The History of a House - Part 1

Song - Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

 

My son Jon & his girlfriend Jacque have just bought a house in Salinas where they both work.  Their first project is to renovate the bathroom.  When the carpenter began the demo, they discovered this note on the drywall.

 

 Stating: Alice Michael Moser lived here 30 years, Before her a Japanese family lived here were later interned. Mark & Ellen Morris? lived here between 1-88 & 4-89, Stephan? Lorse? bo't the house in Apr 1989.

Being a genealogist this really perked my interest.  I began with the interned Japanese family - Family #13145.

Kikuo Richard Endo and his wife Lily Misue Minami were both born in California.  Kikuo was born in 1908 in Castroville and Lily in Oakland.  The 1920 Census states that they are living with another family in Salinas and that the fathers are partners owning a shop. In 1930 Kikuo is living with his father Tokutaro, a brother and sister in a nearby labor camp and his father Tokutaro is a labor foreman at a farm.

In the mid-1930’s Agricultural workers began to unionize (mostly Filipino’s) and some of the Labor Camps were destroyed in retaliation.

Kiduo graduated from UC Berkeley as a pharmacist and in 1933 he married Lily. His brother Frank also attended UC Berkeley. 

                              

 1934 - 1940 -  Kikuo and Lily have three boys - Nori, Tokio & Kimio.

1939 Kikuo owns two pharmacies – 107 Lake and 104 E. Market both in Salinas.

1940 Census – The family is living on Archer St. in Salinas.  The Home Value is listed as $6,000 and is the most expensive house on Archer.

5 Jul 1942 – Family #13145 was interned in Poston, Arizona at a Japanese Internment Camp.  The children were between 2-10 years. 

 

Nori

Tokio

 

Kimio
 

23 Jun 1943 – The family was released from camp and they moved to Minneapolis, MN then to Riverdale, MD.  Possibly they had family to stay with and I do not know what happened to their home or businesses. 

In 1987 Kikuo died in Hyattsville, Maryland and Lily died in 2003 in Yorba Linda, California. (Possibly living with one of her children)

My next post will be about Alice Michael Moser!  Just wait until you hear her story.

"I'm thinking about writing the story 

of our house somewhere to surprise an owner in the future!"

- JCB

Home

Song - Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

I thought "Home" was a bit of a softer post title than "Lock-down".  We have enough food, music, connection through social media, good books, dreams, birdsong, creative spirit, water, movies, sunlight and rain.  In fact we are blessed. I get occasional phone calls from family and friends checking in.

So I thought to lighten the mood, I would post some calming photos that I have taken through the years for the next few weeks or so.  My wish is for you to remember to look to nature and beauty to sooth your soul.

Above is a flowering quince that blooms in early April right next to our mail box.  I wonder if it delights our mail carrier when she drops off our mail?

Be well friends....

One Year of Giggles

Song - Teach Your Children by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Guess who has had one whole year of discoveries?

My grandson Henry!

He discovered that mommy is pretty cozy....

....and that naps can be refreshing.....

He discovered his tongue....

...and that playing in the pool is great fun!

He discovered his daddy will always have his back.

And he discovered baseball and football.....

...and that Lake Tahoe can be quite cold!

He discovered that sometimes people go away.....

...and boy is it fun when they return!

He discovered that both of his grandpa's are loving and fun!

And that hair cuts don't really hurt....

...and that Pat the Bunny is the best book ever!

He discovered his love for Great-Grandma Betty...

..and how to be gentle with flowers thanks to Grandma J.

He discovered food sometimes has a funny texture.....

...and that he isn't quite ready for a girlfriend yet!!!

For right now mommy will be my girlfriend....forever!

He discovered he has a very cool and funny uncle....

...and that he has a very loving family!

But you know the most important thing he discovered this year?

He discovered what happens when you go to sleep with damp hair....it's a riot in the morning!

"Love you to the moon and back Henry"

--Grandma J

Home Sweet Home

Song - Our House by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

As some of you may know, a wedding will be taking place in our backyard in September!  Our oldest son and his wonderful girlfriend have asked to be wed in our yard.

 


So I have been strolling around the yard for the last several weeks, pouring over plant catalogs, making garden plans and taking a few visits to local nurseries to see what my options are for beautiful blooms that time of year. I have a few idea's up my sleeve!

As I was walking around, I noticed the bird house that Andy placed up in an Oak tree in our shade garden.  I saw a pair of Black-Capped Chickadee's on the tree beside it last week.

Then several days ago I noticed something inside the hole but I couldn't quite make it out. When I got out my zoom lens, it just looked like a blur inside.

But today I noticed something move!

When I zoomed in on the hole, it looked like a lot of fuzz and maybe a few feathers!!! Not sure what to make of it but I am hopeful!  Even though I have fed the birds for years, this is the first bird house we have ever put up.

Other than our ladder on the side of the house which is inhabited again this year!  No sign of babies yet but mom & dad are taking their turns sitting on the nest. If you need to borrow a ladder, you'll have to wait a few more weeks!

 This is where the sweethearts are planning on having their ceremony - the side lawn. It is in need of some tender loving care as last year we had to let it die because of the California drought.  Right now it's green because of the recent rains but it's mostly weeds.....

Mika is hoping to be the flower girl or at least be invited!!!

"Weddings are important because they celebrate 

life and possibility."  -- Anne Hathaway

Weddings are important because they celebrate life and possibility.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_wedding.html

Weddings are important because they celebrate life and possibility.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_wedding.

Hair Quandry

Song - Almost Cut My Hair by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young


 So for the last few weeks I have been going through my parents old albums and scanning photo's to share with my family.  One thing really stood out for me was my hair.



First mom had me looking like a little Kewpie Doll....

Next she took me through the uneven bang stage.....

I look very confused by it all!

All dolled up and my big brother is taking me to the Easter Parade.  But still, check out those bangs!  Maybe I was frigidity while getting my bangs cut, or maybe mom was figidity?

I am the one in the middle but it looks like my mom got ahold of my cousin Kari as well and gave her the "Betty Special"! My little brother Tim looks like he just woke from a nap with bed hair. Cute though - love those corduroy rompers and dimples!

OK.....here is where mom really lost it.  She must of trimmed my hair while I was napping????
My brother David and I were busy painting the house with water in this photo. 

Looks like it is finally growing out after several years.....or maybe I just learned to tip my head in a certain direction so my bangs look more level?

We're getting better.......

And I think we have a winner! 

The boys were easy - dad just shaved it all off, I think it was called a "butch cut". 

I think this was during mom's "Toni" permanent wave stage. Remember the pink plastic curling rods, paper wrappers and stinky smell of the permanent wave lotion?  Can you pick me out in this crowd of brothers and cousins?

Finally mom must of just given up and let me grow out my bangs and curled them into little pin curls.
(This was my Grace Kelly look while having tea with my friend Judy and our dolls - very chic)

I know, I know.....quite the rain outfit right?  But my wonky bangs are still peeking out!

Free at last of my funny bangs but it looks like Tim is in need of a haircut....oh Dad time to get out the clippers!

Later in life I went though my own hair phases but that will have to wait for another day......


"You're only as good as your last haircut" --Fran Lebowitz