When writing the last post, I realized that I haven’t said much about my Grandfather and Grandmother. Elaine and Louis Altman were my Grandma and Grandpa, even though Elaine was my Grandpa’s second wife. My real Grandma died in 1941, a year or so before I was born. So, I never knew her. But I did know Elaine. If I get to Heaven (or the Celestial Kingdom), I want to see her second only to my mother. Even though we were not blood related, she treated me like a grandson and she was great. I loved her and grandpa very much.
We lived with them when I was little. We lived on Haskell Street in Battle Creek and then we moved over to Kelley Street. Grandma and Grandpa lived on Kelley and there was a vacant lot right next to their house. My Mom bought that lot and built our new house. I remember sitting by the living room window that faced the lot and watching the house take shape as they built it. I slept on the porch and the light came in from the street lights. It’s a wonder I got any sleep. But I loved it.
My Grandpa was Louis Martin Altman. He was born in Chicago in 1892 and died in 1962 while I was in the Air Force. My mother lost her husband and her father within a three-month period. That’s one reason I was able to leave the Air Force early and come home. I believe my brother Martin is named after Grandpa. He was an electrician by trade. Barb says that it may be because of him that I majored in Electrical Engineering later at BYU. I’ll never know for sure. Let me tell you some of the things he did that I remember.
In Battle Creek, there was a building called the Wolverine Building. (Michigan is the Wolverine State.) It used to be the tallest building in town, probably about 20 or 25 stories tall. On top of the building was a four-sided structure to which a huge “W” was attached. This W would light up at night and you could see it for miles. It was the first thing you saw when you drove into Battle Creek at night for years and years. It’s gone now. Louis was the man who wired that W and got it working in the first place. One time, he took me up to the top floor of the Wolverine building and I got to see the W up close. It was very cool and I was so proud of him.
One other thing he did was, he wired and got to work the very first traffic light in Battle Creek. I don’t know where it was, exactly. It was just a story he liked to tell. When I lived at his house he worked at the Battle Creek newspaper “Enquirer and News”. I believe the paper is still being printed. At least, it was the last time I checked. He was the electrician for the paper and if the presses broke down and the reason was electrical, they would call him at any hour of the day or night so he could fix it. I went with him to the building where they printed the paper several times. The only thing I remember about the trips were the gigantic rolls of paper they used to print the paper. We’d walk through the storage area where they stored the paper.
Elaine played the piano and I still have sheet music that was in the piano seat at her house. My mother saved it. I was thinking about selling it on eBay, but maybe not. It’s what I have left that belonged to her. I also have a vase and a marble topped table that belonged to her. The table is in our living room right now. Whoever reads this and wants those things, let me know and I will save them for you when I’m gone.
I saw my first TV at their house. They had a small 17 inch black and white floor set. Every Friday night, Grandpa and I would sit and watch the Friday Night Fights. It didn’t convert me over to be a boxing fan, though. I sincerely hope I get to see them again in the here-after. They are two of the finest people I have ever known in my life.
Next, we’ll get back to the time-line.
Dad
Hi Dad!!!
Your grandma Elaine was who I was named after, right? I thought so! Very cool! I didn’t realize she played piano. I would love to have the sheet of music!! Save for me if no one else has called it.
The marble table is such a huge memory. One of the staples in our living room growing up in Eyota.
I think I remember you telling us about the ‘W’ that was above the building that your Grandpa Altman wired. Very impressive!!! Also I Love the fact the HE got the first traffic light wired and working.