Lottie's Photos: Ed & Lottie, July 4th 1938

Ed Pattillo and Lottie Thornally at Mary and Fred Low's in Fresno, CA for the 4th of July

When Dad bought mom her first camera for Christmas in 1937 he couldn’t possibly have known that she would spend the rest of their lives together documenting our family history in photographs. When this photo was taken on the 4^th of July in 1938. Dad had invited Mom to meet his extended family who were living in Fresno.

On July 2^nd Mom wrote, “Ed and Burt and his father came for me at 2:00 PM. We got to Fresno about 6:00 PM. Met Ed’s Aunt Mary, Uncle Fred, cousins Leonard age 17 and Doris age 20, and her friend Leo. Had dinner and then drove around Fresno. Came back to her house and decided to go to a little Chinese place and have pork chow mein and danced to a nickelodeon until 11:30 PM. Then had cantaloupe a-la-mode at the drugstore where Leo works. When we got back Ed’s other Aunt Kate and her boyfriend Ben were there from Los Angeles. Nobody likes her.”

The following day, “Got up about 7:15. Ed took me to 8:00 mass. We weren’t hungry for breakfast. Ed’s Aunt Kate fought with her sisters Mary and Anna (Ed’s mother) all day long. Doris showed Ed and I all over Fresno. She took us through the park (that would have been Roeding Park which I worked on 64 years later). Had fried chicken for lunch. About 7:00 Ed and I, and Doris and Leo took blankets out to the park and laid there till 10:30 PM. Ed and I were alone most of the time. Was that fun! Had ice cream served at the car and got home about midnight. The weather is perfect.”

Then on the 4^th of July they, “Got up about 8:00. Had breakfast and later on ice cream. Took pictures of everyone. Ed and I, and Burt and Mr. and Mrs. Pattillo, and Leo’s brother Eddie left Fresno at 1:30. Had supper at Ed’s house and then went to see fireworks. Couldn’t park near the lake (that would be Lake Merritt in Oakland) so we went into the hills. On the way home, Ed spanked me until I said I would marry him. He said, “You little bum could you put up with this son of a gun for the rest of your life?” And I said I could if he wanted a bum.”

So, this photograph was probably taken at Mary and Fred Low’s home in Fresno. Mom and Dad both look very happy. Dad has thick, wavy hair and is wearing suspenders, polished dress shoes, a tie and tie clip – pretty fancy. It looks like he has a wedding ring on but that makes no sense. No doubt mom made the dress she is wearing since she sewed almost all of her clothes then and for the rest of her life. Interesting that she parted her hair in the middle and had it permed.