Theme
Business
Barbara's Chapter · One Easter during Barbara’s childhood
An Easter Flood’s Sweet Aftermath
Iris and Bill’s Ben Franklin Store flooded one Easter. While the other children remembered the cleanup work, Barbara remembered the back porch filled with chocolate bunnies, gooey yellow chicks, and chocolate-covered eggs salvaged from the disaster.
Diana's Chapter · 1926 onward
Lee's Many Talents and a Scooter Ride into the Family
Diana traces Lee's childhood near his extended family, work in his grandfather's grocery store, school achievements, Naval service, ministry, teaching, and successful insurance business. After his first marriage failed, Diana met him three years after his divorce. Her father initially regarded Lee suspiciously, but a bold scooter ride with Diana became a memorable turning point. Lee and her father remained friends, and Lee took him to the hospital when he had a stroke. Lee also formed a close bond with Mom and managed his best friend Sy Fox's campaign.
Dee's Chapter · Thirty-five years of hairdressing through the time of writing
Dee Finds Her Calling Behind the Salon Chair
After graduating from Hurley’s, Dee began at the Powder Puff Beauty Salon in Moline, wearing the legally required white uniform and shoes and shampooing hair while building a clientele. Her first paycheck bought a red synthetic turtleneck at The New York Store that she still wears. After marrying Ernie, she opened the immediately successful Dee’s Beauty Salon in Coal Valley. Her career brought joy and lifelong friendships, including loyal customer Faye Swears.
Dee's Chapter
To Diana, with Love: Games, Dreams, and Caring
Dee's affectionate poem celebrates Diana's talkativeness and recalls shared mischief, puddles, mud pies, May baskets, hollyhock dolls, and dandelion games. It praises Diana's academic dedication, recalls her bringing home a cat to debone after driving from Wesleyan, and describes her meeting Lee in Chicago. The poem closes by honoring Diana's sensitivity and the caring conversations Dee treasures.
Dee's Chapter
A Loving Toast to Bob
Dee 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.
Carol's Chapter
Popcorn Profits and Fifty-Cent Discoveries
Bernie 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.
Carol's Chapter · Summer between Carol’s junior and senior years in high school
Carhop Trays and Late-Night Reassurances
Carol’s first part-time job was serving root beer, hamburgers, and malts as a Tasty Treat carhop. Owner and neighbor Mrs. Mary Poston hired Carol, Dee, and Marilyn McFarland; Carol recalls that they made about seventy dollars plus tips that summer. Mrs. Poston also owned Hasty Tasty Restaurant, where Barb washed dishes on second shift. Despite being frightened when returning home around 1:30 a.m., Barb joked that she was protecting Carol from Peeping Toms.
Carol's Chapter · Childhood–1999
Chris: Backyard Friendships, Soccer, and a Life in Music
Carol'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.
Bob's Chapter · 1953
Stockroom Work and Unpaid Clothes
At 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.
Bob's Chapter
Garden Chores and a Popcorn Enterprise
The 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.
Bob's Chapter · After high school; 1962 and three years in Oshkosh
Handing Out Roses with Mr. Penney
The 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.
Bob's Chapter · After three years in Oshkosh; 1983, 1972, and 1988 as written
Learning the Business and Building Stores
At 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.
Bob's Chapter · During the Elliott’s period; five years
Sue’s Candle Store and a Lucky Montreal Trip
The 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.
Bernie's Chapter · 1945 and afterward
Victory Celebrations and Frightening Lessons About War
Bernard places V-E Day in late summer 1945 and remembers pride mixed with incomplete understanding. His mother wanted to join a celebration parade, while his father wanted to remain home. He recalls his father's draft exemption for dependents and wartime work making machine gun parts and tank tracks at John Deere Plow Works. After V-J Day, overheard accounts of atrocities made Bernard decide never to go to war. A later Royal American Shows exhibit in Moline terrified him with photographs and wax figures; he also recalls an unexpected glimpse of an exotic dancer at the carnival.
Bernie's Chapter
Freebies at Herby's Fireworks Tent
Herby 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.
Bernie's Chapter
Selling Shoes and Saving for Art School
Bernard saved his shoe-sales salary and substantial bonuses at J. C. Penny’s to fund art school. He humorously describes his sales technique of praising both the shoes and customers’ feet. Once he had enough for tuition and a little rent, he felt ready to leave familiar meals behind; the passage ends before stating his destination.
Bernie's Chapter
A Streetcar Search and a Fifty-Dollar Lifeline
With rent due and only five dollars left, Bernie searched Chicago retail stores by riding different streetcar lines. A trip along Clark Street to Granville Avenue brought him a shoe-selling job at Winsberg’s with hours that fit his classes. After he sold a customer five pairs of shoes on his first day, Mr. Winsberg advanced him fifty dollars.
Bernie's Chapter
Bertie’s Welcome and a New Direction in Advertising
Recently widowed Bertie Davis offered Bernie room and board near his job, reducing his commute and providing excellent meals. At her daughter’s home, Bertie introduced him to Brandy Alexanders and her son-in-law Tom Brown introduced him to advertising strategy through Life magazine. The lesson inspired Bernie to become an art director. Afterward, he drove Brown’s vintage MG at 110 miles per hour while both were intoxicated.
Bernie's Chapter · September 1954 and five years in the Chicago office
A First Layout and a Warm Welcome at FCB
After deciding he had had enough art school, Bernard crossed the street to Foote Cone and Belding and was hired despite his slight portfolio and lack of advertising knowledge. Six months later, he won approval from a difficult Armour Chemicals client on his first assignment. He recalls five happy years in the Chicago office, an award in his first year, and pioneering television work with an animated Dial commercial called “Mr. Oops.”
Bernie's Chapter · April 1955
Back to the Drawing Board, with a Party to Follow
Having just turned nineteen, Bernard received a 4F classification after a brief draft examination. He walked back to FCB and resumed his layout, then used his going-away gift money to throw a party for his coworkers. Mr. Fairfax Cone, pleased he was staying out of the army, asked him to help save the San Francisco office and offered to pay his train fare home if he disliked it.
Bernie's Chapter · 1957–1961; heading and arrival date conflict
A New Home and a Life of Art with Rick
Bernard recalls meeting Rick at Kitty Sheon’s in Chicago, moving into his apartment, and later sharing a home on Surf Street. Following a farewell party, Bernard flew alone to San Francisco on New Year’s Day, stated as 1960 under a 1961 heading, and was astonished by snow. Rick followed a day later and found a new apartment with a bay view. Bernard bought a white 1961 Volkswagen convertible and received an alarming hill-driving lesson. Their shared enjoyment of travel, theatre, and fine arts enriched Bernard’s advertising work.
Bernie's Chapter · A few months after the San Francisco arrival
A First Taste of Europe with Bob
FCB sent Bernard on his first European trip to create a Renauld of France sunglasses campaign in Paris and a Beauty on the Beach suntan lotion ad in Cannes. Traveling with account executive Bob Leefeldt, he discovered fine restaurants, antique shops, and Versailles. Bob’s example of the good life encouraged Bernard to work harder.
Bernie's Chapter
Two Sweet Advertising Triumphs in Hawaii
While working together at FCB, Bernard art directed advertisements and commercials written by Frank. Two C and H Sugar commercials were particular career highlights: a boy paying for a cookie with a marble at Lanoa’s store, and a child trading a wagon of puppies for sugar cane. They traveled to Hawaii to produce the commercials and successfully resisted their South African director’s attempts to rewrite them.
Iris's Chapter
A Bicycle Rack and Two Country Routes
After moving from River Drive to a new country house at about eleven or twelve, Iris delivered the Moline Daily Dispatch to eighty homes after school. Her father repaired a second-hand boy’s bicycle and built a wooden newspaper rack for it. She also used the rack for Saturday bread deliveries, collecting bread from Peter’s bakery at an old farmhouse and taking customers’ orders for the next week. She loved the work and saw it as an early sign of her interest in business.
Iris's Chapter
Candy Counters, a Picnic, and a September Wedding
While managing the candy and cosmetic counters at the Highland Ben Franklin store, Iris met Bill, manager of the East Moline store. He teased her by pretending to be a supervisor inspecting her counters, but also sincerely encouraged her business interests. Their first date was a picnic in May, with food described as “Fired chicken—apple pie.” They married in September.
Iris's Chapter
A Shared Life in Business
Iris recounts jointly owning and operating Ben Franklin Variety Stores and Elliot’s Fashions, owning a bank and an insurance agency for a few years, and now selling retail craft supplies in Ben Franklin Crafts stores. The other business participant or participants are not named.
Iris's Chapter
Precious Spare Time Filled with Creativity and Play
Iris describes her love of designing Christmas trees, decorating their stores, and helping operate the stores' gift shops. Her many leisure pursuits include sports, bird watching, singing learned from Daddy, dancing, and recently begun ceramics. She crochets gifts, including an Afghan for every family member, and reads fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, fairy tales, and books about angels.
History of the Guild Family · 1905–1909
A Vice President in the Family
Charles Warren Fairbanks belonged to a branch that moved west to Ohio and became a prosperous railroad-law lawyer, Indiana senator and United States vice president under Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. Fairbanks, Alaska was named for him. The family recounts arguments that disagreements with Roosevelt cost him support for the presidency, which instead went to William Howard Taft, and jokingly wonders whether Charles shared the family's stubbornness.
History of the Guild Family · 1830–after 1901
Inventive Hands and the Fortunes of an Inheritance
Newton’s mills, repair shop, patents and royalties illustrate what the family calls the Guild tinkering trait. The account also credits Thaddeus Fairbanks and Mr. Morse with scale and engine innovations. After Newton’s death, Dan supported his family with his inheritance, Bernal became a traveling salesman, and Frank Beckman lost most of Adah’s share in a failed furniture store venture.
History of the Guild Family · 1898–1909, with earlier family background
A Snowstorm, an Open Door, and a Growing Family
Drawing partly on Floyd’s accounts, the family recounts Dan and Bernal’s rented farm and Olive’s desperate appeal after Clarence Vosburg’s accidental death. Dan offered shelter in exchange for cooking and housekeeping, initially unaware of her two oldest daughters. Olive and Dan married in 1899 and had five children, two of whom died young. The account also recalls Carrie’s devout household and Bernal’s departure after Newton’s death to sell sewing machines, including his meeting with Belle Woodley.
History of the Guild Family · 1904–1925 and later recollections
Hard Work, Strong Tempers, and Lasting Family Ties
The 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.
History of the Guild Family · After the foreclosure around 1918; ownership noted in 2001
A Sawmill and a Small Home on Falk’s Farm
After stating that Dan lost everything, the account says he retained the sawmill. Harold Falk let him build a small house on his farm in exchange for sawing logs into boards. Dan also used sawdust to preserve winter-cut lake ice for summer sales. Iris, Merlin, and Bernie remembered the plain two-story tar-paper house, where tarpaulins divided living and sleeping spaces. A barn for cows and pigs was added later. The 103 acre farm included part of Round Lake and two rivers and was still owned by Marvin Falk in 2001.
History of the Guild Family · 1875 and later; most events undated
Sophrona's Children and the Love That Helped Edith Heal
Adah Sophrona Guild Beckman died of tuberculosis at 38, leaving eight surviving children after Samuel's fatal poisoning at two. Her widower Frank married Clara, who severely abused little Edith and was imprisoned after Frank discovered the abuse. The family concealed the imprisonment with a brain-tumor story. Frank later married Mary, whose love helped Edith recover. Edith became a tender mother, and her daughter Gerri supplied details. The account also recalls Adah's lost inheritance and Frank's later Wabedo Lake resort.
History of the Guild Family · Age 17 through 1905–1910 and later
From the Sunshine Store to a New Name
Manny and Harvey owned a successful hardware and grocery business in Astoria. According to an account Ethel reported long after his death, Manny discovered his young bride with another man, beat the man, allegedly burned the house, and fled after withdrawing half the store cash and bank savings. In Newburg he worked on a wheat farm, then managed a lumberyard with an attached restaurant and dance hall, subsequently becoming its accountant and prospering. Between 1905 and 1910 he adopted the name Edward Williams. The passage offers speculative explanations involving prosecution or bigamy when he married Agnes Tomitum, while stating that secret correspondence with Harvey revealed that the assaulted man had survived.
History of the Guild Family · Age 17; 1905–1910
From the Sunshine Store to a New Name
Manny and Harvey owned the successful Sunshine Store in Astoria. According to a later report by his daughter Ethel, Manny discovered his first bride with another man about six months after they were betrothed, beat the man, and allegedly burned the house after ordering his wife outside. He took half the store cash and bank savings and fled by train to Newburg. There he worked as a wheat farmhand, then managed a lumberyard with an attached restaurant and dance hall, and subsequently became its accountant. He changed his name to Edward Williams between 1905 and 1910. The family speculates about avoiding prosecution or a bigamy charge when marrying Agnes Tomitum, while stating that secret correspondence with Harvey revealed the other man had survived and the first wife had disappeared.
Our Childhood Games
Schoolyard Yo-Yos and a Name Carved in Wood
The family recalls a Filipino yo-yo salesman visiting the school yard for two days to demonstrate tricks with a Duncan loose-loop yo-yo. His demonstrations persuaded them to buy yo-yos; buyers who returned the next day could have their names carved into them. The passage explains basic yo-yo movement and free-spinning tricks, including Walking the Dog, Cat’s Cradle, Swing, and Trapeze.