Happy 55th Anniversary Mom & Dad!

My parents were wed October 17, 1959 and are celebrating 55 years of marriage today! 

Fall 1957, Dad was a student at the University of Washington and living in Terry Hall. He had previously spent a year at Whitworth where he was Pre-Med.  He didn't feel he was Pre-Med material and tuition was very expensive so he transferred to UW in the '55-'56 school year (? I think . . .). Here he is studying in his UW dorm room:



Fall 1957, my Mom was a 17 year old freshman at the University of Washington - she pledged a sorority and planned on earning a degree in Communications.
On campus at the UW:


My Dad writes this about their meeting and dating:

"October of 1957, I went to a sorority/fraternity open house (referred to as  "Stock Show") with Phil LeMoine and another Phil.  I noticed Bev - a short little blond in a red dress who was open and friendly.  It turned out Phil LeMoine had been trying to get us together.  We dated through April 1958 (mom had been quite sick with mono during the winter months so we didn't have very much contact then) when I joined the army - we said good-bye but kept writing." 

Mom threw a going away party for Dad before he left for boot camp and this is the earliest photo of them together (my grandparent's basement).


As my Dad wrote, my Mom was very sick that fall.  So sick that she had to drop out of the University of Washington.  Dad went off to the army before earning a degree because he still didn't know what kind of degree he wanted to earn.

"I was 16 weeks at Fort Ord (8 weeks basic, 8 weeks clerical training).  I was shipped off to Korea September 1958 for 13 months returning October 10, 1959.  Our only contact was by mail after the mono interrupted seven months we dated."

Last year, Dad gave me an old reel-to-real audio tape - we no longer had any way to listen to it. For his birthday, I had it digitally transferred and it turned out to be an audio letter he sent to my Mom while he was in Korea. It was so sweet!
I really don't know the story of the wedding proposal but a week after he arrived on leave, they were married.
The wedding shower the weekend before:

October 17, 1959





My Dad continues:

"We had a brief honeymoon in Portland, Oregon when I had to leave for my temporary assignment to Fort Benning, Georgia where I awaited my next orders.  I returned for Christmas and then left on January 5, 1960 for  Fort Sill, Oklahoma for Officer Candidate School where I couldn't take my wife.  She finally joined me August 1960.  If you count it up we had actually been together for four or five months from the time we met in October 1957 until August 1960 - our romance was primarily in writing.  I remember we ate out one night at a Pizza place in Oklahoma - we went to pay our check but someone else had picked it up for us because they had noticed us as a young couple in love - we have returned the favor to a couple of other couples during our life together."

Dad finished his time with the Army in 1962 at Fort Hood Texas - he felt his time in the army was the very best choice for him at that time.  They moved up to Seattle (with baby me) and joined civilian life; Dad started his career at Boeing. My sister Kristin was later born and time marches on.


Dad decided to take advantage of The G.I. Bill and go back to the University of Washington while still working at Boeing. In 1976, he finally earned his BA in Psychology.


The next year Mom began her quest for a degree again by taking courses at Bellevue Community College where she earned her AA and transferred to the University of Washington.  She became one of those knocked up college girls so she dropped out again. Of course we were delighted when my sister, Sarah was born.

They celebrated their 25th Anniversary in 1984 - when their oldest had been married a year and a recent graduate of the University of Washington, their middle was a senior in college and their youngest was a Kindergartner.


After Sarah was in school, Mom returned to the UW and finally graduated with a BA in English Literature in 1987.


They became Grandparents the following year in 1988.


My parents have fun together; they have stayed by each other's side.  I'm so grateful for this.
1988


1993


2003


2003


2004


2008


2009 - Their 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration with some of their wedding party (Phil Lemoine who originally wanted to introduce them to each other is next to my Dad)


2012 Mom and Dad with their three daughters, three sons-in-law, three grandsons and three granddaughters.


My parents have definitely modeled persistence whether it's achieving educational goals or sticking with each other through thick and thin.
Congratulations, Mom and Dad!  Cheers for  many more fun years together!

Seattle World's Fair and my Grandparents

I've mentioned my Grandfather whose career was in the hospitality industry before - Howard Johnson worked in hotels since he was a child starting as a page boy at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC.  My Grandmother, Lucy (Andrew) Johnson was in the hospitality industry as well and waitressed all her life (when I called her at age 16 to tell her I got my first job waitressing at Pizza Haven she advised me to always bring a second pair of shoes to switch into during the middle of long shifts because the different feel would make aching feet feel better - she also told me not to waitress my whole life). They moved from British Columbia to Seattle in 1951 and by 1962 they were working hard welcoming Century 21 Seattle World's Fairgoers.

My beautiful Grandmother waitressing in the Space Needle's revolving restaurant:

Thank you to Dean Syltebo for restoring this photo!!
We think this photo is 1963 - many of the waitresses suffered from motion sickness but my Grandmother was unaffected so she stuck around and worked there even after The Fair closed.

Processed July 1962

My Grandfather worked at several different hotels in 1962 - my Mother told me The Edgewater Inn hired him to work on the MS Dominion Monarch which was docked in Seattle to host guests as a hotel since the Edgewater Inn wasn't finished in time for the start of the World's Fair


But before that he worked at Century House Motor Hotel and he wrote me my all-time very favorite letter when I was four months old on stationery from there.  My Dad was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas so we lived in Killeen, Texas and I don't think he had met me, yet.

April 2/62
Dearest Jana:
This is just a note honey to say hello and to say how nice it was to hear your voice on the telephone. Your mother kept interrupting and it was a little difficult to understand you but I think I got the message. Parents are such a problem these days but try to understand them. Ask you Mother about it because I too was a problem parent.
Now that your Mother is caught up in this mad dizzy social whirl, cooking, dusting pamlum, diapers, feeding, ironing, washing and her golf and tennis guess she doesn't have time to write. I know you must be busy with your dates and school work but tell your Mother the enclosed stamps are just in case she gets a moment. If your Mother and Dad can't get away in June you come anyhow it will be a good chance for you and I to see the Fair.
Tell your Mother that we went to Dave Schwatz's wedding Saturday nite and both the bride and he looked fine.
Seattle is just busting out all over now only nineteen days to opening and everyone holding their breath. Biggest thing to hit Seattle. Lots of old buildings being torn down and everybody painting and getting ready. This place where I am working is putting in a new restaurant and cocktail bar. Carpenters, painters, plumbers, noise, dust and confusion trying to get ready for the Fair.
Grandmaw and I are going down tomorrow to ride on the monorail and see the Wax Works. The Observation Tower on the Space Needle and the Monorail are doing a rushing business already.
On Thursday we are going up to Vancouver to see your Great Grandmother. Has your Dad been teaching you to drive yet? I don't think Father's make the best teachers ask your Mother. Do all you homework and don't play the Hi-Fi too much. Be a good girl and say hello to your Mother and Dad. A big hug and kiss for you and tell your mother I didn't have to wipe my chin.
All My Love
Grandpaw
P.S. It will be okay to let your Mother read this letter.

Is that an awesome letter or what?! Family history, humor, Seattle World's Fair tidbits all on one page!

The front and back of the envelope it came in:


By the end of 1962, The Edgewater Inn was completed and Howard worked there for several years.


The Edgewater 2011:

Seattle.Gov's Historic Preservation Program tells me that The Edgewater is Category 4

"These buildings have been identified as ones that have been so altered that they would not qualify as Seattle landmarks."

I can't really blame The Edgewater for altering the hotel to stay competitive in the industry but I'll always consider it a Seattle landmark.


My Grandfather died forty two years ago today on July 25, 1970 when I was eight years old.  He was only 58.  I don't have many memories of him but I will always treasure the letter he wrote me when I was an infant.  Thinking about you, Grandpaw!!

(taken at the Mayflower Hotel - probably late 1950s)

Grandma and Grandpa and me November 1963


Grandma, Grandpa and me about 1964

Seattle's Smith Tower

Not to take anything away from the 236th birthday of the U.S.A. but it's also the 98th anniversary of the dedication of Seattle's Smith Tower according to this article from History Link -

On July 4, 1914, the 462-foot-high Smith Tower, located in downtown Seattle, is dedicated. At the time it is one of the tallest buildings west of New York and the tallest building west of Ohio.
Located at 506 2nd Avenue, the building took three and a half years to construct. The architects were Gaggin & Gaggin (Edwin H. and T. Walker Gaggin) of Syracuse, New York, and the owner was Lyman Cornelius Smith, a typewriter tycoon whose firm eventually became the Smith-Corona Company.

 More interesting Smith Tower history from History Link can be found in this informative article.

I've been growing my Seattle postcard collection. Here are some that include the primary Seattle icon prior to "Century 21", the Seattle World's Fair in 1962 when the Space Needle became the identifying Seattle landmark. I found this jumbo postcard at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop last summer - I think I paid one dollar.

"Seattle Business District. Tallest building in the city, the 42 - story Smith Tower dominates the downtown skyline. Other notable buildings include the Exchange Building, the Dexter-Norton (sic) Building and (in lower right foreground) the County-City Building. Seattle has grown rapidly in importance as a sea port and trading center, since its fine harbor and natural geographical location make it an ideal distribution point, and a focus of trade from the Far East. SA-4. Photograph Courtesy Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Jumbo Post-Card Company - 2017 South Michigan Avenue - Chicago 16, Illinois"

A few more:

"42 Story L. C. Smith Building, Seattle" "Pub. by the Puget Sound News Co., Seattle Wash." Postcard mailed in 1917


L. C. Smith Tower

This is a blurry postcard but you can still make out the lit Smith Tower in the distance. Can anyone help me date it? (It's pre Space Needle)

"Sunset on Mount Rainier as viewed from Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, Washington. Lights from the city center and waterfront enhance the beauty of this evening scene Ektachrome by Bob and Ira Spring"


"Union Oil Company's Natural Color Scenes of the West. Seattle, a major Pacific Coast port and gateway to Alaska and the Orient. Tour the West this year with 76 gasoline"
I love this postcard because not only does it have the Smith Tower but it has the Silver Slug - The Kalakala ferry!


Yep - almost cropped out of the postcard - the Smith Tower on the far right. Named building focal point is now the Space Needle . . .

"Seattle, Washington. This aerial view shows a portion of Elliott Bay, the waterfront, metropolitan area, Space Needle in the distance, Lake Union at upper right and the new freeway borders the far right of the picture. Color by Bud Kimball. Plastichrome by ColourPicture Boston, Mass. 02130"

Last summer, my pen-pal (since we were 14!), Marcus from London visited the USA. I had never been to the observation floor of the Columbia Center (Seattle's current tallest building) and that's where I took him to get some views of the region. I HIGHLY recommend it! The Smith Tower is a bit dwarfed these days but still a significant part of the Seattle landscape.

Someday maybe I'll get to visit the interior of the Smith. I really enjoyed this article from the New York Times of the family that lives in the Tower's Pyramid. Be sure to view the slideshow.

Happy 98th Smith Tower!

Old Photos of Montana

I get to be the keeper of old photographs for both Tom's side and my side of the family. I have two small neatly organized photo albums from Tom's side that have higher quality photos than most photos I have and it has me wondering if a professional photographer took them and sold these completed albums. There are no photographer markings anywhere on the albums and only a few on the photos. This is Tom's grandfather Charles A. Robertson working in the mercantile in Gold Butte, Montana

From Toole County, MT

Tom's Great Grandmother was a Fey. They hailed originally from Prussia/Bavaria/Germany (I'm still trying to nail down what it was called and when). They immigrated to New York. Then a few decided to move to Montana since there was so much land. They were pretty successful as ranchers and mercantile owners. These photos appear to be belong to the Fey side - a few are labeled Gold Butte which is in Toole County. Other known towns the Feys lived in are Conrad, Shelby, Sweetgrass Hills, Great Falls and Valier. Be sure to click on the slideshow for larger images - I think these photos are pretty awesome!



I haven't heard of any connection to Tina Fey of SNL to Tom's Feys. But I have heard that they are related to Charles August Fey who invented the slot machine. I still haven't found the connection, though.