Wilford's girls

Dorothy

Charlene and Maridawn

Charlene on right with a cousin

1963-4

This is the last known set of journal entries from Wilford. His wife, Cora, suffered a stroke the day after Christmas, 1963, and never recovered. He records brief entries about the weather and these two about her health. She passed away in the spring. The regularity of the journal entries stopped. It was obviously a difficult time for him.

If there were more journals in the 1950's or from 1964-1975, they weren't with his effects. I wonder if some were lost in the Teton Dam Flood because Wilford fixed up the old shop next to the wood shed as sort of a mini museum after Cora's death. It was beautiful with white walls and lots of sunshine but still the oil smells of a shop. He filled it with antique tools, photographs and lots of curious things. Any additional journals may have found a home there. After the flood, there was nothing left of the outbuildings.

1944 Journal

1937 Highway and Transportation Map - Madison Co.

This map found rolled up in Wilford's trunk can give us a pretty good idea of how things were in the 30's and 40's. Follow the railroad through the north west corner of Rexburg. The family home bordered the track.

Wilford Eckersell's 1943

Rexburg Seedhouse Crew in the 1940's

The Rexburg Seed House Crew
An uncaptioned photo found in Wilford's papers. Both he and Cora worked seasonally for the seed house. Cora may be in the background - several faces are blocked. Anyone able to identify these ladies? Their dress indicates spring time and the 40's. During the war we wouldn't expect to see men on the crew would we??