Were they really cowgirls?

Friendship is such a wonderful thing.  After a series of career moves over the years, we’ve chalked up a healthy list of people we consider good friends – from Iowa and Oklahoma to Mississippi and Pennsylvania.

Except for Nebraska friends with whom we grew up, most of those friendships were established and developed over just a few short years.  But in many instances, we’ve kept in touch with these friends from elsewhere and continue nurturing the friendships.

We’re intrigued by the fact that so many people of our parents’ generation were often life-long friends.  People with whom they went to school, worked, and grew old.  Friends who confided in one another and – during good times and bad – helped each other.

Such was the special and long-time friendship of Lettie Miller and Gladys (Warren) Beamish.

We’ve heard stories of how these ladies, hard working but fun loving, used to celebrate Halloween to the fullest extent – dressing up in some remarkably innovative costumes.

It tickled us recently when we came across this old photo – taken in about 1947 on the Vince Braddock place north of Chadron.  We don’t think it was Halloween, although it may well have been in October.  No doubt about it, they were in costume!

Billy Beamish – about four years old – is shown at the left with his dog Ringo.  They both seem a bit bewildered by the antics of the two gunslingers on the right, Lettie (Maiden) Miller and Gladys (Warren) Beamish.

This image, we think, captures the light-hearted antics that these two ladies shared with one another.  Perhaps folks who’ve known them and their spouses -- John Miller and Warren Beamish  -- might contend that the girls' tomfoolery was a way of complementing the more reserved (some might say dour) personalities of their husbands!

Far be it from us to assign such motives.  In any event, these two ladies did have fun!

Lettie Miller passed away in Chadron in 1998 at age 77.  Gladys Beamish still lives in Chadron and remains quite active for a young lady in her 80’s!

Were you there?

The little lapel pin shown here was generated to promote a Maiden Family Reunion over the 4th of July holiday in 1984.

Only trouble is, we don't know which Maiden family line was promoting the event -- or where it took place!

We'll have to admit that our memory chip isn't as robust as it once was, but these little pins (we found two tucked away in a chest) have really befuddled us.

At first, we confused it with a family reunion that took place out in the Pacific northwest in about the same era.   Then, we recalled that the gathering was actually a reunion of Durham family members.  Our records include a written notice about a "Durham Family Reunion" on August 14, 1982 at the Rainier Sportsman's at Rainier, Washington.  It was organized by Helen Vincent and Tom Durham.  Tom, we believe, was a grand nephew of Leota Irene (Durham) Maiden.   We did not attend that reunion.

Our Maiden family tie with the Durhams was through  Leota Irene Durham (1891-1951), the daughter of David and Alatha (Norman) Durham.  She married William J. Maiden (1886-1972), the son of William H. and Dora (Derrick) Durham at Belle Fourche, South Dakota, 15 December 1915.

We'll hope that a Maiden cousin somewhere might happen across this posting and provide us with information about the 1984 Maiden reunion.    

The Maiden kids - late 1930's

While preparing a new picture calendar for 2012, I was digging for some old photos that might help spur memories of years gone by.  This one popped up, and I was delighted to include it in the calendar.

I had seen this photograph before, but it'd never captured my imagination the way it did today.  Perhaps it's the unique personalities of the six Maiden girls -- and one boy -- reflected in their faces and clothing.  Or it might be the contrast of the dry earth barnyard with Grandpa Maiden's bold new barn looming in the distance.  Whatever caught my attention, it's allowed me to examine more closely and enjoy this glimpse of yesteryear out on White River in Dawes County, Nebraska.  There's no date on this photo, but from the apparent ages of those in the picture, I'm guessing this was taken in the late 1930's.

In the rear (left-to-right) are Nettie, Henry, and Betty Maiden.  In the middle are Lettie, Minnie, and Dorothy.  Jackie is in front.  I can't see clearly enough to determine who is to the rear right, closer to the barn.  Perhaps Ray Scott -- Minnie's son -- is the boy, but I can't be certain.  I don't believe that's Grandpa Maiden back there, but again, that's just a guess.

I wish I could remember that barn.  I've been told that Grandpa William J. Maiden was very proud of it.