A Life History written by Celia Reeves Bartholomew - February 3, 1978

A Life History written by Celia Reeves Bartholomew - February 3, 1978

My youth in Cedar City, Utah, was a very happy time in my life. It was full of work, sharing, and loving.

I was a large girl [and] very active. I enjoyed sports and always played with the boys: baseball, basketball, [and] neighborhood games.

Being the oldest girl - 2nd child in the family - I had lots of opportunities to work and care for a home and younger children. My brother, Melvin, [was] 2 years older [and] was much smaller than I and sickly with heart trouble. He spent several years in bed with rheumatic fever.

Before we would leave the house to go to school, the general (usual) every day house work was done. My Mother had linoleum floors which were waxed and we would gather the throw rugs. Mom had made a pile them on the front porch to shake. The floors were all dusted with a dust mop, [the] rugs replaced, beds made, and everything put away. In the kitchen the assignment was to clean the table, wash, rinse, and wipe the dishes, and put them away. The rugs were shook and the floor swept before we could go to school or out to play. I was late a couple of times for school because I goofed off and didn't get my work done. I couldn't leave until it passed Mother’s inspections. I can see the value of it now. We would leave her with a straightened house and her time could be spent on cooking, washing, ironing, mending and sewing, church work, and genealogy and temple work. We were all taught to work.

When I was 8 years old I started to work for Myrtle Colin next door doing light house work. I'd wipe finger prints, clean and mop for her. I had this job for years, in fact, until I out grew the job and pay level. I started out at 5 cents an hour.

When I was 12, I went to work in the summer for the farmers picking peas and bunching carrots. It was hard work and very long hours but it gave me money for new school clothes and things I needed and wanted.

I was taught very young to pay my tithing. My first jobs were baby tending and cleaning for Mrs. Colin. My Mother would meet me at the door when I came home and take my money. 10% was put in a box for tithing and the rest in a bottle for some material for a new dress or some shoes. I remember when I stole, for that’s the way I felt, the first nickel from my money. I put in my shoe before I got home and after tried to explain when I was short 5 cents. I put the money into the box and bottle and went to bed. It was days before I was alone and able to spend my 5 cents for candy at the store on the top of our street. It was a weird feeling and I hated it. I didn't practice [it] very often (until I was older) Ha Ha!

I used to clean a lot with my mother. I accused her of expecting too much from me. It was true I was able to do for the family and had been taught very well. As the new babies arrived and when mom was sick (2 operations), or out of town, I took over. I can recall feeling that I had more to do than the younger ones who were at play. I failed to remember that when I was their age I, too, played.

I usually ran around with friends much older than myself. In my school years in Cedar I was always the biggest girl in the class. The home training I had made me more advanced than other girls my age.

I started M.I.A. and the Beehive program at 12. It was a 3 year program and to make it more like scouting we worked for achievements which were sewed on a bandolier. I decided I would be an Honor Bee, the highest award, and went to work on this project. I passed all the girls in my class and, after three years, finished with the highest awards. Mrs. Jones was our teacher and oh how we all loved her.

Each spring we would go up Cedar Mountain, the big flat one east of town, and cook hot dogs and marshmallows. The canyon with its red rock, clear stream (red if there had been a flood) and green trees always fascinated me.

Our summer camp outs up on Cedar Mountain were real special vacations. We would go up by Woods Ranch and camp for a few days (the M.I.A. girls). We'd hike, do handicrafts, cook, and spend special moments around the big bonfire at night singing songs while I played the guitar, and then shared our Testimonies with each other. I was always especially thankful for parents who were both active in the church and took us to our meetings and taught us church principals and standards. Many of my friends had fathers with smoking and drinking problems and to me, at that time in my life, nothing could have been worse.

I use to day dream a lot. It was always beautiful temple marriage with a prince charming and a home of my own. It was never wealth and fame, but just the finest L.D.S. family standard living.

I loved sports and especially [softball] and played on a girl’s team in town. They didn't have church games then. I could usually hit the ball a good distance and when playing at recess I was always chosen because of that reason. Yep - the old slugger.

In the spring the schools would hold kite flying contests. My bother Melvin and I usually won. Our Dad helped make our kites with small slats crossing strings around the outside and news paper (which we got from the neighbors) glued into place. My Dad had a way with kites and the proper tails. We used to have an old dress tore into strips [to] balance the kite.

In Jr. High I remember many special projects. Music was one of my special interests and Mrs. Southwick truly gave me a sound backing in music appreciation. It was while [in] her classes that I was picked to sing with a double trio. “South of the Border Down Mexico Way” was one of our favorites.

I was also in an operetta. I played the Mother and had a solo part about washing dishes- “washing dishes, washing dishes, that is all I do it seems- making wishes, making wishes while my head is full of dreams,” and so on. It was held in the new auditorium north of the elementary building.

A special assembly I attended in Jr. High was a demonstration of the T.V. by Farnsworth of Beaver, Utah. Now look what we have today. He took some of the students and how exciting it was to see them on a screen a few feet away.

[Edited for readability by Clarrisa Bartholomew]