Dairy of a soldier at Promontory

May 11^th, 1869

 

Dear, Father & Mother

I hope this letter find you in good health and that everyone is doing well. I want to write you of my experience at Promontory Summit, Utah. My regiment arrived by train the day before the Great Event as the reporters called it. As most people know the transcontinental railroad is almost done. This is an amazing accomplishment for the United States no longer will people of this great nation have to travel by ship or by wagon to get to California. People are saying in less than four days you can cross the country.

I am seeing first hand how this is possible. Already since leaving Virginia we have made record time and now I find myself in dry aired landscape of Utah. Company K pitched tents and settled for the evening near the railroad track. Our camp is small consisting of a Sibley, two dog tents and couple of other tents for men and gear. We hoisted a flag in camp and even have a portable telegraph box. Tomorrow the president of the Union Pacific, Charles Durrant will arrive. His train has been delayed due to heavy rains. It is peaceful right now and the weather is calm. Tomorrow the rails will be joined by a golden railroad spike and the East and West will have a road made of iron.

The trip so far has been comfortable. The train travels at speeds of 35 miles per hour and it is hard to watch the country side go by as it passes so quickly. By the time one of my men tell me to look at something from the window it has already passed. This evolution in transportation will greatly speed up commerce all over the nation.  The locomotive stops every 25 miles or so to fill with water and more coal. Once we crossed the Mississippi River towns grew smaller and smaller and the wide openness of the prairie stretched on like an ocean.

The men right now are sitting around the fire enjoying themselves and looking forward to California and the new post we will have. People say that California is the land where a man can strike is rich and make something of himself. All I know is that I miss home and you. Another man in our regiment also missies someone close to him. His name is Neal he always says he misses Poly but never talks much about her. She must be very special to him. Well mom my men are calling me over to join them so I will write more later.

 

May 10^th

Hello mother and father,

What a day that my company and I had. I have witnessed history here today. We even helped with the festivities during the event by standing guard and help with the flag raising.   Our day started at dawn. Breakfast consisted of oatmeal and cranberries. The Captains wife, Mrs. Clyne is with us on this trip as she is relocating with him so our food as been exceptional. Already at day break reporters were showing up and asking questions of who we are and what we were doing. Of course, our captain was not hesitant to stand up first and make sure the reporter had his name spelled correctly and all his information was indeed correct. He told us “Boys we are making history here today. As we are the first regiment to cross the country by the rail!”

When we marched over to the rails later that morning, already there were hundreds of people swarming the glistening locomotives. The Union Pacific had the 119 a beautiful burgundy painted engine with Johnny Appleseed painted on the sand dome along with lots of shining brass. The Central Pacific arrived with the Jupiter and it is equally magnificent with crimson blue paint and gold inlay on the tender. Both engines were parked nose to nose and before them lay a gap where the last rail would go.

Both the presidents of the railroad companies stood before the rail with Leland Stanford, the president of the Central Pacific holding the pure gold railroad spike and Mr. Durrant with a silver platted Maul. Alongside the track connected to the telegraph wire was a man typing out on his key everything that was taking place during the event. I hope you and all in town were able to crowed into the telegraph office and listen. If only you could have been here, I know you would have enjoyed it. There were a couple of photographers taking photos so maybe Ill be in one or so. They say the photos will go into the newspapers.

We stood for what seemed like hours next to the locomotives and were able to sneak some shots of us in front of the engines while the dignitaries talked. Finally, time had come to complete the railroad and the last rail was laid and spike driven into a special polished railroad tie form California. Everyone cheered and then another railroad tie was put in where the fancy one was and a regular iron spike was driven into that tie completing the railroad. The telegrapher typed out, done and everyone knew that it was over. After seven years of work we have a transcontinental railroad.

After the ceremony ended everyone clambered to get a piece of the railroad tie and chipped it away. Soon they will need to lay another. Our captain told us to gather all our stuff up and prepare to board the train again as the westbound is ready to leave. We are the first train to cross over and get to see Promontory fade into the distance as we head west into more desert. It is so dry out here I do hope California will be greener.

Take care, your loving son

 

~2019

150 years later I was able to take part in the re-enactment ceremony at Promontory Point. The story above is my recollection of the event with a little dreaming in-between.  It was a huge event with well over 10,000 people showing up. I camped with the Ft. Boise Garrison group from Boise who are also good friends of mine and they let me dress and be part of it all. It was fascinating to see how people lived and dress back then, before the age of plastic. The weekend was memorable and almost the same perfect 70 degree weather 150 years later. The event had the president of Union Pacific, Secretary of the Interior, Governor of Utah and leader for Mormon Church. I partaked in not only the ceremony of the 10^th but also on the 12^th. I want to thank the Ft. Boise Garrsion for loaning of the clothes and also for letting me be apart of history. The driving of the golden spike 150 years ago was the moon landing of the day and 100 years later we went to the moon. I plan to be back in 2069 for the 200^th anniversary. Who knows what we will have accomplished by then.

A Winter Getaway to McCall Idaho

A getaway was in need for me and Christina. We have talked about going north to McCall Idaho about 95 miles due North of Boise every winter we have been together to see the snow sculptures and just get away. This past weekend before Valentines day was it. We never went before due to the roads being slick and my old Ford pick up is not good in the snow but now that I owned a Subaru Outback I felt safe and sure enough that we could make it through just about anything.

We left friday evening around 5pm making the two hour trip up the hill as the sunset. The main road, highway 55 was clear and dry but as the weekend would progress a winter storm was on its way for the area. We did see snow on the weekend but it out before it got really bad on Monday evening. As we left town we stopped for dinner at Carls Jr for some quick fast food which is always good and Christina tried out their new beyond meat burger. We took the food to go to not wast time getting up to McCall as we had booked an Air BnB to stay at and wanted to check in before it got too late.

We have stayed at an Air BnB before when we went on a trip to Olympia Washington and found it a pleasurable stay. The Air BnB we found in McCall was priced just right and we were able to get a two nights stay for the price of a one night stay barely at a hotel in town. The place we stayed at was less than a mile from downtown and surrounded by forest. the drive way was plowed out and the snow was 4ft deep all around. The room we had was nice and had a great mattress. This Air BnB was the rental of their downstairs room and bathroom. We never really saw the owners but they were very nice when we did check in.

The Air BnB we stayed at.

On Saturday we slept in and made breakfast around 10am in town. The snow had began to fall lightly and no views of Payette Lake could be seen. After breakfast we walked around town and took in the shops. The car by the way handled great on snow packed roads and it was great to have traction and stopping power. Later on Saturday we checked out the McCall Activity Barn where they have a large tubing hill and for three hour tubing rental was $18 which was not bad. By the time we were done we were tired and hungry. Before going for dinner we went back to the room and cleaned up. We had plans to have dinner at the famous Shore Lodge Hotel in McCall which has been a staple of the area since 1946.

Shore Lodge

The snow had let up for the afternoon but by the time we left dinner at 9pm the snow had begun and I could tell this was the larger of the storms predicted for the weekend. The local mountains snow pack provide the valley farmers with irrigation water all summer and without a good snow pack the farmers run dry before the season is over. So far southwestern Idaho has seen a dryer winter but recent storms have added to the pack and this latest storm was adding anywhere from 3-10 inches when all said and done.

On Sunday morning we woke up to at least 4 new inches of snow! The car was buried and the owner of the place had to call for the snow plow to come out and clear the driveway before we could leave.

Plowing out the drive way

Everything looked so pretty covered in white and when the clouds parted and the sun came out everything glistened. I had planned a special surprise for Christina before we left on our trip which was a 1:30pm sleigh ride. So to kill time in the morning we walked around town in McCall and since the storm had passed the clouds lifted and you could see all the way across the lake which was totally frozen solid. Ice fishermen had set up on the lake to catch the hungry fish below. I walked out on the lake as I had never walked on a frozen lake and you know you really couldn’t tell that you were even on water. Christina watched from the shore..haha.

 

 

Standing on the frozen lake

 

By 1pm, we headed out to the Activity Barn which was were the sleigh ride was taking place and arrived in time to see the man bring over the large Belgium horses that were to pull the sleigh. Christina is an animal lover and horse lover and was very happy when she found out what we were doing. The ride was about an hour and pulled you along a trial through a field of snow. With the ride you get two drink tickets and could get hot coco or cider. The sleigh was equipped with blankets to keep your legs warm. It was sunny but cold with a light breeze. The temperature was hovered at 18 and with a breeze it made it feel much colder.

Our sleigh ride arriving

Christina petting the pretty horses

Wonderful way to end a lovely trip together.

After the sleigh ride it was time to head home and end our winter getaway. I enjoyed our time in the snow and away from the valley and hope to do it again. Now to wait for the snow to melt and go up in the summer.

~Eriks

The Story of a 1941 Plymouth

1941 February, brand new car up in Big Bear CA. The little boy hanging off the running board is Elwood.

The year was 1941 and America had not yet officially entered the War, President Franklin Roosevelt entered his 3rd term in office and Dumbo primers in theaters the top song was “Chattanooga Choo Choo ” by Glenn Miller. The average cost of living in 1941 for a new house was $4,075.00, Average wages per year $1,750.00, Cost of a gallon of Gas 12 cents and the average Price for a new car $850.00. This was the year when my recently acquired 1941 Plymouth Deluxe was born. Below is the story of this beautiful car and its amazing story.

The story is written by Patricia Rennison who is the wife of the former owner of the car.

It all started with Hugh Frederick Rennison (Fred). Fred grew up loving motors and automobiles. He would even motorize his bicycle. Fred supported his family in the late 1930s and early 1940s by working at a car dealership in Long Beach, California. The dealership like many other business weathered the Great Depression of the 1930s but was having difficulties meeting the payroll and other obligations. One day the owner gathered the employees together and explained the financial circumstances taking place. He asked them to forgo their paychecks for a period of time until the business was solvent again. He told them he would provide food, utilities, and rent for each family so all could remain employed.

The plan worked and as a bonus the owner offered each employee a new car at the factory price. Fred’s wife, Iva and sister, Blanche, boarded a bus and traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to pick up two new 1941 Plymouth’s from the factory. The two sisters started out for home traveling along the Lincoln Highway back to Long Beach. When they reached the Nevada border, they were arrested for trafficking new cars. At the time Nevada had a law prohibiting the trafficking of new cars from the factory to California. The hope was to discourage Southern California auto dealers from hiring women to drive cars out west as it was cheaper than sending them by rail. Iva and Blanche were jailed overnight until telegraph could confirm that the cars were legally owned by them and not the dealer.

Fred and Iva drove the Plymouth until about 1944, when they moved to Lehi, Utah. Fred opened his own shop with friend, Bob Livingston (R. & L. Automotive). The Plymouth was then parked in George and Ida Rennison‘s (Freds parents) garage in Long Beach, California. When George passed from a heart attack Ida did not drive but used the bus so the car continued to sit.

By 1952, Fred and Ida moved to Chico, California, so their sons could live at home while attending Chico State College. Both sons graduated as civil engineers. Grandma Ida gave the Plymouth to Elwood Eugene Rennison in about 1956. The Plymouth was taken from Long Beach to Chico for renewal. Fred and Elwood updated the car with a new paint job from its original maroon to a deep blue. Other minor repairs were made after being stored for so long. Elwood drove the Plymouth in college and during his time in the army reserve. Starting in 1962 the Plymouth was stored again in the garage.

In 1974 or 1975, Fred and Iva moved Iva’s mother Ethel from Southern California up to Chico. They had 2 acres so where in the process of building an apartment for her. Ethel‘s furniture and belongings were stored in the double car detached garage. Her chest freezer was plugged in and one day as the freezer clicked on it sparked causing a fire. Players at the local tennis club next-door noticed the smoke and ran to help. They pushed the Plymouth out of the burning garage into the driveway, saving the car. The firemen arrived but were only able to save a few things and most was lost, melted or smoke damaged. Repairs were made to the house and the apartment finished, and the Plymouth was returned to the garage.

In November 1979, the Plymouth was towed from Chico, California, to Meridian, Idaho. It wasn’t until about 2010 that Jason Bailey began restoration by taking the paint to the bare metal to discover no rust on the body. When he was priming the paint he noticed that there was a run in the finish coat, so he took it back to bare metal again, re-primed, and repainted it. The engine was taken to a fellow in Nampa who totally rebuilt the

Rebuilt engine

engine. The radiator was taken to a family owned radiator shop in Caldwell which rebuilt it by hand. A custom wiring harness was ordered from Southern California and installed by a professional electrical engineer, Garee Biladeau. The original AM tube radio was still in the car but was not working so it was removed and each tube was tested. Garee  and Elwood found that some of the tubes needed replacing and spent weeks finding and installing the right parts. An electric company in Caldwell had old/new tubes in stock. One tube was ordered and when it came in the original box, it was found out that it had been made in Canada for the U.S. Army in 1940. The army then sold it to China. It came from China back to Caldwell store at a cost $3.54. The radio worked great with the new tube and the radio was reinstalled into the vehicle.

Other things were done on the car were the running boards which were re-done with more modern “rhino bed” covering as the rubber line in bedded was no longer available. The chrome bumpers were re-done as well. All original chrome accessories were returned to the vehicle. An extra new mayflower logo for the trunk, the original fog lights, and several boxes of old and new parts went with the Plymouth when it was sold.

Picking up the car from Pat

Elwood passed away in 2015 from Cancer and never finished the restoration of his car. In October of 2018, Eriks Garsvo who was in Pat Rennison‘s third-grade class at Indian Creek Elementary in Kuna, Idaho stepped up to purchase the Plymouth and finish what Elwood had started.  The Rennison family is proud that Eriks will be caring for one of the family heirlooms.

Pat.

 

I am proud to own such a car with such a history. I look forward to getting it out on the open road. Since acquiring the car I have redone the brakes, interior floor pan area and restored and mounted the fog lights. A set of five white wall tires were bought and all the rims were blasted and powder coated blue. The original hub caps have been restored with the Plymouth logo painted red again. So next time your on the road make sure to watch for a classic 41 Plymouth to pass you and you never know you may even see Elwood in the passenger seat next to me.

Tail light shot showing original glass tail lights and California plates from the 1960s.

Some additional information:

This car was manufactured during the first days of production in September of 1940. The year 1941 was the last year the Plymouth was produced because all the factories were retooled for the WWII effort. It was not until 1946 that the Plymouth was again produced after the war.