Growing Up in Sedalia, Shirley and Raggedy Ann
After Dr. and Mrs. Ben E. Klein were discharged from the Navy after WWII, they moved back to his home town, Sedalia, Missouri to establish his dental practice. Their first home was in his mother’s buildings, the front apartment of 614 1/2 South Ohio. They had several years of a blissful life, but I was on my way to Sedalia! My mother and father moved into a small, rental, two bedroom house on the southwest corner of 16th and Vermont. It was owned by a wonderful man, Mr. Bremer, Hank and Tony Monsees’s uncle. I arrived as a cymbal crash into the world! As I turned three, I eventually settled into a calmer disorder, exploring everywhere and meeting everyone. I knew no strangers to the dismay of my parents, walking right into their unlocked houses! When Mother was on watch, I had to stay in the yard and play. My favorite pastime was picking violets and lilies of the valley under the grape arbor which stood outside our back door. I would take my favorite doll, Raggedy Ann, with me for company. We were usually joined by a big yellow, tiger tomcat, owned by the Barton’s across the back alley. He was always out looking for the occasional mouse, or following me around waiting for a friendly pet or tummy scratch. I had a great growing up years there, and continued my visits with them until they were all gone.
The oil painting was on simple prepared cotton canvas which I stretched. It was painted the spring before my daughter was born in 1972, reflecting on my own childhood. The painting was never exhibited, and remains in my private collection.
I’ve not seen this b/4, and love the immediacy of it-hard to believe it was taken so long ago. The petunias growing up and into the rose is a novelty to me to think abt. ha ha
You and your cowgirl belt, reminds me of us both, when that was such a real part of our lives-riding on brooms around the neighborhood, pretending it was a horse and wishing I could be out there on the plains, as another Annie Oakley. I think I have some pix of us dressed up together for the roles! Love ya, Karen
Both the picture and painting are adorable. I had a Raggedy Ann growing up and so did my daughter. This brought back wonderful memories of my friend Annie!
Thanks for sharing!
I have a photo of me in the hat and vest, no shirt! Yes, we rode the straw off those stick horses! It was fun playing Annie Oakley!
I loved that Raggedy Ann. When we moved to a new home several blocks away, I wasn’t allowed to say what was being kept and thrown away. When I went to bed the first night in the new home, I looked every where for Raggedy Ann. I became hysterical when Mother told me she was so dirty and torn that she was in the trash, along with some other cherished toys. Mother went back to the old house the next day, but she was gone. I never replaced her.