Our Grandparents’ House

My grandparents once lived in this beautiful Italianate-style house

in our hometown of Greenville, Illinois (about 50 miles east of St. Louis).

I love the color scheme (red window sashes!),

those buntings + that island garden bed (millstone!) out front!

Here’s a very cherished informal family photo taken at the house:

I’m guessing mid-fifties, based on how young we all were!

There’s Grandpa + Grandma at the far right —

with a small ME, sitting in the front row.

Notice how my mom’s hand is reaching for me,

as if she worried I would be obscured by my uncle.

Sweet, no?

My sister, Kathy, is seated on Grandpa’s lap.

Cute!

* * * *

I have NO memories of this house nor of our grandparents’

having lived there, but my (older) sister + cousins do.

* * * * *

The house, no longer a private residence, is now the Hoiles-Davis Museum,

operated by the Bond County Historical Society.

http://www.bondcountyhistorical.org/Hoiles-Davis%20Museum.htm

We toured it a couple years back, + I kind of geeked out.

Nobody loves a museum more than I do!

All that cool, old stuff is beyond interesting, to me!

There’s our dad.

In honor of this being Father’s Day, why don’t I share a few more photos of Dad?

Late 40’s?

How jaunty + stylish is he?

Look at that awesome jacket + those trousers with the deep cuffs!

And finally, here he is with a few adoring great-grands

at his 90th birthday celebration, just this past March!

Still stylin’ after all these years.
Love the plaid shirt + vest!