120th Carnival of Genealogy :: Business and Commerce :: Donald E Bowen the Entrepreneur

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Jasia of Creative Gene is once again sponsoring the Carnival of Genealogy, the 120th! This month's them is Business and Commerce, the challenge is:

Did someone in your family own a small business? Was there a favorite clothing store, ice cream shop, shoe store, restaurant, gas station, etc. that your family frequented? Did you operate a lemonade stand when you were a child? This time around we are going to be researching small businesses and recording family memories of such.

I have decided to use this month's Carnival to put the spotlight on one of my father's entrepreneurial escapades.  He owned several business over his lifetime, he even dabbled a bit in real estate.  One of his dabbles resulted in a woodworking company he called, Carolina Woodworks Company.  He called his company a producer of "Heirloom Wood Desirables".  Now, he did not personally make any of these delightful little pieces, he had a very talented man hired for that.  I do remember he loved the equipment, the process, the smell of the wood.

So, without further ado, these are most of the pieces that I have found tucked in around my home, the inventory, as it were:

Paper Towel Holder

Left and below:  A child's toy, the game is to get the teddy to climb from the bottom to the top by pulling on the strings on each side.

Hanging candle stick holders

Baby pull toy, every child needs a green frog!

Wooden pill boxes, or trinket holders with painted lids.

The race car drivers.

The rest of the fleet of vehicles.

Train and camping trailer.

Whale

Family of ducks. VERY yellow ducks!

Gotta have a lot of whales, just cause.

The Angel

I value these delightful wooden pieces, toys and decorative items my father's little business produced.  Yes, to me they are heirlooms and desirable, just like my father, the entrepreneur, said.

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Happy Memorial Day :: 2012

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Top left:  Donald Eugene Bowen, World War II Veteran.

Top right:  Flag presented to the family of Arthur Norman Stevens, Jr. at his funeral.

Bottom right:  Arthur Norman Stevens, Jr., World War II Veteran.

Middle:  Fort Pulaski, Georgia flag.



* Watering can graphic courtesy of Webweaver.nu
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Letter from Dad, in rememberance

Happy Birthday Dad, it would have been number 83. WOW.

My Dad was, well, interesting! He was, eccentric, professed to fully believe in the phrase, "He Who Dies With the Most Toys, Wins". Goodness he even had a plaque on his desk stating same.

He taught me ethics and manners, he was a child of the South, those things were important.

Dad wrote letters now and then, I have a few, very few, I think they told us a lot about him. He did not write and say, I'll be along for a visit next month, no, he wrote letters like this one, addressed to Man, Brother, Brother's Wife, and Moi, 1985. I have changed the names out to the above monikers.

"Moi, Man, Brother, Brother's Wife:
Now have the MOONEY running real good. This has caused money to run real bad. Is there no happy medium?
To Moi.: I believe you have missed a calling. How much does the camping club pay you?
To Man: Keep shirt on. Non compis mentis. (Don't let the Bastards get you down.)
To Brother's Wife: Are you certain you know what the hell you are doing?
To Brother: Whoever is responsible for the computer program that graphics the best wishes has a winner. Is there a program available for the I.B.M.? If so I would like to get one.
To the diligent parents: Emulate me. Avenge Yourself. Live long enough to be a problem to your children.
To the children: Remember that old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.
I expect to try and bust out of town for a short visit to Michigan sometime in July. Having difficulty finding adequate co-pilot that conforms to other parameters. The plane trims better with the right chair properly balanced.
Connie quit. Except for 2 days per month. She is in love. You may have deduced. I am typing this. Bought a new program named TYPEWRITER. And to make things worse I don't really know how to make PFS WRITE percolate yet. Oh well.
Do not want Michigan co-pilot. Red neck controllers do not understand them because they talk funny on the radio.
See ya all in the spring.
Love,
Dad"

Dad and the Mooney:



Dad's memorial at Find A Grave is here.

Happy Birthday Dad, I miss getting those letters.

This 'n That, prayers go out to

Friend J, who is fighting his own cancer battle.

Auto employees from Chyrsler and GM. We watch in disbelief.

Thanks for the healing of cousin Jan and grandson of friend Glenn, a fellow MOC member.

Families of our veterans, who served this country, from inception. On Monday, Memorial Day, remember the REAL reason we celebrate and burn some burgers. Take a few minutes and do a search, here is just one site I found:

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Our veterans above, Donald Eugene Bowen, I and Arthur Norman Stevens, fathers (mine and Man's)