| Bessie
Gildersleeve was the grand marshal of the parade for Gilbert's 125th
anniversary celebration that was held on July 30-31, 2004. On February 20, 2004, we interviewed Bessie Gildersleeve.
She is a 100-year-old woman, who lives just north of town with her daughter Millie Rice.
Bessie's daughter, Ruth Shickell, lives in Ames. The three are members
of the Gilbert Evangelical Free Church.
Bessie
is the oldest living graduate of Gilbert high school. She and her
parents moved from Illinois to the Gilbert area when she was three years
old. She taught school then was married 72 years to the late John Gildersleeve. The
well-known and affable farmer died in 1994.
In addition to Bessie,
those who participated in the conversation include Millie, Gazette
editor Helen Gunderson, and Pastor Gary Selof of the Gilbert Evangelical
Free Church.
The second photo is from a February 16, 1993,
article in the Story City Herald. It tells
the novel story of how Bessie and John secretly got married. Click on the track number to listen to the related topic.
01.
Being interviewed.
02. The winter of 1936.
03. Moving to Iowa at age three.
04. Meeting and marrying John
Gildersleeve.
05. Her work on the farm.
06. Getting electricity on the farm for
the first time.
07. Gilbert memories and area
transportation.
08. Memories of a student and teacher.
09. What she and her family did for
fun.
10. Having no money in the 1930s.
11. The Gildersleeve cabin on the Skunk River.
12. Gilbert being a "sleeping" town.
13. Being 100 and other thoughts.
14. Changes in home and agricultural
technology..
15. Advice about credit cards
and being frugal.
16. Interesting Gilbert people.
17. Equal rights and
hard work on the farm. You will need
Real Audio software to listen to the files. A CD of this
interview is at the Ames Public Library. Copies will also be available
for listening at city hall and the fire station during the Gilbert 125
celebration. |
