December 7, 1941

I just couldn't let this day pass without some recognition and a nod of respect once again to the military veterans in our families.  Pearl Harbor Day has always been quietly acknowledged in my own little family because my father-in-law served in the U.S. Army Pacific Theatre during WWII. I know I'm drifting away a bit from the Alcott family, but Jim's father is the only person I knew personally who fought in the Pacific during the war.  I believe Uncle George Humphrey and Uncle Chet Clifford served in Europe, specifically Germany.

Anyway, this is Sherman Charles Shover, Jim's dad:

He actually enlisted in the Army in 1940 when he was 18.  He was stateside in 1941, but in October 1942 he was aboard the USAT President Coolidge transport ship when it struck a mine and sank in the harbor off the island of Espiritu Santo in the South Pacific.  All but two soldiers were able to escape the wreck.  Other than that incident, we don't know anything else about his service overseas since he chose not to discuss it ever. 

 

I'll try to be back this weekend with more family pictures and postings.  Pardon our recent absence -- Santa's been busy in his (her) workshop!  --cds/ck

Our Civil War Veteran

Though many of us remember Grandpa Carroll -- John E. Carroll -- or at least had a photograph taken with him when we were babies, I wonder how many of us knew that his father, Nicholas Carroll, was a veteran of the Civil War.

Nicholas was born in 1840 in Maryland; he was 21 in 1861, the beginning of the Civil War.  In the early days of the war, each state was in charge of recruiting companies of local soldiers that were then sent to fight with the Federal forces.  Young Nicholas Carroll enlisted with the Patapsco Guards, a company of about 100 men out of Ellicott Mills, Howard County, Maryland in September 1861.  This unit primarily served provost marshal duty -- military police -- during the first year of the war right there in Howard County.  They were eventually assigned to Harper's Ferry, then to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, then the Chambersburg-Carlisle-York-Harrisburg area, guarding various bridges and towns under the threat of Robert E. Lee's northern advance.  The company was in charge of guarding various fords at the Susquehanna River during the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 2 and 3, 1863, but they were sent back to York and then Gettysburg itself soon after for guard duty at hospitals and prisons.  Nicholas was officially mustered out of service in 1864, the same year that he and Elizabeth were married.  Their son, John E. Carroll, was born February 18, 1865, in Maryland.  Two daughters were born after the family moved to Pennsylvania, Steller A. in 1868, and Ada S. in 1872.

This is a card from the military pension index showing Nicholas Carroll filed for a pension in 1890.  It also notes the date of his death on February 14, 1926, at age 86.  He is buried in Watsontown, Pennsylvania.

 

It is frustrating that we can't find any photos of Nicholas Carroll, especially since he was still living in 1926.  We'll keep digging.  --cds/ck

 

 

Eleventh Hour, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Month...

... marked the ceasefire that brought World War I to an end (on the Western Front anyway) in 1918. Armistice Day (or Remembrance Day) turned into Veterans Day in the United States when we pause to remember all those who served in our country's military, in whatever capacity, during whatever era. Since I don't want to make a mistake in identifying a branch of service or rank or anything, I'll just post a few of the soldier photos that we've received. I know there are others, particularly from the younger generations, who have served as well, but we don't have their pictures just yet.  Nonetheless, our pride and gratefulness to all military service men and women and their families remain steadfast.

George Humphrey, husband of Thelma (Alcott) Humphrey:

 

Chet Clifford, husband of Ethel (Alcott) Clifford:



 

Morris Trout, husband of Delores (Alcott) Trout Athis:

William Alcott, son of William and Ada Alcott:

 

Carl Alcott, son of William and Ada Alcott:

John Kohl, husband of Claudia (Alcott) Kohl:

 

Frank Athis, husband of Delores (Alcott) Trout Athis:

 

Donald Humphrey, son of George and Sis Humphrey:

 

Don's son, also Donald Humphrey:

 

David Searl, son of Susan (Trout) Searl:

 

 

--cds/ck

Guys (and Girls) and Cars

Sometimes as I'm scrolling through all these photos, my husband Jim (a car guy) will halt me in mid-scroll and say "wait, go back to that picture of the old car":

Not "who is that cute little angelic-looking child" (Little Claudia) -- he just zeros in on all that chrome. Oh well. So above is my Dad's old Ford - 1950 or 51, we think.

Cousin George Humphrey in front of one of his Dad's Pontiacs (remember the lavender and cream colored one? I loved that car). Below the Humphreys are out visiting in their, perhaps, Easter Sunday finest. Aunt Sis always dressed so nicely, didn't she? And it is worth zooming in on her shoes in this photo -- very strappy and stylish.



It was so popular to pose the kids in front of the vehicle. This one is covered up by Jackie Alcott and Morrie Trout in front. Bill Alcott in uniform holding Carole Alcott and George Humphrey with Claudia Alcott standing alongside.



Ethel and Chet Clifford standing in front of a line of cool cars, and even cooler soldiers -- not sure where these were taken - perhaps some military installation.



Not sure whose car this is.



This Ford was one of our old station wagons where our parents would just let us play around in the way back -- scarey to think about those days before seat belts, isn't it.



Here is Lois and Sis not giving a hoot about the shiney cars in the background. In fact, Lois is saying "Doug, put down that G-D camera." Lois was sassy in those days.



Guys will always love putting their feet up on the bumper and enjoying a beer or two. Uncle Bud Marks and William Reynolds Alcott enjoying themselves.



Uncle Bud in 1960 (love photos that are dated).



Love this photo for so many reasons, not the least of which for the crease in those trousers! Grandpop Alcott is dressed to the nines for some reason -- pressed shirt with cufflinks, hat in hand, sweater, and those pants! This is one of my favorites. Oh yes, Jim thinks the car is a Buick, maybe 1948 or 49, something like that.

Same car with Leonard Alcott this time -- very cool.



I like this one also -- pull the cars up in the yard, get out the lawn chairs, and join the picnic.



Ada Alcott getting into the passenger side -- did she ever have a driver's license? I forgot to ask that before posting this picture.



Bill and Ada Alcott.



See what I mean by loading all the kids on the back of a vehicle? This is a more modern photo - very early 70's I think, with Aunt Sis and Marcy Humphrey standing (with toddler Melissa Humphrey?). Sitting on the station wagon's roof, Jeff DeHart holding Patrick Baker, Rob Baker and Terrie Sue Baker flashing us the peace sign. I'm sorry, but I don't know who is sitting behind Rob.



--cds/ck

Civilian Conservation Corps

Hoping all our mid-Atlantic area relatives are safe and sound, in stout homes away from flood-prone areas and wind-borne debris.  This post will be mainly something for you to read while you wait out Sandy's nastiness.  Here is an opportunity for me to write a little history lesson for you -- oh, don't scowl -- how many times must I say that history is fun and interesting and good for your soul.

Anyway, this is a timely subject.  The Civilian Conservation Corps, a 1930's organization, was just one of the New Deal ideas from the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a very smart man who obviously paid attention in History Class.  In an era of 30% (Thirty Percent!) unemployment, the plan was to put as many young men as possible to work on all sorts of conservation infrastructure projects.  Not only did Roosevelt see the disastrous result of decades of environmental neglect (like the midwest's dust bowl), but he understood the danger inherent in mobs of unemployed young men (sound familiar?).  So in an amazingly short amount of time that puts our current slug-like Congress to shame, the Civilian Conservation Corps was born, and almost immediately guys 17 to 23 years old had an opportunity to work and contribute not only to saving crucial national resources, but to the welfare of their very own families back home.  Each man earned a dollar a day, $30 a month.  True, $25 was sent directly to their parents at home, but the men received plenty of food, clothing, boots, medical care and, most important, self-esteem and confidence. 

There were CCC camps in every state in the union.  Boys signed up locally, but were sent wherever they were most needed at the time.  The work they accomplished was invaluable to our Depression-weary country.  Something like two billion trees were planted, roads and bridges repaired, national park areas established and upgraded, forest fire towers built, emergency assistance of all sorts provided -- hard work, no doubt, but for the 17 year old boy who fought through the homesickness and toughed it out when extreme weather and sore muscles seemed overwhelming, the benefits gained were incalculable.

With all this in mind, I was surprised and awfully proud to learn that two of our relatives served in the Civilian Conservation Corps.  Jack Alcott was 17 in 1939, so I imagine that's about the time this photo was taken of a CCC-uniformed Jack Alcott with his father, William Reynolds Alcott.

 

And Jack with his sisters, Thelma (Sis) and Ethel Alcott.

 



 

Leonard Alcott turned 17 in 1941, which is about the last year of the CCC's existence - from then on the War scooped up young men and kept them employed for a while.  Len does look younger than 17 in this picture, though.

Photographed with Sis, Ethel and Jack (and baby sister Claudia standing by the car).

I don't know many of the details of their service, unfortunately.  We think they may have been sent to Nevada, but we're not sure.  If anyone can provide any bits of information, please contact us and we'll update.  Stay safe, dear family.  --cds/ck

Ancestral Dogs

It seems we must also take a moment to give proper homage to the canine friends in our family history since they seem to be showing up with regularity in the photographs I've been uploading recently. This is Butch, circa 1940's:

With Ethel, Leonard, Claudia and Lois.

Butch seems to have been a family favorite, even though my Mom tells me Ada referred to him often as "scum-of-the-earth."  Poor Butch.

 

This is a picture of Ethel around 1920.  I swear the animal looks like a sheep to me, not a dog.  Weird.

 

My Mom says she thinks this dog below was named Boots.  That's Leonard holding him/her with Bill and Carl at his sides.  Or Carl and Bill.  Damn, they look alike at this age.

Is this Boots all grown up?  With Jack.

 

This is Ethel with a cute puppy.  If this is her boxer-dog Mugsy, I wish he'd stayed that little.  Mugsy of the 1950's used to scare the living hell out of me.

 

What the???  Who had the Saint Bernard?  

 

Ada and Lois LOVE dogs, really!

 



(we do love you, Mikey!) --cds/ck

Music Man

Quick. Which song immediately springs to your mind when you see this man?

I don't know about you, but I hear in my head Shine On Harvest Moon.

Click on Leon Redbone's version below and enjoy the rest of the photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Marks and Claudine (Carroll) Marks.

Uncle Bud and Aunt Claud.

 

--cds/ck