Pot Guts

Hello Dear Reader,
After Grandpa (Wes) Carter finished remodeling their home, he and Grandma (Mary) bought some property (five acres) in Fairview Canyon close to Gooseberry Resovoir. It was in a beautiful spot next to five acres owned by Uncle Gus and Aunt Lois Black. Grandpa and Grandma's property had two springs and they were excited to begin building a cabin where they could get away from the "rat race." The first order of business was to develop the springs and then the excavation could begin.

Grandpa dug the trench for the springs by hand. The dirt then had to be hauled away in a wheel barrow. He and Grandma both worked very hard all summer. Grandma, not fond of rodents, was a little nervous of the pot guts (prairie dogs) that seemed to be everywhere. There were other small animals as well. There were many beautiful wild flowers and fish were abundant in the resovoir. But when I think of Fairview Canyon, I first think of the pot guts.
Love,
Aunt Genni

P.S. Although my research on Dempsey Hood is not yet perfect, I have added my report to The Family Thicket. You can find it as an attachment under Harriet Bradford Simmons.

Happy Changes

Hello Dear Reader,
In the spring of 1970 Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was given a new assignment. He was now to visit all the stakes in Utah County, south Salt Lake County, and Tooele County, every month. He liked this area better as he didn't have so far to trravel, cutting down on the time he was on the road. He was pleased to have more time to spend on the remodel of his and Grandma's house. Grandma was also pleased and said, ". . . each room turned out to be a masterpiece of skill and individuality."

While they spent time on the house itself, Grandpa and Grandma acquired more property behind their home  where they planted an orchard of fruit trees and berries. They also planted a wonderful vegetable garden in an ideal spot.

Grandma was especially happy to be close to Grandma (Caroline) Hall again as Grandma Hall was now in her eighties. The two women spent a lot of time together, visiting, quilting, working, and laughing--lots of laughing. Grandma Carter always loved her mother very much and thought she was one of the most wonderful people on earth. Life seemed full of happy changes for the Carters.
Love,
Aunt Genni

A Chicken in Every Pot

Hello Dear Reader,
Dave and Marilyn moved to Utah in the summer of 1969 for Dave to attend BYU. Marilyn preceded Dave by plane as she was expecting her first child and the doctor was concerned about her traveling any closer to her due date. Grandpa (Wes) Carter worked hard to fix up the old farmhouse in the Riverbottoms so the young couple would have a place to live while Dave finished his degree. Grandpa installed new cupboards and fixed up the bathroom along with other improvements to make the old house more liveable. After Marilyn arrived she worked hard too, painting floors and walls. Grandma (Mary) Carter was working at Signetics.

Dave and his dad, Bob, meanwhile, were driving from Washington DC pulling a U-Haul. On the evening they were to arrive, Grandpa and Marilyn were heading home after an exhausting day. But Grandpa said he needed to go check on his rooster. He had given the bird a solid kick earlier when the ornery chichen had attacked him from behind. The workers were tired, sweaty, and dirty but the rooster was dead. There was nothing to do but to stop and pluck it before they could leave the farm.

Marilyn hadn't seen her husband for nearly a month and, needless to say, he and his dad arrived just as she and Grandpa got home. Marilyn headed for the shower and Grandpa, while visiting with Dave and Bob, put the chicken in a pot to cook. He made a wonderful meal of chicken and dumplings and soon Marilyn's humiliation of being sweaty, dirty, paint spattered, and close to nine months pregnant was nearly forgotten.
Love,
Aunt Genni

A Painful Experience

Hello Dear Reader,
After the excavation on the addition to Grandpa and Grandma Carter's house was complete, Grandpa carted a wheelbarrow full of debris across the trench when the barrow tipped into the trench pullling Grandpa with it. This accident caused a separation of his shoulder and arm (rotary cuff) and he suffered in a lot of pain for two weeks not knowing the extent of his injury.

When he finally went to the doctor he was told he would have to be operated on which he agreed was necessary. Following the operation he was put into a cast that encircled his upper body and arm,  and which held his arm outward and upward. He was in the cast for nine very uncomfortable weeks.

The doctortold him that he would never again be able to raise his arm above his head. But Grandpa was determined that he would be able to use his arm and so, with faith, he proceeded to give himself therapy. He credited help from the Lord, self-determination, and a positive attitude with almost total recovery from a very painful experience.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Really Home

Hello Dear Reader,
By the time spring rolled around, Grandpa, Grandma, and Billy moved back into their home. They were finally really home. Grandpa immediately began remodeling and adding on.  Their home was in terrible condition after such a long absence. I don't know how many renters it had seen but renters are notorious for not taking care of a place and the family was disappointed to find many of the treasures they had thought were safe behind locked and boarded up places were either gone or ruined.

Grandpa added a new family room, kitchen, and utility room. Above the addition he constructed another bedroom and bath. He tore out the old kitchen and stairs leading to the girls' room and made a big living room and dining room. The family had fun picking out brick, paint, paper, carpet, lighting, and other materials to show off the antiques they had accumulated in their travels. It was a labor of love. They were truly really home.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Seven Years Later

Hello Dear Reader,
In October 1968, Grandpa (Wesley) Carter received a telephone call from Salt Lake City. It was Earl Monson, manager of the Operations and Maintenance Department, asking if Grandpa would be interested in returning to Utah to work  for Operations and Maintenance. Grandpa and Grandma "were overjoyed," to use Grandpa's words, so they packed their belongings in a church truck and their car, and headed for home. It was nearly seven years since they had left to go on their mission.

Because they still had renters in their house in Provo, they temporarily moved into their duplex at 607 North 750 West. Grandpa's new assignment included the southern part of Utah and Nevada. This area encompassed 34 stakes that he was required to visit every month. It didn't matter! They were home at last.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Everyday Life--or not

Hello Dear Reader,
Life settled into a routine for Grandpa and Grandma Carter except that they moved from a house in a nice neighborhood into a condo--also in a nice neighborhood, still in McLean. The condo was a townhouse which meant it was pretty much straight up and down. There were a couple of rooms on each floor and stairs, stairs, stairs. I wish I had a picture to show you. It was quite charming, although hard on the knees.

Billy was very active in scouting and made the 50-mile hike he had been training for. The trail was along the Potomac River and Billy was the first from his group to finish. He finished in 20 hours! Quite an accomplishment! We were all very proud of him.

Love,
Aunt Genni

Carter's Hotel

Hello Dear Reader,
Lots of people visited Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter while they lived in Virginia. And who wouldn't want to, with their living so close to Washington DC? Carol flew out in 1967 with her three children, Scott, Kris, and baby Brett. They were such cute children. We all loved them and enjoyed their visit.

Aunt Angie (Angela Cameron) was another visitor who we enjoyed very much. She was always so kind and grateful for anything anyone did for her. She had a talent for making everyone feel loved and happy--just like her older sister, Deon.

When Kent came for a visit before he went south to work in Macon, Marilyn met him in DC and took him on a tour. It was rainy and cold that day but they got to see lots of sights including a tour of the White House which they both enjoyed very much.

The family had missed their relatives terribly and felt so blessed to have time with them when they stayed with them at Carter's Hotel in McLean, Virginia.
Love,
Aunt Genni

More Weddings

Hello Dear Reader,
About a year and a half after the family moved to McLean they learned that Kent had married LaGena Bowen. Grandpa (Wes) Carter had just had a hemmorhoid operation and couldn't travel to Macon, Georgia where the newlyweds lived and where a wedding reception had been planned for them. Grandma (Mary), Billy, Marilyn, and the man she was dating, Dave Cassidy, left Virginia for a weekend and drove to Georgia for the celebration.

Six months later Marilyn was to marry Dave in the Salt Lake temple. By this time Grandpa had recovered from his surgery so the family piled in the car once more and made a trip to Utah for their wedding.

Grandpa and Grandma decided to buy some property while they were in Utah and bought an old farm house on three acres of land in the Provo River Bottoms. Soon after that Aunt Deon (Smith) accompanied Grandpa, Grandma, and Billy on their return trip to Virginia. A lot had happened in that six-month period of time.
Love,
Aunt Genni

McLean, Virginia

Hello Dear Reader,
The Carters began attending the McLean Ward and, Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter were called as Sunday School teachers--Grandma in Junior Sunday School. Billy was still in grade school but soon became active in scouts and began training for a 50-mile walk. Marilyn went to work at the Stanwick Corporation in Falls Church, Virginia.

Grandpa recalled, "I had to fly a lot as I had such a large area. The thing that stays in my mind most is sitting in airports waiting for fog to lift." There were two main airports that Grandpa flew into and out of. Grandma recalled, 'I worked in the school lunch [program] at the Churchill School and made some very good non-member friends." At first, the family lived in a very nice house that they rented in a beautiful neighborhood.
We were adjusting to McLean very well.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Tourists Once More

Hello Dear Reader,
Once again the family was able to travel and visit places of interest. We were especially happy to be in the nation's capital where we could learn more about the history of our wonderful country and visit the sites associated with historical events. We also loved visiting the surrounding areas like Mt. Vernon, Appotomax, Fredicksburg, and Montecello. We had all developed an appreciation for antiques which seemed to increase as we travelled and shopped all along the east coast. On one particular trip to New England we stopped at an auction, a memorable event. It was a beautiful autumn day and we gathered under some lovely trees. We soon overcame our natural shyness and joined the fun of bidding for items we fell in love with. We each ended up with some treasures made all the more special because we had been there together as a family.

Living a little farther north afforded us the opportunity to visit many church history sites and feel the spirit as we listened to the events that took place in Vermont, New York, Ohio, and Illinois. The Church was just beginning to acquire and restore places of interest in church history. Grandpa (Wesley) Carter, of course, was supervisor of all restoration of such sites within his area.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Changes

Hello Dear Reader,
Brother Wendall Mendenhall, head of the Building Missionary Program, was released in 1965 so the program in the United States was discontinued. All building missionaries were released and the building supervisors went home. The Church began a new system of using building contractors rather than missionary laborers. This led to the close of the Atlanta office and Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was assigned to be the new area supervisor for the eastern United States.

The family was transferred to Virginia and chose to live in McLean, a beautiful wooded area. This was a more central location for Grandpa because he was now over all church construction east of the Mississippi River from Puerto Rico to Nova Scotia. McClean was across the Potomac River, fifteen minutes from Washington DC.

The changes were hard because Grandma had just had major surgery and Marilyn needed to stay in Atlanta for an additional six weeks to complete her schooling. But by the end of the summer Marilyn had graduated, the family was reunited, Grandma had recuperated, Billly was in school, and Grandpa was becoming familiar with his new position and his new area.
Love,
Aunt Genni

I'm Back

Hello Dear Reader,
Have you been wondering what happened to me? This has been quite the summer but between family things I have been working on the Dempsey Hood/Charity Hill line. Last fall when I took Southern Research I had a disappointing semester--not grade-wise--I did ok there. But I was disappointed in my final paper. I kept having computer (and other) problems and I felt that my results were definitely lacking. So I have been working to make up the lack. Now another semester has begun and I must put my efforts to rest for a while.

I am feeling good about what I've accomplished on this line so far but I'm not sure I'm ready to put it out there for everyone to view just yet. If any of you would like to see my paper you can let me know and I'll email you a copy. The paper may give you leads for further research. I'm finally feeling that I have a good grasp of who the Hills were although no direct evidence has been found to tie Charity and her sister, Prudence, to their parents. There is circumstantial evidence though, and sometimes genealogy is proved by using such evidence.

Tomorrow I'll continue Wes and Mary (Hall) Carter's story.
It's good to be back.
Aunt Genni

Losing Another Daughter--or Gaining Another Son?

Hello Dear Reader,
I don't remember exactly when Philip Youngblood returned from his mission and swept LeAnn off her feet but it was probably in the summer of 1965. It wasn't long until he proposed and the wedding was planned for December. The Salt Lake Temple seemed to be the only satisfactory place for their wedding to take place and so, at the beginning of December Grandpa (Wes), Grandma (Mary), Marilyn, LeAnn, and Billy piled into the car for the trip to Utah for the anticipated occasion.

Grandpa chose a southern route which took them across Texas at its widest point. It was probably the most boring trip the family had taken together to that point. Well, not completely boring. Long, boring stretches of road were interspersed with sheet terror that we wouldn't make it to the next gas station. We were all very happy to be out of Texas.

The wedding and reception were lovely but the family was sad to leave LeAnn in Provo with her new husband. She had always been a source of fun and laughter and it wasn't long until we missed her greatly.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Vinegar

Hello Dear Reader,
The Carter household was always full of happiness and laughter. Grandpa and Grandma bought a wonderful new stereo and, when Grandpa returned home after several days on the road, he often had a new album or two for the family to listen and dance to. And we danced a lot. The girls dated fairly frequently, went to church activities regularly, and hung out with the girls who served as office staff in the Church Building office. They also "laid out," working to get beautiful tans which were usually preceded by terrible burns.

One evening LeAnn had a date with Kenneth McIntosh, a young man in the Data Processing program at DeKalb Tech with Marilyn. The girls had been in the sun all day and when they went indoors they were pretty red. But no matter, they knew the cure--apply vinegar liberally. The vinegar took the burn out of the skin but left a rather pungent smell. LeAnn, however, looked georgeous and we were all anxious to see her off on her date.

When Kenneth arrived we all gathered to see his reaction to our beautiful LeAnn. He was polite but it wasn't long until he said something like, "You smell good. What kind of perfume do you have on?" LeAnn quickly responded, "It's Vin-e-garr." I still laugh when I think about it, nearly 47 years later.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Life Goes On--Even Better

Hello Dear Reader,
It wasn't long until the Carter family settled into a routine. Neither Grandpa or Grandma mention anything specific in their life stories after summer and for the rest of 1964 except that the three children still at home were in school and that we moved from Stone Mountain into Decatur. I seem to remember that the lease was up on the house in Stone Mountain. But, anyway, the move put Grandpa closer to his office in Decatur and it was only a few minutes more for Marilyn and LeAnn to get to school. Billy had to change schools again but he seemed to be happy.

We were now about 10 minutes closer to the stake center in Atlanta where we attended church. Grandma was called to serve as a counselor in the Atlanta Stake Relief Society presidency and we made many good friends at church.

We all learned to appreciate the Southern culture. The civility of the Southern people, their hospitality, their soft-spoken ways, their charm, and their gentle sense of humor all enhanced our outlook on life and made us better people for being there. The slower pace of life, the beauty of the area, and the mild climate also contributed to our sense of well-being. It was easy to love living in the South.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Formal and Informal Education

Hello Dear Reader,
A new technical school was opening up in Clarkston, DeKalb County--a school free to anyone who lived in the area. This appeared to be an opportunity too good to pass up. So, with their drivers' licenses in their purses, LeAnn and Marilyn decided to inquire about the credentials and the courses that would be offered at the highly-touted school. After a tour of the facilities, LeAnn enrolled in Secretarial Science and Marilyn enrolled in Data Processing Technology. It would be fun to be in school together again. And this only about five minutes from home.

Thus began a new adventure for the Carter sisters. For the next eleven months every day was an adventure. Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter provided a car for them to drive. Sometimes it was the Volkswagon station wagon that the family had purchased in Germany--a total lemon. The girls had to be sure to park on a hill so, when the car wouldn't start, they could take off the emergency brake, roll down the hill, and pop the clutch to get the engine to turn over. They were learning more than secretarial and data processing skills.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Everyday Holds a Possibility of a Miracle

Hello Dear Reader,
Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter were still on their mission although they had been relocated to the Southern States. Their call was for three years but they could only obtain British visas for two years hence the new assignment. But funds were still short and it seemed impossible for Marilyn to return to BYU. Meanwhile, Marilyn and LeAnn decided it was time to get their drivers' licenses. So, on a whim, they talked Grandma into taking them to the other side of Atlanta to be tested. They read the handbook on the way.

Somehow, they were both able to pass the written test and headed outdoors to take the driving part. An obstacle course had been set up in a large parking lot. They stood waiting and watching while one woman ahead of them drove through the obstacles. Her driving was pretty pathetic but she certainly had more experience than either of them had. She failed the test.

Now it was their turn. Marilyn went first. The examiner gave her all kinds of hints such as, "Let's see a little sunshine on that arm." Parallel parking wasn't even close.

Then it was LeAnn's turn. Grandma, Marilyn, and Billy all stood biting their nails as LeAnn gingerly made her way through the course. When she and the examiner got back to the starting point, however, she sat and talked to the man for a few minutes, let out a yelp, and threw her arms around his neck. Both girls had passed. That had to be the miracle of the summer. Grandpa was amazed.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Connecting to the Southland

Hello Dear Reader,
When May rolled around the Houtz family, who Marilyn had lived with while she attended BYU for the year, drove to Atlanta so Marilyn could be with her family after eight months of homesickness. It was wonderful to be reunited again.

LeAnn graduated from high school shortly before so we were free as a family to travel with Grandpa as he made his rounds to the twenty-two buildings that were under construction in the Southeast Area. One trip we took was to Miami Beach. It was the first time the family had been to a warm and sandy ocean beach. We basked in the sun--so much so that we all suffered terrible sunburns. Even the bottoms of our feet got burned. It was painful to walk for about a week. We were all sick to our stomachs for several days as well. It was as if we were so burned we became dehydrated.

But that didn't deter us from going with Grandpa every chance we got. The beauty of the South touched us immensely. We had no idea that future genealogical research would reveal that some of the places we visited were places our ancestors had lived. No wonder we felt a special connection to the Southland.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Washington DC to Louisiana

Hello Dear Reader,
Grandpa (Wes) Carter's area encompassed all of the southern states from Washington DC to Louisiana. He was over 64 building missionaries along with 16 supervisors and their families. In addition he had four other men on the office staff (their families were missionaries too just as our family had been in England, and still was, for that matter) and five girls who were also called as "building missionaries." (They obviously didn't build chapels but served secretarial, clerk, and accounting functions in the office.)

Grandpa and Grandma became close friends to some of the supervisors and their families. They had the satisfaction of seeing some beautiful chapels built and witnessed the boys develop, shape up, and learn trades to last them throughout their lives.

The family attended the Atlanta 1st Ward on Ponce de Leon close to downtown Atlanta. The natives pronounced the name of the street, "Ponce de Lyn." Can you imagine that with a Southern accent?
Love,
Aunt Genni

Building Missionaries

Hello Dear Reader,
The project supervisors and their families all stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Carter before they were assigned to a building somewhere in the South. The boys who were to work with the project supervisors also stayed with them until they were assigned to a project. As these people trickled into the new area it was a very busy time for everyone, probably most especially Grandma. It probably felt to her as if she were running a hotel, not just a bed and breakfast. Full meals were provided.

Some of these "Building Missionaries," had never held a hammer before let alone built a building. Grandpa felt the full weight of training them, supervising them, loving them, correcting them, and encouraging them in the Gospel. He said, "In spite of all the trials and tribulations there was some joy and satisfaction in what we were trying to do."
Love,
Aunt Genni

DeKalb County

Hello Dear Reader,
Grandma (Mary) Carter said, "We were then called to go to the Southern states to open up the Church Building Missionary Program there. Kent went home and went into the service. My husband had an office at Decatur [DeKalb County], Georgia, and we lived not too far away at Stone Mountain, Georgia. Again we got to see new and beautiful sights as we traveled around the Southland.

"LeAnn was a senior in high school and graduated there. Billy enjoyed it more as he was accepted as a true blue "Reb," [having been] born in North Carolina. I worked for a while with the boys in Primary and then was called to be a counselor in the Atlanta Stake Relief Socieity presidency."

Shortly after Grandpa set up his new office in Decatur, project superintendents and their families started arriving. Marvelous experiences were in store for everyone involved in the Building Missionary program--and now the program had come to the Southern states.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Stone Mountain

Hello Dear Reader,
Grandpa (Wesley) Carter was able to find living accomodations and buy furniture rather quickly once he was on the ground in Georgia. Within a few days he flew back to Provo to gather up Grandma (Mary), LeAnn, and Billy and take them to their new home in Stone Mountain. That was the beginning of many, many flights into and out of the Atlanta airport, the hub of the South.


Of course there are always a few glitches to make life interesting and the first glitch the family experienced was lost luggage. That too, would become old hat as the family began to be more experienced travelers. They rented a car, drove to Stone Mountain (the town, that the mountain is located in), and started to settle in to the house Grandpa had rented. Their new furniture had been delivered and it wasn't long until their luggage was delivered too. Neighbors began to call with their charming accents and Southern hospitality. This place held many new and exciting possibilities. The family was in for a wonderful adventure and they would be there for the next three years.
Love,
Aunt Genni

The South Will Rise Again

Hello Dear Reader,
After returning to Utah for a short visit, Grandpa (Wesley C.) Carter flew to Atlanta, Georgia to begin setting up the Church Building Program in the Southeast United States. He took a limosine from the airport to a hotel, all the time wondering how to go about finding living accomodations and setting up an office.

He just got settled in his room when the telephone rang. It was Jack Joiner, president of the North Carolina Stake. President Joiner had been to Salt Lake for October Conference and had been informed that Grandpa would arrive in the South on that date. The two men met, went to dinner together, and began a lifelong friendship that Grandpa looked upon with great fondness.

Grandpa said, "It seems to me that the Lord always takes care of those who serve Him."
I couldn't agree more!
Love,
Aunt Genni

PS Although I didn't take a lot of classes this year the ones I took were very labor intensive. I have many clues about George Bradford who Grandma (Caroline) Hall searched for for many, many years. This past semester I did my project on the families (polygamist) of Leven Simmons.
Yesterday I received my grade and this evening I posted my research paper on Leven Simmons' page of the Family Thicket (as an attachment). I hope you enjoy it. It's not perfect but little is in the busy life of a student.