There's 'Chemistry' In The Lab

Pomona Junior College Yearbook 1942 pg 29
Frank should be somewhere in this picture.
Take a look and see if you can find him,
if you do let me know.
Compliments of classmates.com

During the summer of 1941, Frank prepared himself to attend Pomona Junior College, which was an extension of Pomona High School.   They offered a 2 year college program that would prepare you for one of the local 4 year colleges.

That fall, Frank started college with a full course of classes. [The exact classes he took are unknown, but if you remember what your first session of college was like, you'd probably have a pretty good feel for what he was feeling; busy, overwhelmed, exhausted, tense, excited, and hopeful]

There was one class, that stood out from all the others - Chemistry Lab.

While in Chemistry Lab, Frank would quite often find himself in one mess after another.  [Who knows if how explosive the messes were, but it wouldn't surprise me if there were a few.]

One day, one mess, one such extra big mess - the type of mess that even the messiest of people look down on - was created by Frank:

Frank, finishing his lab assignment, looks around the table, and sees the largest mess the chem lab has ever seen!  Papers, bottles, liquid, and lab equipment, were sprawled all over the place.  It was such a huge mess that it took up the entire table even flowing down the sides to the floor.

Frank, being just over six foot, clumsily starts cleaning the mess.  As he'd put one item away, he'd knock over another, spilling and dropping more items then before.  Cleaning this way was getting nothing accomplished.

A gently, petite, kind, caring, beautiful young lady walked around the table, bent down along with Frank and started to help him clean.

Frank lifted his head to catch the individual kneeling next to him, and came in contact with the most delicate, gentle, eyes, he's ever gazed into.  Just then the cause, reason, and why of the mess quickly ran from his mind, only to be replaced by the vision of kneeling next to him.

They both stood to place a few items back on the table, Frank's height looming above her petite five foot frame.  She came only to his chest, but looked directly into his eyes, catching a glimpse into the soul of the real man, Frank.

Frank introduced himself and thanked her for over and over for the extra help.

She introduced herself as, 'Betty, Betty Calkins', and commented with a little giggle that he could use a little help right about now.

Together, this cute little lady, barely 5 feet tall - and this messy, 6 foot tall man cleaned up the chemistry mess.  This moment would forever catapult Frank's life into a new trajectory, one filled with future hope.

Pomona Junior College Yearbook 1942 pg 28
Betty Calkins, I believe is on the front row very far left.
Classmates.com

One would love to know the reason for the extra help.  Was it Betty's generous compassion for the extra large man, attempting to clean an extra large mess, while making more messes as he cleaned?  Or was it the opening she was hoping to come across so she'd get to know this good looking gentleman in lab class?  Unfortunately this will always remain a mystery to us, at least one that we will never know in this lifetime.

Whatever the reason, I thank Betty's generous heart for her willingness to help Frank.  For it was this moment that made it possible for me, and most of you reading this, to be here today.  Thank you Betty, also knows as Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma.

Pomona Junior College Yearbook 1942 pg 54
Betty Calkins asterisk next to name and pic
classmates.com

Frank's Unspoken Dream Comes True

Frank Houser Senior Picture 1941
Page 50 of Pomona High Yearbook
compliments of classmates.com

Let's jump back a few years, and get to to know more of Frank Lambert Houser's earlier days:


While moving from Montana to California, then up and down California following the crops, working side by side his mother for hours on end, future hopes and American dreams were luxurious available for the rich.  


Today, the secret dream he held onto while working as a migrant worker, is coming true: 


Frank, after carefully dressing in his finest attire, walks into the room where his mom stood.  Grace admires the man standing before her, with love and pride in Frank and all that he has become.  She quietly cherishes this moment, marveling at how remarkable both of her son's have turned out in spite of the rough start in California.  


Frank strolls through the house ready to leave, and asks his parents if they too are ready.


It's late spring of 1941, Grace grabs her handbag, tucks a tissue inside, and sets off with Frank Sr, and Frank Jr.  (James unable to attend since he was (most likely) pursuing his dream - crossing the ocean and on his way to the South Pacific.  If he were here he wouldn't miss watching his young brother for anything.)   

Pomona High School

They arrive at Pomona High School, Frank Jr, parts from his parents and lines up with his class mates.  Today he becomes a high school graduate, a dream that seemed highly unlikely several years ago.  


Frank in anticipation, like most young graduate boys, straighten up a bit taller.  It could be from the formality of this American ritual, pride over his accomplishment, or merely so their parents could easily find them in the crowd. 


Grace finds Frank easily in the sea of graduates.  He didn't need to straighten up, he naturally stood taller then most his age.  


Today IS a good day.


Frank steps up to receive his diploma.  As he takes his diploma from his Principal, Principal Johnston E. Walker, gratitude and happiness start welling up in his heart.

Frank Houser is identified in red asterisk.
 Page 50 of Pomona High yearbook.
compliments of classmates.com

Grace, elated, watches him from the crowd, as he receives his diploma,   Grace's heart swells, both of her boys graduated, overcoming extenuating and difficult circumstances earlier in their life. 


Frank, on his way back to his seat, catches Grace's eyes.  They they smile at each other across the distance.  Frank quickly looks away in fear of the tears welling up.  They've been through a lot together, looking at her face beaming with pride while dabbing away her tears.  He knew he too would be overcome with emotions that he'd rather not reveal, and looking away was the only way out.


Frank takes his seat, brushes away the feelings that threaten to surface.  He couldn't imagine having his friends and classmates see him overcome with feeling, feelings he has kept buried deep inside.  As the procession of graduates come to an end, Frank and his classmates stand.  They ceremonially move their tassels from one side of their cap to the other - symbolizing their entrance into adulthood. 

Yearbook cover from Frank's senior year

Today, is for celebration and happiness - as one door closes and another opens.


Today is a good day, the future is bright, one could dream their dreams - even in dire circumstances.  Frank's future is encouraged, even celebrated.  He knew that if he received an education and worked hard, he would find his way out of poverty.


This fall, Frank had a lot to look forward to - a future. 

Exist & Survive - You Do What You Have To Do

Grace, James, and Frank Lambert head west, west to dreams of new beginnings, happier times.

Grace desperately needing to find somewhere to live, takes some advice and heads to Northern California.  She was told that the agriculture needs were high and she could get a job easily there.

The boys, compared to most ranchers, were pretty well off, however life was still hard on the ranch filled with lots of physical and mental challenges. These challenges served only to be a preparation for what was to come with life in California.  The boys, in a strange land, with no money, food, or house have found their lives turned upside down.  Survival and existence is the name of the game.

California was being inundated
with unemployed workers looking
for a  job in the dream land.

Grace, faces the grim reality - life in California is a vicious cycle that one is unable to leave.  The number of people pouring into California, based on a hope and dream, were more then the state could handle.  Grace saw Mexican immigrants willingly head back to Mexico, where life was better off.

The family learn that the sell of the ranch has fallen through.  Dad, Frank Morrison, will not be able to join the family in California as early as they thought.  He stays behind to care for the ranch in hopes of selling it soon.

As Grace gets a bit more accustom to California, she learns that small family farms don't last here.  The competition with large-scale agriculture businesses causes family farms to fail.  Another 'dream' crushed in the wake of the Great Depression.  She had to succumb to the conclusion that their only hope for their imminent survival was to work as crop picker, following the harvests from the north to the southern part of California.

This is a sample of what some
families had to live in during
the Great Depression

In order to be as mobile as possible the Houser family lived in a tent, most likely with other poor white migrant families in the same situation.  These tent 'cities' became known as ditch cities.  To help ensure their survival, all three had to help harvest the crops.  Yes, that included young Frank.

Frank, being between the ages of 9-11, works side by side with his mother, Grace, and brother, James.  He's surrounded by other women, men, and children picking hops in the north and working their way down the state and ending with the picking of cotton.  Frank was use to hard work, however even on the ranch he could still sneak away and play, here he was expected to work from sun up to sun down.  He was too young, way too young to live the life of child labor.

Migrant Mother: Dorothea Lange's
famous photograph from the Great
Depression features Florence
Owens Thompson, 32, a
mother-of-three who had just
sold the family's tent to buy food

Around 1937, life began to change for the 3 Houser's in California.  James Buster found a 'real' job working as a janitor at Smith Jones Smiths and College in Southern California (I couldn't understand the college name).  It was during this time that they were able to find a real place to live, settle down, and have James attend college for free (as long as he worked as a janitor there). His college dream took several years to come true, but it's finally time.

Life was finally turning around, getting a bit easier, more stable, secure, and calm.

A New Trajectory - A New Life

James (also known as Buster) excited, relived, concerned, but most importantly excited, takes his hand, grasps the tassel and moves it to the left side of his hat.  He smiles at the thought that his Flathead County High School days are over, done, caput.   As he takes his seat back with his class mates, the thoughts hidden behind his stoic expression are ones that he can't put aside.  This impending summer won't be like the others:

It's 1928, the year that the economic bubble begins to release its pressure valves. The bubble starts showing microscopic tears, tears small enough to only affect the working class, like Frank Morrison Houser and his ranch.

Frank Morrison, Frank's dad, angrily grabs the handful of bonds he keeps hidden away, bonds 'secured' by the U.S.Government.  He shakes them in the air and bellows desperately, "These, these bonds aren't even worth the wall paper in the hallway.  Not even the  paper they were printed on!" He stomps out of the house determined to find a way to sell the ranch and get out while the gettin's 'good'.

Frank Morrison and Grace saw the beginning of what will be known as the Great Depression heading towards America.  Together they decide to sell the beloved Houser ranch, get what they could out of it before they won't be able to get anything.  Hopes were high, the confidence in the housing market high as well.  There has to be someone who too wants a piece of the wild west, just as they did years ago.

Grace and Frank Morrison look to the future; what's best for their family, children, and finances.  They put their ambitions and dreams, again, on the 'west'.  The west is the future, west to California. Aah California, life was booming, agriculture was steady, unemployment was low, college registration was steady (at least this is what they thought). This was where they wanted to finish raising their boys, and where hopefully James would be able to attend college.  They decide that Grace and the boys will head to California to find a place to live.   While Frank Morrison stays to care for the cattle, sheep, land and house until the sell is final.  

That summer changed everything for the Houser family.  This is one of those life altering events (one of several that we will have the chance to read and write about).  Never again will the Houser family be the same, be able to enjoy the company of one another like they had.  This will mark an end to an era, but also a new beginning...

I Wanna Be Just Like Dad - Behind the Barn!

One late summer or perhaps late fall, the timing isn't so important as is the story I'm about to tell:

This is a picture of the most
common milk separator sold
during the 1920's.  Frank
Lambert may have used one
just like this.

Frank Houser finished his childhood chores.  It was the one consisent chore that he was able to do since he was the youngest. Frank would heft and carefully, without spilling any, poor the fresh batch of milk over the edge of the seperator's top bin. He would then start turning the crank over and over seperating the milk into two buckets; one side filled with cream, the other side with skim milk.  He would do this over and over until finally he finished the 240 gallons of milk produced each day from the 35 or so cows on the ranch.

Frank wanting to be 'grown-up' and like his father (now, what small boy didn't want to be like their dad?) decided to participate in one of his dad's passions:

Frank looks around the ranch.  Aha, there it is, some old newspaper.  He sneaks a section of it from the house.  He takes the newspaper in hand, goes out back, and gathers a smal handfull of dried weeds.  He walks briskly, looking around to make sure no one saw where he was going, or what he was about to do, behind the barn.  Frank lays and flattens the newspaper down.  He takes a small handful of the dried weeds and carefully arranges them in the middle of the newspaper.  He carefully, but quickly starts rolling the dried weeds up inside the newspaper - creating a small rolled up newspaper cylinder.

Frank holds the roll of newspaper out for inspection, making sure it was rolled tight enough. He then peers at each end, making sure they were just perfectly flat on each end.  Aahh, it passes his visible test, now he's ready.

He places one end in his mouth, and then quickly strikes a match.  Once the spark of flame takes off at the end of the match, he takes that orange flame at the end of the match and places it to the opposite end of the newspaper roll.  He starts to suck the air in through the newspaper roll, just as he's seen his dad do hundreds of times before.  He sucks harder through the newspaper roll, as the other end starts starts instantly glowing flaming ochre-red.  Then the flame crackles to life, the 'cigarette' lights up, just like his dad - all grown up.

Suddenly his father, Frank Morrison, comes around the barn, just in time to see his young boy with a flaming, smoking, homemade cigarette in his mouth.  Frank Lambert quickly tries to put his cigarette out as his father angrly gets closer and closer.The 'cigarette' is just about out by the time his father reaches Frank, however, not all the way.  His father hastily takes the 'cigarette' from Frank and snuffs it out all the way as Frank tries to get away unscathed from his father's anger.

Frank Lambert received a paddling that day, right there behind the barn, in the place where he tried to be 'grown -up'.  His father's anger was justly so.  How dare Frank risk lighting a flame when the barn could so easily become engulfed in flame.  A barn filled with straw and hay, the ranch's 'bread and butter'.

That day taught Frank a lesson we are all thankful for today.  For the rest of Frank's life, even before he felt it was morally wrong, he never had the desire to smoke - again.