Sunday, 3 August 2025 by Sagacity

Eisenhower Lock

“HELP BUILD LOCK. These foremen and supervisors are working on the Eisenhower lock in placement of concrete. They hail from various parts of the country. Shown are Ward Turner, supervisor, from Arkansas; Manuel Martinez, vibrator, from Mexico; Golden Andra, general foreman, from Idaho; John Catera, foreman, from Utica.

This newspaper article and photo were in the records of Golden Andra. Golden is named in the newspaper, I don’t know/think the second photo is of Golden. It says it came from the Department of Interior, he kept it for some reason unknown to me.

I know this was a significant time in the life of the Andra family. Golden worked and is shown as a general foreman. But I also know that Golden’s brothers Donald and Ross both also worked on the St. Lawrence Seaway. I believe they both worked on the Eisenhower Lock as well.

Golden and Utahna adopted a boy born in 1957 at Bombay, Franklin, New York.

Donald married in 1957 at Hogansburg, Franklin, New York.

Ross told me multiple stories of New York. Unfortunately, I don’t remember any to share.

Since this is Golden, and this article also shares some information in New York, I share it here as well.

“Andra, former Preston man, gets Silver Beaver. The Citizen (Preston, Idaho) 20 March 1986.

“A former Preston man was awarded a Silver Beaver award from the Mt. Whitney Area Boy Scout Council in California recently.

“Golden Andra, son of William F. Sr., and Mary Wanner Andra, of Preston, was one of the two Tulare, Calif., scouters to get the prestigious award, the highest given on the council level.

“Andra, who has been involved in scouting for more than 20 years is serving as district commissioner for the Golden State District, and Explorer advisor for Post 234.

“An active member of the LDS church, he married Utahna Bird of Salina, Utah in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

“He worked for Morrison Knudsen Construction and the government for many years. He now works in sales for Selig Chemicals and has been in sales for 20 years. He is now buying the old Willard Wanner home in Preston for retirement.

“Andra organized the first charter for the Boy Scouts in Hogansburg, N.Y., for Mohawk Indians, becoming scoutmaster; worked with youth in Pierre, S.D.; Page, Ariz.; Roseville, Calif.; Crows Landing, Calif.; served as a counselor to a branch president and scoutmaster in Manteca, Calif.; scoutmaster, stake missionary, president of the Seventies, president of the MIA in Tulare.

“He also served as High Priest group leader, stake assistant secretary and scoutmaster over all scouts, last year being given the district award of merit.

“The Andras have six children (four living) and three foster children.

Friday, 1 August 2025 by Sagacity

Bear Trap Cave

In June, 2021, the Hales Family came to town. We took a little trip to the desert for some fun.

The same day we hit Bear Trap, we also visited nearby Split Butte. It was quite the adventure.

Amanda and Paul Ross and Rachel and Brad Hales families in Bear Trap Cave

Bear Trap Cave is huge, but not necessarily deep. Some other caves go in more than a mile. Other caves are nearby too. But this one was safe to take so many little kids.

Sunday, 27 July 2025 by Sagacity

William Andra Ordinations

Working through the family history book of Golden Andra that was given to me, I opened a page to scan some photos and found a surprise. Behind that photo were some ordination certificates. These are originals. I thought I better get them scanned and preserved. I also uploaded them to FamilySearch and got them linked with the names in the documents.

I think they are valuable for family history. They are also a peek into church history. This gives us the missionaries who baptized and confirmed my Great Grandfather in Germany. I have provided some limited biographies at the end.

Also an original Notification of Birth Registration for Robert Lee Andra, son of William and Mary, who died at birth. I am not sure why the United States Department of Commerce is issuing this Notification, or the Bureau of the Census. There is some history behind this I am not aware. Last, a copy of William’s obituary.

High Priest Ordination Certificate (Front)

High Priest Ordination Certificate (Back)

I had to do some history on individuals listed on the certificates. Some fascinating individuals, obviously some of them local church leaders.

James Richard Bodily – born 11 February 1872 in Hyde Park, Cache, Utah – died 12 April 1967 in Preston, Franklin, Idaho

Wilford Woodruff Emery – born 16 October 1880 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah – died 10 September 1954 in Salt Lake City.

John Edward Hanks – born 30 August 1877 in Salem, Utah, Utah – died 5 July 1970 in Salt Lake City.

William Gibson Palmer – born 16 July 1884 in Croydon, Morgan, Utah – died 15 May 1977 in Preston.

Henry Helaman Rawlings – born 8 April 1893 in Fairview, Oneida, Idaho – died 14 February 1984 in Fairview.

Adelbert Augustine Taylor – born 9 April 1883 in Springerville, Apache, Arizona – died 15 November 1948 in San Felipe de Híjar, San Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco, Mexico.

Luther Hovey Twitchell – born 17 October 1878 in Salt Lake City – died 15 April 1962 in Bountiful, Davis, Utah.

Sunday, 20 July 2025 by Sagacity

Berendena Pocket Album

I continue to work through the massive box/crate of photos and documents that were given to Dad after Aunt Betty Donaldson passed away. Much of it was garbage, some of it was interesting, but I have been getting to some really good stuff lately. One little such item was hit pocket album that belonged to my Great Grandmother, Berendena Van Leeuwen Donaldson. I pulled all the photos out and scanned them. But first, here is the pocket album.

The first photo in the album was that of her grandchildren. This photo was taken in 1951. The names and dates are on the back.

Back (l-r): Ed Telford, Jan Birch, John Telford, Richard Michaelson, Milo Ross; Front: Caroline Ross, Mary Telford, Judy Ross

Berendena went by Dena her whole life. But since her daughter was also named Dena, I usually go with her full name. The next picture is of her and the two Ross girl grandchildren.

Caroline Ross, Berendena Donaldson, Judy Ross

Then a picture of her and her husband, David Delos Donaldson.

Then a picture of her daughter Dora.

Then her son David “Dave” Donaldson.

Last picture was of her and all give of her children.

Dena Dorothy Birch, David William Donaldson, Dora Mary Michaelson, Maxine Telford, Dena Donaldson, Gladys Maxine Ross

Several of these photos were taken at 639 Wall Avenue in Ogden, Weber, Utah. This photo was not in her pocket album.

David Donaldson on porch of their home on Wall Ave

Thursday, 17 July 2025 by Sagacity

Back on American Soil

We have arrived back in America after a very long day of traveling. I am very glad it is over. Our luggage was lost somewhere on the way. It took another day to arrive. They must have ran it through the oven. All chocolate melted and everything else was jarred. They even opened the luggage to inspect.

I just uploaded 169 photos for the album. After going through and naming all 169 of them, the thing defaulted and then did not save them. So you may want to wait before looking at the photos. I will let you know when I get them named. Additionally, I have ran out of room again for the second month in a row. The photos only run to Northern Wales. Everything for the past week I cannot upload until August arrives. I suppose you will just have to wait!

Life is good. I am glad to still be alive and feeling in one piece after the flights.

Wednesday, 16 July 2025 by Sagacity

Leaving London

Today is officially the last day of our trip to Europe. Can you believe we have passed a full six weeks in Europe??

We visited St. Paul’s, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the Globe Theatre today. I shared the photos in the previous post. They were all cool. However, at this point another cathedral and I will injure myself. Sir Christopher Wren did a great job on the inside, but the outside seems to be lacking some. Perhaps it is years of paint and wear. Perhaps it is war. The interior was amazing.

A couple of thoughts to wrap it up.

Amanda figured out that in the ‘To Let’ signs around Europe, meaning ‘For Rent’, if you put in an ‘i’ it becomes ‘ToiLet’. We wanted to get up and alter one or two of them, but we did not.

Secondly, on my second to last day, I was the target of a pigeon. On the front stairs of St. Martin in the Fields, I sat pondering life when a large drop fell on my right knee. I thought it was some water until I realized it was warm. Looking over, I saw the signs of whiteness indicating a deposit by some bird. It was a laugh, some disappointment, and disgust. Reminded me of the seagulls leaving a deposit in the Roman Baths in Bath.

Alas, I am humming along with John Denver about leaving on a jet plane.

Somewhere above the British shore flying home

Tuesday, 15 July 2025 by Sagacity

Westminster, Wicked, and Wandering

A brief update of our past two days.

Yesterday was Westminister Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and more. We went to see Wicked at the Victoria Apollo and we both really enjoyed it.

Paul Ross with Palace of Westminster and Clock Tower with Big Ben

Amanda Ross and Clock Tower, now Elizabeth Tower

Oliver Cromwell and flag showing parliament was in session

Westminster Abbey north door entrance with rose window

Amanda Ross with one of the lions at Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square

Sunday we went to Hampton Court Palace. It was a very fast tour, but we made it through the entire house.

Jeppesen gave us a good laugh pulling out bangers and beans s/balls

The rest of the time was enjoyed with the Jeppesen Family.

Paul Ross ascending the Hampton Court King’s staircase

Saturday, 12 July 2025 by Sagacity

Milton Abbas, Winchester, and Chawton England

We have arrived in Weybridge, England. We are staying with a family we knew in Richmond, Virginia; the Jeppesen family. Weybridge is not far from London and this will be our home grounds while we are visiting the London area. We certainly appreciate their hospitality.

Today we have been busy. We spent the morning with the Wise family and saying our farewell. They really spoiled us while we were there. A full English dinner last night. I will tell you what! What a treat!

Yesterday we visited Longleat, which is a living manor house. Quite the treat. It has been there since Elizabethan times. They even have the shirt Charles II was executed in. That was interesting. The Lord of Bath lives there at present.

We made a trip to Poole and Bournemouth, both of which were interesting. We would have spent more time but Amanda left her purse at a McDonald’s which required backtracking some. It was luckily turned in and we breathed a sigh of relief.

Paul and Amanda Ross, Cynthia and Peter Wise

Later in the evening Jennie took Amanda down to Weymouth and Portland while Cynthia and I went through family history. We are definitely cousins through Edward Harris and his wife. We are very likely related through my Willett line, but we were not able to show the connection. She doesn’t have her line far enough back to connect to where I have individuals. But by all accounts, the families definitely link, making us double cousins!

Today was much more of a Jane Austen day. We visited Winchester Cathedral where she is buried. But it has a fascinating history all its own. It was falling down and it required divers to correct the foundations. How is that for interesting? The whole time, I could not help but sing the song.

Jane Austin’s grave in Winchester Cathedral

We also visited the Jane Austen home in Chawton where she lived for many years.

We now find ourselves in Weybridge for the next few days. The London Temple is of course closed while we are here. But we are looking at visiting London while we are here.

Share:

Share:

Share:

Share:

Share:

Share:

Share:

Share: