There's No Place Like Home
What was your childhood home like? How many different homes or apartments have you lived in throughout your life?
1. I was born in Richfield, Utah, in the old Sevier Valley Hospital so I guess that the hospital was officially my first home--but hospitals don't count as home and most of us look forward to leaving the hospital and taking our new babies HOME. So my first real home was in Central, Utah at Grandpa and Grandma Porter's house.
Dad was serving in the US Army and was completing basic training at Fort Ord, California so Mother moved in with her parents until Dad had his first official post.
Although Grandpa and Grandma's house was only my "official" home for 5 weeks I've loved this home my whole life and cherish the memories created here. Grandpa and Grandma's house was our favorite vacation spot. In fact, John and I took our first vacation together to Grandma's house. It was a haven for many a weary traveler--she always had a guest--and we often joking called it "The Central Hotel."
Grandpa and Grandma's house has a fascinating history. It started as a granary that they drug onto the property with horse teams. The rest of the house was added piecemill one piece at a time. The walls were thick adobe and it stayed deliciously cool in the summer--without air conditioning. In the winter Grandpa and Grandma turned off the heat and night but piled the beds so high with blankets that it was hard to turn over--heavenly. About 5 am one of them would get up and stoke up the furnace. There was a wall vent between the couch and the door to the kitchen I loved to snuggle up to and get toast warm.
There was a lovely brick fireplace in the living room but I don't remember ever seeing a fire in it. I know they had fires because there is a great story about the fireplace. When Mom and Dad got married Dad couldn't afford a diamond ring for Mother. A few years later he bought her a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas, We were visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Central for Christmas. Dad, as a joke, put the ring in the toe of Mom's Christmas stocking and filled the rest of the sock with coal. Mom dug through the stocking about half way down, deciding there was only coal in it, and tossed it into the fireplace. Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma all dove for the fireplace to retrieve the ring!
I also remember a time a bird flew down the chimney and flew around the house. It was a three-ring-circus until we finally shooed it out the front door.
2. When I was five weeks old, Mother and I boarded a train to join Dad at his first posting in San Marcos, Texas. Dick Evans, a friend of Grandpa and Grandma Porter went on the train with us to help (he later moved to Lehi and lived 3 houses north of John's family). I don't think we have a picture of the Texas house (I will have to ask Dad).
3 and 4. After a year in Texas Dad was restationed to Fort Knox, Kentucky. When we first moved to Kentucky Mom and Dad bought a small trailer and lived right off base. During their first leave home a Kentucky hailstorm destroyed their home. This turned out to be a blessing because with the insurance money they received for the trailer they bought a much bigger, nicer home.
5. Dad was mustered out of the Army at Christmas time 1956. He was supposed to be finished in February but was released early during operation "Home fo Christmas." We moved to Logan where Dad enrolled at Utah State College. We lived in Riverheights for the next tree years while Dad completed his degree in Industrial Education.
6. During the summers we moved to Kanosh where we lived in Great Grandpa Black's (Edward Lenox Black) home. Dad cut most of the hay in Millard County to pay for his education. The house is still standing but I don't think it's been lived in for years.
7. After graduation, Dad got a job teaching shop at Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah and we moved to Granger (now West Valley), Utah.
9. In October 1962 we moved to Highland. Dad was working at Hercules Powder Company with Dick Reisner. Dick told Dad that his uncle, Merlin Larson, was selling 10 acres and the farmboy in Dad jumped at the opportunity. We moved into a great big old farmhouse owned by Dean Gilbert. This house was truly haunted and a wonderland for a curious kid. The house is no longer standing but is reported to have been one of the first 3 homes built on Highland.
10. Dad built our Highland home on our new property. I lived in this home from 1963 until I left for BYU in 1972. Most of my memories are in this home.
What do you love most about where you live now?
What are the barest essentials you would need to make any place a home?
Granpa and Grandma Porter's house (rear view)
Dad was serving in the US Army and was completing basic training at Fort Ord, California so Mother moved in with her parents until Dad had his first official post.
Although Grandpa and Grandma's house was only my "official" home for 5 weeks I've loved this home my whole life and cherish the memories created here. Grandpa and Grandma's house was our favorite vacation spot. In fact, John and I took our first vacation together to Grandma's house. It was a haven for many a weary traveler--she always had a guest--and we often joking called it "The Central Hotel."
Grandpa and Grandma's house has a fascinating history. It started as a granary that they drug onto the property with horse teams. The rest of the house was added piecemill one piece at a time. The walls were thick adobe and it stayed deliciously cool in the summer--without air conditioning. In the winter Grandpa and Grandma turned off the heat and night but piled the beds so high with blankets that it was hard to turn over--heavenly. About 5 am one of them would get up and stoke up the furnace. There was a wall vent between the couch and the door to the kitchen I loved to snuggle up to and get toast warm.
There was a lovely brick fireplace in the living room but I don't remember ever seeing a fire in it. I know they had fires because there is a great story about the fireplace. When Mom and Dad got married Dad couldn't afford a diamond ring for Mother. A few years later he bought her a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas, We were visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Central for Christmas. Dad, as a joke, put the ring in the toe of Mom's Christmas stocking and filled the rest of the sock with coal. Mom dug through the stocking about half way down, deciding there was only coal in it, and tossed it into the fireplace. Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma all dove for the fireplace to retrieve the ring!
I'm pretty sure this picture of Mother was taken that Christmas with the fireplace in the rear
I also remember a time a bird flew down the chimney and flew around the house. It was a three-ring-circus until we finally shooed it out the front door.
2. When I was five weeks old, Mother and I boarded a train to join Dad at his first posting in San Marcos, Texas. Dick Evans, a friend of Grandpa and Grandma Porter went on the train with us to help (he later moved to Lehi and lived 3 houses north of John's family). I don't think we have a picture of the Texas house (I will have to ask Dad).
3 and 4. After a year in Texas Dad was restationed to Fort Knox, Kentucky. When we first moved to Kentucky Mom and Dad bought a small trailer and lived right off base. During their first leave home a Kentucky hailstorm destroyed their home. This turned out to be a blessing because with the insurance money they received for the trailer they bought a much bigger, nicer home.
Eyvonne and Jill in front of the new trailer Kentucky 1955
6. During the summers we moved to Kanosh where we lived in Great Grandpa Black's (Edward Lenox Black) home. Dad cut most of the hay in Millard County to pay for his education. The house is still standing but I don't think it's been lived in for years.
Edward and Pearl Black with 2 of their children abt 1945
7. After graduation, Dad got a job teaching shop at Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah and we moved to Granger (now West Valley), Utah.
8. We lived in a duplex owned by the Bangerter family while Dad planned and built our new home at 4113 W Benview Ave. One day, while we were living on Benview, Grandpa Black (Mark Chase) came to visit. He was having some health problems and came to the big city to see a doctor. One day we were home with Grandpa and Mother wasn't home. Grandpa couldn't find anything in the kitchen so he put us kids to work rearranging the kitchen. When Mother got home she was livid but I don't think she ever told Grandpa. I remember that the kitchen counters in this house were bright orange.
Susan, Jill, and Bruce in front of our Benview house
While we lived in Granger I was hit by a car driven by a speeding drunk driver. I spent almost 3 months in the hospital and missed most of the first grade. I had a cast from my chest, just below my armpits down to my toes. Dad built a rolling table so Mom could wheel me around.
9. In October 1962 we moved to Highland. Dad was working at Hercules Powder Company with Dick Reisner. Dick told Dad that his uncle, Merlin Larson, was selling 10 acres and the farmboy in Dad jumped at the opportunity. We moved into a great big old farmhouse owned by Dean Gilbert. This house was truly haunted and a wonderland for a curious kid. The house is no longer standing but is reported to have been one of the first 3 homes built on Highland.
10. Dad built our Highland home on our new property. I lived in this home from 1963 until I left for BYU in 1972. Most of my memories are in this home.
What do you love most about where you live now?
What are the barest essentials you would need to make any place a home?
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