December 31, 1971 End of Year

Friday, December 31, 1971 last day of 1971

A nice day, sunny most of the day after it cleared in a.m. I done regular work. Went down to Betty’s to babysit in p.m. In evening watched TV, picked over some more of my papers etc. Then sat up to watch the old year out and the new one in. Billie up to Chet’s and Lil’s to watch with them. I washed in a.m. and in evening. On my mind about Bill going to hospital next Monday.

Memoranda

Regina Knick

Milan and grandkids

First of this year we went to Aunt Ava’s and picked over her possessions. We had what things we wanted and sold the rest. We got a lot of things which have been in the family for many years. We will pass them along to the lower generation. It was quite a family project over there, had a good time after all. We all got our money from the estate in July. Besides Fern and I got extra because Aunt Ava left us her household furnishings etc. Betty bought the most of that and sold it for a good price or did okay.

Joan, Rayburn’s wife died this past summer. Rayburn married Bea Stevens Durfee. Nice girl. Kim began school this past year. Walt and Betty made a lot more improvements on the home this past year.

 Billie got through at Dielectic this past summer. He got a job with M & M Alloy Castings right here in Bridgton. A company which moved here from Massachusetts. It is so much better than riding so far. It is a savings on the car. He bought a brand-new 1971 Plymouth of McDonald  Motors this summer. During his vacation he took Cliff and Es riding with us, also Fern and Lloyd, on a trip with us. He took the kids on a fishing trip this past summer. 

This past spring Bill retired. He finished up working for the town the 30^th day of April after working for about 20 years for them. He worked for Gordon, Jean, Helen Jones and Walt the summer. It seems good to be all through. Fern has been in the hospital this past year, a very bad skin disease, eczema. Robert was in the hospital from the accident he had while using his saw on New Year’s Day.

Walt took a course in engineering this past year. He built the play house for Carmen, Kim and Zak. They got a new German Shepherd dog.

Carlton’s family moved to France to live for a couple years while Carlton has an engineering job there.

Tom came to Maine and lived with Susan and children but didn’t stay. They have a new baby, a girl Monica Louise born December 20.

We had a nice year this past. Bill to Lahey Clinic, he has to go back later for an operation possibly. Zak was in the hospital this past year, Bridgton with bronchial pneumonia, also Maine Medical Center for an operation. He faces another operation in the coming spring of 1972. Also Kim is going in 1972 and Bill.

Jeff

This summer Jeff went to camp Hinds, a scout camp. Billie Deming also. Jeff went to Michigan in August a visit with his father and family for several weeks. He is maturing and is becoming a very fine young man. We are proud of him.

Dorothea lost a lot of weight this past year. Looks nice. Betty got her HAIR CUT. Looks very good now.

Weldon Bracket bought Aunt Ava’s place and is remodeling and making improvements. Frances and Herman celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary. George Allen died this spring in Florida.

In Bridgton Village they put up traffic lights in Pondicherry Square. Put up a new Dairy Queen where the old Cumberland Hotel was. New filling (gas) stations came into town. Several new houses were built.