Burley

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May 2020

What can I do to commemorate Amanda’s birthday? I am trying to organize some photos I took with my phone from 2020. I stumbled upon these three photos I took from my backward on Sunday 17 May 2020. These seem to fit the bill to remember Amanda and who she is to our home and marriage.

Not sure the occasion or why I decided to snap these shots. These are the types of photos that usually just get squirreled away, deleted, or thrown away. No real significance. However, as I look closer, I see a family enjoying their back yard/garden. I see a Ross paradise. The photos include and capture every day living in which the children will at some point say, “I forgot that detail.”

Deep in the quarantine of 2020, we were lounging in our backyard. The above photo you can see Lillian and Aliza drawing or something on the deck. Shovel leaning against the wall, water running in the hose, umbrella sheltering, and garbage waiting.

Below you can see the swing set, sprinkler running, and Amanda hoeing in the garden. Blue neighbors house, lilac in bloom, walking onions growing, crazy raspberries, awaiting old trampoline, and more.

This photo below has more of the same. James relaxed on his stomach likely watching his Mom in the garden. Tipped sand bucket, sitting compost bin, flowering snowballs and lilacs, and more.

Just another lazy, hazy, crazy, day of summer.

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Welcoming Spring 2021

Hiram and James Ross, April 2021

I decided to post a little picture of my family this week. I spend quite a bit of time on family history and sometimes fear I do not preserve enough history of my own. On the other hand, we are in a world where identity theft is rampant and an issue. So I always delay posts to give enough separation in time, but also changes in circumstances.

Friday the kids wanted to go for a walk. Of all places, they wanted to walk to the school. We hoofed it down and played for over an hour and then worked our way back home. This is headed east on 27th Street, just east of Park Avenue in Burley. Sweet children.

Hiram was tired of his RipStik and James had lost his shoes and socks by this point. Aliza and Lillie were ahead of me. I looked back and thought to capture the moment. Temperature about 70. Sun setting. Everything is finally budding and greening. Spring is finally here.

James and Lillian Ross reading a book, April 2021

This is an evening shot. Bathed, getting ready for bed, Lillie was reading James a book. We won the kid lottery in that we have all great kids and they love to spend time with books. My 5 year old is reading the 4 year old a book. Despite all the fire in this little girl, and defiance, she is especially sweet as well. This photo captures some of their personality.

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Little Moments

There are so many little moments in life that I wish we caught more and recorded. Not necessarily in photos, but just that they were preserved. I am also cautious about what and how much I share on an open blog due to privacy concerns.

I pulled out my camera at a little birthday dinner for Aliza with Amanda’s parents, Bryan and Jill Hemsley, on 6 November 2020. (I know, we missed Guy Fawkes…) I don’t know what they were looking at on the cell phone, but this just showed how much these kids love their Grandma! Shout out to great food at Denny’s in Burley, Idaho. A regular favorite due to their clearly telling us what is gluten free on the menu. Oh, the joys of having Celiac in the family.

James, Lillian, Aliza, and Hiram Ross surrounding Jill Hemsley

The other photo I captured of the night is the attempt of James to drink root beer and milk simultaneously.

James drinking root beer and milk at the same time
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Overland Avenue looking north over Main Street

Looking north over Overland Avenue near Main Street in Burley, Idaho

When I saw this photo it caught my attention. I don’t recall the topic of the book this photo was in, but I took a picture of it.

I am guessing this is the late 1910s from the top of the Mayfair Building, I don’t recall the name on the building.

Of particular interest is the old flour mill in front of the grain silos. I don’t know when it came down, I don’t have any memories of it in the 1980s.

The truck was not yet in production, or widely available in Burley, for shipping commodities as these are all wagons. I cannot tell if they are waiting to go to the mill or if something else is going on. The line appears to keep going past Main, but not quite sure it goes all the way to the silos.

I recognize the two story buildings on the right as they are both still there. The building to their left, the old Thriftway Building was taken down about 1990 and is now just a parking lot.

None of the buildings between Main and the flour mill, including the mill, are still in existence.

I cannot quite tell if we are seeing the impounded water from Milner Dam in the background. Milner predated Burley so it is very likely the wide open space is Milner Lake.

I was thinking the flag could tell me a time frame but I cannot see the stars to any degree to tell if this is before or after 1912. This is likely the 48 star flag from 1912-1959.

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Robert Leonard Ross Idaho stay

Robert Leonard Ross mug shot

Many years ago, 2007, I was able to flesh out some of one of Robert’s daughters, Beulah Ross Duncan.  Then in 2017 I was able to obtain and share some photos.

Then, early July, I finally stumbled on more information for Robert Leonard Ross.

He married Rose Anna Clawson (1893-1956), widow of Hyrum Peter Sanders (1890-1918) on 18 February 1919 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho.  Then he just disappeared.  Well, I found out why.  He decided to act illegally in Minidoka County and spend a decade as a resident of the Idaho State Penitentiary in Boise, Ada, Idaho.  A certain irony knowing that his brother-in-law was the local probate (magistrate) judge in Minidoka County.

Idaho State Penitentiary Intake for Robert Leonard Ross

I like the fact they called him Slim.

Pardon of Robert Leonard Ross

He spent the 1920s doing hard time.  The world was just waiting for him to make it in 1929 and through the 1930s.  I am still trying to pin down his remaining years.  I assume Rose divorced him, but I haven’t located those records yet.

1930 he was in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.

1935 he was in San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

1940 he was in Redding, Shasta, California.

Still trying to confirm, but apparently he died in Bend, Deschutes, Oregon in 1944.

I believe his daughter Mary Elizabeth Ross died in Avenal, Kings, California.

Beulah Estell Ross died in Toppenish, Yakima, Washington.

Annie Adeline Ross died in Grundy, Buchanan, West Virginia.

Orson Lee Ross died near Klamath Falls, Klamath, Oregon.

Edith Pansy Ross died somewhere in California.

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McCall Seminar

I was elected to the Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section Board of the Idaho State Bar in 2015. Since then I have participated in its main event, the yearly Seminar. The Seminar has been in various locations, Idaho Falls, Boise, McCall, Coeur d’Alene, and I brought it to Burley.

It has been a great opportunity to rub shoulders and personally see other practitioners of the Section on, at least, a yearly basis. This year I went up early to McCall to help set up, scope out the premises, and enjoy an extra day off. I plan it that way just in case weather is crazy I also have plenty of time to get there and ready. Another great part of the Seminar is attending these each year I get more than enough credits for my continuing legal education credits.

I did the Seminar in Burley in 2019. But for whatever reason, I didn’t take any pictures. So this year I made a mental note to take some photographs of McCall that would also give some sense of what happened in Burley.

Here is my room at the Shore Lodge in McCall, Idaho
The view from my balcony at Shore Lodge overlooking the frozen Payette Lake

Here are a couple of photos in the main conference room at the Shore Lodge, McCall, Idaho as set up for the 38th Annual Seminar.

Nothing like eating breakfast in bed and studying/reviewing for the presentation you are about to give. You cannot see it, but it was beautiful overlooking the lake.
You can see how much snow is on the roof of the exercise center at the Shore Lodge in McCall. Another picture from 2013 below.
The Shore Lodge swimming pool through the trees.
I need to get one of these chairs. Quite enjoyed reading or reviewing in it.
Here is the picture I took at the same location as above but in McCall on 28 February 2013.
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The Couch and Chair

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.

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Sunday Morning Dress

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.