Story Behind a Photo: Aunt Lil’s Store--By Eleanor Ticknor, Town & Village of Lisle Historian

Here is some information on the history of the Howland store building you might be interested in:

The building that became Elmer and Lillian Howland's store first belonged to Reuben Rood. He donated his property in 1830 to the newly formed Congregational Church and services were held there until a new church was built in 1856.

The old church/Howland's store building had been located where the present church is today and was just moved over. An old map in the 1850's shows the building to be an Academy so school was held there. I'm guessing this was for higher education classes as a district school (grades 1-8) was located on the west end of Main Street. In 1869, a two room school was built in the village where grades 1-8 were taught. I don't know anything more about the Academy.

In the old picture of Center Lisle at the top of this story, you can see down Main Street from the bridge.

Howland's store is on the left, then the church. The entrance to the store would have been right there facing Main Street. In 1932, that bridge was removed when the highway (Route 79 today) and bridge were relocated to the other side of Howland's store.

Therefore, the entrance to the store was moved to the other side of the building facing the new highway. The old highway was too curvy. When it was straightened, it bypassed Center Lisle altogether.

Picture One: Center Lisle Main Street Before Road Changed
Picture Two: Aunt Lil’s Store
Picture Three: As you can tell, the store in this picture has changed its entrance to face the new road

New--But Old--Picture of Rhoda!

Please scan back to the story by Dawn on Rhoda--April 27th--to check out the new picture of Rhoda as a young girl, with Sue Kinsella and Pat Kinsella.
--Click on the month of April on the right and it should take you right to the story....

I cannot remember the picture being taken, but I KNOW we had fun--we always did, visiting the Center Lisle girls....

Love,

Pat

Happy Mother's Day! By Pat Kinsella Herdeg

Mother’s Day got me thinking about mothers, and cooking terrific food, and then kitchens, and then, aprons. A bit ago, Mom sent me an email about aprons—it conjures up wonderful memories:

The History of Aprons

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes.

--Author Unknown

So, yes—to aprons! Certainly, I could use an apron—the spaghetti sauces and blueberries seem to fly onto the whitest spot of my shirt every time I step close to the stove.

In my mind’s eye, I see Grandma Taylor opening the stove door and bending to take out a pie, using her apron as a very large pot holder….I only notice the smell of the pie, the bubbling of the berries, and I hope that we will be called soon to the table, and I hope that I can beat my brothers for a seconds, if any seconds are to be had….

So, on this Mother’s Day Weekend of 2010, May all Mothers, and all Cooks enjoy a little time to themselves. And, next time you pass that group of aprons in a specialty store—think about buying one, for old times sake!

Picture One: Grandma Taylor and Uncle Dick Lochner, December of 1960
Picture Two: Grandma Taylor, Little Jimmy, Aunt CB at Otty Lake, Canada, July of 1965
Picture Three: Aunt Ruth Maney, Pat Kinsella, Jon Maney, December of 1960
Picture Four: Dave Lochner (or Chuck?),Mary Lou Taylor, Dan Kinsella, Sue Kinsella, with Grandma and Aunt Barb—in apron—in back.
Picture Five: Arnon boys (??), and then Rick Lochner with present, Tim with back to camera, and Aunt Esther—in apron—watching all. Far right, Maney boy??. Taken at Christmas, 1957
Picture Six: Aunt CB, Aunt Barb, Uncle Jack, Thanksgiving at 2846 in 1967

Welcome to the World, Leah Kate Walker!

Congrat-ulations go out to Kristin Kinsella Walker (Tim's daughter) and her husband, Tim Walker, and their son, Cameron.

On Saturday, they welcomed a daughter, Leah Kate Walker to the world. During a outdoor barbeque with Tim and Rose, Kristin's water broke, so they sped up the dinner, but NOT before Kristin managed to get to her dessert....!

Here is how they described the event:

At 11:37 PM on Saturday, May 1st, Leah Kate Walker was born. She weighed 8lbs 6 oz and is 20.5 inches long. She has a full head of black hair and has been absolutely wonderful. Cam came this morning at around 11:00 and got to spend about two hours with his little sister.

Leah brought Cameron a present - a book about zambonis! Cameron gave her a thank you kiss and then promptly ignored her while he had everyone in the room read the book to him!

Leah and Mama are both doing well.

Wow!! Leah Kate is a beauty!

Picture One: Leah Kate

Picture Two: Cameron and Leah

Picture Three: Tim Kinsella and Leah

Picture Four: Tim Walker, Leah, Cameron and Kristin

May Birthdays, 2010: Part One—

Happy May Day!

Here is to a month of lilacs and warming sun—the beginnings of summer. May you dance around a May Pole, or leave May Baskets anonymously on doorsteps—but do find a way to celebrate—it has been a long, dreary, and WET winter!

To help us celebrate, here are the TaylorBakers who enjoy birthdays this month:

We’ll start with Uncle Buttsie himself, as he turns the grand young age of 80 this month-- Harold Baker Taylor, and Carol Elizabeth Hunt ( wife of Jeff Hauf, son of Kathy Taylor) both are May Birthday Kids. Add a birthday card to your shopping list and send it to Uncle Harold on May 20th.

In Uncle Arnon’s family, Jean Wilcox Taylor (Jim’s wife), and Cynthia Wright DeLuca (daughter of Nancy Taylor Wright) celebrate their births this month.

In Aunt Ruth’s family, Sean Francis Maney ( Dan Maney’s son) has a birthday this month.

Picture One: Cynthia
Picture Two: Carol and Jeff Hauf
Picture Three: Harold shoots the chute at Algonquin Provincial Park, 1983
Picture Four: Harold, 1983
Picture Five: Patrick and Sean Maney

May Birthdays, 2010--Part Two:

In Aunt Doris’ family: Kristy Hawkes Colley ( Charlie and Mary’s daughter) celebrates this month.

In Aunt Lil’s family, May is a Big Birthday Month—
Joyce Ann Tillotson Henderson ( Wendell’s wife), her daughter, Kathleen Amy Henderson, and Joyce and Wendell’s son, Ronald Wendell Henderson, and Lawson Ray Henderson (son of David and Patsi, grandson of Wendell and Joyce) are all birthday kids.

In Aunt Leona’s family, her son, Joseph Maffei , and Sara Louise Maffei and Andrew Carmen Maffei (twins of Neil Maffei Jr.), blow out candles.

In Aunt Sylva’s family, Michael Emhof (son of Freddy D, son of Sylva)celebrates.

Picture One: Kathleen, David, Joyce, Lawson, Justin, Ron from the Baker Reunion, August 2009
Picture Two: Ron at the Baker Reunion
Picture Three: Wendell and Joyce’s farm, Center Lisle
Picture Four: Kristy and Eowyn
Picture Five: Joey Maffei, September 1975

May Birthdays, 2010: Part Three

In Aunt CB’s family, Matthew Thomas Kinsella (Tim’s son), and Bridget Laurel Kinsella ( Chris’ daughter) celebrate in the Month of May.

In Aunt Esther’s family, F. Theodore Lochner, and Wesley Allen Riber ( Julie’s husband), both blow out Birthday Candles—

Picture One: Matt, taken at Lake George reunion, August 2009
Picture Two: Bridget, taken at Lake George Reunion, August 2009
Picture Three: Ted, taken at the Baker Reunion, August, 2009
Picture Four: Wes and Julie, taken 2008
Picture Five: Julie and Pat, taken a few weeks ago—okay, so neither of us have a May Birthday, but I LOVE this picture!!