Our family spent the rest of 1928 and the first six months of 1929 planning our trip all through the great Southwest. Mother bought two large steamer trunks and they were packed with new clothes, all that a family of six would need for two months in Vancouver, B.C. The trunks were shipped ahead by rail. Martha and I would go out to the garage and just sit in the Cadillac, sometimes to just read in the big comfy back seat. It was designed to hold seven people comfortably. We loved the little silk shades at the windows and the little vases of flowers on each side of the interior. There were two velvet seats that pulled down, seating two more. We could hardly wait to begin our trip in our big-cozy chariot!
In the spring of 1929, the foundation was dug for our new Tudor house, and Irv and I had a great time running behind the team of horses and driver hired for that BIG job! Mother had decided on the plans for it, and Ed Gregor was to supervise the construction while we were away. It was to be a classic 5 bedroom Tudor with a sunken living room with oak beamed ceiling, large stone fireplace, large family size dining room, L-shaped kitchen with a sun room and second dining area, a downstairs bath, and another huge bath upstairs. The basic house was to be up by the time we returned in September of 1929, and all the inside finishing to be done the rest of the year. All the Stewart kids had a great time watching the big cement mixers mix the tons of cement and pour the foot thick cement walls for the basement. No cement blocks in those days!
In the spring of 1929, Campbell put our Colonial house up for sale with occupancy to take place at the end of October. He sold it, almost immediately, to a Mr. and Mrs. Byrne. They loved the house and planned to have a family there. Mrs. Byrne gave birth to a baby daughter in May of 1934. They named her Jane, and in 1979, she became the FIRST woman Mayor of the City of Chicago!
Link to Jane Byrne HERE...
Father had one more problem - he had to find a driver to take us on our trip as we planned to leave on July 5th. Mother came up with the solution almost immediately. Why not Eric Hopf? After all, they knew his family - she had kept up her friendship with his mother all the years since they lived in Hopf's flat. It was the "perfect" solution - he was an experienced driver, having a "flivver" of his own! He had recently lost his young wife in a tragic accident and was at loose ends. Campbell told her to have him come and see him.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The Swashbuckler (Chapter 21)
In 1929, the movie idol of the day was Douglas Fairbanks Sr. who played all the swashbuckling, swordfighting roles - leaping all over the place and rescuing all the ladies. He had a lock of hair that kept getting into his eye and a thin little carefully trimmed mustache that gave him a "devil may care" look. Someone must have told young 25 year-old Eric Hopf that he looked like the movie star, because he patterned his style of dress after him, wearing knickers and knee sox and using Brillianteen to rumple his hair and encourage the tumbling lock over his eye! Campbell, of course, saw none of this and so relied on Eric's spoken word.
Eric was eager, wanted to see the southwest states, was a good mechanic, knew the family, and had a perfect driving record. Plus he had the complete endorsement of Jeanette!
We were to leave on July 5th, the day after the 4th of July because the four Stewart kids were to carry the large American flag presented to their dad by the American Legion in the 4th of July parade in Chicago. So, Eric was hired. We marched in the parade carrying the four corners of the flag with Martha and I in front and Irv and Helen in the rear. Two boy scouts marched on either side to prevent the large flag from touching the ground.
Everyone clapped as we marched by.
The next day on July 5th, 1929, I hugged Florence goodbye as she handed us the big hamper of sandwiches and tea she had prepared. We all climbed into our assigned seats in the Cadillac with Eric in the driver's seat, Mother beside him, Martha and I in the two velvet pull down seats, and Campbell in the big rear seat with Irving and Helen. Never once during the entire trip was this seating arrangement changed.
Mother NEVER sat in the back with us.
Eric was eager, wanted to see the southwest states, was a good mechanic, knew the family, and had a perfect driving record. Plus he had the complete endorsement of Jeanette!
We were to leave on July 5th, the day after the 4th of July because the four Stewart kids were to carry the large American flag presented to their dad by the American Legion in the 4th of July parade in Chicago. So, Eric was hired. We marched in the parade carrying the four corners of the flag with Martha and I in front and Irv and Helen in the rear. Two boy scouts marched on either side to prevent the large flag from touching the ground.
Everyone clapped as we marched by.
The next day on July 5th, 1929, I hugged Florence goodbye as she handed us the big hamper of sandwiches and tea she had prepared. We all climbed into our assigned seats in the Cadillac with Eric in the driver's seat, Mother beside him, Martha and I in the two velvet pull down seats, and Campbell in the big rear seat with Irving and Helen. Never once during the entire trip was this seating arrangement changed.
Mother NEVER sat in the back with us.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
What Do You See? (Chapter 22)
The next two weeks proved to be an endurance test for the Stewart family on many levels...
This was 1929 and there was NO super highway system in the country, only two lane roads, many of which were unpaved gravel and some only dirt roads. There were NO truck stops, no fast food places or McDonalds. Tourist "cabins" could be found, and mom and pop roadside cafe's that said "EAT" with a single gas pump out in front. NOTHING else, unless we came to a town where there was sometimes a hotel - sleazy at best! There were NO motels. In fact, the word "motel" didn't exist! We eagerly looked forward to the larger towns where there would be a clean hotel, a dining room, and clean beds with sheets.
Campbell would rent two rooms, one for the "men" (Eric, Irv, and himself), and one for the "girls" (mother, Martha, Helen, and me). Our first night on the road, we arrived in Kansas City, and that was lovely as we stayed at a beautiful hotel. After that it was all "down hill" as Pueblo, Colorado proved to be nothing very good accommodation-wise. But, that was the beginning of the real "Old West" that we had come to see. And it was INDEED! It was rugged, spectacular country - mountainous and beautiful. We picked up petrified wood, saw the Painted Desert, and I remember father getting out of the car to feel a giant Saguaro cactus twice as tall as himself!
When we arrived at the Grand Canyon in late afternoon, we all got out and stood in a spot on a lookout. Campbell said, "Martha, Nanny, tell me what you see!" All I could say was, "It's all pink and orange, and it's so BIG I cant see where it ends!" I have never forgotten that view!
And so the first week of our trip was over, and the second week was spent travelling up through California and Yosemite Park, followed by the trip up the coast to Oregon and finally Washington, and then the ferry to British Columbia and our destination - Vancouver, British Columbia!
A lot of human drama took place in the green Cadillac as it made it's way across the lower western states and up the coast. Father told stories, sang songs, played word games, and even recited some Robbie Burns as we chugged along through the mountains. Poor little seven year-old Irv got carsick every other day or so. Both Irv and Helen napped every afternoon on both sides of Campbell's lap. Martha and I did not need naps, and so were alert to everything. Campbell's question was always, "What do you see?" to both of us. We would describe what we saw at that moment. If we saw a particularly beautiful cactus flower or a range of mountains, we would describe it to him. He loved hearing about everything that we saw.
But we could not tell him what we saw in the front seat of the Cadillac...
It was so disturbing that we didn't mention it until we were tucked in our bed at night. Martha and I often had to share a bed on the trip as there were so many of us to accommodate.
The nightime conversations often went like this...
"Did you see her sharing her sandwich with him? They each took turns taking bites of it!"
"He's always squeezing her knee!"
"She's always touching him or wiping the sweat off his face!"
"Dad can't see anything they do...do you think we should tell him?"
"NO!"
"I hate him - dont you?"
This was 1929 and there was NO super highway system in the country, only two lane roads, many of which were unpaved gravel and some only dirt roads. There were NO truck stops, no fast food places or McDonalds. Tourist "cabins" could be found, and mom and pop roadside cafe's that said "EAT" with a single gas pump out in front. NOTHING else, unless we came to a town where there was sometimes a hotel - sleazy at best! There were NO motels. In fact, the word "motel" didn't exist! We eagerly looked forward to the larger towns where there would be a clean hotel, a dining room, and clean beds with sheets.
Campbell would rent two rooms, one for the "men" (Eric, Irv, and himself), and one for the "girls" (mother, Martha, Helen, and me). Our first night on the road, we arrived in Kansas City, and that was lovely as we stayed at a beautiful hotel. After that it was all "down hill" as Pueblo, Colorado proved to be nothing very good accommodation-wise. But, that was the beginning of the real "Old West" that we had come to see. And it was INDEED! It was rugged, spectacular country - mountainous and beautiful. We picked up petrified wood, saw the Painted Desert, and I remember father getting out of the car to feel a giant Saguaro cactus twice as tall as himself!
When we arrived at the Grand Canyon in late afternoon, we all got out and stood in a spot on a lookout. Campbell said, "Martha, Nanny, tell me what you see!" All I could say was, "It's all pink and orange, and it's so BIG I cant see where it ends!" I have never forgotten that view!
And so the first week of our trip was over, and the second week was spent travelling up through California and Yosemite Park, followed by the trip up the coast to Oregon and finally Washington, and then the ferry to British Columbia and our destination - Vancouver, British Columbia!
A lot of human drama took place in the green Cadillac as it made it's way across the lower western states and up the coast. Father told stories, sang songs, played word games, and even recited some Robbie Burns as we chugged along through the mountains. Poor little seven year-old Irv got carsick every other day or so. Both Irv and Helen napped every afternoon on both sides of Campbell's lap. Martha and I did not need naps, and so were alert to everything. Campbell's question was always, "What do you see?" to both of us. We would describe what we saw at that moment. If we saw a particularly beautiful cactus flower or a range of mountains, we would describe it to him. He loved hearing about everything that we saw.
But we could not tell him what we saw in the front seat of the Cadillac...
It was so disturbing that we didn't mention it until we were tucked in our bed at night. Martha and I often had to share a bed on the trip as there were so many of us to accommodate.
The nightime conversations often went like this...
"Did you see her sharing her sandwich with him? They each took turns taking bites of it!"
"He's always squeezing her knee!"
"She's always touching him or wiping the sweat off his face!"
"Dad can't see anything they do...do you think we should tell him?"
"NO!"
"I hate him - dont you?"
Monday, February 11, 2013
Beginning of the Crash (Chapter 23)
We were met at the ferry landing by father's older sister, our Auntie Nan and her two older teen-age children, Bill and Anne Ferguson. There were huge hugs all around and then we followed her car to the lovely brown bungalow that Nan had rented for the remainder of the summer for our use. We were met at the door by the housekeeper, a little Australian lady named Mrs. Brown. I remember that she spoke with a strange accent. She had a tea table set and a fire in the little fireplace. The Stewart children explored the house right away and found our beds freshly made and the view of the ocean as we were just a matter of a few blocks from Kitsilano Beach where we were to spend many happy hours swimming and playing on the beach. We were so happy to be at our destination at last after our long journey in the car from Chicago.
Auntie Nan had a phone put in for Campbell so that he could be in touch with Ed Gregor and his business connections in Chicago. I remember that the bungalow had a large enclosed front porch with awnings that pulled down and enclosed it at night. That is where Eric Hopf slept. I remember that he often left the awnings up and would lay out there and smoke as we could see the lit end of his cigarette in the dark. The first few days, we visited family going to Uncle Jim's farm and Aunt Helen's house in the country. The first big family dinner was held at Aunt Helen's and Uncle Harry's farm, and we all had such a good time getting to know our little four year old cousin, Mary. I loved the way that Uncle Harry carried her around - perched on his shoulder as he showed us around the farm. He was a tall, lanky man who wore horn-rimmed glasses, and we all loved him as he seemed to love children!
Father had Eric take the car in for a complete cleaning, oil change, and check up after the first day or so. Our family was going to Kitsilano Beach to try out our new bathing suits. The trunks sent by rail had arrived! We were all going to spend the day at the beach, but at the last minute, mother decided to go with Eric as she had "shopping" to do! This was to be the pattern of the entire visit - mother "shopping" with Eric, dropping Campbell off with all of the children at the beach, Stanley Park, Aunt Helen's, and Uncle Jim;s. We didn't see much of mother. Mrs. Brown took care of the bungalow. Auntie Nan, the sophisticate, knew the score, and father was disturbed by news from Ed in Chicago.
It was August of 1929!
Auntie Nan had a phone put in for Campbell so that he could be in touch with Ed Gregor and his business connections in Chicago. I remember that the bungalow had a large enclosed front porch with awnings that pulled down and enclosed it at night. That is where Eric Hopf slept. I remember that he often left the awnings up and would lay out there and smoke as we could see the lit end of his cigarette in the dark. The first few days, we visited family going to Uncle Jim's farm and Aunt Helen's house in the country. The first big family dinner was held at Aunt Helen's and Uncle Harry's farm, and we all had such a good time getting to know our little four year old cousin, Mary. I loved the way that Uncle Harry carried her around - perched on his shoulder as he showed us around the farm. He was a tall, lanky man who wore horn-rimmed glasses, and we all loved him as he seemed to love children!
Father had Eric take the car in for a complete cleaning, oil change, and check up after the first day or so. Our family was going to Kitsilano Beach to try out our new bathing suits. The trunks sent by rail had arrived! We were all going to spend the day at the beach, but at the last minute, mother decided to go with Eric as she had "shopping" to do! This was to be the pattern of the entire visit - mother "shopping" with Eric, dropping Campbell off with all of the children at the beach, Stanley Park, Aunt Helen's, and Uncle Jim;s. We didn't see much of mother. Mrs. Brown took care of the bungalow. Auntie Nan, the sophisticate, knew the score, and father was disturbed by news from Ed in Chicago.
It was August of 1929!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Tiny Pearls and a Pink Dress (Chapter 24)
After we were settled in the bungalow, Campbell received a call from Ed Gregor, his partner and business manager. The construction of the Tudor was going well, the flooring was being laid, hardwood floors in the entire house except for the attic and basement of course. The team was right on schedule.
But Ed was worried...
People were gambling on the stock market and stocks were going up, prices were going up, and downtown people were saying that unless something was done to slow down the economic boom, it was sure to break and bring on a depression. Ed was right - the great CRASH was only a month or so away!
It troubled Campbell. It was now August and he would not be leaving for Chicago for more than a month. He was enjoying the reunion so much with his brother and sisters that he put it in the back of his mind! Jeanette was still occupied with shopping and collecting things from Chinatown for her new house. This kept her busy every day with Eric Hopf as her escort and driver.
We spent days at the beach - Campbell sitting on a tartan rug in his linen suit and Panama hat next to the lifeguard's stand. They enjoyed chatting with him, and when lunchtime came, we would all go to the fish and chips stand and bring back newspaper wrapped Fish and Chips and stone bottles of cold ginger beer. I had never tasted anything so good, before or since! The ginger beer was of course non-alchoholic, and we loved it!
Knowing that father was blind, the lifeguards took special care of us! Mother never came to the beach! Auntie Nan often took father and the four of us to beautiful Stanley Park in Vancouver, and that was a very special treat! Irv and I had a great time racing up and down all the winding paths. We loved looking at the tall Totem Poles, but the greatest thrill was to see the giant Kodiak bears in their cages! They had heads as big as bushel baskets - really fearsome creatures to us.
At teatime we would all wash hands and go up to the lovely cedar log tea room in the park to eat scones and tea and sandwiches and lemonade. Irv had gotten over his fear of bears, and I would hold his hand. He was seven, Helen was almost five, I was just about to turn Nine on August 15th, and Mart was 11 years-old.
When my birthday DID come on August 15th, Auntie Nan took me downtown, and because I was her namesake, she brought me into a jewelry store and bought me a little gold heart locket set with tiny pearls and a pink party dress. I was so thrilled. Later we went into a cake shop where she had me select the small individual cakes for my birthday TEA!
It was a lovely day!
But Ed was worried...
People were gambling on the stock market and stocks were going up, prices were going up, and downtown people were saying that unless something was done to slow down the economic boom, it was sure to break and bring on a depression. Ed was right - the great CRASH was only a month or so away!
It troubled Campbell. It was now August and he would not be leaving for Chicago for more than a month. He was enjoying the reunion so much with his brother and sisters that he put it in the back of his mind! Jeanette was still occupied with shopping and collecting things from Chinatown for her new house. This kept her busy every day with Eric Hopf as her escort and driver.
We spent days at the beach - Campbell sitting on a tartan rug in his linen suit and Panama hat next to the lifeguard's stand. They enjoyed chatting with him, and when lunchtime came, we would all go to the fish and chips stand and bring back newspaper wrapped Fish and Chips and stone bottles of cold ginger beer. I had never tasted anything so good, before or since! The ginger beer was of course non-alchoholic, and we loved it!
Knowing that father was blind, the lifeguards took special care of us! Mother never came to the beach! Auntie Nan often took father and the four of us to beautiful Stanley Park in Vancouver, and that was a very special treat! Irv and I had a great time racing up and down all the winding paths. We loved looking at the tall Totem Poles, but the greatest thrill was to see the giant Kodiak bears in their cages! They had heads as big as bushel baskets - really fearsome creatures to us.
At teatime we would all wash hands and go up to the lovely cedar log tea room in the park to eat scones and tea and sandwiches and lemonade. Irv had gotten over his fear of bears, and I would hold his hand. He was seven, Helen was almost five, I was just about to turn Nine on August 15th, and Mart was 11 years-old.
When my birthday DID come on August 15th, Auntie Nan took me downtown, and because I was her namesake, she brought me into a jewelry store and bought me a little gold heart locket set with tiny pearls and a pink party dress. I was so thrilled. Later we went into a cake shop where she had me select the small individual cakes for my birthday TEA!
It was a lovely day!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Home Again! (Chapter 25)
We left for Chicago, and HOME, the first week in September, 1929.
We had enjoyed such a glorious time in Vancouver that it was difficult to say goodbye to our loving family there when they all came down to the train station to see us off. We were taking the train home to Chicago as we had to be back in time to start school and Campbell had urgent business to tend to. Eric Hopf had left a couple of weeks earlier by train and was already back in Chicago. The Cadillac was shipped by rail along with the two large wardrobe trunks.
The train ride home proved to be another FUN adventure for the Stewart kids!
Father had rented two compartments for his family of six, and we loved the ride home! The jolly attentive porters were so kind and did so much for us. Three times a day they would carry Irv and Helen to the dining car and gave the whole family very special attention because father was blind. We loved looking at the spectacular mountain scenery and even saw herds of buffalo! We all loved the train ride home and Irv never got carsick on the train!
Ed Gregor and Eric Hopf met the Stewart family when we arrived at the station in Chicago. We climbed into their cars excited to be home again. It was dark when we drove past our new finished house. We were to move into it in just a couple of weeks! But first we had to select the wallpaper for the bedrooms and the carpeting had to be installed. Ed had the wallpaper books ready on the table when we got home. I was so glad to see Florence that I gave her a huge hug and a kiss! But, out of the corner of my eye, I did not miss Eric Hopf's look of disapproval!
We had enjoyed such a glorious time in Vancouver that it was difficult to say goodbye to our loving family there when they all came down to the train station to see us off. We were taking the train home to Chicago as we had to be back in time to start school and Campbell had urgent business to tend to. Eric Hopf had left a couple of weeks earlier by train and was already back in Chicago. The Cadillac was shipped by rail along with the two large wardrobe trunks.
The train ride home proved to be another FUN adventure for the Stewart kids!
Father had rented two compartments for his family of six, and we loved the ride home! The jolly attentive porters were so kind and did so much for us. Three times a day they would carry Irv and Helen to the dining car and gave the whole family very special attention because father was blind. We loved looking at the spectacular mountain scenery and even saw herds of buffalo! We all loved the train ride home and Irv never got carsick on the train!
Ed Gregor and Eric Hopf met the Stewart family when we arrived at the station in Chicago. We climbed into their cars excited to be home again. It was dark when we drove past our new finished house. We were to move into it in just a couple of weeks! But first we had to select the wallpaper for the bedrooms and the carpeting had to be installed. Ed had the wallpaper books ready on the table when we got home. I was so glad to see Florence that I gave her a huge hug and a kiss! But, out of the corner of my eye, I did not miss Eric Hopf's look of disapproval!
Friday, February 8, 2013
A New House (Chapter 26)
Martha and I had great fun selecting the wallpaper for the children's rooms in our new house. Irv's paper showed "The Little Engine That Could," Helen's showed "Bo-Peep and Her Sheep," and Martha and I chose ribbon tied bouquets of cosmos for our room. For Florence's little "maid's room" at the rear, clouds and flying swallows seemed appropriate. Mother chose an Art Deco "modern" design for her master bedroom to go with the ultra-modern twin bed bedroom set that she had just purchased. Their beautiful ivory double bed was put in the attic. Mother and father no longer slept together.
Moving day arrived and what a busy day it was! I noticed Eric carrying boxes up to the "maid's room" with a fish tank and a player accordian, and a large box of Modern Mechanics magazines! He was moving into Florence's room! I found Martha and together we confronted father.
"Dad, Eric is moving into Florence's room!"
He said, yes, he thought that mother had told us that Eric would be needed, not only as chauffeur, but as a maintenance man about the house. He would take care of the coal burning furnace, cut the grass and keep the grounds in shape and make any repairs around the house. So, the large workbench in the basement and the garage would be his domain. Since father's handicap prevented him from doing any of this, he explained that he HAD to have Eric on the grounds at all times. Florence stayed over only two or three nights a week since she lived on the south side of Chicago in a tenament flat with her mother and three children, and was the sole support of them all. So, on the nights that Florence stayed overnight, she slept in the big ivory double bed in the attic where she fixed a cozy corner for herself.
Mother had everything she wanted - a beautiful brand new house, someone to do all the housework, charge accounts in all the major stores downtown, and her own Cadillac complete with her own chauffeur / lover!
Ah yes, life was good....and so easy to maintain with a blind husband!
When the crash of October, 1929 occurred, we had been in our new house about a month. Campbell was alarmed, but wisely had not put all his eggs in one basket. He believed in diversification and had his money in more than one bank or project and so did not suffer the losses of many of his contemporaries. So, we did not experience any changes in lifestyle or income. He continued to build for three years after the crash and kept his "team". He did not anticipate the change that was to come in his personal life!
Moving day arrived and what a busy day it was! I noticed Eric carrying boxes up to the "maid's room" with a fish tank and a player accordian, and a large box of Modern Mechanics magazines! He was moving into Florence's room! I found Martha and together we confronted father.
"Dad, Eric is moving into Florence's room!"
He said, yes, he thought that mother had told us that Eric would be needed, not only as chauffeur, but as a maintenance man about the house. He would take care of the coal burning furnace, cut the grass and keep the grounds in shape and make any repairs around the house. So, the large workbench in the basement and the garage would be his domain. Since father's handicap prevented him from doing any of this, he explained that he HAD to have Eric on the grounds at all times. Florence stayed over only two or three nights a week since she lived on the south side of Chicago in a tenament flat with her mother and three children, and was the sole support of them all. So, on the nights that Florence stayed overnight, she slept in the big ivory double bed in the attic where she fixed a cozy corner for herself.
Mother had everything she wanted - a beautiful brand new house, someone to do all the housework, charge accounts in all the major stores downtown, and her own Cadillac complete with her own chauffeur / lover!
Ah yes, life was good....and so easy to maintain with a blind husband!
When the crash of October, 1929 occurred, we had been in our new house about a month. Campbell was alarmed, but wisely had not put all his eggs in one basket. He believed in diversification and had his money in more than one bank or project and so did not suffer the losses of many of his contemporaries. So, we did not experience any changes in lifestyle or income. He continued to build for three years after the crash and kept his "team". He did not anticipate the change that was to come in his personal life!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)