Richmond

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Wilburn Norwood Jonas 100th Birthday!

Norwood Jonas in the 1960s

I thought it would be appropriate to commemorate the 100th birthday of my Grandpa, Wilburn Norwood Jonas. He went by Norwood his whole life, or Nor to those closest.

Grandpa was born 15 May 1924 in Lewiston, Cache, Utah to Lillian Coley and Joseph Nelson Jonas.  The fourth child of eight to his parents.  He married Colleen Mary Andra 27 September 1946 in Elko, Elko, Nevada.  Three children were born to him and Colleen; Douglas in 1952, Sandra in 1954, and Jackie in 1960.  He died 14 March 1975 in Burley, Cassia, Idaho and was buried 19 March 1975 in Richmond, Cache, Utah.

I was trying to think of a way to commemorate Grandpa. As linked above, I have written of him before. This week, I went through an old book I have that belong to Norwood’s dad, Joseph. Inside were some newspaper clippings and notes. One linked to Grandpa. I share it to show that research is ongoing and can be found anywhere! Just takes a little luck, heaven’s guidance, and you will stumble on them. I will wrote more on the book and other clippings inside later.

Park School was in Richmond. It was only razed in the past few years. Grandpa went to North Cache High School, although he did not graduate. This clipping also has Irwin written in to it. Which tells me he was missed or it is the wrong Jonas boy that was listed. Although, I do have a class picture of Irwin and Norwood together, so I am not clear if that tips it one way or the other.

“Name Graduates of Park School

“The Richmond Park School commencement exercises will be held in the Benson Stake tabernacle Thursday, at 8 p. m.

“The program follows: Processional; Invocation, Bishop J. M. Godfrey; salutation, Garr Christensen; music, school orchestra; talks, Norma Kaye Funk, Margaret Merrill; music, class; class history, Joyce Larson; presentation of class gift, Oral L. Ballam Jr.; awarding of prizes and the presentation of the class. Principal G. G. Merrill; awarding of certificates, Levi H. Allen; class song, class; adjournment to the community building for dancing; benediction, S. W. Allen.

“The list of graduates are: Ivan Anderson, Oral Ballam, LaMarr Carlson, Archie Carver, Garr Christensen, Don Hansen, Warren Hamp, [Irwin written in, referring to Irwin Jonas], Norwood Jonas, Robert Johnson, Glenn Mortensen, Junior Peterborg, Darrell Smith, Gail Spackman, Alvin Spackman, Allen Spackman, James Scott, Boyd Tripp, Olive Biggs, Dorma Anderson, Joy Erickson, Norma Kaye Funk, Bernice Frandsen, Ruth Hutchison, Nadine Johnson, Eva Kershaw, Virginia Kirstofferson, Elaine Lewis, Anna May Lawrence, Joyce Larson, Margaret Merrill, Dorothy Nielsen, Beth Rich, Afton Sorensen, Lyle Wilding.

Here is the class picture with many of these same names. It also includes Irwin and Norwood. I have written about it previously.

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Martha Christiansen Coley Chair

Martha Christiansen Coley’s chair

I was recently visiting with RaNae Coley Harms at her home in Wendell, Gooding, Idaho. I recalled she had my Great Grandma’s antique bedside commode chair. I asked if I could take a picture. That is what you see above. It is in fantastic shape. 

I have previously written a history for Martha Christiansen Coley. Here is an article about a video at her funeral. 

Martha Christiansen Coley was born in 1879 and died in 1961. She married Herbert Coley in 1874. Herbert was born in 1864 and died in 1942. Martha was born in Fredrickstad, Ostfold, Norway. Herbert was born in Lutley, Worcestershire, England. Both Herbert and Martha passed away in Richmond, Cache, Utah. They are both buried in RIchmond. 

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Jonas Clock

Lillian Coley Jonas’ clock in 2021

A few years ago I snapped this photo of my Great Grandmother’s clock sitting on my Dad’s work bench in his shop. 

My parents picked up this clock in Richmond, Utah after my Great Grandma Lillian Coley Jonas Bowcutt passed away in 1987. The story I recall was that it was in the root cellar. The belief being that at some point it quit working and was placed in the cellar. 

At some point I remember Dad determining that the main spring had broke. The photo above 2021 shows that the silver of the clock, if it was original, was nearly all gone. I don’t think it was original, probably painted at some point over the years. Sitting in a root cellar for unknown decades had not helped the wood and clock mechanism either. 

I don’t know if my Great Grandparents purchased it new or not. I will have to do some research on it, but the belief is this clock likely predates my Great Grandparent’s marriage in 1918. Did it belong to the the Coley family before that, the Jonas, or did someone else give/sell it to them? We will not know in this life. It likely even predated Lillian’s birth in 1898.

Either way, Dad took it upon himself to work on restoring it. He took the clock to Twin Falls and had the mechanism fixed. He restored the wood and glass while the clock was fixed. Here is what it looked like at Christmas 2022. Pretty amazing.

It now works and even chimes the hour and quarter hour. A beautiful relic restored to life. 

Lillian Coley Jonas’ clock in 2022
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Richmond Auditorium Dance Photo

Maren Buttars, Jill Spackman, Lisa Webb, and Jackie Jonas in Richmond Community Center

This photo took a bit more work. This was taken in Richmond Utah at the Richmond Community Auditorium, which I believe is now called the Richmond Community Center. This photo was taken in 1967 or 1968.

The consensus is that these were likely students of Eve Reese, who taught in Logan and also at the Smithfield Armory. I found this obituary for her.

SMITHFIELD, UT– Eve J. Reese, 84, died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000 in Casa Grande, AZ.

She was born June 17, 1915 in Smithfield, Utah a daughter of Thomas William and Louise Minard Jarvis. She married Bert D. Reese on May 23, 1934. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple. He pre-ceded her in death.She taught dancing for many years throughout Cache Valley and did the choreography for high school musical productions. She was a member of the LDS Church and with her husband was a longtime dance director in the Cache Stake. She was a member of the Smithfield Civic Club, Bridge Club, and a former member of the Logan Golf and County Club. Following her retirement, she spent her winters in Casa Grande, Arizona where she enjoyed golf, bridge and socializing with her many friends.

She is survived by her three sons, a daughter and their spouses, Daren and Melva Reese, Salt Lake City; Thomas and Dixie Reese, Smithfield; Nansi and Ralph Roylance, Smithfield; Michael and Ann Reese, Nampa, Idaho, nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She will also be missed by her dear friend, Dareld Chamness, Casa Grande.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 3, 2000 at 12 noon, in the Allen-Hall Mortuary chapel. Friends may call Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to services.

Interment, Smithfield City Cemetery.

Here is another photo of Jackie on the same stage in a different costume/outfit. I am posting this article just after Jackie’s 63 birthday.

Jackie Jonas in Richmond, Utah
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Additional Colleen photos

Colleen Andra as a teenager

I have quite a treasure trove of photos of my grandmother, Colleen Mary Andra. But the earlier you go back in her life, the less there are. Born in 1928, photos were not inexpensive in the 1930s. In a family of 12 children, 10 who lived to adulthood, those photos would have to be selectively chosen on occasion and who they captured. I believe there are more photos, but whether I will ever have them is the question.

It was with some excitement that I found these photos. I believe these all depict Colleen as a teenager. The one above with a 1930s vehicle and an early 1940s car rear end. I couldn’t figure out what either car was with the limited view of the cars. I also tried to pin down the mountains, but they don’t seem to line up with Preston or Richmond. The mountains are too close for Preston or Whitney, so it must be farther south on the Utah side of Cache Valley.

Colleen Andra

Here is another photo of Grandma. I don’t know the location of this photo either. I believe she is older in this photo.

This photo was also in the stack. The non-color and non-spotty version I shared earlier.

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Richmond 1968

Sandy and Jackie Jonas, 142 State St, Richmond, Utah, 1968

I stumbled on this photo working through and scanning more photos from my Aunt Jackie. This may be the only color photo I have of my Mom in Richmond. That was the first thing that jumped out at me. I believe most of the photos from Richmond are black and white. The photo indicates it was developed in January 1969, which tells me it is from 1968. Good chance it is later in the summer or fall, trees, grass, and shrubs are in full greenery and there appears to be dead grass clippings on the sidewalk.

1968 would also put my Mom at 14 years old, Jackie at 8. Which could very well be. I would be somewhat tempted to suggest 1967. That same year they moved to 2652 Fairmont Avenue in Burley, Idaho. I have written about that move before. But that post also has a photo of Jackie very early on as well that appears to be similar age. Here is that photo again.

Jackie Jonas dancing on Fairmont Ave

Either way, the photo of my Mom about 14 caught my attention. I thought I would share it here to give it some context.

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Richmond Postcard

Community Building Richmond Utah.

This postcard was among a number of photos related to my Jonas family.

The Richmond Community Building was built under the Public Works Administration in 1936 and completed in 1937. The trees were probably planted with the building’s construction, so I am guessing they are about 10 years old, or this would be late 1940s.

I can see that the right side of the building is the US Post Office. The left side was the theater, which is the sandwich board in the middle. I simply cannot read or make out enough of the board to see what was playing.

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1962 Pontiac Bonneville

1962 Pontiac Bonneville in Richmond, Utah July 1963

I previously wrote about a 1958 Pontiac Bonneville in Preston, Idaho. That car belonged to Donald and Phyllis. Fast forward a few years to July 1963 (at least that is when the photos were developed) and you have this car.

This car was new to the Norwood and Colleen Jonas family. I recall seeing these photos when I was a young kid and that my Grandma mentioned that she loved this car. But that is the extent of my memories. I don’t know how long they had it, when it went away, why, or what replaced it.

1962 Pontiac Bonneville tail light