Who is my granddaddy?

Chapter 29

                               MEMORIES OF ORREN ALBERT ANDERSON

         This story is written especially for my daughters, Debra, Sally and Tricia and our grandchildren, Elliot, Madeline, Adam, Kathleen, Andy and Hayden.  Also, for Marjories daughters, Sharon and Robyn.  Stories about their grandparents that I am so sorry they did not get to know.  Grandfather Orren (chapter 29) and grandmother Alida (chapter 30).

On June 18, 1942, the family (Orren, Alida, Marjorie, and Jim Lee) started their move to Portland, Oregon.  Orren had accepted an administrative position with a firm that built battle ships for World War II.  Our first stop was going to be Strong City, Oklahoma, where Orren and Alida’s parents  lived.  Mother had packed her home made strawberry jelly to give to our grandparents.  The Pontiac was loaded with all our worldly possessions, the furniture was sold.  Orren had secured four brand new synthetic tires.  Tires were rationed and almost impossible to buy, due to the war effort.

Marjorie was just turning 16 and dad decided to let her drive.  About eleven miles west of Enid the car had a rear tire blow out.  The tire installer had mistakenly pinched the tube while mounting the tire, which later caused the blow out.  The car rolled over three times landing on its top.  Dad had been thrown approximately 50 feet from where the car landed (there were no car seat belts in 1942).  I had strawberry jelly all over me; mother thought I was badly injured.  Mother and Marjorie were fine, but Dad died a short time later in the Enid Baptist Hospital.  The accident was 75 years ago and I had just turned 10 years old.  Today, I still recall every minute of that tragic day.

                                               

                                               Orren Albert Anderson, 1898-1942

Memories of my father span only a few years, between the age of 4 and 10.  My earliest memories, age 4, were in Hennessey.  Even though I was a rather “active” child, I can not recall a spanking or reprimand from my parents. The following are memories that certainly could have called for punishment;  

 My best friend, Jimmy Binkley and I were setting on the curb throwing rocks at cars that passed by.  One rock hit a window of a car that immediately turned around and headed to my dad’s car agency to have his window replaced, free.    When my sister, Marjorie, was having her 10^th birthday party, I walked by myself downtown to a dress shop and told them I needed a birthday dress for my sister.  The clerk knew Orren and Alida, so she wrapped a dress and I gave her my nickel.  After moving to Enid, Dad came home finding me digging a hole by the side of the house.  He asked why,  I said I was going to bury that little Vater girl, who I did not like.    Dad caught me smoking a hollow weed stem in the house, and later one of his cigars. While climbing on our roof, I got caught between the chimney and steep roof, dad sent his wrecker truck to rescue me.  There were other memories, like being expelled from grade school, that all went un-punished ? ?  Maybe that is why I have nothing but fond memories of my parents and no spankings. Maybe Orren was also an “active” child growing up on his folks ranch and thought nothing of my escapades?

The above picture of Orren (my favorite)is the only one I have where he is not in a suit and tie .After work he enjoyed riding his horse with the Enid Round Up Club.

Orren was a friendly and happy person. Enjoyed a  good poker or bridge game. His favorite song went “roll out the barrel were going to have a barrell of fun”. I enjoyed going to his Pontiac Agency, sitting in the brand new cars and pestering the mechanics.  He had many friends, was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and the First Baptist Church.

  I was blessed to be his son.  

Chapter 30 to follow, with memories of your grandmother Alida Guernsey Anderson.

 

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

Chapter 28

LIFE IN HENNESSEY AND ENID,  OKLAHOMA

 Orren and Alida had their first child in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, Marjorie Ruth Anderson, a beautiful little red head, born June 18, 1926.

 In 1926, Orren and Jim Sandusky were still trying to sell Chevrolet pick-ups to the German farmers around Kingfisher.  Times were different in those days. 

 What was going on in 1926?

• Calvin Coolidge was our President
• Postage stamps cost 2 cents.
• Westinghouse and G.E. did a joint venture starting a news radio network called, N.B.C.
• SAT test were established for college entrance.
• General Motors began making Pontiacs.
• Miss America, Norma Smallwood was from Oklahoma.
• University of Alabama was the NCAA football champs (some things never change).
• A youngster living on a farm near Kingfisher, was Sam Walton. Years later he started a company named WAL MART.

 Around 1928,  Orren and Alida moved to Hennessey, OK. to open a new Chevrolet Agency.  Their second child, Jimmie Lee Anderson, was born, April 15, 1932.  There was no hospital in Hennessey, so Orren and Alida traveled nineteen miles to the Enid Baptist Hospital for their son’s delivery.

                               Marjorie Ruth, Jim Lee & Cousin Gene Caffey

 What was going on in 1932?

. .                 . Herbert Hoover lost the presidential election to Franklin Rosevelt.

                   . The great depression began all around the world.

                    . United States unemployment rate was 24%.

                    . 2500 banks fail in USA.

                    . Bread 10 cents a loaf, hamburger meat 10 cents a pound.

                    . New car cost $610., new house average cost $540.

                    . First parking meter invented in Oklahoma.

                    .  Amelia Ear hart was first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.

                    . Wm., “Alfalfa Bill”, Murray, was Governor of Oklahoma.

Even though times were really tough, Jim Sandusky  and Orren Anderson’s dealerships managed to survive.  Both agencies were located in the nations “wheat belt” and the farmers needed trucks.  Hennessey was a friendly small town where everyone knew their neighbors.  Sunday picnics were regular social events in Hennessey.

                            Lower right, Marjorie, Orren, and Jim Lee

 Around 1936, Orren and Alida decided their children should attend a larger school.  Enid, 19 miles away, had what they were looking for.  Orren sold his interest in the agency and moved the family to Enid. 

While awaiting for General Motors approval to open Enid’s first Pontiac Agency, Orren passed the  year playing the cotton futures and traveling with his family.

Los Angeles, 1936, on the studio production lot of “Pennies from Heaven”. Left a cousin(?) , Alida, Jim Lee, Orren and Marjorie.

After the families extended vacation to Medicine Park, Yellowstone Park, Green Mountain Falls and California, they returned to Enid and opened Enid’s first Pontiac Agency.  Orren took on a partner, Paul Buthod.  They eventually expanded their business to include an automobile salvage yard.

                                Detroit meeting of Pontiac dealers.  Orren third from the left.

In those days a brand new Pontiac cost $1000. Car business was good until World War II started .  As the United States entered the war against Germany and later Japan, all the Detroit automobile manufactures stopped making cars for the private sector and started making tanks and airplanes for the war effort.  Orren had no Pontiacs to sell.  He still had the salvage yard which as it turned out, was a prosperous venture, as civilians had to keep their cars running from parts from salvage yards.

With no new cars to sell, Orren was being considered for the Enid Postmaster position. However, he decided to help in the war effort by taking an administrative position with a battle ship building firm in Oregon.

 

.