This photo was recently shared with me. I never really knew William personally, I can remember his presence as a kid at reunions, I knew who he was. But this photo is one that seems to make him that much more personal to me.
I have written on William previously and shared photos.
William Fredrick Andra Jr (1920 – 1992).
On 26 June 2014 I stopped for a visit at the Richmond, Utah, City Cemetery. I have a number of family buried there. It had been several years since I had been to the cemetery. I stopped by the Jonas family graves and was shocked by what I saw. Open scarring and damage to the tombstones. This is a follow up to a previous post.
I reached out to Richmond City Hall to find out who was in charge of the Cemetery. I was given the name and phone number of Jeff Young and Cheryl Peck. I called and left a message for both. I returned to the Cemetery to take some additional pictures.
Over the next few weeks, I called and left messages for Jeff Young and Cheryl Peck. I indicated who I was and why I was calling. I never received a call back from either.
A month or two later after no response from Mr. Young or Ms. Peck, I called back to Richmond City Hall. I was given the phone number for Marlowe Adkins. I had met Mr. Adkins when I worked for Inlande Environmental and Richmond City was doing some upgrades to their wastewater treatment facility. Mr. Adkins explained to me that the Cemetery had a Citizens Committee that was responsible for the Cemetery and Mr. Young was the one to talk to regarding the care of the Cemetery.
I had not been to the cemetery for probably close to 8 years. As far as I can tell on the family tombstones all the damage occurred during that time.
I walked around the cemetery and snapped photos of the obvious damage on other grave markers.
After not hearing from Mr. Young or Ms. Peck for several months, I reached out to an attorney regarding liability for the damages to these stones. Ultimately, the determination was made that proving the date of the damage was going to be hard and second Utah only has a small time frame in which to make notice of the injury. The king has again protected itself against liability. There would be no recourse against Richmond. Some of the FindaGrave photos uploaded in 2010 did have some of the damages showing, so we were obviously over the known injury time frame to make a claim.
Hopefully citizens and residents of Richmond would care how their Cemetery is being cared for, but I guess since it happened and no action was taken, I guess I might be wrong. Not my fight. But I can hope that shining a light on the issue might help.
Old Paul School
I don’t know the year the Paul Independent School District was created, but it was Paul Independent District #3. After a successful vote in 1948, Paul Independent School District was one of 17 districts that combined to create Minidoka County Joint School District #331. For your information, those Districts were Acequia (2 – Rural and Independent), Big Bend, Empire, Heyburn (2 – Joint and Common), Hopewell, Jackson, Lincoln, Minidoka, Paul, Pioneer, Rosston, Riverview, Rupert, Walcott, and Washington.
Later, a consolidated high school, Minidoka County High School or Minico High School, was built. The last graduating class of Acequia, Heyburn, Paul, and Rupert High Schools was 1955. 1956 ushered in the first graduating class of Minico.
The building above was the Paul School which included the high school. This building burned down by arson in 1977 and the present building was built in 1980 with some minor additions since. The old ball fields are still behind with the backstops. The current elementary has the old bell hanging in front of the school sheltered from the elements.
Current Paul Elementary
Here is another picture of the old school from the Paul water tower.
Paul, Idaho from water tower
My Grandparents, Norwood Jonas and Colleen Andra, married in 1946. It is my understanding they were given a number of items for their marriage. The two main ones I remember are a bedroom set (which my Aunt Jackie still has) and a couch and chair. My Mom at some point in the past received the couch and chair. I remember them early on as a child.
I have noticed both in a few pictures over time.
Sandy and Doug Jonas about 1958-59 in chair
In the picture above you can almost see the pattern in the fabric. I imagine it was a rough, thick fabric.
Norwood and Sandy Jonas on couch about 1957-58
In this one, you can also see the same pattern in the fabric. Notice the wood accent on the front and carved feet. Grandpa and Mom are on this couch, you can see Doug on a different chair in the corner. These pictures are at the Jonas home they built in Richmond, Utah. In the chair and couch, you can see the back of each with the vertical tucks.
Doug and Sandy cuddled under a blanket with couch to the right.
I know it is only a side shot, but another photo it appears. It is interesting what other objects appear in pictures. These two are likely watching the television which is across the room next to the chair.
Doug, Sandy kneeling in front of couch about 1962-63
The picture adds a table, but the couch remains behind with the shag rug. The chair in the corner disappeared, along with the radio (which I have now), but the side table that matches the coffee table appeared. This photo shows the pattern much better than the previous pictures.
Sandy and Doug Jonas reading on couch
This one jumps back in time with the radio and chair reappearing. Some more of the pattern and fabric.
Then the couch and chair disappeared. Obviously when the family moved to Burley, Idaho in 1968 they made the trip. But I have limited photos in that home and this couch and chair do not appear in the upstairs living room, so they must have been downstairs. I will have to ask my Uncle or Aunt more information.
About 1985 the chair and couch reappear, and appear for me. I do not remember the upholstery on them in the photos above. I remember picking them up for the first time at the upholstery shop in Paul, Idaho. I don’t know if it was Frontier Upholstery at that time.
Here is a picture of the couch, chair, and stool when Andra had them at her apartment in Rupert.
Couch and chair with Daniel Constable
Daniel Constable sitting on chair
Except it was on the same couch with the vertical tucks and feet and wood accents seen above. Also, the cushions were spring loaded, so they had extra bounce.
Well, they were in storage from about 2010 to 2018. They were dusty, had a worn smell to them, and had some structural problems from the hot/cold transitions that come with storage. I brought them to my home with the thought of saving them and using them for my office. I took them to an upholsterer here in Burley named Jerry Lankford who lives about a mile east of me.
I received them back last fall. I am in love with them. I have preserved a part of my heritage and past. Now they are useful for an office and another generation.
I will have to get a picture of my kids on the couch and chair before they get too much older. Not bad for a couch and chair that are at least 74 years old!
This is the photo that made think I should go through the pictures and see if I have others of the couch. This is one I scanned earlier 2019 from a stack of photos Jackie found.
Doug, Sandy, and Norwood Jonas on couch
They don’t make them like they used to. I grew up with the coffee table and side table, couch, radio, and little round table more than 30 years after these pictures were taken. The tables were still in great condition.
I also remember my Mom telling me stories of clipping her father’s toenails. Not sure if that is what she is doing here, but she is obviously doing something with his feet.
I hope my Grandparents approve, I don’t know why they wouldn’t. In fact, they are probably disappointed I spent good money on reupholstering an old couch and chair, let alone something with sentimental baggage. Who knows.
Doug & Sandy Jonas on front step of home in Richmond, Utah
I scanned a stack of old photos earlier this year my Aunt Jackie had found. Here is one of the last two I need to catalogue and that I also wanted to share. (The other requires me to get a new photo to post about it and I keep forgetting to get that photo)
This picture makes me think of the excitement children feel with snow and the desire to go play in it. Bundled up to go play, warm enough the snow has melted on the step. In fact, you cannot see snow in this picture. But I already had the picture below that is likely the same day.
Sandy and Doug Jonas
It appears Doug still has all of his front teeth, so he is probably 5 or 6 years old, Mom is two years behind him in age, and she could certainly be 3 or 4. She seems to appear more like 4 than 3.
Doug was born July 1952, Mom March 1954, so this could very well be the winter of 1958-1959. The house is located at 142 North State Street in Richmond, Utah and is still there. I have written on this before, but my Grandparents, Norwood & Colleen Jonas, built this home.
Another fun photo of years past. I quite enjoy the look on Doug and Mom’s face. The hand on the shoulder, the happy/giddy look, the exuberance of youth!
Lewiston 9th Grade Graduation Class 20 May 1948 (Anderson Studio)
Here is another photo that came from LeReta Jonas Andersen’s family. She stands second row from the back, middle, with the white flower on her lapel. I think I recognize Grant Bagley on the front right, but no clue for any of the others. Anyone have any insight?
Apparently the ceremony took place in the Lewiston, Utah Church Building, I don’t know if the building is still there or not. I don’t think it is.
Richmond South Basketball Team. Back (l-r): LeReta Andersen, Elaine Bell, Jeannie Spackman, Hope Anderson. Front: Janet Whitman, Louise Godfrey, Marva Dawn Spackman, Carolyn Spackman, Arlene Alvey.
This photo was shared with me several years ago but I didn’t know who the individuals were in the photo. Only this past weeks I was given a copy of a newspaper clipping with the same photo in it with a little bit of background. Here is the language of the newspaper clipping.
“BENSON STAKE CHAMPIONS – Richmonud (sic) South ward girls were undefeated in eight games, which was good enough for stake honors. The team captain is Arlene Alvey; manager and coach is Marva Dawn Spackman. Left to right, (front): Janet Whitman, Louise Godfrey, Marva Dawn Spackman, Carolyn Spackman, Arlene Alvey. (Back): LaReta (sic) Anderson (sic), Elaine Bell, Jeannie Spackman and Hope Anderson. The Benson stake league has featured some fast girls’ games this season.
Here is the information on the individuals in the photo I could find.
Myrtle Arlene Alvey (1935 – 2017), married Melvin Butterfield.
Hope Anderson (? – ?)
Elaine Bell (? – ?)
Louise Godfrey (? – ?)
LeReta Mary Jonas (1932 – 2018), married Lowell Andersen.
Carolyn Spackman (1935 – 2013), married Leon Fisher, Ray Fiske.
Jeannie Spackman (? – ?)
Marva Dawn Spackman (1932 – 2017), married Gail Alvey.
Janet Whitman (? – ?)
Ready for church, 7 Nov 2019, Aliza, Hiram, Lillian, and James Ross
I didn’t take this photo, but these are my kids in my house! On Sunday I often find myself at church meetings so I miss the Sunday morning church preparation routine.
But I saw this photo after the fact and thought it represents our beautiful children in so many ways. Also caught my eye is the pedigree chart in the background, our family portrait from just a few years ago, and Hiram’s tie that my Uncle Doug wore at Hiram’s age in the 1960’s.
Sharp, beautiful children. They look good here, there is plenty of emotion and drama in the background. They sure do clean up nice. They are good children too.
Sagacity 