52 Ancestors: Thankful - New Friends

Over the last few months, I've connected with two new friends and am so thankful for the connections.

The first was an artist who contacted me about the book he was publishing.

Painting the Grand Homes of California's Central Valley by J.P. Lane

James spent nearly 2 years traveling, researching, and painting.  The book covers 52 homes in 30 towns throughout the Central Valley with 20 architectural styles, painting tips, and even jokes.  And just guess which home is included in the book?  That's right, the home of my grandparents, Sig and Loraine Levy!

What a thrill to see the painting he did of their home.

James wrote:

Sigmund Levy was the son of Herman Levy, who emigrated from Germany to Fresno and signed the Fresno City Charter, and mother Goldie Benas Levy.  As a young man he was training to be a WWI Army Air Service when the armistice was signed and the war ended in 1918.  Later in life he became a prominent real estate and insurance broker together with his brothers in the Fresno area.  Herbert and Leon also lived in Wilson Island.

Sig and his wife Loraine had this Spanish Revival home built, which contains Monterey influences.  It featured modern amenities for the 1930s and was shown in local newspapers and magazines of the day.

The image I painted from the front makes this home look big, but the view from the side shows that it is immense!  This is one impressive home.

Sources: "Wilson Island Stories of the 1900s: The Sigmund and Loraine Levy Home at 1549 Echo Avenue.  Austen, Debi Levy.

Year Built: 1934

Architectural Style:  Spanish Revival

Architect:  Orville R. Taylor

Builders:  Taylor-Wheeler

Visitor status:  Private residence, please admire from afar.

FUN FACT:  The neighborhood is called Wilson "Island" because Rosanna created a few dead-end streets, essentially cutting off parts of the neighborhood from outside traffic (and riff-raff).

You can read some blog posts I've done about the house HERE and HERE.

Within a day or two, I had another new friend reach out to connect.  Turns out her father used to work at Levy Bros., the business of Sig and his brothers, Herb, Leon, and Ben.  

We spent some time talking by phone and one thing led to another and when she told me how old she was, I figured out that she probably knew my parents which she did!  My parents graduated from Fresno High School in 1944 and 1946 and she graduated in 1945.  She remembered so many friends of my parents and she was so happy to reminisce.  We've 'talked' a few times since and it's fun to share stories and pick her brain about Fresno history.  She remembers hearing stories that her dad would tell when he came home from work in the 1930s-1940s.

Levy Bros. office, c. 1920, Sig Levy on right

I'm so thankful that I was able to connect with new friends!

52 Ancestors: Birthdays - We all have 'em!

This week's blog prompt brought back many memories of birthdays, both mine and those of others.  So here are some special birthdays in photos.

Of course, probably the most memorable to a family is a baby's first birthday - not that the birthday boy or girl has any memory of it, though.  But thanks to my photographer wannabe Dad, at least I have some photos of my special day.

Keep your hands off, Deb!

But it tastes so good!

And here's my second birthday.  Dad labeled this photo on the front so in the interest of privacy, I've cropped it in order to delete the names.  

SP, Sister, TJ, Me

Since my sister is older, of course I wasn't around for her 1st birthday but Dad took care of that for us.

One of my favorite family photos is one that my dad titled "the greatest photo ever taken".  I've shared it before but it's too good not to share again.

Big sister's 5th birthday

I haven't run across any of my brother's first birthday, or really any others, but I did come up with this group shot.  And I'm happy to say that I can identify a few of these kids.  For those of you from my childhood, you might still be in touch with the girl on the right in the middle row.  Big brothers Tim and Sam.

Brother is middle kid, front row.  Maybe 4th or 5th birthday?

I even have a few of my dad to share.  My grandmother was kind enough to label this as his 2nd birthday.  What a cutie patootie!

Gordon Levy, 11 February 1929

Mom threw a big party for his 50th birthday - do I remember it was a surprise?  No matter what, he was thrilled to celebrate!

Looks like one candle per decade

One last photo that has become a classic in our family.  I learned the hard way that even though my girls have birthdays only one day apart, they must each have their own cake.  Sharing is hard to do!

Was Ernie not the preferred character or was sharing the cake the problem?

Birthdays - we all have 'em!  And when my birthday rolls around in just a few short weeks, I'll be thankful that I've had another one.

52 Ancestors: Stormy Weather - Snow!

For most of the country, snow isn't an unusual event and people, particularly adults, dread winter arriving because of snow.  

But I grew up in San Jose, about 40 miles south of San Francisco, where snow is something kids (and I'm sure, secretly, adults) wished for.  Almost every year we were severely disappointed but on January 21, 1962, the unexpected happened and it SNOWED!  It was an event worthy of the front page of the Oakland Tribune the following day.

Oakland Tribune, January 22, 1962, page 1

I remember waking up that Sunday morning and running outside to see for myself.  Sure enough, there was a light dusting of the white stuff on our front lawn.  Somewhere I remember seeing a photo of my mom standing there but because my memory says she was in her bathrobe, maybe it's a good thing I can't put my hands on that photo now.

But I found a few photos and this one from that day in San Bruno shows the amount of snow I remember.  

I really don't have memories of going to the snow as a child but as I looked through my dad's slides, I found proof that we did, in fact, have at least one visit.

Not much snow here!

Yosemite, 1958

Big sister explored and found a little more.

I don't know when or where this was but it goes to show you that Dad had some photography "issues" and often times the subject lost all or part of their head.

Big Sis, Me

Not sure where this was but by my brother's age, I'd guess it to be about 1964.

Did I really try to ski?  I do remember going as a teenager and after one trip down the hill I vowed I would never try that again.  And I haven't!

Being that my parents and all grandparents/great grandparents grew up in California, I don't have many photos of any of them in the snow.  But my paternal grandfather, Sig Levy, must have strayed away from Fresno at least once to play in the snow.

That's a big snowball!

Now that we live in Washington, we see snow more than I'd like but it does provide a peaceful and beautiful setting.  Just keep me off the roads!

 

52 Ancestors: Voting - Gordon Levy, President

I'm not sure if my dad, Gordon Levy, didn't talk much about the past or I just didn't listen.  Actually, I think he DID talk about it but once he realized we weren't listening, he gave up.  But one thing I do remember him talking about was his service as Student Body President at Fresno High School in the fall of 1943.

Gordon Levy, c1943

Notice the Block "F" on his sweater signifying Fresno High School

Dad was involved in many, many things in school and throughout his life - he loved serving his classmates and his community.  But I don't think he was as proud of anything as he was of his service to Fresno High School as President of the Student Body.

I know that he was one of three nominees for the position.  What I don't know is how these individuals were 'selected' to run - was there some type of nominating process or, like it was when I was in school, did these individuals just decide they wanted to run and away they went?

Fresno Bee, 29 May, 1943, page 9

And not just because Dad told us he'd won and there was lots of evidence to that effect, The Fresno Bee actually reported this.  Those were sure different times!

Fresno Bee, 3 June, 1943, page 17

And the following year, The Owl (Fresno High's yearbook) confirmed that these individuals were, indeed, officers of the student body.

From The Owl:

Executive Committee Fall Semester

With a platform of better rallies and assemblies and more interest in student body government, President Gordon Levy began the semester by appointing a hard working executive committee, which gave the administration a flying start.

The committee made two wise choices when it appointed Peggy Kohlmann commissioner of social affairs and Roger Burton to the position of yell leader.  John Hammel, commissioner of finance, headed the Senate sponsored war bond campaign which succeeded in winning Treasury Department citations for the school and its senior and sophomore classes.

The hope for increased interest in student body activities was furthered with weekly ex-committee bulletins and the Beef Box which gave students an opportunity to express personal viewpoints.  The social program of noon dances was enlarged by two evening dances which proved extremely successful.

Two portions of the by-laws to the constitution were amended.  One provided for a life pass awarded to all athletes earning four major letters whereas the other authorized a student body Gold Block F award to one boy and one girl of each graduating class.

To better visualize membership in the student body, the committee voted to provide free student body membership cards which proved to be conducive to school spirit.  The committee also became permanently situated in room S-26 where all rally and executive meetings are now held.

At the opening of the semester, President Levy managed to come to terms with the Roosevelt High School student body, a fact which resulted in resumption of relations between the schools on November 11, probably the high spot of student cooperation.

Vice President Lowell Aiken and Rally Chairman Vergil Gerard instituted student talent assemblies and achieved the goal of one assembly per week.  George Holstein, dean of boys, helped to increase faculty co-operation as activities sponsor.

It was nice to read about the improved relations between Roosevelt High School and Fresno High School in the Fresno Bee.  From the account in the article, "the long rivalry of the schools came to an abrupt end last Fall when the two principals recommended to Wilson that competitive events cease because of cases of vandalism and 'near sabotage' involving students of both schools and resulting from 'heated spirit' generated by the 1941 and last Fall's football games."

Fresno Bee, 16 Sep 1943, page 18

Fresno Bee, 16 Sep 1943, page 18

Also in the 1944 edition of The Owl, this photo was included.

That's Dad in the middle of the front row holding.....holding.... WHAT?  He's holding this????

When we put together the memorial service after he died, I remember choosing some photos and other mementos to put on a table for attendees to view as they entered and exited the synagogue.  I don't remember many of the details but I do remember that this gavel was displayed - instinctively, we must have all known just how important it was to him.  Who knew?