A house is made with walls and beams; A home is built with love and dreams. -Ralph Waldo Emerson
A Joyous Journey—- Camille Lundeen
“What a joyful time it was for us when they gathered at the Toquerville home, which was quite often. At Easter time we dried eggs the old fashioned way with onion skins and wild roots and hid and hunted them, often in a near by pasture by the stream. With all the families, we picnicked and swam and played down at Old Cradle on Ash Creek, and caught many polliwogs and baby frogs there and else where along the creek. Many pleasant hours were spent sitting on the front lawn enjoying the grandchildren as they played in the cemented irrigation ditch that ran continuously between the lawn and street. On July 4th and the 24th, family often gathered for the special celebration at our quaint little town Hall in Toquerville, which always included a parade.”
“And how many lively hours the grandchildren have spent playing in the large, comfortable basement of our home where they were free to get all the toys out of the toy box and scatter them wherever– and dress in the dress-up clothing there for them! On the brick built-in stage at one end, many exciting dances and programs have been performed including “The Birth of the Saviour Christmas Pageant.” All the pet animals: chickens the lamb, and the dogs were thoroughly enjoyed. And we spent many happy times in the swing under the grape vines singing and swinging together.”
Toquerville memories...
Grandma would always fix the best hot chocolate in the whole world. It was magical on a cold morning to warm the body and soul.
We learned to love Okra at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. To this day every time I see Okra I think about grandma.
She had mint growing in her Garden and would make a mint tea.
We loved floating down the ditch in the front yard on our backs. We would look for spiders and other critters as we floated under the driveway.
We would always go hiking in Zion National Park. There was a small river running through it and we would love to go swimming. We always brought a wonderful picnic lunch.
Grandma loved to feed us and never wanted anyone to go hungry.
Grandpa had the most wonderful vegetable garden. He worked so hard at planting some wonderful fruits/vegetables .
They had a barn in the backyard. We loved playing in the loft of that barn.
They always had chickens which meant collecting the eggs everyday.
They had the most wonderful raspberries that we picked off the bushes in their backyard and just ate.
Grandpa had an incredible drawing room at the top of the stairs. With a large elevated drawing table.
Grandma and Grandpa slept in a bedroom on the main floor.
Grandma always wanted to look her best. I remember her painting her fingernails in the evening before she headed back to school the next day. She taught Jr. High school.
We always ate outside in the back on a picnic table.
I would love some memories from other cousins to add. If you would be willing to add thoughts to help us all remember the great fun we had at their home, please email your thoughts to [email protected]
Grandpa and Grandma Lundeen had a little covered patio that had grape vines covering it and a swing on either side. We had the most fun as grandchildren swinging on the swing. It was filled with grapes we could just pick off the vine and eat in the summer time. Picture taken in early sping of 1981. —Kara
Cami and Kara with Aaron at Grandma and Grandpa's house
Grandma Gilbert- Toquerville Home 1974
Selling The Toquerville Home-
At the beginning of 1989- to everyone’s surprise- we decided to sell the Toquerville home to buy a townhome in St. George in walking distance of the St. George temple where we both served as ordinance workers. Howard was seventy-seven years old; Camille was sixty-four. We decided that we could no longer afford the expenses of such a large home- keeping it heated in winter and cooled in summer- along with the painting, etc. Then, too, neither of us could keep up with the lawn mowing nor the constant care required for the orchard and grounds.
Through a friend, we located a charming town home just one and one-half blocks from the Temple and in walking distance to doctors, stores, the ward and the hospital. We purchased it for $72,000 on Sept. 5, 1989, and placed our lovely Toquerville home up for sale with the following advertisement.
A Real Winner!
3500 Square Feet
4 bedrooms- 2 baths- 2 car garage
Large Family Room, Game Room, Office, Gourmet Kitchen with dishwasher, double oven, and disposal.
2 fireplaces – 1 fireplace insert
Finished Basement with storage room, work room & root cellar
Extra cabinets in master bedroom and extra closets in upstairs bedrooms.
Thermostatically controlled heat pump, air conditioning and forced-air heat
12 fruit trees, 12 nut trees, grape arbor, raspberries, boysenberries
Water share- 2 hours weekly
2 chicken pens, Barn with storage and corral
Price $135,000
(Joyous Journey, Pg. 161)
Howard and Camille's Toquerville Home
137 S. Ash Creek Dr. Toquerville, Utah
***If anyone would like to write and send their memories of Grandma and Grandpa Lundeen’s house, I would love to include them and any pictures you might have. Send them to [email protected]