WHAT DO I REMEMBER ABOUT GRANDPA AND GRANDMA BROWN?

Some memories are fairly vivid but most are lost in the foggy recesses of my mind.  For the benefit of the cousins and the other descendants of Harry and Ina Brown I will give you a brief synopsis of what I do remember.

I remember most about Grandma because I was more involved with her activities.  Most of you remember Grandpa since he was around when you were older.

Grandma Brown was my first piano teacher.  Uncle Harley and I were in a contest to see who could learn to play the piano first.  Grandma was giving us lessons and I am sure it was on a piano.  Uncle Paul in his recollection said there was a pump organ so maybe later they had a piano.  The first piece we learned with both hands was a four measure five finger exercise.  Both hands went in the same direction at the same time.  No problem.  The next piece with both hands was a four measure five finger exercise, but in this one the right hand went to the right and the left hand went to the left from the starting point of middle C, then during the measures the left hand would go in one direction while the right hand went in another direction.  That piece was a "doozy."  I had tears and lots of work before it was accomplished.  I am sure that Uncle Harley won the race.

Grandma was very active in the Augusta Christian Church.  She played the piano and was in charge of the special programs.  She had all kinds of ideas and was very enthusiastic.  All the children would gather at her house to practice for Children's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, Easter and any other special Day.  We would learn songs, speeches and poems.  Since all the other children were calling her "Mrs. Brown" I thought I would be like them, too.  One day when I asked her something I said, "Mrs. Brown..." Boy, did I get the horse laugh from the other kids!!!  They thought I wasn't too swift to call my Grandma, Mrs. Brown.

As Uncle Paul said, she taught an all boys Sunday School Class.  How transportation was provided I don't remember but there were some field trips.  There was even a picture in the "Lookout" magazine of Grandma and her boys' Class on the steps of the McKinley Monument in Canton, Ohio.  I was in the picture, too.  I think I got to go along because I belonged to her.  One trip was to "Mill Creek Park," a lovely nature area.  Grandma wanted us to learn and enjoy the loveliness of God's creations in the Park.  Well, I was one of those who sneaked over to the adjoining Park (Idora).  It was much more interesting and exciting than the dull "Mill Creek."  Was it because of the rides?  Grandma did try to uplift our thoughts to higher levels.

My Grandma rode on a ride with me at the Carroll County Fair when no one else was brave enough to go on with me.  I think it was called the "Lindy Loop."  After she was on and enduring the ride she may not have been too happy, but she wanted to make me happy.  She was the best sport!!!

In my mind's eye I seem to remember there were canary birds in cages in the dining area.  They were tweeting and chirping to each other and singing enough to burst.  It was a cheery place.  The dining area seemed to be the main room.  Grandma made the best shortcake for strawberries.  It must have been good because I remember about it vividly.  There were pretty flowers next to the house.  I think they were hollyhocks and sun flowers.  Grandpa always had a good garden.  Even in the later years after Grandma died and before he died he always had peas and onions before anyone else.

It seems I was always up at Grandma's house the day after some big event.  Grandma was the first one to tell me when I would get a new aunt, Pauline, Ardath and then Edith.  Ralph and Ardath lived in the little rooms attached to the main house.  I remember some parties they had there, everyone seemed to be having lots of fun.  Mom and the aunts seemed to really like one another.  In later years they changed the little rooms attached to the house from a "honeymoon hotel" into the Augusta Hardware Store.  Grandpa would attend the store while Uncle Harley worked as a plumber.  When business was slow he would sit outside on his chair on the sidewalk and chat with the passersby.  He was a friend to all.

Once Grandpa had broken his leg and since Grandma was working in the pottery they asked me if I would look in on him occasionally and see that he had his lunch.  Grandma would leave some boiled eggs.  I think I did see that he had lunch but otherwise I don't think I was a very good caretaker.  He always had some puzzles he would do or contests to enter.  He was very patient with me.  Grandpa was always very kind and would slip me a nickel now and then.  There must be some guilt buried in my mind about that time because I have had some recurring dreams about Grandpa.  He is in his house at Augusta and no one goes to see him and he needs someone to help him.  I am always very sad about it.  When I wake it seems so real that it is hard to believe that he is gone.

I went into Grandpa's handle factory once.  I remember looking at all the tools.  He made beautiful wooden handles.  He was a very talented man and was always good to me.

John {Leora's husband} remembers when he first ran into Grandpa.  He was driving a little Austen car on the sidewalk in front of Grandpa's house.  Grandpa came out and told him he was the town marshall and was going to arrest him.  John gave him some nasty back talk.  The next time John saw him was at our house when he learned that he had made bad remarks to my Grandpa.  He hasn't forgotten that yet.

When I was wee little every Christmas Eve Santa Claus would come up on the back porch, stamp the snow off his feet, give his big, "Ho, Ho, Ho!" and knock on the back door.  I would tremble in my boots.  In he would come and always had a present for me.  I was always a bit scared of "Santie."  He would ask if I had been good.  I would mumble, "Yes," and hope he didn't go into detail.  He would chat for a bit then he would go on his merry way.  In those days I didn't have a Christmas tree or any presents until Christmas morning.  So I looked forward to seeing Santa on Christmas Eve, just in case he didn't make it during the night.  One Christmas Eve after Santa's visit there came a knock on the front door.  Who could that be?  I answered the door and there was Mrs. Santa Claus in Santa's suit.  It seems that Santa had forgotten to give me one of my presents so Mrs. Santa had to bring it to me.  Why is this part of my story of Grandpa and Grandma Brown?  Well, just who were Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus???

Thanks for asking me to do this because it brings fresh to mind just how much I loved and still love my Grandpa and Grandma Brown.  I feel that God has blessed me for having had my Grandpa and Grandma Brown and also for my Mom and my Dad, and especially for all the Brown bunch!

Leora May Brown Demeter