Brother Jimmie and Ruth look intently at the photographer in the summer of 1940 or 1941 while Diane appears bored and Grandma Lottie looks away, probably unaware of the photo because of her increasing deafness. Was it young Ken behind the camera - or maybe Grandpa Jim Meredith? They're seated on a bench behind the Meredith two-flat, the kitchen window and basement door behind them.
On June 12, 1941, Ruth wrote, "Most of the Radio Stations are elaborating on the sinking of United States merchant ship 'Robin Moor' by a Nazi sub-marine. There is much speculation about it. So far only 11 survivors out of 46 crew and passengers."
On June 14, 1941 Ruth reported in her diary an incident that could have been a tragedy. "Part of a punch press Papa was working on broke and fell on his head. Made a cut about an inch long. He had to to to company [Western Electric] hospital and have it taken care of. Then he went back to work. Everyone marveled that he wasn't knocked out. Piece weighed 12#." Western Electric did start to investigate why the piece loosened and fell. It was just three years later that Papa (James B. Meredith) passed away at the age of 64.
Life is smooth for the Merediths and Kelloggs, but a bumpy road is ahead with World War II on the horizon. This picture is not in Pieces of a Life, nor are the quotes from Ruth's diary.
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