Boys, Boys, Boys

Mae's first date was with a neighbor boy. "We went to a church social," she wrote. Later, she liked to dance to Lawrence Welk at a downtown Omaha ballroom.

Then one Saturday night, Mae went to a party at her friend Iris Shinrock's house, and she met a polite, handsome man, Iris's brother, Fred. Mae thought he was a good dancer, and "I think I fell in love on our third meeting," she wrote. "For dates, we would go to the show, go swimming and on picnics, rode in his mother's car. Not much dining out in those days."

Brother and Sisters

Mae had five brothers, but Harris, the oldest, left home at 18 when Mae was born, so when he came home for Christmas, she thought he was a strange man. She had three other brothers at home, though, so when her dad was away and her mom was working, they "kept me in tow."

Mae's sister, Elsie, would give her spending money, since Elsie worked. One of the most memorable trips Mae took was the eight-hour drive on Highway 30 to Genoa, NE in Florence's Ford touring car. "We packed lunch to eat on the way. It was quite a deal!"

"My Favorites"

Here is what Mae wrote about her favorite things:
My favorite toy as a child was my doll "Margurite." I still have her, with a wig made out of my mother's hair.
My favorite movie was as a child, we went to a Saturday matinee and saw the "Perils of Pauline" serial- I forget the star.
My favorite song was my dad's composition, "There'll Come a Time," and it still is.
My favorite dessert was home-made ice cream.
My favorite outfit was my sister Elsie's rust colred satin dress that she let me wear.
My favorite book was "Black Beauty."

"My Parents"

Mae's father, Carl Evald Charnquist, was born May 4, 1868. Her mother, Hannah Hanson, was born October 20, 1864. Their families moved to Nebraska from Sweden when they were very young. Carl's father, also Carl, was a Methodist minister with a church in Nebraska, but later moved to Texas. Hannah's father, John, celebrated his birthday with his granddaughter, both born May 1. "One time he was 90 and I was 19."

After Hannah and Carl Evald were married in 1889 (?), they moved to Omaha, but later moved to Genoa, Nebraska. Mae's father made a living tuning pianos, but she says "dad was never home." Mae's mom was a housewife, but later went to work. "She had a tough life having to work to support her family. She was also a good Christian woman," Mae wrote.

School Days

Some of the things Grandma Mae remembered about school were the extra things like singing in Glee Club and being in operettas. She liked music class mostly, but hated swimming, which she failed. "I loved the water, though." Mae said penmanship was very important in school in her day, and she took two years of Latin by choice. "We had to take English, Math and Community Civics."

Music has always been a big part of our family's life. Grandma's father, Carl, was an accomplished pianist and composer, but he never had his work published. I think Aunt Iris has some of his music. Growing up, I sang in choirs in school and church and played the piano for many years. One of my favorite memories from school was playing the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz."

"Growing Up"

Mae remembered living in three houses growing up- an apartment on 26th and Harvey, and apartment on 30th and Dodge (third floor), and a small house at 507 No. 23rd, which is now Creighton campus. In good weather, she played out in the street under the lights, and had a big tire swing in a vacant lot. She played hopscotch with squares, different than now, and ball and jacks. "We would have tournaments. We played on cement sidewalks or porches. I was pretty good- Ahem! In winter, we'd slide down 2 or 3 blocks in the street with someone stopping traffic as we slid by."

I used to play jacks in fifth grade when we couldn't go outside for recess. I was pretty good, too- must have inherited those quick-hand skills from grandma! During cold, snowy Green Bay winters, we'd sled down the neighbor's hill and build forts in the Jensen's front yard- FUN!

"My Childhood"

Mae was born May 1, 1908 at home on 915 S. 35th Avenue in Omaha, Nebraska. She was called "Baby" for two years, but then was named Mae Virginia after a lady- Mae Rossiter- who took her places and bought her gifts. Mae had five brothers- Harris, Victor, Ernest, Everett, and Kenneth, and two sisters- Florence and Elsie (all deceased). One of her happiest childhood memories was the time she spent on the farm in Genoa, Nebraska, with her aunts and uncles.
"I had cousins to do things with on the farm."

As a child growing up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, I liked going to Omaha to visit my relatives. Like my grandmother, I enjoyed spending time with my aunts and uncles and having cousins to do things with. On holidays when we gathered at grandma's house, the kids would play in the basement. I remember dressing up and putting on shows until we were called upstairs to eat a wonderful meal. Playing cards after dinner was another highlight for me. Sometimes we would have two tables set up to play hearts.

Grandmother Remembers

I created this blog to remember my Grandmother Mae Virginia Charnquist Shinrock Rau on what would have been her 100th birthday May 1, 2008. In 1994, my grandmother presented me with a book I had given her a few years earlier, "Grandmother Remembers," which she had filled out in great detail. Several years later, a house fire destroyed my family's home. One of the only things that survived the fire were pictures and files I had stored in plastic containers, including my Grandmother's book. It wasn't until ten years later, in January 2008, when I began to go through the charred remains of paperwork I had boxed up and stored for posterity, that I rediscovered this treasure. Now as I record her memories, no longer in her pen but still her words, I look forward to sharing her past with my family and friends. I hope you will share your memories of Mae as well.