Party Like It's 1933

If you came across these two photos in a shoebox you might not give them a second look. They are grainy, out of focus, and poorly exposed, but they happen to be a couple of my favorite snapshots.

This is December 31, 1933, the depth of the Great Depression. Exactly seventy-five years ago.

But they had more than just New Year's Eve to celebrate. Grandma and Grandpa are just newlyweds, not yet married four months, aged 24 and 28, hosting the party. It would have been too early for them to know it yet but they were also expecting their first child together.

Also, the Twenty-first Amendment to the Constitution had just been ratified three weeks earlier repealing Prohibiton which had been in effect since 1920. This would explain everyone brandishing their bottles. They were drinking legally for the first time in their lives.





In this photo Grandpa and Grandma (Charles and Cecilia Lavery) are on the left, Aunt Wilma Lillig is next to Grandma partially hidden. To Wilma's left are Laurence and Claudia Lavery, Grandpa's brother and sister-in-law.  Helen Schranz is to the right of the man pouring a drink.  Billy Ryan is on the right and I think Aunt Tootsie Lillig is cut off next to him.


In this one Fred and Wilma Lillig are leaning in on the left, Claudia Lavery is above them.  Billy Ryan and Aunt Tootsie in the middle, Helen Schranz is to the right of them. and Grandma and Grandpa Lavery on the right. That is all that I can identify.

Interview with Grandpa Lavery, part three of three

Grandpa talks about his oldest brother John, school, and church.

At the start he mentions his brother was stationed at Fort Riley and was quarantined with the flu in 1918. This was ground zero for what became a world wide pandemic also known as the Spanish Flu. It is now believed that this was an avian flu and if you read up on this you will understand the reasons for all the attention there has been to the current bird flu outbreaks.

Unfortunately the interview ends rather abruptly.

Interview with Grandpa Lavery, part two

Pop reminisces about his teenage years camping and swimming in Southeast Kansas and Southwest Missouri.

Lavery/Lillig Wedding 75 Years Ago

Charles William Lavery and Cecilia Marie Lillig married August 5, 1933 with her siblings, Fred Lillig and Frances "Tootsie" as best man and maid of honor.

Betty Lillig, daughter of Paul and Mary, perhaps the flower girl.



Grandma and Aunt Tootsie.



Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Betty, Grandpa's sister.

Bride and Groom at her parent's house at 1211 Lowell in Kansas City, Kansas.

The Bride.

Shirley Lavery, Grandpa's daughter from his first marriage and Betty Lillig again.

Paul Lillig, son of Paul and Mary, perhaps ring bearer.

Grandma & Grandpa with her parents, Kless & Lizzie Lillig.

Again with Fred and Tootsie.

back row: Grandma's mother, Lizzie, Aunt Johanna (Pittrich) Gunther, Aunt Tillie (Pittrich) Ryan, Grandpa, Grandma, Tootsie, Fred.
front row: Grandma's brother, John Lillig, his wife, Gertie, their son, John jr , Grandpa's sister, Betty, Grandma's brother, Paul Lillig.
Aunt Mary Lillig may have been behind the camera since she is not in any of these photos.

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See the house and neighborhood as it is today. Scroll around to see the same houses in the background as in the photos above.

Interview with Grandpa part one

A few stories of his days hopping trains in the 1920s.