For the sake of readability, many of these entries have been combined. I was a little disappointed when Gran returned the book to me because she hadn't gone into a lot of detail. Yet now it's one of my favorite treasures and resides in a place of honor: a Memory Box purchased by my mother (Gail Iolani (Johnson) Gross) at Disney World in 2006. Due to the length of the book (365 pages), only a little bit of the story will be told at a time. These are (mostly) her words. NOTE: Nicknames are shown in quotation marks... comments by me are in italics and PURPLE. :)
I was born sometime in the afternoon on Saturday, 26 June 1920 in an upstairs apartment located on the 500 block on West Fourth Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. Dr. Staney was the attending physician. Grandmother Poppleton (Katherine Mary Woods) and Aunt Nora (Eleanor Henrietta Barbara Elizabeth Burlingham) were also there.
Mother's full name was Florence Marie Berchtold, but the family called her "Dan". She was born on the 2 April 1894 - also in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Mother came from a rather large family by today's standards. Fred Andrew, Rose Josephine, Louise "Jake" Mary, Bertha "Bert" Lillian, Gertrude "Gert" Anna, Martha "Mart" Margaret, Frances Charles, Clarence "Hon" Lea, Jack James, Walter "Icky" Richard, Ruth "Rudy" Pauline and Andrew William.
Dad, Charles Randall Poppleton, was born 15 January 1891 in Irine, Pennsylvania. Dad's family wasn't quite as big as Mom's. There was Celia (his half-sister), Louis May, Ethel (minnie), Gladys "Glad" Margaret, Jane Myrtle, Hiram "Hi" Ray and Roscoe Cyril.
Brother Bill and sometimes Mom and Dad called me "Sis". Never had any other nicknames [other than "Red"]. Although in later years she confided to me that she always wanted to be called "Eve".
My brother, William Charles Poppleton was born Sunday, 2 July 1922.
Dad worked for Bell Telephone until he retired due to heart problems. Mom worked as a cook for the Boris family until she and Dad married. The Boris family gave me my high chair when I was born.
I remember Granpa Berchtold taking me to McCarty's Greenhouse and getting me roses... and the other kids jealous because they never got any. Grandma Berchtold (born January 19th) used to bring out the cashews for just the two of us after everyone else had gone. Her vegetable soup with home made ? in it and apple dumplings for dessert.
I remember watching Grandpa Poppleton peeling and eating apples at the table. He stood only five feet tall. I remember looking at his old railroad watch and chain. I remember Grandma Poppleton making mittens and doing embroidery. She taught me when I was five to do "fancy work" as she called it.
Aunt Bert was my favorite Aunt. She just knew hot to treat kids. Sh never had any of her own. She was a good cook. I used to go with her when she went to pick up Grandpa at Sims Foundry where he worked. She stayed home and kept house until she married Fred Shadduck in 1936 and moved to Denver for two years.
My favorite uncle was Walter. He was a lot of fun - always teasing. He knew all kinds of card tricks and always had time to play with the kids.
Our family reunions were held on the Fourth of July. Originally they were held at the Outing Club on the Allegany River at Warren, PA. In latter years they were held at Pittsburgh or at Heart's Content. Dad was the President after Uncle Bob died. Good food, softball games (single and married) and swimming. About a hundred people attended each year.
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