Princely Pioneer

 

This is my maternal grandfather William Frank Smith.  

I am proud of my pioneer heritage on my maternal granmother's (Anna Sorenson) side of the family as well as on my father's side of the family but my mother's father was a pioneer of unique destiny and, in my opionion, epic proportion.  The bare bones of the story is that he rode into Wendover in a boxcar where he went to work for a man trying to establish a gas station in the middle of nowhere.  It was a great idea and Grandpa ran with it.  He bought it and built on it establishing a restaurant, hotel, and casino.  All of this information is in the article above.  I would be happy to provide copies to anyone who wants to read the whole thing.  I suspect most of us have a copy of our own.  My mom, Marian Barnwell, passed out many copies for which I am grateful. 

I never knew my grandfather.  According to familysearch.org he was born 31 Dec 1886 in

Leola, South Dakota and died on the 24th of December 1958 and I was born in 1959 but I have heard many, many stories about the man W.F. Smith was.  He was the kind of man who brought home extra people to Thanksgiving dinner because they needed the meal.  He found jobs for people who needed them and liked to buy things for his wife.  There is an old story that my mom once told me that Grandpa once said to her "your mother thinks I should tell her I love her more but I told her once and until I say different it stands!"  Now, I know we like to hear we are loved but I can't help thinking that this is an adorable story.  For one thing, what a sweetly hysterical thing to say to your child.  The message is, "I love her and that won't change".  Another story my mother shared about her father was about the time he gave her a case of strawberries and told her he really likes strawberry jam and could she please make him some.  Then he went away and left her to figure it out!  According to mom she did.  I'd love to know the whole of that story - I think, but ultimately what it says about my grandfather is that he had a way of subtly expressing confidence in a person and giving them the space to make mistakes without those mistakes being a crisis.

I would be very grateful to hear any other stories about my grandfather.

Where The West Begins

I suppose All of us cousins have memories of Wendover. Of course I remember Jack rabbit hunting with David & Uncle Chet and trying to sit as close as I could to the air conditioner as I could in Uncle Chet's truck while David & Adam teased me. But mostly I remember lots of different sounds.The sounds of the big rigs as their jake brakes gave way as they barreled into town. The sound of the beads in Grandma Anna's room at the old hotel where she lived. The sound of the mother cycles at uncle Jim's and the endless array of fast cars that sournded us on the salt flats. The sound of the excitement in the patrons voices when they hit a jackpot and the endless noise of coins in the slot machine trays as we were drug through the casino with an aunt or mother tightly grabbing your hand as you were drug through the casino trying to figure out what was going on. I was also fascinated by the sound of the air compressors and the bell that would ring as cars drove over that little black hose at the service station. We always wanted to see what car was on the next racing trailer or if somebody had a new Ford mustang or some other fast and shinny car. The sound we all looked forward to of course was the splash into a pool or the noise of the trampoline springs followed by the laughter and pure screams of joy of cousins reunited nothing of course beat those sounds.

Wendover was never short on delivering adventure. Sometimes it would be exploring spooky caves in the mountains where we would look for baby rattle snakes (remember this was the era of no helmets or seat belts we were sooo stupid) or a visit down to the old air base where we would peek into a window hoping to catch Ball lightning in one of his experiments again. Or riding flat out on the back of Adam's YZ 80 down a dirt road that later would become Interstate 80. Of course there were the endless snype hunts the older kids sent us on or looking for salt Bears so much so that by the time the told my of this mythical horny toad creature I had all but given up believing there was anything that lived in Wendover other than Jack Rabbits.

Believe it or not one of my most favorite memories in Wendover was the train Grandma had in the laundry room basement and we were entertained for hours while she would do laundry down there In hindsight it may have only been minutes but when you were able to ride it your self it was true heaven. There are so many more memories of the Smith Family but I will keep this one as an early child hood memory of Wendover finishing with a bang. Who of you remembers 4th of July on the salt flats and the fire crackers they would bury in the salt. I remember running trying to doge flying salt and the load bang and not being able to wait until my cousins would share some of those coveted fire works they were able to obtain!

By

WF Barnwell

Our Tallest Family Member

 

http://www2.gbcnv.edu/howh/WendoverWill.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendover_Will

  Grandma's car was big and comfy but the trip across the salt flats was endless.  Whether we had been in "the city" meaning Salt Lake City, UT for the day or hanging out at the Hotel Utah or Grandma had picked us up at the airport it seemed that the sun had always set before we managed to get to Wendover.  Grandma kept us occupied with "the game".  A silver dollar! went to the first person to spot the cowboy.  It was a game that didn't work well from the other direction because of the massive rock blocking the way but crossing the salt flats one could see the glimmer of the lights that illuminated our friend Wendover Will with his friendly wave, his directional point and his wagging cigarrette.  This sign meant the fun was really about to begin.  Summer in Wendover meant freedom.  We wandered around town by ourselves, rode horses, visited the pig farm, swam at the Motel, explored caves, and hunted for lizards. I remember spending time with my Howlett cousins, being a pest but being really well treated.  Sleepovers at Aunt Elaine and Uncle Chet's house were memorable. There was also a couple who were entertainers in the Casino who had children my age.  I must be getting old because I can't remember their names but I remember having a great time.

Do you remember Wendover?  If you would like to contribute to this blog send your e-mail address to joelkers@yahoo.com and I will give you authorship access.

 

I remember Sun Valley . . . by Billy Barnwell

I remember Sun Valley also but I suppose a bit differently than most of the cousins. I remember the extreme feeling of heartache I felt going there in the summer and looking up at those runs on Baldy feeling a sense of torture that we were not there in the winter. I remember going to the hospital because I got the flu so bad I was dehydrated beyond repair usually my small nieces and nephews were trying to kill me with something they had contracted. I remember Anna coming into the condo telling me little Brenda was in the pond she was maybe 2 or 3 and there was that little bugger floating perfectly on her back. It is a wonder any of my sisters kids survived my babysitting skills but Gunnar is grateful I got to practice on them first. I remember playing football with Dan Plater, Mike, Kevin, and others. I remember taking Erin four wheeling up the side of mount baldy while I introduced her to talking heads, rafting the Salmon, bridge jumping, trap shooting with Spider (he work at the range but was my age) Playing golf with Lefty, Tom and Dave. The amazing Ice shows and food of course at the show, I remember Uncle Jim driving me to Sun valley I think the very first year we went. I remember that year he taught me how to wash a car properly and it was a lesson I have kept my whole life. That same year he took me to see Indiana Jones it was a great summer like every summer I spent in Salt Lake. But the thing I remember most about Sun Valley is when I went to visit with Grandma at the lodge shortly before I graduated DU so it must have been 1988 or 89 since Grandma came to my graduation. She was trying to put her makeup on and having some difficulty so I was there helping as much as I could. I had asked the front desk for a magnifying mirror they did not have one so I called housekeeping and asked if they had any in lost in found we could borrow. They in fact did and brought it to her. While we were waiting she said “Bill promise me when you are a big hotel executive you will make sure your hotel has a nice vanity so old women can put on their makeup”. I promise Grandma if I ever become one I won’t forget.

I Remember Shasta of course but mostly I remember the rope swing, Aunt Billie crashing Lefty’s Caddy, I remember seeing waterfalls, turtles and amazing sunsets! I remember the time we had the family trip in Tahoe which was fantastic. We rented a few condos on the North Shore in Incline right on the lake. We had our own dock we all got to go water skiing and Erin and I got don’t rock the boat T-shirts and we spent most of the time down on the beach catching crawdads and minnows. Then there was the trip to Oregon which we took in an RV. I remember Adam got me the coolest cassette player for my birthday before we left and lots of great cassettes to go with it; Elton John, Boston, The Eagles, my favorite Led Zeppelin. We listen to it the whole way and whenever we stopped for gas we ran into the store to get more batteries. When we got there we would go crab fishing in the morning, explore the beaches where there were the best drift wood forts for miles and miles. At night we would have s’mores and make sand candles. Some days we would hike and gather berries and Aunt Billie & Aunt Carol would make all kind of wonderful treats from them yum!!!

Lo Jolla who could ever forget the amazing summer trips Grandma would take there. We stayed in these apartments directly across from the cove. We would drag back all manner of sea life to our balcony, play Frisbee in the park skate board everywhere and then hit boweivals (SP) for the 1lb steer burger. Adrian & I were regulars at the pool table while waiting for our food to show up. I remember one summer there Adam AKA Peter Frampton stole my girlfriend but Virginia wasted no time finding me another one that’s right meet Virginia.

I remember the cruise as well, Smiley Heinekens, gambling, disco dancing, winning the diving contest on board the ship, Barbados, Puerto Rico definitely some of my favorite places and my mom buying me a gold necklace in St. Tomas that had a quarter moon with a smiley face. I remember so much more but I am sworn to secrecy by my girl cousins who most of them can still kick my butt lol,!! But the thing I remember more than anything about all of these vacations was the hugs. Nobody gave hugs like all the women in our family and it all started with Grandma I can’t wait to feel her hugs again, I am so fortunate that she passed that amazing trait on to every one of the girls in our family. No matter where we went what we did what we saw the best part was just hearing the laughter, feeling the hugs, and knowing the missing would never feel less between the next time we all came together again. We really were like one big family not separate families all coming together. That is just how Grandma wanted it;-)

It Happened in Sun Valley

Smith Family Reunion in Sun Valley Idaho

 

Well, this photo didn't scan too well but it's close enough to look at and say "we all look so young!"  Here is a challenge for you.  Can you put a name to every face?  I mostly can but I'm sorry (ashamed) to admit that I lost track of my cousins' children the year my life unraveled (which we won't go into right now)  So, if you can put a name to every face in the picture, please do.

Here are a few random memories.  My Grandma Anna instituted a yearly trip as a family reunion.  What an amazing blessing.  The first one, I think, was a houseboat on Lake Shasta.  Anyone remember that?  I  remember my mother, Marian Barnwell, going swimming.  Actually mom is really terrified of the water.  It took two uncles, a tube and a lifeboat to get her into the water.  I was SO excited and swam up to her to encourage her only to find the water she was in was just about waist deep!  Another year, I believe, there was a cruise (I was too pregnant to attend). 

One year the trip was set in Sun Valley Idaho and the growing group had found their summer getaway.  From then on we went there every year.  Each family group stayed in a separate condo but breakfast and dinner were combined affairs.  I don't remember just who was responsible for all that organization - I just knew it wasn't me.  There was something for everyone. Golf, bikes, roller blades, swimming, balloon rides, airplane rides, ice skating, food and shopping and the list goes on.  I have hundreds of memories of these trips.  I have lost track of how many years the family did this but it was AMAZING.

Just a few highlights.

I met Buzz Aldrin at a book signing and had lunch at a table next to Dorothy Hamill.  Ben Draper and a few companions met Arnold Schwarzenegger in a hot tub.  I threw up in a glider and I helped make my favorite breakfast (Eggs Benedict) for my entire extended family! 

Hazel Anna Sorensen Smith

This is my mother's mother, Grandma Anna.  She was the most generous, kindest and humblest person I have ever known.  Every summer I went to visit my grandmother for several days.  Sometimes my cousins, Stacy Devine and Adrienne Butler, would be there as well. We had wonderful times dressing up in the beautiful filmy nightgowns my grandmother had.  Grandma drove from Wendover to Salt Lake City once (or was it twice) a week to have her hair done at the Hotel Utah.  When my cousins and I were staying with her sometimes we would stay over night at the Hotel.  We probably drove the staff there crazy.  I remember running wild, playing in the elevators and generally having a wonderful time.  I have many, many more memories of this great lady.  Do you?

My Brainchild

Hey Smith Family (and beloved extensions)  I have reached the point in my life that I want to know and preserve all of the family history I can.  Those of us who understand Temple work recognize the importance of knowing the numbers, birth dates, death dates, etc. but I have recently become aware of the dangers we face in this "technology" age.  When my parents were children instead of being entertained by a television they were entertained by stories.  These stories were family history that was passed on verbally but probably not written down.  These stories inform us of the gifts, talents, heartaches, and character of those that have gone before us and I am greedy to hear them.  I invite you all to contribute to this blog.  At least once a week I will post a picture from those I have managed to recover from the fire I had in '91 or some other source.  I might choose something I know nothing about and ask you to tell me a story or I might choose a picture I can personally comment on and I will tell you a story.  Here is my challenge to you:

1.  Visit often, comment on the picture.  Share what you remember about the person or event.
2.  If the picture sparks a memory of another event please share what you remember.
3.  If you feel inspired to do so go ahead and create a post of your own in this blog.
4.  Please include dates and first and last names as often as you can.  I have never had a great memory and it is getting worse. You may well look at that picture and know who everyone is but I (and others like me) may not and "inquiring minds want to know".

5.  Please be kind.  While the heartaches are as important a part of our history as the joys I want us to remember those heartaches, foibles, mistakes, or even dastardly deeds from a positive perspective.  Please don't "whitewash" but don't do blame and shame.  If someone shares a story that you remember differently say so.  We learn more from differing perspectives than from tunnel vision.

Last,  I am NOT an expert at maintaining a blog.  All suggestions, recommendations, etc are welcome.  I WILL make mistakes.  I will laugh about them and do my best to fix them.  You have my permission to laugh at me but if you know what I did wrong and how I can fix it, please let me know.

If this works the way I want it to, we can have these memories printed into a book!

I love the Smith/Sorensen family, please don't be shy. If you would like to be a contributing author to this blog send me your e-mail address on facebook or at joelkers@yahoo.com and I will set it up.

Jan (Janell Jensen Oelkers)