1942- The June Trip Home

I don't know how my dad managed to get gasoline and tires during the war for their trip home in June, 1942, but somehow he did! I can't imagine how long the trip took on the roads in those days, especially if they kept to the 35 mph suggested speed. They would have driven first to Jerseyville, Illinois to see Pauline's family-  a distance of nearly 1,000 miles.

Nellie Allen - Pauline's mother

Nellie Allen's home

Hugh and Adah Allen

 

The Allen home, where Pauline grew up

Pauline's mother, Nellie Allen, lived alone now that her son Ken was in the army.  But in another house on the farm were Pauline's brother Hugh and his family; his wife Adah, and children  Patsy 9, Barb 7, Margaret 5 and baby Tommy 2. Pauline's brother Rich, his wife Agnes, and their two daughters, Marjorie Rose 17 and Jean 15  lived in Jerseyville and would have come to visit at the farm, as would her sisters Helen and Margaret, numerous cousins on adjacent farms, and friends from Jerseyville.

 The  June 12, 1942 Alton Evening Telegraph had an article on the visit.

 
From Jerseyville, they traveled 600 miles to Oklahoma, bringing my mother's mother, Nellie Allen, to meet my father's parents, Jim and Mattie Garrison,  and his brother Bob, sister-in-law Louise, and nephew, Stanley Garrison.

 This picture shows Bob Garrison, Pauline Allen Garrison, Mattie Garrison, Nellie Quinn Allen, Louise Garrison, and Jim Garrison standing, with Stanley Garrison sitting with his puppy.


It appears that they took a trip to "Little Sahara" State Park, about 30 miles from Aline, Oklahoma. In later years we went there again and went on some fun dune buggy rides.

Jim and Mattie Garison, Nellie Quinn Allen, Pauline Allen Garrison, Stan and Bob Garrison

                  My two grandmothers- Nellie Quinn Allen, and Mattie Womack Garrison

Nearly every summre of my childhood, we would take this same trip to visit family in Illinois and Oklahoma.