Saying Goodbye

*I brought this post over from my family blog. It's a post from back in September as my Grandmother was preparing to sell and leave her home of 66 years. It's one I thought belonged here on our geneology blog as well. So here it is!*

September 2010

Saying Goodbye



My Grandpa built this house back in 1944. With the city's new library and city complex (fire station, jail, courthouse) being built right across the street the city has set it's sights on my Grandmother's corner property (6 lots worth) to use for parking. The house is old and many things have fallen into disrepair. The city told her she either sells or they will claim eminent domain and take it. Fortunately for my Grandmother selling had been on her mind for some time but she was in no hurry. This being thrown at her kind of sped up the process more than she would have ever liked. She is moving from her home of 66 years tomorrow (September 23rd).





We visited with Grandma a few weeks ago and took these pictures knowing her home would soon no longer be her own. I'm glad we did. I have so many memories growing up playing in the yard and in the attic of the house, all the dressers and trunks of treasures we would find. Helping Grandma cook in the kitchen, potato pierogi, mmm. It's strange to think of this cute little house being just a day or two from being no more.

Sadly, the city will be claiming eminent domain on each of her neighbors' homes. Last I heard none of them had any intentions of selling or moving. It's just sad, a couple of these families have been living there for nearly as long as Grandma.






It was fun watching the kids run and play. Without even telling them some of my favorite spots as a kid they just naturally flocked to them on their own. Seeing them instinctively have fun took me back to my youthful exploring days there.



Over in that brush is where we would build our forts with paths that led to different "rooms". We would "feast" on the berries from the blackberry bush that grew right next to the entrance.

I tried to take pictures of everything I would miss and of details I know one day would be lost in the deep recesses of my mind. Of course I won't be posting all of them because when I got home I noticed I had taken nearly 250 details.

KK found all sorts of treasures up in the attic with Grandma. That is a photo of my mother. I've noticed looking at my Mom in that photo and KK holding the photo, there are some similarities. (chin, eye brows?)

Grandma was more than happy to be rid of a few things. KK was more than thrilled with Grandma's old golden pumps and matching purse. She's been wanting a pair of "high" heels for sometime. It was very nice of Grandma. One of the shoes needs some tender loving glue and it should be as good as new.

At the first sound of the train whistle we would make a mad dash to the big picture window at the front of the house and peer out with big eyes watching each and every car pass by with such great anticipation to see the little caboose car that finished off the train. We lived for the caboose. Sometimes it was black, sometimes yellow, but if you were really lucky you'd catch sight of a red one. The little red caboose, we had a song we would sing all about that little red caboose.


The Garage, Grandpa's Haven.

I know some people who could take a few pointers on organizing their garage clutter from my Grandpa's handy work here. They will remain nameless, because I love you, but you know who you are. If you could zoom in on this photo the labels are sweet.

This wonderful lady is ours to keep and that's really all that matters.

Anna

Anna Godleski Trembicki

This picture was taken at a wedding Anna stood up in. Walter, Anna's future husband, was very envious of the groom's man who accompanied Anna down the isle. Knowing a bit about Walter that makes me smile. There will be much more on Walter later. He's quite the character. :)

This amazing woman is who my youngest daughter is named after. She is my maternal Great Grandmother. Born in Poland in 1892. When she was 18 or 19 years old she came over to America under the name of her sister Rose, who was originally supposed to make the trip but decided to remain in Poland so she could stay with her fiance.

Later the mother of 8 children, 5 girls and 3 boys, and the sole worker of her 13 acre farm, Anna was an astonishing woman, strong and hard working. She could do it all and she did. I could most definitely learn something from her unwavering work ethic. In moments of trial when I find myself struggling I often stop and think of Great Grandma and of all the challenges a day in her life must have held. It causes me to be still, in a moment that quiets my restless heart and replenishes courage and strength in me, and I am able press on.

Her 13 acre farm was at the corner of Hamstrum and Central Ave. in Portage. The farm is now the home of a gas station, Bank and Bar with the Beef Mart located across the street. But in its heyday was home to her many cows, chickens and pigs. She set up her farmer’s market everyday on the corner selling her eggs, tomatoes, corn and other produce. She made her own butter and cheese. My Mother has memories of her holding a candle up to her eggs to make sure they were clear before using them for cooking and baking.

She ran her farm single handily. Her husband could be found playing the ponies or watching the wrestling match on TV. Anna’s son Joe ran the tractor when he was old enough and was a great help to her. As were her other children when they were old enough to lend a hand.

She never had the pleasure of living in a nice home until she sold the farm and bought some land near her eldest daughter, Mary, in Lake Station. It is there were she would finally have her beautiful brick house built, her palace. But Grandma, too afraid she would ruin the grandeur and plush carpeting of the home, refused to reside in the up stairs. Instead she had a kitchenette built in the basement so she would never have to damage the upper level of the home. She ate and slept in the basement of the house during the time she lived there until her passing.

I try my best to worry more about those around me than the belongings that surround us. Of course I believe you should take care of your home and the possessions you've been blessed with in this life to the best of your ability. Your home is your Heaven on Earth. But I am also of the mind set that fine china is to be used, not stored. Sure, one or two is bound to be broken over time during a meal or in cleaning, but I will never let the grandeur of any possession get in the way of living my life with my loved ones and enjoying my time with them here on Earth. They are just objects and absolutely replaceable. Each family member is far more important than all the riches in the world. They are my priceless treasures sent directly from our Heavenly Father.

When you think this way the crayon markings on the wall don't bother you so much any more. It almost makes me want to frame those little works of art, because children grow up much too soon and those markings will fade and be painted over in time. I never had the pleasure of meeting Anna in this life but in doing my research she has already taught me far more than I dreamed possible, and she still is that amazing woman.

Baptism Day

This is my grandpa and tonight he is being baptized.


Theodore (was also known as Ted and Dude but to me and 12 others he was Grandpa)

Tonight is our ward's youth temple trip. We finally got our stuff together and submitted the names of my Grandpa and his mother and father for the youth to baptize tonight! I could not be more excited!! They are the first members in our family to have work done in the temple. My heart is so that I feel like it might burst. So in honor of their big night I thought I'd post a few pictures of them and say a few words. Just a few, of course there will be much more to come. After all, it is impossible to sum up a life in just a few short paragraphs. And I have no intention of "summing up" anyone's life here. They all deserve far better than that.

Ted in 1940

Their Wedding Day: My Grandma and Grandpa in June of 1942

A month later my Grandpa left for basic training in the Army and then he was sent to fight in France. More on WWII is yet to come.

Grandpa wrote on the back of this one for Grandma: "Yours truly washing while on maneuvers."

I love reading all the little notes Grandma and Grandpa sent back and forth while he was serving. What a way to start off your marriage.

After the war: My grandma, Jennie, my grandpa, Ted and the baby is my Uncle Bill, their oldest of four children.

Ted and Bill (son)

Camping: there is a funny story behind this picture but there will be more on that later.

This is a bit more how I remember my Grandpa. That mischievous smile. He was such a funny guy, always making jokes and laughing. He loved children and animals, LOVED them. And was always tickled to see grandchildren do good things and excel at them. He never missed a game, a recital or performance of any kind. You always could count on seeing him there with Grandma. With 13 grandchildren it never fails to amaze me that they were able to pull that off. We were all so busy with our extra curriculars, but they were always there for each of us.

I remember thinking as a child that he was a giant. And he was. He was a giant of a man. Honest and hard working. When he gave his word to do something he put all that he had towards it and you always got his absolute best. He had an eye for such fine detail, it's hard to find people like that any more with such integrity and that's sad. He was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather and a fierce friend. He was the real deal.

Carl 1878-1938

This handsome man with the handlebar mustache is Carl. He is my Great Grandfather. I unfortunately missed scanning in my Great Grandmother, Mary's picture during our last visit. I'll be sure to do that next time and add it later. Carl and Mary came to America from Poland. Carl arrived first and then Mary followed later with their two children. They both landed at Ellis Island.

Carl and Mary had 12 children. My Grandpa was baby #9 in that line up. Grandpa always loved it when we (my sisters and I) would grow our hair long. He would tell us about his mother, Mary's hair. It was very very long and she always wore it piled high up on her head in a bun and at night when she would take it down he remembers watching her sit and comb it over and over. It's one of the few memories of her he shared with me. The only other memory of her I had the honor of hearing was much more solemn. Mary passed away from tuberculosis when she was only 36 years old and my Grandpa was just 3. Carl passed away 17 years after Mary leaving their children to lookout for themselves and one another.

Tonight they are on my mind. Clearly with 11 brothers and sisters there is much work yet to do for their family. I feel so blessed and honored to be able to do this work for them. They are the first three of many to be baptized. If this is the emotion that runs through me for their baptisms how am I ever going to make it through the rest? I guess it's not the worst thing to show emotion. :)

Happy Baptism Day!

Adventures in Genealogy

Welcome to our family's genealogy blog! There's a lot of work to be done on my side of the tree. There's been, well, none in the ways of temple work completed that I am aware of. This will be where I post my findings, my ancestors, their stories and pictures, should I be lucky enough to find any. And eventually it will all be published into a book for us to have in our homes. It's a tough job but someone has start it! So here goes nothing...