Judy, Dale, Mary, Bill, and Ross Andra
Here is a classy photo developed September 1962.
Bill and Mary Andra, my great grandparents.
On the far left are Judith (“Judy”) and Dale Andra, they were married in June 1962.
On the far right is Ross Andra.
Sounds like this was just going to church, no special occasion. This is in the yard of the home at 422 E 400 S, Preston, Idaho.
Aliza and Hiram Ross, Logan Temple
In June this year, we had an appointment to meet up with Ross, Dale, and Larry Andra in Preston. The evening went much longer than anticipated and we still had to drive to Kaysville for the evening.
On the way through, we stopped and took pictures with the Logan Temple, Brigham City Temple, and Ogden Temple. It was late, they closed the gates right behind us after they shooed us out after this photo.
Beautiful picture of the temple, Hiram has his shoulders back in a bold statement, Aliza is cold. Beautiful, accomplished children.
Once and a while, something in a photo catches your attention more than what the photo was intended to capture. This is one such photo.
Doug and Sandy Jonas behind a 1958 Pontiac Bonneville with Phyllis McKinney Andra holding Vickie Andra
This photo is fun as it shows the back of a 1958 Pontiac Bonneville. This car belonged to my Great Uncle Donald Andra. Donald’s wife, Phyllis McKinney Andra, stands behind holding Vickie, who was born in September 1958.
Looking at Vickie, she could be pushing a year old, so fall of 1959. Doug as born in 1952, Mom in 1954, which would put them at 7 and 5 years old at the time. This is likely when the photo was taken.
Vickie was born in Preston, Idaho and her brother was also born there, this photo was at the Andra home in Preston at 422 East 400 South where Bill and Mary Andra lived and raised their family. Donald and Phyllis must have been visiting as was Norwood and Colleen Jonas.
The 1958 Pontiac Bonneville was one of the classic space-race inspired, behemoth, beautiful, land yachts that were produced during the chrome infested heyday of flashy cars.
Larry indicates this car has a special lever that you could pull to raise the car so it was less prone to be stuck in snow drifts, or you could get out of them then.
Millie Beck, Colleen Jonas, Sandy Jonas
In the photos scanned earlier this year, this is another one that stood out to me and seemed to catch a glimpse of life. Most photos are staged and seem to capture less of actual life or living.
Here is a picture of my mother, Sandy Jonas, with her Mom (my Grandma), Colleen Andra Jonas, and to the right of Colleen’s sister, Mildred (Millie) Andra Beck.
I love the fact that there is a guy, unknown, floating in the water in the background. Just soaking in the water and the sun.
The photo is obviously captured through a fence, something else that tells me it is an impromptu photo.
Aunt Millie looks like I always remember. Age would give her a few wrinkles, but the facial expression is the same.
Then there is Grandma looking at the picture. Water on the concrete, big earrings. I remember Grandma wearing many earrings, Millie also has in a pair for the day at the pool. The curl in her hair.
I am guessing the photo is the late 1950’s. Mom looks like she is about 4 or 5 years old, so 1958 or 1959. Mom tries to block the sun, almost looking like a whine on her face. Necklace around her neck. Obvious light blond hair. She still appears to have her ring finger in the photo.
Here is another one from probably the same date, just with the people more blurry.
Millie, Colleen, Sandy
Colleen Mary Andra Portrait
I don’t know the occasion for this portrait. I had never seen it before. It is probably one of the best pictures I have of my Grandmother in her young adult years. I don’t know if there is an occasion that goes with it or not. It is also one of the photos that I have where she is dressed up. Perhaps it was purely just for a portrait. Maybe it was for Graduation, but her Senior high school pictures has a rounder younger look. I am guessing this is in her 20s, she married at 18, so this would have been in the late 1940s or early 1950s, but the clothing strikes me as more 1940s.
Attached is what I believe is a high school picture, early 1940s. You can compare the change in her face and how she is more matured in the photo above. The other interesting part to me is she had dentures by the time I was around. Seeing her teeth and smile is interesting to compare with my memories and my children. I see my Mom’s smile in my children, but I don’t recognize this smile, so a good part of my Mom’s smile must come from the Jonas side.
I am posting these pictures in honor of my Grandmother’s 91st birthday. She would turn 91 today, 27 May 2019. Happy Birthday Grandma! She passed in 1999.
Colleen with unknown friend
“The Durango Kids”, Elizabeth, Otto, Bill, and Mary Andra in Mexico about 1945
Another photograph I found in the stack. This one caught my eye because it has written “The Durango Kids” on the top of the photo in green ink. I cropped it down to the actual photo so you don’t see “The.”
This photo, in talking with the remaining siblings, appears to have been about 1946. Larry seemed to remember he was about 2-3 when they left to go to Mexico. He recalled the babysitter wasn’t very nice so he got on his tricycle and started riding to Richmond to stay with his sister, and my Grandma, Colleen. He only got as far as Whitney before someone picked him up and took him back home to Preston.
Nobody knows for sure where they went in Mexico. I thought maybe the fact that “The Durango Kids” written on the photo might have indicated the City or State of Durango, but nobody has a clue. All they know is that they went to Mexico.
Elizabeth Mauerman Andra (1911-1998) married to Otto Carl Andra (1902-1982). Otto is William’s brother.
William Fredrick Andra (1898-1990) married to Mary Louise Wanner Andra (1901-1991).
I cannot make out the writing on Otto’s sombrero. No clues there.
Colleen Andra Childhood Photo about 1931
I know this is a common refrain, but please give heed. Don’t give up searching for family history photos!
This photo appeared recently in a stack of photos. I don’t have a single childhood photograph of my Grandmother, Colleen Mary Andra, later married to Jonas, Elliott, and Lloyd. But because of the stack of photos and others in the photos, I knew this child was an Andra. It caught my eye pretty quickly though because I thought I caught a hint of something more familiar. Instantly I had a hunch this was my Grandma.
It was only after I messaged it to her surviving brothers that they quickly pointed it out as Colleen! I have my first photo of my Grandma as a child.
She was born 27 May 1928 in Preston, Idaho. I am guessing she is about 3 in the photo, which puts it around 1931. The dress, pearls, and look match the time period as well.
I see my mother in her as well. I scanned it in higher resolution so I can zoom in. So many of the features I recognize and see in my mother’s own child pictures. I can see one or two of the features in some of my own children as well. Isn’t genetics a miracle?
Sandra, Colleen, Jackie, and Doug Jonas in January 1963
As if the photo didn’t make it plain enough, this photo was developed in January 1963. In our modern world, photos are data stamped and metadata stamped at the time of the capture. Not in 1962!
I assume with the lush grass and flowers in the background, this is a photo from summer 1962. It could have been an older roll of film, but 1962 would have turned Doug 10, Sandy 8, and Jackie 2. If it was a more than the summer before January 1963, Jackie would have been less than a year, and she is too old for that in the photo.
I like the ruffles on Mom’s shirt. The saddle shoes too.
It would be interesting to know where this photo was taken. Also, what is Jackie pointing toward?
This month, this photo was developed 56 years ago.
Sagacity 