Sentimental Sunday – A Day At The Lake

My Grandmother, Lucille Mielke Lindsay, her sisters and several of their friends used to going swimming in Lake St. Clair. This is what she told me about that time when we came across these photos:

Meg (Marion Mielke Verhonick), Dot (Dorothy Mielke Robb Stock), Nick’s sister, Bernice Matthew’s and I used to go to Dothory Stansberry’s house. She lived on the East-side (of Detroit), near the end of the bus line, on Jean Street. We would walk from her house to the 7 Sister’s Smoke Sacks off of Jeff Avenue to go swimming in Lake St. Clair. There was huge sand piles  and a small canal where we swam.

Marion and Dorothy were Lucille’s sisters, Nick’s sister would be Dorothy’s sister-in-law is Iola Isabella “Robbie” Robb and Bernice Matthew’s was the next door neighbor. I’m not sure who is who (other than my grandma) is in these photo’s.

Aunt Dorothy, Aunt Marion, ?, and Grandma Luey

Grandma Luey was the second one on the right.

All these photo’s were taken in August 1944. If you can identify in the other ladies please let me know.

Happy Searching!

SueAnn

© Finding Mielke, 2012

Sentimental Sunday – Oscar’s determination to stay in America

My Grandma Luey has began to write stories of both her memories and what she was told by my Grandpa Oscar and my Great-Grandmother Edith Basham Lindsay. This is the story, in her words, of how my Grandpa was determined to stay in America.

My great-grandparents, Oscar and Edith Lindsay, immigrated first to Canada, and then to America in 1923. My grandfather Oscar Rowan Lindsay was 5 years old when they came to America. Three years after coming to America, my great-grandfather Oscar, died of pneumonia, in 1926. Shortly after, Edith decided to return to England. While making the journey, Oscar Rowan, contacted mumps, and had to be quarantine while on the ship. After arriving , Oscar’s mother asked him if he would like to stay in England. His answer was “no, mom, I like America,” and they came back. Oscar took out his Citizenship papers and became a citizen.

I love this story, because without my Grandfather’s determination to come back to America, he would have never met my grandmother, and I wouldn’t be here. I’m, also, so very grateful that my Great-Grandmother would listen to what a 10 year-old wanted.

Happy Searching!

Sentimental Sunday – McKnight Family Photo

This is the only picture I have of my grandparents Bernard and Bernice Mansfield McKnight with their children (well minus my uncle Ricky who wasn’t born yet) Ronald and Raymond (my daddy). I believe this picture was taken at Easter 1953 in Friendship or Crockett Mills, Crockett County, Tennessee. My dad would have been turning 3 later that month, my uncle Ron would have just turned 4 (they were only 13 months apart), Bernice was 20 and Bernard 29.

Bernice, Ray, Bernard, and Ron McKnight
Taken April 1953 in Crockett County, Tennessee

From the story that my daddy told me, about two years after this photo was taken my Bernice left the family and moved away. My dad would visited her a few times while she was living in Florida but lived mainly with his father in Michigan.

I think that my dad and uncle could have almost passed as twins in those days.

This photo is very sentimental because not is the only family photo I have but also because in 2008 my daddy passed on and then in 2009 my uncle passed. My Grandpa Bernie was 53 when he died, my dad 58, my Uncle Ron 60, and my Uncle Rick passed at the age of 47. Bernice also passed away in 2009 at the age of 76. It’s quite sad to realize my father’s entire generation of his family passed away too soon.

May they all Rest In Peace.

SueAnn