Friday, April 30, 2021

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.


Tuesday, April 27, 2021

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.




Monday, April 26, 2021

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:


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.




Sunday, April 25, 2021

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.



 

 

 


Saturday, April 17, 2021

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]


Sunday, April 11, 2021

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.






Saturday, April 10, 2021

Aunts and Uncles

 My Aunts and Uncles

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

1913