Grandma Pet was my maternal grandmother. Her name was Amelia Grayer born in Scio Township, MI on 14 Sep 1885. She spent most of her life living in Ann Arbor, MI where she had a tourist home at 520 N. Main Street. Amelia married my grandfather, Grover Cleveland Ream on 26 Sep 1912 in Ann Arbor, MI when she was 27 years old.
I was born in 1954 and also lived in Ann Arbor, MI. I visited Grandma Pet’s home regularly and was always delighted to be there. Grandma was an exceptionally loving and kind woman and adored all 5 of her granddaughters.
A visit to her home usually included watching the Lawrence Welk show. We especially liked the Lennon Sisters who would often make a guest appearance on that show. Other shows included seeing Minnie Pearl on a show called “Hee Haw.”
Grandma’s large front porch housed several rocking chairs. As young girls, we could sit on the front porch and watch the parades that came down N. Main Street including the marching French Dukes. A riddle jar made for lots of fun. Grandma saved jokes by cutting them out of the newspaper and putting them into a glass jar. We could reach our hand into the jar and read our joke out loud. We loved to laugh. Grandma loved to laugh.
Food on the porch might be a purple cow (a vanilla ice cream float with Grape Nehi soda.) Grandma delighted in making the foods that each granddaughter liked the best. For me that was her french fries – she would make those while also making Nifflies (a German noodle dumpling of sorts) for my sisters.
Spending an overnight at Grandma’s house was special. We would sleep together in her bedroom off of the dining room and each evening, Grandma would recite the 23rd psalm in her sweet soothing voice.
We all knew we were loved.
In the Dining Room at Grandma’s house was a large piece of furniture referred to as a high-boy. Above the high-boy was a curio shelf that housed her collection of miniature pitchers. We did not play with these, but we were often held up high enough to look at them. The other items of interest on top of that high-boy were candies. I especially remember the Neapolitan coconut candies that were strawberry, vanilla and chocolate flavored. Yum!
The little pitchers ended up in my possession. For many years, they have remained packed carefully in a box between wood shavings. Recently, I opened the box and picked several to put out in my tiny house. Good thing they take up so little real estate. I am also excited about giving some to my sisters and cousins. We all loved Grandma Pet. She was magical.
telling life stories 