NEW BLOG - New mission. Remaining somewhat nostalgic. A wistful trail to develop the past. HISTORY AT IT'S BEST from yesterday to arrival day as excursionists passed over the rivers bridge into what is now a town called FAIR OAKS.
New news and ideas for Fair Oaks future will be left to those that already handle the "going ons", events, and newsy items. Other groups do it better, and we are happy to pick up the pieces, and report on what happened YESTERDAY.
THAT SAID, we will be asking the members at large AGAIN, for their stories of the past, plus individual personal stories that others would enjoy. In the meantime, we will continue with our mission of researching the past, preserving the information, and sharing ALL of it with our members, friends, and visitors.
Let me start now with my own story. Timely with our season, "probably corny" for others I suspect, but memorable for me.
Growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, we were blessed with all four seasons. Autumn being the most fun, but the others followed clearly as a close second. When Fall was in full swing, the leaves all fell from the very large trees that graced all the front yards up and down our neighborhood street.
Everyone in the neighborhood had a front porch, and the kids all played from yard to yard while the older folks sat on their porches and watched. Actually, we had no fences between the houses, so the rear yards were equally as accessible up and down the block.
When the leaves fell, they were raked into large piles, and the kids had a grand time of running and jumping through the piles, causing havoc so the parents could re-rake them. All in fun. Later as winter approached, the leaf piles were moved to the street, and all the neighbors would burn the leaves. It was the most fun to watch and smell only what burning leaves can smell like. To this day when I smell that smell (maybe from fireplaces) it is such a nostalgic smell and feeling.
The winter is now approaching, and schools are fully in session, playtime took a turn to the early snows. Building snow forts, making "ice balls", grabbing onto slow moving cars by the bumper and sliding with the car down the street. Drivers could not see the kids, but parents would "freak out" when they caught them.
So it went on in the midwest ---- continued.
Not a good example for your Fair Oaks stories, but you see what we are looking for. 😁
Earlier BLOGS up to now served a purpose during the pandemic, but now we need to move forward and address our Historical mission in a better fashion. Hope you agree.
Last, I'm asking our members and Board to stop in to our History Center more often. We have been in the process of redesigning our Center so it is more "user friendly" for our volunteers to work on projects. Also, for our members utilizing our new library, and scrapbooks, and just seeing how we change things every few months. Not only the displays and artifacts, but the volunteers. They come at different times due to their schedules, and it would always be nice to meet the new folks.
Now, on to a new year for all of us. THINKING POSITIVE might be our magic words to keep focused. Best to all, and a happy and safe year for all of us.
Bob Sours, President, and Curator/Docent
Fair Oaks Historical Society