Histories

From Virginia Grist

When the war ended in 1918, Gladys and Franklin returned to Minneapolis. Using a government grant (similar to the GI bill), Franklin went to New York City to learn to be a fur cutter -- a very specialized skill. He returned after about nine months in the big city -- with a very marketable skill and tales of evenings ushering at live theater houses -- musicals mostly -- but entertainers like Al Jolson. He loved that.

Franklin got a job with Schlamps, the largest and best retail fur store in the Midwest. He worked with the cleaned fur pelts -- mostly muskrat -- which were soaked and then stretched and nailed on huge boards (plywood?) before drying and cutting -- using patterns. Although he had learned how to make patterns, also -- a skill that was very useful because he later did a lot of remodeling of furs.

I think they lived with her parents in an apartment from 1918-19 to 1921 when they moved into the new white bungalow at 4811 Park Ave. South -- on the outskirts of Minneapolis -- July 20, 1921.

Daddy was very good with his hands, and made me toys and a remarkable 3-story dollhouse -- electrified! -- for my fourth Christmas. Winters were VERY cold -- lots of snow. He would build a high icy slide for my Flexible Flyer -- with a track that went a long way in our yard. And he played with me a lot and with the neighbor kids. There were BIG bridal wreath bushes on the side of the house -- to make wreaths from and for girls to play house under.