The Zembal Family History

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Page 4
Memories of Aberdeen and the Wishkah -- 1939 to 1953
By Don Kleczynski
(9/8/35 to ∞)



During those War years, Mom and Dad wanted to buy a Kerosene burning heater as the previous winter we were pretty cold and this might be of help, although it was pretty small. They had to apply to buy it and waited an awful long time (maybe 6-8 months) before it came. We huddled around it that winter in anticipation that it gave off more heat than these closely huddled bodies!! This heater was in addition to the wood stove for cooking that every place was probably equipped with, but then, maybe those too were supplied by the tenant! I was 10 years old when the War ended in 1945 with the surrender of Japan aboard the USS Missouri and General MacCarther presiding. Germany, the primary cause of the war was defeated, Japan surrendered because of the atomic bombs that the USA dropped on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki and threats to Tokyo. Russia was supposedly one of our allies in defeating Germany and Japan, but people of the USA didn’t like or trust them. And so it later seemed, for good reason!!  


One year Grandpa Z. came to Oregon to visit us and I remember my Dad, Grandpa, and I took a car ride through Mission Bottom and surrounding area north of Salem. My Mom had taken a picture at Pete and Anna’s farm of Grandpa Z., Uncle Jim and a friend of Pete’s. My brother Mickey and cousin Frances were also in the picture. Mickey looks about 5 years old so the year would be about 1947. Uncle Jim would have brought Grandpa to Oregon for the visit.


Michael Zembal (dark hat) and son Jimmy Zembal. Peeking into the picture on the left are Mickey, Sophie's son and Fran, Anna's daughter. The gentleman with his back to the camera is Peter Kleczynski family friend, "Mr. Speez." (Around 1950.)

Grandma Z. came to Oregon a different year and probably stayed a week. She helped me hoe weeds in our potato patch of quite some size as these would feed the hogs that coming winter. I remember having a hard time keeping up with her. The time would have to be around 1950. My Mom and Dad’s farm was along a busy country road (3 to 4 cars an hour) and while Grandma and I weeded the potatoes, every car that went by was someone I knew, so I would wave to them as that was the natural thing to do. They always waved back, if not having waved first. (Neighbors knew neighbors for miles around.). This waving amazed Grandma Z. They still lived on the Wishkah farm on a dead end road and hardly a chance to see anyone but visitors, and those primarily relatives!

 

Mom, Dad and family made trip to Aberdeen after the War when I was with them. I remember that Dad and I visited Grant’s radiator shop after Uncle Grant and Aunt Frances were married, and I think this would be after they bought the house and acreage in Central Park. I don’t know what year that would be but it probably was between 1945-1948.

Continued press
here


Updated: 02-05-2019

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