Public Service

April 29, 2012

This is from Richard on Historic Railroad Avenue.   Peg asked “How did you get involved in politics Dad?”   Well, I was sitting there listening to the radio and was listening to John Kennedy.   He was the president and he was giving a speech, it was his inaugural speech I guess.    He inspired me.    He said ‘Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”.   So I thought I would go down to Carrigan to the caucus there and someone nominated me for supervisor.    I think I was the first Democrat elected from Carrigan township since 1932.  

(Carrigan township hall in 2007)

Carrigan township had a small population.  We had a road commissioner and 3 officers and a clerk and had a meeting once a month.   I was the township supervisor and served as a county supervisor.   They have since changed the county supervisors  somewhat as they wanted the  to  representation to be aligned to the  population.   So now it can’t be just one from each township as there wasn't enough representation for the larger townships.   I served as supervisor for 11 years, until we moved to Arizona. 

(Marion County Court House in Salem Illinois were the County Board of Supervisors met.)  

In Arizona, I was on the city council for a bit.     My family got so involved with the police that I had to get on the council to find out what was going on.    Leona said they followed our daughter every time she left the driveway.  They were picking on my kids.    They stopped my kids 15 times one year.    Half the police department had to go.   

(City Hall in the old train depot in Willcox, Arizona 2012) 

I got a Facebook note from one of the folks that served in WW2 in the first chemical mortar company with me in Okinawa.   He  was from Streator Illinois.   I haven’t seen him for a couple of years.   Last time I was in Illinois I was busy at the anniversary party  in Northern Illinois and I stopped in to see the farm and relatives in southern Illinois so didn't see him.   He tries to keep us all together as far as the mortar company is concerned.      It would be good to see him again as so many of my world war two folks are gone already.   

(Sandoval Veterans Memorial in 2007  with Richard, Leona and Daughter Patty)

(Richard's block at the Memorial)

I would like go out to see if my farm is as good as last year .   But the first thing I have to do is go to California to help my oldest grand daughter to get married in May.  We are usually here at the oldest store in Arizona but we will be stepping out for that happy event.   

Oh and Happy Birthday Megan!  

This is Dick Seidel on historic railroad avenue

  

Work

April 15, 2012

Congratulations to Dan for getting all the corn planted.   So quick and so early.   You should make a bumper crop.      

(picture of 2011 corn field)

(Immature corn from that field in July 2011.)

When I was a youngster there was a farmer that had a peach orchard on the other side of the tracks from our farm.    I worked for three days for him picking peaches one fall and then I quit.   I quit to go to the county fair where I took my livestock .    (I was younger than in this picture.)

I remember this short job because he paid me for 3 days work and I think that is the only time I ever worked for anybody else.   All my other work has been for myself or for the farm or on commission.    All I can remember is the 3 days of work in my lifetime of so many years.   

(Farming involves a broad base of skills.) 

(Starting them early on the farm.)

(At the historic cash register in the Willcox Commercial)

(January 2012 at the store.)

It’s all okay with Richard on Historic Railroad Avenue 

April Fools Day Easter Party

April 1, 2012

This is Richard.   We are having an Easter dinner here.   Everyone is here including Patty and Drew,  Marty and Dan, John and Loretta, Leona and I and 5 grand children that seem like 20 kids.    We had our traditional egg hunt for Easter eggs.   It’s usually held on the patio at the back of the store.  There is usually lots of eggs outdoors and lots of places to hide.      

 

The grandkids charged out in the yard to get the Easter eggs.     There was nothing there.    It dawned on them that it was April Fools day.  April Fools!!!   So they went inside to the store and their eggs were found in the store.    That was the joke of the day.   

It hasn’t been a bad week except I was sick most all the week.    That was my unsavory feeling…….    Like my brother in law said,  I was pooped out.   So I didn’t do much all week but I am feeling better.     Now I am ready for a new week.  

 

This is Dick Seidel on historic Railroad Avenue