When it finally came to move, we had to get two moving vans. I drove one and Patricia or Gifford drove the other. I had previously found and bought a house on Storer Avenue in Akron, Ohio. At the last minute we could not find the cat, and after a long and fruitless search we had to leave without him. So we left Connecticut about 1:00 AM or later for the 600-mile treck.
We had gone a good part of the way, but got too tired and had to stay at a motel to rest, continuing later the next day.
When we got there we had plenty of help unloading and moving in by all the saints who pitched in. It was good for us all to be together again this time in Akron instead of Connecticut. I had gotten practically a "mansion" having large white columns in front; it was a brick house with a brick garage. It had two stairways to the second floor which had 4 bedrooms and two baths. The third floor had a normal bedroom and complete bath, plus a large area used by Patricia and Yvonne for their bedroom.
The hot water had no tank, but was instantaneous gas-heated hot water located in the basement. The house had a fireplace on the main floor, a half-bath, a sun room, a breakfast nook off the kitchen, plus the normal dining room and living room. Also a study area.
Patricia and Yvonne found jobs and went to work. Tom, Shirley, and Mary started school. The church in Akron purchased a building that had been a synagogue. It had a parking lot in the rear.
I had found a place to locate the business within a mile or so of our house, and moved all my equipment in with the help of the saints.. I had a contract with a nameplate manufacturer in Massachusetts to design and build a step-and-repeat machine to produce an 8.5" x 11" negative full of nameplate images. So I hired a secretary and technician from among the saints in the church. I had to advertise locally to find and hire a mechanical designer.
A sister in the church, Betty Leal, was moving from Bogata, Columbia to the United States, and I signed for her for the Immigration Service so she could stay. She moved in with us and became part of the family, sharing family duties along with the rest of the kids, becoming good friends with Patricia and Yvonne, and also going to work.
All the saints in the church were members of one or more service groups. I joined the Moving Service, helping saints move in from various parts of the country. I also provided the church secretarial service, compiling the (ever-changing) address and phone list.
We met many times during the week for a full church life. One memorable thing we did on occasion was to have gospel marches. There was a trumpet and drums, and we all wore white gospel robes for the march which was quite impressive.
Friday, April 19, 2019
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