Christmas 1949

Christmas 1949

Early memories (at age 3 years 11 months) are few except when EXTRAORDINARY events occur. Such was Christmas 1949. The custom was to travel to Richmond, Utah, to spend Christmas Eve at the home of Monte & Merne Johnson (Dixie Johnson Hancock's parents). The family (Tom Hancock, Dixie & son Scott) started out together in the car, but in Ogden, the vehicle over-heated & "broke down." After some delay.... late that same day (Christmas Eve) the repair shop declared that the car could not be quickly "fixed," so Dixie telephoned sister Marva Johnson Casaday--who was likely already at the Richmond destination. Ray Casaday & Marva agreed to backtrack to Ogden to retrieve Dixie & Scott. (Tom would stay with the broken car until it could be repaired; he would then drive to Richmond with the "family car.") All was well until the Casaday car ran off the roadway (U.S. Highway 89 in Sardine Canyon, between the dry lake & Wellsville). The Casaday car was lodged in a snowbank & a tow truck (or snow plow) would be needed to pull the car back onto the road. Scott was in the back seat with Dixie -- a bit frightened by the flashing red lights on top of the police car. Ray Casaday had to remain with the vehicle until the tow truck (or snow plow) arrived. The police offered to take Dixie, Scott & Marva (with new born baby Patrick) to Logan where they could reconnect with Monte & Merne Johnson in Richmond. After a wait in a lobby (or cafe ??), Monte & Merne Johnson appeared & Marva (with the baby), Dixie & Scott were loaded into the car (including many wrapped Christmas gifts) for the short trip to Richmond. As the car drove into "town" (Main Street Richmond City), Merne reminded Monte that they "had no milk;" it was her request that they stop at "Nivison's Drug" (also a liquor store with late hours) which sold milk. Monte purchased the milk but upon returning to his car (now filled with passengers & presents), he discovered that the Johnson car was OUT OF GAS. After a short exchange of frustrations (Merne frustrated that Monte had not filled the gas tank earlier in the day, there being no gas stations open at that late hour), Monte called brother Ezra Johnson from "Nivison Drug." Happily, Ezra & wife Emma came to the rescue but it required two trips (from Richmond Main Street to the Monte & Merne Johnson home) to get the stranded family to its ultimate destination. Ray Casaday arrived safely in Richmond (much later), followed by Tom Hancock late on Christmas Day. On Christmas morning, the family gathered around the Christmas tree to "open the presents." Scott eagerly ripped open a package stashed under the tree, but Grandma Merne Johnson chastised him, saying "How do you know if that package is for you?" Scott pulled out the gift -- a printed tee shirt-- & said, "It says "Scott" on the front! That's me!" And so it was.