By Eilene Lyon A couple weeks ago I drove up to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to give a presentation about my book, What Lies Beneath Colorado. I’ve never spent much time in Glenwood Springs, a place well-known for its Victorian-era hot springs resort. My last visit was brief, specifically to hike up to the Linwood Cemetery.... Continue Reading →
Studio De Luxe
By Eilene Lyon Found Photo Project #11 As happened with young Dorothy Beaty, this found photo project revealed that the person behind the camera had the most fascinating story of all. That’s not to say the subjects in front of the camera are not worthy of their own spot in the limelight. The Smith Siblings... Continue Reading →
Bio Bite: Alvin Treslin Halse
By Eilene Lyon Alvin Treslin Halse (1915–2007) Grandpa Everett and his youngest brother, Alvin, were the “runts” of the Halse family. Despite his stature, Al played basketball for the Florence, S.D., high school. Older siblings Inez and Lloyd were like second parents to him. In the late 30s and 1940s he worked in a Corvallis,... Continue Reading →
Just-a-Mere Clubs
Week 12: #52Ancestors – Membership By Eilene Lyon My paternal grandmother, Reatha Halse, has several photos in her album from 1945 labeled Just-a-Mere Club. They were taken in Corvallis, Oregon. Her sister-in-law, Loretta (Frydendall) Halse, was also a member and probably got Reatha involved. (In 1945, Loretta was soon to be the ex-Mrs. Al Halse.)... Continue Reading →
Bio Bite: Loren Oscar Smith
By Eilene Lyon Loren Oscar Smith (1911–1974) “Loren was only six when his mother died.… I was often admonished during those years that I should look after my younger brother.… I don’t think at that age I could have accepted all that responsibility. In any event Loren ended up something of a juvenile delinquent.” While... Continue Reading →
Bio Bite: Harry Edward Smith
By Eilene Lyon Harry Edward Smith (1892–1976) Born in Missouri, Harry traveled with the family to a hardscrabble farm in Cunningham, Washington, then to Meyers Falls near Colville, and finally, Moscow, Idaho. There he married Callie L. Trout in 1917. Harry and Callie had two sons, Don and Wes. Though both boys married, neither had... Continue Reading →
Honoring Their Service
By Eilene Lyon Today I am just going to share photos of a few veterans from my family tree. I've written about the service of some; others remain to be done. Feature image: Poppies from my garden this summer. (E. Lyon 2021)
Peoria Pair
Week 4: #52 Ancestors – Favorite Photo By Eilene Lyon This is a snazzy portrait of The Putterer’s parents, Cliff and Fran, taken in the early 1940s. I love many things about it: their clothes, the car, the expressions on their faces. I also like how they had it framed: Clifford Park Lyon, Jr. (Cliff)... Continue Reading →
Homeland
Week 30: #52 Ancestors – The Old Country By Eilene Lyon Though I have ancestral origins in England and Wales, perhaps a touch in Ireland, an overwhelming number of forebears came from Germanic regions of Europe. I’ve traveled there several times. On one trip, we specifically visited Heidelsheim and Mainz, because I knew my Springer... Continue Reading →