Wednesday, May 22th of this year, marked the 125th anniversary of Edna Jessie Burkhardt nee Walker's birth. Persons born in the late 19th century and especially ones like Edna who lived nearly a century, watched a broad evolution of transportation. The following is an attempt to illustrate that change through the photographs and film of the life of Edna.
Edna and her mother Betsy, Thanksgiving 1898.
Edna in 1906 rides Pet while her boyfriend, Jimmie Campbell and her sister-in-law, Jenny ride in the carriage.
There were many types of transportation. Sometimes a person rode the horse while pulling a carriage and then there was the more traditional manner of riding in the carriage.
Edna and Grace with Uncle Morris Johnson in Colorado Springs, 1908.
A form of transportation that's still available is walking as illustrated with this photograph of Edna and EA walking to Burnett's Mound in 1913.
EA and Edna walk to Burnett's Mound in Topeka in February 1913.
Then, of course, along came the automobile.
EA, Edna, Bill Smith and Ada Walker in Freeman Burkhardt's auto in 1913.
Along with automobiles, came powered flight. I don't know when she first flew, but I know she did fly during my childhood. Then in 1969 at the age of 81, Edna flew with my family to Europe. The first film below is from Sauda Norway.
Eight years later, Edna, her children and their spouses flew to Hawaii. Where at the age of 89 she inspected a pineapple field. Note the smoking guide below.
Below is a longer clip from our 1969 trip to Europe, this part features London. As with other of Dad's movies, one gets frustrated with the manner of filming. At some point Edna makes a brief appearance. Others featured are Mary, Ray himself, Sally, Cindy, Scott and my paternal grandmother, Vala Morgan. To reemphasize, her lifetime saw transportation vastly change. While we were in Norway that July of 1969, the US landed on the moon.
All families have their lore and sometimes it's best to let things be and not try to verify them. Growing up one of those stories was that our grandfather, EA Burkhardt, the grandson of an immigrant from Germany, could not graduate from Washburn College because he couldn't pass German. But then as the story went, he was awarded his degree despite his inability to pass German. Supposedly there was a letter confirming this ignoble fact. Hearing this tale, I was not sure what our reaction to this should be. Many parental anecdotes were told to you for guidance or give you a warning as to what your behavior would result in. But this one's meaning always eluded me. Perhaps it was only an illustration of a family oddity.
But, the letter does exist. And here is the proof.
My dear captain
Just as I was about to write
you at Scranton, I discovered that you were working in the city this summer and
keep your old address.
It gives me much pleasure to
inform you that the Executive Committee of the Trustees, on Aug 9th,
being duly informed at that making up of your conditions in summer school,
voted to give you your Bachelor’s degree and to register you as a regular
member of the class of 1912.
Let me say that I am very
proud of the fine way in which you have taken the situation and met it. I was
quite sure that you would not give up, and tried to get at you those last few
days before commencement, to tell you and urge you to do just what you have
done, but could not find you.
I would be very glad some
time to know what your plans are for the future. I like to keep track of
Washburn men. You may be very sure that anything that lies in my power to do
for you I shall do very gladly.
Sincerely, your friend, Frank
K Sanders
The story was he was voted out of college and that does appear to be the case, although, I would say he may have done some academic work that led to the vote. (It says dear captain because EA was captain of the football team.) As a postscript today's blog posting was interrupted by a tornado warning that appeared to be as close as we've been to a tornado in a couple of years. Fortunately, contrary to the description at the time of a massive tornado with a debris cloud, it didn't hit us or apparently do any damage to Wichita.
I think this is Mother's Day, but I'm only guessing. Lee and I don't seem to be there so maybe we dropped off the kids and absconded. Scott and Kathleen don't appear either so maybe it's not Mother's Day and maybe it's not Antioch Park. If anyone has more knowledge, let me know and I'll pass it on.
The following is a letter from Betsy written in, my best estimate, 1925. It's tricky to read because Betsy is not a good speller nor does she use periods. It's really a guess as to where sentences end and begin. I'm assuming that growing up in rural 19th century England her formal education would have been minimal. This could have been one of the reasons she pushed her children to get an education.
I've added photographs to help you visualize the people she's writing about, although the photos are not necessarily from the year of the letter. Maud is her youngest sister and lived in Vacaville, California. As many of you may know her brother Percy had a drugstore in Topeka and I assume that's the reference to his wife, Jenny, and her mother bringing a meal to the store every day. As I've mentioned some of the letter is hard to read so I'm not sure how many times Bud had broken his arm. Bud had turned 14 in October so he would have probably have had time to break his arm that many times. Another word in the letter stumped many of us until Lee looked at it yesterday and said it was extravagant. So it becomes Christmas won't be extravagant.
Thursday, Dec 17
Dear Lilly and Jack
I sent you a package of prunes by parcel post yesterday. I hope you receive them all right. Aunt Maud sent me 90 lb so just divided them up equal guess this is spelled wrong.
Fred, Laura, Lilly and Dorothy in 1917.
I am getting better from my fall but sure have been a
nervous wreck and have the hardest time to eat anything. Drink milk as much as
possible but get so tired of it. When I realized I was falling thought well
this will be the finishing of me. but here I am. But still feel shakey. Don’t
do much of anything only sit around.
Walker is studying his spelling. Don is as fat as butter but
still has three double teeth to get. The weather is quite chilly. I feel the
cold so badly. Have not been out for several days. One real warm day
awhile ago Percy
is walking along Bud broke his arm again – the 4th time. Jenny and Mrs. Thayer still cook a luncheonette for the store.
Keeps them busy every day planning something new. Eula was up awhile today. she
had dyed her winter coat. It looks real well. Keeps her busy trying to keep her
family decent and covered. They are so large of their age. Our yard still looks
nice. The leaves are about gone but grass is green and edge.
Frank and Eula Faust with their daughters, Mildred and Marguerite 1917.
Did you get your bulbs. Got Edna to send them. Aunt Maud
sent me quite a few. They are Chinese Lilly. Will grow in water, sand and rocks
or dish only. But must be set in a dark cool place before bringing to light.
On the left, the Fausts, Frank, Marguerite, Mildred, then Edna, Bud, Allan, Jenny, Marcie, Bill Smith, EA and Ethel, a photograph from a 1919 picnic.
Ada
is putting the boys to bed. I usually go about 9:30. We are trying to plan for
Xmas but it won’t be extravagant by any means. But it will be the spirit of
Xmas. Ada made little mince meat.
At the left, Jim and Candace Sharpe with William Sharpe in front of their Hudson Super Six circa 1926.
Uncle Jim and Can was here a short time the other. He was
seeing about apples he has here in cold storage. Homer took his family and a
maid for a three months trip in Texas, Arizona and California. He was driving
Jim’s Hudson Super Six. He has not done much toward the making of the orchard
but is getting the benefit. Well I will not envy him.
Now do hope you are all well and getting all right.
Lots of love, Mother
Let me know if the prunes get there all right.
I apologize for inconsistent formatting. Unlike Betsy Sharpe Walker I don't have the excuse of a lack of education. But I do have a lack of web page building knowledge.
