Janet McAdam Waning's Birthday - 1956

Net also received a card from her sister-in-law Sophie Ingvalson McAdam,

Card - front 

Card - Inside

Enclosed with the card was this  small note

I think Sophie must have stuffed her card with Blooming Prairie newspaper clippings.

Janet McAdam Waning's Birthday - 1956

Continuing the cousin-connect, Net got a birthday card from her cousin Retta Wallace Francis.

Card - Front

Card - Inside

Card - Reverse

"Dear Nett: I must add a few lines to your birthday card.  I hope you have a happy one - I am so glad you and Billy keep so well - I get along fine as long as I keep my B.P. under control - I look fine but it is caused by inward nervousness - so, I try not to let things worry me that I can't control.  I have a nice widow moving in to the duplex on Sat.  She is 65 and should be company for me.  I think I told you Dorothy1 expects the stork in Aug.  We are all hoping for a little girl this time (for her sake as that is what she wants so badly) but whatever comes will be welcome. 

The xxxx and towels came through fine I do use them for cookies etc and they are so high in the stores.  Maybe I did write & thank you - I forget.  It was nice of you to go to all that trouble.  I'll give Dot some of them.  We had a wonderful rain.  Today is so beautiful isn't cool enough to suit me.  I must close & catch the mailman - Love, good wishes 

from Retta"

1 Her daughter, Dorothy (Dot) Francis Thompson - the baby was a girl!  Karen Elise.

Birthday Wishes From Days Gone By

Janet McAdam Waning was born the 5th of February 1875.

Birthday Greetings - Front

Birthday Greetings - Reverse

Postmarked pre-1911 (when she married)

"Miss Nettie McAdam

Billings Mont. 

Livingston, Mont.

I got here at 2am this morning.  Gee it's cold here today.  N.S."

Birthday Wishes - Front



Birthday Wishes - Reverse

Olivia Upton Adams in Pennsylvania - 1956

Olivia Upton Adams - Envelope - 1956

In the summer of 1956, Olivia Upton Adams travelled back to the Erie, PA area to visit family and friends. 

While there, she wrote her niece, Margaret Upton Waning a letter.

Oliva Upton Adams Letter - Page 1

"Aug 21st '56

Dear Margaret -

I have been thinking of you & yours tho I haven't written, it seems hard to get the chance for a few minutes quiet.  Everyone here in the east is well but Claude Price and Robert(1) he is still working farming between rain and bad electric storms.  Sat night was the worse(sic) I ever see(sic).  I have been on the go so much I better wait untill I return home to make any report.  I was at Rosses(2) from Sat eve Aug 4th untill Aug 11th.  Stayed with Mary Prentill untill Aug 15th then with farm folks untill Sun Aug 19.  Parney(3) came down & I returned with them and will be here from now on, there are so many here on the lake shore & Parney will drive me around as he works only three days a week.  The Sat before..."

Olivia Upton Adams Letter - Page 2

I arrive Uncle Clarence Player's(4) funeral was held.  He had passed very suddenly.  I am expecting Stina from Oil City(5) this next week.  My old school chum Daisy came over last night and we had another visit.  She lives on another street about a block from here.  She is expecting her son from Florida this next week and is looking forward to his coming as her husband passed away about a year ago & she is quite lonely, tho she trys(sic) to be brave. 

Well we have had rain & more rain and thunder lightening storms, farmers haven't all haying done yet.  Robert had his but now worrying over his oats he last 20 acres & ripe but can't get on grown but today it looks like clearing, sun out cold wind.  Hope everyone is well, I seem to be standing up pretty good.  Be seeing you after Sep 1st.

Love to all Olivia"

1 Robert Upton born 1898 the baby of the family

2 Ross Upton born 1893

3 Parney Upton born 1888 - child #2 - He moved to Erie,PA while his brothers Robert and Ross stayed in the Garland, PA area (Olivia was the eldest - followed by 4 brothers)  

4 Clarence Player - not clear to me - perhaps a Carter relative

5 Oil City, PA "Oil City is a city in Venango County, Pennsylvania, United States that is noted especially in the instrumental exploration and development of the petroleum industry. After the first oil wells were drilled nearby in the 1850s, Oil City became central in the petroleum industry while hosting headquarters for the Pennzoil, Quaker State, and Wolf's Head motor oil companies."

From Wikipedia

Elsie Upton - Obituary

Elsie Greenwell Upton - about 1961

Elsie Upton Obituary

Elsie Greenwell Upton

Elsie Greenwell and Fanny Greenwell Gantenbein - about 1904

Elsie Greenwell Upton

Born - 1 February 1887

Damascus, Clackamus County, Oregon

Passed - 24 September 1964

Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon

Elsie has particularly beautiful eyes I think!

Trip to Spokane - 1956- Part 4

In late September / early October 1956 Margaret Waning travelled from Eugene, OR to Spokane, WA for a Girl Scout Leaders Conference. 

Girls Scout Leaders Financial Guide

"October 2 - 1956

Dearest Jim, Barbie, Sandie, Connie, and Tiny -

It's just eight o'clock Thursday morn - Everybody is up & I've had my bath - I got up first cause I'm used to it I was awake anyway - have on my Scout uniform - just beautiful?  We got in at six last night after a good trip from The Dalles.  Keo(1) & Mrs Howard had never been this way - so we stopped at the Stone(2) Henge (sic) also Celilo(3) - the Indians are still fishing though it was early about 7:30 so not too many out.  We had breakfast in Golendale(4)(sic) - and lunch at Euphrata about 2.  The gals went shopping & lunched while I visited with June(5).  I saw Curtis(6)  (Corkey) too.  He's working in the same building as his Mom - looks fine - I couldn't tell he had anything the..."  

Envelope of letter mailed 2 Oct 1956

"...matter with him - tho' June said he did limp a little as his big toe is paralyzed.  Also a shoulder muscle is weak.  He was in the hospital from last Thanksgiving until after New Year's.  June said the rest of the family O.K.  Tho' I was surprised to hear her say Milton(7) is about ready to sell everything and get out of the farming business.  They didn't get any of their crops harvested a year ago as they got an early snow that didn't melt until April.  June, Judy & little boys had been over in Seattle early in the summer to see Helen & Earl(8).  Earl showed the boys a wonderful time - June said "just like Jim did when they were at our house."  

Well everybody is ready for breakfast so I'll say good-bye & Love to you all -

Mom".

1 One of Margaret's dearest friends for over 5o years - Keo Burcham

2 Sam Hill of "What the Sam Hill!" fame - built a full sized replica of Stonehenge in Maryhill, WA

3 Celilo Falls - In 1957 The Dalles dam engulfed the centuries old Native American traditional fishing grounds. 

4 Goldendale, WA5 Margaret's cousin, June Gantenbein Suckow

6 Curtis Suckow - June's oldest son - caught polio in 1956 

7 June's husband - Milton Suckow

8 June's sister and brother-in-law

Trip to Spokane - 1956 - Part 3

In early October 1956, Margaret Waning traveled to Spokane, WA to attend a Girl Scout Leader's Conference. 

Postcard to Sandie - Front

Postcard to Sandie - Reverse

Postmarked 1 October 1956 - The Dalles, OR

"Dear Sandie (& Daddy)

After letting Aunt Ella(1) off - we ate lunch in Portland - stopped at Mult. Falls and Boneville (sic) - not many fish - had a beautiful sunny ride to the Dalles - got here at 5:30p saw some other Scout Leaders from Eugene at Dinner.

Love - Mom" 

1 - Ella McAdam Caufield probably

Trip to Spokane - 1956 - Part 2

In early October 1956, Margaret Waning traveled to Spokane, WA via The Dalles, OR to attend a Girl Scout Leader's Conference.  She hoped to combine business with personal visits and sight-seeing - the quintessential Waning Road Trip!

Postcard to Barbara - Front

Postcard to Barbara - Reverse

Postmarked 1 October 1956 The Dalles, OR

"Hi Barb (& Chuck)

I called June(1) tonight & made a date to see her tomorrow at work in Euphrates.(2)  Hope to get a fairly early start tomorrow as well want to see the Indians if they are fishing(3) and perhaps the Petrefied(sic) forest(4).  It was beautiful sunny weather this P.M. Lots of traffic - several deer on cars coming from the East.

Love - Mom"

1 - Margaret's maternal cousin, June Gantenbein Suckow.

2 - I think this is Ephrata, WA near Moses Lake 

3 - This NW Indians were still able to fish Celilo Falls in 1956 - the Dalles Dam was constructed in 1956.

4 - Probably the Ginko Petrified Forest State Park outside of Yakima on the way to Spokane.

Trip to Spokane - 1956 - Part 1

In early October 1956, Margaret Waning traveled to Spokane, WA to attend a Girl Scout Leader's Conference.

Postcard to Connie - Front

Postcard to Connie - Reverse

Postmarked 1 October 1956 - The Dalles, OR

"Hi Connie (& Tiny),

I'm at the Dalles have just had a nice Salmon supper & then walked down town & bought our cards at the same restaurant we ate in on Labor day.  We are at the Shamrock Motel were Dad and Mom(1) stayed several yrs ago.

Love, Mom"

1 Refers to her parents - Otto and Elsie Upton