Thursday, February 25, 2010

Show and Tell Friday




This was my first "Friday Show and Tell," which I did back in November, 2007. I thought I'd re-run it, since I have many new friends since I first posted it. This picture of my husband's great grandparents with their children (his grandpa and sisters) hung on our wall for quite awhile before I learned the amazing story behind it.

The picture was taken in probably 1891 in northern Wisconsin. Great-Grandpa Wickstrom was a logger and had built the log house for his family. Grandpa Odin Wickstrom was the eldest of 7 and had the two sisters at the time of the picture, with another one on the way. He was 6 or 7 at this time.




Remember the show "Growing Pains" with Kirk Cameron, Tracy Gold, Joanna Kerns, and Alan Thicke? One night my daughter, Kristen, who was a teen at the time, was watching the show as she did every week. She noticed this picture in the opening collage and recognized it as one of the pictures hanging in our den. The word got around the family quickly and we all tuned in and paid close attention to the opening credits.

With some detective work, it was discovered that the picture had been hanging in the Wisconsin State Historical Society in a display of log cabins built with that particular roof design. The show's writers chose to use the picture in the beginning of their show.

Anna died with the birth of her 8th child, who did not survive either. Great Grandpa Nils' sister married Anna's father after her mother died, so his sister became his mother-in-law!



For more Show and Tell stories, go to Cindy's place,
My Romantic Home.

32 comments:

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

wow, Dawn! How incredible that your family picture should appear on a TV show! It is a great photograph! I really enjoyed reading this story!

Kindly, ldh

Susan said...

Wonderful Show & Tell. Welcome back, Dawn, although I don't post on S&T too often any more.

Ms. Bake-it said...

What a great story! Love the history. Your daughter has great observation skills to notice the picture on a TV show!

~ Tracy

Debbie~ said...

Fantastic photo, and wonderful story that goes with it, thanks so much for sharing this again, for new folks coming to S&T Fri. (like me)! If you have a minute please stop by mine, Debbie @ Cottage Hann~Me~Downs

Gigi said...

What an awesome family history!

One Cheap B*tch said...

What an interesting story and history of a beautiful old photo. I love old photos so I really enjoyed seeing this!

Glenda said...

Great story and photo, Dawn! Old photos like yours are special treasures, aren't they?

Diann @ The thrifty Groove said...

Well, that is just totally cool!

Ms. Bake-it said...

Hi Dawn,

I read your comment and your daughter is going into a great field. I have been a paralegal for 18 years and am a single mother of two boys. I am sure she will be able to find a great position. Not only do I love what I do, but it also provided a stable income that provided very nicely for me and the boys. She has made a great choice and I wish her the best of luck!

~ Tracy

Robyn said...

oh how cool! What a cool story!

Lora @ my blessed life said...

How interesting! I love the pic~it tells a story.

Lia at Petite Little Bee said...

What an interesting picture. It is so wonderful you know the full history of the family. Thanks. Lia

Brenda said...

How fun! I bet that was a shock for your daughter to see that.

Hootin Anni said...

I remember this!!!

I captured a bit of the Irish Lore today in my SHOW N TELL. Do stop by for a wee bit o' the Irish Luck if you can!

Victoria said...

What a great story behind the photograph! Thank you for sharing:)

Coralie Cederna Johnson said...

A wonderful family photo and story! Thanks for sharing and be sure to come visit! Happy Show and Tell Friday!!

Needled Mom said...

How interesting, Dawn! Now I want to go back and see the show again. Kristen must have been a very observant child.

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Great story!!! I love old photos!

Susan Freeman said...

What a great story!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Barbara said...

Wow, certainly how I imagine it allfrom the movies.

Unknown said...

That is a great story, Dawn! How amazing your family picture appeared on that show. Amazing that you daughter caught that! Thanks for sharing!

Cheers,
Tina

groovyoldlady said...

That's so cool! Ken's mom used to play basketball in one of the local high school's here. Her pic was up on a wall in the main entry way. If I'm not mistaken, there was also a picture of HER mother on the same school's Bball team so many years before that. We planned on getting copies, but the school burned down several years ago and the picture went up in smoke. :-(

nancygrayce said...

How interesting! But now the sister becoming the MIL is really something to think about!

Just Call Me Grammy said...

What a cool story.

Cheryl said...

What a fun story to go along with that photo!

Erica (Irene) said...

What an amazing story about your Family. So wonderful that it would appear on a TV show the pic. I love anything that has history behind it. Thanks for sharing I really enjoyed this post.

Sam said...

I remember that photo from the opening credits of Growing Pains!!!!! Wow!!! That is SO COOL!!

It's an amazing picture and I love that Kristen recognized it on TV!

What a great story!!

A Hint of Home said...

That is an amazing story. The picture is in very good condition.
I bet that was quite a surprise when Kristen noticed it being used on the show.
Yes, you really do have to get to Branson. We ate at the Moon River Grille across the street from Andy Williams theater and low and behold he came in and we had our picture taken with him. It's on one of my past posts.
He eats there at least once a day we were told. You might get to meet him. He did a great show and his voice is still strong and smooth.

Nicoolmama said...

What a neat story!

I love your Sunday too!!

Who is the new pastor?

I was planning to attend the MckGathering however then my stepdaughter asked me to come to her presentation at school and that was MUCH MORE important so I missed it this time.

A Hint of Home said...

Hi Dawn,
I hope this link takes it to the post.

http://ahintofhome.blogspot.com/2009/10/andy-williams.html

Let me know if it works.

The Little Red Shop said...

Thank you for sharing your photo history with us!

: )

Julie M.

Sharon Lynne said...

I notice the cute curtains hanging in the window, and it looks like flowers have been planted outside. The kids look as neat as a pin...but it's probably Sunday.

They didn't smile for pictures in those days. Life was too hard I suppose. But it doesn't mean they weren't happy!

What a precious treasure, and how amazing that it was picked up by a television show!

(I remember you sharing this...but I had forgotten.) So now I can enjoy it again.