Checking the Blinds

The sign pointing to Woodville doesn't look the same today as it did in the 60's when I anxiously watched for it through the car window on our way to visit Grandma and Grandpa Speas. The street once known as Woodville Road has a new name - Woodville Church Road.

In my opinion, the new name is perfect! Life in the Woodville I remember was centered around church. Relief Society was not just a women's auxiliary, it was a way of life of giving, sharing and caring for others. Grandma's love and kindness extended from Sunday through Saturday. To put it in modern terminology, she lived her religion 24/7.

Late in Grandma's life, one of the neighbors told my Mom that they had never heard Grandma say anything bad about anyone. That would have been a good epitaph for her.

The Speas home was not a mansion by any stretch of the imagination, but compared to the house across the street it was palatial. In that tiny home across from Grandma's house lived George and Eleanor Hammer. They were quite a bit older than Grandma and she took it upon herself to watch over them. At a certain time each morning she would look out her front window to check if their blinds had been raised for the day. If the blinds were up, Grandma went about her tasks as normal. If the blinds were still down, that was a sign that help might be needed. Perhaps they were feeling under the weather, or were unable to get out of bed. Grandma would throw on her coat and boots and hurry over to check on the elderly couple. While she was there she would carry in some wood, make sure the furnace was stoked, and frequently fresh vegetables or a loaf of homemade bread would mysteriously be found on the counter after she left. 

I remember very fondly the times that Grandma took me along to Mrs. Hammer's house. We would climb the rickety side stairs leading to the kitchen door, knock and wait an eternity for the door to open. While waiting Grandma would tell me how much she loved her neighbor. Sometimes she would start to worry when no one came to the door and would rapp soundly a second and third time until her knock was heard. I don't remember ever being sent over by myself with a plate of goodies though; Grandma's loving service was personal and not just a duty.

We were taught not only to serve, but also to respect our elders. We addressed Grandma's neighbor as Mrs. Hammer; Uncle Dennis told me that he never even knew her first name.

Eleanor Hammer

Now I know that her name was Eleanor and that she was widowed in 1964, after which there were more frequent visits. She was lonely and adored Grandma. I suspect the blinds might have been left down occasionally on purpose, just so she could warrant a visit.

The Hammers' nine grown children who had moved away from Woodville were very appreciative of Grandma and Grandpa's concern. The story of the vigil on their parents' window blinds was told and retold by their children to their children and  continues to be told to this day by George and Eleanor's posterity.