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Sweetie in Lacona, Iowa
(Fall 1948)
This is the online photo album of Sweetie, Lew, and Lewis in Lacona, Iowa in fall 1948. This album features the only photos of the home that Sweetie and Lew were living in during that season (which they had been repairing), and the photos that Lew took of Dr. Chester Demaree's family farm. These are the only known photos to survive from this time period of that subject.

Sweetie's House in Lacona (Front)
Sweetie and Lew attempted to repair this large home in Lacona, Iowa so they could live there for an unknown amount of time.
Lew noted for this image "This is our home taken from the front. [N]ote the small building in the back. [T]hat was before the Haloweeners got to it.
Lew noted for this image "This is our home taken from the front. [N]ote the small building in the back. [T]hat was before the Haloweeners got to it.

Sweetie's House in Lacona (Back)
This is a photo of Sweetie's home in Lacona from the back.
Lew notes for this photo "This is taken from the south or rear. [N]ote the vines on the back porch."
Lew notes for this photo "This is taken from the south or rear. [N]ote the vines on the back porch."

Sweetie's Combination Outhouse
This is the combination outhouse that Lew built for their house in Lacona. Sweetie mentions in a letter in September 1948 that they are digging the pit, which dates this photo to approximately November 1948 (when taking into consideration details on other photos and commentary from other letters).
This is a combination outhouse, featuring a shower. The taller section is the shower, and the smaller section is a changing area. Note that Sweetie's son, Lewis, is standing in the doorway.
Lew wrote for this photo "This is our shower bath that I worked on when we first came here. [T]he small part is for changing your clothes in. [T]he high part is the shower. NOTE THE BOY."
This is a combination outhouse, featuring a shower. The taller section is the shower, and the smaller section is a changing area. Note that Sweetie's son, Lewis, is standing in the doorway.
Lew wrote for this photo "This is our shower bath that I worked on when we first came here. [T]he small part is for changing your clothes in. [T]he high part is the shower. NOTE THE BOY."

Lewis in Lacona
This image is of Sweetie's son, Lewis, who at this point has just turned three years old. He is standing in front of the combination outhouse that his parents worked on. Notice the curtain in the doorway for the changing room.
Lew wrote for this photo "Do you think he has grown much? [H]e sure does talk good. [T]oo good."
Lew wrote for this photo "Do you think he has grown much? [H]e sure does talk good. [T]oo good."

The Schoolhouse near the Demaree Farm (Side)
This one-room schoolhouse bordered on Dr. Demaree's farm, about 3 miles south of Lacona.
Lew wrote of this photo "This is the little school house on the farm. [W]e hope to be able to move in and add to it before very long. [N]ote the bell stand out in front of the door."
Lew wrote of this photo "This is the little school house on the farm. [W]e hope to be able to move in and add to it before very long. [N]ote the bell stand out in front of the door."

The Schoolhouse near the Demaree Farm (Front)
This one-room schoolhouse bordered on Dr. Demaree's farm.
Lew wrote of this photo "The same school house. [T]he building on the right is the coal shed."
Lew wrote of this photo "The same school house. [T]he building on the right is the coal shed."

The Path to the Orchard
This was one of the paths on the Demaree Farm that led to Dr. Demaree's orchard.
Lew wrote of this photo "The same pile, note some on the other side too we had 400 altogeather [sp], The Orchard is at the end of this path."
Lew is referring to the log pile that can be seen in the left of the photo.
Lew wrote of this photo "The same pile, note some on the other side too we had 400 altogeather [sp], The Orchard is at the end of this path."
Lew is referring to the log pile that can be seen in the left of the photo.

The Log Pile
This log pile was on the side of one of Dr. Demaree's paths to his orchard. The logs were there as a fence was being built.
Lew wrote of this photo "There are a hundred posts there and they have to be put in before the first snow fall."
Lew wrote of this photo "There are a hundred posts there and they have to be put in before the first snow fall."

The Pond
This ground-view image is of the pond on Dr. Demaree's farm.
Lew simply notes this photo is of "The pond."
Lew simply notes this photo is of "The pond."

The Haystack
This is a large haystack that was on Dr. Demaree's farm.
Lew writes of this photo "Our hay stack. [N]ote that cover to keep it dry."
Lew writes of this photo "Our hay stack. [N]ote that cover to keep it dry."

The Tractor
This tractor was on the Demaree Farm. It does not seem that it was in use, and it looks like it would have been quite difficult to get it out of the woods. The brand of the tractor can be read on its side "Farmall."
Lew wrote on this photo "This is our tractor not so very good picture but you can get the idea."
Lew wrote on this photo "This is our tractor not so very good picture but you can get the idea."

Dr. Demaree's Calves
This photo is of Dr. Demaree's four cows that lived on his farm.
Lew wrote for this photo "And these are our calves that's Annabella looking at you. [W]e call her Annabella, because she wears a bell around her neck."
Lew wrote for this photo "And these are our calves that's Annabella looking at you. [W]e call her Annabella, because she wears a bell around her neck."

"Annabella" the Cow
This is a photograph of one of Dr. Demaree's three heifers, named "Annabella."
Lew wrote of this photo "This is Annabella again see the strap around her neck."
Annabella was named for the bell she wore around her neck, as noted by Lew in another photo.
Lew wrote of this photo "This is Annabella again see the strap around her neck."
Annabella was named for the bell she wore around her neck, as noted by Lew in another photo.

"Chuck" the Steer
This is a photo of the steer on Dr. Demaree's farm, named "Chuck."
Lew wrote of this photo "This is "Chuck" our steer. [T]hree are heifers and one steer."
Lew wrote of this photo "This is "Chuck" our steer. [T]hree are heifers and one steer."

Dr. Demaree's Calves, from the top of Lew's Car
This is a photo that Lew took of the Dr. Demaree's four calves while standing on the roof of his car.
He wrote of this photo "I took this from the top of my car. [S]ee the cake of salt in the background."
He wrote of this photo "I took this from the top of my car. [S]ee the cake of salt in the background."
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