This is a grouping of very small photos that I have of our grandfather, Fred Foote, when he was probably around 20 or so. (I think Gibby resembled him most as a young man). By all accounts he was a very sweet man and much loved. Ruthy always thought so much of him as a kid, and from stories I've heard, he was very clever - he invented from scrap pieces items that would help others. Ruthy told me about how he consructed a walker from plumbing pipes for an old friend who was lame with some ailment in his legs - this was before walkers were invented. He also was an amazing craftsman, having built the lake house from scratch, and various pieces of furniture that they owned. It would have been nice to have had those things still in our family!

Does anyone see any other characteristics that resemble other family members? I don't, but it would be interesting to hear your thoughts.

The Blairs and their calves

Here's another one of young Gladys Coolley - she's to the left of the picture (I believe) with the big twists on either side of her head. I remember that she had a lot of hair! The boy would be Lovell? And then presumably Ve and Minnie, although I can not be sure which is which. They look to be teenagers, and they each have a cow of their own to raise.

Mom's in the bonnet

I got this photo from a photo post card - the only thing it says on the back is "Mom in bonnet", with "Ray and Gladys" written in the address area. I think that Dad wrote this indicating his mom was the one in the bonnet. What's funny is that nearly all the women are in bonnets! But I believe that the woman to the left of the picture seen in profile is our grandmother. Everyone looks to be having a pretty good time, except maybe Grammy Coolley. I think she looks quite young here. I wish I could identify the others.....

May: a time for Senior Proms and Anniversaries

Remember this picture? Either Ron's prom, or Nancy's. I think I remember Nancy's dress as bright red, and I LOVED the soft, foamy skirt. Knowing Nancy's many talents, I think I remember that she made this beautiful dress herself - is this true, Nancy? (As a 6 or 7 year old, my goal was to grow up to be Nancy - or at least to be a tiny bit as smart and talented as she!)

They've been together since the days when these hairstyles and fancy gloves were a part of our teenage culture, that's a pretty amazing, wonderful accomplishment!

Happy Anniversary, Ron and Nancy!

Young Macer

Notice the very blonde hair! It's interesting to see that Dad had light hair as a baby, since his hair was so dark for most of his
life! I'd say he was around 3 years old here. Cute.

Jeanne's 10th Birthday party

Was this taken at the movie theatre, or at the Floppy Show??? I remember when this photo was taken, but not much else - except that I coveted Jeanne's dress. (Not to fear, though, I inherited it a few years later!)

Update 12/2017: This was taken at the Holiday Theater before a movie. They often hosted birthday parties there and I remember posing for this photo in the lobby.

From r-l front row: Me, Jennetta Snedden (?), ?, Susie Cornwell, Marcia Cherry, Susie Gates. Back row, r-l: Becky Parlee, ?, Jeanne, ?, Martha Tew and Linda Jones.

The Foote family photo was taken around 1932 when Ruthie was 13. Bunny is standing behind Ellen and was about 17, Gibby was 21 and Ellen was 23. The second photo is of Edna, which was taken originally as a group shot of her basketball team. Ruthie remembered that Edna very talented in athletics and theatre. I believe that this photo was taken the year that she died - she was 14 the summer of her death.

I always thought that Ruthie looked very similar to Edna, and looking at the two photos together shows the resemblance. Ah, but maybe it was just the hair! (When Edna died, Ruthie was 7 years old.)

This photo is of Frank Dolloff (right) and a fellow soldier, during what I assume was WWI. I used to hear that
Frank was underaged when he went into that war, and this picture shows him as a pretty young guy. I don't know who the
other guy is, or where the photo was taken. One can see, though, that Frank was a pretty good looking young man in his day.

The Oppies

Jeanne will want to weigh in on this one, but I am thinking that this may be a photo of Katie Coolley, daughter of John Andrew Coolley, Jr. and Rebecca Jane Douglas. Siblings of Katie would have been Samuel Martin, Phioma, William James and Plaine. Parents were married in PA and moved to Iowa?

Katie was born 8/21/1812 and married Samuel Oppie. Not sure if they had children.

Cal Mason and Dovie

Jeanne needs to weigh in on these two, but I believe they were the parents of Sarah Mason who was married to Martin Samuel Coolley, Gramp's parents. It's possible that the picture in the photo previously posted with the farm animals is of Martin and his second wife, Lissy and their daughter, Vera - with Gramp in back beside the horse.

This photo of Cal and Dovie would've been taken around 1850 as Martin was born in 1854. Martin's first wife, Sarah was a Mason. His second wife, Lissy was a Maddy - Sorry, I got that wrong in the first posting.

Agnes McFarlane Curry Foote

Grammie Foote was a pretty young girl - it's hard for me to see her as this young, sweet girl of about 20 or so!

From Gramp's ancestry

Not at all sure who these are in the photo. It seems Jeanne and I decided it was a photo of Gramp's family, but I can't remember if the older boy by the horse is Gramp or his older brother? And the little girl? Jeanne, if you know or can speculate, please feel free to do so.....

It's interesting how they have the family "pets" in the photo as well. Did they feel these animals were part of the family, or a symbols of stature/wealth?

The Blair Sisters

The Blair sisters top to bottom:
Gladys, Velola (Aunt Ve), Minnie and Umbra.

Dicky and Johnny Snedden at Boy Scout Camp

I always liked this picture of Dicky. I always assumed it was of he and Eddy Willette, and only just now realize the other boy in the photo is Johnny Snedden. I believe this is their set up at Boy Scout camp - I recognize the platforms they have at these camps having gone through all this with Justin.

Ruthie told a story about Dick and boy scout camp that I enjoyed especially when Justin went away on his first week at camp. Apparently, Dick hadn't been away on his own for more than an overnight when he went to camp the first time. He went with Johnny and the rest of the guys, no problem. Then midway through the week, the parents were invited for a big cookout and to see skits, singing and crafts by the boys. Ruthie remembers that she and Dad drove in and saw Dick hanging with the other guys, doing stuff, having fun - until he saw them drive in. Suddenly, he remembered how homesick he was and his face crumpled. He came over to them at the car and broke down, saying he wanted to go home with them, that he'd had enough. Ruthie said she was ready to pile him in the car and go, but Dad pulled her aside and said to give it some time. They talked to Dick and he told them all the stuff that had gone on - fun stuff mostly, but also some typical kid stuff that made him mad - he was homesick and seeing them made it worse. It was decided that they'd stay for the celebration and cookout and see how he felt when if was time for them to go home.

Close to leaving time, someone's dad drove up with a trunk full of watermelon and all the boys crowded around for the big treat. Ruthie said that Dick was right in the group laughing and having a great time. He was back in the mix and they were all goofing around, and Dad told him at this point they were leaving. They waved goodbye and walked to the car. Dick never mentioned going home with them. It was all forgotten.

Ruthie always admired how Dad handled the situation - not telling Dick he couldn't go home yet, or chastising him - but letting him unload his homesickness and frustration with the guys, and then getting right back into the group. Had they taken him home that night, I imagine he would've had a hard time living it down!

The Curry Women

And just one more for the day......

This is a group shot of the Curry women. Grammie Foote looks about 17 or 18 here. Scratch that - she looks about 14 or 15. I know that she worked in the mills at age 11, so they all had been in the US for several years at this point. I always thought Grammie was a nice looking young woman. However, she doesn't much resemble the other three....

Right to left: Mary, Maggie (seated), Jennie or Jean (seated) and Agnes

Jennie Curry

The back of this photo says this is Jennie Curry. I believe they called her Jean as well. I remember she was one of Ruthie's
favorites of the Curries - a very sweet woman.

While cleaning this one up (it had pen markings and rips all over it - plus very faded), I noticed the photo on the table
near her right hand. It looks to be of a large house - perhaps her home in Bedford. Ruthie used to drive out to Tinker Road
(or one of those roads off of 101) and take us past Aunt Mary's. I'm not sure where Jean Sharp lived. Perhaps Jeanne remembers?

The Curry Family and spouses.

Top Row, Right to Left:
George Curry, John Sharp, William Curry, Charles Tinker, Ernest Tinker

Seated, Right to Left:
Agnes Curry, Jean Curry Sharp, Robert Curry, Mildred Tinker (infant), Maggie Tinker, Mary Jenkins

Bob Curry is young boy sitting in front of Robert.

Dad goes to war

Jeanne identified these guys for me - I knew the first man to Dad's right is Forrest, and the next to the last on the end is Gramp, but didn't the other men in the group. According to Jeanne, the third is Homer (Gramps older brother), 5th is Ray Coffman (husband of Velma?), 6th is Virgil Coffman (husband of Cletha?), 8th is Gramp and then Harold. Seems to be a Coolley gathering...not sure who the girl in the window could be, looks about 2 so born about 1939-1940?

I believe this a photo taken as Dad is heading off to war. He would've been in his mid-20's at the time? Jeanne found a distant relative who has identified these men with dad! They are, from left to right: Forrest Coolley, Dad, Homer Coolley, Roy Darrell Coolley (Roy's son), Roy S. Coolley, [don't know who the next man is], Ray Coolley, and Harold Coolley

Who are they?

Anyone care to identify these women? I'm wondering if they are the Curry women.......

Flying to NH

Did Dad fly this big plane to New Hampshire? It seems much bigger than the little planes we flew in when I was around. Maybe Ron will remember......

I remember Ruthie telling me that Dick was seriously fussy during this entire trip "east". He was teething at the time - probably molars or eye teeth by the look of his age (which was around 1 year). And no doubt had an ear infection on top of it since they go hand in hand. Poor baby.

One of the reasons I've always liked this photo is knowing the back story of this particular trip, that apparently the only one who seemed to keep Dick soothed was Gramp Foote. According to Ruthie, he could hold Dick for hours, but if anyone else tried to take over he would start crying again. I wonder what it was about Gramp that settled him?

In this picture, as they are about to leave for Iowa, Gramp Foote stands a little back from the group as if to subconsciously prolong his unique bond with his grandson, (and holding the baby as only a man would!) Dick looked ready to spend the entire flight home in tears!

Also of note, this is one of a very few photos we have of Gramp Foote.

Frannie looks like a fashion model - Ruthie always said she was stylish (and check out the dimples!).

And check out Ron's cowboy boots!

On the beach

What I like about this picture is that it shows my dad at the far left of the frame with his characteristic hands on back of waist stance. I mean, a glance at his figure and I know it's him. 

I sort of remember this vacation. Snapshots of it, really. I believe it was one of the last times we took a small engine airplane out to NH - and what was I? Two? Three? I can't tell, but I do remember staying at the Maker's cabin on the lake, finding a zillion dreamsicle-colored salamanders (and wanting to take the bucket of them that I found home with us), and even the family in the little house next to ours - I played with the kids, who were dreadfully noisy. One night at their house I was so thrown by the chaos and noise that I told the girl I needed earplugs (kiddingly, of course). She pulled open a drawer and handed me a set without question. Seems they were used to that complaint. And ready. I can't remember their names, but it wasn't the McLaine clan - they were on the other side of the woods.

Grammy Foote stayed with us in this house, and I recall a night that we were all in the lake after dark, while she babysat and our parents had gone somewhere for the evening. She called me in and made me sit with her as the others continued their playing in the water. I was so upset! I honestly don't think the woman ever cared much for me, but that could be the memory of tiny kid who felt "victimized" by a overly cautious grandma. She fed puzzles into the fireplace to keep the fire going - puzzles that belonged to the house and its owners. I remember Rootie getting a huge kick out of that. We only stayed in this cabin once or twice early on, and I do remember it a bit. Jeanne and I had a bedroom upstairs and I insisted on a hall light staying on because I was ALWAYS scared of the dark. The last night we were there Jeanne cried in bed and said goodbye to everyone as she lay there in the dark - even said goodbye to Sandy McLaine's horse. I thought that was hysterical.

On the flight out we were fogged in at some stopover airport. I do recall sitting for what seemed DAYS in a waiting room until we were allowed to take off. We were not allowed to move around, but to sit still. How often these days does one see a family of kids sitting quietly for hours? Talk about hard - I remember that it was agony.