PART TWO OF AUNT MINNIES LETTER TO DOROTHY CAFFEY MCGREGOR

Papa (Elmer J. Guernsey) got land and our first house, until a home could be built, was a half-dugout and half-loghouse with an “arbor” in front to shield it from the sun. The land was different from our former home (Manchester OK was in the middle of the wheat belt with rich dark soil). This was a land of red hills between the valleys. The hills were covered with ankle deep grass; the grass in the valleys was several feet high – “as high as a horse’s belly”. There were many trees in those valleys – cottonwood, elm and black walnut. The winding Washita River then had a narrow channel between high banks and the water was clear.

John West built our home for us in 1901, the year Pauline was born. Papa haulded the lumber from Canadian, Texas. Our was a five room frame house -“such a folly to build one so large” was the opinion expressed by some of our neighbors (the new home, shown above, for the family of eight was without electricity or running water while the girls were growing up). The rooms were soon carpeted with rag carpets loomed in strips which were sewn together in room size. Fresh hay was used for padding and the carpet was securely tacked around the edges. Mama made “fancy work” of crochet and embroidery, hung pictures, and added house plants and cut flowers to make hour home attractive.

3 Guernsey Girls

LUELLA IN THE WASHITA RIVER, ALIDA AND MINNIE ON THE BANK WITH THEIR DOG TOM

Sometime at night we could hear the trees fall when the beavers cut down trees for their numerous dams and we could hear the mournfull howl of coyotes. There were many quail and prairie chickens.

After Shep died, Curt got another dog, a bloodhound, whose name was Tom. He was very friendly and was known throughout the area. All of us thought he was especially good at removing stickers from our barefeet; they did not seem to hurt so much when he did this for us. On several occasions, Tom visited the school. He knocked on the door with his tail. When the teacher opened the door, he pleaded that he might come in to visit. He should have received as “A” in sociability.

We all went to church in a farm wagon. Papa and Mama sat on the spring seat and we children sat in the back on quilts over clean hay. Neighbors wagons were hitched on all sides of us at the school house, which was the center of all community activities – Sunday school, church service, and box and pie suppers held to raise funds for various affairs. Here was held the Christmas programs given by the children; a huge tree lighted with candles thrilled and delighted every child.

Guernsey children

Back row Curt, Luella, front row Alida, Pauline, Mike and Minnie

To my kinfolk and friends, Part Three of early day life on the Guernsey Ranch will follow soon.
Enjoy,
Jim Lee