Jim & Gwen and High School Dances

"[Jim] was tall, dark and handsome and we enjoyed each other very much"

Notice the note on the photo: "The spider on his knees. Sincerely yours from your pal 'Tarantula Jim'"








Gwen dressed up--about age 16




"I wanted Jim to ask me to the sophomore dance in high school. I heard that Robert Rice was going to ask me, so I told Miles, Jim's pal, who told Jim and he finally did ask me first. It was great. I had an evening dress with white fluffy, lacy puffed short sleeves and [a] slinky pink cupe dress to the floor.
"We decorated the gym by stringing crepe paper across from the rails of the upper track" (from "Reflections from a Mother's Heart").

Gwen's Favorite Subjects--Artwork and Jim

"All through school art was my favorite. Even in college, oil painting from Prof. B.F. Larsen was best at BYU."


"I . . .loved painting birds on glass and putting it over wrinkled aluminum foil. . . Bessie Taylor, a neighbor girl, taught me to tint black and white photo portraits. For glossy it was a water tint; for dull finish it was oil."



Photos of Jim and Gwen that were tinted by Gwen











"As a child I loved to color sample pattern books with crayons. That's what started me on oil and water color portraits of grandkids [later in life]."

Jim- "Big Ute" Telford?

An "exceptional camping experience" Gwen recorded explains:

"We went to the UBIC in Vernal . . . We borrowed Laxman's tent. It got a hole burned in it from the car's exhaust pipe.

"Jim, my boyfriend, went along. As we drove up Parley's Canyon the car sputtered. Jim helped discover the mechanic had put a cotter pin in backwards. He saved our trip.

"At Vernal we wrapped him in an Indian Blanket, put a feather in his hair and took his picture on Atwood's horse. They were tending Dad's 40 acres of land and the calves Dad sent out there."

Sports, Entertainment, and Fun . . . in the 1930s

Gwen as a teenager with friends


Gwen recorded that, as a child, she ". . . remember[s] sleigh riding on the hill east of our place. It was great fun." In the summer, "we played around the street light. [The] games [included]: Kick the Can, No Bears are out Tonight, Hide and Seek, and Run Sheepy Run. There was no TV or radio to spoil our fun" (italics added).


In his history, Jim reflects,
"In my growing years, I played baseball, ice hockey, golf, rode horseback, went fishing in many streams, and enjoyed skiing. Never totally proficient in any one activity, but acceptably able to perform well enough to be sought out by many friends.

". . .I associated myself to a group of husky boys, who enjoyed skiing. We would go to Ecker Hill, the Utah Ski Club. There we could slide the hill, ski jump, [and] go cross country."

Gwen's memory of skiing, however, includes this entry:

"Jim took me up Parley's Canyon one winter to learn to ski. I had on overalls, galoshes, and [a] stocking cap. We side stepped up the hill. I started down but fell immediately. I'll never forget how my face stung as it slid, nose first, down that hill. I gave up skiing quickly" ("Reflections from a Mother's Heart," entries by Gwen Telford).

Who's Jimmie?

In Jim's life history, he writes:

"In 1933 I started to keep a steady relationship with an upstanding girl. Her name was Mary Gwendolyn Wagstaff. She was the catalyst in my life that propelled me to be what I am."

Tucked in the middle of Gwen's 1933 Yearbook (her Junior Year) was this note:

(Dear Gwen,
May all your efforts be wound with success, and our friendship continue through the years is my sincere wish to you. Jimmie Telford "1933")


When asked, "How old were you when you met Dad and what attracted you to him?"
Gwen responded:
"I was sixteen when I noticed Dad [Jim] at a girl friend's party. He was her date, but while she fixed refreshments I entertained him by telling his fortune. Later his mother made him take me home from his brother, Stan's, party. That helped us get better acquainted and we started dating. We went to the ward and school dances and to shows" (From "Reflections from a Mother's Heart," journal entries by Gwen Telford).

Working, Surviving, and The Great Depression . . .

Jim as a young man

In his life history, Jim recollects,
"My working life has been fruitful. I have never drawn an un-employmnet check. At the same time my earnings have been respectful. I came through the 'great depression' years when pay was as low as $42.00 per month; 35 cents per hour. I worked at this financial level because it was the best available, as three (3) out of five (5) workers were out of work, on relief, or dependent on some sort of program. Since I had to work, earning the means to sustain myself and eventually a family, I have taken many mundane, dead end jobs. Being a newspaper carrier is the usual starting job for young 'men.' I delivered for the Salt Lake Telegram, Deseret News, and the Sunday edition of the Salt Lake Tribune. The difficult aspect of this endeavor was to collect the monies. No one had any money, but everyone wanted to read, "all about it." I did have an area to deliver in, and did so on horseback. While riding my horse one evening, she stumbled, broke her ankle, and had to be destroyed. I was devastated.

"I caddied at Nibley Park. I had a 'steady,' who golfed every Saturday afternoon, and Sunday mornings. He paid me $1.00 per 18 holes, and loaned me his clubs so I could play on Mondays which were caddy days. From this I gained an appreciation for golf, which I played well into my adult life.

"Being of good stature, physically, and being fifteen years of age, I was hired as an elevator operator in the Beason Building, 25 East 2nd South Street, Salt Lake City. This proved to be akin to the Bible story of Daniel in the lion's den. I went from a sheltered life to the jungle. The real facts of life came out of the wood work, to let me into the sordid side of life. I tried to go to school and hold onto this job which eventually proved too much. On top of the hood of need, I soon became the only one in the family with a job. My salary in these depression years was soon reduced to $42.00 per month. That went to keep our family afloat. Mother took the money, put it to the benefit of all, and we made out and kept this job until December of 1936, and even though I was scarred, I was unscathed by the environment. Of course, I became acquainted with many fine people and even dated some of the girls who worked in the offices, so all was not lost."



Jim having fun at the beach

William James Telford's Beginnings

Baby picture of Jim Telford

"It is a popular pursuit to write your own story. No one person knows better than you of the conditions, events, etc. that has made you what you are.
"Since I am the author and lead character, this account will be written in the first expression of 'I.' I seek your indulgence.
"It is January, 2004, and I am in my 90th plus year of life. Life has been good to me. I have had trials of physical well being, social and financial struggles and still survived.
"I am the third child of Robert and Charlotte Lucinda Rock Telford. Five children were born to this English-Irish couple.



Robert and Charlotte Telford with a nephew

"My only sister, Violet--the second child, died at birth. So four (4) sons made up our family. I did not know the value of the female mind in my life. We were a poor, but industrious family, but we did not know how poor we were because we didn't know any other comfort."

Growing Up . . .

Pict 3-Gwen in her ninth grade graduation dress

When asked, "What extracurricular activities were you involved in during high school?" Gwen responded:
"I was on the debate team. Our subject was: 'Resolve that unemployment insurance will cure the vicissitudes of the depression.' I got a letter for that and one for being associate editor of the yearbook and school paper. That meant [I] won a gold gradonian necklace which is given for most activities."

When asked, "Who was your favorite teacher?" She wrote, "Miss Ballard was my art teacher in high school and she was assigned to help me write my valedictorian speech when I graduated. We became close" (emphasis added).

(From "Reflections from a Mother's Heart: Your Life Story in Your Own Words," a journal that was a 1998 Mother's Day gift from Charlene--the eldest daughter)


Pict 4- Gwen's senior yearbook picture with praise for her achievements
(click to read)