Bonnie circa 1931
Childhood Memories
When I was born I was nearly 2 months early and weighed just over 3lbs. Even when they brought me home Mom said my head fit in a tea cup. (Can’t imagine ever being that small–not looking at me now
). Mom wasn’t doing very well so Gramma Borchardt gave them all the information, but the name she gave them wasn’t what Mom and Dad wanted, but what she wanted… which was LaVaughn (Lavonne) Frances.
Years later, long after Dad died it caused problems. That’s another story for later, anyway they called me Bonnie Lorraine. All Catholic children when confirmed in the fifth grade take another Name as middle and that’s when the Elizabeth came into my name and I dropped the Lorraine. Elizabeth was my Gramma’s name, which made her happy.
- Elizabeth Ann (Franklin) Borchard
Stories from the Past
Some of these I don’t think are real memories; more like stories I’ve been told. The folks moved back from Chicago when I was about 2 years old. We lived in a duplex apartment, on East Hanson St, Next was a duplex, just like the one we lived in on 10th St. in Sioux Falls. I made lots of friends and still keep in touch with many of them.
Where we were was only about 3 blocks from where Grampa and Gramma Mackey lived so Mom and I would go over there, and I could play with La Vaughn and Delores, my cousins, Uncle Tim’s girls. They lived on the other side of the same lot as Grampa and Gramma, and between the two houses was little doll like play house. We spent most of our time playing in it.
Under gang’s house was a out side walk down stairway to a basement room where Uncle Leo, who was about l6 or 17 at the time. He had a work shop where he made wooden jewelry boxes. As I remember they were inlaid with small pieces of different colors which made patterns on the top, when finished he varnished them. I’m not sure what became of them, but if any were left after Gramma died, La Vaughn or Delores may have them as their folks moved into Gramma’s house after her death.
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