California 1941

In the summer of 1941, EA and Edna were awaiting the births of their first two grandchildren. Both Allan and Helen who had married in 1938 were expecting their first in October and Ethel and Harold who married in 1939 their first in July. Ethel and Harold had lived in San Diego a short time when Gussie traveled to California for Leon's birth. Helen remembers that Gussie went out early to help Ethel with the birth and the others drove out after Leon was born. Below is a clip of that trip before they made it to California.

I'll leave it to Lee or Steve to identify the make of the car.

     Mary Grace had just graduated from high school and Helen was starting her senior year in college that fall.

Mary Grace, age 17, Balboa Park, San Diego.

      While visiting Ethel and Harold and the very young Leon, the Burkhardts spent time at the beach. First at Mission Beach near San Diego and then up the coast to Newport Beach near Los Angeles.

EA and Helen Mission Beach

This is a clip from the Mission Beach outing. The Winters' home at 3643 37th St is about 10 miles from the beach. Ethel and Harold's home in San Diego



After spending time in San Diego, the Burkhardts traveled north to Jimmie Fraser's beach house at Newport Beach. Jimmie Fraser was one of four children of Betsy Sharpe's sister, Roseanna. After Roseanna's husband died in 1900 she and her children moved to the Oakland area. By 1941 Ada Fraser Sumner and Miller Fraser lived in the Los Angeles area, too. On this visit to Newport Beach, the Burkhardts and their cousins took in the various water activities - boating, swimming, etc. Joining them was Ada's daughter, Kay, who was the tall, illustrator for Disney.

Jimmy Frazier and Mary Grace Newport Beach 1941

Kay Sumner Newport Beach 1941

Miller Frazier and his boat Newport Beach 1941

First clip shows some of the Newport Beach activities before they took a ride in the Fraser boat. Right as the clip ends, it looks like someone is almost run over by a boat, but apparently everyone was all right.

Helen said Jimmy took them all out in his boat on the ocean and to quote her, "It was exciting."



This clip has some good views of Balboa Pavilion on Balboa Peninsula, an early 20th century landmark.