Mother's Good Night Kiss

What this sheet music lacks in cover graphic pizzazz is made up for with the back story. The composer and lyricist (Samuel Phelps Totten and T.J. O'Connor) autographed this 1922 piece in Chehalis, Washington, a twin city to Centralia, Washington, where my great-grandmother Jennie Hoss lived. As the only real musical member of the family in 1922, I'm sure it was she who acquired this piece.

The very first bit of sheet of music I scanned and posted here was another Totten work.

Since he was so local, I became interested in Totten, and tracked down his obituary on page 13 in the June 14, 1970 issue of the Daily Olympian.

So many connections. The Liberty Theater later became the Olympic Theater, which is how I remember it. Today the site is home to the Washington Center for Performing Arts.  I spent more than one summer week at Camp Thunderbird. And Marlene Selene was one of my high school classmates.

Apparently Mr. Totten was instrumental in leading the Washington State Employees' Retirement Board in the early years. Quite a career switch! He's the gentleman on the far right. The man standing third from left is John J. O'Connell, who made an unsuccessful bid for Governor in 1968.

I discovered Samuel P. Totten was buried near my office in Tumwater. So on this very rainy day I paid a visit to the cemetery and paid my respects. I actually have an uncle and aunt buried nearby!

Small world.

Morty Comix # 2687

Morty Comix # 2687 was left in a real estate brochure distribution box at a gas station/minimart in McCleary, Washington.

By a strange coincidence, it wasn't until I posted this that I saw the mention of Windermere Real Estate in Centralia, Washington. Their HQ is in the house where my great-great grandfather's ghost still lurks, where my grandparents were married, where my mother was born. So many stories connected with that place. These kind of things happen when you are a 5th generation Washingtonian.

Silvia McDowell

Silvia McDowell was born in Casey, Illinois in 1882, but she was mostly raised in Ouray, Colorado. Most of her adult life was spent in Denver, where she worked as a registered nurse. Silvia was married twice, first to a man named Lindsey, then to Earl M. Cavnah.

In 1956, after being widowed for a few years, Silvia joined her brothers in Centralia, Washington. She died in Oct. 1957.

Here's a Sweet Little Mystery, My Pretties

I found this oddity many years ago among some McDowell family papers. It dates from the 1950s and originated from the Centralia, Washington area. 

A quarter was placed next to the envelope to give you an idea of the scale here. 

The only part I can read says:  "Mantracarman of the 3rd Caraka Mantra," and "B. Gopila."

Inside the envelope was yet another envelope, and a photo of some people standing around a vintage auto.  I am reasonably sure this photo was taken around 1956-1958 in Centralia. One of the people in here is a relative.

OK, so now inside the smaller envelope is a waxy strip of paper with inscriptions on both sides.

My question is: What in the world is this? I've heard a lot of stories, but nothing verified. Rather than color any first impressions, I'll hold off on telling those tales. I'm wondering if a fresh and educated set of eyes can interpret what all this means?

Rose McDowell

Printed: Superior Finish, Brumfield, Ouray, Colo.

Rose M. McDowell was born in 1880. Her first husband, Hugh Carney, was a miner in Ouray, Colorado. His fate is unknown. Husband number 2, Demmit Miller, died as a result of drinking bad booze at party in Denver during Prohibition or so the story goes. Husband number 3 was Harry Nash, a coal or oil company executive, they say.

Details on her life are rather sketchy. They say she had some association with Mamie Eisenhower's father, John Sheldon Doud. She died in 1951 and is buried in Centralia, Washington.

Morty Comix # 2685

Mortry Comix # 2685 was slipped into a gap between the floor molding/trim and the wall in a dark corner in the upper loft of the dining area of Centralia's Olympic Club. My grandfather, Bryan McDowell, pretty much made this joint his second home back in the 1930s-1950s. He basically "owned" a pool table that was closest to the big woodstove.

Phone photo 3117

Centralia, Washington

Phone photo 3116

Centralia, Washington

The McDowell Family Album

The McDowell Family Album is something of a mystery. This family has never been real big on recording their history. In fact, during the 20th century family members were unable to name their grandparents for official documents like death certificates.

To illustrate this point, my Mom's cousin gave me this album when we visited him in Centralia, Washington over 30 years ago. "Here kid," he said, "Take it. I'm not into this gynecology crap."

Though the photos are mostly unmarked, they are interesting portraits of a colorful family who were part of the history of Colorado in the era of the silver boom in the 1880s-1890s. And obviously, they didn't look back.

The album was curated by my great grandmother, Ellen McDowell. She was born Ellen Snyder in Casey, Illinois, Apr. 17, 1862. She married Benjamin F. McDowell in 1879 and the young family moved to Ouray, Colorado in the 1880s. Ben deserted the family in 1896 and Ellen supported her four sons and two daughters by running a laundry-- by hand-- for the silver prospectors. She followed her sons to Centralia, Washington in the 1920s, where she died Feb. 15, 1949.

Clara Hoss

Jennie's album concludes with the funeral cards of her parents-in-law.

Napolione Clara Hubertina Cüppers, my great-great grandmother, was born Apr. 26, 1826 in Euskirchen, Germany, between Bonn and the border of France. According to family lore she had some French ancestors and was somehow related to the "lesser nobility." It is also said her family was Jewish, her father was a jeweler and the family employed servants.

She married Theodor Hubert Hoss, a Catholic, in a civil ceremony in her town in 1853 and in the following year the couple, with an infant daughter, set off for Wisconsin. As the family worked their way across the frontier heading West I was told she liked to remind her husband about the life she gave up. The Hoss family arrived in Washington Territory in the mid-1870s.

Clara died in Centralia, Washington Dec. 14, 1896 and is buried in Centralia's Pioneer Cemetery.

Frank Reeves

Pressed into lower right is the name of the photographer. Hard to read, but I'd guess it says: B. McArdle, Centralia, Wash.

Walter Francis "Frank" Reeves photo probably taken between 1910-1916. Those who remember him told me that at this point in his life, Frank was cranky and plain spoken, yet would cry at weddings. He was my great-great grandfather.

The old Union Army veteran lived with the family of his daughter, Jennie Hoss. He died suddenly at the breakfast table, Dec. 11, 1916. The former family home in Centralia served as a bed and breakfast under a few owners for a time and is now the local headquarters down there for Windermere Real Estate. It has been reported over the years that Frank, along with a child, are still hanging around the building in the form of ghosts.

Jennie Hoss

Undated photo of Jennie (Reeves) Hoss, the keeper of the Reeves Family Album and my great grandmother. I'm guessing this photo was taken in Centralia, Washington during the first decade of the 20th century.