Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Conversation with Byron Engh
Wed. January 19, 2010
Today I had another chance to ask Byron some questions about his dad, Grandpa Engh, and a few other matters, so I took notes, hoping I got the stories right, and this is what I wrote. Byron has been a treasure trove of good family information for years, and I really appreciate him.
Grandpa Arnt Engh worked for the railroad, the Oregon Shortline, as a machinist for years, and finally retired in 1942.
Not long after he was hired by a federal agency, the NYA ( National Youth Agency) to teach young men machine skills. That was in 1943, and he stayed for about a year until the project was discontinued.
Arnt also worked for a short time at the SLC airport as a machinist and at the Remington Arms ( small Arms) facility in West SLC, at two different times if I got it right.
In 1944 he was called on a 6 months mission to Marshall Texas but it was extended to 8 months. The bulk of the young men were involved in the military during WW2 so older men were called on missions. He really enjoyed this mission and spoke of it the remainder of his life with pleasure.
He came home in 1945 and Remington Arms was shut down about that same time. They had actually over produced weapons and were not needed.
Grandpa Arnt had a railroad pass and over the rest of his retirement he and his family used it to travel to many places in the country. He often visited San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and also attended the World's Fair in Chicago. Our family in California enjoyed his visits and we remember him being with us in early 1950 when we all visited the Perris Ranch owned by the Church near Hemet California.
I also asked Byron about the story that Grandpa paid for his house on Hollywood Ave. twice! He said it was true, and that when he built the house, he obtained a loan from a company in SL who took advantage of his limited English and had him sign a contract for just paying on the interest. Years later, before Inga died, he went into the office to see how much equity he had, only to discover that he had very little. He was enraged at the deception and had to be restrained in his anger. Later he negotiated a new loan at a reputable bank and finally paid off the loan. Byron said that it happened to others the same way, and one was Andrew Birkeland, an uncle of Leif's, who ended up almost losing his house. Very sad.
One other piece of history he noted was the rather short distance from the railroad tracks from their house on Hollywood Ave ( or Pine Ave. at the time) and the hobo's who would make their way to the house for a handout. This went on for years, during WW1 and 2 and the Depression. They often gave food to those in need. Our grandmother had them sit on the bench Grandpa built by the back door, and she would bring food out to them. That is why she thought at first that David Lewis was just another hobo, before she realized he was somebody special. He is the one who administered to Howard as a boy and told him that he knew the Prophet Joseph Smith. We found some history about him later, and he was there when the Church was organized in 1830 as a boy of about 12. It is one of the very special stories of our family of faith and inspiration.
Today I had another chance to ask Byron some questions about his dad, Grandpa Engh, and a few other matters, so I took notes, hoping I got the stories right, and this is what I wrote. Byron has been a treasure trove of good family information for years, and I really appreciate him.
Grandpa Arnt Engh worked for the railroad, the Oregon Shortline, as a machinist for years, and finally retired in 1942.
Not long after he was hired by a federal agency, the NYA ( National Youth Agency) to teach young men machine skills. That was in 1943, and he stayed for about a year until the project was discontinued.
Arnt also worked for a short time at the SLC airport as a machinist and at the Remington Arms ( small Arms) facility in West SLC, at two different times if I got it right.
In 1944 he was called on a 6 months mission to Marshall Texas but it was extended to 8 months. The bulk of the young men were involved in the military during WW2 so older men were called on missions. He really enjoyed this mission and spoke of it the remainder of his life with pleasure.
He came home in 1945 and Remington Arms was shut down about that same time. They had actually over produced weapons and were not needed.
Grandpa Arnt had a railroad pass and over the rest of his retirement he and his family used it to travel to many places in the country. He often visited San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and also attended the World's Fair in Chicago. Our family in California enjoyed his visits and we remember him being with us in early 1950 when we all visited the Perris Ranch owned by the Church near Hemet California.
I also asked Byron about the story that Grandpa paid for his house on Hollywood Ave. twice! He said it was true, and that when he built the house, he obtained a loan from a company in SL who took advantage of his limited English and had him sign a contract for just paying on the interest. Years later, before Inga died, he went into the office to see how much equity he had, only to discover that he had very little. He was enraged at the deception and had to be restrained in his anger. Later he negotiated a new loan at a reputable bank and finally paid off the loan. Byron said that it happened to others the same way, and one was Andrew Birkeland, an uncle of Leif's, who ended up almost losing his house. Very sad.
One other piece of history he noted was the rather short distance from the railroad tracks from their house on Hollywood Ave ( or Pine Ave. at the time) and the hobo's who would make their way to the house for a handout. This went on for years, during WW1 and 2 and the Depression. They often gave food to those in need. Our grandmother had them sit on the bench Grandpa built by the back door, and she would bring food out to them. That is why she thought at first that David Lewis was just another hobo, before she realized he was somebody special. He is the one who administered to Howard as a boy and told him that he knew the Prophet Joseph Smith. We found some history about him later, and he was there when the Church was organized in 1830 as a boy of about 12. It is one of the very special stories of our family of faith and inspiration.
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