Mom was a late arrival to the Larson family. Her Mother Edna was
44, and her Father Harvey was 50 when Mary Lee Larson was born. Their home was
in Hillyard, Spokane. Grandpa was a cabinet maker for the Great Northern
Railroad and he was one of the few that was gainfully employed during the
depression.
In one chapter of her memoir, Mom talks about their daily life and routine.
They had a wood and coal stove and none of the conveniences we assume today as
necessary. Pretty much everything was done from scratch by hand like the Sunday
chicken dinner. Grandma ran the house, Grandpa worked and took care of the yard,
garden, chopped wood for the stove, and tended Edna's flower garden. I was moved
to tears reading how affectionate they were and that Harvey and Edna had such a loving
partnership.
To think in the 1930s this was before wall to wall carpets, vacuum
cleaners, central heating, all rooms well lit, tv, computers, and the internet.
Hot water for Saturday’s bath was from the side tank on the kitchen stove. They
had a regimen, everyone their turn, and Grandpa was last and hopefully before
dark because there was no light in the bathroom.
We moved from the Highlands to Earlington in 1957. This is when my childhood
memories really kick in. Mom was a great homemaker, an extremely energetic
progressive, and a task master. My brothers and I all had our chores to do.
She often quoted her sister Mildred.
“Many hands make the task small.”
Mom was always a voracious reader, she loved going to plays and musicals and
volunteering for many causes around town. She enjoyed music, making clothes,
art, entertaining, being social, Erma Bombeck, JFK, Emmet Watson of the
Seattle Times, and happy hour.
Bless you Mom and thank you! I'm eternally grateful.
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| The Larson's, Edna, Harvey, Mildred, Marjorie, and Mary Lee |
#Family #FamilyHistory #HappyBirthdayMom #RentonWA #mypnwlife #ilovelocal #Spokane #Hillyard #pnwhistory
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