A little trek down Memory Lane!

As we wended our way homeward on our recent summer road trip, we found ourselves in Centerville - a place we called home from 1973 to 1979.  It's a long story, but starts with the "while chapel" in the center of town.

 

We were living in SLC, and Harry had finished with school.  He was driving a truck for American Paper and made a delivery to Centerville.  While driving through the little town - so named because it is the mid-way point between Ogden and Salt Lake City - he came across the "white chapel" surrounded by an entire city block of lush green lawn.  He said, "You've got to see this place Barb!"  He'd also found a house for rent on the main street of town - a 100 year old rock house no less!  We went and saw the house and the town.  I was as excited as he was - so very shortly we moved to Centerville and the famous - or maybe infamous - rock house.

Unfortunately, the beautiful green lawn has been diminished in size to accommodate a parking lot.  Sigh!!!

 

We bought a lot and built a house there.  A New England Salt Box.  The neighbors all called it the Nauvoo house!!

It's a long story - and I won't tell it here - but I'd like to think that if we still lived there, it might look better than it does now!

 

 A new chapel was built - right across the street from our house - Harry F. learned to ride a bike in this parking lot!  Harry was in the bishopric.  We had good, dear friends.  It was a very happy time in our lives - one that is full of good memories - good memories that have nudged the less-good memories into the background.

 

A couple of doors down is the Nelson house - one Harry built for them.  As we drove by, we saw them in the yard.  Even though we hadn't seen them in over 30 years, they recognized us!!  It was a lovely little reunion.  The house had held up pretty well - but they were now going to replace the wood siding with aluminum.

 

I wanted to go see the school where Bonny and Harry had started their academic careers, but alas, it is no longer there.  It has been replaced.

 

But there is a plaque!!

 

Harry with Bill and another neighbor - who didn't know us, but assured us that our named still lived in the ward - and he knew who we were when we were introduced!!  That's what's great about a small town - you can be famous in perpetuity!!

 

The side of our salt box - that tree was a shrub when we left!!

I should have taken more photos but time was of the essence.  The Cook Apartments still stand - and does the rock house, the duplex, two other houses Harry built - and there's a WalMart and a Target and a DQ!!

You can't go home again - but it's fun to visit!!