Susan's Baby, Ryan, Kicks the Ball

Susan's Baby, Ryan, Kicks the Ball :-)

Thank You to Our Service Members

Saying thank you to our United States military.

A Tribute to My Father, William Henry Ryder, Jr.

My father is William Henry Ryder, Jr. (1922 - 1997), pictured above sitting on the steps of a two-story house in Acushnet, MA, that he built all by himself.



His father, my grandfather is William Henry Ryder, Sr., pictured above with my grandmother, Hilda, in the doorway. He was a wonderful grandfather. I was the favorite grandchild, as I was the first born of his first born. He would make me buttered toast cut into little squares. My favorite place was to spend the night over at my grandparents house. I would sleep on the couch, and my "blanket" would be my grandmother's coat.

Both my grandfather, my father, as well as my brother, my sister, and my uncles and an aunt, were in the service.



My father was very handy and knew how to build, fix, or accomplish anything. As a young man, he built this swing set for his mother. We enjoyed playing on it as kids.

Here are some additional pictures of my father as a young man, in the service, in his car, on the military football team.






My brother is William Henry Ryder III. Here are a couple of pictures of my brother with our son.






My mother's section from the family history:

I met Bill Ryder at Lincoln Park Ballroom. Doris introduced me to him. Our group of friends use to go to Lincoln Park Ballroom for the Saturday night dances. The rest is history. We were married December 11, 1948 at my home at 13 Sycamore St. Fairhaven and we danced all our married life. Bill was a good dancer. He was musically inclined as he played the saxophone, bass fiddle, and the piano. Sonny almost missed our wedding as he was in the basement polishing his shoes.

During the first 5 years of marriage we lived in Bill's Aunt Stella's tenement house at 12 Borden St. New Bedford, MA. We rented the second floor apartment. During that time Judy was born on June 14th 1950. Billy was born September 10th 1952.

We bought our first house at 1 Hedge St., Fairhaven during the month of February, 1954. Susan was born August 30th 1954. The next day, Hurricane Carol swept the East Coast and our house that was right on the water was severely damaged. It was a month before we could return home.

Bill had all the work to do to restore the house to a livable condition, Debra was born July 14,1960. She was a RH baby and my labor was induced 3 weeks prior to the due date. She had a replacement transfusion of her blood at birth. During the winter months, Bill was house mother as I worked all year and he was usually laid off during the winter, due to inclement weather. He was famous for his pancakes, which he would have ready for the kids when they came from school for lunch.

On our retirement, Bill and I bought a motor home and started to travel full time. We did this for 12 years until he passed away in March 1997. Bill was a wonderful husband and father and we all miss him.



Names are important, as well as naming traditions.

There were six names of kings of Ireland: Henry, George, Charles, Edward, James, and William (two separate Williams).

Of over 300 Nobel Prize winners, 11 were named William, followed by John with 10, George with 10, and Joseph 7. Of 44 United States Presidents, six were names James, four were named William (one William Henry), four named John, and three named George.

Of the richest American men, three named John, two are named James, and the richest man is William Henry.

"The top names for baby boy names are: Michael, Joseph, Matthew, Daniel, Christopher, William, and Anthony. Each of these names is traditional by today’s standards. You may find them on any family tree in any generation among any number of cultures."

From the recent study of names, William is rated a very high #4 in success.

Judy Ryder and Mother's Palomino

This is Judy Ryder on her mother Edith's palomino, Daquiri, circa 1975, along with the Smooth Fox Terriers, Penny and Tami.

Thanksgiving by Doris Hutchins (Holt)

THANKSGIVING WITH GRANDMA (my favorite holiday)
by Doris Hutchins January 2002 (updated 2008)

When I was young, around 12, I always looked forward to going to Grandma Warburton’s farm in East Fairhaven, MA. for Turkey day. At 13 Sycamore Street in Fairhaven, MA, Mama & Papa, Edith-ten, Sonny-five and Baby Betty around one, would be “all dolled up” in our best clothes, then Papa would load the family into his Ford “Model T” jalopy and off to Grandma’s house we would go. We loved riding in the car and now we were on our way to the farmhouse, about 7 miles down New Boston Road.

As we arrive at Grandma’s house we can smell the turkey and dressing cooking. It permeates the air. This was sixty eight years ago and we only had turkey on one special day a year, to give thanks for our good fortune. We appreciated the opportunity to sit down together and have such a good meal.

Grandma went to a lot of work preparing the meal. There were all the fixings you ever dreamed of. All the vegetables were scraped and cut up then cooked on the old cast iron kitchen stove. We had carrots and turnips, winter squash, mashed potatoes and gravy, pickles, olives and much more. She made the most delicious pies from scratch and kneaded and kneaded the bread until it was just right for rising. There is nothing better than the smell of fresh baked bread, unless it is to have a fresh cut slice of hot bread, smothered with creamy butter.

There weren’t any modern conveniences like a microwave, electric stove, hot water, or refrigerator. The food was kept warm in the top oven-like location on top of the stove. Firewood had to be fed constantly to the old cook stove to ensure proper baking conditions.

Water had to be pumped into the kitchen hand pump in the farmhouse from the main source in the front yard. It was activated by taking hold of the handle and pumping it up and down. A metal dish pan full of water would be placed on the top of the stove so we would have hot water for washing dishes after the feast. The perishables were stored in the three door icebox. The iceman would deliver ice twice a week and put it in the bottom compartment with a “drip pan” underneath. It just became a way of life in those days to do with what you had.

Finally the meal was ready and everyone sat down in their assigned chair at the big table in the huge combination dining/living room. Grandma had her big crystal etched dish on the table filled with fresh butter. A big crystal bowl, with grape designs, was filled with sugar. (I have that bowl now.) We could hardly wait to taste the delicious food prepared for Thanksgiving by Grandma. Most everyone ate heartily, except Baby Betty. We would not have turkey again for another year. This was Grandma’s gift of love to us. It was a treat I always looked forward to, and have never forgotten, over the years, the wonderment of family together.

Following the same tradition, I had always cooked Thanksgiving dinner at my house and all my family that could make it, would come by to share Thanksgiving with each other.

Now at age 80, I do not cook very much, and my children and grandchildren have taken over the family get together traditions.

Happy Thanksgiving!