Family Photos, Part 1

NOTE: This was published months ago . . . I thought. But I found it listed in my drafts, so here it is again.

A while back my brother Eric scanned in over twenty pages from one of my mom’s scrapbooks. I’ll post some of them here and more in the future, along with my comments and memories. Brothers, cousins, and others, feel free to comment!

Dad and me, 1961.

Time to wake up! What a cute little booger I was! 1961.

Great-Grandma Mabel Slutz holding me, 1961.

Wendell Sidle and his sons, Doug and Mike (behind the swing). And that’s me and Dad on the right. July 1962. Mom and Wendell’s wife, Caroline, became friends when they worked in the office together at Rubbermaid. This was taken on the front porch of our house at the north end of Fredericksburg. I remember that swing. And I remember being friends with Doug growing up—he and I were lab partners in high school Biology. Doug died in 1989 at age 27. I think he died of a heart attack, but I do not remember for sure. Too young—very sad.

This is the exact moment when Dad realized how cool I was! 1962.

Left to right: John Brinkerhoff, me, Jim Brinkerhoff—“the twins.” 1962.

I love this one! The Brinkerhoff cousins!

This must have been on a trip when Grandma and Grandpa Swartz (Mom’s parents) visited Dad’s parents in West Virginia (1962). They are probably tramping through what now is part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The entrance to the park, which opened on December 27, 2020, is just six minutes from Dad’s childhood home. Dad used to love taking us on day hikes to see Beauty Mountain and all the views of the New River Gorge. I think he would be proud that his old stomping grounds are now receiving this kind of recognition. Left to right: Weston Skaggs, Janice Skaggs, Leta Swartz, Byron Swartz.

Very nice photo of Grandma (Leta) Swartz enjoying a good laugh. Thanksgiving 1962. Notice the old-fashioned light switch behind her.

Thanksgiving at Aunt Mildred’s, 1962. Wonderful memories! Adults on the left, L to R: Aunt Millie Brinkerhoff; Grandma Leta Swartz; Dad, Nyle Skaggs; Mom, Janice Skaggs (with a bow in her hair!?); Uncle Russ Brinkerhoff. Kids on the left, L to R: my twin cousins Jim and John Brinkerhoff, Steve Skaggs (moi!). At the far end of the table: Cousin Peggy Brinkerhoff and Aunt Mildred Apperson (I think? Or maybe “Aunt” Mabel Jones?). On the right side of the table: Grandpa Byron Swartz and his mother-in-law, my great-grandmother, Mabel Slutz.

Great-Grandmother Mabel Slutz. Thanksgiving 1962.

Little Stevie fell asleep in this position, so Mommy had to snap a picture! I remember that chair, I remember its texture and its colors—cornflower blue and white. 1962.

Grandpa Byron Swartz and me. It looks like he was eating a cookie and therefore couldn’t yell, “Sack!” Now, does anyone under the age of fifty know what that cylindrical white object with the bowl on top is?

Cute! Peggy Brinkerhoff on her fourth birthday, December 22, 1962.

Peggy playing hostess and cutting her own cake at her fourth birthday party, December 22, 1962.

Over sixty years ago! How things have changed! Look at that old black-and-white TV! (We didn’t get a color one until I was in elementary school.) Far left: Grandma Slutz. Adults on the couch: Russ Brinkerhoff, Grandpa Swartz, Grandma Swartz, Millie Brinkerhoff. Millie is holding Jim and John. (Is John angry, shocked, or bored?) My mom is on the floor with Peggy and me in front of her.

Bugs Bunny for Christmas! Wow! Pull the string and he says, “Ehhhhh, what’s up, Doc?” Now that’s some amazing technology! Grandma Swartz, Peggy, Millie.

Jim, John, Steve playing pool in Grandma and Grandpa Swartz’s basement in their house on Decator Street in Fredericksburg, Ohio. 1962.

Left to right: Uncle Russ, John Brinkerhoff, Steve, Nyle, Jim, Grandpa Swartz. 1962.

March 1965: My brother Keith and Dad. Looks like a Sunday morning!

Notice who is being a very helpful big brother by handling the candle-blowing-out responsibilities. 1965.

Yours truly, May 1965. It was the style then for men to wear hats when they dressed up, and the tradition was passed on to their sons.

My brother Keith and Ken were friends for years. (Ken was born with something wrong with his feet that was corrected by wearing casts.) Little did Keith know that Ken would someday save his life when they were being threatened by a bully! 1965.

Steve and Keith, 1965. Keith, remember that rocker? It was painted green, and Mom would rock to beat the band when putting a baby boy to bed, “patting” (pounding!) his back loudly and belting out a song she’d made up called “Rocky Roo.” It was sung to the tune of “Sugar in the Mornin,’” and the words went something like this: “Rocky roo-oo, Rocky roo-oo, Rocky baby boy! You’re my little baby, My little pride and joy!” One time she was pushing that old chair to its limits and one of the rockers broke, sending her and the baby in her arms (Eric, I think) crashing backwards to the floor—where she lay laughing and laughing and laughing!

Something tells me we had help getting up there.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .