Christopher Vineyard DAR

 Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 3 October 2017), "Record of Christopher Vineyard", Ancestor # A118925.

Taking My Sister to Camp Fire Camp 1961

 Mother placed her children in special organizations to enhance their personal growth. Bryan was in Cub Scouts. Paula and I were in Camp Fire Girls. In the summer of 1961, our family trip was to take Paula to Camp Fire Camp at Camp Latoli in Saint Jo, Texas, close to Fort Worth. Camp Latoli was built in 1950. Several of the pictures are when we dropped her off. I don't think she was very fond of the idea of being left, and if my memory serves me correctly, she grew homesick and mailed letters home begging for Mother and Daddy to come get her. But she persevered and made it through the week. On our return to pick her up, we did a side trip to a local Air Force Base and a Garden. Of course, we enjoyed the motel and swimming the most.

Me and my sister

Paula and her camp counselor

Their totem. Paula's group was the white patch on the pole near her head.

A walk down to the camp's new pool. About this time, I was glad it wasn't me staying at the camp. The reality was also setting in on Paula.

Hike downhill to Pool

And back up again. 

Pool time!

We had the pool to ourselves. I was a bit afraid of the water. Bryan is in the pool and Mother is coaxing me closer.

Train ride at the park, minus Daddy who took all the pictures. He was the only one with a steady hand.

And a brother who couldn't resist irritating his little sister. 

Daddy's Family 1961

This post features Daddy's family in 1961.

Pictured above: Oscar Hart, Merphia's 2nd husband, Merphia Ewing Quillin Hart (my grandmother), Billye Merle Quillin Carver, Bobby Carver, Truman (my daddy), Carolita Jones Quillin (my mother), Leonard Emmons, Francelle Quillin Emmons, and unknown older gentleman...may be Leonard's dad.

Above: Daddy and his sisters, Billye and Francelle.

                                        

Above: Granny Hart (Merphia Ewing Quillin) and her daughters, Francelle and Billye. Of course, my brother, Bryan and cousin David are peeking out from the tree. and I stand in wait to be part of a picture.

Above: The children: front row, Paula Quillin, Nancy Quillin, David Carver

back row: Beverly Carver, Patricia Emmons, Bryan Quillin.

The Artist - Merphia Ewing Quillin Hart

 There have been different spellings of her name. We called her Granny, but in my research, I always use the spelling that she placed on her artwork. She was talented with oils on canvas. These two pieces are still in my possession. Granny gave them to my mother, Carolita Quillin. 

Granny signed her artwork as MERPHIA HART. 

She enjoyed painting still-life and landscape. 

The landscape painting (below) was painted by Merphia from a photo that was taken by my mother after a vacation trip to Colorado. This was Mother's favorite spot in the mountains. It forever hung in our home.

My Favorite People - Francelle and Leonard Emmons

 1956

Looking back on pictures, I now understand why my daddy's sister, Francelle Emmons, became my favorite person outside of the immediate family. She loved me with agape love, and I felt as if she was my other mother. Francelle simply adored me, and when I could reciprocate that, I simply adored her, too. There will be more about her in the coming posts. God sent me a blessing with an aunt that I forever hold dear in my heart. 

Above: Aunt Francelle and Granny Hart admiring me as an infant.

Below: Francell, Patricia (my beloved cousin), Leonard a gentle man whom I loved dearly.

Christopher Vineyard Family Group Sheet

 

HALLOWEEN

 1960

Vernon, Texas

This is when we lived on Texas Street. Our cousins would come join us for the fun of 

Trick-or-Treating. 

Back then, Halloween was celebrated by children only. A large Halloween carnival was hosted by Hawkins elementary. I think it was only on the bottom floor, but different rooms offered activities and sold tickets for people to participate. These activities were things like a cake walk, dunking for apples, etc. Everyone, children that is, would turn out in costume.  They sold all kinds of food in the cafeteria. It was truly a hometown center of fun. My costumes were usually the store bought variety of clowns or skeletons with the suffocating plastic mask that I could barely see out of. It evolved into making our own costumes which usually consisted of hobos and witches. When we left the carnival, Mother and Daddy would take me individually to go door to door in search of the trick-or-treat candy. They would follow along in the car. This wouldn’t last for long as it was usually getting late on a school night.  I remember pilfering through the candy and separating the things that I didn’t like and Daddy would usually finish it up.