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!
REDBIRD 