Here is Ray - I love those dimples.
Icel became very homesick. There was no phone on the farm. She was a teenager, away from her family and living with people she barely knew. She found her way to the nearby small town of Springfield and called her brother Ralph. She told him how she missed him and the rest of her family. He told her not to fret, that he would send her a bus ticket and bring her home. This was an unheard gesture for Ralph to make. His money was hard earned and not easily parted with. When he took a girl on a date she paid for her own dinner or movie or whatever they were out doing.
After his bride had been gone for 3 months, Ray hopped on a bus and returned to her.
He found a job with a furniture store - Doernbecher Manufacturing Company which was very modern and boasted a traveling assembly line five miles long! Icel found work at a local nickel and dime store. They stayed with her parents at their home and she was content once again.
On March 10, 1937 their first bundle of joy came along.
Barbara Lee Perkins came into the world with the same fiery red hair as her mother! The hospital nurses were gaga over her hair. Icel's brother Harold would carry that baby around and show her off to anyone who would give him the time of day.
Icel soon quit her job to stay with her baby. It was too much of a strain nursing a newborn and holding down a job.
Isn't she too sweet?
This picture doesn't have any information on it about whose horse it is or where it was taken but I like it:
She devoted herself to finding a place they could call their own. She found a neighbor who had made over their garage into a small apartment. Ray and Icel decided they could afford the asking price of $5 a month. Icel truly enjoyed creatively furnishing and decorating her little nest. She acquired apple boxes from the grocery and made cute little coverlets for them. They served as end tables. She found an old table and four chairs that Ray refinished for her.
One day she met an attorney who was selling a cute little house. He was willing to work with her. He said she could buy it for $950. She was nervous at the thought of making such an enourmous financial commitment but her new friend assured her that it would work out. It was only a short distance from her dear mother and that was very appealing. The house came completely furnished and somehow they managed to pay the $15 every month. She was always adding her own touches and soon the little house was as cozy as their little apartment had been. Icel so loved her little house on 78th and Clickitat just off Sandy Boulevard.
Here is that little house where they lived and loved and grew into a family from 1939 until 1944:
Icel and Ray's 2nd daughter, Betty Perkins came along on July 6, 1942. This is Barbara with her baby sister.
Here is Betty with her mama and half a man, well really only about a quarter of a man
Icel's dear friend Vi had married her brother Ralph and they had a boy, Terry, who is between Barbara and Betty in age. The two couples shared wonderful times together.
Here are Icel's Barbara and Vi's Terry:
When WWII broke out Ralph and Ray quit their jobs - Ray's at Doernbecher
and Ralph quit his at B.P. John's. Here is an article I found which I decided to insert here because it mentions Albina which was noted in an earlier post: "B. P. John Furniture - The plant was located on the east side of SW Macadam across from the current John's Landing. John's Landing was named for B. P. John and was the "landing" where the logs for the factory were dropped. B.P. John was originally a vice president at Doernbecher Furniture before starting his own business. B.P owned rentals in several areas in Portland. Many immigrant Russian woodworkers lived in his houses in Albina. The two friends, brothers-in-law, learned the skill of welding and went to work at the shipyards. Ray became aware of the struggles all the laborers were having in getting to and from the shipyards so he bought an old bus, fixed it up and started the side job of transporting. He drove to the shipyards in the morning and Ralph drove it back at night. Icel had the job of making sure the bus was gassed up and ready to go. After awhile Ray bought a 2nd bus. He charged 50¢ each way. He was a regular entrepreneur!!
They went to the movie theater every time a new show was playing. I think my Ray inherited the love of movies from his grandfather. They would purchase tickets for the upstairs portion of the theater because they were cheaper and it was a good place to be if you had little ones who had trouble sitting quietly.
Here is a beautiful picture of Barbara and Betty:
One day she met an attorney who was selling a cute little house. He was willing to work with her. He said she could buy it for $950. She was nervous at the thought of making such an enourmous financial commitment but her new friend assured her that it would work out. It was only a short distance from her dear mother and that was very appealing. The house came completely furnished and somehow they managed to pay the $15 every month. She was always adding her own touches and soon the little house was as cozy as their little apartment had been. Icel so loved her little house on 78th and Clickitat just off Sandy Boulevard.
Here is that little house where they lived and loved and grew into a family from 1939 until 1944:
I love the running board on this awesome old car. What a convenient place to have your small child stand for a photo op.
This is Barbara playing with Neighbors at her grandparents house. I can sure see a resemblance with Carri in this photo.
Icel and Ray's 2nd daughter, Betty Perkins came along on July 6, 1942. This is Barbara with her baby sister.
Here is Betty with her mama and half a man, well really only about a quarter of a man
Icel's dear friend Vi had married her brother Ralph and they had a boy, Terry, who is between Barbara and Betty in age. The two couples shared wonderful times together.
Here are Icel's Barbara and Vi's Terry:
When WWII broke out Ralph and Ray quit their jobs - Ray's at Doernbecher
and Ralph quit his at B.P. John's. Here is an article I found which I decided to insert here because it mentions Albina which was noted in an earlier post: "B. P. John Furniture - The plant was located on the east side of SW Macadam across from the current John's Landing. John's Landing was named for B. P. John and was the "landing" where the logs for the factory were dropped. B.P. John was originally a vice president at Doernbecher Furniture before starting his own business. B.P owned rentals in several areas in Portland. Many immigrant Russian woodworkers lived in his houses in Albina. The two friends, brothers-in-law, learned the skill of welding and went to work at the shipyards. Ray became aware of the struggles all the laborers were having in getting to and from the shipyards so he bought an old bus, fixed it up and started the side job of transporting. He drove to the shipyards in the morning and Ralph drove it back at night. Icel had the job of making sure the bus was gassed up and ready to go. After awhile Ray bought a 2nd bus. He charged 50¢ each way. He was a regular entrepreneur!!
They went to the movie theater every time a new show was playing. I think my Ray inherited the love of movies from his grandfather. They would purchase tickets for the upstairs portion of the theater because they were cheaper and it was a good place to be if you had little ones who had trouble sitting quietly.
Here is a beautiful picture of Barbara and Betty:
No comments:
Post a Comment