Gordon Murray Draper

Gordon was one of my Dad's cousins. Today would have been his 76th Birthday so I just felt like remembering him. He was Class President, voted "Most Likely to Succeed" and graduated one of the Top 10 Class of 1955 at Bremerton High School. He is mentioned (and I think probably  in the photograph) of the Phi Delta Theta news November 1955 (17 years old) as one of the "top men" new pledge of Phikeias of Washington Beta at Whitman College. (PDF page 145 on The Scroll of Phi Delta Theta)

July 7, 1958 the twenty year old was driving home from the east coast with four others.  Four of them had left Whitman in May to attended a Columbia University camp for engineering students in Connecticut. They had hoped to find summer work in Chicago before starting their studies at Columbia in the fall.  When they couldn't find work, they picked up one of the men's soon-to-be fiancee and headed home - Gordon told his mother (my Grandmother's sister) they would drive straight through taking two hour turns driving so they wouldn't get too tired.

Shortly after 1:00 am, a firetruck was returning from a false alarm. There was some evidence that the truck driver had been drinking but the blood alcohol level was not at the legally drunk level. Witnesses said the truck was in the oncoming lane preparing to make a turn when the collision happened. Gordon Murray Draper (20), Dick Amundsen (19), Jan Borseth (20) were dead.  Laurel Boniface (18) - Jan's fiancee and Victor Eugene Langdon (21) were injured (Laurel quite seriously).

A very sad ending to some very promising lives.  I would love to know whatever happened to Miss Boniface and Victor E. Langdon.  I hope they are living long happy lives.

Gordy's brother wrote me about him a while ago - his brother was shy when he was young but really blossomed in high school becoming very active in many circles.  He said people mostly knew him for his science and math skills.  However he recalled how brilliantly Gordy could debate almost anything (particularly with his father), and how deeply he cared for people. His brother felt he might have ended up as a minister or a statesman where  he could help people.   His brother knew he could play the trumpet but one Christmas break when the boys were home from college, they were enjoying a day in Downtown Bremerton with their mother when Gordy dragged them in to a music store, sat down at a Grand piano and played a flawless concerto.  A crowd gathered and applauded when he finished and his brother thought he'd play an encore but Gordy just grinned, stood up and went to the nearby drugstore for a bag of popcorn. 

You were taken much too soon - thinking of you today Cousin Gordy . . .

The One Where We Had Piles of Snow

My eighteenth birthday - the Seattle area was hit with a snowstorm that week.  It was not very typical for us to miss more than a day or so of school due to snow.  Snow might fall but due to our marine layer, it warms up, turns to rain and we get our "Seattle Cement" (heavy, heavy slush).  I guess a lot of kids would LOVE to have a snow day and no school for their birthday.  But I remember feeling pretty disappointed  not to "get" to go to school on my eighteenth birthday.  It was a Wednesday and at least the second day in a row school was cancelled.  And it just kept coming!  It was beautiful but I wanted to be with my friends.  At the last moment that night, my Dad drove our ginormous red 1967 Chevy Bel-Air and picked up a few of my friends for a slumber party!  I remember sledding at midnight - the snow being perfectly packed.  It was a fun, spur of the moment party and I had a blast.

L-R standing: Karla, Me, Eileen, Suzie. Kneeling L-R Mimi, Heidi and Tina.

The Seattle Times that evening (courtesy Seattle Public Library)


We must have missed several more days of school due to snow and the situation affected my high school's graduation. Our class did not have enough days of attendance to graduate. They let us walk our commencement as previously scheduled but we had to attend a day-long workshop at Bellevue Community College to earn our diploma.

So what I remember about the birthday where I was officially an adult old enough to vote was playing like kids in the snow.

The One Where My Dog Ate The Treat Baskets

I had a dress-up tea party for my ninth birthday.  To this day I remember how amazing I thought Sheila Morrison's dress was!  I'm not even 100% sure that I recall her name correctly or really anything else about her.  But I remember that dress!

Randi(?) also had an awesome hat, wig, "fur" jacket and full skirt ensemble. I'm on the right wearing a glittery gold number.






Tea party!


Little ladies

or not . . .


Twister fun


My dog, Charcoal was a beagle/lab mix (he's in the above photo "little ladies"). I don't recall that we ever really had to worry about him stealing food. However, he decided to sample the treat baskets that my  mom made and set aside on her dresser. It was so disappointing not to have a goodies to send home with my friends. Bad dog!

The One Where Grandma Dropped My Cake

My fourth birthday was a party at my Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's apartment across from Woodland Park Zoo.  It was both sets of grandparents, my parents, my two year old sister and me.  I don't know that I actually remember it happening (but I think I do!) but Grandma Johnson dropped my cake in the kitchen.  My memory is that it was while she was carrying it from the kitchen into the dining room singing but I look at this picture and notice her finger all bandaged up and a towel under her hand like something had just happened so now I don't remember the circumstances.  This is one of those events that she was reminded of for years.  I'm not sure I actually remember the cake-tastrophe or just the reminders she always got.
The missing frosting and decorations are evidence.  I'm sure we ate it. And lived to tell the tale. My sister looks a little concerned.





Grandpa Johnson showing us a Polaroid while we play with "Mr. Potato Head" and "Pete the Pepper"

A new slinky and I see "Cooky the Cucumber" behind me - I really don't have any recollection of Mr. Potato Head's friends!




My sister got a bulldozer! (We always both got a little something on each other's birthday)


New gigantic piggy banks for both of us!




My mom and more Polaroids


Grandpa Hawes


Grandma Hawes blowing out a candle - My Grandparent's wedding anniversary was in January so Grandma Johnson had a cake for them, too!  (I think all the frosting got used on my cake so theirs is a little lacking on the side - I really don't think Grandma Johnson dropped two cakes!)

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson (I wish the exposure was a little better)


Thank you for sharing with me my birthday of yesteryear on my birthday week!

My Fifth Birthday
My Eleventh Birthday

Vintage New Year's Greetings

I'm having a hard time believing 2013 is over!  That's the thing about the calendar . . . there is no pause button.  I feel pretty certain that those who originally sent these beautiful and charming New Year's greetings would not have any inkling that they would be "sent" again as wishes a century later. 

"1 January - A happy New Year" mailed December 1907. Message on back reads

"Dear Friend. We all wish you a Happy New Year. Mama is sick in bed with the grip. Family Goetz"

(Hope Mama got better.  I've noticed in my growing postcard collection that illness was frequently reported this way.)


"A happy New Year"

"Best New Years Wishes.

To you dear friend

Sincere Greetings

I fondly send

This New Years Day"

 
"This card brings our best wishes for the New Year"
 
"A happy New Year" copyrighted 1908
 
"A happy New Year" mailed January 1911

"I send this New Year greeting
Just to speak a word of cheer,
And assure you my good wishes
Will go with you through the year."

"A Happy New Year" mailed January 1909

"A Happy New Year. 
In friendship true, 
for auld lang syne, 
Accept this greeting wish of mine."

"New Year Greetings 
And love sin-
cere. May our friendship 
grow with 
each passing 
year." 
(kind of an awkward second line . . . I would have designed it so it didn't appear to promote loving sin!  :-) )

"Right hearty Greeting for the New Year" mailed December 1910

"My New Year Gift to You. 
My New Year gift will not be brought 
By an expressman's cart. 
It is neither tied nor wrapped 
But comes straight from a loving heart." mailed December 1929

"Best Wishes for a Happy New Year" mailed December 1912

"A happy New Year - 
Time to be good to thee 
And added years bring 
only added pleasures." mailed January 1915

"Here's to Today
Write it on your heart 
that every day is the best 
day of the year." mailed December 21, 1912.

Message on back reads in part ". . . I am sorry to say we won't get (?) before Christmas J?erry cut his foot right at the ankle with the axe. We will try and come in between (?) and New year."

How awful!  I hope Jerry wasn't crippled for the rest of his life!

Glad tidings for a healthy, prosperous, grippe-free and axe-to-the-ankle-free 2014!!!!

Christmas Coca-Cola

Coke ads from the late 1950s to the early 1960s.  Santa and "The Pause that Refreshes".
I believe all the artwork for these Coca Cola ads are attributed to Haddon Sundblom.  From their website, this artist's artwork was used between 1931-1964. 


Holiday Issue 1956 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1957

Holiday Issue 1958 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1959 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1960 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1961 Life Magazine

Holiday Issue 1962 Life Magazine


Merry Christmas!