1937 - Helen Rex's trip to Los Angeles to visit her fiance Glenn Frazier

Helen wrote:

We surely had a Grand Time. I mean Glenn and I.

My father, Glenn Frazier moved  from Woodruff, Utah to Los Angeles, California in 1936. There he lived, attended school, and worked.  He left his girlfriend, Helen Rex behind in Randolph, Utah. There she worked in the Rich County Court House where she saved and planned for their future marriage.

Both on Bridge of Los Angeles River

 where it goes into the ocean May 19, 1937

In May 1937 Helen vacationed  in Los Angles, California with her fiance Glenn. Upon her return to Randolph she wrote a three page letter to her brother Harold Morgan Rex. He was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil. The pictures she saved and her letter to her brother described her WONDERFUL trip to California.  Grateful I am to her brother and family for saving her letter for me.  And for Helen!  I'm so PROUD of her for pulling off that dream trip.  

Helen at Forest Lawn Memorial Park May 16, 1937. 

The pool with "Finding of Moses"

May 18, 1937 Charlie Chaplain's home

Long Beach Hotel

May 19, 1937 

Ronald Coleman's home

May 18, 1937

4062 Oakwood Ave., L. A.

May 23, 1937

Glenn Frazier on left. I presume this man is his room mate.

I don't know his name. 

Helen wrote her brother Harold: "A fellow from Mississippi is living with him, and he doesn’t even have any kind of work. So Glenn does feel pretty good about his luck."  

Glenn at  Temple of Santa Sabina, 

Forest Lawn Memorial Park

 Helen with Glenn's friend in front of apartment

May 19, 1937

Soldiers at Long Beach

Long Beach

May 19, 1937

'I got my 1st sight of the ocean. I was surely thrilled."

4062 Oakwood Ave., L. A. 

Glenn and friend

Long Beach, May 19, 1937

Officer's boat from Battle Ship Utah

Santa Monica

May 21, 1937

Ocean Park

May 21, 1937

Pictures and their descriptions from Helen's scrapbook. 

Happy 81st Wedding Anniversary Glenn and Helen Rex Frazier.

 Thanks to Family Search I'm reminded of my parents' marriage and their 81st wedding anniversary today.

Helen was from Randolph and Glenn was from Woodruff  and several years older than she.

They courted as young people did in Rich County in the 1930s.

He was accepted by her family. Glenn is here with Helen on the right. Her sister Winnie is on the left. Beautiful blonde Flora is in front.

Glenn moved to California to seek his fortune in 1936.

Helen visited him there in May, 1937.

She returned for their marriage November 20, 1937 in Oakland, California

Helen's letter home to her parents describing their wedding is below.

The following year they had this picture taken to send home to their mothers for Mothers Day!

“November 21, 1937, from 4180 Opal Street, Apt. 5., Oakland, California

“Dear Folks:

“Well I have been married just exactly 21 hours, and it is grand.

“We had lots of fun last night. Eve and Erle [Bill and Mabel Rufi’s daughter and  son-in-law] came for us about 6 o’clock. Eve brought my flowers. It was a co─ (can’t spell it) [corsage]. Anyway you know mother you wear them on your shoulder. They were 3 white ones, (don’t even know the name of them [gardenias]). No comments on the English up above.

"Bishop Shields is a fine man. He used the Latter Day Saints marriage ceremony, instead of the one Lewis uses. I was glad. We talked to him about our recommends, and tonight when we go to church he is going to get the clerk to get our names and the wards where we lived. He asked us what we could do, or what our talents were and said they had plenty of use for people here in the ward. …

“After that we went up to Uncle Bill and Aunt Mabel’s. Just as we got out of the car down came the rice. Eve and Erle had filled their pockets. When we went in the house they gave us a lovely white lamp. It was from all of them to Mr. and Mrs. Helen and Glenn.

“Then we went to Robin Hood Inn. It is the cutest place and they had a table all set for us to ourselves. It was for eight, but Glenn’s Uncle Dave and his wife couldn’t come. We had a wonderful dinner, roast turkey, and everything.

“Right now Glenn is writing to his folks and we write for a few minutes then read to each other what we have written.

“After Dinner we went for a drive around Merritt Lake and up in the residential district of Oakland and Piedmont. It was up where all of the wealthy homes are, and then we looked down on the city, but it was so foggy we couldn’t see the bridge.

“Yesterday after we got our license we went up town and got in a lovely rain storm. It was the worse storm they have had down here for a long time. Consequently we had to buy an umbrella.  

“Have felt kinda punk though, but am feeling better. My things haven’t come that I sent freight. They may not be here for a day or two yet. It is a good thing I sent the blankets and sheets in the box, or we would have been in a fine fix. As it is we’re without a table cloth and luckily Glenn had a couple of bath towels. Oh well we are happy.” 

These pictures have been published on this blog before. Letter from Histories of Percy Harold Rex, Bessie Morgan Rex, Mary Elizabeth Herbert Rex and their Descendants, pages 83-84, published 2014.

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was bombed December 7, 1941.

John Morgan Rex at Hamilton Field, Marin County, California about 1941

 

Glenn and Helen Rex Frazier were living in Oakland, California and attending Church on Sunday December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. They heard about it as they left the building and rushed home to turn on their radio.

Helen’s brother John Morgan Rex was stationed at nearby Hamilton Field. On December 5^th he left for the Philippines aboard the troop transport SS President Johnson. After learning of the December 7^th  Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the President Johnson returned to San Francisco.

The following letters from Helen’s collection better tell their story.

John Morgan (Johnny) at his barracks at Hamilton Field, California,

or during schooling in Illinois; at Scotts Field and Rantoul.







 

Letter dated and postmarked San Francisco, December 9, 1941.

Dear Sis,

Just a note to let you know everything is ok. I am in a Neutral port and safe. We are awaiting further orders. I sent you a wire “collect” and I don’t know if you got it or not. They may not send them out. I hope so though as I sent one to the folks too. I also sent them a letter. You write them too won’t you. Well it looks as though we are in the war at last. I hope they soon get us to where we can do something. I’d like to say more but this country of ours is at stake and we can take no chances.

Oh the only way I could send a wire was collect so don’t think I am trying to chisel you out of anything.

I’ll drop you a line later as soon as I find out about where we are going, but I’ll never tell you where I am at so don’t worry. Well I must get this off so I will stop.

Take care of yourselves and I’ll do the same.

Bye for now,
Lots of Love, Johnny

 

Oakland, California

1309 Derby Ave

December 10, 1941

Dearest Johnny:
Received your most welcome letter today. To be honest with you, you don’t know how happy I was to get it. At first I thought you must have mailed it before you left San Francisco. We didn’t get the wire. Guess they have been too busy.

Oh Johnny we saw you leave. We were on the fishing docks. We got over there about 6:45 p.m. They wouldn’t let us in because it was so late. It certainly looked like there were lots of men.

Your packages arrived OK. It was very sweet of you my dear. I hid them in the cedar chest and Glenn doesn’t even know I have them. Also the money order.  I’m going to do some shopping today. Get something for Harold & Diana and get it on its way.

I have a letter from Winnie. They are having a reception on the 12th, Joy that is this Friday, for her.

Everyone at the Ward inquires about you, particularly Ralph and Aileen. I’ll have to let them know I have heard from you.

So far I haven’t heard any of the warnings. We did miss the radio Monday night.

 We only held a short mutual last night, because there was to be a black out.

I sent an Airmail letter to the folks yesterday saying not to worry and that we are ok. I guess there will be those who will feel safer in the mountains and will return home.

Well I have to get to work. Inasmuch as I have to go to Leadership meeting tonight. I thought I would get this written now.

We constantly pray for your safe keeping Johnny dear. I’ll write often, and hope you receive them all.

Loads of Love [Helen]