Mendenhall Glacier and Sports Knickers

 Mendenhall Glacier

Ruth and Etna with their host Nellie
explore Mendenhall Glacier in July 1926

You may have noticed,
my great aunt Etna is wearing sports knickers.

In 1926 it was still a bit daring to wear this "outfit."
But that defines my great aunt.

Check out this 1926 advertisement for sports knickers.

Eagle River Alaska; Herbert Glacier

Eagle River and Herbert Glacier 

Ruth, Etna and Nellie
with friends Lew and Kay
picnic at Eagle River with Herbert Glacier
in the distance.

Sitka 1926

 Sitka

Aunt Etna and Cousin Ruth continue their explorations

in Alaska.

A charming view of Sitka

Visiting Sitka National Monument

Ruth calls it Park but in 1926

it was still a monument.

Interestingly, one of the totem poles from Sitka

resides in Ruth's and Etna's home town

of Milwaukee.

For the story of how it got there

visit the NSP site:

Sitka Historical National Park

The pole in Milwaukee, resides in the Milwaukee Public Museum.
During Etna's and Ruth's time it looked like this.

In Tlingit it is Qadakedi (kaw-duh-KAY-dee)

Currently it is displayed inside.
Here's a link to the Milwaukee Public Museum display
Tlingit Pole

Gold was found in Silver Bow Basin in 1880.

A Trip to Alaska in 1926

A Trip to Alaska in 1926
In the next few days I will post
a 1926 trip to Alaska with my great aunt and her cousin.

Their trip began in June 1926. They likely traveled to Seattle

by train, or in the cars, as they often said.
They boarded the Steamer Queen to Juneau.

They were visiting a former neighbor, Nellie Lee Boyle.

The visit began in Juneau with Nellie and her husband Frank Boyle.
Frank was a comptroller for Alaska.

Here's the Boyle's "wash."

On July 6, 1926 they visited Sitka National Monument.

 

 

 

Wall Mansion in Salt Lake City

 Wall Mansion in Salt Lake City

Much has been written about the Wall Mansion in Salt Lake City. Its transformation from the James Sharp Italianate Victorian design to the Neoclassic design of today by Richard Kletting.

My favorite part of Kletting's re-design is the idea of making it as fire proof as possible with steel framing and reinforced concrete.

This is an advertisement from the company that helped to make it possible.

[Architecture and Building Vol 43 1 Jan 1911 W T Comstock Co]

Eaton Hall in Chester England

 Eaton Hall
in Chester England

The Family Wing

In 1914 my great aunt Inez went on tour

in Europe and England

This postcard to her niece (my aunt) shows her excitement for Eaton Hall in Chester.

These are likely some of the rooms Inez visited in 1914.

Aunts and Uncles

 My Aunts and Uncles

These are some of my aunts and uncles
before my mother was born

1913

School Principal

 School Principal
My grandfather was a school principal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
This 1913 notice discusses textbooks and lessons.
The superintendent of Milwaukee public schools and some staff members visited select schools to see, first hand, whether or not the textbooks were adequate.

My grandfather's school is discussed on the second page.

1913 Yellowstone Trip

 1913 Yellowstone Trip

It would be exciting to talk with my relatives who traveled to all different places.
They made a Yellowstone National Park trip in 1913.
That is one of the years Yellowstone Chip was driving stage in the Park.
I have written a biography of Chip and it would be the best surprise if he had taken my Stivers family members on the Grand Tour.

If only for a time machine.

Chip driving a stage in Yellowstone National Park

Madeira Portugal Visit in 1913

 Madeira Portugal Visit in 1913

Visiting Madeira was just as popular then as it is now.
Tourists were happy to be transported in a bullock carriage--carro de bois,
just like my great aunt and her friends were.

This card was sent to my aunt in 1913, via London.

1913 Postcard from Italy

 1913 Postcard from Italy

This postcard from my great aunt to my grandfather was sent from Italy
You can't get better than Vesuvius
Of course she visited "between eruptions"

I'm loving the stamps

Mail from the Past

 Mail from the Past

My great aunts were fabulous correspondents and traveled extensively.
This post card sent from Venice would make a fine bookmark.
My great aunt Inez was a teacher and traveled when the school year ended.

It was sent to my aunt Isabella in 1914