The Cookie Shot:: The Whitmer Cradle

Copyright 2016, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

I have not been blogging much.  I have been reviewing, researching, linking, all on the family history data base.  I have a backlog of photos and documents, so large, I am not going to count them.  It would be discouraging and embarrassing.  It is so wonderful to be so blessed.  It is so easy to just keep researching and having fun.  I need to do better at recording and linking.  I procrastinate.  And, then, I go have more fun, and research more!

I did find this jewel tho, yes, little Carol.  In the Whitmer cradle.

This is another photo, very similar to the one in this blog post from 2009.

However, in the new one, taken from a slightly different angle, I discovered, what I think are bribes to keep me still for the photo op.

I see a cookie in my left hand, or some food goodie.  Yummy.  And, in my right hand, a comb??

Hey parents do what they have to do, eh??

By the way, the original post on the Whitmer cradle is here.  I believe I have discovered another photo of generation # 4, buried somewhere in all these files.  There are no known photos of generation # 1 or # 2 in the cradle.

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Ida's Iris

Copyright 2012, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Usually I post floral photos over at my blog, Reflection's Flora and Fauna, this one is a bit special, so it comes to Reflections.

A sole iris found growing beside the house of my great grandparents in late April 2012.  One of my favorite flowers and my favorite color.  I have no idea or recollection if these iris were growing there when Ida died in 1963.  I seriously doubt it, however, if they had been - - I would ask, do I come by this love of iris and purple naturally?  genetically??   Ahhh, for a moment emotional whimsy - - yes, naturally and genetically.

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Treasure Chest Thursday, The Chamber Set

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This chamber pot, pitcher and wash basin belonged to my great-grandmother, Ida Matilda (nee Whitmer) Halterman.  (If you use the search feature near the top of the right hand column here at Reflections you will see I have written about Ida several times.)

As you can see, it was used, hunks and chunks broken here and there, lots of cracks representing many years of use.  I have no clue as to the age of this set.  I have owned it for more than 20 years.

(No, I don't remember using either the pot or the wash basin and pitcher when I visited Ida and David.)

I don't see the missing chunks and hunks, nor the cracks, I see the well used, every day belongings of my great-grandparents.  I don't see items that have monetary value, but rather, items that were not particularly fancy but very useful.  I see the belongings of a farmer and his wife.  My treasures, displayed in my bedroom, constant reminders of my heritage and my great-grandparents.

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Sharing a Slice of Life, The Harvest

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

The challenge at Sharing a Slice of Life this week is "The Harvest".  After some contemplation, I decided to share this photo, even tho it is in horrible condition.

The Harvest:  Carrying bags of walnuts,
ready to be shucked by David.

To the left is my great grandfather, David Halterman. (Middle is my brother, right, Moi.)

David was born 16 Mar 1876 in Brocks Gap, Hardy County, West Virginia.   He died 15 Nov 1965 in Harrisonburg, (Rockingham County), Virginia.  I remember him well. I have fond memories of this old farmer with the largest hands, fingers and knuckles I had ever seen.  I always figured he worked hard and that was why his hands and fingers were so large, I suppose he could have had arthritis, I will have to ask my mother about that.

I was raised in Michigan, but we made trips back to Rockingham County to visit my grandparents, great grandparents and other kin.  I loved most everything about those trips (except trying to fall asleep those hot muggy summer nights pre-air conditioning days), the smells of a particular weed (still have no idea what that weed is called, but, I have rarely found it in Michigan, odd thing, when I have found it, it is growing in cemeteries).  But, I digress, as I frequently do - -

I loved the mountains, the Shenandoah Valley and River, and I have lots of memories of visiting David and his wife, Ida Matilda (nee Whitmer) Halterman at the "farm".  I felt (as I still do) the pull of my ancestors home lands, my family roots here go back a LONG time, way before 1800.  This is my heart's home.

David would gather walnuts and shell and shuck them.  He always had a small linen bag full of them for his grandchildren.  They were delish!  And, we were always warned, be careful, there may be some shells mixed in with the nutmeats.  Those shells would be sharp, and could break a tooth if you chomped down too hard.

Another strong memory is of Ida's dinner table.  She grew an extensive garden and canned and "put up" so much of it.  She canned, she pickled, she made jellies and jams.  When she had company, she pulled out all the stops and ALL the varieties of vegies she could dig out of the garden or her stash of canned goods.  She would FILL a large table with bowls of all these goodies, bowls and bowls of vegies.  And, one small (maybe 2) platter of some kind of meat.  I can honestly say, I have never seen anything like it since.  So many vegies!!  I wish I had a photo of that table to share.

The harvest in Rockingham County, rich in walnuts, vegies and poignant and vivid memories, and one photo in less than stellar condition.

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Sentimental Sunday, The Gate

Copyright 2010, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

Sure does not look like much, does it??  But, this rusty gate is in some respects, the gate to my heart.  This gate stands in front of the home of my great grandparents, David Halterman and his wife, Ida Matilda Whitmer Halterman.  They were married in 1899 in Hardy County, West Virginia. 

I am not sure when they moved to this home. It sits on land that has belonged to Haltermans for some generations.  I need to verify this statement, but, I believe that David's great grandfather, George W. Halterman, Sr. may have been the original purchaser of the land.  George is found on the 1850 census of the area.

In any event, David and Ida lived there from at least 1900 until they both died, she in 1963, he in 1965.  I knew both of them, I have strong memories of them and their home, and that gate. 

*Home and surrounding land now owned by my first cousin.  Still in the family.

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Where oh where is that photo, FOUND, that is where!!

In the continuing scanning and "lookie what I found" project, I have located photographic proof of generation # 3 and the Whitmer Cradle. A bonafide Genie-WAHHOOOO minute here this afternoon. And here it is:


Photographic proof of generation # 4 and # 5 are here at the original Where oh Where is that photo? blog.

*Moi in the Whitmer Cradle. Believe the photo was taken at my grandmother's house (identified from the carpet). Moi's age guestimated to be just over 1 year.

Where oh where is that photo??

While scanning the last few days, I have re-discovered some great photos, like the one in yesterday’s blog. Not that a photo of Moi is such earth shattering news, but Man is awful cute, eh?? Seriously, it was a fun discovery, or re-discovery for me.

I dismantled some of those awful photo albums the last couple of days, goodness, what they did to the color on some of the photos. Adobe Photoshop corrected some of the discoloration, not perfect, but you know what they say, beggars cannot be choosers.

One of the discoveries in the last album was of Son # 3. True it is not the best photo in the world, it is rather out of focus. However, I will over look that, for this photo has Son # 3 sitting in the Whitmer cradle. Look close, there it is.

The Whitmer cradle was hand made from black walnut in about 1900. Sellestine Whitmer made it for his daughter, Ida Matilda Whitmer Halterman. Ida was expecting her first child.

Sellestine is my great great grandfather. Ida is my great grandmother. We have had 5 generations use this cradle since Sellestine made it. I currently am the caretaker of the cradle, it is one of my most prized family heirlooms.

When I re-discovered this photo, first thought was, out of focus, second thought, HEY WAIT A MINUTE! That is the cradle. Photographic proof of generation # 4. I know I have proof of generation # 5, L & M. L & M's parents humored me and brought the girls over and put up with all my fussing over HAVING to have a photo of the girls in the Whitmer cradle, thank you Son and daughter-in-law!

I believe there was photographic proof of generation # 3 (Moi), I remember seeing such a photo years ago. Was there photographic proof of generation # 2 (my mother)? You bet I am gonna ask her. I doubt there were ever any photos of any of the 3 girls that represent generation # 1.

So, now I will be hunting for photos of the Whitmer cradle to see how many generations I can photographically prove used the cradle.

Where IS that photo??

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