INSPIRED BY THE SHADY DELL, YORK, PA, AND DEDICATED TO ITS OWNERS JOHN & HELEN ETTLINE
AND TO MARGARET ELIZABETH BROWN SCHNEIDER, NICKNAMED "THE OLDEST LIVING DELL RAT"


Sunday, November 11, 2018

In-Dell-ible Memories - Introduction:
An Inkwell and an Inkling




Tom Anderson with you today to welcome back
my very dear friend Kathleen Mae Schneider.
Over a seven year period, readers of my old
blog Shady Dell Music & Memories came to
know Kathleen and her mother Margaret
through chapters of Kathleen's exclusive
series In-Dell-ible Memories recalling the
life and times of Margaret Schneider and
her family as the first residents of the
Shady Dell early in the 20th century.
Today Kathleen joins us for the reboot
of her series here at Shady's Place,
bringing us new stories and rare,
never before published pictures!







In-Dell-ible Memories

Introduction:
An Inkwell and an Inkling
by Kathleen Mae Schneider






Sometimes objects in our life
take on a different purpose than originally intended.
Take, for instance, an antique inkwell that I'd
always used as a kind of funky paperweight.

(below) Ink stains on the
damaged top bear witness to the past.
Picking it up absentmindedly, I thought
it ironic that this humble object sitting
next to my computer was separated
from it by more than a century of
history and technology. It served
much the same purpose as a
writing implement in its time 
as the sleekly- designed
IMac does in mine.

My dear Mother gave the inkwell
to me many years ago and said
it once belonged to her father,
George Andrew Brown. So it
was easy to imagine him dipping
a pen into its top, tapping it lightly
to remove the excess black ink
and carefully writing down
the name of his twelfth child. 

I immediately took out the heavy family Bible that Mother
also gave me and opened it to a beginning page designated
"Births". There it was, near the bottom of the list.

I can almost hear the light scratching sound of a pen as it recorded
"Margaret Elizabeth Brown, April 18, A.D, 1912".

My grandfather was nearly running out of space! Four of his children had already
died in infancy, so he probably wondered about the chances this baby had of
surviving. Of course writing her name and birthdate, he never could have
imagined that he would save this tiny new daughter's life a few years
hence, and she would go on to outlive all of her immediate family.

He also would never live long enough to meet her three children.
Of particular interest here, I wonder what he would think of one
of his granddaughters (me), whose curiosity about his life and
times would result in her sharing it with the world!

At these musings, the old inkwell took on an almost eerie significance.
It seemed especially heavy, not only from its thick glass. It also held
all the memories and stories Mother told me about the place where it
originally sat - on another desk at the first home she remembered.
It became a portal to that magical place that later
became known as The Shady Dell.


(at left)
After a rain shower, this misty,
almost ghostly view of the Dell
reminds me of my grandfather,
who would have looked out of
this first floor bay window
from his office within and
greeted business associates
at the door.

Urgent to record my family history
while Mother, nearly 100 years old,
could amazingly still describe her
youth in great detail, I tried to
impress upon her the importance
of writing down her recollections.
I thought it odd that, initially, she
stubbornly resisted my efforts to
document her memories. For some
reason, she didn't want to revisit
The Shady Dell in her mind.




(right) Mother's eyes say it all.
She had reasons for her silence.

After my repeat pestering (her description),
she finally told me two reasons for her
reluctance. "Not dwelling on" her girl-
hood was a main reason she had lived
so long. She had truly "moved on".
The retelling of her past wouldn't
just make her vulnerable to
renewed grief, shame and fear.
It also could be harmful to those
she loved and would break an
elemental rule by which she lived.


I now cried at my naivety. As one of the only people left who
knew the darker side of the Shady Dell, she had to protect
her long-gone family's reputation, and that of its
living descendants - including me!

Already knowing by heart her happy, almost idyllic accounts of her first
ten years, I gently but persistently tried to convince her to reveal the
whole story. What was so bad that she had to forget and bury it?
What she eventually told me was only the proverbial tip
of the iceberg. No wonder she was still scared!

Enter Tom's wonderful work that honored Mother's life online
after he found me clumsily poking around on his first blog searching
for supplemental information about my ancestral birthplace. It was
the singular impetus that caused her to change her tune.

"How did my baby picture get on this thing?"

Seeing herself on the "inner-net", as she called it, and realizing how many
new and understanding friends she made on Shady Dell Music & Memories,
Mother was convinced by my reassurance that no harm would be done to
repeat her narratives - both good and bad - to all who would listen.

Mother at 104, with my daughter Elisabeth. "Were you ever
naughty when you were a little girl, Grammy?"
Answer: "Sometimes - I guess..."

Mother willingly identified and told me all she remembered about the people posing
so seriously on this fascinating group portrait of her family that hung in her hallway.

Behold - the very first Dell Rats - my ancestors!

Those conversations with my mother, first cousins (one of whom remains the last
Brown child born at the Dell house), and trips to the York County archives yielded
even more tantalizing clues. In Mother's attic, a veritable goldmine of old letters
and more photos turned up - all ripe for storytelling.

Here's a favorite (below). Taken long after Mother left the Shady Dell,
she said "the Dell never left her". This surprising picture hints at the
influence of her sisters and mother. Apparently Margaret Elizabeth
Brown was not always the shy, demure and extremely modest
woman I always knew her to be!

18-year-old Mother, posing for a photo she sent to my father when
he was out of town for the summer. When I asked her if it wasn't
risqué for the time, she said, "I didn't want him to forget me".

It's amazing how many of the issues affecting Mother's early time at the Dell
continue into 2018. Wars, religion, terrorism, new technology, fortunes built
and destroyed, racism, murder, sexual abuse of children, and the beginning
of #metoo are all there, embedded in her stories, along with many others
that we see on the front page of the morning newspaper. There are also
wonderfully comedic, tender and loving episodes to be recounted
that hold out hope to all of us.

So here it is in a nutshell:

The Shady Dell was my grandparents' idea and life's dream, sadly only
lasting a little over a decade. Years later, the Ettlines' transformed it into
the haven for teenagers venerated by Tom and thousands of others.

George Brown's barn/garage anchored the dance hall addition where
the soundtracks to Tom's youth that he often highlights here on
Shady's Place were played. Innumerable friendships and
young romances bloomed in the same spot where
my mother played as a child.

 A portrait of Mother and me - our last.






My series that begins today
resulted from a blessed
combination. It was my
extreme good fortune to
meet and be given the
opportunity to collaborate
with Tom, after capturing
Mother's Shady Dell stories
as I cared for her during
her last days on earth.
The planets aligned,
and the three of us
created a time capsule!






So you see for me, the Shady Dell is not just the subject
of an entertaining blog, it's literally part of me!

"Time passages"....

I hope you will join us as we delve into my Mother's In-Dell-ible Memories
and how the Shady Dell was born in Chapter One - Carpé Diem.

32 comments:

  1. Well, hello! How are you keeping? My mom passed away Jan15th this year and I am sad. No matter how old they are and that “they lived a long life” it is still our moms and we miss them so. The inkwell is more than just an inkwell b cause it holds memories and feelings that can not be monetized. ...I think that is a word:). Some memories never leave us whether they are good, bad or ugly. My mom was 17 when the Russians invaded their area and came into her home. My aunt jumped into the bed of her grandmother who was ill and dying. My mom wen down to the basement. The Russians were very superstitious and did not touch my aunt for fear of death but they went downstairs and found my mom. Her parents and brother tried to go downstairs to the basement but the Russians above cocked their guns and stood in front of the door. My mom was raped by 7 soldiers repeatedly and it was one of many things that affected her from the war. She carried it with her but she carried her scars with dignity and wisdom. Yes, the pain was there and never really left, but it didn’t control her life. Your mom also seemed to carry her life in the same way and that is why we not only love and respect the, but admire them as well. I will look forward to your continuing stories here and so wished I could have met your mom.

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 11, 2018 at 5:25 PM

      Your thoughts about loss ring true for me as well, Birgit. Those of us blessed to have had good relationships with our mothers both as we grew up and as adults, carry them with us in so many ways long after they are gone. There are reminders of their persistence, strength and love everywhere - perhaps their most important gifts to us. By inspiring us to go on in spite of our grief and so many other troubles we can go through, they continue to make our lives, and the world, better.

      Your Mother's horrific nightmare of a story is one that's as old as war itself. It continues to be repeated all over our world to this day wherever there are conquerors, and the conquered often are represented not only by soldiers, but also by innocent women and children. It gives an especially evil meaning to the term "spoils of war".

      My mother never experienced the level of cruelty that your mom did, but it sounds like they both learned to compartmentalize the pain and indignities of their past, pick up the pieces of their lives and carry their heads high. The proof is in your mother's ability to dance after having lived through all that trauma, and for my mother's forgiveness of her abuser. Their bodies could be hurt, but their spirits could simply not be broken. They were truly survivors!

      Through my series, I hope you will come very close to meeting my mother. It will be so very good to see you here for the next chapter and beyond.

      Thank you for reading this introduction, and for revealing such a personal part of your family history that it brought to mind. I also appreciate your interest in future chapters I plan to write about my Shady Dell ancestors. I hope to see you here again, Birgit!


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  2. What an interesting beginning for what I expect to be a fascinating story. I look forward to future installments.

    I did not recognize that as an inkwell until you told us. I loved using fountain pens when I was young, but always had the cartridge varieties. I would love to try using a dip-pen sometime and know there are still lovely, affordable options out there as far as owning one.

    I fear the day will come when folks won't be able to read documents like you show above since cursive writing is no longer a priority in our schools. I find that sad. Penmanship was always a favorite subject of mine in school.

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 11, 2018 at 6:13 PM

      Hi Kelly!

      It's easy to understand why you didn't immediately recognize the inkwell - they have by and large disappeared! The only places we might see them being used today are in historic movies and plays like "Hamilton". Once the fountain pen appeared, they became obsolete.

      I used a cartridge pen some years back, but once ball point and gel writers were invented, I no longer could find refills for it. I also find cursive writing becoming "extinct". When I was still teaching, penmanship had disappeared, although oddly, calligraphy as an art is having a resurgence in the craft world. Now there are very many types of specialty pens. I even saw a quill for sale the other day at the bookstore!

      I'm glad Mother's Dell stories interest you, and hope you return for more in the future. Thank you for your comment, Kelly!

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  3. Hi Kathleen. It is so nice to see you here, and share in the wonderful stories from your mother's life! What a neat old inkwell to have been kept after so many years! You actually have enough memory items to open a small museum and library!

    I love the photo of your mother at 18 years! What a beautiful girl and woman she was! It reminds me of some of the photos of my mother and her sisters, that came out so beautifully! Yes, I suppose bathing suits in her day were considered to be just as risky as ours are today, haha!

    I don't think some of us considered the issues of terrorism, racism, child abuse and war to be as serious when your mother was younger...but, I think back now, and reflect on a few of the things I remember happening in my town in the late 1950's that were kept as quiet as possible, and realize that some of these things were very real even then.

    I love your photos of the family and the Birth list. I know you are so proud to have these things, and the opportunity to write about them. I am anxious to read further as you post your series, Kathleen.

    I hope you are doing well. Thank you for bringing some great history our way. It will be exciting to be a part of Margaret's journey into "Shady Dell" nation. Have a wonderful week, Kathleen!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 11, 2018 at 8:30 PM

      Thank you for dropping by, Suzanne, and writing your impressions of some of the items in the series' introduction.

      I often wonder how the old inkwell survived too, especially through all the moves the family eventually made, but I guess it held special meaning for its original owner. Perhaps it was a gift, or was a reminder to my grandfather of the three businesses he operated at the Dell. Unfortunately, the reason it was kept has been lost.

      Because there were so many things in my mother's house that had sentimental value to me, a relative suggested we turn it into the museum you mentioned! I sure wish I had more things from the Dell house. For instance, Mother told me they had a player piano and a case with many rolls of music in it.
      Things like that probably were sold cheaply at a public sale somewhere along the line.

      Mother usually was very shy, so I thought she'd at least blush when I asked about the bathing suit picture. She didn't at all! Since people usually don't wear pearls and high heels to swim, I asked her why she wore them for the picture. She just told me, like I should know the answer, "So I would look nice for your Daddy."

      Today is the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. It marked the end of "The war to end all wars". Obviously that was a nice idea that hasn't panned out so far! My mother's life nearly ended when she was six because of WWI, so it certainly changed all history, including my family's. When I read about the nasty trenches and poison gas used in that war, it sounds pretty bad to me! I think once anything is relegated to a history book, it seems not as serious or even relevant - just facts to remember for the test! (Unless one has a good teacher! :)

      The ancestor group portrait and birth record will each be a focus in upcoming chapters. I've learned much about both that I'm anxious to share.

      I'm doing well, thank you, if a little unprepared for our freezing temperatures. It seems like a few days ago when shorts and flip-flops were all we needed. Time to break out the thermals!

      Take good care, Suzanne, and thank you again for your friendly comment.



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  4. Hello Kathleen. Sorry so many of your aunts and uncles (who obviously you never met) died in infancy. Kind of a grim reminder just how common that was at one time, and not really that long ago, only about four generations by my reckoning.

    That must be a swimsuit your very attractive mother is wearing. I don't think they had mini dresses back then.

    Finally, I didn't even recognize that was an inkwell. I thought at first it was a doughnut sitting on a cup!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 12, 2018 at 11:01 AM

      Every Memorial Day, I follow Mother's tradition of visiting the cemetery and placing flowers on the Brown family graves. (She joined the rest of her family there, and my father in May of 2017...)

      When I see the smallest weatherbeaten headstones with names barely visible from age, I think of the small babies who brought so much happiness at their birth but didn't live through infancy. As a mother who has lost a child, I can easily imagine the pain my grandparents must have felt as they buried the tiny coffins on that windswept hill so many years ago. Sadly, the specter of prenatal malnourishment and infant mortality still plague our world today, especially in war-torn countries such as Syria, where starvation is widespread.

      Yes, that was a swimsuit my 18-year-old mother is wearing in that photo she sent my father. You will see more of 1920s-era swimwear, both women's and men's, in upcoming posts. I found many photos of my parents' beach visits when they were dating, and I think you will agree that swimwear of the time was very revealing and terribly unflattering.

      I laughed when I read that you thought my antique inkwell looked donut-like. Now that you mention it, it bears a strong resemblance to a chocolate iced one! Inkwells generally wouldn't be recognized by many of us because technology has replaced such primitive equipment for writing.

      However, think of all the important documents down through history that were written with a quill or pen dipped into inkwells similar to my grandfather's - the Holy Bible, Magna Carta, our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, to name a few!

      I enjoyed reading your comment, Kirk, and thank you for writing it (-with a keyboard, not a quill!).I invite you to visit upcoming chapters of In-Dell-ible Memories again for more fun!

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  5. That was very touching. You didn't want those memories to fade and yet she had a valid reason for letting them go.
    I think that photo is a bit risqué for its time, but obviously it worked!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 12, 2018 at 11:22 AM

      Hi Alex!
      I'm glad you visited the blog and found the first part of my series touching. Like the good mother, sister and cousin that she was, Margaret was fiercely protective. She only exhumed the past with much urging and reassurance on my part. The nefarious dealings of her family while living at the Dell were forgotten and couldn't harm any of us nearly a century after they happened.

      My father and mother dated for six years before they married, and photos such as the "risqué" one probably kept their relationship 'alive'. If you think that picture was pushing it, check out films by a contemporary of Mother's, the American expat entertainer Josephine Baker!

      I appreciate your visit and comment, Alex, and hope you'll return for more stories and historic pictures.

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  6. I'm so glad your mother decided to tell you her enire life story. My Mother wrote a short biography of her life and gave us each a copy. It was kind of your mom to keep those secrets until no one could be hurt by them. She does look beautiful in that photo. No wonder he didn't forget her! The inkwell is a lovely keepsake to have. My mom has given me a few of my grandmother's things. My favorite is a pair of crystal candlesticks. I bring them out every Christmas. I'm looking forward to more stories about your mom and her family.

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 12, 2018 at 11:59 AM

      Welcome to In-Dell-ible Memories, Belle. It's good to see you!

      Every year, as Mother kept defying the odds and living longer, I took it as a sign that I was being given time to write down her memories. Her sharp mind was rare, and her thoughts and recollections too good to die with her! I instinctively feel that her keepsakes, like your grandmother's crystal candlesticks, should be used and enjoyed, not hidden. They are pieces of history, held in our hands!

      However, I never had any idea when I began my search for Shady Dell clues and started collecting Mother's narratives that they would go any farther than a notebook for members of my family, many of whom apparently are too busy right now to devote any time or interest. Alas, genealogy and "old stuff" aren't for everyone!

      I also mistakenly thought I was too old to learn to use a computer to research, let alone write anything worth reading. Everything came together with Mother's retellings and Tom's interest and tech help. Less than a decade after I began "pestering" her, I can honestly say that I've found a suitable place for Mother's stories here at Shady's Place. Although I surely have a lot to learn, I sometimes surprise myself with being able to fearlessly go online!

      I now am sure that Mother's longevity WAS a sign for me to proceed. The result is what you read and see here, and there's much, much more to reveal. I hope you will return, Belle, to share more of my Shady Dell discoveries.

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  7. Kathleen,

    How fascinating to be given two antique articles that belonged to your mother's parents! I love looking at vintage photos. These are excellent that you shared and the picture of your mother...I dare say your pops didn't want to forget that beautiful gal, either. lol

    Your story is so tender. Over the past months I've thought a lot about DH's parents. His dad passed this past March and his mother four years ago this past June. I'm saddened that we can't see them anymore. I know someday we will but until that time I know our hearts will be heavy sometimes for them. I'm thankful my parents are still with us.

    Your mother comes from a big family. She lived in a time when infancy mortality rate was scary. How heart breaking that your grandparents lost four babies. I can't even imagine. I enjoyed very much reading your post and I definitely am looking forward to future installments in this series.

    Thanks for putting a smile on my face this morning. Have a blessed week, my friend!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 12, 2018 at 12:46 PM

      It's good to see you, Cathy! Thank you for reading, looking at the pictures, and commenting.

      I found that particular swimsuit photo and others like it framed in crumbling handmade cardboard frames adorned with pen lines, with tiny sea shells glued around the edges. (I'll post some of those another time.) My dad made them and kept them in front of him as he wrote love letters to her (which I also have...). They obviously adored one another, and their marriage lasted for 45 years until his death in 1980. I'm not certain who the photographer were, but there are many pictures of my parents and their friends when they were young. They fascinate me!

      I'm sorry for the loss of your in-laws and the sadness that comes with it. I feel that a lot too, but I am comforted by my memories of my loved ones who have transitioned. Because I recall their presence, they still live in my heart and mind - in another dimension that's beyond my limited vision.

      I'm very glad you still have your parents. Savor any time you can spend with them! Perhaps they would be willing to share some of their stories with you so you could record them too.

      Actually, a total of five of my grandparents' children died in childhood, the last after my grandfather passed away. I don't know how my grandmother endured so much misfortune, but she, like my mother, was very strong. Perhaps it was more of an exception than the rule for children to survive infancy back then.

      I often wonder what my mother's lost siblings would have been like had they survived. I really loved all my living aunts and uncles, elderly as they were by the time I came along. They treated me very kindly and I treasure their memory too!

      I'm glad you found something to smile about in this introduction to my series. Watch this space in the future. There are more smiles waiting in the wings!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 12, 2018 at 12:53 PM

      Thank you. You too, cat!

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    2. I miss Mr Shady very much … Love, cat.

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    3. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 14, 2018 at 5:35 AM

      Mr. Shady was called out of town on an urgent family matter, and so he was away from his computer. He will be back soon!

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  9. Hi Kathleen,
    I cant wait to hear more about the dark side if the Dell!! I'm very intrigued. Your mom was precious and I remember wishing her a Happy Birthday on Shady's page for her many years.
    You're so blessed to have a strong background with pictures and history. That picture of her posing is absolutely greatness!!
    I'm so glad you're sharing with us . Have a great day

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 12, 2018 at 1:12 PM

      Welcome holli!

      Thank you for your sweet comment on this post, and again for your good wishes on Mother's last birthdays. She really enjoyed hearing from so many new friends like you; she just couldn't figure out how you got onto the iPad along with her pictures and stories! :)

      The more clues I found about the original "Shady-ness", the more others turned up. My aunts and uncles, like Mother, didn't want to tell much of anything about that time when they lived there. "Let bygones be bygones", one said to me. Many feigned forgetfulness, and for some, it wasn't an act! When I delved into the archives, I found some incriminating reasons for their reluctance.

      I'm sure there have got to be more answers to some of the Dell house's mysteries that await my research. Since Mother was only 10 or 11 when she left the Dell property, she really didn't know much of what was going on. No one told her, she said, because she was "just a kid".

      I'm glad you liked her "cover girl" portrait as much as I do! I'll share more fun ones like that in the chapters to come. See you then!

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  10. Hi, Kathleen!

    I always love your tales, especially your mother's tales. I'm glad you took an interest in your mother's stories and that you are comfortable enough to share with us. Man, I wish I knew your mother personally - she sounded like a wonderful woman. She almost reminds me of my grandmother, who passed away in 2013.

    Isn't it funny how some objects become personal items? I have these snowmen carolers my grandmother made in the 1950s, way before my time. She gave them to me as a little girl because I loved them so much. I changed my religion and no longer celebrate Christmas, but I still put the carolers out for the winter. I will be decorating my room soon. Even her photo albums; I can pour over the photos for hours and remember the stories she told me. I might have to write them down soon.

    Thank you as always, Kathleen. I hope you have a wonderful Monday and a wonderful week ahead.

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 13, 2018 at 7:11 AM

      I really enjoyed reading your comment, Jessica Marie. I hope you DO set aside some time to write down your recollections!

      Those snowmen arouse my curiosity for sure... Since they are made by your grandmother's hands, they would be extra special to me too. I wonder if she was an artist, and what materials she used to make them. Where did your grandmother display them when they were hers?

      You must have admired them at some point in your life that she would give you such a touching gift! Your comment reveals that she must have loved you very much, and that she was a wonderful, giving and caring soul to let such a mark on you. See how much you told us about her in just a few sentences? And those old photo albums? We could sure have fun with those as story starters!! For me, a picture is literally worth a thousand words. (Just ask Tom. :) )

      Everyone's brief time on earth holds potential for great stories, and the details, like those of your grandmother's snowmen and pictures, bring them to life. Like you, I believe many objects serve as touchstones to our past and that of our loved ones.

      Both my parents saved everything. After Mother died, many people just saw what she and my father left behind as so much clutter, but it felt more like a gold mine to me!

      The inkwell is broken and that probably reduces its antique value. However, it is so symbolic of another time and the grandfather I never knew, that I could never throw it away.

      Thank you for sharing one of probably many memories of your grandmother with us. It inspires us to try to make good impressions on those around us as we go through our own life stages. There's a theory called the butterfly effect that comes to mind: small things can have big results!

      I hope we meet here again when we publish another chapter of In-Dell-ible Memories. Take good care of yourself and your own marvelous tales, Jessica Marie!

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    2. Hi Kathleen,

      Nan was a crafter and I think that is where I got my talents from! The snowmen are simple: old tin cans wrapped in the stuffing you would stuff your teddy bears with. Then she cut black felt for the eyes, hot glued them on, then glued red pom-poms for buttons. For the female, she used yarn for the hair, then had little snow hats. I wish I could post a picture here. She kept them on the bay window at her house.

      I agree about the butterfly effect! I think when it comes time to scrapbook Happiness Box 2018, I might include a memory page since 1-25-2018 was her 5th anniversary. I did a special page for a traumatic event that had a 5th anniversary last week, but I don't know why I didn't think about doing that for Nan in January. I guess it took 10 months to see that getting back into scrapbooking has helped me heal and putting that traumatic event to paper surprisingly helped too.

      I hope so too! Take care and have a great Thankful Thursday!

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    3. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 16, 2018 at 9:33 AM

      Hi again, Jessica Marie!

      Your grandmother probably WAS your creative inspiration! Those mixed media "snow people" showed ingenuity and resourcefulness. Today there is a whole craft movement called "up-cycling", so your Nan was ahead of her time! :)

      Our emotions that are attached to objects doesn't depend on fancy materials. I can attest to that! Every Christmas, one of the few decorations I display is a faded brown construction paper reindeer my elementary-age son made for me decades ago.

      One time he was fooling around with scrap paper in my art room while I put together a bulletin board on the other side of the school. It's so fragile after all the years that have passed, that I have to wrap it carefully in tissue paper and store it after the holidays in its own dedicated cookie tin. However, it brings me comfort and healing to hold the work of his once small hands in my aging ones, and to remember the bond we had - artist to artist as well as mother to son.

      I would someday like to do a scrapbook or blog about him, and another one for Mother. I made two for her hundredth birthday, and really enjoyed doing it. The second one was designed around all her birthday cards! She was thrilled to see herself the subject of a whole book, and to read everyone's good wishes.

      Good luck creating that Happiness Box for 2018. I'm sure it will bring its own special kind of healing as you choose the best items, colors and materials to design it.

      Thank you for taking the time to write this second comment. I hope your holiday is celebrated with thanks and giving!

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  11. I'm so glad you've decided to share this, Kathleen!
    "Sometimes - I guess..." sounds like something my grandma would have said. I know I'm going to love these posts!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 15, 2018 at 2:02 PM

      Hello there diedre!

      Mother was a typical little girl by the sounds of her stories of life at the Shady Dell. She said the adults were always busy, and she had many siblings with whom she could get into trouble. It was great fun to hear her version of her childhood transgressions. I think you will enjoy reading about them in future chapters of this series.

      Thank you for reading and for your comment. Just to let you know, Tom experienced a death in his family and is on bereavement leave from his blog for awhile. That's why he isn't reciprocating on any other ones. Until then, prayers are in order!

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  12. Thank you for sharing the stories of your mother's life. And the pictures. The inkwell was interesting as were the names of the births. That picture of your mom at 18 was daring for the time. She must've had some spunk!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 15, 2018 at 2:54 PM

      It's good to know you found some things that interested you in this introduction to my series, Sherry! Thank you for reading and reacting to them.

      In future chapters, there will be a number of mysteries to read about that are embedded within the birth record of that old Brown family Bible. I've uncovered answers to some, but others still elude me. I find all of those hidden-in-plain-sight clues, both there and in old photos, letters, newspaper clippings and conversations with my fellow descendants, to be great story-starters!

      Mother's "come hither" photo really shocked me too, but I guess it shouldn't have. She lived right in the middle of a time when women began openly rebelling against Victorian strictures, especially in fashion. When I asked her another time if she was a 1920s-era "flapper", her eyes lit up as she laughed and unabashedly said, "Sure!" :) So yes, I think we can assume she possessed a good deal of moxie. Also, we need to remember that she was a young woman in love. We all do crazy things then, don't we?!

      She would probably have a fit if she knew I published that picture of her in her bathing suit for all the world to see. I can just hear her now: "You rascal! That picture was just meant for your dad!"

      I look forward to sharing more of Mother's Shady Dell stories and photos in the future and hope you return to enjoy them.

      By the way, Tom will return to blogging after a time of sadness at the death of a family member. Please think of him, his wife and family as they try to regain some sense of normalcy in their lives after their loss. I know he will appreciate your understanding.

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  13. Well, open up that time capsule quickly, Kathleen!
    I can’t wait to hear the good, the bad and the ugly! I do know some of your mothers stories and hardships but , I’m sure not all.
    The way you express and articulate her life stories amazes and intrigues me. I really think there should be a Lifetime movie about Margaret E. Brown’s life!
    Boy! I miss her!
    The “births” document is something else! I love her old family picture, no smiles! But, that 18 year old Margaret was certainly wearing one! What a “ looker” she was!
    I can hardly wait for your next chapter on the inner- net!!!!
    It’s always a pleasure reading your families memoirs!
    Sending love and happiness your way!

    Toni Deroche

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 17, 2018 at 8:39 PM

      My goodness, Toni - I sure am pleasantly surprised to see your comment! Thank you for writing and encouraging more chapters to be written about Mother and the early days of the Dell.

      I "inherited" so many artifacts from Mother's house that can become chapters in their own right. Some of the objects, like the old inkwell and Bible, hold clues not only to Mother's early years at the Shady Dell, but to American and world history, and culture as well.

      They are fascinating, and at the very least, could be starters for a soap opera. Both the ancestral portrait and the birth record will be featured in future posts. Most of the stories originating from them came directly from Mother, and others from members of my family, so I am pretty sure they are authentic.

      Many mysteries remain that beg more research, so I'm hoping to visit both York and Lancaster county archives to see what I might uncover. I also am still finding old letters and photographs that speak volumes, and I'm happy to share what I learn from them. Rather than a linear account of Mother's life, I think this will be a more creative approach to the series and will be more fun to write. Hopefully it will also be more interesting to read.

      I appreciate that love and happiness you sent me and am returning some of my own wishes for the same back in your direction. Thank you again, Toni!

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  14. I'm so sorry I missed this post. It's been a very busy past week for me with family coming this weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving early with us. I was pleased that my Mom (92yrs) could make the visit and I often think of your beautiful Mother and all her stories and life when I have my Mom revisit her past with us. You have a wonderful writing ability that draws you in and has you eagerly waiting for the next chapter. Your Mom was sure a beauty in her youth! I love the bathing suit photo! Don't we all have those moments in time that only we will remember and those who think they know us might just be surprised at a few things...not saying that I do of course! Thanks for writing such a lovely post. I again apologize for not getting here sooner! Tom knows I'm a bit of a late comment poster!

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    1. Kathleen Mae SchneiderNovember 20, 2018 at 3:32 AM

      Not to worry yaya; you didn't miss the post because you got here eventually. Besides, I can relate - I'm always late! As Tom agrees, life comes first, blogging second. I'm just glad you got a chance to read the introduction to my rebooted In-Dell-ible Memories series. Your sweet comment was a nice surprise.

      Isn't it wonderful to have our mothers with us for such a long time!? So many people I meet tell me they lost their mothers too soon. They didn't have the opportunity to spend much time with them, let alone hear their stories. I hope you get the chance to write down your mother's memories for future generations. Everyone's life holds much interest and is worthy of recording, and at her age, she's living history!

      I remember many Thanksgivings at my childhood home where my mother and father were at the center of all meal preparation and hospitality. The more family and friends they had around their table, the happier they were. The warmth and laughter, and aromas of roasting turkey and freshly baked pies are some of my fondest memories growing up. Then as they aged, like your mom, they graciously relegated the tasks to the younger folks and came to their kids' houses. Whether she cooked or not, Mother was the linchpin of our family.

      I miss her so much, especially at the holidays. However, part of her lasting legacy was that she taught us not to focus so much on the "empty chairs" of our loved ones around the table, but be thankful every day for the time we had them in our lives, and care for those still with us.

      Thank you for the compliment on my writing style. I hope the narratives and photos in future chapters will please you as well. I agree that we all have some memories that we'd just as soon keep to ourselves. In my mother's case, I figure if they spread happiness, I'm not wrong to publish them! She would most likely agree, because sharing things that made others smile was important to her.

      Although my mother was modest and basically shy, she put her makeup on every day to greet the world and gladly accepted any and all admiring remarks. It wasn't so much vanity as it was a key to her survival. She loved it when visitors would say she didn't look 105. I used to kid her and tell her she didn't look a day over 95. :)

      Thank you so much for your comment, yaya. It's so encouraging to see a positive response to my labor of love. I look forward to seeing you back here again, and it won't bother me a bit if you're late!

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