Elsie would be 125 today! As most of you know, Elsie had many adventures on Palomar about a century ago. Her grand-daughter, Barbara Waite has published her first book of Elsie’s time as a school teacher that is just delightful. Barb is now working on her Mountain days. Meanwhile, keep reading for some tidbits of her early years and a special Barb has for you to celebrate her birthday:I AM CELEBRATING ELSIE’S 125th BIRTHDAY !
One hundred and twenty-five years ago on January 22, 1888 Elsie Reed Hayes was born in Alexandria, Virginia. They lived in the home that had been her father’s childhood home. When I was a child my grandmother Elsie entertained us with stories of her father being shot when a c…hild during the civil war. Among her keepsakes was an old Civil War pass that allowed passage of the family cow across enemy lines. Also among her treasures was a newspaper article describing her father’s injury as a child when crossing the lines with the cow.
Her childhood in Virginia was delightful. Elsie enjoyed her two sisters Alice and Hylinda, her younger brother Gilman and the cousins that lived nearby. They played in the wooded area located across the Potomac from Washington D.C. The family included her father’s two unmarried sisters. Since there were four adults and four children, each adult claimed one child to lavish with special attention. Aunt Annie claimed Elsie and she reserved her special attention for her. This maiden aunt had an important job with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C. Also among Elsie’s treasures were a couple of old family invitations to Inaugural Balls.
When Elsie was ten her family traveled by train to California. They had hoped that the warmer climate would be better for Elsie’s brother who had a heart defect. In 1904, when Elsie was age 16, her brother Gilman died in Long Beach, California. Elsie herself lived to be nearly 100 years old.
All of the years that I knew my grandmother her birthday was celebrated with an angel-food cake with whipped cream and raspberries. For this celebration of Elsie’s 125th Birthday we may just have some raspberries and whipped cream. I am with my sister Nancy and my brother Dan, Elsie’s only other grandchildren. So it will be fun to celebrate together tomorrow. I want to make a special three-day offer to those who would like a copy of “Elsie-Adventures of an Arizona Schoolteacher 1913-1916.” For January 22, 23 & 24th only, I will mail (postage-paid within the USA) an autographed copy for $10.00 to commemorate Elsie’s 125th birthday.
Please share this three-day offer with others you think might be interested in a look at the life of a teacher in the Wild West 100 years ago. I have been thrilled with the 102 reviews for “Elsie” on Amazon. Thanks to all who have written to say you have enjoyed the book. Yes, I am working on the sequel telling of her years living on an apple ranch and operating a mountain resort. I hope to be able to give it some undivided attention soon. Please let me know before Friday January 25th if you want me to include a book for you.
Palomar Mountain News 