A compilation of writings, letters and memories from the life of Thelma Gilbert Chatterton and her spouse Willis Atkinson Chatterton.
Thelma Gilbert was born to Frank James and Matilda Barlow Gilbert on September 23rd, 1921 in Fairview, Franklin, Idaho.
Childhood
Thelma was the 2nd of 5 children: Wilma, Thelma, Frank Barlow, Faun, then Bruce.
Gilbert Family about 1939 - back row: Thelma, Frank Barlow, Wilma; Front Row: Faun, Frank James, Matilda, Bruce Kay
Early in her childhood her family lived in their Grandpa Daniel Gilbert's home, but then moved into their own home next door when she was still very young.
I fondly recall memories of how mother taught me to say my evening prayers. Once every week our family had Home Evening which gave us an opportunity to participate in small ways on these little programs. All these things instilled in my mind the true love and happiness of family life.
-Thelma Gilbert
As a young child her fondest memories were those spent playing with her older sister Wilma and younger brother Barlow.
My dearest playmate was my older sister, Wilma. She was 1 year older than I was. I well remember how Mother used to dress us alike.
--Thelma Gilbert
When I was young my brothers, sisters and I played games like ‘Run Sheep Run,’ ‘Kick the Can,’ marbles, and we went on horseback rides daily. At Christmas we usually got clothes, a stocking full of candy and nuts, and toys.
--Thelma Gilbert
We three children were pretty close to each other and worked and played together. Wilma, Thelma, and I took the milk cows to the pasture every morning. In the summer the three of us would hoe beets. We would know when it was time for dinner because Mother would hang a pillowcase on the corner of the house. We were hoeing beets in the upper field above the pump ditch. It was a joyous moment when the white pillow case would show up. We then headed straight for the house where dinner was waiting. We'd break a trail straight for the house.
--Barlow Gilbert
Daddy taught us the art of topping beets. He prepared knives for each child and took us early into the frosty October.... We hustled into our three pairs of stockings, one cotton and two wool, two pairs of jeans, two or three sweaters, starting with the smallest one next to the body and ending with an overgrown grandpa's coat. We usually wore several pairs of gloves. Before we left the house Mother fixed us germaid mush, potatoes, and meat or eggs. Daddy would announce, "The white top buggy will be leaving shortly, finish your dishes and get on the bandwagon or you'll have to walk.' Thelma and I usually caught the chariot as the horse pulled out of the back gate. Our pockets were generally filled with apples and we took a jug of water to quench our thirst.
--Wilma Gilbert
She was a farm girl and grew up working really hard as farmers do. She would get up at 4 A.M. to do her required piano practicing every day.
I was always glad when school started in the fall. It was a lot more fun than the work on the farm.
--Thelma Gilbert
I was a farm girl, I worked on it from a little girl until I went away to school in Ogden. That is why I went to school, because I never wanted to work again on a farm. I loved school because I loved to learn and use my mind and stay off the farm. My chores included getting the cows from the pasture, which was called the ‘Sand Hill' a mile up the road and bring them back to be milked. We helped in the hayfield, we hauled the sugar beets and topping them. This was extremely taxing.
--Thelma Gilbert
We picked strawberries, raspberries, apples, etc., and helped canning them. We had wonderful transparent apples that tasted so good. Fresh milk was brought to the house every morning from milking the cows - it was strained and put in the large round milk pans in our cool fruit room and later we would skim off the cream and use it for many things, especially to make homemade butter which we churned by hand. Mother sewed most of our clothes. We were always happy for the first day of school when we could wear these new clothes. She quite often sewed identical dresses for Wilma & me. -- Thelma
Traveling was almost non-existent, except for trips to Salt Lake City to LDS general conference. We would travel by train or in dad's Ford Roadster that we bought in Detroit. We would visit our relatives from my mother's side, Devon Mecham, while in Salt Lake City. After a good days' work helping on the farm, many of our most pleasant hours were spent swimming in the old canal and once in a while in old Bear River.
--Thelma Gilbert
In her early days, Thelma worked on the farm with her family, developed new skills in school, and developed an array of new interests. Her interests varied from music (the cello in particular), sports (she participated on various teams), and movie stars (she would write to them and was always thrilled to receive their responses).
During our early teens Guelda Choules and I were movie star crazy. On a Fast Sunday we decided to walk to Preston which was 6 miles away from home. We had enough change to get into the movie which was about 15 cents. The movie was the ‘Painted Veil’ with Greta Garbo. We were pretty scared that we were going to be in trouble after the movie was over. We luckily found some people we knew that drove us home.
--Thelma Gilbert
Thelma was a hard worker. She always had something for me to do to help around the house. In those days, we didn't have electric clothes dryers so Thelma supervised me in learning to iron. As I look back I appreciate her patience and persistence in helping to teach me to work.
--Faun Gilbert
An old dress out of the dirty clothes chute was all we needed for a swimsuit. When we grew a little older we walked about a half mile or more to a larger canal south of Fairview. Many happy hours were spent floating and swimming-downstream with friends and loved ones.
--Wilma Gilbert
Our parents took us to a play in the old opera house in Preston. It was ‘Nebuchadnezzur's Dream’. Not long after, the Gilbert children (Wilma, Thelma and Barlow), put on the same play on a stage built of apple boxes and old sheets. This was performed in the bedroom in the basement before an audience of two. That was just fine as long as it was the appreciative parents who encouraged us in our efforts by putting up scenery, arranging the stage and writing the script!
--Wilma Gilbert
I fondly recall our winning girls softball team during my 7th and 8th grades. I have always enjoyed sports of all kinds. My favorite subjects were spelling and arithmetic, as I was captain of our spelling team. I was privileged to be elected vice president of our Junior Class and helped to plan all activities during my Junior year of High School, which of course included the Junior Prom. I studied piano, coronet, and cello. We played music and marched at games, it was a lot more fun than the work on the farm. I also spent many happy hours studying dancing and participating in dance reviews.