The Deicison That Started it All - Betty is One Step Closer

Betty's father, Dr. Calkins, rests his head in the palms of his hands.  His finger tips threading through his hair, his pinkie knuckles digging into his closed eyes, and obscuring his view.  That sleepy, tingling sensation radiate from his bent elbows resting on his wooden desk.  Elbows that have kept the heaviness of his head a float in his palms, swarmed amongst strewn papers.  Papers that tell a story, one that none wants to hear or reveal.

Possibly what Dr. Calkins'
 desk looked like

Dr. Calkins sitting alone in his dental office located in the heart of Chicago's upscale shops in the Marshall Fields building slowly picks his heavy laden head off of his palms.  Blurred vision comes into focus as he lifts his head out of his palms, relieving the blurring pressure from his eyes.  Spread before him are ledgers, each line telling a story that one can not deny.  To his right, lay the next days mail ready for pick up.  Tucked carefully inside each envelope are the most recent slew of past due notices.  Each sealed with the dampness of an anxiety ridden lick, addressed with hand written desperation, waiting for their recipients' possible positive reactions.  

A sample dental ledger from
the 1930's

William, slowly with determined mental heaviness flips through the pages over and over.  Reviewing every entry, tallying each cent, ensuring they are being accounted for.  Exhaustion and defeat throbbing through his veins, fighting each thread of hope since opening his  dental practice.   Decisions needing to be made, changes need to happen , and sooner rather then later.

We go back a few years prior to the event above, the year 1929, right at the burst of the stock market bubble.  Individuals and businesses who placed their trust and financial future in the mighty stock market, like William, were left with a future of unknown trajectory.  Dr. Calkins found that dental needs, just like many needs during this time, took a back seat as survival became Americans' focus.  The required root canal for a tooth ache was quickly replaced by pliers in the tool drawer, a huge savings on the patients pocket book.

An example of a popular 1930
dental chair

Between 1929 and 1933, Dr. William's dental chair saw fewer and fewer patients each week. The chairs sat empty for hours, and days at a time.  Patients that could pay at first, eventually started receiving past due notices.  Along with the crash of the stock market, his patients means of being able to pay their dental bills, were whisked away as well.  Oftentimes dental bills ran on and on for years, until Dr. Calkins made the decision that it was costing more money trying to get paid then to quit collecting for their debt.

Several sobering years combined with lack of monetary resources, push Dr. Calkins to this night - the night of anguish over decisions needing to be made.  Changes that needed to happen in order for Dr. Calkins and his family's well being, a decision made for the better of his family.  Dr. Calkins, with his ledgers of accounting in front of him, makes the first of many hard business and family decisions. He decides to move his struggling dental practice to his house, where the overhead costs were minimal compared to those of Marshall Fieldings.

This decision will be the first of many decisions that will bring Betty closer and closer to Frank.  The beginning of the end of an era, and the start of a new.

Betty 'Rocks'

Unknown Calkins Baby
From Black Leather Binder

Elizabeth and William Calkins, welcome and delight in the arrival of their daughter, Betty Margaret Calkins. Born in the midst of  the 'roaring twenties' at the beginning of American Prohibition, and in the same year that the US Attorney General proclaimed it 'legal for women to wear trousers anywhere'!   Sept 13, 1923, the day a catalyst for hope,  Betty, is born.

During Betty's young life, the influence of music could be heard and seen where ever she went:

"Betty, it's time for your lesson." Elizabeth states matter of factly as she enters her daughter's play room, a room littered with dolls and their 'required' accessories.

"Ah, not now.  I'm not ready."  Betty whines as she continues to dress the doll she has in her hands.

Elizabeth turns to walk away from the room, and says over her shoulder, "Well, unfortunately, it's your piano lesson in 10 minutes, and your teacher will be expecting you.  Now put your doll down and grab your piano books.  I'll be waiting by the front door."

'Strolling Along with Grandma Elly'
Unknown Baby From Black Leather Binder

Betty hesitantly places her doll in its bed, the bed made just for her doll.  You know the ones, the kind that every girl between the ages of 6 and 11 want, the kind with the canopy top, and matching dresser.  Betty pulls the doll's covers over her doll and gently tucks her in, kissing her on the forehead like her mom does to her.  Betty quietly tip-toes out of the room making sure to not wake the sleeping doll.  She gently closes the wooden playroom door as quietly as she could, acting as if her doll was a real child, who would magically awake if she was too loud.

Once Betty shuts the door, she starts sprinting towards the living room.  Knowing how impolite it is to keep someone waiting, especially her piano teacher.  Betty skids to a halt in the living room, right in front of the piano.  She grabs her books and hastily turns to meet her mom at the front door.

When Betty reaches her waiting mom, she starts into her continual run on questions (like most girls her age): "Mom, how long does my lesson take? When we are done, do you think we can go look at the drums in the store?  Do you think you and Dad will let me get drums?  I really, really want to learn how to play the drums.  If I learn how to play them, they will help me with my piano and dance, I'll be better at keeping rhythm on both of them."

'Talking to her pansies'
Unknown Calkins Girl From Black Leather Binder

A moment of silence sliced through the entry way, as Betty puts her shoes on.  Without skipping a beat, Betty clamored on as they walked out towards the driver waiting patiently with the back seat door open.  "You've always told me how important music is, how it helps make a lady well rounded and stimulates my mind. So what do you think?  Don't you think it would be splendid to have a daughter who would be so well rounded?"

Betty slides past the open Lincoln door, and climbs into the back seat. The slippery leather seats tempting her to slide across the back like a slip and slide, but without the downward motion.  She sits, bouncing ever so slightly in place, staring doe eyed, plea-fully, and hopeful at her mom.

Elizabeth carefully climbs into the back, being sure to keep her dress smoothed down so she could slide easier into the back.  She looks to her left to see her daughter, doe eyed and begging.  "Well, I'll have to talk with your father." as she tries to hold any semblance of laughter from her voice.

Picture of unknown lady driving car
From Black Leather Binder

After Betty's piano lesson, Elizabeth exclaims in heightened excitement from the back seat!  "Oh driver, will you please rush us to Williams office?  I just remembered Lilly Pons has an appointment with William today.  Oh, I do love her voice, it's like a choir of angels when she sings."

Betty sitting in the back seat next to her mother, starts to fill with childhood excitement and energy, similar to a bouncy ball being dropped from the second story window. She just loves the kindness and beauty that makes Lilly so appeasing and personable.  Lilly always makes sure to acknowledge Betty along with her parents each time she sees her, only making Lilly just that much more of a super star.



Elizabeth, with the same excitement as Betty, does everything she can to remain calm and composed while they drive into the city.  Elizabeth watches her daughter try not to bounce in the back seat, smirking to herself as she watches Betty attempt to monitor herself.   Elizabeth starts reminiscing about the many other times that she's had the opportunity to briefly converse with Lilly, most times ending with an invitation to one of her shows at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Unknown Calkins Girl
From Black Leather Binder

Elizabeth caught up in her memories of their trips to see Lilly perform, suddenly comes back to reality as they pull in front of the Marshall Building.  Once stopped, their driver walks around and opens the door for the two ladies.  They both walk quickly, with out seeming like they are rushing, through the busy Marshall Field building.  Elizabeth, wanting to keep herself as put together as possible, decides to take the escalator up to William's office.

Oh, how Betty loves the escalator!  It's as close to a carnival ride as a child can get in this stuffy store.  The place that tests her (and all children) in her ability to look with her eyes, and not her hands; walk, not run; and remember to act like a ' lady'.  The escalator was the one shining token of relief in a not so child friendly store.

Betty while riding the escalator envisions that it's the roller coaster at the carnival.  It takes all her might to keep calm and remain standing next to her mom, especially with the roller-coaster visions running through her mind.   All too quickly, her carnival ride is over.  However, she knows that once off the escalator it's just a few steps to Dad's office,  knowing Lilly is there makes it better that her ride is over so quickly.

Mother and daughter enter the office just in time, for Lilly was getting ready to leave.  Lilly, hearing the office door open, turns in time to see Elizabeth and Betty walk in.

Lilly Pons
Opera Star

"Why, Mrs. Calkins, I was just exclaiming to Dr. Calkins that I do hope to see the two of you at my next opening this spring at the Met." Lilly exclaims in star like, authoritative, fashion as she places her stylish hat on perfectly smooth long dark hair.  "Please send me a notice if you two can make it.  I'll have them reserve the best seats."

"Oh Lilly, we would be honored to attend.  Thank you so much."  Elizabeth, in a star struck, overly pleasing tone replies.

Betty, in childlike awe, steals a stare at the scene before her.  Her mother, in adoration, conversing with such a beautiful star like Lilly.  No matter that she's an opera star - she's famous, beautiful, and kind.  Betty, in inspiration, looks at this moment and with child innocence and asks, "Mom, are you going to ask Dad about the drums?"

"We'll talk about that later." Elizabeth nervously replies.  In an attempt to quickly hush her daughter and not embarrass her in front of Lilly with such silly talk of drums.

Sample of the Calkins lifestyle
From Black Leather Binder

"The drums, you say little Betty?  Why I think the drums are such a grand instrument." Lilly exclaims in earnest attention.

"You do?  I love them!  They make such a noise and keep the entire orchestra on beat." Betty in huge overly exaggerate tones,  gestures with her hands flaying around in front of her as if playing a set of drums.

"Why my darling girl, we should indeed take a real look at having you learn to play the drums." Elizabeth reassuringly and calmly says. Placing her hand on Betty's shoulder, indicating that it's time for her to hush, yet knowingly trust that they will indeed look into having her learn to play the drums.

Betty in innocence and excitement does her best to keep from jumping up and down and running around in joy and anticipation.  Finally!  She's going to learn to play the drums.

- Although the story above is based on actual facts, the reality of how Betty was able to talk her parents into letting her learn to play the drums is unknown.  I can't imagine Nanny (Elizabeth) being ok right away with her only daughter playing the drums, especially when you take into consideration their rich lifestyle and elite social life.  In any case, this means that my grandma rocked!

The star quality smile of Lilly Pons was indeed the work of Dr. William Calkins.  Through his work, the Calkins family became acquaintances of the opera star Lilly Pons.

Extravagant Decor and Upscale Dinner

As  you recall, last week we left off with young Betty being dropped off to school by her driver, with plans after school:

Betty Margaret Calkins
in middle - 4 years old

As Betty runs towards the school doors, the wind whips around her and sneaking up her long wool coat, causing chilly drafts to chill her young bones.  Assisted by the wind, she pulls open the door.  In wedge like manner, the wind holds the door open, and rushes in and down the halls.  

Betty turns and looks at the door, for a moment she debates whether she wants to fight the wind, and attempt to close it on her own.  Reluctantly, she drops her books to the side of the hallway, and walks towards the wind tunnel of a door way.

Her small hands grasp the door handle and she starts to pull it shut with all her might.  A gust of wind unexpectedly blows her feet right out from under her.  She's blown right into the door, where she struggles to compose her self in some lady like fashion.  She takes a mental assessment of her predicament and realizes there is no way she could remain lady like.   The next thing she feels is the gnarly wind blowing her coat tails up and over the back of her head - quite a sight for anyone to come upon!  Luckily her mother was well out of view!

The principal, feeling the bitter wind roll through the halls, starts investigating which door is propped open.  As he turns the corner, he notices a student plastered to the doorway by the wind, unable to loosen herself from its forceful grip.  He quickly walks over to her, creating a barrier between her and the wind.  Betty quickly lets go of the door and runs back inside, leaving the principal to fix the wind stuck door.

During the day, the wind blew a snow storm in, coating the ground with a small dusting of snow that blew around in blizzard like fashion in the gusty wind.  Betty would watch from her desk the wind and snow dance together creating swirls and streaks of white for her to be enthralled by.

The school bell rings, finally, it's over. Such anticipation of the evening activities made the day feel longer then ever!  Betty runs out to greet her mother, who was standing by the car door being manned by their driver.  Elizabeth stoops down and wraps her daughter in her arms, protecting her from the windy chill.  Betty hugs her mother back, and questions, "Are we still going to meet dad?"

Marshall Fielding Building

Betty hurriedly climbs into the car, where the warmth from the heater envelopes her and melts any snow.  She quickly pulls her hat off, letting her hair remain fashionably messy.

Elizabeth gently climbs in after Betty, being sure to straighten her dress as she sits, as to keep it relatively wrinkle free.  She fixes her wind distressed hair and says, "Well of course darling, he's expecting us."

The driver, again, maneuvers himself through the cold wind as quickly as possible, being careful to not lose his balance as he rounds the driver side of the car.  He climbs behind the steering wheel and negotiates the Lincoln towards the highway, en route to the immaculate Marshall Fielding Building in downtown Chicago, where Betty's Dad, William's, office was located.
 
The Driver pulls up to the front entrance of the Marshall Fielding Building, where they are greeted with opulence and high class.  Betty scrambles out of the Lincoln, and quickly asks, "Mom, can we go look at the windows?"  Pointing her index finger towards the nearest window, she utters in excitement, "Look, they've just changed them."

Elizabeth, who too enjoys the scenes created in the windows, especially this time.  "I think that'd be a great idea.  How about you make sure to keep with me and not run off? "

Passersby admiring the windows at the
Marshall Fielding Building

The Christmas theme windows always conjure up images of Santa Claus, elves, toys, and new Christmas fashions.   Oh what a dreamy evening it was going to be, thought Elizabeth.  Her daughter, and her walking through the breezy snow that just fell a few hours ago.  Both of them enjoying the scenes before them, created in Christmas fashion, with an air of generosity cloaking them.  

After walking outside the building for a few minutes, the chilly air soon became too much for the ladies.  They decide to go inside and make their way to dinner.   Upon entering, Elizabeth had to remind Betty that ladies don't run in stores, especially in the Marshall Fielding Building.

Betty excitedly asks, "Are we going to take the escalator?"  She continues in child like excitement, "I love the escalator, it's so fun."

A Letter, A Prominent Dentist, and His Family

William G. Calkins, Betty's Dad as well as a
Dentist in Chicago dated 1938

I received a letter.  Yes, a snail mail old fashion kind of letter.  The kind that if you were a child, and you received one, you knew you were 'important'.  I received one of these such letters last week from my dad, Leon Grange (Frank's son-in-law).

Cradled inside this simple manila envelope was a pivotal, riveting, handwritten copy of historical history - early history of Frank and Betty Houser.

Frank wrote this several years ago, before the ravages of strokes and falls started to take away his ability to express, and accurately depict his own life history.  A handwritten memoir of types, one that depicts a different time, in a different place, yet a place that still exits nowadays, but so different then decades ago.  He carefully, in cursive handwriting, chronicled general moments in his and Betty's upbringing, painting a picture of vastly different lifestyles.

A history that each and every sibling of Frank received inside their copy of the Houser genealogical book.  A cherished book that will last for generations, one that will be passed down in the various extended families from child, to grandchild, to great-great-grandchildren, and on and on, of Frank's.  One that someday will hopefully make its way back to Utah, so I can run my fingertips across and trace over Frank's handwritten words.  Imagining his rough weathered hands writing this information over and over for each of his children.  Smiling at the thought of his focused dedication and unwavering stubbornness to create and finish this, and every other, genealogical book.  A book that one day will bring the spine tingling tickles of truth, hard work, love, and historical history written with care by my grandfather, your grandfather, your dad, and great grandfather - Frank Houser- up and down my arms.

Join me in our next trip (with a little literary freedom, of course) as we take a look into the early life of Betty Margaret Calkins Houser, my grandma, your grandma, your mother, and great-grandma.

Betty's early life was filled with much luxury and opulence.  As the daughter of a prominent Chicago dentist, William G. Calkins, was able to provide his daughter, Betty, with many of the luxuries every child dreams of and wishes they could have.  As Frank writes, "Betty's parents were well off"

The view today of Ardmore Avenue
 in Illinois 

William, Elizabeth (Betty's mom and Dad), and Betty lived in an upscale neighborhood  just on the outskirts of Chicago, Illinois called Evanston, close to Lake Michigan.  Situated on a small avenue surrounded by other brick and wood homes with small front yards.  Yards that only had a few steps to separate the front door from the sidewalk, yet just large enough for a small welcoming garden. The type of garden that would surround visitors with beauty and smells of sweet flowers creating a welcoming earthy atmosphere for all that walked by or entered - just a tease of what could possibly be behind the large front windows and beckoning doors.   The type of house that even 90 years later still has the aura of wealth and prominence:

"Betty, it's time for school, hurry up now, the driver is out front waiting." Elizabeth, Bettys' mother, loudly calls through the house.  "Also, don't forget your hat and gloves, the wind's picking up and a storm is brewing."

"Coming mom" Betty calls out as she hurriedly pulls her hat on her head, then quickly places each finger in the sleeve of her mittens, and finally gathers her books under her arms as she runs towards the front door.

Elizabeth Calkins 1927 San Juan

While Elizabeth waits for Betty to come scampering from her room, she calmly looks at herself in the mirror.  She makes sure her hair is quite right and each piece is in it's proper place, her lips evenly accentuated with the newest and best shade of lipstick. She smiles, double checking that she hasn't smeared any onto her teeth.  She turns sideways, smooths her hands down her freshly pressed dress to accentuate her figure.

As Elizabeth finishes smoothing her dress, she looks down just in time to see her daughter come scrambling to a more lady like walk to meet her mother.  "Now remember darling we have to meet your father after school today.  You must keep neat and tidy, and remember to be on your best behavior."

The two ladies, mother and daughter, walk properly out into the freezing wind, their fur and wool coats pulled tightly around them.  They take a seat in the back of the car, in lady like fashion, carefully sliding in as to not wrinkle or mess their outfit.   The driver gently shuts the car door, buries his head into his chest as to avoid the bitter cold wind from freezing his nose and cheeks.  He quickly, yet gracefully, climbs in behind the steering wheel. The Lincoln slowly pulls out away from the curb and onto Ardmore Avenue.  As they speed up the sound of the wind whipping wildly around the car gets louder, reminding them all how great it is to be sheltered inside the warm car.

The car stops in front of Betty's school.  The driver gets out, turns his face to avoid the bitter wind, and quickly opens the door for Betty.  Betty fidgets, scrambles, and hops out in childlike fashion.  Leaving Elizabeth shaking her head in wonderment as to the possibility of her daughter ever having the manners required for their lifestyle.  As the driver shuts the door, he smiles and winks at little Betty in encouragement, as she hustles quickly into the school, out of the wind.

Ever See a Chicken Swim?

Turkeys, chickens, and swimming chickens?!

Before heading into the house in the evening, Grace would quickly examine the trees for her sleeping turkeys, making sure to they were tucked quietly and safely up and away from the many predators that abound around the ranch.

Day after day, young Frank was confused by the turkeys confusing tame 'pet-me' - wild 'runaway' actions they displayed towards him.  Although not the family pet, they did serve a great purpose in keeping the grasshopper population down - one would think that with the boundless plethora of grasshoppers to eat these turkeys would be nice, fat, plump, and juicy by fall - quite the contrary - they were quite skinny!

Front LtoR: Grace Houser, William G. Calkins,
Elizabeth Apgood (Nanny), Hope Henry,
Betty Houser - Back LtoR: Frank Houser Sr.,
Richard Tweed, Harry Kroh, Robert Funk,
Frank Henry, Frank Houser (my grandpa)

During the early summer Grace would hear the far off sounds of wild desperate clucking noises; wings flapping up and down, breaking the calm spring afternoon air; feet scratching and kicking up fresh spring growth along with moist warm soil next to the pond -  mamma hen 'lost' another baby to the lure of the pond's crystal clear sparkling water:

In the spring time, James (Frank's brother) would walk the quarter mile or so to the Flat Head River in search of one of the families favorite fowl.  He would locate one of the nests along the river bank, wait until it was safe, and then quickly and quietly raid the nest of it's valuable eggs.  He would continue doing this to several of the nests along the river bank until he had quite a clutch.

When James got home with the snatch of raided eggs, he would carefully sneak them into several of the hen's nests.  The mamma hen would incubate the stolen egg as one of her own, raising, caring, and loving it.  After about two weeks, the baby 'chicks' would finally give into the lure of the pond - and take to it like a duck to water.  According to Frank, "I'm sure the mother chicken had quite a startle when her baby chicks were swimming on the pond"

To keep the ducks from flying away, Grace would catch them when they were still being raised as confused baby chicks and trim their little duckling flight feathers to keep them ranch bound.

When I asked Frank why this was done, he answered in his matter-of-fact-I-can't-believe-you-are-asking-me-tone, "Well my brother and mother did this so we could have ducks - for dinner in the fall!"