August 12, 1966 "Ruth and I were sitting outside husking corn "

Fri, Aug 12^th (1966, Pana, Illinois)

Dear Mom and Dad,

Yesterday we had a nice surprise! Ruth and I were sitting outside husking corn when a cab drove up and Aunt Rose from Minnesota came out. She had taken the Greyhound bus when Jim’s mom wrote to tell her we would be here. She is Ruth’s sister from Minneapolis.

On Sunday Jim’s mom has invited all the cousins from miles around to a family reunion. We have never met most of them.

The Kids are having a ball. Kenny and Davy are inseparable. Kenny spent the night with him last night. 

The kids have been out in the corn field picking corn and today they are going to dig up potatoes.

Last night we showed some of our home movies and some of the neighbors came over to watch.

Aunt Rose is very interested in everything about living in Europe. She always asks questions and listens to the answers.

Right now the kids are watching Captain Kangaroo and Aunt Rose and Ruth are out in the garden already.

After we got here Jim took Tala’s car to the mechanic that the Singers know to have it worked on. We thought it better to do it here since we don’t know any mechanic in St. Louis. They put some spark plugs, cleaned the points – brakes etc.

Today I think we’ll take the kids to town for some play shoes and blue jeans.

Nancy is getting around on her knees. She is a little fireball now and really knows what she wants.

I think I’ll cut this short because I want to mail this in town and we’ll be going soon.

Please give the family there our best regards. Hope everything is going well for you.

Love Dina and Jim

p.s. Jim has made our return reservations for Friday Sept. 2^nd.

August 10, 1966 "Jim has been busy today repairing some of the electrical appliances"

P.S. We’ll be here until Tues Aug 16^th, Regards to all the family                 

August 10, 1966, Pana, Illinois

Dear Mom and Dad,

We drove down yesterday in Bob and Tala’s car in exactly 2 hours. I know the kids are growing up because no one complained or fought the whole trip. We are having a nice visit – the kids are really enjoying themselves. Davy spent the night here and the boys really hit it off fine. B has been behaving like a real lady the whole trip. You know how well she can do when she tries  -  helping with the baby etc.

As luck would have it – Lorraine and the girls are in Pana too spending a week with Mrs. Millot. 

Jim’s mom and dad are both looking well and feeling o.k. too. His mom was telling me they have some new treatment for emphysema – but she can’t take it because it contains penicillin. I wish Julius could get it though. 

Last Monday Douglas’s girlfriend got baptized and Mildred was her godmother.

Jim has been busy today repairing some of the electrical appliances around here.

All the things we sent his mom really look pretty. The curtain is just beautiful. I’m sure yours will look wonderful too. I especially like the wood carving from Mallorca. It is so beautiful. They also received the mantillas we sent.

I’ve been trying to track down the things we sent and most of them have arrived. Anita K___ received her guest towels but her mom’s did not arrive and I sent them a month sooner.

Tala still did not receive the beaded bag either. The Sadies are going on their Gary, Ind. Trip this weekend. Mary Chick called me before we left. Your old barber Lucas died this week also.

We still have so much to do. When we get back Jim must look in his safe deposit box. I still have to get the kids shoes, get over to Dover Pl., call Sr. J.J. and get out to Fontbonne.

The biggest laugh we have gotten so far is that, except for Helen and Rudy C., no one has asked us anything about Europe. No one is the least interested – and I can understand it.

Received a letter from Don – He spent a month in Campinas and found a month’s mail waiting for him. He said he received your letter from London, Dad.

More Later,

Love

Dina

August 8, 1966 "Nancy has grown up so much these past few weeks."

August 8, 1966

Monday

Dear Mom and Dad,

Well it is 9A.M. and Nancy and I are the only ones up. We are all fine and enjoying every minute in the good old U.S.A.  The weather has been perfect. Very nice and cool – just like resort weather.

Yesterday we went to Alice’s house. Mil and Jul came with us. I was happy to see Lola there. She looks very good and says she feels much better. Tiá Clorinda was also there and Sally had little Donnie and Eddie (Tommy’s son). Eddie is really a darling boy and so big and smart for his age. OF course Donnie is jealous of him. So he led Sally on a merry chase all day. Betty and husband were there too. She has two darling children and both very good.

I forgot to tell you that Anita, Digna and Margie stopped in one evening on the way home from Kate’s. They received your cloth and thanked you very much. They really love it.

Would you believe we still have not gone over to Dover Pl. I hope we can today. It seems like we never have an extra minute. Florence and Margaret R. came by Saturday afternoon. Jim went out to Korvett (a new store) and did the shopping for clothes that he needed. I think one more trip for me will set me up.

Tomorrow we go to Pana for a week. I’m glad we planned it this way as we will have a week just to visit with them and rest. Then when we come back we can start our rounds again. It has really been fun seeing everyone. So far everyone looks good. Toots is heavy again and Alice thin, but she says she feels good and enjoys her job so much.

Nancy has grown up so much these past few weeks. St. Louis really agrees with her – she has gained weight and now she “tocas manitas” and gives you a kiss. She is always smiling especially when she sees Barbara. All the kids have been behaving themselves very nicely. P is still jealous but she is having fun showing off for everyone. She is also the only one who says anything in French. None of the others will say a word. Alice tried out some of the sentences that the old man had taught you all. B understood her. Later on in the yard we were talking about speaking French etc.  and Mil said “ I don’t think it’s very hard, probably a lot like Spanish.”

I’m sure the family in Bilbao are grateful for your visit. I’ll bet they are very sad these days.

I’ll write from Pana. The kids can’t wait to get there.

Love

Jim and Dina,

August 6, 1966 "I will send this letter to Bilbao and then the others to Asturias."

Dear Mom and Dad,

Received your postcards departing from London. Glad to hear all went so well there. I will send this letter to Bilbao and then the others to Asturias. What is Jesusa’s address now? I can’t remember Pacita’s husband’s name or I would send it there.

Things are moving along very fast here. We have been busy. Jim and I went out to Carm’s house for dinner and Neva and Mildred babysat for us. They said the baby was good. Anita K and Ester came to see us – brought a beautiful sweater for Nancy and a bottle of Champagne. Last night we went out to see the Petry’s. They have a nice old big home in Webster. Jo Anne H_____ was there. She is staying at her mother’s waiting to have her baby already 4 days late.

Tomorrow Mil and Julious are going with us over to Alice’s house. We have been using Tala’s car constantly. I feel so obligated to them.

The kids are having so much fun playing and going out and drinking soda etc. They’ll really hate to settle down to school again.

Everyone we’ve seen certainly looks good. But of course every home has its problems. You’ll certainly have enough to keep you busy when you get back. Just visiting Trina, Lola and Tiá Maria will be enough. Lil says the only time her mom feels better is when she is talking with someone.

Tuesday August 9^th we are going to Pana for a week. Monday Douglas’ girl gets baptized and Mildred is going to be her god mother.

I finally called Florence D________ and she might stop by this afternoon. Ran into Gertie Jean and she is married to Mel Z_______. That really completed the break with her family (who are now sure they won’t get her money).

Bessie C____ called me and wanted to take me out to lunch. I told her I would call her after I get back form Pana.  Carmen B___ also called me.

Jim’s hay fever has been pretty bad but he is the only one to feel sick. All of us are great and Nancy has gained weight and gotten so smart. I’ll never get her back in the playpen. She crawls all over the house.

In between times I have been going through the chests and drawers. Yesterday was so cool I did some of the attic clothes bags. I have been finding a lot of nice things – but still haven’t found all those clothes of Donnie’s which you said were here. The ones Lil gave me now are size 14 and I’m sure there were some here that were smaller. Are there any clothes in those boxes in the attic? I don’t want to start in there if there are no clothes in them.

Please greet all the family in Spain for us and thank them again for the gift for Nancy.

Love from all,

Jim and Dina

August 2, 1966 " We still haven’t gone over to Dover Pl. Boy, the time just flies by."

Dear Mom and Dad,

We received your letter this morning and are so glad to know how enjoyable your stay in London went . Here we are all fine and really having a ball.

I knew you would enjoy the Byrne’s.  Jeanne is just as you see her – straightforward and so interested in people. Her husband has always appealed to me. He’s the kind of man I like. Quiet and very very nice and simple.  I know Jeanne is quite a housekeeper. Isn’t she marvelous?

Glad you got in some shopping. I also went to Famous and bought a suit and car coat and black dress. Also bought 2 pair of shoes at Stix. Boy do those clothes in the stores look marvelous! I don’t think I’ll need anything for the kids except shoes. Last night I went through every chest and drawer in the room downstairs. I found lots of stuff for the kids and Betty and Lily brought me a big sack full of stuff too. I still haven’t looked upstairs but I think the kids have quite a good supply.

One thing you can say for the English people. They certainly are courteous and helpful. I see you got the same treatment. People think of them as cold and reserved but they are certainly decent folks.

Everyone in St. Louis really enjoyed the last game. We all looked for you in the crowd. What a crowd.

I just called Tiá Lola up and she says she feels better every day. Yes, she knows her heart acted up in the hospital but as she says – she could last for many years. So far she has no pain and she says she just feels very lazy. She has lots of company and that helps her a lot.

Sunday Carolyn brought Tiá Clorinda and Trina and picked up Tiá Mariá too.  We had a nice little visit with them. Tiá Trina is pretty forgetful but still very good company. Clorinda said she never saw Julio so happy in his life now that Billie is back in town.

The kids haven’t played too much with the Bogdans because they had their tonsils out.

I called Donna F___ and will see her after we get back from Pana as she was going to Ohio for a few days this week.

We still haven’t gone over to Dover Pl. Boy, the time just flies by. This afternoon Esther and Anita K_____ are coming by. And tonight we must go to Donna Lee’s.

I priced beaded bags at Stix. One like you sent Corona was $70.

Will write more later,

Love

Jim and Dina

July 31, 1966 "Mary Chick has already sent over two cakes"

July 31, 1966 (St. Louis)

Dear Mom and Dad,

Hope all is well with you. We watched the last games of the World Cup Saturday morning at 11A.M. by Telestar. It was a great game! We looked for you in the crowd.

Everyone here is fine. I still haven’t seen Clorinda or Trina. Billie was moving this weekend and they were quite busy. He found a house a block from Margaret’s house. Carolyn said they might take a drive over today if the weather stays cool. I figure it’s better for them to come here as Tiá Trina likes to get out and Nancy can take her nap in peace.

Last night we went out to Rosemarie’s. O’Bee and family came in town and we visited with them.

Mary Chick has already sent over two cakes and Anita has offered to babysit. I might take her up on that as Carm asked us over and I wouldn’t want to take the kids out there.

We still haven’t gone over to Dover Pl. but I hope to today. This time just seems to be flying. This week is pretty well dated up. So I think we will go to Pana after August 7^th.

I think if I mail this this morning you still may get it at Jeanne’s.

The kids are all well and having a ball. There has been a break in the weather and we were wearing sweaters sitting out at Rosemarie’s last night.

So glad everything went so well for you in London. A nice place to stay and tickets for those exciting games. Sure hope the shopping went well too. I must get started on mine as I can see it is not so easy when you are hard to fit.

Haven’t heard from Don but no doubt we have mail going to Brussels yet.

I must get ready for Mass. Hope to hear from you soon again.

Keep in touch.

Love

Dina and all

July 24, 1966 "there are no other people in the world like our family!"

In 1966 we Ryans were still living in Brussels. Welo and Wela came to stay with us in Brussels for a few months (years?) after my grandfather retired from the bank.  That summer we traveled home for a visit.  Welo and Welo went on a trip to London and Spain before they came back to the States.  I am posting a series of letters my Mom wrote from St. Louis to her mother in Europe that summer (see the Archives from 2007 for the initial 1964 series of letters that started this Blog).  Even though Mom was on vacation and had a short amount of time to visit with friends and family she still managed to write to her mother almost every day.

Enjoy,

MB

July 24, 1966

Sunday

Dear Mom and Dad, (Hi Jeanne & Barney)

It is now 7:30A.M. and I am going to write this letter before anything. We had a wonderful trip home. I called Tala from Chicago and she told me that she and Betty D. would meet us. (Jo came to see us at the O’Hare and we had  good hour to talk.)  When we got off at Lambert – there were  - Mildred, Julius, Chick, Mary, Anita, Doggie and kids, Donna Lee & whole family, Tala & family, Bentons, Dameris’ with a huge sign Welcome Home Ryans .  We had our choice of cars for the ride home.

The house looks marvelous. Mildred, Mary Chick, Margaret & Angeles have it looking like you just stepped out to the bakery. Everything is back in place. Jim said it looked like a welcome home for a honeymoon couple. They all said it had been left terribly dirty. They shampooed the rug twice. But at least there is absolutely no permanent damage. 

When you get home you’ll have to paint the kitchen and repair that damn crack in the dining room. That’s it.  Glen D___ had hooked up the dryer and he said he can’t figure out how Jim Ryan can get out of doing that every time.  Mary Chick had baked a huge cake and cup cakes, and they had ham sandwiches and beer and soda. Tala and Bob had bought a supply of groceries and I would say that there are no other people in the world like our family! They all stayed quite late and when everyone left Jim and I looked at my watch on Brussels time and we had been up 26 hours. But it was worth it!

Saturday at 7:30A.M. good old Gloria was at the door with bakery goods for breakfast. And throughout the day Mildred, Neva, the Dameris’, Lil and Bob and Gas dropped in. As a result I’m still not unpacked but it’s been great. Wait ‘til you get back – you can’t imagine how wonderful St. Louis will look to you – even though everything is really dry and brunt up.  The weather has been great. Between the fan and attic fan we have stayed really cool.  Mildred has already adopted Patricia.  P. says “you are not Aunt Mildred, you’re Wela.” The kids are having a ball.  We did go to the doctor with Mary Beth who got up vomiting I was sure she was just exhausted but ever since Jim had that scare in Malaga he was afraid. So we took her and Nancy. The doctor gave her something and an hour later she was fine. He looked at Nancy’s leg and said it will be all right and she was fine, he thought. He gave her the oral polio which is good. We called Jim’s mom and we told her we’ll try to get down after a week as we have so much to do here.  Everyone I saw so far looks wonderful. Exactly the same.   I talked to tiá Lola and she might come by today - but last night talking to Lil, she tells me her mom had another heart attack in the hospital and is really failing. I might call her and ask her not to make the trip. We’ll try to get over there one day this week. Tala and Bob let us use their Ford also for today and yesterday. 

Well I must feed this baby. Everyone thinks she’s cute . I’ll try to write tomorrow. Let us know how you’re doing. My love to the Byrnes.

Love,

Jim and Dina

Fall back

 

Fort Marcy Park

circa 1968

Dina circa 1932

 

Dina and Donna Lee Dancing

Who can tell me what kind of car that is?

It was a very hot day back in September 1954

Dina and Jim

 

1954: The highest temperature on record at St. Louis 

for the month of September (104 degrees) was recorded.

Welo Swims

Welo Swims from Marybeth on Vimeo.

Great Grandpa Sannes

 

Henry Otto and ? (maybe Ingaborg, probably Bergette)

Connecting with Cousins

Ken and Dave
Pana, Illinois

We enjoy the fruits of his Labor

"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if Labor had not first existed. Labor is superior to capital, and deserves much the higher consideration"...*Abraham Lincoln*

Thanks for all your hard work Dad.

Flair anyone? I got a box full of these pins etc.

Who are they?

I don't know who they are, but sweet ride!

I researched the scooter and it is made by American Moto-Scoot Co., 

between 1937-1947 in Chicago, Illinois 

*on the back it's stamped Ray's Photo Service, La Crosse, Wisconsin*

Random Snap from the Past

Grandma Singer

Puerto Plata

Gift of Gab

Dina and Rose Marie in high school.

Our two favorite ladies are definitely award winning conversationalists.

Always look before you toss

I never really spoke to Dad about his father or grandparents, or maybe I just don’t remember him talking about them. His father left when he was a very small boy so we never saw or knew any of the Ryan side of the family. However we always talked about the fact that we kids were 1/8 Irish and 1/8 Luxembourgian and ¼ Norwegian (and 1/2 Spanish, from Mom). It never occurred to me that Dad might actually have any family history written down. Today I was sorting through old boxes of Dad’s stuff to organize and toss some “unimportant” papers, like envelopes and old tax returns etc. My Dad liked to write cryptic, esoteric notes on pieces of paper and in notebooks. Some notes I think were solutions to word puzzles, on others I think maybe he was in a drunken stupor. Hard to say. Mostly I just set them aside because I keep thinking I am going to discover he really was a spy and had to communicate in secret code.

The point of this post is an old envelope I found in a box of papers from Bangkok. Inside the envelope are negatives from Korea and Thailand. To be clear I could have stuck the negatives in the envelope on one of my previous sorting binges. What is in the envelope has nothing to do with notes written on the back of the envelope. On the top portion of the envelope he wrote all the dates of different places he lived. Some are abbreviations for States, some are street names in St. Louis.

47 - IL (Illinois)
49 - Keesler (no idea where this is?)
53 - S.Dak  (South Dakota I guess?)
54 - Cleve  (this is his first house after he married Mom, Cleveland Place in St. Louis, Mo.)
57 - Maple (Maplewood Avenue in St. Louis)
63 - Dover Place (street in St. Louis)
64 - Switzerland – Bel. (Belgium)
68 - US  (United States)
76 - K  (Korea)

The bottom of the envelope is more interesting. These numbers, or rather dates, are what really caught my eye. If I had not been doing genealogy research for the last few years and just happened to have certain dates stuck in my head I may never have figured out what this series numbers meant.

1868 – Lux
1873(5) US
1885 to MHd (17)
1887(19) married
1905(37) widow
1944

1944
1868
____
76

My great grandmother (Dad’s grandmother) Lena Steichen was born in Luxembourg in 1868. She immigrated with her family in 1873 (when she was five years old). The Steichen family moved to Moorhead, Minnesota in 1885. Lena married James Ryan in 1887. My great grandfather James Ryan died in 1905. Lena died in 1943. Ok this last date does not quite match but it’s close enough. Where did he get these dates? When and why did he write them down on the back of an envelope? I found all the dates through census, death records, obits etc! If I had only known that he had all this information all the time!! What else did he know?

1934 La Sociedad Espanola

Soccer mania is over but here's one more photo of the Spanish Soccer Club

Top Row: far left  - Benito "Chic" Fernandez, sixth over from left Henry "Eggie" Fernandez, and second from right Prudencio "Pete" Garcia

Spanish Soccer Club, St. Louis, Mo.

1929-1930 City Champions

Uncle "Eggie" (Enrique Fernandez) is the tall boy in the back row.
It's hard to see, but there is writing at the bottom of the photo.
(I think the city is East St. Louis)