1962 Camping Notebook

1962 Camping Notebook

[Planned Itinerary:]
June 11th – Depart C. Ar. E. St. Louis
Grand Marais Cahokia Mounds State Park [IL]

June 12th – Depart E. St. Louis to Topeka

June 13th – Topeka to Hays [KS]

June 14th – Hays to Colo, Spgs.

June 15th – Colo. Spgs. to Denver
+ June 16th

June 17th – Denver to Dinosaur Nat. Mon.

June 18th - Dinosaur Nat. Mon. to Hill AFB [UT]

June 19th – Hill AFB to Ely [NV]

June 20th – Ely to Fallon [NV]

June 21st – Fallon to Sacramento

June 22nd – Sacramento

June 23rd – San Francisco
+ June 24th

June 25th – San Francisco to Morro Bay

June 26th – Morro Bay to L.A.

June 27th (Wed. thru Sun.) – July 1st – L.A.

July 2nd – Riverside to Phoenix

July 3rd – Phoenix to Bluewater [NM]

July 4th – Bluewater to Amarillo

July 5th – Amarillo AFB to Tinker, Okla. City or Sapulpa

July 6th – Sapulpa to Joplin or Springfield [MO]

July 7th – Springfield to E. St. Louis

July 8th – E. St. Louis to Monroe City or Vincennes [IN]

July 9th – Vincennes to Cincy

Check List
Bedding
Bath Towels + Face Cloths
Bath Soap, Toothpaste, Shaving Equip
Toothbrush, comb
Small pan for washing face – hands
Stove + white gasoline
Lantern
Cooler
Gasoline Can
Funnel
Large Cooking Pot
Nestled Pots
Knives, forks + spoons
Butcher Knife
Paring Knife
Can + Bottle Opener
Cooking tongs
Long handled fork
Oven mitts
Alum. Foil
Scot towels
Toilet tissue
Covered tins for flour, sugar
Matches
Saw
Ax, hatcher or hammer
Nails
Clothes line + clothespins
Small broom
Small shovel
Clock
Dish pan
Dish towels
Dish cloths
Scouring pads
Detergent
First Aid Kit
Insect Repellent
Insect spray
Collapsible table + camp chairs
Rain coat + boots
Potty
Water Bucket
Mirror
Newspaper + rags
Paper Plates + cups
Fly Swatter

[Journal]
June 11, 1962 - Ft. Zumwalt, Mo.
Rainstorm opposite municipal airport, St. Louis. Lightning struck power pole 100 ft. across from us. Only ones in 100 lot camp site. No drinking water, half john seats, no T.P. Marias Park – moved out.

June 12, 1962 - Kanopolia State Park, Kans.
The Frank Harringers of Lewiston, Pa. camped with us. Had lunch at H.S. Truman’s museum.

Our Chevrolet Impala pulling the Nimrod
in front of Truman's Library, Independence, MO

Kent, Hammy, and Kim Michael in Abilene, KS

Kim Michael, Bert, and Kent

Visited Old Abilene Town + Ike’s birthplace. The plains, sunflowers, wheat, beef cattle all so lovely. Scenery beautiful.

June 13, 1962 - St. John, Kans.
Jan Landon’s folks. Kent shot rabbit. Boys rode combine in wheat fields. Visited Ft. Larned, Pawnee Rock. Had wonderful time.

Hammy and Kent with the parents of Bob L, in Russell, KS

Bob L was a young AF officer we met at Wright Pat.  His wife Jan and I took classes together.  The parents had a large wheat farm, where our boys shot jack rabbits.  The Ls were related to a former Governor who ran for President.

June 14 - Falcon Tentel, Colo. Spgs.
The Lehmans of Indianapolis camped next to us. They’re on their way to the World’s Fair on a motor scooter. We stopped at Boot Hill in Dodge City to see the tombstones of some of the wild + wooly West victims. Also visited Garden City, Kans. where daddy took part of his flight training.

Another campsite, Colorado Springs, CO

June 15 + 16 - Boland’s.
Stopped at Garden of Gods + AF Academy, Colo. Spgs. Had lunch at AF Cafeteria, took pictures of Planetarium, Chapel, + Dormitories. Bought boys sweat shirts. Girl asked me if I had son or husband in service! Arrived Denver 4:30. Ate on patio, played bridge. Sat. toured Red Rocks. Buffalo Bill’s Grave + Clear Creek Canyon. Boys climbed Red Rock + went into an abandoned gold mine.

Red Rocks Park, CO

Had picnic lunch. Got into a terrible snow storm at Echo Lake + Squaw Valley. Saw the Thos. Hancocks at B.B’s grave. They were stationed with us at March Field.

June 17, 1962 - Dinosaur Nat’l Monument, Utah.
Saw a beaver, prairie dogs, + slides of all the National Parks. The museum is built around a huge rock + Depicts the story of man’s unearthing the dinosaurs. Beautiful rugged country. Driving through the mountains from Denver we saw the ski lift at Berthoud Pass + were in another snowstorm. Ate lunch at picnic grounds. Steamboat Spgs. Had hot coffee in bed!

June 18 - Salt Lake City.
Heard a wonderful organ recital at the tabernacle. The Schildhaurs from Wis. camped next to us in their rigged up car. A charming older couple enroute to Calif.

June 19 - Lake Tahoe.
Beautiful spot. Boys fished. Stayed at Richardson’s. Drove 605 miles but it was worth it. Could stay here for a month. Sierra Nevada Mtns are more picturesque than Rockies. Donated 3 oranges + a grapefruit to Calif. Border Patrol.

Our campsite at Lake Tahoe, CA

June 20 + 21 – Duties. 102 degrees in the shade. Todds visiting at Mather also. Came over for a short visit. Had delicious meals + fun listening to tall tales by Jerry. AF Academy Lt. visited us.

June 22 + 23 – San Francisco – See her notes.
Friday, June 22, 1962
Fisherman’s Wharf
Dinner at Fisherman’s Grotto #9
Balcutha – Last of Cape Horn sailing ships
Coit Tower – Built by Mr. Coit in (1930) memorial to SF Volunteer Firemen
Oakland Bay Bridge
Treas. Island in center – 8 miles long
China Town
Sat. May 23
Golden Gate Park – 1000 a crest of woods, meadows, flower gardens + lakes. Built by John McLaren on sand dunes.
Japanese Tea Garden

Kent and Kim Michael in the Japanese Garden,
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA

Cliff House – Seal Rocks
Lincoln Park – Palace of Fine Arts
Land’s End
Presidio of San Francisco Hdqtrs of 6th Army
Golden Gate Bridge – 1 mile. Longest single suspension span in world (4200 ft) + Highest bridge towers (746 ft)
Sausalito (Little Willows) – Marin County. Picturesque city nestled on steep wood hill + down to SF Bay
Alcatraz
Yacht Harbor –
Cable Cars – Mkt St to Fisherman’s Wharf
Mission Dolores
Fairmont Hotel – Crown Rm + Outside Elev.
Mark Hopkins Hotel – Top of the Mark
Buena Vista Café – Irish coffee

June 24 – Lucia Plaskett Campground. Los Padres Nat’l Forest.
Beautiful sunset + campsite overlooking the ocean. Drive along the ocean is rocky, scenic + beautiful – mountains to the left + ocean to the right.

June 25th – 28th Bob + Jan Landon. See Calif., L.A.
Marineland
Porpoises
Whales
Sea Lions
Seals
Disneyland

Disneyland, Anaheim, CA

Mine Cars through desert
Mike Fink’s Keel Boats
Tom Sawyer Raft to the island
Monorail
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (Cups)
Bob Sled (Alps)
Cable Cars to Alps

Disneyland's Matterhorn, Anaheim, CA

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Submarine
Little Cars
Movies – old
Old Fashioned Car on Main St.
Safari Guns (Jungle)
Astro jets
Griffith Park
Zoo
Beach
Hollywood Bowl
Ride Through Bev. Hills + Laurel Canyon
Dinner at the Polynesian with Pinky + Warren, Bob + Jan.

June 29th – Kitty + Ike Griffith, Spene Kim, Kent + Kim ? off fireworks

June 30, March AFB.
Excellent rooms in BOQ. The Bradleys on Cottonwood Dr., Moreno are remodeling their home we rented in ’48 + ’49. House in Perris where we lived when Kent was born was just about the saddest looking place west of the Rockies – windows broken, the rocks seemed to’ve grown. The same old stove + sofa we used were there even though they were ready for the junk heap. Kent said he hoped he never becomes famous. It’s for sale. Maybe we should buy it. The Crowell’s estate on Magnolia Ave. is now Crowell Ave. with a beautiful section of high priced homes.

July 1st – L.A. Riverside
July 1 – in the middle of the desert we got a flat on the Nimrod. Quartzite, Ariz. A lovely man in a truck from Calif. Helped us jack it up + Bert changed it. Stayed at Popiks all night.

July 2 - Pine Flat – Oak Creek Canyon.
Walked the rocks up creek, admired the stately pines + beautiful rock formation.

July 3 – Continental Divide, N. Mex.
Toured the Grand Canyon + Painted Desert. Most scenic view on our entire trip. Could’ve spent much more time here.

July 4 – Amarillo, Tex. Elite Motel.

July 5 – Heyburn Lake, Okla. Hot. Swan in lake. 97 degrees.

July 6 – Meramec State Park, Mo.
Visited the caverns. Impressive formations. Kate Smith record + flag.

July 7 – Home.

[Trip Costs:
Auto Expenses: $197.22
Lodging:  $25.22
Food: $161.66
Incidentals: $60.83
Grand Total: $444.93]

Married Life Assignments 9-11 (1959-1965)

It was a sad day when we had to say farewell to our friends + neighbors, but the next move was exciting to Montgomery, Ala. where Bert was going to attend the Command + Staff School for 9 months.
We arrived in time to find a 3 BR rental on Narrow Lane Rd., got the boys registered in second + fifth grade at Baer School, and the school was a disappointment, especially for Kent who had been in an accelerated program in N.Y.

1959 Christmas card photo

Kim Michael, Hammy, and Kent (circa 1960)
at Bellingrath Gardens, Theodore, AL

Kent (second from left) with others after Confirmation at
Memorial Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, AL

Kim Michael (in striped shirt) in Montgomery, AL

Two counselors,
Davis K's brother, Kent, Davis K, Curt W,
Kim Michael (circa 1960 in Montgomery, AL)

The A Family (circa 1960)

circa 1960 Christmas card photo

This assignment was at the time of the Civil Rights bus boycott, so we were happy when Bert's school at Maxwell AFB was over, + we were ready to plant our shoes on Ohio soil.  Bert's assignment was Officer in Charge of Defense Contracts at Cincy Contract Office in Cincinnati.  "Whom did we know to get a 4 year assignment in your home town?"
It was good to put down roots in Terrace Park, an upscale suburb of Cincinnati, where the boys adapted quickly to their new neighborhood - joining Cub Scouts + Boy Scouts, and Bert + I found congenial neighbors with similar interests.

Back row: Abner D, Bill D, Bert, and Bert's father Al S,
Middle row: Muriel D, Frieda SD, Charles S, Anna R, and Hammy,
Front row: Lynne D, Kim D, Kent, and Kim Michael
(circa 1961) Terrace Park, OH
(Frieda and Charles are siblings of Bert's father Al,
Anna R is Bert's maternal grandmother, Bill is
Bert's cousin, making all the kids second cousins)

It was the first time we had tried camping.
While Bert was on temporary duty in Calif., I purchased a used Nimrod [camping trailer], and when he returned + saw this strange vehicle parked in the driveway, he wanted to know where we planned to go in it.  He vetoed our plan to drive it out West to see what Disneyland was all about.  However we took off after a few dry runs with our neighbors to local parks + were prepared for the long drive.  What a beautiful trip it was in our ’60 ['61 Chevrolet Impala] convertible pulling our tent behind us.  The cost for food, gas, + lodging for 26 days was $435.00.  Can you believe it?  About every 3 or 4 days we stopped to visit friends + "rent" space in their driveways.
[See 1962 Camping Notebook.]

1962 Christmas card photo

1963 Christmas card photo

Kim Michael (circa 1964), Terrace Park, OH

Hammy, Kim Michael, Kent, Bert (1964)

1964 Christmas card photo

After four years in Cincinnati, Bert accepted a position at W/P as Deputy Commander of Contract Management.  It was a one year assignment.  We all benefited from this move.
We found a lovely four bedroom rental in a newer development in Fairborn, with a short distance drive to the boys' schools and to the base for Bert.

Our Coronado Drive house in Fairborn, OH

As soon as we were all settled in nicely, I decided to check in at the U. of Dayton to see how many credits I needed to graduate.  When I walked into Brother F's office, he looked up from his desk + exclaimed, "Ada, where have you been?"  It was seven years since we were transferred, and I had to leave U.D., not knowing if I’d ever matriculate!
God was really with me that year as I was able to get the required courses necessary.  With Bert's help, I went to my classes on Saturdays, as well as taking some required courses in the evenings.  Since U.D. is a Catholic University, I was required to take Ethics + Logic.  I purposely put those two classes last and "aced" both of them!  I graduated with a B.S. degree in Education and a Minor in Business.
About that time Mike graduated from 6th grade + Kent graduated from 9th grade.  Bert's next duty station was assigned to Tachikawa, Japan as Director of Procurement + Production.  Everything seemed to fall into place!
We really accomplished alot with this move in Fairborn - all except Bert.  Career wise it didn’t benefit him but Mike + Kent had a good school year, and I finally put "all my eggs in one basket," and could start putting my teaching to work.  As Bert said it was a good insurance policy!
In addition to benefitting our immediate family, we were able to have Bert's dad + my parents visit us.  Dad H + Dad S spent quality time together in the family room shooting pool!

Married Life Assignment 8 (1957-1959)

The boys + I joined Bert in Hicksville, (L.I.) N.Y. where we purchased another story + one half Cape Cod - this one with a finished basement + large comfy second story.

7 Lawrence Street, Hicksville, NY

The boys agreed with me that Bert had made a wise choice at 7 Lawrence St. because we had many neighborhood kids to join in the baseball games in the back yard.  Kent joined the local Boy Scouts + Kim Michael was a happy kindergartener.  It was an excellent school system, and Kent was challenged in third + fourth grades with outstanding teachers.

Kent and Kim Michael (circa 1957),
in Wellsville, OH

Hammy, Kent, Bert, Mother Ruth, Kim Michael
(Thanksgiving 1957 in Wellsville, OH)

Hammy, Kent, Father Ray, Mother Ruth, and Kim Michael

Christmas at Macy's in New York City with
Bert, Kim Michael, and Kent (circa 1957)

Christmas card photo 1957

Kent in Little League baseball uniform (circa 1958),
Hicksville, NY

7 Lawrence Street, Hicksville, NY (1958)

Hicksville, NY house with the Ford Fairlane convertible (1958)

Hicksville, NY house backyard with mother Ruth
and Kent (1958)

Mother Ruth, Hammy,
Kim Michael and Kent (1958)

Mother Ruth, Hammy,
Kim Michael and Kent (1958)

Hammy and mother Ruth after a day of shopping (1958),
Hicksville, NY

Kim Michael (1958), Hicksville, NY

Kent and Kim Michael (1958),
Fort Ticonderoga, NY

Kent and Kim Michael on the first day
of school in 1958, Hicksville, NY

Hammy with Kim Michael and Kent (circa 1958)

1958 Christmas card photo

Bert's graduation from Long Island University (1959)
Mitchel Air Force Base, NY

Bert at graduation (1959)

Kent's birthday party (1959), Hicksville, NY

Hammy hostessing Kent's birthday party (1959)

Bert's assignment was at Amer. Base Arms in Garden City as AF officer in charge of the plant office.  We liked the opportunity of seeing the N. Y. City sights on the weekends.  It was an opportune time, for us officers' wives to take the special train to the “big city” for dining at the famous restaurants + then take in a show.  One of our favorite places to dine was Toots Shores [Shor's.]

Kim Michael, Hammy, and Kent in New York City (circa 1959)

Kim Michael with no front teeth (1959), NYC

Dotty and Herb R with daughter Susan
and baby (1959), Plattsburgh AFB, NY

Susan, Dotty R, Hammy, Kent,
     and Kim Michael (1959).
Plattsburgh Air Force Base, NY

Bert,
Mother Ruth, Hammy, sister-in-law Gen, brother Bob.
Kent, Pat, Joyce,
Kim Michael, Linda (1959)