I haven’t posted for a long time because I have been out of town visiting my 86 year old mother.  Part of that visit took us to Afton, Wyoming (about 60 miles south of Jackson) where my mother’s father’s family is from.

This is a picture of my great-grandpartents with their 11 children.  My grandfather (Elias) was the oldest son (second row-far right).  He died in 1931 when my mother was just 3 years old.  This is a picture of a picture (so not so great).  It was probably taken around 1900.

Emma & Jacob Michaelson Family

My mom and I visited the family home that a couple of daughters (who never married) had built for their parents in the 1920’s.  This is the home I remember visiting as a child.  At that time, it was the home of my great aunts Lydia and Bertha.  Lydia (the youngest born in 1892) died not that many years ago at the age of 107!  She was the oldest person in the state of Wyoming at the time.

My mom (Ada Jeanne Michaelson Griffiths) and  I (Pamela Jeanne Griffiths Schoessow) in front of Aunt Lydia’s house in Afton, Wyoming July 2014.

Luckily, the home is still in the family, so I was able to go inside.  It’s just like in was when I was a little girl in the 60’s.  Even the wallpaper and pictures are the same.

With just a few modern conveniences, (though I think it’s the same stove) the kitchen is much the same too.  Love these dark original cabinets.These stairs from the kitchen, lead to the basement.  I fell down these stairs when I was about 6 years old.  It was dark when I opened the door and I thought I was walking into a closet.  Luckily, I wasn’t hurt.  All I remember is waking up later on the couch in the living room.

Scary basement stairs

Love these old light switches.

My great grandfather, Jacob, build this bed.  He came from Denmark in the 1850’s and died in this home around 1928.It had rope “springs” underneath that held the mattress.  They don’t make them like this any more!Part of the 3 day reunion included a outdoor breakfast which has been held here for over 30 years.

It’s held in the front yard of the home built by my grandfather’s brother, Joseph (also in Afton).

Hot pancakes along with eggs and ham (cooked on an outdoor grill) are always part of the menu.I love this picture of my mom visiting with her cousin, Helen. I’ll be going out to visit my mom again in October so that I can help her write her personal history.  Remembering the past is so important for future generations.  Hope you enjoyed this little blast to the past.