The original Elf on the Shelf, circa 1964

This is the 50th year, that this little fellow has adorned the family Christmas tree. He brings back many childhood memories.

One holiday season, many years ago, Joe and Norma had a holiday party to attend. Because of the hustle and bustle of the season, a babysitter was difficult to find. Grandma Rose agreed to watch the children, but she did not drive. Joe went and picked her up to bring her to our house. We always enjoyed every minute with Grandma, so were looking forward to the evening. It was a cold December day and the snow laid thick on the ground.

Joe and Norma were off, and Grandma was left with my brother and I. While we sat and talked, she relayed how she wanted to buy us a gift for Christmas. So we bundled up in our winter clothes and walked in the cold and snow to U-tell. The store was warm, so we unzipped our jackets and walked the isles. We were both young, and money did not mean much to us. We would stop and say to Grandma, 'oh, I would really like this', but Grandma only had $2 and would say, I just don't have the money for that.

My brother and I finally settled for these elves, mine green, my brother's red. When we returned home, we hung them on the tree. Every Christmas they have returned to adorn the tree and bring back all those precious memories of Christmas past and Grandma Rose.

Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay, 1960's

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Subject: Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay.

Date: 1960's.
Location: Cudahy, Wisconsin.
Occasion: Unknown.
Photographer: Unknown.
Relationship to me: Paternal Aunt and Grandmother

 

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing photographs of my paternal grandmother that were provided to me by my cousin Maria Sworske, that were from her mother Dawn and grandmother Margaret's collection.

 

This photograph was taken in the 1960's or early 1970's. I recognize the apartment of my grandmother. I recognize the wrist watch that she always wore. This photograph was taken in the small kitchen of her apartment. I remember the pots and pans hanging by the small stove and the dinette set to the right that sat by a window. I also remembered she lived near the airport and and you could hear the planes taking off and landing. I know this was an upstairs apartment in a home. I can not remember if it was on Sommers Avenue or Ramsey in Cudahy. I have many fond memories of visiting her and my aunt.

 

I welcome any additional comments or information from family and friends about this photograph.

Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay, 1965

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Subjects: Left to Right: Maria Sworske and Rose Pruseks Tusek Forrai Bockay.
Date: 1965.
Location: Greendale, Wisconsin.
Occasion: Christmas.
Photographer: Albin Paskowicz.
Relationship to me: Paternal Cousin and Grandmother.

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing photographs of my paternal grandmother that were provided to me by my cousin Maria Sworske, that were from her mother Dawn and grandmother Margaret's collection.

This photograph was taken in 1965. I recognize the house of my Aunt Margaret. I can also remember when Maria was this age. My parents lived close to my Uncle Al and Aunt Margaret, so we spent quite a bit of time together. I have many fond memories of these visits.

I welcome any additional comments or information from family and friends about this photograph.

Happy Holidays 1969

Subject: Louis and David Forrai.

Occasion: Christmas.

Date: 1969.

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.

Relationship to me: Brothers.

For the first four weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

How was the photograph taken? In the early years my dad used a portrait camera. There was a long cable attached to the camera. He routed it so it would not appear in the photograph. He would squeeze the button to take the photograph. In later years, he had a 35mm camera with a built-in timer. My father always used a tripod, and it would take him a good deal of time to set up these annual photographs.

This photograph was taken at a Christmas tree lot that was close to our home. I do not remember if this was the actual picture used on the holiday greeting card, but I do know it was from the photographic shoot.

It amazes me how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!

Greetings Forrai's 1968

Seasons Greetings 1966

Seasons Greetings 1965

Greetings Forrai's 1964

Season's Greetings Forrai's 1963

Season's Greetings 1962

Merry Christmas 1961

Best Wishes 1960

Remembering Donald Paskowicz

Today, I am taking a break from my parents wedding pictures to post a memorial to my cousin Donald Paskowicz. It was 45 years ago today that Donald was killed in action July 15, 1967 in Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam.

Donald 1964 Greendale High School

Donald 1964 Greendale High School

Donald 1965 Greendale High School

Donald 1965 Greendale High School

David Olsen writes, I did not know Donald as he served in a different unit. He was with the 11th Cav(Blackhorse's) and I was with the 3/4 Cav. Both of our units did about the same thing in Vietnam. About a year ago I started creating these memorial pages for all the men my unit lost. As I searched for my unit's men I would come across other men and felt compelled to create a page for them too. One thing led to another and before I knew it I was creating pages for a lot of the Blackhorse fallen men. Below is the link to his page and on the page is also a link to his unit's website. Unfortunately I am missing his photo. Maybe you have one or know someone that does.

The link to the memorial that David has provided is below:
http://army.togetherweserved.com/profile/63560S

Donald is also remembered on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.

His name is on Panel 23E, Row 077, and can be seen to the far right near the words Row 77 in the photograph above. 

I was 8 years old when Donald was killed in action at age 19. He was born September 4, 1947 and lived in Greendale, Wisconsin. I still can remember the funeral service and burial in Forest Park Cemetery with the folding of the flag and the gun salute.

I also remember my parents bringing food to my Uncle Al and Aunt Margaret. We were sitting in their living room providing support and condolences. These images are still so vivid, and I remember the sadness of the entire family.

My Uncle and Aunt gave me Donald's bicycle. I rode it for many years. It was a red 3-speed, and I used it to deliver newspapers and to go to and from school. I wore the bicycle out after years of service, but every time I would ride it, I would think of and remember my Cousin Donald.

It is my hope that we will be able to find a photograph of Donald and post it to his memorial. Donald, your family has not forgotten you, and we appreciate your sacrifice to our country. You passed at such a young age, and so much potential was lost. We have not forgotten you.

Greetings Forrai's 1968

Subject: Louis and David Forrai.
Occasion: Christmas.
Date: 1968.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.
Relationship to me: Parents, Joseph and Norma.

For the first four weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

How was the photograph taken? In the early years my dad used a portrait camera. There was a long cable attached to the camera. He routed it so it would not appear in the photograph. He would squeeze the button to take the photograph. In later years, he had a 35mm camera with a built-in timer. My father always used a tripod, and it would take him a good deal of time to set up for these annual photographs.

This photograph was taken at the construction site of our new home on Scharles Avenue.  We actually moved into this house a few days before Christmas 1968. It was not quite completed, as rooms still needed to be painted and there was no carpeting or flooring on the first floor. The Luther Avenue house sold quickly, and we lived with my Uncle Leo and Aunt Elizabeth for several weeks before this house was complete. I still have the stocking cap in this photograph. The coat that I am wearing was a hand-me-down from my cousins Daniel and Richard Waswo.

You may wonder how my dad got the lettering on the corner of the photograph. He wrote it with a black marker on a clear piece of plastic and exposed it when he made each print.

It amazes me how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!

Seasons Greetings 1966

Seasons Greetings 1965

Greetings Forrai's 1964

Season's Greetings Forrai's 1963

Season's Greetings 1962

Merry Christmas 1961

Best Wishes 1960

Season Greetings Forrai's 1966

Subject: Louis and David Forrai.
Occasion: Christmas.
Date: 1966.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.
Relationship to me: Parents, Joseph and Norma.

For the first four weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

How was the photograph taken? In the early years my dad used a portrait camera. There was a long cable attached to the camera. He routed it so it would not appear in the photograph. He would squeeze the button to take the photograph. In later years, he had a 35mm camera with a built-in timer. My father always used a tripod, and it would take him a good deal of time to set up for these annual photographs.

This photograph was taken at our front door. My mother had a shear curtain covering the true leaded glass multiple pane solid wood door. The shirts we are wearing were western in design, quite popular for this era, and made by my mother. Notice the tall radiator and letter holder by our front entrance.

It amazes me how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!

Seasons Greetings Forrai's 1965

Greetings Forrai's 1964

Season's Greetings Forrai's 1963

Season's Greetings 1962

Merry Christmas 1961

Best Wishes 1960

Season's Greetings Forrai's 1965

Subject: Louis and David Forrai.
Occasion: Christmas.
Date: 1965.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.
Relationship to me: Parents, Joseph and Norma.

For the first four weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

How was the photograph taken? In the early years my dad used a portrait camera. There was a long cable attached to the camera. He routed it so it would not appear in the photograph. He would squeeze the button to take the photograph. In later years, he had a 35mm camera with a built-in timer. My father always used a tripod, and it would take him a good deal of time to set up for these annual photographs.

The early Christmas greetings centered around the fireplace. The stockings hung by the fireplace were knit by my mother, Norma Forrai. I still have that sock and it hangs on the door knob in my house each holiday season. The PJs and slippers that I am wearing in this photograph were handmade by my mother. My brother is wearing a PJ suit with the enclosed feet.

It amazes me how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!

Greetings Forrai's 1964

Season's Greetings Forrai's 1963

Season's Greetings 1962

Merry Christmas 1961

Best Wishes 1960

Greetings Forrai's '64

Subject: David and Louis Forrai.
Occasion: Christmas.
Date: 1964.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.
Relationship to me: Parents, Joseph and Norma.

For the first four weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

How was the photograph taken? In the early years my dad used a portrait camera. There was a long cable attached to the camera. He routed it so it would not appear in the photograph. He would squeeze the button to take the photograph. In later years, he had a 35mm camera with a built-in timer. My father always used a tripod, and it would take him a good deal of time to set up for these annual photographs.

The early Christmas greetings centered around the fireplace.  The stockings hung by the fireplace were knit by my mother, Norma Forrai. I still have that sock and it hangs on the door knob in my house each holiday season.

This photograph, 1964, was taken in the dining room on my childhood home on Luther Avenue. My father pinned the plastic Greetings to the curtain. This was the west end of the house. If you look closely you will see the radiator.

It amazes me how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!

Air Cake

I take a break from posting photographs this week, by posting this recipe. The reason is, this is one of the few documents that I have showing my Grandmother Rose Forrai Bockay's handwriting. I remember letters Grandmother wrote in Hungarian, but few in English. I am sure that this cake was a favorite of my father, and mother asked Grandmother to write it down for her. You see, Grandmother Rose did not use written recipes. All of her recipes were stored in her mind. I am so glad that my mother and other relatives asked her to write them down. Otherwise, they would be lost forever.

The "OVER" on the bottom left is my mother's handwriting and on the other side was written, "Remove from pan as soon as cool. Do not leave in pain overnight."  I don't remember any incident, but the only reason mother would write such a note was she left the cake in the pan overnight, and it was very difficult to remove the next day. She certainly was not going to make that mistake twice!

I remember this cake being called Hungarian Air Cake. I remember my relatives making it quite often. I also remember mother making it, and using it as a birthday cake. Most of the time it did not have frosting, just a sprinkle of powder sugar, but I also remember chocolate frosting on the cake from time to time.

If you would like to try a historical cake from my past, I have transcribed it below:

6 Egg Yolks
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Lukewarm Water
1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 1/2 Cup Cake Flour
6 Egg Whites
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Beat yolks until thick, add gradually 1 Cup Sugar and beat well, add water, salt, vanilla, and mix. Fold in Flour, whip egg whites not dry, add 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1/2 Cup Sugar gradually, beat until stiff and fold into egg yolks. Bake in angel food pan. Bake 325 for 1 hour.

And don't forget to remove from pan once cool...... it will be difficult to do if you leave it cool over night!

Seasons Greetings The Forrai's 1963

Subject: David and Louis Forrai.
Occasion: Christmas.
Date: 1963.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.
Relationship to me: Parents, Joseph and Norma.

For the first four weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

How was the photograph taken? In the early years my dad used a portrait camera. There was a long cable attached to the camera. He routed it so it would not appear in the photograph. He would squeeze the button to take the photograph. In later years, he had a 35mm camera with a built in timer. My father aways used a tripod, and it would take him a good deal of time for the set up for these annual photographs.

You can see over the past several weeks, that the early Christmas greetings centered around the fireplace. The stuffed animal in the photograph was made by my Grandmother Lucy Traulsen Waswo. She was very creative, and I always loved the animals she made. The one in the photograph was a little dog that I had named 'Brownie'. The stockings hung by the fireplace were knit by my mother, Norma Forrai. I still have that sock and it hangs on the door knob in the family room this very day.

It amazes me, how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!

Seasons Greetings 1962

Subject: Joseph, Louis, David and Norma Forrai.
Occasion: Christmas.
Date: 1962.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.
Relationship to me: Parents, Joseph and Norma.

For the first four weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

How was the photograph taken? In the early years my dad used a portrait camera. There was a long cable attached to the camera. He routed it so it would not appear in the photograph. He would squeeze the button to take the photograph. In later years, he had a 35mm camera with a built in timer. My father aways used a tripod, and it would take him a good deal of time for the set up for these annual photographs.

It amazes me, how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, 1961

Subject: Joseph, Louis, David and Norma Forrai.

Occasion: Christmas.

Date: 1961.

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.

Relationship to me: Parents, Joseph and Norma.

For the first three weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

How was the photograph taken? In the early years my dad used a portrait camera. There was a long cable attached to the camera. He routed it so it would not appear in the photograph. He would squeeze the button to take the photograph. In later years, he had a 35mm camera with a built in timer. My father aways used a tripod, and it would take him a good deal of time for the set up for these annual photographs.

It amazes me, how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!

Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas, 1960

Subject: Joseph, Louis and Norma Forrai.
Occasion: Christmas.
Date: 1960.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Photographer: Joseph Frank Forrai.
Relationship to me: Parents, Joseph and Norma.

For the first three weeks in December, I decided to post the Christmas cards that my parents started sending in 1960. I think almost everyone is familiar with the photo holiday cards that some folks choose to send.

You may wonder where my father had these cards made? My dad had a dark room in the house where we lived. Photography was my dad's hobby since the 1940's. Each one of these cards were hand made.

It amazes me, how many of my relatives and friends of our family have hung onto these photographs. I am not the only one with a collection!