Jess and Mable owned these three homes. Louis grew up in 1806 (center) and later lived there with his young family. Lou and Leona lived in all of these house at one time or another, and moved from 1806 in 1955 when they bought a new home.
While Lou was in the Navy for his second tour of duty during the Korean War, Leona lived in this little house at 1808 E. 5th Street with the four young boys. This house had been a chicken house at one time, but Grandpa Jess completely renovated the house so that Leona had a comfortable place to live while Lou was gone.Leona remembers that the washing machine was in the bathroom. On one occasion when the twins, Tom and Don, were in the bathtub, they pulled a 10 pound box of laundry detergent into the tub with them. Now that's a real bubble bath. . .
This picture was taken after a winter storm. The snow had to be shoveled off the flat roof.
Because Jess and Mable owned three houses in the same block, they had a huge yard that was a real gathering place in the summer. During World War II, LDS soldiers who were stationed in Pueblo often came to the Butlers after church to hang out with the teenagers. Lou was in the service, but Leona, her sister Charlotte, and Lou's younger brothers (Delbert and Eldon) spent a lot of time with other kids from the church.
Mable wrote about this picture: "See I'm the mom so I have to enforce discipline. They are all good kids and we have lots of fun. That's Charlotte on top of the car [we see her legs] and Eldon is on his back." Leona is on the far right in the back of the group.
The Sunday groupCharlotte - back row, far right; Leona- next to Charlotte; Eldon - behind Leona; Delbert - standing in front of Leona
On the lawn at the Butler's homeCharlotte - far left, Eldon - center, Leona - far right
August 12, 1944
An afternoon picnicEldon - far left, (unknown), Leona - front, Charlotte - far right
August 12, 1944
2 comments:
In the house built for Leona and the boys, all of the cupboards, counter tops, cabinets and closets were built in. Charles Lee, Lou's brother, did much of the work on the house. He was very artistic and talented in many ways. He was married to Leona's sister, Charlotte. A chicken coop doesn't sound like much, but it was a very nice little home. It made it possible for Leona to have her own home and still be close to family. I'm certain that this was a blessing for all concerned. Charlotte would bring her boys to visit and help Leona. Delbert was also a big help with the boys. ELB
fun pictures!
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