Betty Barr Boilesen

Memories of the Phonograph and Other Stories

 

My name is Betty Barr Boilesen.

I was born in Elba, Nebraska in 1924 on a 650 acre ranch by a river and lots of cottonwood trees.

My second grade teacher, Miss Hildred Karre, gave me my first experience with music on a phonograph which was a portable suit-case style. You opened the lid and inside was this wonderful little record player. Our opening exercise was a special time. We listened and also played games to the music such as the Farmer in the Dell and Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. However, my favorite part was watching Miss Karre wind the crank. She wore silver bracelets which cling-clanged when she turned the crank.

 

My niece Marjorie Ann was in kindergarden in the same school room along with my cousin Eudean. After school the three of us would play school and I would be the teacher. Of course to play school you must have a phonograph. So I would put my dad's razor blade sharpener on top of a shoebox as a makeshift phonograph with crank, and with the rubber jar rings and gold Mason jar lids on my wrist I was ready to wind the 'crank' and jingle-jangle and we would sing and dance to our school room songs.

 

Kriss Kross Stropper Razor Blade Sharpener, c.1927

 

None of our neighbors except one family had a phonograph. They had an elegant floor model. If we visited them during an evening we would go to the parlor and listen to a few records.

When I was around ten we stayed by the river in a cabin rented by my Aunt Della for an overnight adventure. During the day some older girls came to the river bank and brought their phonograph. We watched from the distance, listened to their records and thought those older girls were so sophisticated and certainly to be envied.

My step-sister Fay's sister-in-law's family, the Kellers, had a phonograph and it was a treat to go over and listen to their records on their phonograph that sat in the corner of their parlor. When my niece and young playmate died at age eight the funeral was held at the Keller's home and I have a vivid memory of Marjorie Ann's casket put in that parlor corner as they had to move the phonograph out of the room.

We never had a phonograph in our house, nevertheless, I do have wonderful phonograph memories!

 

 

Listen to The Farmer in the Dell, Victory Record No. 36 circa 1930 Courtesy of The Woolworths Museum

 

 

 

The Farmer in the Dell Record was included in the Third Bubble Book - The Harper-Columbia Book that Sings - Records by Columbia Graphophone Co., 1918

 

 

Here we go Round the Mulberry Bush

Illustration from A Book of Nursery Rhymes by Clara E. Atwood, 1901

 

 

Little Tots' Nursery Tunes Record Albums came with 78 rpm records and picture cards, circa 1924

 

 

 

 

 

Memories of the Phonograph Main Menu

 

 

Other Betty Barr Boilesen Stories

 

Axel and Betty Christmas Traditions

 

The "Barr Goodbye"

 

Betty Ann's Wedding

 

Betty's Christmas Cookie Recipes

 

Betty's Recipes and Treats

 

The Blue Hat - Going to the Picture Show

 

Brother Chris Vogt

 

Brother Raymond K. Vogt

 

The Christmas Dolls

 

Cottage Cheese - "Don't take it all!"

 

Education - Growing Up in Elba

 

The Enders

 

Entertainment - Growing Up in Elba

 

Growing up on the Farm

 

High School "Congratulations" Graduation Cards

 

The Hour of Charm

 

Life is a Gift - Enjoy the Present

 

My Dad - Manley Miller Barr

 

My Favorites of 1941

 

My Grandfather - James Airth Barr in his own words

 

My Mom - Anna Ellen Ender Vogt Barr

 

Niece Majorie Ann Erickson

 

"Put My Little Shoes Away"

 

Say "good night" to your kitchen and your kitchen will say "good morning" to you

 

Sheetmusic - Growing Up in Elba

 

Sister Fay Alice Vogt Erickson

 

"Shuffle off to Buffalo" - Risque music on the Phonograph

 

Strawberries

 

June 5 - 1849 Danish Holiday - The signing of the Danish constitution in 1849. Each year Axel and Betty Boilesen celebrated this holiday and remembered their Howard County Nebraska roots which included picnics, ballgames and dances in Dannevirke Nebraska.

 

In Memory of Betty Ann Barr Boilesen - October 26, 2000