usually so little time to do it in.
About this time, our Kansas City tenants decided to move to a larger house. The place was quickly re-rented, but it was obvious that some long-deferred maintenance should be done at moving time. So, just before Labor Day, Ed and Les drove up with a car full of tools, plus 3 kittens to deliver in KC. That was a week of nightmare. It involved carpentry, electrical work, masonry - even putting in a new steam boiler. The two labored from early morning until late at night, fell into bed exhausted, only to repeat the pattern the next day. When they got back to San Antone, it was all like a bad dream. But just the same, they'd worked miracles in fixing up the house.
There was another quick trip up to Pittsburgh in October. Quick means on short notice, for often these days air travel is anything but quick. You spend hour after hour in air terminals waiting in frustration for a relatively few minutes aboard a plane en route. Ham radio has kept Les pleasantly distracted during the times when he wasn't off on a trip. A big vertical antenna sprouted in the back yard and a beam was stuck on the roof peak. It didn't stay where it was meant to. One morning when Les was in Venezuela a guy wire parted and the beam collapsed with a mighty thud that shook the house giving the banana plants a new kind of fruit. Now it's leaning at the side of the house, secure, but not as high. The short wave rig was rebuilt into an impressive console during the year and WA5GOQ extended its coverage down to 6 meters. The next move. to 2 meters, is in progress now. Les is usually tinkering with equipment and it keeps him too busy to spend much time rag chewing.
The scholastic life seems to be agreeing with Ed, and make no mistake about it. he has been on the educational treadmill pretty steadily for some time. The grind at Texas A&M is not for weaklings and Ed, recognizing this, went to summer school again. Ed has changed a lot since his freshman year at Missouri Valley and his sophomore year at Drury. He has grown taller and put on weight and muscle, his grades are quite respectable, and he's working hard to make himself into an engineer. His mechanical skills really helped on the Kansas City trip in August, and the technical training now in progress shows up in his electronic tinkering. Every so often he blows in for a week end from College Station, dividing his home time between extra sleep and long telephone conversations. The remaining hours he's out on dates.
Dan is a busy beaver. He played all year in the Jeff Band that won high honors in all areas and marched in the Fiesta Parade. He got an award for perfect attendance all year. He took a course in Computer Language and Programming at St. Mary's and one in Radio and TV
announcing at WOAI. Like all boys, Dan likes to drive. He won a local contest in skillful driving, then went to Dallas as SA representative in the Road-eo. He had a course at San Antonio Little Theater, and subsequently the part of Mr. Darling in "Peter Pan. " Dan did a lot of backstage work too, just to round out his experience . Dan's College Board scores were fine and got him a small scholarship at Texas A&I where he is a math major, with banking in mind for his future. He worked hard in politics down in Kingsville, and also pledged Alpha
Phi Omega. For graduation he had a trip back to KC to see his class at Pem Day and visit his friends. He gets taller all the time and as you see, the rest of us look like midgets of some kind.
Our absent member, Larry, is now Sp/4 and is doing a fine job as clerk in the medical warehouse, 4th Field Hospital, Fort Dix. He has a lot of responsibility and from all we hear is well regarded. He reports he has grown taller too - and promises a visit to San Antone some time this spring. Larry gets out next November and will return to Missouri to work on his degree. He still hopes to go on with his long time dream - go to Seminary, then wind up as an Air Force Chaplain. Larry writes often, and so we keep well posted on his activities.
Polly leads a new life with no boys to fuss over and she is finding it hard to get used to. She misses her Kansas City activities. Here she has a little teaching, some accompanying, and trips to the airport to carry and fetch Les. This leaves time on her hands, so she has resumed her membership in AAUW, and has group meetings in several fields. She has done some work back stage at San Antonio Little Theater and hopes to enter the Remedial Reading field,
As for the four-legged department, Peter is no more. Pneumonia and old age brought her down. For months Zeke was the lone cat. His tree climbing now has changed to roof explorations, followed by demands for a ladder to come down. In midsummer, a pellet gun put what looked like a battered rivet almost through him. He pulled through but minus many of his nine lives. Now he lets himself go around comparatively dirty and bedraggled. Zeke loves to ride around the house on Les' shoulder. He doesn't ask - just hops up. When a neighbor left for Turkey, we inherited a white cat with five very young kittens. After getting them on their wobbly feet, and Ed. Mamma, who answers to "Kit" stayed on as our star boarder. She bosses Zeke, smacks Pixie, attacks ankles, demands food at all hours, and has learned that humans are to be loved. She and Zeke are still jealous of one another, but it is lessening. Kit is a talkative feline, round and fat, and getting to be a beautiful animal. She's the one Dan is holding.
One other miscellaneous item. The Egglestons now have an official egghead, having qualified one of the five as a member of MENSA, that high IQ society. Now the other four are wondering which of them can also qualify. MENSA is like Mount Everest. There's no real point in joining the one or climbing the other. But it's there. And maybe it helps us prove a point to ourselves.
Our best wishes to all of you from San Antonio
THE EGGLESTONS
|
san antonio
back yard
dad, ed (21) mom dan (in pem day glee club blazer from KC - 18)
|
Newsletter - 1963
Just about the time the last agonized turkey gobble is heard, another kind of cooking-up begins. It's the Xmas card project, and invariably there's some storm and strife getting everybody together for a picture. This year we did better, using an August photograph. But you can't write about events before they occur, so the newsletter is a last minute production that takes a lot of memory racking. Eventually a design is clipped, patched and pasted together. As always, the printer seems to work a miracle from the crude copy we hand him!
The year started off badly. Mother Eggleston died early In January after what was thought to be only a slight illness and Les rushed up to Buffalo for the funeral, getting there just ahead of rapidly deteriorating weather. Afterward, a howling blizzard set in, accompanied by subzero weather. When the skies finally cleared, he moved on to shiver in -19 F weather in Chicago. In March business took him to Atlantic City and Washington. After his return that month, Polly came down from Kansas City and spent ten long days house hunting. Finally, the right place turned up and a signature placed on the proverbial dotted line.
April is Fiesta time in San Antonio and the activities are hectic. They include a river parade, a big day parade, and a torchlight parade. Along in May, Les moved his bachelor quarters to the new house, using a few sticks of borrowed furniture. He tried to grow corn in the garden
but soon found he was no farmer. The crop was a flop! As usual, there was travel - a quick trip to Chicago. June war moving month. The Kansas City house was rented rather than sold. Les drove up to expedite things dragging a trailer behind him, which came back to San Antonio well laden. What a night. Everything happened in July. Early in the month ALA (American Library Association) published the book on library fire protection that Les had done so much work on during 1961. Then Creole Petroleum asked him to come to Venezuela on a consulting contract; as soon as details were fixed up, a mad race began to get unpacking and settling done before the August departure date.
Venezuela was an interesting experience. Much had changed since the last visit in 1956. The contract was split into two phases, the first of which was completed just before Thanksgiving. After three months in an atmosphere of political terrorism, it was good to return to the States even though the arrival was clouded by President Kennedy's assassination. En route, two days were spent in another old stamping ground, the windswept island of Aruba north of Venezuela, one of the Netherlands Antilles. Ham radio war a big help during the year. Les used his Station WA0BRQ to keep in touch with Kansas City, and the hams there obliged by running phone patches. After the new house gave him a permanent address, he was assigned WASGOQ as his call. It didn't get much service from August to November, but down in Venezuela. Les was regularly talking to the States on YV1CM.
Larry put on Uncle Sam's uniform last November. After basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he came to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio where they turned him into a Medic (better known as a pill roller). That was January to March and Polly got to see him once during her house hunting excursion. From Fort Sam he was lucky enough to get his preferred area of assignment and is now a PFC with Serial #RA 17 646 388. He is sweating out promotion to Corporal and can be addressed at 4th Field Hospital, Fort Dix, New Jersey, Zip 08640. Here his principal job is as a clerk. Perhaps they needed help in counting those pills.
Ed was in Drury College up in Missouri as the term began last fall and had just discovered to his evident astonishment that going to college is a serious business requiring both study and hard work. So he belatedly dug into his books and just missed getting respectable grades but, when he applied to Texas A & M, it was most strongly and pointedly suggested that he go to summer school to get 2 good grades, thus offsetting 2 not-so-good ones. A word to the wise was sufficient and he did excellent work at Trinity University (in S A). So, when he reported to College Station in September, be had made up his deficiencies. This fall at A & M has been tough on Ed and his grades still aren't so hot, but the lad says he can and will do better.
Dan, so far, has been much better scholastically than either of his brothers. At Pem Day in Kansas City his grades were fine, he was football and baseball manager, an officer in the glee club, he took part in several dramatic productions - some musical, some drama - he wrote for the school paper and generally was a credit to himself as an all-round student. Now at Thomas Jefferson High School he's, one of over 800 seniors, he's plugging away at his books when he is not in a red and blue band uniform playing alto or tooting away in the orchestra on his French horn. This is a city of excellent bands and fine football games. Dan has managed to grow into the tallest one of the family and is still going up. What do they put in those vitamin pills these days? They have a Jack-in-the-beanstalk efficiency.
Polly had a strenuous year. She is a pack rat, both by nature and years of practice. During the years in Kansas City an amazing amount of both junk and goodies had accumulated. Since the new house was smaller, weeding out was essential and after the trip to San Antonio, it had to go into high gear. It almost killed her to look at those jammed waste baskets. Packing is no fun, and after a visit to cousins in Oklahoma and antique shops in Arkansas, three travelers en route from Missouri stopped at "Six Flags Over Texas" - a Dallas version of Disneyland. Just now, Polly is making new friends, and hearing the Symphony, the chamber music concerts, seeing some plays, belonging to three parents clubs and the branch of her sorority here. She had a short vacation (?) in Santa Rosa Medical Center and that was a good rest. The occasion was nothing serious, but the doctor wasn't taking any chances.
Pixie the pup is as black as ever. She trails after Polly all day and still hopes to catch a fly some day. So far, we think, she has not succeeded. The flies are smarter than she is! Peter likes Texas and his big back yard, but cries for the attic he loved in Kansas City. There is a crawl space over the house here and when Ed worked up there last summer on home repairs, Peter was his
constant companion. She looks for a way to get there every day. As this is written, Peter is getting over a severe bout of pneumonia and tonsillitis. Just like humans, cats have trouble Peter is on the mend, but it's a slow process. Cats have to get back on 4 feet instead of 2. On October 18th, a wet, scared and miserable small piece of white fur came to the front door. After a bath and some attention he became a lovely kitten who, for some strange reason, was christened Ezekiel, "Zeke" for short. He spends his days up in the pecan tree and his nights as close as he can get to someone. When Les got back home he was enchanted by this playful little rascal and so he gave him the name of "Blanco" (Spanish for white). The kit promised to become a large and handsome cat when he grows up and is most affectionate and responsive. Eventually he may be as well versed as our Jon, whom we had for 14 1/2 years. Next year you will see his picture, provided he stays still long enough for the camera to catch him and he hasn't turned into a squirrel by then.
And so - we all join in best wishes to all of you, our friends, and pray that your year may be full of joy and health and all good things.
THE EGGLESTONS
230 Montpelier Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78228
December 1963
|
now in San Antonio TX
me in my Jefferson H S band uniform.
ed (20) dan (17) dad, mom
|
A word for you on '62
About the time turkeys begin to wonder how soon the ax will fall, the Xmas card recap becomes order of the day, it always seems that you never realize how much has gone on in the past 12 months until you start to knit the loose ends together.
Some years Les seems to travel more than others, this was one such year. Early in January he started with a trip to Chicago, a final conference on the book about library fire protection which he co-authored. Its publication by the American Library Association has been delayed several times, but there's still a good chance the 'Protecting Library Resources" may be rolling off the presses before the year closes.
In May, a two-week assignment took him back to Regina, Saskatchewan, with a swing over to Winnipeg on the way home. The stay was long enough to justify taking the car, so the little Valiant had its first taste of Canada. Consulting firms have their ups and downs. Like all other businesses and in July this unfortunate economic fact caught up with Les. Some contracts didn't materialize as hoped, so job hunting had to substitute for engineering as an essential activity. As the result of many letters back and forth, plus two trips to the West Coast (via military aircraft, naturally!), it looked for a while as if California might have another settler, but that land of smog and taxation wound up in second place. In September, Les accepted a position as Senior Research Engineer in the Fire technology Section of Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
It wasn't easy to Leave Kansas City. It's a wonderful place to live. The decision came after school arrangements for the year had been set up, so the family is staying in Kansas City to finish school. Les set up a Texas bachelor apartment for the interim period. So far, he has resisted the urge to go native and buy him a ten-gallon hat and cowboy boots! In San Antonio the research projects proved to be most engrossing. One concerned the supersonic commercial transport to fly in 1970-75, the other covered a study of conflagrations by using small scale models. There are high hopes that a useful invention may result from the model project. The idea looks good if it can successfully be demonstrated as feasible. The trips continued - Washington and New York in October; New York, Boston and Washington in November; San Francisco, Seattle and Portland in December. They make a good way to get back to Kansas City for unexpected weekends there. Two weeks of active duty in March in Kansas City were followed by a two-weeks electronics refresher at Keesler AFB, BiLoxi, Mississippi, On July 1, that long-awaited silver leaf arrived! It's nice to be a Lt. Col. Once again, in August, the uniform was donned for a two-week unit encampment of the 8581st Recovery Group. So Uncle Sam's Air Force got its share of attention in 1962 - a full six weeks in uniform. As communications officer, there was an implied obligation to acquire practical knowledge in the field. After many hours of code practice, Les got up to 13 words per minute, passed an Amateur General License and received the call signal WA0BRC. This was in March. A kit type transmitter was purchased but many obstacles slowed down progress, so not until September in San Antonio did WA0BRC get on the air. Les operates single sideband phone, mostly 40 meters when he can find time. Contacts have been made all over the country. The rig really gets
out.
Larry had a frustrating year, and probably wishes 1962 could be erased from the calendar. The nervous trouble that plagued him at Gettysburg in 1958 and forced his withdrawal, put him on the skids at Missouri so that in February, history repeated itself. Again he had to abandon the
student way of Life. Larry knows his way around an organ, though, and was offered a lump sum contract to remove an organ in sad repair from one building, recondition it and install it in a Columbia church. It should have been a quick job. It wasn't. delay after delay dragged it out until in May a phone call from his roommate at Columbia said Larry was mighty sick. Mononucleosis was the diagnosis and it was quite a while before he was strong enough to go back to finish up the organ job. By then it was late in the year. Decisions had to be made as to the future. In these days, military service is something you can't disregard in your planning. It's an obligation. Draft Boards don't argue if you happen to be selected. So, taking the bull by the horns, Larry enlisted in the Army, going to Ft. Leonard Wood on November 8. After 2 months of basic, it is expected that he will move to Ft. Sam Houston (San Antonio) for medical Technician Training. It seems there is to be a "pill roller" in the family! Anybody need shots?
Ed never does anything spectacular. He just plugs along, tackles jobs as they come, and handles them in a competent manner. When Pappy got his ham license, Ed squeezed a little time from his studies at Missouri Valley, learned enough code to pass a test at 5 words per minute and received his Novice License, with call WN0CXH. He's had lots of distractions. So far as is known, he isn't on the air yet. We are sure he will be though. Ed gets things done! In the spring he got impatient with the smalltown atmosphere of Missouri Valley College, and began to look around a bit. Eventually he made up his mind on Drury College at Springfield, Missouri, and since his grades were good, the transfer with full credit was no problem. Compared with Marshall, Springfield is a big city! That's where Ed is now. Originally, he'd planned on engineering at Missouri School of Mines, but already he's investigating the Texas universities. They'll be closer to his new home next year. During the summer, Ed wasn't home very much. He operated the Commissary Warehouse for the Kansas City Recreation Department camps in Swope Park, Living on the job. Working Long hours, dashing here and there in a green panel truck, Ed moved groceries by the ton, keeping the cooks supplied. As you might guess, he ate well! The cooks knew who was their friend.
Dan carried on his studies at Pem Day school, hitting his books regularly, and the work he did showed up in his grades. In the school musical groups, he warbled most energetically, and got in some rewarding contacts and trips, He was in a winning octet in the Statewide competitions. Also he was made Glee Club Historian. Sports? Football manager, naturally. That's a fancy title for those who do all the necessary unglamorous chores needed to field and support a team. This year his football team had a good season. Dan, for his hard work was awarded a minor letter. Dan is having his headaches. As the only man Left at home, Dan no longer can avoid some of the maintenance chores that his brothers did for so long. Learning to be Mr. Fix-it is part of growing up. Incidentally, he took Driver's Education in June, and soon afterward, got his driver's license. That piece of paper seems to be a status symbol in this day and age! With the men folk dashing hither and yon, somebody had to keep home base occupied.
Polly took many short musical jaunts here and there playing the piano. In the fall, she and the boys took a camping vacation trip out to New Mexico and Colorado, In her spare time, she attended an evening course at Rockhurst College on Estate Management. Her household cares increased greatly when the move to San Antonio was decided upon. Even though it was not planned for the immediate future, the process of weeding out the junk possessions that we all accumulate had to be started. All of us are "pack rats" to some extent. Throwing out stuff can be hard to do. In November, the roof fell in! Not literally, but almost. Coming back after a trip to school to pick up Dan, Polly found the heating system had gone berserk. boiling water all over the second floor, dripping everywhere down through the ceiling, furniture soaked, the basement like a Turkish bath, the house was a thorough mess! fortunately the damage, which was considerable, was covered by insurance. We all hope that the repairs can be completed and livable conditions restored by Christmas.
Pixie is as black as ever and Peter is fat and friendly after having been stand-offish for her 7 years. Cats are difficult to understand. All in all, 1962 has been an eventful year. Had we gazed into a crystal ball last year and foreseen the future, we wouldn't have believed it. But the unexpected always seems to happen, so now with 1963 ahead, we wonder. Will we have as many wild yarns for the past 12 months as in the past? For an answer, tune in again on this soap opera scenario Late in 1963!
The Egglestons
|
in KC Mo
Ed (19) Dan (16) Mom Larry (22)
|
1960 ln Small Doses
Christmas comes only once each year butt with all its blessings arises the problem of what to do. about a card. This year things were complicated by the fact that Les was in Detroit and Larry in Columbia at picture-taking time. Wonder when phones will be wired for TV.
Last December, Les was just: starting some fire safety work in the Detroit schools. It turned out to be his major effort for 1960. In mid-February a field headquarters was set up in Detroit and from then on he got only occasional weeks at home. Those weeks were strenuous, preceded and concluded by an 800 mile trip with the little red "tomato can." All the work, though didn't concern school fire safety. One interesting assignment was to conduct a one day session at Oklahoma State University. Another was to investigate an accident which damaged a reactor vessel en route to an atomic power plant near Omaha. Other jobs involved exotic fuel applications. That '59 Hillman was driven hard. It figured in a minor traffic scrape at Paxton. Illinois in April and was convincingly run into in Detroit in June. Maybe it was too small for some drivers to see. As it approached 40,000 miles Les decided it could be honorably retired, so he got a blue Valiant in September. Surely that would be big enough for anyone to see! A month later, somebody clipped the front fender. Guess the only place for a car is home in the garage. The book "Engineered Hydraulics in Fire Protection" was at an almost complete standstill during 1960. Most of the major rewriting and expansion started in 1959 was complete early in 1960 but the Detroit work took so much time and energy that something had to be neglected, so the critical editing and the putting on of finishing touches had to
wait.
At home the house was pretty much neglected except for the most urgent repairs. Even those were done with a lick and a promise. The Hi Fi took less effort and was upgraded to a new high quality turntable, stereo amplifier, stereo tone arm and multiplex adapter. All these were built from kits While that takes work, it has the same sort of fascination found in putting together a jigsaw puzzle. With Les away Edward had a heavy load of maintenance chores much of the year. He has gotten to be a good electronics trouble shooter and with many radios around he has had plenty of chances to keep in practice.
If anyone had to predict what Polly might be doing in any given year, he'd be safe in saying she plays the piano. In this, 1960 was no exception. She continued playing for the boys and the girls choirs at St. Andrew's and substituted at Gregory Methodist in the summer for two weeks. She played all year at Notre Dame de Sion, at Southwest and began to play some at Barstow School this fall. To this was added some ballet playing at the Y as well as playing the eight o'clock Communion service once a month. In the spare hours, she continued with Cantata Singers and covered the state contest with Southwest High School as well as hearing many concerts.
Larry spent most of the year working at the Main Library. Gradually the nervous knots of 1959 began to ease up and he started back into the scholastic routine at KC Junior College. By summer he was feeling like himself again and he registered at the University of Missouri as a history major. During the summer, Larry substituted as organist at Oak Park Christian Church. When he got to Columbia, he found a need for an assistant organist and choir master and with all this, he still manages to spend enough time with his books to get good grades at MU. He became one of the marching band on clarinet and his tooting took him to many football games including some out of town trips. Having watched the big team do well, he is about to fly to Miami for the Orange Bowl.
Edward is enjoying his Senior year at Southwest and is getting mostly good marks. Sometimes he meets trouble in numbers, but he fights back. His trumpet does a good job now in band and orchestra and this year the school band did well in their marching. Maybe Ed's previous ROTC experience helped... In the summer he worked as junior counselor at the municipal camps at Swope Park where many campers and staff lived for a period with short breaks home. It was lots of fun, more work and fine experience which he hopes to continue next: summer. Now Ed is beginning to look around at colleges trying to make up his mind what comes next.
Dan finished up his eighth grade at Southwest and enjoyed his time there. He was ready to continue at Southwest when he received a scholarship at Pembroke-Country Day School, so there he is, doing well and making a good record. So three boys go to three schools. Last summer, Dan attended a week's music camp at Warrensburg with his French horn. It was a good week and deserves an encore.
Mother did not get here this fall for she and Doris have bought a house of their own near Georgianna - the little sister. After 27 years in the flat, and a wait for the move, the snow and Les got to Buffalo at the same time to help after the movers left - and how much remains to be
done after a move. Dan went to Oklahoma with Aunt Lois to visit with Aunt Edna Wall and Franklin Oler. He had a wonderful time there and learned a lot about a farm. At the same time, Polly and the two big boys took off on a quick camping trip with one dog and a tent. They headed to Colorado Springs where they spent several days and saw a lot of country and wonderful mountains. Next came a few days outside of Denver in the mountains there with it swing through a little of Wyoming on the way home. They covered many miles up and down.
Nephew Jim Wiegley brought his bride here on the way to Japan. They spent several days with us and now they are waiting for a new addition over in the Orient .
We added a new member to the family this fall. Since Larry was to be at MU, we persuaded Nancy Allen Outten to let her eldest, John, come over for the school term. John is a year younger than Dan, and since he has a yen for tools and experiments, he had plenty to try here. He and Dan scrapped like the proverbial Kilkenny cats, but they now live in comparative peace.
The two dogs and one cat are a bit older - Buffy seems to be quite deaf but takes kindly to sign language. Show her a can of food, and she acts very lively.
|
Once the Thanksgiving turkey is eaten, the year is about over, except for Christmas. Getting ready for that crowds everything else out, so for newsletter purposes, the year can be reported before the calendar says it's time to do so.
As usual, Les got in quite a bit of travel. It started in January. The '52 Chrysler was drinking gas at 6 mpg, so it was traded in on a new Hillman- Minx 4 door sedan, bright red with gray trim. Les took delivery at Houston, Texas, then swung over to New Orleans for a few days of balmy sunshine as a short winter vacation. Coming back to work refreshed, he dug into the boron fuel fire research program, where after a long series of frustrations, a breakthrough finally came. The job was successfully completed in May, and an Air Force Technical report appeared in November. The little car was a big success, even though a collision put it in the repair shop awhile. The police report blamed the other driver, whose insurance company paid all
costs.
The travel highlight of the year was a trip to Eastport, Maine. The event was a symposium on foam, and Les described the work done for the Air Force. Meetings were held on Campobello Island; the hospitality was outstanding. The Roosevelt cottage, now owned by a well known New York art dealer, was next door, and Les lived there for several days. The house is to become a memorial soon. In 1958, his book, "Engineered Hydraulics in Fire Protection" was
looking for a publisher. It still is. John Wiley and Sons came close to accepting it, but couldn't be sure of enough sales. Now it's being completely expanded and rewritten to include considerable new material, so in 1960 the search for a publisher will resume. Les is finishing the
year by driving his little red "tomato can" to Detroit for a few weeks of school fire safety surveys. The tragic fire in Chicago really woke up a lot of people. There were a number of interesting fire and explosion investigations during the year. That sort of job is like a "whodunit' except that it's "whatdunnit" as well, and there's no obliging author to supply answers on the last few pages.
The house didn't get as much attention as in previous years. In June, the back yard was roto-tilled and planted with Zoysia to get a good tough lawn. It didn't take too well. We hope that next summer it will. Walls were chopped open to install a laundry chute. Upstairs a closet was coaxed into yielding enough previously useless space for a built-in chest of drawers and linen cabinet. The mess was horrible, but eventually cleanup, plaster, and paint restored the status quo ante, and Polly's good nature with it. Bit by bit, the hi fi was changed. First came a stereo tuner kit. Then a stereo preamplifier and control kit appeared on the scene. Later on, a second amplifier was added. The next step was to be a record player with stereo arm, but the old TV quit working, and a new set took priority in the budget. The old set will eventually be patched with chewing gum and hairpins as a second TV for use when the family disagrees on what program to watch. Larry was hoping for a tape recorder, but got tired of waiting and bought his own.
Year after year, Polly seems to spend more time at the piano. Last year she played for the boys' choir at St. Andrews. This year she added the girls' choir. At Southwest HS in the spring she played for rehearsals and performance of Carousel. This fall, she did the same for the Revels, a variety show. In between she played for many students in various competitions. At the start of the school year, she played full time for a few weeks at one school to help out. Now she has several days every week at a private school plus paying for special occasions. As relaxation, she sings in the St. Andrews' adult choir, and is Secretary and Librarian for the Cantata Singers, a carefully selected group with high musical standards directed by Dr. William Lemonds. When she can find time, she studies organ with Dr. Lemonds. In the spring, just to keep things interesting, she had Pixie bred, so that 4 puppies were underfoot awhile. For a little while, the piano took second place.
Larry ran into scholastic trouble at Gettysburg. Late in '58 he began to get all keyed up with nervous tension, and at midyear he had to drop out so he could get back on his feet again. He was a wreck for months, then began to work as Dr. Lemonds' secretary in exchange for organ lessons. That helped a lot. When summer came, he went to work on the Swope Park golf course as a cashier. That helped some more. Now he is working at the Public Library downtown, taking bassoon lessons. It begins to look as if by next September he should be back in school again. In the meantime, books are his dally companions.
Edward spent much of the summer as a YMCA staff member teaching swimming 5 mornings a week at three nearby pools in Kansas. His coat of tan was a marvel to behold. The only way to get there was by car, so Polly did a lot of chauffeur duty. By August, he was 16 and got a driver's license, but the program was over by then. Ed was in ROTC last year, but Southwest dropped it this fall, and when Ed went back as a junior he felt lost without lt. Music is filling the gap somewhat. He's first trumpet in the school band. He was also persuaded to take Orchestra. Trumpet lessons were resumed after a long layoff. He toots a mean horn these days. At home he acts as the handyman, doing a lot of repair jobs Les hasn't time for. He gets better at it all the time. He and Larry are mixed up with gadgetry these day. Strange wires criss-cross their rooms. Only they know what is involved, and sometimes they aren't sure either.
Daniel turned 13, so now we have three teenagers at the same time. The chances are that we will live through this harrowing experience. He's in 8th grade now and attends Southwest HS too in a junior high arrangement. This year, 8th graders are being started in a language. Dan takes Spanish, so Les and Larry who also have studied it, find themselves shuddering at his strange sounds. Espa?ol a la Daniel is like his early efforts on the French horn. During the summer he took a typing course, swimming lessons, played in a YMCA summer baseball league, and also kept his French horn busy in a summer school orchestra. He's still a choirboy at St. Andrews. Whenever he could which was frequently, he went to see the Athletics play. Even during their losing streaks, Dan was a loyal rooter for the home team.
Mother came down for a visit on Columbus day, just as in '58, and stayed on until early December. The she headed back to Buffalo to get ready for Christmas with the rest of the family. Les put her on the plane just before he started for Detroit. It was nice to have her with us. Her skill as a cook seems to improve over the years. Waistline control is difficult during her visits. Having been with us for 3 years in a row every fall, Kansas City is like a second home to her now. Airplanes sure make it easy to get places in a hurry with little effort.
We still have Buffy, Pixie, and Peter the cat. All manage to rule the house in their own quiet (?) way. The dogs support of the doorbell is an ear-splittlng classic.
|
Kansas City Mo
Ed (16), larry (19)
mom, grandma, dan (13) dad
|
A QUICK LOOK AT 1958
Time marches on. Nothing ever seems to happen, but when you pause at the year's end, there are lots of nice things to remember. As usual, Les crisscrossed the country several times, covering east, west, and the gulf coasts, together with his share of the interior. The long trips were by plane, but the 1952 Chrysler, comfortable as an old armchair on wheels, did its fair share of miles. On one trip, taking Larry back to school, we were side-swiped - so now Les is considering a trade-in on one of the small foreign cars He wants something he can park without driving around the block forever looking for a big enough space.
Life at the office was interesting. Just after New Year's, a good friend from Venezuela, Walt Bitterling, dropped in for a visit. He and Les had a great time reminiscing about life in that oil-rich country. In March, a suite of shiny new offices was completed. Les coordinated the move to 15 E. Gregory Blvd. The summer air-conditioning was wonderful! During the early part of the year Les finished a book, "Engineered Hydraulics in Fire Protection." Now comes the problem of getting it published. Ever since last May he has been busy on Air Force research...how to put out fires in the new and exotic high energy boron fuels. The vapors are toxic, even in very small concentrations, as he found out on several occasions. One effect, he swears, was hearing beep signals at odd intervals. It was just like being tuned in on a satellite!
During 1957 the house got a lot of carpentry and electrical work. In 1958, attention was primarily directed to the cellar. About 3/4 of the rough stone walls were veneered over with smooth patio block. A shower and bath were installed. Most of the water piping was replaced. The laundry area was put in first class condition, a badly needed improvement. A darkroom was constructed in one corner, and though not finished, it was far enough along to be used to develop the negatives for the photo on this card. During the summer we scraped and burned off a lot of flaking paint Then Larry painted the trim a light green. We couldn't finish the whole house before he had to go back to school, but at least everything that shows from the street is covered. Polly picked the paint color and acted as slave driver to keep the boys on the job. She's been busy with her music all year. The spring was especially a busy one, with accompanying for music classes at Paseo HS every day, sandwiched in with playing for rehearsals of "Pirates of Penzeance" at Southwest HS. This fall, she's concentrating on her work at Southwest HS, and playing for the choirboys at St. Andrews church. She's also accompanist for the Xmas programs at Barstow School. Occasionally she pinchhits as substitute organist. Club activities take a lot of time. The schools have Tooters Clubs in support of their musical groups. Polly is President of the Border Star Tooters Club, and a director of the Southwest HS Club. With all this to do, she dashes here and there in her little Plymouth, but still keeps 6421 Washington on a more or less keel, turning out a lot of meals and laundry for her menfolk. In her spare time last month, she collected for United Funds, the Kansas City community chest.
Mother came for a visit Columbus day and stayed until just after Thanksgiving, helping us cook and eat the turkey. Just as she got back to Buffalo, the first of New York States' proverbial winter weather started. The plane landed at Rochester, duplicating its performance from last year's visit. She had to backtrack by bus.
Getting a picture with Larry in it is a problem. When he's around during the summer, we never think of Xmas cards. By November we realize Gettysburg is a long way off, It sure would take a big telephoto lens to do us any good! He's 18 now, a sophomore majoring in History. He likes AF ROTC, and made airman 3rd class. It might be a career, for he is seriously thinking of AF Chaplain work. He played clarinet in the Gettysburg marching band again this year. That meant a band camp a week before school opened. The football boys aren't the only ones that need preseason practice! When not hitting the books, Larry heads for the library, his sparetime job. He hasn't gotten to 6 ft. tall yet, but has hopes.
When he's not thinking ROTC and parading the cadets around the Southwest drill area, Edward is a 15 year old scientist. He had an excellent magnetic amplifier exhibit shown in the Kansas City Science Fair, and has begun to delve into things electronic. His current activity is Junior Achievement on Monday evenings, working in a company organized to make and sell tote trays. Ed was ready for lifesaving several years ago, but there wasn't time to take it then because of moving and getting resettled. This summer he caught up on that little detail, and now proudly wears his Lifesaving emblem. He got a new trumpet this year, and toots merrily away in the school band. Saturdays he plays in a selected band at the K. C. Conservatory of Music. During the year Ed has grown tremendously, and is up to 5'5". He's bigger than Polly now. Almost every other day he needs a bigger size in clothes and shoes. His clothes don't change in size, but he sure does.
Dan, at 12, has school as his primary job. Last year in 6th grade he was put in an experimental group. This year he's in a special 7th grade for accelerated t raining. He's learned to swim, too. The first hard part, overcoming fear, is over. Now he can navigate on his own power in the water. A dancing class has been formed at Border Star. Dan attends and enjoys it greatly. The improvement in his French horn playing has been appreciable. The sour notes aren't as frequent. The good notes sound better. He plays in the school orchestra as does Ed, also in the
Conservatory band. It's been a good year.
We put a second air conditioner in the house to take the edge off the occasional hot spells we have here. The bulk of the changes of the house for the sake of comfort and convenience have been made. We've been able to relax and enjoy life in Kansas City. Les could loaf occasionally without worrying about all the jobs waiting for him to do. Our Iowa cousins have dropped in on us several times enroute to Oklahoma kinfolk. Polly and Mother managed a trip to Oklahoma themselves, going down through the Ozarks to take in the autumn scenery. The leaves were just turning color about then.
We still have our two cockers and a cat. Buffy is getting to be an old lady in some respects, but that black rascal Pixie gives her so much competition for our affections that she can't relax. They are quite a pair, just as different as day and night. For many years Peter was a standoffish sort of cat. She tolerated us, but not much more. Now she's mellowing a lot, and purrs at the slightest attention.
|
me playing french horn. age 12
we moved to Kansas City MO in '57
in front of the art museum
dad, ed (15) dan (12) mom
|
Christmas 1957
Writing a newsletter is a surprising sort of thing. You don't realize how much has happened until you stop for a moment for an inventory of twelve months' living. It was a year when everybody covered a lot of mileage - even the dogs and cat.
Les started it off with an active duty tour at Keesler AFB, away down in Biloxi, Mississippi. Don't let anybody tell you January down South can't be cold! Shortly after, he had another tour at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. It was a little bit warmer, but still wintry. Then he went off to Kansas City to start a new job with a young and progressive consulting firm, U. S. Fire Protection Engineering Service. Temporarily, he took an apartment in a residential hotel, the Brookside, but for several months he traveled a lot, lived out of a suitcase, and saw the apartment only long enough to receive mail and replenish the laundry. Repeated trips to the East Coast, the West Coast and the Gulf Coast, mostly on Air Force business for the firm, kept him busy until mid-summer. Then Polly took a quick trip to Kansas City, and they bought a brick and stucco house, gabled in Old English style, located on a quiet elm-lined street.
The house gave Les a lot of work - most of it electrical, getting the wiring in convenient form, but carpentry and plumbing were involved, too. A good abbreviation for do-it-yourself is "labor". Sandwiched in between the work on the house, Les got himself elected a full Member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers. Then in September he began to review for the Professional Engineering registration examination at Jefferson City in early October. The after-effect of the two-day session was a feeling like collision with a steam roller, but with reasonable certainty of passing. Right now the principal job is writing up a study of hydraulic calculation procedures, intended for publication as soon as the plentiful rough edges can be
smoothed off.
While Les was madly dashing around the U. S., Polly was engaged in a smaller sort of rat race back in New Jersey, politely known as real estate. She did manage to sell one house, but it was hard work. In May she came out to Kansas City and fell in love with the place, which isn't hard to do. After the new house was selected, she headed back East to wind things up. Fortunately, the house in Roselle Park sold - just as they were getting discouraged. Moving then was just a matter of time. Early in July, the moving van arrived, laden to the hilt. Polly and the boys took their time arriving, visiting all the way out, and camping so as to squeeze in a little extra vacation. The arrival was hectic. One wheel was about to fall off the trailer. Polly got so badly mosquito bitten the last few days that she was completely a mess! After recovering sufficiently to start unpacking, she plunged into all sorts of activities, So far she has gotten involved in playing in a cello trio, two orchestras, playing for choir rehearsals at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, stand-by organist, joining the American Guild of Organists, two PTA's, and two Tooters clubs for school bands. Occasionally, she complains that she gets tired!
Laurie was man-of-the-house for the first part of the year back in New Jersey, and after coming west dug in as a wiring expert, doing so much that It left his father slightly incredulous. In his final year at the Pingry School, he was student organist and Glee Club accompanist. Now the "Cadaver" is off to Gettysburg College. Wonder what new nickname will attach itself to him there? He's playing clarinet in the band, bassoon in the orchestra, viola in quartet, and at long last, is getting the good grades we've been looking for all these years. For recreation, he plays the college organ at Chapel for meditation.
Edward is now officially a freshman at Southwest H.S. (mentioned in "Time" as one of the Nation's 38 outstanding schools. It makes him work, and since he came down with flu, just as school started, the handicap has been rough, The school has an ROTC unit. Pvt. Edward, in his gleaming buttons, is quite the military man, completely gun-happy at the moment. He plays in the band here, too, tooting merrily away. He was Laurie's right-hand man during the summer labors, and now is the odd-job expert of the house. Within limits, he will fix anything, sometimes for keeps. Seriously, he's doing a good job. He's growing like a weed and a
real problem since he doesn't stay the same size long enough to wear out anything.
Daniel is a 6th Grader at Border Star, plays in the orchestra, and is getting fairly good on the French Horn, even if some of the noises that come out are a bit strange. He has lessons at the K. C. Conservatory of Music, where he plays in a band. When we can't find a street, we ask Daniel, He explored the city thoroughly on his bicycle soon after we arrived, got himself a new bike, and soon afterward it was stolen! Now he's on foot, but we hope the police will soon find the bike.
Jimmy Wiegley, nephew from Buffalo, was the first family visitor. Soon afterward we had two Iowa cousins return a quick visit we made up there and found another cousin right in town, and now Mother is visiting. She hates to admit any place could be nicer than Buffalo, where she's lived for so many years, but already Kansas City has a strong appeal to her.
|
1956 IN REVIEW
The year started off with lots of family and company combined. Our cousin Frank Caldwell and his Hawaiian wife Emily sent us a Christmas card from nearby and ended up living with us for several months. The high spot of the visit was when Frank drove down to Florida to bring back Emily's daughter Ilima and her three small fry. While Ilima danced hulas with the Ringling circus tour, Mahailani, Kaikili, and Keavi, ranging from 3 l/2 down to l 1/2, kept us busy and amused. Emily and the children were photographed for a Newark newspaper story.
In January, Les had two weeks reserve duty in Ohio at Wright-Patterson AFB. While returning home, a collision in a sleetstorm at Harrisburg mashed up the front of the car and put him to bed for a week of misery. Shortly afterward, a business trip took him to Venezuela for a month
stopping at Aruba enroute. At Easter, he was in the Andes amidst 16,000 ft. glacier capped mountains. It was a wonderful experience.
As school closed and summer approached, all but Les went to Band School in Roselle. He finally got to attend the 25th reunion of his class at Cornell. Next, mother came visiting, and the boys ate pie every day. When she left, she enjoyed her first plane ride. After a few weekend campouts, we had a lightly sprinkled two weeks jaunt among New York and New Jersey campsites. Priscilla Allen Barb and daughter Wendy joined us camping Labor Day weekend. This year we added a dining fly, which was nice, and a new tent that is super. A roof and side curtains on our luggage trailer added a lot to our out-of-doors comforts. Even the hornets at one campsite didn't spoil things. For a while we thought Edward was a permanent 2nd class Scout, but hard work in the woods completed his tests, so a 1st class badge adorns his chest. The Junior High Band includes his trumpet tooting, and after school a paper route pays for his toys and candy bars. He did, however treat himself to an electric blanket . Larry is a Senior at Pingry and Glee Club accompanist...organ and piano. He plays viola in an informal string quartet meeting weekly. AtBand School, he studied bassoon. An instrument has been loaned, and he hopes to be in an orchestra soon. Daniel had Drum at Band School. He now is learning the French horn which seems to come easily for him. His practice begins to sound authentic. While splashing paint on the cellar walls this fall, some got in his eye. It was a bad alkali burn. Both we and the doctor were worried. Our best Thanksgiving word was that his sight was undamaged .
This has been a major appliance year for us. Les and Frank hooked up a new electric stove in January. When Les returned from Venezuela in April there was a Hamilton clothes drier in the
laundry. In August the deep freeze quit. Getting a new one in the cellar was an undertaking!
We had to knock a hole in the rear wall, change the old for the new deep freeze, then restore the wall. To make life interesting, the wash machine got tired too. Now we have a new automatic. Some years you hardly can catch your breath in between times! Right now Les is putting ceiling tile in the cellar. The hard part - moving pipes and wiring is done. Polly stayed out of the hospital this year, much to everyone's delight. Now she is in real estate, and around the clock we hear theword about houses and mortgages. So far, no sales, for her clients all seem to run into a snag getting mortgage money. At least, though, she moved out of the jalopy class. The beaten up 1937 Chevy has been replaced by a nice looking 1953 Plymouth. Mother came down again this fall, but didn't stay long enough. When cold weather approached she began to worry about the furnace back home. When spring comes again, we'll be looking forward to seeing her with us once more.
|
last year in Roselle Park NJ
dan (10) ed (13) larry (16)
|
1955 in Review.
The past year was busy and eventful for all. Les spent Xmas of 1954 in Aruba, going on to Venezuela via Trinidad in January. Early in April he came back home and dug into all the jobs that had accumulated while he was away. By the end of the summer, the house had been painted white, with yellow trim, and soft blue outline for the window sills. We put in aluminum windows, and Les constructed a winter storm enclosure for the porch, complete with a swinging door for the beasts. They really loved that! In May he had 2 weeks of reserve duty at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. Then in September after long, long years of hopeful waiting was promoted to Major. October took him to Venezuela again, this time only for 2 weeks.
Polly had more than her share of troubles. in '55 with two trips to the hospital. Things looked bad in June, but all turned out well and now it's a thing of the past. The doctor threatened to use zippers on the incisions if things didn't improve. He must have scared her. She got better quick! Les did yeoman work for a while as cook, kitchen drudge, and woman of the house. It was a doggy 12 months. We were given a black female cocker early in the year who presented us with a beautiful litter of puppies. A car ended Pixie's life, but her jet black daughter took over the name and now keeps Buffy company. She is now going to Obedience school and doing nicely. The cat joined the family last year. as a kitten was named Peter. Now it appears it should have been Petra, but the old name stuck anyhow. Pete and Pixie have friendly boxing matches. Buffy joins in. but is apt to nip too hard and start a chorus of yelps.
Larry, Laurie, or "Cadaver," depending who is speaking, is a Fifth Former at Pingry School in Elizabeth. Translated, that's a High School Junior. The nickname is from school, suggested by his long lean sparsely padded frame. Last summer he learned all about paintbrushes. Now he's getting some know-how on house wiring. One of his studies is Spanish. Because of the time Les spent in Venezuela, conversations at the table have a Latin American flavor. The rest of the family have learned to be good guessers. Edward is struggling with Junior High School. riding his bike downtown. We gain the impression he is having a rough time, but so are the teachers, for his southpaw scribbles are a challenge to unscramble. Things should shake down soon. He toots a trumpet in the band. is a Scout Patrol leader, and almost ready for First Class. Daniel is still very very blond and seems never to stop talking. He is doing well in the 4th grade. but he too has the family lack of legible handwriting. Being a Cub scout keeps his spare time well filled. Some time ago Polly got an old jalopy "just to go to the store" when Les has the big car off on a trip. That darned store had branches all over the eastern half of the country, and the first clunker, a '38 DeSoto finally was steered to the junkyard to be replaced by a '37 Chevrolet. In spite of age, it fills a need and runs well most of the time. We took to the woods last summer. Les picked up a homemade luggage trailer, and after repair and remodeling, it hauled our camping gear on a leisurely zig zag trip up through New England to Laurentides Park, then back to Quebec, over to Montreal. then home via the Adirondacks. Hurricanes Connie and Diane pelted us with rain but eventually we dried out. Now plans are for a bigger better trip in '56. Mother visited us twice during the year, and shared our turkey at Thanksgiving, when the picture was taken.
|
(1954 is missing)
Rosell Park NJ
mom, larry (15) dan(9) ed (6) dad, grandma eggleston
|
dan (7) mom, dad, ed (10) larry (13)
roselle park NJ
mom played piano, organ, harpsichord
larry played clarinet, organ, piano
ed played trumpet (later)
dan played french horn (later)
dad joked he was the only one NOT a musician, but he was a singer in the '30s
|
larry (12) dan (6) mom, ed (9) & dad looking at a map of venezeula or aruba where he was on assignment for std oil of n j
roselle park NJ
|
dad, dan (5) couldn't play the keyboard; ed (8) couldn't play the fiddle; larry (11) could play it; mom (learned to play the cello
|
