Robert Ray Guild
known as Bob, Robbie, Bobby, Pee Wee
also written Robert, Robbie, Pee Wee, Robert Ray, Bob, Bobby in the book
Biography
Subject of Dee's affectionate tribute. Has a river in his back yard; made basement wine and a snow igloo; married his high school sweetheart; danced with Sue; is praised for helping others, business success, hospitality, and devotion to family and friends. The poem mentions beautiful clothes, Yuletide trimmings, crafts, and floating wedding candles in connection with his business success. Enjoys travel, boating, golf, growing tomatoes and cantaloupe, and eating pistachio nuts. Dee expresses hope that he will remarry, without explaining the circumstances. Narrator; identified as the second son and third child. Treasures his mother's crocheted doilies, forty or fifty Christmas ornament balls, and two sets of Santa dolls. Identified as the teller of Bob's Chapter; this section is headed VEGETABLES. Identified as the narrator of Bob's Chapter. Narrator of Bob's Chapter. Remembers accompanying Dad on errands, learning to make willow whistles and kites, and planting popcorn with Bernie. Still has some of Dad's tools and thinks of him when using them. Played baseball in fifth and sixth grades and treasured his new glove. Managed the Junior High School football team. Also played marbles, used yo-yos, and did some hopscotch. Began golfing in the 1950’s and continued to enjoy it at the time of telling. Bowled for many years in his thirties and forties; best score was 207 and worst was 88. Turns to the sports page first when reading the newspaper. Enjoys watching football, baseball, hockey, basketball, and golf in person or on TV. Has attended a few Green Bay Packer games and quite a few Wisconsin Badger games. Says he does not watch W.F.W. Enjoys reading, golf, fishing, boating, and some woodworking. Jet skiing is his current favorite activity. Describes himself as a pretty good picture framer and recalls great fishing trips to Canada. Identified as the teller of Bob's Chapter. Says Bernie helped with pictures to replace a narrative he did not write. Narrator of the childhood recollections. Burned his hand while using gasoline to try to make smoke come from a toy steamshovel's smokestack. Education also recorded as “Attended McKinley grade school for kindergarten in 1942; after a move, attended Roosevelt grade school, Coolidge Junior High, and Moline High School. Graduated in 1955. Reports pretty good grades throughout school and attendance at many later classes, workshops, and seminars.” (Bob's Chapter). Participated in junior high plays and enjoyed scenery and prop work. Took art classes whenever possible; a sketch of a log cabin was published in Illinois Junior Historian magazine. Narrator of Bob's Chapter. Started driving at thirteen around the 39th Street neighborhood. His father, referred to only as Dad, combined a junker 1936 Chevy and a junker 1937 Chevy into a school transportation car in the early Fifties. Robert got his driver's license in that car and thinks Bernie, Carol, and he all drove it. His first car was a black ’48 Ford, which he washed every day. Subsequent cars listed were a green ’52 Mercury, a yellow ’57 Olds, a ’62 Chevy, a ’69 Pontiac wagon (his first brand new car), a ’73 Pontiac wagon, an ’80 Dodge, an ’85 Dodge, a ’93 Dodge, a ’93 Chevy Blazer, and a ’96 Chevy Blazer. Loved station wagons for their hauling capacity despite friends' teasing. Always wanted a red Corvette convertible; says the red Mustang convertible comes pretty close. Narrator. Around age thirteen or fourteen, Dad bought them a twenty-gauge shotgun and took him rabbit hunting. Also hunted quail and pheasant, practiced with handguns, and played with BB guns and homemade slingshots. His favorite BB gun was a Red Ryder. Education also recorded as “Attended junior high school.” (Bob's Chapter). Usually called Bob and sometimes Robert. His dad called him Robbie; some call him Bobby. The nickname Pee Wee began in junior high school because he was a little small and is still used at class reunions. He likes all these names. Narrator of Bob's Chapter. Says he was ten years old on the Minnesota trip; the passage references a 1947 picture from that trip. Recalled leaving Boot Camp slim and trim, having learned about himself and how much he could endure. Narrator of Bob's Chapter. Recalled childhood pets and said his children had a dog, a hamster, and some fish. Occupation also recorded as “Stock boy at Kay Bee Clothing store in Moline, beginning in 1953 at age fifteen; duties included repossessing unpaid merchandise from customers' homes.” (Bob's Chapter). Narrator. Helped erect a circus tent in Moline at around twelve or thirteen in exchange for a free ticket. Worked in the family orchard and gardens and grew popcorn with Bernie to sell. Mentions having five sisters. Occupation also recorded as “Retail salesperson, manager, and store owner; member of the Board of Directors of Rock County Bank” (Bob's Chapter). Education also recorded as “Graduated from high school; entered the J.C. Penney management training program.” (Bob's Chapter). Narrator. Says Bormann’s opened in 1983, operated successfully for five years, and that he sold out in 1972. These dates are preserved as written. Narrator of Bob's Chapter. Recalls favorite foods by age: probably milk at ages 0–5; peanut butter sandwiches dunked in cocoa every day at ages 5–10; macaroni and cheese with double cheese on top at ages 10–15. Orange Slices and Circus Peanuts were favorite candies. Praises the PX restaurant's chili and French fries. States that, except for local issues, he has always voted straight Republican, citing pocketbook considerations. Says he has told politicians: “Anytime you give money to someone who didn’t earn it, you took it away from someone who did earn it.” Military service also recorded as “Completed military service.” (Bob's Chapter). Education also recorded as “Completed high school.” (Bob's Chapter). Lists becoming a husband and father among his proudest achievements. Served on the Board of Directors of his bank; worked forty-five years and missed only two days due to illness, both due to kidney stones; persuaded a bank’s Board of Directors to loan him $200,000.00; organized two large, highly successful crafts shows yearly. Expresses pride in Steve’s track achievements and college graduation and in Brian accomplishing things experts said he never would. Caught an 11-pound Walleye in the Mississippi River and a 25-pound Northern in Canada. Learned The Lord’s Prayer during Sunday school classes at Tom and Ruth Johnson’s house. Reports little church attendance afterward until joining the Methodist Church after moving to Janesville in 1972. Believes in God and includes the anticipated readers in silent prayers at church. Education also recorded as “Did not go to college.” (Bob's Chapter). Regrets not spending more time with and helping Mom and Dad, not getting to know them better, not writing or phoning often enough, and taking five years to finish these memories. Education also recorded as “Attended junior high school and high school.” (Bob's Chapter). Recalls his parents' hard work as an expression of love. Dad talked him out of joining the Navy when six close friends joined. Says he and Sue dated for six years, married in 1960, were married thirty-six years, and had forty-three wonderful years together. Mentions four grandchildren. Narrator of Bob's Chapter. Expresses love for his family and gratitude for being able to help those less fortunate. Says his sons, grandchildren, and friends keep him busy and happy. occupation also recorded as “Worked at the Kay Bee store in downtown Moline.” in the book. An unassigned entry in the nickname list; underlying identity is not stated. Listed among seven children. Not explicitly equated with Bob. Daddy stopped attending the reunions sometime after Bernie and Bob were twelve or thirteen. Bob and Bernie had ringworm. Barbara remembers them with nylon hose knotted on their heads. Rode the parachute fall at Riverview Amusement Park, impressing the others with his courage. Shared a bedroom with Bernie and Grampa Williams. Teased Barbara and held her as she climbed up his body and did flip-overs. Listed among Barbara's siblings on her staircase. Diana thinks Bob and Bernie caught the condition discussed after school checks for ringworm and probably head lice, and wore nylon-stocking caps. Drove his four younger sisters to school after getting a car. Built an igloo with Billy Johnson that appeared in the Moline Daily Dispatch. Described as fun-loving and caring. Third child in the stated birth order, coming right after Bernie and before Carol. Drove the narrator and other children to school after getting his first car. His white shirts were among the items Mom ironed. Went to Saturday auction sales with Dad and Bernie; the boys ate peanuts and drank soda pop during the subsequent tavern stop. A closing note directs readers to Bob's memories for a list of Mom's canned goods. Chic clothes from Bob's boutique were among the family's contributions to Mom's welfare. Mentioned as probably preceding the narrator as Grampa's favorite. Listened to baseball on the radio with Grandpa, collected 45’s, danced with Sue at Coolidge Rec, compared tans with the girls, and built an igloo with Bernie that was pictured in the newspaper. Made wine in the basement from grapes grown at the back of the lot. Shared a bedroom with Bernie and Grampa. Helped Bernie tip over the outhouse after the 1950 addition. One of the six younger siblings Iris helped care for. Accompanied Daddy and Bernie to the coal yard and climbed and slid down coal piles. Helped the girls make newspaper kites with Bernie. Probably among the first to use the table bench, with Bernie. Had a pig when the family first moved to 39th Street. Tormented the narrator and Dee by snapping towels at them while they did the Sunday dishes. Grew popcorn with Bernie for one year in McFarland’s vacant lot, then dried, shelled, bagged, and sold it to movie theaters with Daddy's help. Went to the park early with Bernie to save picnic tables. Had tonsils removed on the same day as Marilyn and Carol, during Carol’s third-grade year. Bernie and Bob had copies of Hardy Boys books, which Carol also read. Signature appears among the autograph-book word-and-number messages. Drove Carol and the other girls to high school, picking up his girlfriend Sue Warner on the way. Recalled through Bob's Davy Crockett hat. Helped Lee take Daddy to the hospital after his stroke. The Guild Family Reunion on July 10, 1999, was held at Bob's house. Listed among the family members; age 24 on the day of the photographs. Was five when the family moved in on July 16, 1942. Jumped out of the windows with the narrator and later helped Dad a little with building two bedrooms. Worked with the narrator cutting orchard weeds using a large two-handed scythe and a hand sickle; both disliked the lengthy job. An exceptionally skilled marble player who could aim and thrust his shooting hand without crossing the line. His shooter was a bright poison-green peerie; the narrator did not think Bob ever lost it to another child. Mom made him a drawstring marble sack. Received a small bone-handled pocketknife along with the narrator when they were about seven or eight. Helped the narrator carry buckets of water from the well; they could barely lift a full bucket with both arms. Shared boxing gloves and a small electric train with the narrator. Both refused to hit each other with the gloves. Shared a Flexible Flyer sled received for Christmas with the narrator. Their sledding outings in the Big Woods were limited to the two of them. Bob and the narrator acquired their automotive and tinkering knowledge from the narrator's father. The narrator bought Bob a toy roller coaster with tin cars during the Chicago trip. The narrator recalled that Bob seemed always to be in trouble and liked playing with matches, but did not know whether he ever overturned an outhouse. His chapter contains a camp picture showing Sonny. Bobby pushed the narrator as he practiced riding. Daddy planned adventures for Bob or the narrator. Bob's bicycle had a chain guard that the narrator envied; Bobby and Bob appear to refer to the same person. Spent many hours with the narrator and the girls watching Daddy fix and build things in the garage. Planted a half-acre of popcorn with Bernard on McFarland’s empty lot. Bernard was uncertain whether Bob also helped plow neighbors’ gardens for five dollars. With the narrator when Billy called them over to watch him threaten kittens, and when they later left Billy stuck in mud. Tried Daddy's firecracker trick and burned his fingers. Launched cans with the narrator and once blew up a model plane he had made. His favorite fireworks included whistling Bottle Rockets called “Buzz Bombs.” About seven years old during the incident. Told the narrator to listen at the screendoor; both boys feared that Daddy and Harry were going to shoot a man and dump him in the river. Accompanied Bernard and Dad on the 1947 funeral trip and laughed as Bernard drove over a bridge. Bernard cannot remember whether the ’41 Ford was shared with Bob, belonged solely to Bob, or was a trade-up from the ’36 Chevrolet. Shared peanuts with the narrator and Dad. Described as a good shot who caught the hunting bug. Named with Bernard as adored by Grandma Olive Guild. Named in the narrator's discussion of using “Bewitched Bothered and Beguiled” to explain the pronunciation of Guild. Had ringworm with the narrator. When he had whooping cough, Mom made him spit in the other children's mouths to expose them all at once. Played in the concrete rings with the narrator and helped winch buckets of dirt out of the well until the work became too hard. The narrator suggests Bob may remember the day he was lowered into the well. Bernard says he received more spankings than anyone else, except perhaps Bob. Obtained a small periscope with the narrator and participated in an unsuccessful plan to watch Sis Vergain undress. Later joined the fishing at the lake on Gus Falk's family's property. Remembered as quiet, sweet, and never a problem. Would not talk; others spoke for him and understood what he wanted when he pointed. One of three of Floyd’s children who remembered Olive as tender and kindly toward them. Saw Dan and Olive for the last time in nursing homes and accompanied Floyd and Ethel on Minnesota visits. Not explicitly equated with Robert Ray in the passage. Third child and second son; one of Ed's favorite grandchildren. One of Ed’s favorite grandchildren, along with Delores. 52-Card Pickup is identified as Bob’s favorite. One of the two brothers already at home when Carol was born. Went hunting for rabbits and squirrels with Daddy and Bernie to provide food for the family. Daddy carries Bobby and the narrator to see neighbors. Bobby and the narrator share a tricycle and play in the front yard, looking toward the forbidden river. The narrator does not think Bobby was the person who urged him to hit Sonny in the face. The passage does not explicitly identify Bobby with Bob. Accompanied Bernie and Daddy on frequent car outings centered on trading junk. Born after Iris Lee. Named as an example player in the instructions for Red Rover; no family identity is stated.
Timeline
September 2, 1937
Birth of ROBERT RAY GUILD
The Guildsthe Forties
Learning to ride a bicycle
Daddy taught Bernard in less than ten minutes and praised him to John Reichenberg, not knowing Bernard had already practiced on Iris’ bike with Bobby's help.
Bernie's Chapterafter the war, in the Forties
A small periscope from the postwar surplus-store era
Following the opening of a War Surplus Store, Bernard and Bob obtained a small periscope. Their plan to watch Sis Vergain undress failed because she kept her shade closed.
Bernie's ChapterJuly 16, 1942
Moving into the house on 39th Street
The family moved into the house when the narrator was six and Bob was five. The boys jumped out of the windows in glee.
Bernie's Chapter1942
Kindergarten at McKinley
Robert was told he cried on his first day and Iris came and got him.
Bob's Chapter1947 (picture from that trip)
Childhood trip to Minnesota
Traveled with Dad to visit Dad’s brothers. Bernie was eleven and a half, and Robert was ten. Dad drove across the bridges because Bernie was hesitant.
Bob's Chapter1947
Trip to Grandpa Dan Guild's funeral
Bernard traveled with Dad and Bob to the funeral. At eleven, he drove part of the journey and confronted his fear of crossing bridges.
Bernie's Chapter1950
Two bedrooms and a bathroom added
The narrator's father built the addition with no professional help. Bob and Bernie tipped over the outhouse.
Dee's Chapter1950’s
Worked at J. C. Penney’s
Started playing golf while working there.
Bob's Chapter1950’s
Began playing golf
Played in a league and with friends; continued enjoying golf at the time of telling.
Bob's Chapter1953, when the narrator was fifteen
Starting as a stock boy at Kay Bee Clothing store
Bernie had held the job before the narrator. Duties included going to customers' homes to repossess merchandise they had not paid for.
Bob's Chapter1955
Graduation from Moline High School
The high school was still on 16th Street when Robert graduated.
Bob's Chapter1960
Marriage in a church
Robert married in an unnamed church. His spouse is not named.
Bob's Chapter1960
Robert and Sue marry
Robert says they dated for six years before marrying and were married for thirty-six years.
Bob's Chapter1962
Oshkosh transfer and grand opening with Mr. Penney
Transferred for a new store opening, the narrator worked several days with Mr. Penney, handing out roses and checking the registers.
Bob's ChapterDuring the winter, in the account of 1963 active duty
Winter Boot Camp at Fort Leonard Wood
Completed eight weeks of Boot Camp, emerging slim and trim and with a better understanding of his endurance.
Bob's Chapter1963
Active duty completed at Fort Sill
Finished active duty in an Artillery Unit.
Bob's Chapter1963
Six months of active duty
Completed six months of active duty.
Bob's ChapterLater that holiday evening, 1967
Lee and Bob take Daddy to the hospital
After Mom called Iris to report that Daddy was worse, Lee and Bob took him to the hospital. He stayed two weeks.
Carol's Chapter1972; eight years before selling out
Leaving Bormann’s and joining Elliott’s
The narrator says he sold out of Bormann’s in 1972 and became manager and partner with Iris and Bill in Elliott’s clothing stores. This sale date conflicts with the stated 1983 opening of Bormann’s.
Bob's Chapter1972
Moving to Janesville
Robert reports moving to Janesville in 1972.
Bob's Chapter1975
Fishing trip to Northern Canada
Traveled with a group of men on an old DC-9 one thousand miles straight north of Minneapolis, almost to the Arctic Circle. Head winds required a refueling detour before landing on an island runway. Bob calls this his best fishing trip.
Bob's Chapter1983; did very well for five years
Opening Bormann’s
The narrator became part owner and manager of Bormann’s. Bill Retzlaff cosigned his first loan. The business made money and repaid the loans. The stated opening date conflicts with the stated 1972 sale.
Bob's Chapter1988
Buying and converting a Ben Franklin Store
The narrator bought a Ben Franklin Store and converted it to an all-crafts store.
Bob's ChapterDuring the 90’s
Regular Milwaukee Bucks games with Steve
The narrator and his son Steve attended Milwaukee Bucks basketball games on a regular basis.
Bob's ChapterJuly 10, 1999
Guild Family Recipes Remembered presented at the reunion
The cookbook Chris compiled, preserving Mom's recipes as remembered by the family, was presented at the Guild Family Reunion.
Carol's Chapterdate not given
Bernie and Bob have ringworm
Barbara remembers nylon hose knotted on their heads.
Barbara's Chapterdate not given
Rides and Bingo at Riverview Amusement Park
Arjean and Ray Moos took the family to the park. Adults played Bingo and children went on rides and played midway games. Bob once rode the parachute fall; Barbara remembers being terrified on the “Red Mouse.”
Barbara's ChapterOne winter
Bob and Billy build an igloo
Their igloo drew excitement and a photograph in the Moline Daily Dispatch.
Diana's ChapterDuring the narrator's junior high years
Bob's first car becomes a ride to school
The narrator and other children walked to junior high until Bob got his first car and drove them.
Dee's ChapterSaturdays
Saturday auction sales and tavern stops
Dad, Bernie, and Bob attended auction sales at an unspecified location, then stopped at a local tavern in the Highland area.
Dee's Chapterdate not given
Bob married his high school sweetheart
The poem states that Bob married his high school sweetheart; it does not explicitly name the sweetheart.
Dee's Chapterdate not given
Bob built a snow igloo
Dee recalls the igloo Bob made of snow and says he almost froze.
Dee's ChapterWinter during childhood
An igloo earns a newspaper picture
Bernie and Bob built an Eskimo igloo and got their picture in the paper.
Dee's ChapterAfter her birth in 1938
Carol comes home to her siblings
Carol went home to the apartment to join her sister Iris and brothers Bobby and Bernie.
Carol's Chapterdate not given
Coal-yard trips with Bob and Bernie
Daddy took Bob and Bernie to an unnamed industrial coal yard to collect furnace coal. The two climbed and slid down coal piles while Daddy loaded the trailer.
Carol's ChapterWhen we first moved to 39th Street
The family moves to 39th Street
Carol associates the early period at 39th Street with Mom raising chickens, Bob having a pig, and Grandpa Williams raising rabbits.
Carol's Chapterone year
Bernie and Bob grow and sell popcorn
The boys grew popcorn to sell and were allowed to keep the proceeds. Daddy helped plant the corn, offered harvest helpers fifty cents for finding an ear of Indian corn, bought a sheller, and drove the boys to movie theaters to make sales.
Carol's Chapterdate not given
Family picnics at Riverside Park
Recurring family picnics, including gatherings with families from Mom's 500 Club, featured specialty foods, cards, playground play, swimming afterward, and watermelon before going home.
Carol's ChapterAround twelve or thirteen years old
Helping erect a circus tent
Helped set up the big tent and received a free ticket as pay; watched elephants pull up the tent poles.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Growing and selling popcorn with Bernie
Used Dad's corn-seed planting device on land loaned by neighbors. Sold several hundred pounds of popcorn at ten cents per pound and were allowed to keep the money.
Bob's ChapterBefore starting work at J.C. Penney
High school graduation
The narrator graduated from high school.
Bob's ChapterAfter graduating from high school
Sales and management training at J.C. Penney
Bernie worked there before the narrator, who became the best salesperson in the men’s department and entered management training.
Bob's ChapterAfter three years in Oshkosh
Learning the Ben Franklin business
Following Iris and Bill’s inquiry about his interest in a Ben Franklin Store, the narrator left Penney’s to learn the business.
Bob's ChapterDuring the Elliott’s period; five years
Sue operates Wicks N Sticks
The narrator says they bought Sue the candle store. She operated it successfully for five years.
Bob's ChapterDuring the candle-store period
Trade-show travel and Sue’s Montreal raffle win
Trade-show trips produced lasting friendships. Montreal was their best trip, and Sue won nine hundred dollars in a raffle there.
Bob's ChapterDuring this period; five years
Five years on the Rock County Bank board
The narrator was elected to the Board of Directors and served five years, finding it particularly interesting who borrowed money to pay country club dues.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Becoming a husband
Listed becoming a husband and father among his proudest achievements.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Completing military service
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Completing high school
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Serving on a bank’s Board of Directors
Served on the Board of Directors of the bank he calls 'my bank.'
Bob's Chapterforty-five years
Forty-five years of work with only two illness-related absences
Missed only two days due to illness; both were due to kidney stones.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Obtaining a $200,000.00 bank loan
Talked a bank’s Board of Directors into loaning him $200,000.00.
Bob's Chapteryearly
Organizing successful crafts shows
Organized two large, highly successful crafts shows yearly.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Brian surpasses experts’ expectations
Robert lists watching Brian accomplish things experts said he never would among his proudest achievements.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Catching an 11-pound Walleye
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Catching a 25-pound Northern
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Learning The Lord’s Prayer at Sunday school
Robert remembers Sunday school classes at his neighbors’ house, where he learned The Lord’s Prayer.
Bob's ChapterAfter moving to Janesville, in 1972
Joining the Methodist Church
Robert says “we joined” the Methodist Church after the move and that he has attended on a fairly regular basis.
Bob's ChapterNinth grade
Robert's first dance
Mom bought him a new shirt and pants. He picked up his date using the bus to travel to and from the dance.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Robert meets Sue
Robert met Sue through his high school friendship with her brother Bob Warner.
Bob's Chapterthird grade
Three tonsil removals on the same day
Dr. George Cook removed Carol’s, Marilyn’s, and Bob’s tonsils on the same day.
Carol's ChapterFifth and sixth grade
Carol keeps a class autograph book
Class autograph books were popular during these grades. Carol's surviving book contains verses from family and friends.
Carol's ChapterLater
Bob and Sue Warner marry
Sue, Bob's girlfriend during the high school rides, later became his wife.
Carol's ChapterAlmost immediately after the purchase and over the years
Making the small house into a lasting home
Dad raised the house and built a basement, chimney, and water system, then enlarged the kitchen and added bedrooms and indoor plumbing. Bob and the narrator helped a little with the bedrooms; Grampa is remembered helping with the early garden and basement work. Later came green asphalt siding, a new garage, and a work shed. The chicken coop became a playhouse. By the telling, the home was Dee’s and had white siding again with forest-green shutters.
Bernie's Chapterone day
A quiet lesson in picking beans thoroughly
After Robert told his mother he had done a good job picking beans, she went down the row and picked three more buckets without saying a word.
Bob's ChapterOccasionally
Unannounced visits to Dad's brothers
The family traveled to visit Dad's unnamed brothers without calling or writing ahead.
Bob's ChapterOne day
A visit with Oscar and his cat
While Dad and Oscar drank beer, Dad fed some to Oscar's cat. Its behavior made the group laugh.
Bob's ChapterAt Christmas; on Carol’s 23rd birthday
Family portraits during Bernie's Christmas visit
Bernie photographed the family with a borrowed Leica camera against orange and green fabric in the girls’ bedroom.
Carol's ChapterLater that day
Carol’s 23rd birthday celebration
The family celebrated Carol’s 23rd birthday after the portrait session.
Carol's ChapterOne summer
Growing and selling popcorn
Bob and Bernie grew popcorn with Dad's permission to keep the proceeds. His story of a gold ear encouraged a quick harvest. They found no gold ear and sold the popcorn for ten cents a pound.
Bob's Chapterfifth and sixth grades
Played baseball in fifth and sixth grades
Did not remember his position but remembered his new baseball glove as very special.
Bob's ChapterJunior High School
Managed the Junior High School football team
Got to know players and coaches and traveled with the team to games in Kewanee, Geneseo, and Rock Island.
Bob's Chapterin my thirties and forties
Years of team bowling
Usually bowled on a team; best score was 207 and worst was 88.
Bob's ChapterWhen I was little, before we had a TV
Childhood wrestling on TV at Iris and Bill’s
The narrator recalls his father taking them to Iris and Bill’s apartment to watch wrestling on TV. Argentine Aroca was their favorite wrestler.
Bob's ChapterChildhood
A burned hand while playing with gasoline
Tried to make smoke come out of a toy steamshovel's smokestack and burned his hand. His mother cried and his father was mad.
Bob's ChapterChildhood
Visits to Cordova
Trips to visit the Rodgers included playing slot machines in a bar.
Bob's ChapterChildhood
Swimming trips to Campbell’s Island
Remembered childhood swimming trips.
Bob's ChapterAnnual, during childhood
Annual Riverside Park picnics
Annual picnics are included among the childhood memories.
Bob's ChapterChildhood
Bike trips to the fireworks stand
The narrator remembers bicycle trips to the fireworks stand.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
A move followed by new schools
After a move, Robert attended Roosevelt grade school, Coolidge Junior High, and Moline High School. The origin and destination are not stated.
Bob's ChapterOne day during school years
Fire in Ferry’s Woods and an apology
A fire started while playing with matches got out of hand. Iris later took Robert to Ferry’s house to apologize.
Bob's ChapterJunior high school
Junior high theater participation
Robert had minor parts in a few plays and enjoyed working on scenery and props.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Log cabin sketch published
Robert’s sketch of a log cabin appeared in Illinois Junior Historian magazine.
Bob's ChapterOne time in high school
Football trip with a siren and flashing light
On the way to an out-of-town football game, the group used a friend's father's hand-held siren and red flashing light while passing cars.
Bob's ChapterAnother time, in high school
Fifteen arrested from a crowded Rambler
Eighteen youths crowded into a Nash Rambler station wagon during a night involving beer drinking. Police took fifteen to jail; Robert and two others ran away. The newspaper headline counted fifteen.
Bob's ChapterAt thirteen
Robert starts driving
Robert began driving around the neighborhood at thirteen.
Bob's ChapterEarly Fifties
A school car built from two junk Chevys
The narrator's father combined a junker 1936 Chevy and a junker 1937 Chevy into one working stick-shift car to take the children to school. Robert thinks Bernie, Carol, and he all drove it.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Robert earns his driver's license
Robert got his driver's license in the car his father built from two junk Chevys.
Bob's ChapterWhen I was around thirteen or fourteen
A twenty-gauge shotgun and rabbit hunting with Dad
Dad bought a twenty-gauge shotgun, took Robert rabbit hunting a few times, and taught him to clean rabbits safely.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Backyard handgun target practice
Robert practiced with handguns with Dad and Dale McFarland, both of whom he describes as good shots.
Bob's ChapterIn junior high school
The nickname Pee Wee begins
Someone began calling him Pee Wee because he was a little small. The nickname remains in use at class reunions.
Bob's Chapterdate not given
Three-week family vacation out West
A five-thousand-mile trip in a new 1975 station wagon, including several days with Bernie in San Francisco and visits to friends in San Bernardino. The passage gives the car's model year but does not explicitly date the vacation.
Bob's ChapterFor three years while in my twenties
Three years in the Illinois National Guard
Served in the Illinois National Guard for three years during his twenties.
Bob's ChapterOften daily
Frequent junk-trading outings with Daddy
Bernie and Bobby accompanied Daddy on car trips to trade junk, often visiting Hugh Chase's house. Hugh and Daddy traded items or went elsewhere to arrange trades with others.
Bernie's Chapterafter W.W.II
Bob and Bernard treated for ringworm
The narrator attributes the epidemic to returning GI's from the South Pacific. Louis Arp treated the boys weekly; Daddy's successful use of Kerodin reportedly became standard treatment after the doctors heard about it.
Bernie's Chapterwhen we were very young
Whooping cough exposure and quarantine
Mom made Bob spit in the children's mouths so they would become ill together. The narrator says everyone caught it except him, but he was quarantined to the house.
Bernie's Chaptermost of the summer
Building Floyd Guild’s Well
After choosing a site with a willow divining rod, Floyd cast a dozen concrete rings, each three feet high and three feet in diameter with approximately eight-inch-thick walls. He excavated beneath successive rings until the well was thirty-three feet deep. Bernard and Bob helped winch dirt; Dale McFarland and Tom Johnson are tentatively identified as neighbors who later helped. One unused ring was rolled to the orchard.
Bernie's Chapterdate not given
Cutting weeds in the orchard
Dad assigned Bob and the narrator to cut orchard weeds with a large scythe and a hand sickle; later he mowed with a blade behind his homemade tractor.
Bernie's ChapterWhen the narrator and Bob were about seven or eight
First bone-handled pocketknives
Daddy gave each a small bone-handled pocketknife, and they immediately learned to play Mumblety-peg.
Bernie's ChapterChristmas one year
A shared Flexible Flyer for Christmas
The narrator and Bob received a new Flexible Flyer sled, which they rode together rather than taking turns.
Bernie's Chapterwinter
Winter sledding in the Big Woods
They rode a steep, winding path and continued along the frozen creek to a log at a small pond. The long walk back limited them to a couple of runs.
Bernie's ChapterOccasionally, later on ... in the spring
Plowing neighbors’ gardens for five dollars
Daddy sometimes brought a Deere’s tractor home for a day or two. While he was at work, Bernard used it to plow neighbors’ gardens for five dollars. Bernard explicitly expressed uncertainty about Bob’s participation and whether they ever got caught.
Bernie's Chapterdate not given
Planting a half-acre of popcorn
Bob and Bernard learned to drive the tractor and maneuver the plow while planting popcorn. Bernard plowed other gardens that year with Daddy supervising.
Bernie's ChapterWhen we were, maybe, ten years old
Bernard takes Billy's BB gun to protect kittens
Billy threatened kittens in a rusty burn barrel. Bernard took the gun and ran away; its sharp sight ripped Billy's palm open.
Bernie's Chapterone day
Bob and Bernard leave Billy stuck in mud
During a tremendous rainstorm, Billy became stuck knee-deep in mud. Bob and Bernard left him there and told no one.
Bernie's Chapterevery Fourth
Family Fourth of July fireworks
Daddy brought home a bag of fireworks for the family to enjoy after dark.
Bernie's ChapterOnce
Bob blows up his model plane
Bob blew up a model plane he had made.
Bernie's ChapterA summer night when the narrator was about eight and Bob about seven
A summer visit to Harry Means's home frightens the boys
The narrator's father helped Harry put down his hunting dog. The boys misunderstood an overheard conversation and rifle shot, believing a man had been killed.
Bernie's ChapterBernie and Bob too, later on.
Fishing at the Falk family's lake
Iris and Dad fished at the lake, with Bernie and Bob joining later. They caught many fish and enjoyed fried fish instead of mutton stew.
Iris's ChapterLater years, usually 'Forth of July'
Minnesota family reunion trips
Visited Floyd's siblings and parents. Floyd stopped going to Minnesota after his mother died.
History of the Guild Familydate not given
Trying Daddy's firecracker trick
Bob and the narrator both burned their fingers attempting Daddy's trick with tiny firecrackers.
Bernie's Chapter
Stories mentioning Robert
- Fourth of July with a Favorite UncleMerlin fondly recalled Daddy's Fourth of July visits to family reunions in Brainerd. He loved seeing his favorite uncle and the entertaining Aunt Gertie. Daddy's new cars made relatives think he was rich. The visits stopped sometime after Bernie and Bob were twelve or thirteen, disappointing the family.
- Dog Days Rest and a School VaccineBarbara remembers Bernie and Bob having ringworm and wearing nylon hose knotted on their heads. Mom required afternoon rest during the “Dog Days of August,” which Barbara thinks had something to do with Polio. In about third grade, nurses came to school and gave the children Polio vaccine, described as experimental at that time.
- Unannounced Visits and Amusement Park AdventuresBarbara recalls that the family seldom traveled because there were so many of them. They occasionally visited Arjean and Ray Moos in Elmhurst without calling ahead. Their hosts took them to Riverview Amusement Park, where adults played Bingo and children enjoyed rides and midway games. Bob impressed everyone by riding the parachute fall, while Barbara was terrified by the “Red Mouse” and retained a dislike of roller coasters.
- Tin-Tub Baths and Saturday Night MoviesBarbara recalls Saturday baths in a kitchen tin tub with stove-heated water before Daddy and the boys built an addition with a bathroom. She describes crowded sleeping arrangements, a two-seater outdoor toilet, brown-painted iron beds, wool army blankets, and chenille bedspreads. Other memories include late Saturday movies while her parents played cards, Sturdevant Milk advertisements, visiting salesmen, and listening in on party-line conversations.
- Treasured Presents, Music, and Bicycle RidesBarbara remembers Iris’s gift of a comic-book subscription and Bernie’s love of Mario Lanza records and thoughtful birthday presents after leaving home. Bob teased her and helped her do flip-overs; she took Carol’s outfits while Carol worked, and Dee styled or cut her hair before school. Barbara played most with Diana, riding bicycles on 39th Street, where a dog once tried to bite Diana but 'got the wrong leg.'
- Thanks for the Memories, BernieBarbara thanks Bernie for encouraging their recollections and says remembering the early years has been fun. She also describes a few of her quilts, her siblings Diana, Bob, Carol, Iris, and Dee on her staircase, and Bernie in his kitchen.
- Strawberry Patches, Saturday Baths, and Childhood PlayDiana recalls Carol’s frightening knee injury, punishment for charcoal writing and throwing rocks, and fear during her mother’s pneumonia. She describes the small house before bedrooms and a bathroom were added, Saturday baths in kitchen tubs, outdoor games, dolls, jump rope, and Jacks. School memories include crying on her first day, health inspections, and a sixth-grade ribbon.
- Seven Children, Shared Adventures, and Sisterly MischiefDiana remembers Iris cutting hair, Bernie rescuing her from punishment and playing records, and Bob driving four younger sisters to school and building an igloo with Billy Johnson. Carol served as a second mother, led 4-H meetings, and accompanied Diana to the State Fair. Dee was a card-playing companion and peacekeeper. Diana and Barb shared sleeping space, television suppers, prank calls, forbidden games, and adventures with Carol’s car. Family outings included the drive-in, ice cream, carnival rides, and drag races.
- A Family Remembered with Love and PrideThough her childhood memories are vague, Delores remembers warm and happy feelings. She lovingly describes her grandfather, parents, and six siblings, expressing gratitude for her life and pride in the family her parents created.
- Floyd, Tootsie, and Seven ChildrenDelores remembers her handsome, sociable father and her parents’ dancing at the Coliseum. She recounts the birth order of their seven children, her father naming Iris, and her mother naming the rest. She thought the oldest and youngest were spoiled but secretly believed she was Daddy’s favorite girl.
- Mom's Quiet Hour Before the School-Day RushMom rose early, dressed, got Dad off to work, and packed lunches from supper leftovers. Before the children got up, she enjoyed black coffee, a cigarette, and crocheting doilies that became family treasures. She served hot breakfasts individually around the children's schedules. A timed bathroom routine followed Dad's installation of a new bathroom. The children rode the bus in grade school and walked in junior high until Bob got his first car and drove them. The narrator affectionately marvels at Mom's orderly management of the household.
- Tuesday Ironing and the Intriguing MangleMom ironed on Tuesdays, working late at night when the children were young and during the day with their help when they were older. Listening to the radio, she pressed household linens and clothing, including Bob and Bernie's white shirts. Grampa bought her a mangle to ease the workload. The narrator describes its revolving padded barrel, foot pedal, and heating panel, wonders whether it really helped, and remembers that the fascinating machine was strictly off limits to the children.
- Saturday Auctions, Peanuts, and Picture ShowsDad, Bernie, and Bob attended Saturday auction sales, bringing home things Dad put to use. Afterwards Dad stopped for beer at a Highland-area tavern while the boys enjoyed peanuts and soda pop. Some Saturday afternoons the family went to the Highland Movie Theatre on 23rd Avenue, usually for a double feature. Dad gave each child thirty-five cents for admission and a snack; Roy Rodgers and Gene Autrey were remembered as popular stars.
- Tuesday and Saturday with MomThe narrator recalls Mom's busy senior years, her pride in getting seven children through school, and her family, friends, card parties, and crafts. Carol and the narrator stayed in Moline, married, had a child each, and worked at the Moline Dispatch and a beauty salon respectively. After Daddy died, the narrator cared for Mom on Tuesdays and Carol on Saturdays; both followed similar routines of errands and lunches paid for by Mom. The narrator humorously insists Mom's light auburn hair was natural. Mom traveled to visit children from California to Florida and to Germany after Charlie's transfer. Family contributions included clothes from Bob's boutique and goods from Iris and Bill's Ben Franklin store. The narrative closes with gratitude for Mom's care, strength, and devotion, including keeping ten people fed and dressed.
- Pudge's Memories of a Lovable GrampaDelores remembers swinging on Grampa's leg and sitting on his lap. He called her “Pudge” for her dimpled cheeks; Bernie says she was his favorite, probably after Bob. She recalls his horseradish garden and his grinding radishes outdoors because of the smell. She also witnessed his sudden fatal heart attack in the hallway on a Sunday and remembers her panic as the ambulance took him away.
- Midwest Seasons, Family Outings, and the First School BusDee recalls gardens, suntanning, summer treats, drive-in movies, and Fourth of July fireworks. Family trips took her to Chicago’s Museum of Art and Science and The Loop, then to Clarence’s farm in Worthington, Minnesota. Halloween brought homemade treats and Bernie’s prizewinning window paintings; winter brought sledding, snow figures, and Bernie and Bob’s newspaper-worthy igloo. Her earliest school memories are of crying before the kindergarten bus and refusing warm milk at Roosevelt school, where Mrs. Johnson played piano.
- Circle Skirts, School Dances, and Teenage ConfidenceDee recalls crafts in the Peppy Steppers 4-H club, teenage fashions, and her lack of interest in food preparation, contrasted with Carol’s prizewinning baking. Though shy and unsuccessful at sports even after getting glasses, she loved school dances and a satin polka-dot dress bought at Kay Bee. She remembers her first crush on Merle Ericson, spending her socially difficult senior year with Carol and her friends, trying pizza at Frank’s, and graduating in 1959 with straight A’s in art.
- An Enchanted House Full of Family MemoriesDelores remembers moving at age two into a four-room house on an acre, originally addressed 3209 39th Street. The house, garage, and land cost $2,750, with another $100 for the chicken house; payments were $25 monthly after $500 down. The orchard and yard were a childhood wonderland, while the small house eventually held ten people. She describes crowded sleeping arrangements, hand-pumped water, an outhouse, coal heat, rabbits, and time with her father in his workshed. Her father added two bedrooms and a bathroom without professional help in 1950. Later changes included removal of an interior wall, new carpeting, and white vinyl siding with hunter-green shutters. After three-quarters of the land was sold, the address became 3205 39th Street. Preserving the house helps her keep family memories alive.
- A Loving Toast to BobDee celebrates Robert Ray Guild in a playful, affectionate poem recalling his homemade wine, snow igloo, marriage to his high school sweetheart, dancing with Sue, successful business, coast-to-coast travels, and welcoming home. She praises his helpfulness and loyalty while teasing him about golf, gardening, and pistachios, closing with a wish that he remarry and a toast in his honor.
- Iris, Our Gentle Second MotherIn a loving poem signed Dee, Delores thanks her sister Iris for the care she gave her six younger siblings. An only child for over five years, Iris became like a second mother, feeding, bathing, hugging and comforting the children while helping their busy mother. Dee remembers Iris’s gentle ways and expresses lasting gratitude and unconditional love.
- A Christmas Eve Baby in a Wicker BasketAfter her mother began having contractions while trimming the Christmas tree, Carol was born on Christmas Eve 1938 in Moline. Her father named her Carol Mae for the season. She joined Iris, Bobby and Bernie at the family's apartment; the later births of Delores, Diana and Barbara made her the middle child. Remembered as a very small baby, she was carried on a pillow and kept in a wicker basket on a bedroom shelf beyond her brothers' reach.
- Coal Hills and the Work of Keeping WarmCarol recalls the family's coal-burning furnace. Daddy took Bob and Bernie to an industrial coal yard, where the car and trailer were weighed before and after loading to determine the coal's weight. While Daddy shoveled, Bob and Bernie climbed and slid down coal piles, blackening their clothes and angering Mom. At home, Daddy shoveled coal through a small basement window that he repeatedly broke. Tending the furnace required banking it every day and night and removing the cinders and ashes.
- Imaginations, Paper Dolls, and the Warmth of HomeCarol remembers childhood games with her sisters and neighborhood friends when store-bought toys were scarce. They played House on an army blanket, dressed in cast-off clothes, played in a canvas tent and a deserted trailer, and enjoyed paper dolls. Quiet play in the kitchen while Mom ironed and listened to the radio gave Carol a lasting sense of security. The children made newspaper kites, Kleenex flowers, and Kool-Aid stands, played street games, and sledded through steep wooded hills before warming themselves at the brass heat register.
- A Mother's Everyday Care and Treasured HandworkRobert remembers his extraordinary mother's work raising seven children with help from her dad, Iris, and neighbors. Childhood in the four-room house on 39th Street included Saturday baths in a galvanized kitchen tub, an outhouse, clean school clothes, cocoa with a peanut butter sandwich, and repeatedly reused lunch bags. His mother made thirteen-egg angel food birthday cakes, tended and canned a large garden's harvest, and silently taught him to pick beans thoroughly by collecting three more buckets after he said he was finished. He treasures her doilies, Christmas ornament balls, and Santa dolls; his boys Steve and Brian also have ornaments.
- Canning Shelves and Grandpa's Special Sausage CrockMom preserved the garden and orchard harvest every year with help from Grandpa Williams and Iris, reusing hundreds of jars. Jelly was sometimes sealed with paraffin or covered with waxed paper and a rubber band. Dad built basement shelves like library stacks; jars sometimes spoiled and exploded, especially peas. Iris recalled catsup, spiced pork, pepper hash, and cabbage and cucumber relish. Bernie remembered pork sausage and sage patties preserved under solidified pork grease in a decorated gray crock on the cold porch. Made especially for Grandpa Williams, the patties were eaten cold straight from the grease. Bernie still has the crock.
- Mom's Kitchen, Backyard Roasts, and a Special Sunday DinnerCarol recalls homemade meals, sweets, Friday-night treats, and bedtime snacks, including Lloyd teaching the children to dunk peanut butter sandwiches into cocoa. She remembers coloring margarine and refusing ten cents to eat liver. After the move to 39th Street, Mom raised chickens, Bob had a pig, and Grandpa Williams raised rabbits. Watching a chicken being killed terrified Carol, though chicken dinners and competing for the wishbone were memorable. Daddy prepared backyard wiener roasts. Restaurant meals never occurred and dinner invitations were rare, making a Sunday ham dinner with Ruth and Tom Johnson especially memorable.
- Sunday Pies, Shared Chicken, and the FunniesSundays were reserved for family, with Mom rising at dawn to bake pies with lard crusts, crescent rolls, and cinnamon rolls. Favorite noon dinners included Swiss steak or fried chicken with mashed potatoes. Carol jokes that ten people shared one chicken, then adds that surely there were at least two. Mom ate the wings and Dad the back, liver, and gizzards, saving the meatiest pieces for the children; Carol now enjoys wings herself. After dinner, Barb usually escaped to Margie’s house and Diana read behind a locked bathroom door, leaving Carol and Dee to do dishes while Bob snapped towels at them. Afterward, they read the Sunday paper Dad brought from town, especially Carol’s beloved funnies.
- Popcorn Profits and Fifty-Cent DiscoveriesBernie and Bob grew popcorn one year in McFarland’s vacant lot. Daddy promised they could keep the sales money and encouraged harvest help by offering fifty cents for each ear of Indian corn found among the popcorn. The boys dried the ears on the garage roof, used a popcorn sheller Daddy bought, and bagged the kernels in the basement. Daddy then drove them to movie theaters to sell their popcorn.
- Riverside Picnics, Warm Rolls, and WatermelonCarol recalls favorite family picnics at Riverside Park, followed by swimming at the Moline Swimming Pool and playground play while the grown-ups played cards. Picnics with families from Mom's 500 Club featured each family's specialty foods. Mom rose at 5:00 a.m. to prepare cinnamon rolls and credited careful kneading for their texture. Bernie and Bob arrived early to save tables. Watermelon finished the outings; Carol accompanied Daddy to choose melons, which he tested for ripeness by cutting and tasting a wedge with his pocketknife.
- Summer Visitors and Backyard MemoriesCarol remembers meeting Floyd's three sisters from Brainerd and his warning that they might think the family rich and stay forever. Uncle Clarence, Francis, and their five children visited before Floyd's illness and death. Other memories include wartime hand-rolled cigarettes and smoke rings, later chewing tobacco, hunting trips with Bernie and Bobby, and playing house in Floyd's former backyard workshop after he moved into the new garage.
- Caring for Daddy Through His Last MonthsDaddy suffered a stroke on Christmas Eve, 1967. Not realizing its seriousness, the family went to Iris and Bill's while Mom stayed with him. After Mom called Iris to report that he was worse, Lee and Bob took him to the hospital. Following two weeks there, his agitation prompted a search for other care. The family rejected St. Anthony's Hospital in Rock Island because patients were smoking while Daddy struggled to breathe. Mom tried caring for him at home with help from the girls and daily visits from Virginia, but the burden became exhausting. He was eventually taken to East Moline State Hospital. He died at sixty-three on May 23, 1968, surrounded by Mom and all the children, and is buried next to Mom at Riverside Cemetery in Moline, Illinois.
- A Christmas Visit Captured in Family PortraitsBernie borrowed a Leica camera to photograph a new place in San Francisco, then brought it home to Moline at Christmas. Using orange and green fabric tacked up in the girls’ bedroom as a backdrop, Bernie photographed the family. A portrait of Bernie taken by high school chum Jerry Edlund during the same trip completed the folio. Later on the family portrait day, the family celebrated Carol’s 23rd birthday. Bernie treasured how clearly the portraits revealed everyone’s personality.
- Banana Curls, School Games, and a Love of ReadingCarol remembers starting kindergarten at Roosevelt Grade School in Moline in 1944, riding in Mrs. Hogland’s improvised station-wagon seating, and wearing clothes her mother made and carefully arranged banana curls. Kindergarten included naps, a plaster handprint she still kept, and Drop the Handkerchief. Later memories include learning to read with Dick, Jane, and Baby Sally, riding the school bus, having tonsils removed with Marilyn and Bob, and loving fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Grafton. In fourth grade she learned time and multiplication, discovered boys, and began wearing glasses. In fifth grade she won a reading contest with over sixty books and became an enthusiastic comic-book reader. The section heading says First to Sixth Grade, although the account begins with kindergarten.
- Carol's Favorite Comics and BooksCarol lists the comics she read: Donald Duck, Wonder Woman, Mickey Mouse, Archie and Jughead, Little Lulu, Felix The Cat, Popeye, Spooky, The Ghost, Batman, and Superman. She recalls enjoying Little Women, The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, Nancy Drew mysteries, and Bernie and Bob's Hardy Boys books. Reading a good novel remains her favorite thing to do.
- Names and Verses Tucked AwayCarol invites comparison of family signatures and recalls Bernie's report that Dad's birth certificate spelled his name Floyde, leaving the reason uncertain. She still keeps her grade-school autograph book and shares playful verses and coded messages written by family and friends.
- High School Rides, Beautiful Papers and a Beloved Sister-in-LawCarol recalls Bob driving the girls to high school and picking up Sue Warner, who later became his wife and Carol's beloved sister-in-law. Sue died on Carol's birthday in 1996. After school, the girls met their father at the A&P Store for the ride home. Carol describes her courses, clubs, satisfactory A’s and B’s, enjoyment of research and Bernie's elaborate term-paper covers. Nursing was financially out of reach, but she later felt glad she had not pursued it. She also remembers relatively minor classroom discipline problems.
- Carol’s Extra Basket of Back-Then MemoriesAfter the book was finished, Carol collected memories Bernie said there was not enough room to include. Her nostalgic list moves from Mom reading the funnies, homemade treats, and Dad's comparison of a Studebaker to a two-row corn picker to Bob's Davy Crockett hat, Bernie's stilts, school dances, fashions, childhood games, illnesses, street names, music, and remembered entertainment quotations.
- Floyd Guild’s Well and a Father-Son SecretBernard recalls Daddy locating water with a forked willow divining rod near the kitchen door, then spending much of a summer casting a dozen massive concrete rings. Daddy dug inside the stacked rings as they sank into the ground, creating a secure thirty-three-foot well. Bernard and Bob played in the rings and helped haul dirt until neighbors took over. A leftover ring became a play space in the orchard. Before water was reached, Dad and Dale secretly lowered Bernard into the cold well in a rough rope halter. Bernard recalled seeing stars in the daytime sky from the bottom. Threatened with the razor strap if he told Mom, he kept the secret until late in life; she claimed she had already known, which he doubted.
- Forties Memories: A Surplus Periscope and a Hidden PhotographBernard recalls a War Surplus Store opening in Moline after the war, much to his father’s delight. He and Bob obtained a small periscope and unsuccessfully planned to use it to watch Sis Vergain undress, but her shade remained closed. He also recalls ordering a glossy photograph of Jane Russell in “The Outlaw” and hiding it in his dresser because he felt uncertain about whether he should have it.
- Vegetables Put By and Sauerkraut from the Basement CrockThe section lists at least 200 quarts of tomatoes for Swiss steak, about 100 quarts of tomato juice for goulash, string beans, wax beans, lima beans, peas, corn, and beets. Sauerkraut was made in an open 50-gallon ceramic crock under the front basement window, covered by an inverted dinner plate. A roughly one-inch head of mold had to be lifted to reach the good kraut below. The accompanying recipe calls for cooking sauerkraut and spareribs together until the meat falls off the bone and serving them over riced potatoes with butter.
- Keeping Fruit in the BackyardThe section lists cherries, peaches, pears, and lots of applesauce. The narrator recalls Dad wrapping pears and apples in newspaper and storing them for several months in bushel baskets in a covered hole in the backyard. The family ate the apples even when they became a little wrinkled.
- Dad's Workshop, Lessons, and Lasting ToolsBob remembers Dad as someone who could fix anything, an excellent mechanic and welder whose projects brought many trips for parts, advice, and conversation with friends. Dad worked hard at John Deere, where friends called him Casey, tended a half-acre fruit orchard, participated in Dad’s Club, and took the children to Scout meetings. He taught them to make willow whistles and homemade kites. The family visited his brothers in Minnesota without announcing their arrival. His tough car negotiations embarrassed Bob but secured good deals. Bob recalls Dad's handsome appearance and enjoyment of his motorcycle and camper in retirement, and remembers him whenever he uses the tools he kept.
- Laughter at Oscar Peterson'sDuring a visit to Oscar Peterson's, Dad and Oscar were drinking a few beers. Dad gave some to Oscar's cat, which acted crazy, making everyone laugh. Bob recalls this as an example of Dad's humor and the laughter he shared with friends.
- The Golden Ear in the Popcorn FieldBob and Bernie planted popcorn in a field next door after Dad promised they could keep the sales money if they cared for it. By harvest they were weary of the work, but Dad's claim that one gold ear lay in the field prompted them to pick it in record time. They never found a gold ear. They sold the popcorn for ten cents a pound, and Bob thinks they made a little money.
- A Special Glove and Trips with the TeamRobert recalls playing baseball in fifth and sixth grades and how special his new glove felt. As Junior High School football team manager, he enjoyed getting to know players and coaches and traveling to away games. His childhood games also included marbles, yo-yos, and a little hopscotch.
- Four Hours Away from the PhoneRobert began golfing while working at J. C. Penney’s in the 1950’s, playing in a league and with friends. Despite feeling his ability had not improved, he still enjoyed the game, the interesting people, and the great courses. His favorite benefit was four hours away from the phone, with no cell phones allowed.
- More Fun Than Anybody at the Bowling AlleyRobert bowled for many years, usually on a team. He remembered his teams as unsuccessful but having more fun than anybody. His scores ranged from a best of 207 to a worst of 88.
- A Lifetime of Cheering, from Wrestling to the PackersBob describes his lifelong enthusiasm for watching sports and reading the sports page first. Before his family had a TV, his father took them to Iris and Bill’s apartment to watch wrestling, with Argentine Aroca their favorite. During the 90’s, Bob and his son Steve regularly attended Milwaukee Bucks basketball games. After many years in Wisconsin, he describes passionate loyalty to the Green Bay Packers, complete with hats, T-shirts, and sweat shirts, win or lose.
- Favorite Pastimes on the Rock RiverBob says he has no particular hobby but enjoys reading, golf, fishing, boating, and woodworking. Living on the Rock River makes jet skiing, his current favorite activity, convenient. He wishes summers were longer and has become a skilled picture framer.
- A Long Flight North for Great FishingBob recalls his best Canadian fishing trip, taken with a group of men in 1975. They sat on duffel bags aboard an old DC-9 and flew one thousand miles north of Minneapolis, almost to the Arctic Circle, where darkness did not arrive until midnight. Head winds left the plane low on fuel half an hour from its destination, requiring a turnaround and refueling at a small airport. They eventually landed on an island, using the entire runway, and enjoyed great fishing.
- Bernie's Help with PicturesThe narrator acknowledges that Bernie helped with pictures to replace the narrative he did not write for the section titled BEING A KID.
- Bob's Bright Fragments of ChildhoodBob lists vivid childhood memories: neighbors, a gasoline burn while playing with a toy steamshovel, Barbara refusing medicine, Bernie's skating injury, and Tom Johnson knocking out power lines with a falling tree. He recalls visiting the Rodgers in Cordova, swimming at Campbell’s Island, annual Riverside Park picnics, Iris’s wedding, and poker games with Art and Eileen Cordingly. Other memories include orchard camping and spraying, gathering walnuts, toys and homemade kites, fireworks, homemade foods, hauling water when the well dried up, building a house addition, basement heat relief and flooding, coal heating, backyard tomatoes, and the surviving mailbox millstone.
- From Kindergarten Tears to a Published SketchRobert recalls crying on his first day of kindergarten until Iris came for him, attending several schools after a move, and graduating in 1955. He remembers junior high plays, working on scenery and props, taking art classes, and having a log cabin sketch published in Illinois Junior Historian. He reports good grades and continued learning through classes, workshops, seminars, and the school of “hard knocks.”
- A Shortcut and an Unforgettable ApologyRobert remembers a “two-mile walk” to school even in twenty-below weather, with shortcuts through King’s Apple Orchard and Ferry’s Woods. While playing with matches in the woods, he and others started a fire that got out of hand. Iris took him to Ferry’s house to apologize, an experience he never forgot.
- Rowdy Friends and Eighteen in a RamblerRobert recalls a close group of rowdy friends whose clothing and behavior sometimes embarrassed the school. On a trip to an out-of-town football game, they used a borrowed hand-held siren and red flashing light while passing cars. Another night, eighteen youths crowded into a Nash Rambler station wagon amid beer drinking. Police arrested fifteen; Robert and two others ran away. The newspaper reported “15 Kids Arrested in Rambler for Drinking.” Robert also states that the group never got into big trouble.
- From Dad's Rebuilt Chevy to Beloved Station WagonsRobert recalls starting to drive at thirteen around the 39th Street neighborhood and earning his license in a stick-shift car his father built from two junk Chevys for taking the children to school. He thinks Bernie and Carol also drove it. His own cars began with a black ’48 Ford he washed daily, followed by a succession of Mercurys, Oldsmobiles, Chevys, Pontiacs, and Dodges. His yellow ’57 Olds saw plenty of drive-in movie outings, and his ’69 Pontiac wagon was his first brand new car. Friends teased him about his station wagons, but he prized their hauling capacity. He always wanted a red Corvette convertible and says the red Mustang convertible comes close.
- Rabbit Hunts with Dad and Backyard Target PracticeRobert recalls Dad buying a twenty-gauge shotgun when Robert was around thirteen or fourteen, taking him rabbit hunting, and teaching him to clean rabbits safely. Dad told of hunting rabbits in Minnesota and filling a car's back seat with them; Robert wonders whether a photograph exists. Robert also remembers quail and pheasant hunting, backyard handgun practice with Dad and Dale McFarland, his favorite Red Ryder BB gun, and childhood fights using homemade slingshots and green grapes.
- Bob's Many Welcome NicknamesRobert Ray Guild recalls being called Bob, Robert, Robbie by his dad, and Bobby by others. In junior high school, his small size earned him the nickname Pee Wee, which he still hears at class reunions. He welcomes all of these names.
- Dad Takes the Wheel at the BridgesRobert remembers traveling to Minnesota with Dad and Bernie to visit Dad’s brothers. Bernie, eleven and a half and newly driving, was hesitant to cross the narrow bridges and stopped so Dad could drive across. Robert says he was ten.
- Five Thousand Miles and Still FriendsRobert recalls his best family vacation: three weeks out West with Sue, Steve, and Brian in their new 1975 station wagon. Their route included mountains, parks, cities, several days with Bernie in San Francisco, Universal Studios, and friends in San Bernardino. After five thousand miles, he marvels that everyone still liked each other.
- Bob Finds His Strength in Boot CampBob recalls three years in the Illinois National Guard during his twenties. His six months of active duty in 1963 included eight weeks of winter Boot Camp at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he gained fitness and a better understanding of his endurance. He finished active duty with an Artillery Unit at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
- A Baby Pig and Fluffy the Wandering CatRobert recalled receiving a baby pig from a neighbor as a child. The family raised it in a pen behind the garage, greased it, and rode it before Dad eventually sold it. He also remembered a white cat named Fluffy, which stayed with them a long time and repeatedly returned from days away looking beat up and ragged. His own children later had a dog, a hamster, and some fish.
- A Circus Ticket Earned Under the Big TentThe narrator asked to help a circus that set up in Moline and helped erect its big tent. He was impressed by elephants pulling up the tent poles with the canvas attached. His payment was a free ticket.
- Garden Chores and a Popcorn EnterpriseThe narrator recalls the family's orchard and garden chores, including planting and watering vegetables by hand. He thought Mom and Grandpa did most of the work and noted that, with five sisters, he seldom did dishes. Dad bought a seed-planting device that the narrator and Bernie used to plant popcorn on land loaned by neighbors. They were allowed to keep the proceeds and sold several hundred pounds at ten cents per pound.
- Stockroom Work and Unpaid ClothesAt fifteen, the narrator began what he called his first job in the real world, as a stock boy at Kay Bee Clothing store in Moline. Bernie had held the job before him. The store sold clothing on credit, and the narrator's duties included visiting customers' homes to repossess unpaid merchandise, where he met some memorable characters.
- Handing Out Roses with Mr. PenneyThe narrator followed Bernie into work at the J.C. Penney Store in Moline, became the men’s department’s best salesperson, and entered management training. Transferred to Oshkosh for a new store opening in 1962, he spent several days working with Mr. J.C. Penney, handing out roses and checking the registers at his request.
- Learning the Business and Building StoresAt Iris and Bill’s suggestion, the narrator left Penney’s and learned the Ben Franklin business at Bob Retzlaff’s Madison store. He reports opening Bormann’s in 1983 as part owner and manager, with Bill Retzlaff cosigning his first loan, and five successful years of business. He also states that he sold out in 1972 to become manager and partner with Iris and Bill in Elliott’s in Janesville for eight years. These dates conflict and are retained as written. In 1988 he bought a Janesville Ben Franklin Store and converted it to an all-crafts store. He also served five years on Rock County Bank’s board, finding it especially interesting to learn who borrowed money for country club dues.
- Sue’s Candle Store and a Lucky Montreal TripThe narrator says they bought Sue a Wicks N Sticks candle store, which she operated successfully for five years. Trade shows brought travel and lasting friendships. Their favorite trip was to Montreal, where Sue won nine hundred dollars in a raffle.
- Cocoa-Dunked Sandwiches and Saturday CandyBob lists favorite foods from childhood, tentatively recalling milk at ages 0–5, daily peanut butter sandwiches dunked in cocoa at ages 5–10, and macaroni and cheese with double cheese at ages 10–15. Weekly Saturday A&P grocery trips included one bag of candy to share; his favorites were Orange Slices and Circus Peanuts. He also remembers the PX restaurant's chili and French fries as the world's best and refers readers to Chris Bonney’s Ethel Guild family cookbook.
- Bob's Pocketbook PoliticsBob describes his practice of voting straight Republican except on local issues. He connects his voting to pocketbook concerns and recalls telling politicians that giving money to someone who did not earn it means taking it from someone who did.
- From Sunday School to Prayers for FamilyBob recalls learning The Lord’s Prayer at Sunday school in Tom and Ruth Johnson’s house, followed by little church attendance. He married in a church in 1960 and joined the Methodist Church after moving to Janesville in 1972. He describes fairly regular attendance, belief in God, and silent prayers that include those likely to read his account.
- Bob's Reflections on Time and ConnectionBob regrets not spending more time with and helping his parents or getting to know them better, not going to college, and not writing or calling often enough. He also regrets taking five years to finish his memories.
- Love Shown Through Work and ProtectionRobert does not remember outward displays of affection in childhood, but recalls Dad checking on a stranger near their street and Mom sometimes receiving no pork chops when the plate reached her. Looking back, he recognizes his parents' hard work as their most important expression of love. He also remembers Dad's loving advice against joining the Navy.
- Dances, Sue, and a Life TogetherRobert recalls his first dance in ninth grade, new clothes from Mom, bus travel with his date, and dances at Coolidge Junior High and the Moline swimming pool. Through his high school friend Bob Warner, he met Bob's sister Sue. They dated for six years and married in 1960. He describes thirty-six years of marriage until her death from cancer in 1996 and forty-three wonderful years together. He celebrates her organizing, friendships, their trips and regular nights out, her care for Steve and Brian, and her love for their four grandchildren.
- Gratitude for Family, Friends, and BernieRobert expresses love for his family and thankfulness that he can help those less fortunate. His sons, grandchildren, and friends keep him busy and happy. He offers special thanks to Bernie for helping put the book together.
- Railroad Treasures and Childhood Days by the RiverIn a sequence of childhood memories, the narrator recalls locomotives, Grampa's walks to kindergarten, gathering fallen coal for Mommy's stove, and finding treasures near the foundry. He remembers his fifth birthday, first-grade lessons, a printing prize, and a teacher locking out Arnold for lateness. Life in a big white house includes celebrations, baby Carol's arrival while Mommy is sick, Mommy returning with Baby Delores, games with Bobby and Iris, penny treats, a tavern visit, May baskets, and the fascination of a river the children are forbidden to approach.
- The Little House That Grew with the FamilyBernard remembers the small house on 39th Street that became the family's enduring home. He believes Mom secured the loan to move the children away from the river and railroad tracks. Dad gradually transformed the four-room house with a basement, furnace, well, enlarged kitchen, bedrooms, indoor plumbing, siding, garage, and work shed. Memories of moving day, Grampa's songs and knee rides, the McFarlands, and freedom to play convey the deep closeness of the family.
- The Orchard Chore That Took So LongDad made Bob and Bernard cut tall orchard weeds with a two-handed scythe they could barely lift and trim around trees with a hand sickle. They hated the time-consuming work. Later, Dad did the mowing himself with a cutting blade pulled behind his homemade tractor.
- Green Plaid Bags and Marbles for KeepsBernard remembers the drawstring marble bags Mom sewed for him and Bob, Bob's remarkable shooting skill, and his poison-green peerie. He describes the rules of their games, the many marble varieties, and the temptation to use steel ball bearings to shatter another child's marble despite a forfeiture penalty. A favorite marble was called a “Baby” and usually kept out of play. More than once, parents made them return winnings from children they had lured into playing for keeps.
- First Jackknives and Fierce Games in the DirtAt about seven or eight, the narrator and Bob each received a small bone-handled pocketknife from Daddy and immediately learned Mumblety-peg. They also played a competitive knife-throwing game in their dirt marble circle, claiming territory according to where their blades landed. Billy Johnson excelled at this game. The girls protested and reported them to Mom, especially when the players showed off by rapidly jabbing knives between their fingers.
- Dirty Feet and Heavy Water BucketsBernard remembers getting filthy playing in the dirt. Mom did not require washing before meals but insisted on clean feet at bedtime. He thought the labor of carrying well water and heating it on the stove might explain this rule. He and Bob helped carry buckets they could barely lift. Mom kept a clean house but often said, “You need some germs to fight back with,” a view Bernard retrospectively endorsed.
- Rainy-Day Toys and the Joy of ColoringBernard recalls indoor play during rainy days and winter: an Erector set, wood-burning kit, crystal set, painted figurines, and an electric train surrounded by Lincoln Log houses. He and Bob refused to box each other, disappointing Dad. He made comic books with newspaper strips and homemade paste, played Chinese Checkers with Grampa, and folded paper toys for Barbara. Coloring was his favorite distraction, inspiring a teasing aside to Diana.
- Long Winter Rides Through the Big WoodsBernard recalls eagerly awaiting Christmas and snow, and the transformed winter landscape of Ferry’s Woods. He describes approaching the woods by the Frys' farm and navigating a steep, winding sled run with Bob on their shared Christmas Flexible Flyer. They extended their rides onto a frozen creek until a log near a small pond stopped them; the long climb back in heavy winter clothing made this hard play.
- Junkers, a Workshop Sign, and Lasting GratitudeThe family's troublesome cars reflected limited money and Dad's enthusiasm for fixing junkers. Bernard and Bob learned mechanical skills from him. The children struggled to contain his junk piles, and Bernard's workshop sign urging a place for everything amused Dad without changing his habits. Bernard closes with appreciation for both parents' hard work, devotion, and sacrifice, and regret that he did not do more for them later.
- Halloween Windows, Rackets, and MischiefBernard describes making a noisy Halloween device from a notched thread-spool, string, and nail. During junior and senior high, he painted storefront windows each Halloween, including a motorboat-race satire whose reference to parking and making out at the airport went entirely unrecognized. Someone put watermelon rinds in the Peterson’s chimney after they refused treats; Ray Rohrer or Butch Hannah was suspected. Bernard recounts stories of cruel tricks on children that he considers probably urban myths. He denies overturning outhouses himself, is uncertain whether Bob did, and recalls Bob's fondness for matches.
- A Lost Friendship and a Lifelong LessonBernard remembers Sonny Joiner as a giggling childhood friend living with his working mother. Although Bernard doubted accusations that Sonny watched girls bathing, he chased and punched Sonny after another accusation one late-fall evening. Sonny cried without resisting, and Bernard immediately stopped in remorse. A few days later, Sonny’s mother told Bernard that Sonny had undergone surgery that very day and had fresh stitches. Bernard says the lost friendship and her warning haunted him, and he never struck anyone again.
- Learning to Ride and Making an Old Bike ShineBernard loved his repeatedly repainted bicycle. Daddy proudly declared him a remarkably quick learner, unaware that he had already practiced on Iris’ bike with Bobby's help. The children enjoyed spraying gravel with dramatic starts and stops. Bernard learned to ride hands-free, but copying Ray Rohrer's seat-standing stunt left his knee full of gravel. Bicycle errands included buying Mom's Marvel cigarettes at Fredrickson’s Market with no money left for treats.
- Night Rides, Bells, and an Ooga HornLarge nighttime bicycle outings worried Ethel, while Daddy defended the boys' adventures. He fitted Bernard's bicycle with a generator light and loud steel bands that imitated a motor until they began wearing through the spokes. Bernard treasured four bells and an ooga horn, carried passengers on the rear carrier, and avoided a front basket because of a childhood belief that baskets were for girls. He envied Bob's chain guard and recalled boys rolling up their right trouser legs to protect them from bicycle chains.
- Hours Beside Dad's Forge and ToolsThe garage became a well-equipped workshop with a hand-cranked forge, wood- and metal-turning lathes, grinding and burnishing wheels, several saws, a drill press, and welding equipment. Daddy made parts for his inventions there and produced excellent arc welds. The narrator remembered the forge's brilliant fire and sparks, and the hundreds if not thousands of hours he, Bob, and the girls spent watching Daddy work.
- Borrowed Tractors and Five-Dollar GardensWhile working in Deere’s experimental department, Daddy invented at least four important agricultural devices without receiving royalties. He sometimes brought a tractor home in spring to plow the family’s truck garden. When he returned to work, Bernard—and perhaps Bob—used it to plow neighbors’ gardens for five dollars. Bernard’s memory was vague, but he believed they were never caught because the consequences would have been severe.
- Popcorn and Lessons at the PlowBob and Bernard learned to drive a tractor and maneuver its plow while planting a half-acre of popcorn on McFarland’s empty lot. Bernard also plowed many other gardens that year under Daddy’s supervision. He remembered his right biceps becoming huge from repeatedly raising and lowering the plow at the ends of the furrows.
- Childhood Beside the Peterson FamilyBernard contrasts his mother's gentle handling of accidents with the Petersons' fearful household, where children faced beatings for accidents or insufficient study. He remembers Eileen becoming a sweet person despite this treatment and believes the harsh rules troubled the boys, especially Billy.
- Standing Up for the KittensBilly called Bob and Bernard over to watch him kill kittens in a rusty burn barrel with a BB gun. Bernard seized the gun and ran away before Billy could kill them. The gun's sharp sight cut Billy's palm, and Billy became Bernard's enemy. Bernard felt proud to oppose his cruelty.
- Billy Stuck in the Strawberry PatchDuring a tremendous rainstorm, Bob and Bernard walked with Billy through his strawberry patch. When Billy became stuck knee-deep in mud, they left him there without telling anyone, recalling it as a way of getting back at him.
- Fourth of July Sparks and Childhood MischiefDaddy brought home fireworks every Fourth of July, and the family eagerly waited for darkness to enjoy fountains, roman candles, sparklers, and pinwheels. Daddy also performed a risky trick with tiny firecrackers; Bob and the narrator burned their fingers trying it. Bobby and the narrator experimented with launching cans using firecrackers, and Bob once destroyed a model plane he had made. The narrator fondly recalls Snakes and expresses frustration with restrictions on home fireworks.
- Freebies at Herby's Fireworks TentHerby Spahn ran a fireworks stand on 23rd Avenue for a few years, stocking it through trips to Saint Louis, Missouri. His selection included expensive skyrockets, Bob's favorite whistling Bottle Rockets, and M-80's. A chicken-wire fence separated customers from the merchandise for theft prevention and fire safety. Herb rewarded the narrator and companions with freebies for lingering at the fence to attract customers. The narrator admired the colorful wrappers and foreign-looking graphics nearly as much as the fireworks.
- A Frightening Summer Ride and a Childhood MisunderstandingOn a muggy summer night, the narrator's father took the boys and a .22 rifle to Harry Means's home on Campbell’s Island. Sent by Bobby to listen at the screendoor, the narrator overheard that they had to shoot someone and assumed a man would be killed and dumped in the river. The boys heard a rifle shot and waited terrified in the closed car. Much later, the narrator overheard Harry explaining that his hunting dog had been put down with Daddy's help. Embarrassment kept the narrator from telling the story until adulthood.
- A Robin’s Egg Blue Chevrolet and a Cherished FordAt sixteen, Bernard acquired a ’36 Chevrolet to drive to Moline High School. Its unfinished robin’s egg blue paint, missing parking brake, and shabby seats embarrassed him, but Dad kept it running and Bernard bought seat covers with his own money. He cruised Moline on a dollar's worth of gas and drove to Chicago with Herman Nelson one New Year's Eve without permission. He fondly remembers a black ’41 Ford with chrome and a radio, priced at $150, but cannot remember whether it replaced the Chevrolet, was shared with Bob, or belonged only to Bob.
- Learning to Cross the BridgeBernard learned to drive on Dad's homemade tractor and, at eleven, during a 1947 trip with Dad and Bob to Grandpa Dan Guild's funeral in Brainerd. Required to drive half the way, he initially refused to cross bridges, leaving Dad to take over. On the return trip Dad refused to cross the last bridge for him, and Bernard drove across in terror while Bobby laughed. He recalls lasting nightmares about bridges and never learning to swim. By the time he paid twenty-five cents for a driver's license at the postal booth in Schlegal’s Drug Store in Highland, he had driven for over four years; his Driver's Ed teacher excused him from road practice.
- Peanuts, Radio, and Time with DadBernard warmly remembers Dad sharing peanuts from a penny vending machine at a gas station with him and Bob, and sitting close to Dad listening to favorite radio programs until Mom called them to supper. Watching Dad tinker made Bernard want to grow up like him.
- A Reluctant Rabbit HunterBernard dreaded hunting rabbits with Daddy and deliberately missed his shots. Daddy followed up, and the wounded rabbits sickened Bernard. Iris was an excellent markswoman, likened to Annie Oakley, while Bob was a good shot who enjoyed hunting.
- Junk Trades, Cold Kayo, and Daddy's Infectious LaughBernie recalls frequent, sometimes daily car outings with Bobby and Daddy that he considers significant to their socialization. Daddy told Mom when they would return but never their destination, and the girls were rarely included. The outings revolved around junk trading, often with Daddy's best friend Hugh Chase, who welcomed the boys with cold bottles of Kayo. Trades could involve guns, furnace parts, and elaborate arrangements among three or four people. Daddy delighted in recounting how he had gotten the better bargain. His teasing stories, habit of calling people “Good Looking” until he remembered their names, and infectious laughter made him a welcome visitor.
- A Family Name That Rhymes with WildThe narrator wonders why the family says “Guylld” rather than “Gild,” asking whether British origin and old vowel pronunciations might explain it but offering no answer. He explains the pronunciation by rhyming Guild with “wild” or referring to “Bewitched Bothered and Beguiled,” adding that this would work for Barb, Bob, and Brian as well.
- Family Remedies and Memories of Childhood IllnessBernard recalls ringworm treatments for himself and Bob, crediting Daddy's use of Kerodin with becoming a standard treatment after the Arp doctors heard of it. He remembers Daddy's foot fungus and recurring malaria, Gramps's weather-sensitive rheumatism, and Mom deliberately exposing the children to whooping cough. Despite saying he cannot remember childhood sickness, he recalls ringworm, measles, and chicken pox. Other memories include Mom's sewing injuries, sunburn and bursitis, his own dog-bite scar, a girl's scarlet fever that he tentatively attributes to Carol, and the family's belief that childhood vegetables would protect them from cancer.
- Little Tea Sets and Dreams of a Welcoming HomeIris recalls being the first child and having her own room before Bobby and Bernie were born. Uncle Lloyd brought treasured china tea sets, which she carefully repacked in their original boxes after playing house. She imagined dressing beautifully, dancing, and serving tea. Looking back, she feels those dreams came true in a lovely home where she entertains friends, and expresses gratitude for God's help, her husband, and her loving siblings.
- Fishing with Gus and Fried Fish for SupperGus Falk often visited the family home and hunted deer with Daddy. He sometimes rode to Brainerd with the family. Iris remembers fishing with Dad at a lake on Gus's family's property, with Bernie and Bob joining later. They caught plenty of fish, and Iris delighted in eating fried fish instead of mutton stew.
- From a Second Mother to a Cherished FriendIris reflects on her second-mother role in childhood and the friendships she now cherishes. She recalls Bernie's broken tea sets and playful dish-towel chases, taking little Barbara everywhere, soothing Diana's ulcerated leg with lard, helping reposition baby Carol's head until the neck grew stronger, regretting Delores's scoldings after her hearing problem was discovered, and understanding quiet Bob's pointing without his needing to speak.
- A Place on the Bench and Cake for SupperThe family gathered around a rectangular table with three leaves and a wooden bench Daddy made. Carol remembers sharing the bench with Dee and Diana, while Mom sat beside the youngest child to help. Large homemade meals included bread at both ends of the table and dessert after every supper. Carol later thought the bread compensated for limited seconds. In junior high she made a two-egg cake almost every day, with leftovers packed into school lunches.
- Floyd and Ethel: Dancing, Work, and Seven ChildrenFloyd and Ethel met on a roller-skating blind date, courted through dancing and picnics, and married in Moline in 1928 with Frank Melton and Elva as attendants. They raised seven children. The passage says Floyd worked his entire life for John Deere, while also recording a roughly year-long Depression layoff when Lloyd helped him obtain WPA truck-driving work. Remembered as hardworking, playful, outspoken, and devoted to family, Floyd died of acute kidney failure in 1968 after an earlier severe stroke and is buried beside Ethel.
- The First Television and the Music That StayedThe parents returned from Diana’s 1949 leg operation in Chicago with the family’s first black-and-white television. Dee contrasts television with the radio programs that had fed her imagination. Bernie bought a record player after starting window-display work, and Dee repeatedly played Patty Page’s The Tennessee Waltz. Bob and Sue danced, Barb and Margie adored Pat Boone, and Barbie and Diana played instruments. Years later, Diana’s warped violin was discarded, rescued by Mr. Sajben, repaired, and played by his son; Dee regretted being unable to recover it.
- Chris: Backyard Friendships, Soccer, and a Life in MusicCarol's determination to live in the Coolidge school district placed Chris near three boys who became lifelong friends. His enthusiasm for soccer led to memorable football kicks and the captaincy of Moline Senior High School's first soccer team. At Northern Illinois University, he turned toward guitar and a college band while earning his degree. He later released a CD, founded a record company, supported local musicians, wrote music journalism, and compiled a family recipe book presented at the 1999 reunion.
- Mom's Firm Hand and Comforting PresenceBernard recalls being difficult to discipline, fearing his mother's threat to send him away, and finding comfort in her presence at his sickbed and her care before school. Her tears when he left for California made him feel guilty. He also remembers her advice about marriage and keeping his personal life private.
- A Chicago Visit and a Lasting Lesson in ThanksBernard visited Grandma and Grandpa Hobson in Chicago with Billy Johnson and Billy’s parents. They ate lunch at Marshall Field’s, ordering from a huge giraffe-shaped children’s menu, and Bernard bought Bob a toy roller coaster. After they returned home, Tom Johnson scolded Bernard for not thanking others for their kindness. Bernard kept the embarrassing incident from his parents and never liked Tom afterward, but never forgot to thank anyone again.
- Minnesota Visits, Grandma's Sandwiches, and Northern LightsBernard recalls visiting Dan Guild's Minnesota grave, where aunt Myrtle seriously suggested digging him up. He remembers attending Dan's funeral at eleven in 1947, Grandma Olive's kindness over a fried egg sandwich, and visits with his father's relatives around Brainerd. His memories include attic sleeping, fresh warm milk at Uncle Clarence's farm, glowing swamp gas, brilliant Northern Lights in 1947, fishing, and mosquito bites.
- Hard Work, Strong Tempers, and Lasting Family TiesThe family describes poverty, shared winter coats, uncertain meals, Dan’s mechanical ingenuity and repair shop, and the heavy household work borne by Olive and her daughters. Severe arthritis and unproved suspicions of infidelity colored Olive’s marriage and behavior. Recollections differ sharply: some emphasize harsh discipline and complaints, while grandchildren recall kindness and others see a devoted couple with stubborn tempers. Dan’s brief 1925 departure ended in his return, and they never divorced. The narrative also remembers affectionate sibling bonds, Floyd’s signature practice, and Olive’s willingness to shelter daughters between marriages. Sweeping judgments about the Vosburg and Guild children are presented as family opinions rather than independently established facts.
- From the Old Farm to a New Start in MolineFamily memories follow Dan and Olive on the Falk property, the mysterious driveway inscription, Myrtle's minnow sales, and Bessie's diphtheria quarantine and marriage. After Dan lost the property, Clarence moved to Bessie's home and Floyd stayed with Uncle Bernie, learning horse care and practical jokes. Gus Falk helped Floyd move to Moline and find work in 1921. Relatives admired his success, and visits and reunions continued through his parents' later years. The passage preserves contradictory dates in Olive's calendar account and the boys' refusal to admit writing the inscription.
- Brownie’s Dancing Days and a Lifetime of MotheringDespite grief at home and being refused a college education, Ethel found happiness in friends, dancing, and work. Mary Hill introduced her to Floyd, whom she married in 1928. Together they raised seven children, while Ethel survived a serious goiter and worked several jobs. In widowhood she enjoyed crafts, cards, grandchildren, and travel, including a cherished 1979 European holiday funded by Bernie. She died during a visit to Diana in 1988, remembered for her unqualified love.
- Grampa’s Helping Hands at the House on 39th StreetEd Williams became a permanent member of Ethel and Floyd's household around 1934, helping raise seven children and handling housework, gardening, and canning. He contributed earnings and savings toward enlarging the house. A severe acid burn at work ended his later employment, though treatment healed his leg. The family remembered his affection and help, alongside episodes when Floyd had to retrieve him after drinking. He died of a heart attack in 1953 and was buried without a headstone.
- Dances, Seven Children, and Grampa’s Helping HandsAfter moving to Moline, Ethel met Floyd through Mary Hill and married him in 1928. They raised seven children, while Ethel worked several jobs and survived goiter surgery. Ed became a permanent member of their household, contributing childcare, housework and money, despite drinking and a serious workplace injury. Lloyd served in the Army Signal Corps, suffered lasting injuries and eventually lost contact with the family, leaving fond memories and a cocoa-dunking breakfast tradition. The passage gives conflicting dates for Ed’s death and funeral.
- Playing Red Rover TogetherThe passage explains Red Rover: two equal teams, each with a captain, take turns calling an opposing player to try to break through their linked hands. A successful runner gains a player for their team; an unsuccessful runner joins the opposing team. The team with the most players after a set playing time wins.
In the family geneagram
Recorded in the geneagram kept with the book. Where the corrected pages and the master run differ, both readings are shown and the corrected one is the reading the archive follows.
Corrected record · Robert Ray Guild & Susan Ann Guild
- Born
- September 2, 1937, Moline, Illinois (Home Birth)
- Died
- ........Married........ June 19, 1960, Moline, Illinois
Master record — superseded · Robert Ray Guild & Susan Ann Guild
- Born
- September 2, 1937, Moline, IL. (Home Birth)
- Married
- June 19, 1960, Moline, IL.
Referenced in
- The Guilds — ROBERT RAY GUILD
- Barbara's Chapter — CAPTAIN MERLIN RINGERING
- Barbara's Chapter — NICKNAMES
- Barbara's Chapter — TRIPS
- Barbara's Chapter — LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
- Barbara's Chapter — THANKS
- Diana's Chapter — FAMILY MEMORIES
- Dee's Chapter
- Dee's Chapter — DADDY
- Dee's Chapter — WEEKLY WOES
- Dee's Chapter — WEEKLY WOES
- Dee's Chapter — THE CANNING
- Dee's Chapter — EASTER
- Dee's Chapter — GRAMPA WILLIAMS
- Dee's Chapter — SICK DAYS
- Dee's Chapter — MY TEENS
- Dee's Chapter — THE GUILD RESIDENCE
- Dee's Chapter — TO BOB
- Dee's Chapter — TO IRIS
- Carol's Chapter
- Carol's Chapter — THE COAL BIN
- Carol's Chapter — A FEW GAMES I REMEMBER
- Carol's Chapter — A PET
- Carol's Chapter — SUNDAYS
- Carol's Chapter — ENTREPRENEURS
- Carol's Chapter — PICNICS
- Carol's Chapter — GRADE SCHOOL
- Carol's Chapter — THE COMIC BOOKS I READ
- Carol's Chapter — PLEASE SIGN IN
- Carol's Chapter — HIGH SCHOOL
- Carol's Chapter — SOME THINGS I TRIED TO PUT IN THE BOOK
- Carol's Chapter — LASTING MEMORIES
- Carol's Chapter — SOME OTHER THINGS I REMEMBER ABOUT DADDY
- Carol's Chapter — CHRIS
- Carol's Chapter — A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE GUILD FAMILY
- Bob's Chapter
- Bob's Chapter — VEGETABLES
- Bob's Chapter — FRUIT
- Bob's Chapter — I REMEMBER DAD
- Bob's Chapter — SPORTS PARTICIPANT
- Bob's Chapter — SPORTS SPECTATOR
- Bob's Chapter — HOBBIES
- Bob's Chapter — BEING A KID
- Bob's Chapter — MOST VIVID CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
- Bob's Chapter — SCHOOL
- Bob's Chapter — CARS
- Bob's Chapter — GUNS
- Bob's Chapter — NICKNAMES
- Bob's Chapter — TRAVEL
- Bob's Chapter — MILITARY
- Bob's Chapter — PETS
- Bob's Chapter — JOBS
- Bob's Chapter — MR. J. C. PENNEY
- Bob's Chapter — FAVORITE FOODS
- Bob's Chapter — POLITICS
- Bob's Chapter — PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS
- Bob's Chapter — RELIGION
- Bob's Chapter — REGRETS
- Bob's Chapter — LOVE
- Bob's Chapter — THANKS
- Bernie's Chapter — MISSISSIPPI
- Bernie's Chapter — THIRTY-TWO-O-NINE
- Bernie's Chapter — FLORA AND FAUNA
- Bernie's Chapter — SHOOTING MARBLES
- Bernie's Chapter — MUMBLETY-PEG
- Bernie's Chapter — DIRT
- Bernie's Chapter — INSIDE PLAY
- Bernie's Chapter — WINTER
- Bernie's Chapter — WINTER
- Bernie's Chapter — TOUGH LESSONS
- Bernie's Chapter — FALL
- Bernie's Chapter — FIGHTING
- Bernie's Chapter — BIKES
- Bernie's Chapter — THE GARAGE
- Bernie's Chapter — TRACTORS
- Bernie's Chapter — BILLY PETERSON
- Bernie's Chapter — FIREWORKS
- Bernie's Chapter — FIREWORKS
- Bernie's Chapter — WHEELS
- Bernie's Chapter — I LIKED MY DAD
- Bernie's Chapter — MOSQUITOES BITES
- Bernie's Chapter — THE DADDY, BERNIE AND BOBBY OUTINGS
- Bernie's Chapter — HUMILITY, MODESTY, MEEKNESS, RETICENCE
- Bernie's Chapter — MALADIES
- Bernie's Chapter — WELL WATER
- Bernie's Chapter — DADDY SAYINGS
- Bernie's Chapter — FORTIES
- Bernie's Chapter — RICK
- Iris's Chapter
- Iris's Chapter — GUS FALK
- Iris's Chapter — REMEMBERING EACH OF YOU
- History of the Guild Family — DAN AND OLIVE
- History of the Guild Family — THE SAW MILL
- History of the Guild Family — ETHEL KATHERINE WILLIAMS
- History of the Guild Family — ETHEL KATHERINE WILLIAMS
- Our Childhood Games — RED ROVER
- Our Childhood Games — KIDS CARD GAMES
Family corrections
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