Memorial Day memories—from 1941

Before long, I will take wire cutters and several new stems of silk flowers to nearby Cameron Cemetery to freshen those already in the urns. That might not be enough but using some of the un-faded ones, I will decorate graves of the nine family members who rest there, fairly close together.Two of them served during World War II.

Several years ago now, to prepare for laying new carpet, I had to take out all the small stuff from each room.

This is where I found what follows. I opened the top drawer of a bureau to deposit some items inside. In a back corner, I saw what resembled an old photo folder. I felt like an archeologist, a historian.  Bordered pictures—with their same-size negatives—fell out of an envelope.

Luckily for me, several yellowed, fragile clippings from the BENTON COURIER had been folded into the envelope.

The date of the large clipping that showed the masthead was May 8, 1941!! I was four years old and among the children mentioned in the second write-up of the Salem Home Arts Club.


Here is the first one. It had no date.  “The Home Arts Club held its December [1940] meeting at the home of Mrs. Frank Davis (nee Dora Maude Bragg). The house was very tastefully decorated with a beautiful Christmas tree.It was an all-day meeting and after a delicious pot-luck luncheon the business session was called, and old and new business was discussed, after which a social hour was held with Mrs. Raymond Pelton (my aunt Doris nee Couch) and Mrs. Harold Bragg (nee Golden Crow) winning the prizes. The gifts were then exchanged, and everyone received something lovely—most of the gifts being Pyrex ware. The meeting adjourned to meet in January with Mrs. Bill Kreigbaum. —Reporter.”

The next clipping also had no date, but it was April, so it was 1941. Or was it 1942? You’ll see why I question this as the report unfolds.

“Mrs. Hubert Couch (my mother, Anna Pearl nee Scott) was hostess to the Home Arts Club on Thursday April 4. Her home was lovely with purple lilacs and dogwood. All members were present except one, and we were glad to welcome back an old member, Mrs. Vera Scott. The morning was spent sewing and chatting. At noon a delicious pot-luck dinner was served, with the children having a lovely picnic in the yard. In the afternoon the hostess was given a shower of many beautiful gifts. [I’ll discuss this later.] Then a short business meeting was held. The ones who went to Collegeville and gave the play made a good report. It was decided to have a ‘Radio variety program’ at the club house, Saturday night, April 20, and plans were made for it. Pictures were made of all the group, the children and the officers. After this the door prize was awarded to Mrs. Woodrow (Lois) Shelby.”

My sis and I concluded that Mom—as hostess—had given birth to her third child in mid-January. The “shower” must have been for that occasion. We still lived in “the little house” until November of 1942. That would also explain the lilacs and dogwood.

c 2018, PL d/b/a lovepat press, Benton AR USA