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Returning Home

In late June and July of 1949, Ann's mother Ruby, and her sister Hazel (age 15) flew to Norfolk, Virginia, to bring Ann (now age 20) home. The return home must have been a memorable adventure as she spoke of it many times.

They took a boat to Baltimore, then the train to New York's Grand Central Station. There they changed trains and went to Detroit via Albany and across southern Canada (through Toronto). 

Ruby's brother (Ann's uncle) Roy met them in Detroit and drove them to his home in Alpena, Michigan, where they stayed for a few days. 

She remembers Hazel climbing trees there in Alpena. 

From Alpena, they drove to Chicago and to Iowa to visit relatives there, and then on to Littleton, Colorado, to visit another relative. All the driving was before the interstate system -- Chicago to Littleton was all on US 30 (the Lincoln Highway). With five people in the car and no air conditioning, this part of the trip was miserable. The trip took several days. From Littleton, they caught the train to Idaho. 

She remembers Uncle Roy had loose diamonds that he kept in a handkerchief in his pocket. He used to show them to people -- she thinks it was his way of showing off in front of his sister (Ann's mother). 

One month later Ann and Gene eloped.

_____

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