History's Window: Joanne Pennington Kelly
Editor’s note: Longtime historian Bob Gunter spent his life diving into history, capturing the people and places of the community, highlighting what made it special. Below is one of those stories, one of Bob’s tales where he took the reader on a journey of someone in the community; tell me a tale, he would ask the person — or two, or three, or as many as he could coax out of the person.
Below is one such tale, where Bob would offer tantalizing clues and challenge his reader to guess “Who Am I?” Below are the stories he wrote about Joanne Pennington Kelly; they originally ran in late-August to early September 2006.
Part 1
(This column is sponsored by Belwood Furniture and will appear in The Daily Bee each Sunday. You are asked to identify the person seen in the picture. Next week, you will see another picture of this person that will identify her. Here are some hints to help you recognize the person you see today. If you think you know her then call me at 800-507-9426. Please spell your name - it helps.)
I was born in 1937 in Sandpoint at the Parnell Hospital on Euclid Ave. I had an older sister, five years older than me. My dad bartered with Dr. Wendle to deliver me for a wood stove. My older sister was paid for with new kitchen cupboards. My other brother and sister were paid for with cash. We moved to Third Street across from the Humbird Lumber Company shortly after I was born. That home belonged to my parents for the next 60 years.
When I was three years old, Laura Ebby taught me how to sing Shirley Temple songs - An old Straw Hat, A Pair of Overalls, a Worn out pair of Shoes, Sunny side of the Street and God Bless America. I sang at many Grange Halls in the community.
When I was five, my little sister was born and mom took care of a new little girl in the neighborhood while her mother taught school. Cara Lee Hupp is still a good friend. I remember a neighbor, Kitty Bopp, had a remedy for everything. She was a very wise woman. One time she buried a potato in her back yard and got rid of the warts on my hands.
My family had dinner together at 6 pm just about every night. Often, after dinner, mom would put us in the truck and drive us to the train depot and we would wave to the Engineer and watch him grab the mail bag from the post.
I went eight years to Farmin School. I lived close enough to the school I had to go home for lunch every day. I remember wishing that I could eat hot lunch and ride to school on a bus. My teachers are still memorable people in my life - Mrs. Olson, Mr. Dale, Mrs. Weaver, Mrs. Durkee, and Miss Senft. Charlie Stidwell had a real impact on our behavior. He scared the living daylights out of us but I know now he was really a very kind man.
In the 6'h grade, we had Talent Time and Miss Senft had us singing, “A-You're Adorable.” Also, in the 6'h grade, a really good looking guy stole my heart when he walked in the classroom to deliver something to the teacher from Lincoln School where he attended.
In the 7th and 8th grade Charlie Stidwell established dancing lessons every Wednesday night. I was still attracted to this guy in the 6th grade. We learned to dance, and one night he walked me home, held my hand, and kissed me on the cheek behind the old Post Office on 2"d Avenue. We were good friends during high school but went our separate ways. I dated many really nice guys during those years.
I went two years at the high school on Euclid, and then to the new High School on Division for two years, graduating in 1955.
During those early years I always worked. I took care of all the Knaggs kids, and many others (25 cents an hour). I ran the Beach Concession for one year, and I had jobs during summer and holidays in town - The Fair Lady, Telegeners Hardware Store, Ben Franklins, Jennestads, and many others. I played the piano and organ and became a substitute for many churches.
Growing up in Sandpoint was great. I didn't know it then or appreciated it until much later. I remember lots of snow drifts and friends coming to my house roasting marshmallows in the fireplace (i.e. Donnie Farrar, Roger Olson, Barbara Breinich, Cara Lee Hupp, Cleo Hawley and many others). The roller skating rink was across the street for many years and I loved to roller skate.
When I was a senior in high school I was student body secretary and I had always
admired the Student Body President since the 6th grade. By the end of the year, we became sweethearts. He had an old Blue Ford and when he decided he cared for me; we spent great times in that old Blue Ford smooching and listening to our favorite songs - Chapel in the Moonlight and Pennies from Heaven.
I went to college at Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA and pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma. I later transferred to the University of Idaho and affiliated with the Kappa House there. I went to California to visit the guy in the Blue Ford. He surprised me by giving me his fraternity pin. He was attending the University of California in Berkeley. We made plans to get married the next summer, and we were married in June of 1958, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Part 2
My name is Joanne Pennington Kelly and I am a native of Sandpoint, born in 1937. My parents were Charlie and Dora Pennington, also natives of Sandpoint. My sisters, Charlotte Telgener and Esther Haynes Inselman, are very special to me. My brother, Doug Pennington, died in October 2005.
My life growing up in Sandpoint was very special. Dad started a new and used furniture store in the late thirties with Walter Holz. - The Furniture Exchange. Dad got property on Fish Hatchery Road during the 1940's and 1950's by trading furniture for land. Today, my younger sister Esther and I reap the benefits with our homes that are located there.
When I was young, I loved to stay overnight with Cleo Hawley and we would "hook cars" home to her house. That is to grab the back bumper and get a ride on the snowy roads. I used to listen to the Hit Parade on the radio every Saturday night and kept a note book of all the top ten songs of the week.
During those early years, I was pretty busy. I took care of all the Knagg’s kids, and many others at 25 cents an hour. I ran the Beach Concession for one year, and I worked at The Fair Lady, Telegeners Hardware Store, Ben Franklins, and Jennestads. I played the piano and organ and became a substitute for many churches, and I got paid for it. I was a Candy Striper at the new hospital and learned how to make a bed, hospital style. I was a volunteer for the Community Concert Series and learned to appreciate classical music. I went to Girls State at Caldwell when I was a junior.
When I was a senior in high school, I was student body secretary and I had always admired the Student Body President (since the 6"' grade). We did not go to the prom together, but by the end of the year, we became sweethearts. He had an old Blue Ford and we spent great times in that old Blue Ford smooching and listening to our favorite songs.
High school was a really fun time for me. There was a juke box in the school lunch room and we jitter bugged. Arlene Book and Shirley Hendrickson were my best friends, and also the best dancers. We are still great friends.
I graduated from high school in 1955. I then went to college at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. I later transferred to the University of Idaho. While there, I went to California to visit the guy with the Blue Ford. He surprised me by giving me his fraternity pin. He was attending the University of California in Berkeley. By the way,
the guy in the Blue Ford, that I really liked, was Paul "Buck" Kelly. We were married in 1958 and we moved to Berkeley California, where he graduated with a degree in Architecture. We had four sons in six years. We worked hard to make life work with very little help from outside. After Paul graduated, I took my retirement and we bought a house in Berkeley. I took care of the house and school commitments. I was able to do enough volunteer work to keep my self esteem in tact. I worked with the Bay Area United Way, the Mental Health Association, and all the school volunteer jobs I could handle.
In 1968 I was selected an Outstanding Young Woman of America. In the 1970's, I served on a National Mental Health Committee during the Carter Administration. It was an exciting time for me. In the 1980's, I was an advisor at the Kappa house at UC and traveled to six different campuses (UC, Stanford, Fresno State, UC Davis, UO at Eugene and OU at Corvallis). I was looking for brides for my four boys, to no avail.
It was a busy, happy life. Not without problems, believe me, but we always worked through them. In our 48 years of marriage we have not missed a summer in Sandpoint.
After the boys graduated from high school and went on to college, Paul and I began to fulfill my high school aim - to travel. We have traveled to about 40 countries, and experienced different cultures, and learned so much. As long as we stay healthy, we will continue to travel, but with much more caution. Paul and I have seven grandchildren with one on the way. They are very special to us.
One of the things I love to do best in the summer time is sit in an inner tube on the lake with my sister Esther, and solve all the problems of the world. We call it Inner Tube Therapy.
(Space did not permit Bob to list the name of everyone that recognized Joanne. Here are a few: Yvonne Hull, Harry Roberts, Bill Temple, Bobbie Huguenin, Will Menghini, Jackie Miller, Don & Teri Albertson, Marilyn Sabella, Shirley Parker, Skip and Nancy Pucci, Sally Sonnichsen, Ted Farmin, Ginny Jensen, Anita Schoonover, Susan Knaggs Gazdik, Carla Kirby, and Marilla Kemmis.)
