Grandma’s Stories

Oct 14th A Case of Bribery!

A perfect family, father and mother are just right with a little girl, Mary Ellen and a year old boy, Denny Jr. What more would anyone want?  It is January 1940, and Denny Jr. will be one year old, and we have a party for Denny Jr. with lots of family and friends attending. Lots of food is prepared since Denny Sr. is a chef by trade, and tubs full of ice for soft drinks and Stag beer was Sr.’s preferred drink and lots of it.

Little Mary Ellen and the birthday boy Denny Jr. were in one of those play pens for children so all the guest could blow those noise makers in their direction, with it unrolling as they blew it and of course the children were suppose to like this attention? This is what my mother told, at least a hundred or more times. In the beginning everything that was done – was done in a big way – often and with lots of “SHOW” for all to think we were rolling in the “DOUGH!”  But, as my mother said – this was all with her money and none of his. These parties would usually last for the week-end, as some of the in-laws from Ohio would come and stay with us. Those big round wash tubs were with us, no matter where or when we moved, they came along.

SURPRIZE!! Mama is due to have baby number three in the middle of February! This is a problem since there are no close relatives that can take care of two small children. Old “Doc Couper” is out of the question. Somewhere where children are really cared for is what my parents were looking for now. Suggestions were made and we all went to see what these places were like, and of course I was there and could see and hear what was going on and these places looked like hospitals to me. I could tell that my mother was not feeling as well as she usually did, as she was not able to pick me up and not able to rock me on her lap in our favorite “Boston” rocker. And, I did not like these places I was told that I needed to stay for a short time.

Finally, the day comes, because they have some of my favorite things packed with some clothes, and the only thing to keep me from crying and saying I do not want to go somewhere to stay for a short time, is we can stop on the way and get you a bag of candy, just for you, just what you like? Penny candy in those days filled a nice size bag, and with my small hand, I held on to that bag for dear life. No one was going to get that bag out of my hand. Not for anything. I guess that at that time my world was falling apart, and I had to hold on to something that was only “MINE!”

I was put in one of those old times looking white metal beds, you see them in foreign orphanages and dormitories, and places you would not want to be.  What I still remember to this day is the bed up against the wall, near a door, and several other beds nearby. The day that my parents left me there, the people wanted that bag of candy, and I would not part with it. I was in that bed and of course could not get out, and as night time comes and I am totally stressed out and know I am going to sleep and put my bag of candy under the pillow, I fall asleep. In the morning, the bag was taken away and I never got that bag of candy, nor ever found out what happened to it.

Oct 13th Little Mary Ellen

In the early 1940’s, I had two younger brothers, Denny Jr. and the baby Tommy. I was hoping for a little sister every time I heard anything about a new baby especially for our family. Each time that a baby was on its way to our house, I was our sourced with strangers for a couple of weeks. It seem to be the healthy way for a new mother to spend at least two or more weeks in the hospital, for the delivery process with a whole staying in the bed, completely being waited on hand and foot. Then, if the first time mother was strong enough the second week she was helped up and to a shower, and to partake in classes in the hospital to learn how to feed the baby, bath the baby, dress and care for the baby. You name it and you were learning how to do things correctly for a new born baby!

In those days, it must have been thought a mother needs some time to get used to the idea of a baby with needs that are time consuming, and still all the other tasks of running a home need to continue to be taken care of. The father/husband still needs to be #1 in the daily taking care of, because if he  can’t get to work as per  the usual routine, you and baby will not be able to stay home? Somebody has to get out and work…  for “the bacon!”

Of course, in large families as in days gone by, you just might be lucky and have an “in-law” live in to help you with daily chores until you are strong and able. Since my mother was the (13^th) and last child in her family, she did have her mother (my grandma) living with us and I guess some help?

Anyway, when my brother Denny Jr. was to be born, I needed to stay somewhere and who would that be? Grandma Brady was really too old to take care of me for a couple of weeks, as I was not yet eighteen months, and so old “Doc Cooper” who was our land-lord and good friend of the family, was suppose to be the best place for me – I would get such excellent care? Those were very cold months, Denny Jr. was born in the latter half of January, and of course the furnace is running  full blast to keep the house warm. These houses had floor ventilators with a 12×18 inch waffle grate design for the heat to come into the rooms and were very hot. Naturally, they left me play near one and I sat on one or maybe even fell on, but I did end up with a burnt thigh. I was never left to stay with them again, because even “Doctors” do not have totally safe houses for small children. I heard that so often, in years later, that my mother was so sorry for any damage that may have be done to me.

Oct 11th Music and Dance Performers!

Lee Jr. with  “Girls” pose for picture taking before dress rehearsal! Their  performance was at the “War Memorial” in Ft.Lauderdale, Florida.