Nice Day for a Swim

Norma Haubrich Greening - Carl "Kelly" Greening - Doris Haubrich Dolan

1930s Location Unknown

A good 2-3 inches of snow fell this morning. The sun is out now, but the wind is howling. How about some summertime thoughts!

What do you think my Mom and my dear Aunt Norma and Uncle Kelly would think if they knew I was posting this photo. (That little smirky smile on Kelly's face leads me to think he'd be okay  with it. Mom and Norma, maybe not so much.) But hey, it's fair game. They took the picture. It was in Norma's photo album. I love it.

Imagine  shopping for swimwear in those days. "Ah, excuse me, do you have something less plain and black and no so much 'let's show everything', please?" Obviously, the  answer was "No!" Nice touch with the little "belt", Mom.

What I love about going  through these old photo albums is that (among other things) you realize that our mom/dads/aunts/uncles/grandparents were young once too - and they liked to enjoy themselves. That sounds a bit silly, I suppose. Of course they did. It's just that as I knew them, later in life, you just didn't think about it that way. At least I didn't. Pictures can teach so much!

I wish I could have been there with them that day, although I don' think I could do justice to the suit like my Uncle Kelly did! Anyway, it looks like a good time was had  by all.

What Else Did You Do, George?

George Donlon (left)

Not long ago, I mentioned that my Uncle George was a mailman in Anaheim, California. That was his last job. Before that he sold men's clothing - and was very good at it. That's another story I want to tell some day. But George had other jobs too. Like the one above.

I know its Kenosha. I know it's late 1930's or early 1940's. He had a uniform and he delivered something - maybe orange crush, among other things. Milk man? For whom? That's something I will try to find out.

But this is one of the photos among my "faves" for a number  of  reasons. First of all, it involves an unknown that I can try to solve. I like that. It helped me learn something else abut my uncle and godfather.

And ... the delivery trucks are classics! I wish I knew cars. That would tell me something about the date of the picture for sure.

I wonder what else I didn't know about Uncle George.

Lookin' Good, Marv

Marvin Haubrich - 1930's

The obituary of my Uncle Marv had this short sentence, "after high school, he worked as a musician playing violin and string bass with dance bands."  I think this was his "uniform"! Wow! Lookin' pretty sharp, Uncle Marv.

 

Among my research goals is to learn more about Marv's WWII days with the 5th Army in Europe. Slowly but surely, I've been working on that. (Thanks to cousin Karen and Aunt Evelyn for some great pics and other information!). But's that's a coming attraction.

 

The dance band story intrigues me as well. I wonder what the bands were called. Where did they play? Who else was in the bands? Oh well, at least I got some pictures. Betty Jean knows a little bit, I think. I better ask her soon.

 

The Haubrichs had music in their blood, and I bet they could "cut a mean rug" too!

 

The Little Big Man

Edwin Schultz circa 1930s

Have been spending a lot of time lately in and around 286 E. Montello Street which, God willing, will be  home in a couple of months. This last week part of  the time was spent in the basement, cleaning  out the old coal room (found a couple of treasures in there!), and then out in the shed in the  back yard.

 

It got me  thinking a lot of about Grampa Schultz. I only knew him later in life, and although I  heard things about him, I can't say I really got to know him. But I have been learning about him now as we rummage around the  house and yard he made a home for so many years. He has made me smile, shake my head, scratch my head, and marvel at his knowledge, creativity, determination, and sense of humor. There's so much to be learned and told about him, but this is  not the place for it. But it can be a start.

 

I found this picture of him recently. It was in his daughter's (Delores Schultz Mateske) picture book and it was labeled "Daddy." Not sure where it is (I doubt that it is 286 Montello), and I'm not really sure when it was taken. I think in the 1930s. He's wearing what almost could be called his trademark hat and coveralls. The only thing he's not wearing here is the smile that was usually on his face when the camera came out. In this picture he looks proud and confident.

 

Edwin Schultz was a little man - but only in stature. I am discovering that he was a pretty big man in so many ways. I really hope he would be okay with me taking over the place he loved so much and worked so hard for so many years. I'd like to think he would.

 

(I sure wish we still had that gun! I wonder what it is. It looks pretty small)

Grampa Edwin Schultz with Amy Dolan and Paul Mateske

Back Porch  of 60 Church Street Montello - 1979

One of  his last and (I think) best pictures!