Remembrances of Harry Chaddock and his wife, Anna Louise Chaddock
It's funny how certain seemingly uneventful things from one's childhood lodge themselves in the memory so vividly, it's as though they happened just yesterday . My recollections of Uncle Harry and Aunt Louise Chaddock are like that.
Uncle Harry, I recall, was talkative and friendly, always warm toward our family especially Florence, his sister, our mom. He quietly commanded immediate respect, and was a very successful businessman. Uncle Harry owned a hardware store about in the middle of Main Street on the west side, in Perry, NY. He always brought us something when he visited us in Batavia, usually something from his store, such as skates, sleds or a wagon. If there were no gifts he would say to us , "You'll find something out in the car."and after Velma and I had sat quietly, being the good little girls that we were, we hurried out to his car and often found a box of candy. That was such an exciting gift for us; treats for a family that never had any money to spare, from a dear uncle who, in our minds, was rich!
Aunt Louise was quiet and sophisticated, never temperamental, and never silly. She seemed the same all the time, always the perfect lady. We loved their house on Dolbeer Street in Perry, with its carpeted staircase leading up to the four bedrooms, which were always in perfect order. Aunt Louise had a built in enclosed glass cupboard in the corner of the dining room, filled with dishes. There was always a dish of candy in there, which Velma and I checked out each visit. Again, being very polite, we never asked for any candy, but Aunt Louise never forgot to quietly offer it to us. Instant smiles!
I recall one time I visited Aunt Louise by myself , without Velma. She must have been at a camp of some kind. Aunt Louise and I went downtown to buy a new dress for me. I was thrilled! We bought a new slip, underwear, socks, maybe shoes and a beige dress. The dress had white eyelet edging around the neck, and delicate blue flowers all over the pretty material! I was absolutely delighted! I may have been only about four years old, but I felt guilty that Velma didn't have new clothes, too. Also, at that visit, I remember Aunt Louise and me. just the two of us, sitting at the big dining room table. Our dinner has half of a chicken for each of us! It was one of those "little chickens" but but it felt such a grown -up dinner for me alone!
On this visit alone to Perry, I remember going out the back door where the mint was growing. Aaunt Louise and I picked the mint leaves, which she cooked and somehow made it into mint sauce. It was always served with lamb, and I still expect to enjoy it anytime I have lamb dinner, which is rare!
Once, when Velma and I visited Perry, there was another guest there, a Mr Watrous, who played an instrument called the "Theremin". It was a box-like electric instrument about 12" square, with 2 metal rods sticking out from the sides. One rod went straight up, and the other curved out and back in the left side of the box. He played the instrument using both hands, moving them up and down the rods in the
air, never touching the instrument. One hand controlled the pitch and the other, the volume. Obviously, it was played entirely by ear, having no keys or pedals at all It made a lovely sound. but sadly, the only time in my life that i ever saw or heard that strange instrument.
No comments:
Post a Comment