  Dad and Mom, North Walworth |
Family at North Walworth Where we lived from 1954-1963  In front of our porch at North Walworth Front: Linda, Dianna, Kathy, Jerry, John Back: Dad holding Susan, Mom John slept on the porch during summers. Once he awoke to a strange sight: newborn kittens on his stomach. A cat had birthed her kittens on top of him while John slept. Audio: "That Place Called Home," Jerry's Song about Mom and Dad |
 Dianna, Linda |
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 Seated: Hank, Pete, Wes, Ron Standing: Frank Dad and his brothers got together every few months, especially at North Walworth. They'd tell stories, laugh, tell more stories, and laugh some more. If I tried to listen, they'd shoo me out. Grandma Vegter brought a Danish pastry every year for Christmas. What a treat. And all those other lucky cousins who had to split their Danish into far less shares. (Linda's recollection) |
When we lived at North Walworth, we had an asparagus patch in a low, wet area by the road. Mom chased us out to shoo away people who drove by, spied our asparagus, and tried to pick.(Kathy's recollection) Dad was a meat and potatoes man. He hated asparagus and ate it only out of desperation and hunger, all the while making snide remarks about "kraut" food. Though he hated asparagus, if he saw some city-slicker stealing our asparagus, he loved to yell out the back screen door with a hearty, "Get-out-a-there!" (Jerry's recollection) That same low area flooded in a rain, and John and Jerry made a raft out of an old wooden table top. Never succeeded in floating it, but they tried hard. Once during a tornado, dad stowed us in the basement, and went outside to have a look. How we worried that he'd not be safe. (Linda's recollection)  Jerry, Linda, Dianna |
 Kathy, Carol, Susan, Bill |
Dianna to Carol In Order  |
 Dianna, Jerry, Linda, John, Kathy |
 Rear: Susan, Kathy Front: Karen, Carol, Judy |
John, Jerry  |
 Rear: Dianna, Jimmy Olsen (neighbor), cousin John (front of Jimmy), Jerry, brother John (eyes closed) Front: Steve, Kathy, Dennis, Eddie (Uncle Harry's Boys) |
 Kathy, Dianna North Walworth School (Now a home, 2017.) (At the "T" of North Walworth & Lake Roads) |
Mr. Rimey was the principal, and everybody, including the boys, loved him even though he shook them up against the wall to "straighten them up." It was not a one room school, but we did have multiple grades in a single room (like 3-5th, and 6th-8th). We had square dances in the gym (taller structure on the right). Because I had trouble reading and had to repeat 5th grade, I took it upon myself to sit out on the steps (still visible on the left) every recess and lunch to read and improve. The school had a track in the back, and I was the 2nd fastest runner. We all played baseball, and Linda was the star; she could hit the ball as far as the boys. (recollections by Dianna) One morning Mom made Jerry stay at the table till he ate his Cream of Wheat, and he missed the bus so he had to walk to school, .3 of a mile. Jerry cried. (recollections by Kathy) |
 Kathy, Dianna North Walworth Home Now (2017) (Old garage, new house on hill, spectacular wildflowers.) |