An Exciting Trip To Battle Creek

Written by Loraite (Rossman) Teays

1989

     This story took place, in Aug. of 1930, when I was 13 yrs. Old. Grandpa and Grandma Rossman were making their weekly visit, with us, this day, on the farm. My sister Mae, was very happy and busily preparing to go, on a week’s vacation, with Aunt Ethel, Uncle Bill and their three girls. They were going, up to the cabin, in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula), on the Tauguammenon River, where Uncle Bill and our dad were members of the “Hiawatha Hunt Club”. I had never been there (had always dreamed of going, sometime) but mother could not spare “both of us” older girls at home” to be gone-at the same time.

     Grandmother noticed that I was unusually quiet and sad, that day. She finally got me into a room, by ourselves and asked me “what was troubling me?” I broke down and cried and told her about my disappointment of not being able to go “up north” with Mae and the other girls. She “thought” for a few minutes and then said, “Grandpa and I will be going to Battle Creek, in a couple weeks, to “visit” the Rossman relatives. If it is O.k. with your mother, you may go with us. “Well, I brightened considerably and went to get mother’s permission. It was all right with her and thanked my grand-parents, for being so thoughtful, of me. I was still a little “hurt” about the trip up north but began thinking about getting acquainted with a lot of 3^rd cousins, that I had never met before.

     Well, the day finally came, when we were to leave.  Had my hair curled and my best clothes all packed- including 3 lovely dresses that my sister Jeanie loaned to me. She was a “working girl” and had purchased several new dresses, recently. I was lucky to be as tall as her already and was able to wear her clothes, quite nicely. I certainly appreciated her kindness, to me, on this occasion.

     Grandpa had two brothers, living in Battle Creek, at this time, and we were to stay at my Great Uncle Jessie’s and Aunt May’s home. They had one”Old Maid” daughter, Viola, still living with them. We left early, on a Mon. morning and arrived at their home, for a late lunch. Viola was at work (she was a book-keeper, for a large Dept Store, in downtown Battle Creek), but Elva Webster, another daughter, was there, to help greet us. Aunt May, Uncle Jessie and Elva, were busy, making crocks of sweet pickles. After lunch, we all “pitched in” to help finish the job.

     I met Viola, for the first time, when she arrived home, in the P.M. Even though she was in her late 20’s, I found her to be very friendly and jolly. I had a small cot, in her bedroom for sleeping and we had a lot of nice friendly visits. I enjoyed her, very much!

     On Tues., we were invited to Arnold Rossman’s and Fern’s home for a noon dinner. Arnold was G Uncle Jessie’s and Aunt May’s son. Grandpa, grandma, G. Uncle Jessie and G. Aunt May and I all went.

     I had always been interested in music and poetry and “delighted” to learn that Fern was a piano teacher and also had, had some of her poems published. We had a lovely diner and I enjoyed visiting with them immensely and was very happy to hear Fern play the piano, for us. We became very good friends- even though I was 20 yrs. younger than Fern. We wrote back and forth, to each other, for several years. She finally mailed me a huge box of “old time” sheet music. There was about 150 copies, I still have some of it. She also would give me, her written opinion, on some of the poems, that I had written and sent to her. She helped me, a lot, and gave me some “good ideas”.

     Wed. was Viola’s day off from work, so she took me down-town “shopping” and showed me of to her fellow workers, at the store, where she worked. I remember, having a wonderful time, but only bought some pictures post cards. We all went to the farm of Lucy (Rossman) Johnson’s and her husband Henry’s for supper. Lucy was a daughter of our G. Uncle Charles Rossman. I met three of their children – Paul (oldest, about 19) Norman, about 15 and their daughter, Vandelia, my age.

     Henry was a native of Holland and spoke broken English, but we were able to understand him and we were welcomed heartily. We had a very nice supper. I got along “very nicely” with my cousins. They and some of the other cousins had already planed a “steak roast“in my “honor”- for Fri. evening. My grandparents gave my permission to attend-if I would be home, by 10pm. The final plans were made and I was very pleased and excited about the forth-coming affair.

     We were to visit the Kellogg and Post Cereal Plants, on Thurs, so Vandelia was invited to go, with us, so we became better acquainted, before Fri. My grandparents, G. Uncle Jessie, G. Aunt May, Elva and Ernest Webster and I all went to the Plants, on Thurs. Morn. One of Vandelia’s brothers, had brought her, to meet us and we all enjoyed touring the plants. At the end of the “tour”, at “Kellogg’s” everyone was treated to a dish of ice cream, with rice krispie’s sprinkled on top. It was a very pleasant ending.

     Fri. finally arrived. Grandpa and Grandma and I went to Nora Thrapp’s house (she was G. Uncle Charles daughter), for a visit, in late afternoon. Nora’s husband had “passed away” earlier and her father was living there. Nora had several children, but I can only remember Paul (a little older, than me) and a daughter, about 19, at that time. Grandpa and grandma stayed for supper with Nora and G. Uncle Charley. The daughter, Maria (I am unsure, about her name) worked for a wealthy family, in the city. She had her own car and her own private apt., in the home, where she worked. Paul and Maria were invited to the “steak roast”, so Maria came and picked up Paul and I and “stopped by” her apt. to pick up some food, she had prepared, for the party. She took me inside to see her apt. I was really impressed and thought, “this is really living-your own apt. and car, at age 19‘. I am sure she earned it, by working hard, at her job. There were about 16 young people, at the party. I had saved the prettiest dress, that Jean loaned me, to wear that night. It was silk, short sleeves and full skirt. It had multi-colored polka dots. I soon realized – I was “over dressed” but everyone was kind and told me “how nice I looked”.

     The steaks were cooked over an open-fire and tasted so good along with the rest of the food. One of the boys had brought a guitar and after we finished eating – we all gathered around the fire and sang songs and visited. 9:30 came too quickly and Maria had to drive me back to Uncle Jessie and Aunt May’s home. Al the way back, I thought about the wonderful time, I had. I am sure, it was the nicest party, I ever had attended, during my teenage years, so far.

     Sat. was a quiet day-in just visiting with Uncle Jessie and Aunt May. On Sun., they prepared an early dinner for us and then grandpa drove us home. It was the end of a lovely and exciting week’s vacation, for me. I have always appreciated the wonderful, thoughtful, “happening” that my grand-parents made “possible” for me.

            The End

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