Hello Dear Reader,
Grandpa (Wesley) Carter continued to work on the addition to the Provo City power plant until after the first of the year when it was closed down for the winter. “But,” he said, “We had a wonderful Christmas and holiday together.”
That was the beginning of their tradition of special Christmases. Shopping for just the right Christmas tree was a big deal and it was decorated with great care. First the colored lights went on and had to be evenly spaced. Next the ornaments, colored glass balls and toys, were placed on each branch. Last the silver-colored icicles which were made of lead were hung. It seemed to take hours to hang each individual strand. The icicles were heavy and hung beautifully when separated from each other and carefully placed so the ends never looped but were straight. The tree was totally covered with them. I wish I had a picture of a tree decorated this way so you could see how beautiful they looked back then.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
First Apartment
Hello Dear Reader,
After their wedding Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) lived with their parents—going between the Halls and the Carters is the way I imagine it. But as soon as Wes had his first payday the newlyweds rented their first apartment. The cost was $18 a month. The apartment was located on 2nd East and 5th South in Provo. They were very happy there. I don't know which house their apartment was in but this will give you an idea of the area as it looks now. Love,
Aunt Genni
After their wedding Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) lived with their parents—going between the Halls and the Carters is the way I imagine it. But as soon as Wes had his first payday the newlyweds rented their first apartment. The cost was $18 a month. The apartment was located on 2nd East and 5th South in Provo. They were very happy there. I don't know which house their apartment was in but this will give you an idea of the area as it looks now. Love,
Aunt Genni
Monday, July 6, 2009
Unemployed
Hello Dear Reader,
Wes continued to work as a carpenter for Axel Christiansen but soon after his marriage to Mary the house the company was building was finished and the job they anticipated fell through. Wes was unemployed. It wasn’t long until the money he and Mary had saved was gone. He joined the Union and went to Salt Lake where he found work at the municipal airport building. He worked one day before he was fired.
He started looking again and looked for two or three weeks. Finally, the job the Christiansens expected, an addition to Provo City Power plant, started up. Not only did Wes have work but he got a raise. He was now making 50¢ an hour for a total of $20 a week. He said, “We were rich!”
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wes continued to work as a carpenter for Axel Christiansen but soon after his marriage to Mary the house the company was building was finished and the job they anticipated fell through. Wes was unemployed. It wasn’t long until the money he and Mary had saved was gone. He joined the Union and went to Salt Lake where he found work at the municipal airport building. He worked one day before he was fired.
He started looking again and looked for two or three weeks. Finally, the job the Christiansens expected, an addition to Provo City Power plant, started up. Not only did Wes have work but he got a raise. He was now making 50¢ an hour for a total of $20 a week. He said, “We were rich!”
Love,
Aunt Genni
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Following Day
Hello Dear Reader,
The day following the wedding reception, Grandpa (Wesley) Carter took Mary’s little brother, Norley, hunting. Norley was sixteen years old and it was his first deer hunt. Because Wes had sold his deer rifle to buy gas to get to his wedding reception he had to borrow a gun.
He and Norley went up Spanish Fork Canyon, shot a nice buck, and were home before noon. Norley was pleased to see his deer hanging under the big tree in the family’s yard in Lake Shore. Grandpa (Laning) and Grandma (Caroline) and a still-younger brother, Bert, were all proud of this accomplishment too.
The day following the wedding reception, Grandpa (Wesley) Carter took Mary’s little brother, Norley, hunting. Norley was sixteen years old and it was his first deer hunt. Because Wes had sold his deer rifle to buy gas to get to his wedding reception he had to borrow a gun.
He and Norley went up Spanish Fork Canyon, shot a nice buck, and were home before noon. Norley was pleased to see his deer hanging under the big tree in the family’s yard in Lake Shore. Grandpa (Laning) and Grandma (Caroline) and a still-younger brother, Bert, were all proud of this accomplishment too.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Friday, July 3, 2009
Gifts
Hello Dear Reader,
The wedding reception ended at about 10 o’clock. Grandpa (Wesley) Carter said, “What a relief it was to get off from my feet! We were too tired when we left the church [so] we left the wedding gifts there until the next morning [when] we picked them up and took them to Lake Shore.”
Wes and Mary were grateful for all who shared the glorious occasion with them and who expressed their love by giving lovely wedding gifts to the bride and groom. The gifts covered the entire front room in the Halls’ home. If any of you remember the room, it was big—at least it seemed big to me but I was fairly young when the house burned down. Maybe someone out there can let us know the dimensions just for curiosity’s sake.
Love,
Aunt Genni
The wedding reception ended at about 10 o’clock. Grandpa (Wesley) Carter said, “What a relief it was to get off from my feet! We were too tired when we left the church [so] we left the wedding gifts there until the next morning [when] we picked them up and took them to Lake Shore.”
Wes and Mary were grateful for all who shared the glorious occasion with them and who expressed their love by giving lovely wedding gifts to the bride and groom. The gifts covered the entire front room in the Halls’ home. If any of you remember the room, it was big—at least it seemed big to me but I was fairly young when the house burned down. Maybe someone out there can let us know the dimensions just for curiosity’s sake.
Love,
Aunt Genni
Thursday, July 2, 2009
A Memorable Party
Hello Dear Reader,
Grandpa (Wesley) Carter said he didn’t realize it at the time but being married in the temple followed by the lovely reception was the highlight of his life. Grandma (Mary) Carter’s family had spent days in preparation for the party. Invitations were sent to every family in Lake Shore and to all of Wes’s and Mary’s friends and relatives.
Grandpa (Laning) Hall hired a live orchestra and everyone enjoyed dancing throughout the evening. There was a program. Wes said each person on the program made dumb remarks about the bride and groom—I can just hear the laughter. The refreshments served were chicken sandwiches (from chickens the Hall women raised, killed, plucked, cooked and prepared into sandwich spread), potato chips, pickles, wedding cake, and punch. Sounds good to me!
Love,
Aunt Genni
Grandpa (Wesley) Carter said he didn’t realize it at the time but being married in the temple followed by the lovely reception was the highlight of his life. Grandma (Mary) Carter’s family had spent days in preparation for the party. Invitations were sent to every family in Lake Shore and to all of Wes’s and Mary’s friends and relatives.
Grandpa (Laning) Hall hired a live orchestra and everyone enjoyed dancing throughout the evening. There was a program. Wes said each person on the program made dumb remarks about the bride and groom—I can just hear the laughter. The refreshments served were chicken sandwiches (from chickens the Hall women raised, killed, plucked, cooked and prepared into sandwich spread), potato chips, pickles, wedding cake, and punch. Sounds good to me!
Love,
Aunt Genni
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Reception
Hello Dear Reader,
On October 17, 1940 Grandpa (Laning) and Grandma (Caroline) 
Hall gave a reception for the newlyweds in the Spanish Fork First Ward cultural hall. Wes (Carter) had to sell his deer rifle to get enough money for gas for the trip to Spanish Fork that evening. He and Mary arrived at the church building about 7 o’clock and guests started arriving soon after that.
The evening was a huge success. So many people attended the party it was hard to get them all in the cultural hall. Here’s how the young couple appeared that evening:
Love,
Aunt Genni
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