Tricker #3 Starts to settle in.

  I was wrong about the box.  It came from the neighborhood.  -From friends I always  called "The big people".  They were all 6-footers except for the 3rd grader , who was only 5'3" tall.
  However, the first night was an indication of things to come.  In the morning it was observed that Tricker had decided the box was cramping her style, so she let herself out. --Shortly after departing the box she apparently encountered little sister's oil paints. -- It was evident that she thought she looked good in "umber" --or was it "burnt umber" or just chocolate brown?'  This was in spots all over the accessible body.  Gorgeous!?!  Whatever shade it was we had a well spotted , brown, that is,-spotted raccoon all over the available body. -- After a brief session , John cleaned her up(a bit) and the real pine box from the undertaker friend was obtained and suitably modified with heavy duty wire and nails.
  Note-- The forepaws of a raccoon look like little hands and might as well be, --with strength beyond the appearance that the size seems to indicate.  The previous "wire gate" had been "duck soup" to Tricker!
   Of course, there was a brief lecture and warning from yours truly concerning the care and "keeping" of said raccoon. (Talk about hot air!)
   So this was a brief warning of the future at our relatively peaceful domicile.

Tricker #2- Becomes "Family"

In a few days after the "possum incident", Ruth made what might be considered a tactical error.  She went to Gibson's (a poor man's cut-rate store in the area) with John.  Presumably she was intending to purchase - or at least review- shampoo, tooth paste, combs and brushes or the like at  inexpensive prices.  We were both "depression kids"  so low prices were important to us, essentially all our lives, hence the "cut-rate store".
   The "fatal error" with this store was that it had a "pet shop"!  On arriving I'm sure John made a bee line to the pet area and a thorough investigation was undertaken.  In a brief period of time Ruth was probably orally defending house  and home. But Ruth was a vulnerable object facing an irresistable force. -So the purchase was made!
   That evening after my "day at the office" I returned to find we had another cute little member in our family. -- A darling, winsome little raccoon!  John had obtained a box from a funeral director friend ,fenced it at one end , there it was ---the latest member of our already large family! I'm sure I expressed a little skepticism, but I was not the house keeper so it wasn't important. And so the adventure began!

"Tricker" #1

Ruth was a wonderful beautiful person:wife,mother, student, and even tolerated me.
One of the briefest times for Ruth to earn a star for her crown undoubtedly was when the raccoon, "Tricker" affected our family.
  The " door was opened " one fall week-end when we encountered a female possum complete with a dozen or so mouse-sized little ones in our garbage can by the alley. Usually the cans were covered except when the garbage was collected and the covers left off to allow the cans to dry.  At any rate, that day the cover had been off and the can was occupied by several "critters".  We brought out our old mini-sized 22 (a relic from a promotion back in the 1900s ) and I proceeded to dispatch the mother and the little ones one at a time.
  John decided that he wanted --and would care for-- one of the little ones.  At that time John was a very persuasive kid(11) and seeing no harm -I (we) decided to let the experiment proceed. --He did like animals, and of course he would take care of it, etc., etc., etc. .
   So the busy little boy obtained a box and the tiny doll-sized milk bottle to feed the "young un"with at the picnic table in the back yard. -- I shrugged my shoulders and relented("another phase") I thought to myself.)
   I resumed my morning "chores" and after a half hour or so, I came out to see how things were going.  --Neither John nor " the baby" were in sight,  I called John and asked him where "the baby" was.  "On the table" was the quick reply. --"No he's not " was my equally quick reply.  After about 15 min. of frantic searching , we gave up.  I philosophized by mentioning "There are many cats in the neighborhood." That didn't help , but John quieted down. -- To be heard from later!

Role Model

    Baseball used to be "The All American "game!  During the depression it was essentially the only sport having a professional team.  Football was "manned" by semi pros of dubious talent and the communities seemed to be steel mill towns such as Akron, Wheeling, Bradford(Pa), Massillon and basically evanescent supporting towns of the Ohio and Pennsylvania area with scattered towns from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan mixed in.
   The two 12 team (National & American) leagues that were in operation in baseball seemed to be the only stable portions of professional sports in operation. As a morning paper boy my day frequently began with reviewing the previous day's games to see how my"Yankees" did. The premium professional team of all sports at that time.  My friends would follow the  Cardinals, the Boston Red Sox, ,the Tigers, etc.. Baseball was it!!
   With this background it is easy to realize that baseball players in the family meant a lot to me.   Especially since our family was not built on heroic lines , as required in football and  many other sports.
    Two of our sons were excellent baseball players.  One of them was in Kansas for the high school years of his sons.  Both excelled in baseball -- as pitchers-- not fielders, although I'm sure they could have handled those areas as well.
    I was privileged to be in Kansas when the elder of the two was pitching for his high school team.  Unfortunately I was a bit late so I didn't get to see the whole game.   However, when I arrived in the second or third inning my grandson was on the mound and doing well.
    Of course ,I wanted to see his "stuff"so I stationed myself behind the backstop screen, to get the best angle for evaluation of the pitcher's delivery.  Very shortly a foul pop fly from a strike soared over the backstop screen.  I as in perfect position to make a deft grab and snared the ball barehanded. Of course the impact of the ball stung my hand.  As I waited for the stinging to subside --- thoughts flashed through my mind!  Here i was having made a good play! --the 3 all-star selections I'd been in flashed through my mind- and the only guy to hit a home run in my high school team zipped through my rapid thinker. I 'd be a Role Model for my grandkids!
    - So the stinging did subside, --I heaved the ball ostensibly over the backstop.  -In 3-5 seconds the ball returned to me.  Rumbledy, bumbledy hop to my waiting hand. Just a little bit later with a full head of steam I threw the ball "over the backstop". This time it took 5-7 seconds for the ball to come rumbledy bumbledy hop to me.   This time with my "tail figuratively between my legs" I walked around the edge of the screen and tossed the ball to my grandson,  -And the game resumed. (We won!)
          "Role Model "-- hmm.    Humiliation, YES!

Note  As recently as 24 Sept 2011, my grandson remembered the incident well!  --He still loves me but(as a Role Model---NO!) !

Bio-Chaddock, Harry #4 (Ivan)Contd

Harry Hiram Chaddock B11 Jul 1878  D 11 Jul 1936
Anna Louise Buell Chaddock B 17 Feb 1876   D 21 Feb 1962

    My association with Uncle Harry and Aunt Louise was unique in that in 1933 I spent six weeks with them and attended school in Perry. Lois was like my big sister so I would frequently carry her books home from school,  (Something had come up!).  She was very popular in High School and was very active!  I was happy to have a Big Sister.  Made  me special!
    At that time I became acquainted with "Little Orphan Annie" and "Jack Armstrong , the All American Boy" which programs were on the radio when I arrived "at home". The brushy river bank became a first class place to chase bad guys and Indians and such(I was 12). ( Radio was not a part of home in Batavia, especially a console as Uncle Harry and Aunt Louise had).
   Aunt Louise is the only person I ever knew who made toast in the oven with a pop-up toaster across the room. They also had a "flip-over "toaster .  Also frequently ignored.
   Cinnamon toast was an appreciated by-product (of the oven toasting).  I became well acquainted with the electric mixer and the preparation Cocomalt.  Gained about 10 lbs in that 6 weeks, if I remember correctly.
   Aunt Louise started the day with a glass of warm water. (Kept her intestines open, she said.) Uncle Harry would frequently start the day tossing the contents of water glasses back and forth  with a mixture which bubbled and frothed. (Alka Seltzer?) Fascinating!
   Aunt Louise ministered to me when I relieved Uncle Harry's humidor of an extra cigar  and it punished me for my iniquity. (She never made a public announcement, either!)
    She also introduced me to the idea of multiple changes of clothing in a single day.  I'd never had that many clothes before. (Uncle Harry took me to the store and purchased a complete outfit for me.) The particular day Aunt Louise and I came head to head was when she made me change my clothes to go to an evening meal at the Country Club.  I didn't see the purpose. Eventually I relented.  I think of that incident frequently when I change my clothes for the 4th or 5th time in a day now.
     I saw Uncle Harry when he was on his death bed. I shook his hand heartily, and he winced.  ---Talk about a lasting memory! That made me a kindlier, gentler soul the rest of my life!
     In case you didn't know, Uncle Harry died of septicemia after hernia repair.  The latest medicine available was used including some Sulfa to no avail.  The sepsis made him tender all over.
     Shortly after that came college, med school, marriage and the peripatetic life of our generation, so I never saw much of Aunt Louise after that, although she did attend my high school graduation. We did see her enough so Ruth had the opportunity to see her and like her and we named our oldest daughter
after her. A real gem of a person was Aunt Louise!

I feel very chagrinned that I do not know more about Aunt Louise and her family. I never heard her mention her parents or siblings. There is a street in Batavia called Buell Street and I remember Mother's telling me it was named for Aunt Louise's family, and that Aunt Louise grew up in Batavia.
    I would guess that the name Bull is German and the name is the Anglification of the word which is unpronounceable  in English and so is modified to become bull, buell, buhl, beel, beal, etc.   Kuhl has a similar problem and is spelled kuhl, cool, kuhel, kuehl, etc..
    In fact, in McAllen there was a family named "Bull", by the father,  but the daughter had it changed to
Buell.

Love!

Ivan W. Kuhl B 2 Dec 1920



  

Bio-Chaddock,Harry #4 (Lila)Contd

  One other musical reflection.  The Chaddocks had a player piano which was fascinating to our family. Occasionally, they would play a few rolls for our entertainment. I wish I had that player piano right now! The sad part is that , many years later,if I had mentioned it, they probably would have given it to me! Perhaps they didn't know my special leaning toward the field of music. Nevertheless, it never occurred to me to ask about it until it was too late. The piano as gone, and I never knew where it went.
  We often had Thanksgiving dinner at he Chaddocks in Perry, and we did so enjoy that!  The dinner was the usual juicy turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, squash, pickles, cranberry sauce, rolls.  Our supper however, was varied. Sometimes it was macaroni and cheese,  or spaghetti, often cheese souffle', which my mother always made. Yummy!
  I recall just seeing Uncle Harry once when he was very ill, in bed, at his home. We all knew he was not going to live long. He was so ill that his daughter Fran's wedding was held in their own living room, with very few attending.  His illness had to do with lung congestion or something of that sort.  There was no cure at that time, a very few years later, a sulfa drug was discovered and undoubtedly would have saved him. So sad. He was much loved by all.
  Aunt Louise lived for many years.  After their home was sold, she lived in nursing homes, in or near Perry.  She came to our hame at 150 Trumbull Pkwy. in Batavia one Thanksgiving, her last, I believe. Ham drove  through a snowstorm to and from the Warsaw Nursing Home to have her join us.
  An important part of the story of Uncle Harry and Aunt Louise was, of course, their two wonderful daughters, Frances Chaddock Lawrence and Lois Chaddock Hayden.  They were quite a few years older than Velma and I, and were not a huge part of these particular memories of my aunt and uncle.
 In a simpler time when we were young, Velma's and my experiences with our Perry aunt and uncle couldn't have been more special in our lives.  Would that all children have dear "older" family members who might leave them wonderful memories, like our Aunt Louise and Uncle Harry.  
        Fondly,
           Lila      B - 10 Sept 1928
 
          

 

Bio- Chaddock, Harry #4 (Lila)

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.