1964 — An Eventful Year
1964 was a memorable year in my childhood. We moved back to Minnesota from East Aurora, New York. We moved into the Yellow House, an old Victorian manson in Stillwater, Minnesota. Grandpa Bonn died. The Beatles swept America. Dad coached me in Little League. Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston. We acquired a cat named Dog. It was the year I turned 11.
At the beginning of the year, we lived on a 78-acre property on Mill Road outside East Aurora, New York, where we had resided since 1961. Although there have been great homes in the family since, especially the Yellow House in Stillwater, Minnesota, and the Lake House on Little Carnelian Lake outside Stillwater, this was in my opinion the greatest place we ever lived. An old farmhouse, two huge barns, dilapated chicken coop, abandoned pastures, a pond, a gravel road back through the woods, cherry trees, plum trees, apple trees, pear trees, and an old rope swing my father hung from the large chestnut tree next to the house. It sounds like the material for one of Mom’s poems!
For the four of us children, it was paradise. We were outside all the time. The closest neighbor was several hundred yards over the hill. No one could see us; we had complete privacy. We always lived in town after 1964, but I never completely recovered from the idyllic allure of complete country privacy.
But we should begin with the previous Christmas in December 1963, which jump-started all the changes in 1964. Because Grandpa Bonn was dying of kidney cancer, we decided to take the train back to Minnesota. My recollection is we stayed a week or more in Montevideo, Minnesota. where Grandpa and Grandma Bonn lived on So. 4th St. I specifically remember going bowling for the first time in my life with Dad and Uncle Steve. Bowled a 72!
That Christmas was one of the best. My love for Minnesota blossomed in my heart. When my grandma escorted us to the train station for the ride home, I was so emotional about leaving that I suddenly started crying. It startled Grandma and she asked my Mother why I was crying, and she just said, “He’s just sad to go.” I was old enough to also realize I would probably never see Grandpa again.
During that visit, Dad visited some old colleagues at 3M, and in a surprise, ended up being offered a salary to return to his old employer that he couldn’t turn down. The stress of supporting a family as a mutual fund salesman was a factor as well.
Grandpa Bonn died 10 June 1964. He was only 62.
10 June — Grandfather Bert Bonn dies
Feb — Moved from East Aurora, New York back to Minnesota
Feb – Aug — Lived in rental house in St. Paul Park for 6 months
Played organized baseball for first time
Aug — Saw Jack Bonn for the last time
Aug — Moved to Yellow House
Sep — Began 6th Grade in Stillwater
Xmas 1963 – train to Montevideo
Aug 1964 – Our cat Dog joins family