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When was a youngun, had Two pair shoes Dress and sneakers, most often ran around barefoot. Had Play clothes and school clothes, Church clothes. Could put them ALL into two drawers of a Chest of drawers with socks and under drawers. Winter as we grew got new pair of Snow boots(Five Buckle) generally one size too big to grow into.
Was a almost adult lad when my Great Great Uncle Emmet Branson passed away, can still remember the small of Old Spice he wore. Hounds tooth Jacket over a Cardigan Sweater, White dress shirt and well pressed SHARP pleated tan trousers, Polished to a Gleam high top medium brown work boots and a simple narrow tie. He did have a Trench Coat for rough weather and a Fedora(Had three). Always withdrew his wallet at Thanksgiving and Christmas, handed all the little kids a fresh from the bank $2 bill from a Bifold in that houndstooth inner pocket. Man never owned a house, lived out of Furnished Rooms for rent, Ate two meals a Day at a Diner in Downtown Wood River IL EVERY Day except Sunday where would have dinner with my Great Aunt Laura his Niece and her family.
The week he died we as in My Dad, Grandpa and Grandma Miller and his Sis my Great Grand Rosa went to his room. Collected all his belongings into two women's handbags, and a average size suitcase. A Bible, well weathered, a Rosary(Catholic), his glasses and pocket watch, that bifold wallet. His Coat, one of two Hounds tooth jackets, three cardigan sweaters five pair trousers one set of Coveralls, five White Dress Shirts and one Flannel. Underclothes five pair socks and two pairs of work boots. All were neatly folded in a Chest of drawers with the coats hanging in a narrow slip of a closet. Three fedoras, One new, one being daily and one for bad weather well aged. A few letters lay on a night stand, sadly so little for a man with so much family close by.
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