Grandma Lucille was good at writing up memories. Her own auto-biography, and histories for her husband, parents and grandmother. In addition to the biographies, she wrote some basic memories of both her parents. We don't know if these were written before the more formal biographies, or afterward. There is a lot of the same information, but some different memories/phrasing between the documents. Both the "I Remember Mama" and "I Remember Dad" documents are featured in the MEMORIES section on Family Search for Olive and Claude. As scans of old typewritten pages, perhaps copies of a copy, they are a little hard to read. The "I Remember Dad" moves into many childhood/family memories from Lucille. Both documents have been retyped for easier viewing.
I Remember Mama
Life of Olive Laura Cushing Erskine
Born - October 18, 1882
Died - August 5, 1959 (age 76)
Mother - Laura Cushing Father
Samuel Hunt Father - sealed to Henry Cushing
Worked in the primary. Sung in the choir. Was on the Primary Stake Board. Mother was the backbone of our home. Everyone loved her.
She lived in the 11th ward as a child, and after she was married, belonged to the 11th Ward Club for years, even until she died in 1959.
Her friends were Helen Eatley, Virtue Squires, Ethel Sears, Teen Loverage, Alice Wickens.
She played the part of Queen Ester in her school play. We still have the lovely picture of her in her costume.
She sang in the Tabernacle Choir and had a lovely trip to California with the choir.
Mother was an accomplished piano player. She took lessons from her mother Laura Cushing, who had one of the first grand pianos in Salt Lake City, Utah.
When Mother graduated from high school, she started working at RexMeyers, a wholesale hat shop. She enjoyed making lovely hats.
Mother was married in a lovely white lawn dress with lace inserts. I still have it in my possession.
Mother had three half-brothers; Harry W, Herbert and Robert. Robert died at the age of 4. Herbert was a soldier in the Spanish American Wa. He never married and died of Sugar Diabetes. Harry was a wonderful brother, but was crippled in his early marriage with rheumatism.
Because Grandma had a lovely piano, all the boys and girls gathered at Mother’s home to enjoy their evenings.
They had a hammock in the side garden, and Mother and Dad courted there. They used to go roller skating at Saltair ballroom, and also dancing. They enjoyed hay rides, bob sleighing, ice skating, the Sale Lake Theater, taffy pulls.
Mother and Dad belonged to a dance club, which was a big enjoyment to them.
I Remember Dad
Life of Claude Arthur Erskine
Born - February 7, 1883
Died - February 14, 1953
Mother - Eliza Roberts Erskine
Father - Archibald Erskine
High Priest in Hawthorne Ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Dad was always a wonderful father. I remember Dad riding to work each day on his bicycle. He didn’t get his first car until 1926, A Chevrolet touring car. He loved to drive the car so much, he would park it out in front so he would have to take it down the street, up the alley and into the garage.
Dad worked at Western Hotel Register as a bookbinder. He bought shares in the company and thoroughly enjoyed his work.
As a boy of 12, he had to quit school and help out in his family. He first started working at the Arrow Press as a clean-up boy. He was still working at Arrow Press when he got married.
Dad lived up on 726 1st Avenue, and Mother lived on 8th East, 124 South 8th East.
Dad had 2 brothers, John and Ralph, and 4 sisters, Kate, Ruby, Bessie, and Ivy. Aunt Ivy was a triplet, and the other two babies died. Aunt Kate was the oldest and Dad was the 2nd child.
Dad and Mother came to live at 833 Spruce Avenue when they were married and later it was changed to 831 Harrison Avenue. They lived there all their married life.
Dad loved to go fishing, and we have pictures of his fishing trips.
His friends were Tom Squires, Bob Batley, Will Sears, Will Loveridge, and Rue Mcknight.
Mother and Dad were married on June 12, 1907 in the Salt Lake City Temple. They had a lovely reception at Mother’s home, and stood in the bay window to receive their guests. They had planned an outdoor wedding, but it started to rain, and rained for 2 weeks. Mother thought Spruce Avenue was a long, long way from home.
After having 4 daughters, Mildred, who lived only 2 days, Ruth, Lucille and Maxine, Dad was on cloud 9 when he received a son, Harold. Later, another daughter, Shirley came to bless their home.
I remember our fishing trips to the flats on the Weber every 4th of July. The touring car packed with supplies and kids to the extent that it would hardly make the summit.
Every holiday was important to the family, and we always celebrated by going on trips as a family. Trips to Como Springs, The Hermitage in Ogden Canyon, Vivian Park in Provo Canyon, Liberty Park, Geneva, Black Rock, Saltair, Lagoon.
In the fall , I remember our hikes up City Creek Canyon through the autumn leaves. We didn’t have a car then, and all went on the street car. We would always stop at town to pick up a large bag of peanut butter chews. Mother would pack a nice lunch and we would hike up to the natural bridge.
At thanksgiving time we would celebrate with Grandma Cushing, Aunt Eva, Uncle Harry, Robert, Kenneth and Carol.
At Christmas time, Dad would enjoy picking out our lovely Christmas Tree. They would always leave it up a couple of weeks after New Years, they enjoyed it so much. I remember summer evenings when we, as children, would entertain our parents and neighbors, by singing and dancing for them, as they sat out on their porches.
I also remember when it was so hot, Dad would sprinkle our feet while he was watering the lawns.
Every summer we would make root beer as a family project. Tie the corks on with string, and some would explode.
I remember moving out on the sleeping porch for the summer. The whole family. Then we would use the front bedroom for our playroom. Also moving our kitchen table out on the back porch for the summer.
I remember our big swing in the back yard, and how fun it was to swing on a summer evening, after we were ready for bed.
I remember taking supper over to Grandma Cushing, who lived just through the block on Sherman Avenue, and how fun it was to visit her.
I remember cold winter nights, when Mother would slip an iron wrapped in newspaper at the bottom of our bed to keep our feet warm.
I remember cold winter mornings, when we would hurry from bed and gather around the hetrola in the dining room, where Dad had built a nice fire.
I remember our family nights, when Mother would play the piano and we would all sing.
I remember going ice skating with Mother and Dad at Liberty Park.
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The Westra Siblings created a list of "I Remember" moments regarding Mom(Margie) and Dad(Lamar) for Mother's Day/Father's Day in 2020, so check those out for more "I Remember" Mom/Dad memories!
