Timelines

Yesterday's post about the iron skillet needed a bit of confirmation on the elements of the house fire.  Fortunately, my two older sisters are but a text away.  We have a group text chain the makes quick work of the process.  Sis #4 and I were not even a gleam in anyone's eyes when the fire happened.  Therefore, most of the information came from Sis #1 and Sis #2.  The texting was on and off from about 1 PM to 7:30 PM.  It is not because we are slow typing, more like slow remembering.  And, of course, the occasional side trip down a different memory lane.

Mom, naturally, knew where the house was and the year of The Fire.  I never recall her actually sharing either of those facts.   The story of "The Fire" was only told in bits and pieces through the years.   Most of the story was shared in relation to objects.  The blown glass Christmas tree ornaments were given by a person in the community.  The Iron Skillet was the only thing that survived the fire.  The kerosene lamp was purchased following the fire to replace the lost one.  Or maybe it was donated.  Clear memories evade me.  Guess it is time for more texting.

Kitchen in Farnsworth home. circa 1958

A quick check with sisters confirms the community gave a huge shower for our folks.  The donations basically set them up in housekeeping again.  The kerosene lamp was a gift.  Iron bedsteads, other items we do not remember.  Most notably the kitchen table and chairs I remember using until into my teen years were part of the donations.  The white chairs of the table dinette set last to this day.  There were four, each sister has one.  BIL stripped and refinished one for each of us.  The photo to the left shows the cloth-covered table and one of the chairs.  The set is solid oak.  The table is lost to the past.  Sis #1 has her back to the camera.

Yesterday, Sis #1 gave the facts of the general area of the two-story house, its surrounding outbuildings, and its orientation.  The house faced west with a large surrounding porch on the back and side that faced east.  The property was owned by the Wilmeth family.  The photo to the right shows the general area of the location of the home as it appears on Google Maps.  The white house on the right was in place and belonged to the Wilmeth family at the time of the fire.  As for the year of the fire, the best guess from Sis #1 & #2 is 1943.

Following that information, we began attempting to figure out the time of year.  Sis #1 was at school.  The sharkskin sailor dress was used in a tribute to the soldiers involved in WWII.  The children had sung military songs.  Possibly in the fall around Veterans Day?  Then Sis #2, who was about 3 at the time, remembered the trauma of her baby chicks burning up.  The chicks were in a lean-to chicken wire fence area.  The hut leaned against the house.  Sis #1 said she remembered how upset Sis #2 was at the time.  So the time could have been the springtime as that was usually the time for raising chicks.  As Sis #1 texted, 'we'll never know for sure as anyone who would know is dead.'

I will continue to search for information that will help in identifying dates for our parents' movements.  I do know the white chairs have been used for several decades.  This last photo shows the older six grandkids sitting around Mom's table in Allen.  And there are the white chairs.  This is circa 1972.

Peace and joy,

Janice