Aunt Mary worked at Emery Bird Thayer Department store so googled it....

EBT stands for "Emery Bird Thayer" -- a longtime and beloved department store in downtown Kansas City that was closed in the late 60's and the building (which was on the National Register) was torn down in the early 70's.

Wikipedia: Emery, Bird, Thayer & Company was a department store in Downtown Kansas City that traced its history nearly to the city's origins as Westport Landing. The store, known as EBT, closed in 1968, and its building, which was on the National Register of Historic Places, was torn down in 1971. The store was started by Kersey Coates and William Gillis in the 1860s in the then Town of Kansas at the corner of Missouri Avenue and Main Street. Although initially outfitting travelers on the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail, it soon became more upscale. It moved to a new three-story building at Seventh and Main. The original Coates and Gillis store became Coates and Bullene when it merged with a store operated by Thomas B. Bullene. It then became the Bullene, Moore and Emery department store. The store assumed its final name in the 1890s from the investors W. E. Emery, Joseph Taylor Bird. Sr. and William B. Thayer. In the 1890s it opened a new building occupying a full block along East 11th Street from Walnut to Grand, designed by the architectural firm of Van Brunt & Howe. It soon became the prime attraction on the city's main retail thoroughfare, popularly known as "Petticoat Lane," and became famed for its Tea Room. Although the store attempted to expand, opening a branch on the Country Club Plaza in 1925 (enlarged in 1963) and purchasing the Bundschu store on the courthouse square in Independence, it could not keep pace with changing retail fashions and settlement patterns, and in 1968 it closed, with the loss of 800 jobs. A restaurant called EBT, at 103d Street and State Line Road near I-435, currently houses memorabilia from the store. The firm's warehouse at 16th and Walnut has been converted into residential lofts. During the renovation, lettering on the side of the warehouse reading "Emery Bird Thayer Warehouse" was repainted.

letters from Aunt Mary

Dec. 6, 2014....At Christmas time, I think about your dad leaving ears of corn and a bale of hay on the front porch for Santa's reindeer. I think he was 8 years old. I bet dad enjoyed having to put on wraps and goulashes and tote this back to the barn!

In today's paper is a cartoon where a little boy and his grandpa have made a fort with sofa cushions and a blanket. The grandma asks, "What are you two rascals doing in there?" Answer: "Coloring, eating brownies and telling scary stories in our fort." Grandma, "Tsk, tsk! What a big waste of time." Last scene has grandma standing by the fort with a KEEP OUT sign and asking "Can I come in?" This brought back treasured memories of your dad, Freeda, and I pushing chairs together, throwing a blanket over to make believe it was a train or an airplane. We used our imaginations often. He climbed on an overturned bucket, it flipped and he hurt his mouth.

Love, Aunt Mary

Feb 4 2014

When hearing sounds of whipporwills on a nature show, it brought back memories of your dad & I standing out at the barn lot gate, talking and hearing whipporwills. I love to listen to them. Sometimes, something completely unexpected will trigger memories and emotions. I was also thinking (a couple of days ago) about one night when he and I sat up playing Scrabble rather late ( I think around midnight) until we'd used every single letter/chip.

When your dad was fifteen, he came down ot the city one weekend when I had tickets to see performers at the old auditorium in KC, MO. We got to see/hear Conway Twitty, Richie Vallens, Paul Anka, and Annette. We chose to sit in the balcony where we could easily see the stage. When Annette came on stage, some jerks threw cherry bombs into the crowd on the ground level. Security came out with night sticks (billy clubs) all the overhead lights were turned on and Annette went on performing (unfair to her). We went to a movie matinee and saw "Old Yeller". It seems like we watched an American Royal parade, but I'm probably wrong about that. I think he came down to the city with FFA boys once. I did take Roger to the parade at least twice (one time we stood amongst spectators on the sidewalk and nearly froze and antoher time we got to sit up in a south stock room window at the old Emery, Bird, Thayer Dept. store where I was working and that was great. A coworker also had a young sibling and they sat with us.

A few years ago, I wrote a story in a writing class about your dad's first airplane (jet) ride to Ca. with me on July 4th, 1985 and that we viewed fireworks all over the bay area as we flew at low altitude the last stretch from San Francisco's airport over to San Jose's. Our assignment was to write about a best or a worst holiday. I don't remember if I sent you a copy.

Freeda wrote me that Tricia is expecting, due Aug. 25. She had a miscarriage before the first of her five children who'll be 10 years old on Feb. 7.

Aunt Dona wrote me at Christmas time that she'd heard from Louise Frisbie. Louise wrote that she'd invited Shirley Flatt for Thanksgiving and heard nothing. I was surprised when I didn't see them at your dad's memorial service. I had called Shirley and left a message on her answering machine. Your dad, Shirley, & I had nice time visiting over lunch and when walking around at Freedom Cemetery with her after Floyd Jr.'s funeral (as she showed us other family graves.) Your dad rode with me to/from the cem. and the funeral procession got caught in a torrential downpour on a winding blacktop road enroute. Thank goodness it let up by our arrival.

At the hospital on Oct. 18, I noticed a lump on your dad's right cheek bone. I wondered about it. I barely could look toward him as he didn't look like himself or like I wanted to remember him.

Mary Johnson, Vaile Mansion, Dec. 2013

Tom, Lisa, Max, & Logan Butler June 2013

August 3, 2013

Hi All,

It has been a great year and an exciting and busy time for us. Sam has graduated from High School fifth in his class and in the top 3% at Tampa Bay Tech High School. Whew, what a relief, now for the bigger nail biter.

We are getting him ready for college at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute Indiana. Rose-Hulman is a small undergraduate Engineering school, which is good, because Sam has picked Computer Engineering as his college Major. Terre Haute, IN is a small Mimdwestern town on 1-70, approximately 75 miles southwest of Indianapolis near the Illinois border. The population is 60,000 and in addition to Rose-Hulman, it is home to Indiana State University and Saint Mary's in the Woods College. It is 4.5 hours/285 miles from Columbia, MO, 7.5 hours/422 miles from Mercer MO.

We will be driving up and dropping him him off on Labor Day weekend. It is 951 miles and a 16 hour drive. We have a 2 day parents orientation and Sam has a five day orientation.

Sam has been working hard at the Museum of Science and Technology this summer teaching computer and electronic summer camps. He is planning on working there again next summer when he comes home for summer break.

Sam will finally get to experience what winter really means, he is looking forward to snow and cold.

If you would like to write to him his address is: Samuel Lawrence, CM 1141, Rose-Hulman Institute of Techonolgy, 5500 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, IN 47803

Sincerely, Janet & Bob Burke

Season's Greetings Merry Christmas 2013

Love, David, Melissa, Allen, & Rebecca

Lyle E. Osburne, Des Moines

this unknown undated newspaper clipping was sent to Aunt Mary by Great Aunt Dona, with a post it note attached "Don't know if this is one of the family or not- It have in paper quite a while back & I forgot to send it-"

Lyle E. Osburne, 55, passed away at Bright Kavanagh House from cancer on Sunday, February 17, 2013. He was born August 2, 1957 in Des Moines, IA, where he remained the rest of his life.

Lyle will be most remembered for his lifetime of construction work, his talent in foosball, humor and his undeniable love for family and friends.

Lyle is survived by his daughters, Amber McDaniel and Lindsay Osburne, son Edward Osburne, three grandchildren, brothers, Edward Osburne, Patrick Osburne, CR Beavers, Rex Beaver Jr., sisters Cathie Dalrymple, Cindy Dugan and Jody Kelley, and life time companion, Sue Jenkins and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rex Beaver Sr. and Kathryn Beavers.

A celebration of life will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Johnston Evangelical Free Church, 9901 NW 62nd Ave, Johnston, IA.

Memorial contributions can be made to the family for the burial at a later date.

Samuel Earl Lawrence, Tampa Bay Technical High School

Commencement Exercises Friday afternoon, June 7th, 4:30 p.m., Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall

love this! my grandma Grace gave Koren a quilt for her second birthday. she had started piecing it when she was 15 years old, from flour sacks, and finished it for Koren's 2nd birthday. did any of my grandparents wear flour sack diapers or dresses? maybe so. this is a wonderful, wonderful poem!

The 1930's Flour Sack

by Colleen B. Hubert

In that long ago time when things were saved,

when roads were graveled and barrels were staved

and there were no plastic wrap or bags,

and the well and the pump were way out back,

a versatile item, was the flour sack.

Pillsbury's best, mother's and gold medal, too

stamped their names proudly in purple and blue.

The string sewn on top was pulled and kept

the flour emptied and spills were swept.

The bag was folded and stored in a sack

That durable, practical flour sack.

The sack could be filled with feathers and down,

for a pillow, or t'would make a nice sleeping gown.

it could carry a book and be a school bag,

or become a mail sack slung over a nag.

It made a very convenient pack,

That adaptable, cotton flour sack.

Bleached and sewn, it was dutifully worn

as bibs, diapers, or kerchief adorned.

It was made into skirts, blouses and slips.

And mom braided rugs from one hundred strips

she made ruffled curtains for the house or shack,

from that humble but treasured flour sack!

As a strainer for milk or apple juice,

to wave men in, it was a very good use,

as a sling for a sprained wrist or a break,

to help mother roll up a jelly cake,

as a window shade or to stuff a crack,

we used a sturdy, common flour sack!

As dish towels, embroidered or not,

they covered up dough, helped pass pans so hot,

tied up dishes for neighbors in need,

and for men out in the field to seed.

They dried dishes from pan, not rack

that absorbent, handy flour sack!

We polished and cleaned stove and table,

scoured and scrubbed from cellar to gable,

we dusted the bureau and oak bed post,

made costumes for October (a scary ghost)

and a parachute for a cat named jack.

From that lowly, useful old flour sack!

So now my friends, when they ask you

As curious youngsters often do,

"before plastic wrap, elmers glue

and paper towels, what did you do?"

tell them loudly and with pride don't lack,

"grandmother had that wonderful flour sack!"

all the girls in this picture are wearing flour sack dresses.

Ian is not a fan of hats

these facebook posts from Koren make my day.....my grandma Pauline in California knew me by letters, and I know my grandson Ian by visits and the facebook posts and phone calls and texts from his momma inbetween....

I know you're supposed to treat every day like your last, and I didn't, and now I just want to hug my dad one more time.....and tell him how much I love him, and what I learned from him, and what I am trying to pass on to my kids....

something else of interest from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pioneer Girl book.....emigrant trains!

Grandma Pauline Axsom had written family histories for me. My great grandparents Johnnie & Daisy Axsom had moved to South Dakota on an emigrant train.

p. 194, footnote 104.: all their worldly good[s], seed grain and provisions for a year in emigrant cars. The railroad companies offered special shipping rates to those wishing to emigrate to Dakota Territory. For example, in February 1880, the Southern Minnesota Railroad offered "a rate on a car of emigrant movables" between towns in the territory of "only $22.50". {Home and Other News BCP Feb. 26 1880)., For less than a carload, the rate was twenty-five cents per one hundred pounds. In April 1880 the editor of the Press estimated that since the middle of March "no less than 40 car loads" of"immigrant goods" had rolled into Brookings over the new rails, along with about 120 head of cattle. In De Smet emigrants camped around the town and on vacant lots.

I don't think they were in this wave of emigrants, I think they went later after they had kids and their youngest Marvin was born there. but they did travel on an emigrant train with everything they had to homestead.

found Mr. William Cullen Bryant again in the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pioneer Girl Book.....

footnote 109. p.324."The moon is at its full...asleep to-night." Wilder excerpted and slightly misquoted these lines from "The Tides" by American poet William Cullen Bryant

The moon is at her full, and, riding high,

Floods the calm fields with light.

The airs that hover in the summer sky

Are all asleep to-night. (Thirty Poems, p. 78)

Michael & Lacey Axsom have a son! facebook official!!!

We're so excited to welcome our beautiful son Davis into the world. Born 2/4 at 9:25 pm CST, weighing 8 lbs, 15 oz and 20 inches long. Thank you all for the prayers and support. —

facebook is the ultimate universal birth announcement!

a letter from Aunt Mary dated Oct. 16, 2014

{excerpts}

a good tour at the Vaile takes 45 minutes to an hour.

Last October, a friend up Mayes Rd. 9 houses told me on phone that she had a sympathy card for me when I came her way & was out walking. This irritated me that she expected me to call, so she could run out and hand it to me. Then, later, she said she also had a Christmas card for me and had laid them by her front door. The holidays came and went and the cards had "vanished" and she had no clue where they were. I had told her that she could put them in my mailbox, but she was full of excuses, (it was raining or her husband had been out running errands.). Last week, on Friday or Saturday, she called to tell me that she'd moved an end table and SURPRISE! SURPRISE! there was the lost sympathy card. (I guess miracles never cease! HA) She said, "It's bent, but I still intend to give it to you!" I responded, "I wouldn't bother!" This week (phone) told her that I'd found this offensive. It ran off like water off a duck as she didn't think so, "If I'd intended to be offensive, believe you me you'd know it!" The more I thought about it, the more insulted I felt. I wrote her a note stating that her intentions to give me the bent card 51 weeks after my brother's death are insensitive and tacky and I was dumbfounded, in dismay when she'd called me and told me this. I put the note in a bag with the newspaper and stuck in her mailbox yesterday (the door was hanging open and there was mail already delivered and her vehicle was gone.) When I told 2 other friends about her & the card, they each said, "That's ridiculous!" She's probably furious with me, but I was offended. Anybody else would've put a stamp on the card and I would have received it in a timely manner!

Three Sundays back we voted to hire an interim pastor. If I had it to do over, I would not vote for him. Last Sun., he ranted/raved about homosexuals. He said that they won't go to Hell for their sin and that it's not the unforgiveable sin. He made a judgmental remark about Mormons and condemned divorcees. He claimed re. homosexuals, "God didn't make them that way!" I don't think anyone knows that for a fact!! I wanted to get up and walk out as I was infuriated, but I stayed wondering what ridiculous thing he'd claim next. And at least I wasn't rude by sticking it out. Virginia and I and a few friends believe gays are what they are when they are born.

Freeda wrote that she wished we could walk around our old home place by Cainsville. So do I! I'd prefer to go when the snakes & chiggers wouldn't be a big problem, if we should ever do it. She mentioned a toy, iron car that dad found when plowing a garden. It probably got lost in our sand pile at Cainsville farm. It would be nice to go there with a metal detector. The toy must've belonged to dad's Uncle Alfred Boyd's kids.

Lisa's blog post. I didn't know about mom or Brenda. but Mom feeling his presence comforts me. of course she misses him the most.

I'm jealous. I know you shouldn't be jealous of people. But I am. And the people I'm jealous of are relatives.

My older sister just posted on her blog that both she and my niece have had dreams about dad lately. In addition, she has sensed his presence as she falls asleep. My other sister had at least one dream about dad right after he died. My mom said the night he died when she went to bed she felt a hand on her thigh, like dad always did when he went to bed to make sure she was ok.

I haven't dreamed about dad, except for daydreams. He hasn't visited me while I was asleep or drifting off to sleep to comfort me. And I'm a little jealous.

Of course I know if there are ghosts I won't see any. It's like my friend Sherry told me after I went on a tour of the old Missouri state penitentiary. She asked if I saw any ghosts and I told her no, as I went on a bright sunny day. She replied that you can see ghosts anytime, day or night - you just have to be open to them. And I'm not open to them.

So, I guess I'll just have to daydream about my beloved daddy. It's still hard to believe he's been gone 15 months. It gets easier every day but it's still not easy. I got to where I didn't cry at church when we sing one of the songs from his memorial service (I can't sing along but I can listen and not cry). Then, the last time we sang the song my friend Cari stood at the front of the church and signed the song ... and the tears started flowing.

I always get excited when I see a William Cullen Bryant reference in my reading......true, he is a very distant relation....but!

if memory serves, he was the great (possibly great great?) uncle of my great great grandmother Mary Alice Bryant Higdon McMican. I am reading Laura Ingalls Wilder Pioneer Girl The Annotated Biography Pamela Smith Hill, editor.

page 123 footnote 25. The New York Ledger was a popular family journal published by Robert Bonner from the early 1850s through 1887. It contained verse, moral essays, and fiction by such writers as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Louisa May Alcott, WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT, Alfred, Lory Tennyson, and Charles Dickens. Mott, History of American Magazines, pp. 356-63, The New York Ledger.