All posts by Shanna Vicker

About Shanna Vicker

I was lucky enough to be a part of my Grandmother Elizabeth Carsey's last 40 years. We played countless card games, read books, played dress-up and many other games at her house. My family spent almost every holiday with her and Grandpa (until his death in 1985.) She was loved by the entire neighborhood and was often referred to as the Neighborhood Grandma. I held a special pride in the fact that I could call her mine! Through her simplicity, she taught me the basics of life and the things which make you happy. Love your family, your church and music. The only thing worth crying over is beautiful music. And above all else, approach life with a sense of humor. I have done my best to live up to her expectations and pass those lessons onto my children.

Sunday April 14, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

www.stmartha.org

 

Easter Sunday  Beautiful services – Saw “Roberta” in the afternoon with Betty Johnson – Quite Good! Went to Dwight and Velmas –

Roberta 1935 movie poster.jpg

 

 

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today :

It was the Easter that turned BLACK!   In the afternoon a black cloud of dust descended upon the plains sending folks running for cover.

Image result for easter sunday 1935
www.pinterest.com

 

http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135000
Image result for black sunday
www.newson6.com
http://www.davidmixner.com/history-on-film/page/9/
www.pinterest.com Oklahoma

Friday April 12, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

Saw “Ruggles of Red Gap” Good!!  Just noticed Roland Young as very attractive –  May go to Carlesbad the Sunday after Easter if Bernard can still go!

 

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

Tragedy on the tracks and the cost of dust.

Clovis News Journal Clovis, Nm April 12, 1935
Clovis News Journal Clovis, Nm April 12, 1935

Thursday April 11, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

At 2:45 everything began to grow dark. The sun was hidden, street lights and home lights had to be used.  The sky was red!  We dismissed at 3:00  and didn’t get home any too soon before a good rain! The sky cleared.  Went to the Woman’s Club and Alyce Claire played before Velma had play practice.  Church dramatic club gives “Patty Makes Things Hum”  on Saturday night.

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

Dust is everywhere!

Clovis News Journal Clovis, NM April 11, 1935
Clovis News Journal Clovis, NM April 11, 1935

Wednesday April 10, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

20150409_220531Dr. Barr’s last service – Splendid – “Stewardship”   Letter from Carsey – Says whether or not I go to Mexico will affect his plans for summer!

Dear Elizabeth;

Believe it or not, things have been happening in Van Horn.  As far as I am concerned it has all centered around the debaters of whom I have made reference to before.

Last Saturday I was in El Paso.  I decided to call up the debate coach of Austin High and get a debate for my two teams.  Austin is El Paso’s snootiest school.  We had previously debated Marfa and Sierra Blanca and the kids were generally discouraged with debating because the teams had read off their speeches from manuscripts and it was boresome to the audience.   I promised them that if they would continue working that I would match a debate with a first class team that would’nt monotonously read it off.  I borrowed Mrs. Dees new Pontiac 8 Sedan for the trip and we left at 8 Wednesday morning. We did’nt have to debate until noon so we had several hours in El Paso to shop and to drive about the city.  Mary Jo and Minna Boyd found many dresses according to their description of the stores.  Mary Jo was elated over a dress that she found in popular for only 5.95!!  She described it in minute detail.

At Austin Hi the girls and boys instantly found friends to show them about until time to debate.  The debate was held in the auditorium with an audience of about 300 people.  Six times our total high school enrollment — and that only those in study halls or with permission.  The boys debated first and lost their debate with a 3-0 decision.  The boys there outclassed them as I expected.  They had clearer, louder voices, spoke more slowly and deliberately as I had futilly taught my boys to do. But the situation was different when Mary Jo and Minna started.  The girls at Austin irritated Mary Jo to the extent that she forgot her audience and stage fright and spoke as she never did before. Her rebuttal was smooth and unbroken, and with just the right amount of sarcastic turn of her voice.  She answered with definiteness every challenge they presented. And the opposition was as I wanted.  They had a girl with a musical, vibrant voice that swelled at her command for emphasis; her colleague was excellent but did not come up to the first.  Minna Boyd did well there but Mary Jo exhibited limitless capacity.

This week, tho, came the official interscholastic debates.  It was our job to beat Marfa, a town four times as big as Van Horn and other towns represented in the meet.   Mary Jo lost the flip of the coin and had to take the negative. She wanted the affirmative because she had worked on it so much for Austin Hi.  The debaters became  almost vicious at one another and the audience was tense and silent especially during the rebuttal.  When it was all over and the judges decision came he read off ‘negative’ (our side), ‘affirmative, and fumbled with the last card which had ‘negative’ on it.  Mary Jo and Minn yelled and went running out the door oblivious to the crowd of people to tell Jaime and the folks.  Mr. Lancaster was there to hear it. 

We next go to the regional meet at Alpine. If we win there, we go to Austin for the finale.

This debating has absorbed all of my time and thought. It has even drawn Jaime in.  He first came up to the school and sat around at night listening and reading while we practiced. But finally he decided to offer a little assistance until now he is an indispensible portion of a debate practice. 

A glance over this reminds me that it is 99.44% debating information.  Hope it doesnt bore you — that’s all there is in Van Horn at present.  There is to be a board meeting tonite — probably will discuss flies in the Mexican School. Any more news of summer?  I may end up in Mexico again because of a peculiar turn of events that I will describe later when more is determined about it.  Is there any chance of your going (for the 9th time to ask)? Pardon the repitition — but if you should decide to go it would considerable influence my manouvers for the summer (I can not spell that word).

               Su Atto. y SS.

               Arnold Carsey

 

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

A dust storm hits at high noon in Dodge City, Kansas.

http://exhibits.lib.ku.edu/items/show/6159

Jack Frost is sticking around New Mexico another beheading – this one in Germany.

Clovis News  Journal Clovis, NM April 10, 1935 pg1
Clovis News Journal Clovis, NM April 10, 1935 pg1
Clovis News Journal Clovis, NM April 10, 1935 pg 1
Clovis News Journal Clovis, NM April 10, 1935 pg 1

Tuesday April 9, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

www.girlscoutshs.org

Another service and afterwards Bernard and I went to Velma and Pete’s – She had just returned from a trip to Oklahoma of Girl Scout Executives.

 

 

 

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

The weather continues to create havoc and relief is on the way.

Clovis Evening News Journal Clovis, NM April 9, 1935
Clovis Evening News Journal Clovis, NM April 9, 1935

Monday April 8, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

Dr. Barr in special service & choir practice for Palm Sunday and Easter.  Saw “Florentine Dagger”

 

 

 

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

Tornado’s and flood’s claim the lives of 67 in the South.   Erosion on the minds of many.

The Gallup Independent Gallup, NM April 8, 1935
The Gallup Independent Gallup, NM April 8, 1935

 

Congress approved the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, the work relief bill that funded the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

A new Time Magazine.

Sunday April 7, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

Church as usual but Dr. Barr from Phoenix, Arizona.

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

Peace or war and what it means to the nations wealth.

Waco Sunday Tribune Herald Waco, TX April 7, 1935
Waco Sunday Tribune Herald Waco, TX April 7, 1935

Saturday April 6, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

Jonathon’s birthday.

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

A new New Yorker magazine.

The New Yorker Cover - April 6, 1935 Premium Giclee Print

Work relief is on the horizon and erosion control is swiftly making its way through congress.

Clovis News-Journal Covis NM April 6, 1935
Clovis News-Journal Covis NM April 6, 1935

Friday April 5, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

Mailed Jonathon a sweat shirt sort of a sweater and pretty white brushed wool sweater + my ring.  Mailed them Wednesday afternoon – Hope he likes them.  Today tried on a long coral dress at Price’s.  About decided to keep it – Will be stylish – I don’t know about the hat from Bray Moris – Maybe so!  Yesterday I found a sweet pink new dress for Mary Jo at Everybody’s – Had Mrs. Webb send it to her. The check for March 2 to Baily’s was evidentely lost I must see about it !! Found out that Incognito’s name is not Scott but Cox!

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

The fall out from the Gallup riot continues.

april

Thursday April 4, 1935

(This is an entry from the journal entitled Mexico Summer written by Elizabeth Lancaster Carsey 80-years-ago.  Click here to read more)

No post today:

Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today:

Augusta National Golf Club, Hole 10 (Camellia).jpg

The Augusta National Invitation Tournament, later known as “The Masters“, kicks off in Augusta, GA.  The Gallup N.M. Sheriff is killed in a gunfight between law enforcement and the unemployed.  The episode was the subject of author Gary Stuart’s historic novel, The Gallup 14

Gallup coal miners and their families in Kitchen's Opera House in 1935
Gallup coal miners and their families in Kitchen’s Opera House in 1935 courtesy thegallup14.com

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The Gallup Independent Gallup NM April 4, 1935
The Gallup Independent Gallup NM April 4, 1935