They are officially engaged!

It looks like it’s official – my parents are engaged!  The announcement was made at Ricky’s on October 2, 1949.  I remember hearing a lot about Ricky’s as a kid but I never realized that it was the site of such a historic event for my family.  It turns out that Casa Ventura is the house Mom lived in at Stanford. 



And a few newspaper articles tell the details.



While there are some familiar names, there are many that are completely unfamiliar to me.  I’m going to pull out Mom’s yearbooks and see if I can find out if some of these people were classmates at Stanford.  What I’ve learned is that Mom didn’t seem to stay in touch with most, if any, of her friends from high school or college.

And another article.



And then there were the notes of congratulations.



Wandaline Carter is a name I’ve never heard before.   I’m glad she enjoyed the candy that was provided to the guests.

And Patti and Carol means nothing to me, either. 



But here’s someone I recognize – this would be Irene (Gunzendorfer) and Al Sherwin.  Irene was my grandmother’s (Loraine Gunzendorfer) cousin – Irene’s father, Jacob Gunzendorfer, was the younger brother of Loraine’s father, Abraham Gunzendorfer.  The word ‘cousin’ looks like it was written with a different pen and may even be Loraine’s handwriting.  I’ve found items later in the book where Loraine had written addresses for people so Mom would have them for thank you notes – maybe this was to remind Mom who these people were.



It must have been an exciting time – one that every little girl dreams about.  Stay tuned for details about the showers and parties that were given for Mom!

You’re invited

In honor of what would have been my parents’ 63rd anniversary, you’re invited to follow along with me as I document the Bride’s Book and photo album that my mother put together between 1949-1950 as she was engaged and married.  My sister and I spent hours looking through these books when we were kids and now they are in my house ready to be scanned. 



Based on some things I’ve found in the early pages of the book, I think Mom may have thrown herself a get together, perhaps to announce her engagement.

Her mother and step-father, Clara and Shell Hunter, sent a telegram to Casa Ventura, presumably to arrive in time for brunch.  The time stamped on the telegram is October 1, 1949 at 8:37 p.m. 

 

And look who else sent a note of congratulations – my grandmother, Loraine Gunzendorfer Levy.  I love that she felt the need to identify that she was Gordon’s mother.  Based on the pin hole in the top left hand corner, I wonder if this card might have been attached to flowers she sent. 



Oh how I wish Mom hadn’t put her things in the book with scotch tape :-(  I guess it gives it character, though.

So sit back and relax as we celebrate my parents!