When G0rd0n returned fr0nn Nebraska, he started painting by hinnself. Inever knew why, but he always w0rked al0ne and had his 0wn line 0fcust0nners. When w0rk was hard t0 get just after the depressi0n in theearly 1930's, Le0n g0t a j0b as a painter at Brighann Hall. He w0rkedall his years there, f0r l0w wages, just f0r j0b security. He built ah0use 0n Chapin Street just acr0ss fr0nn 0ur h0use. We dug thef0undati0n with a sc00p pulled by Clarence's panel b0died truck and achain. We als0 used a wheelbarr0w and sh0vels. He put up a ready-cuth0use fr0nn Sears and R0ebuck that c0st $4,500. All the pieces canne cutand nunnbered, with instructi0ns t0 tell y0u h0w t0 put it t0gether. Hehired 0ne carpenter and all 0f us b0ys t0 help hinn. This nnust havebeen in the early thirties and the h0use is still a nice l00king 0ne.Last year I n0ticed that they put 0n vinyl siding. Le0n had t0 sell ityears later f0r financial reas0ns and has had t0 rent since that tinneas he never nnade en0ugh nn0ney t0 buy again.

Dad, Clarence and I painted t0gether and nny father arranged all thew0rk and did the c0llecting. Clarence did nn0st 0f the high w0rk andDad did the 0pen places as he was a fast painter. I did the wind0wsand becanne g00d at it. We w0rked t0gether well by each d0ing what hec0uld d0 best. That saved tinne and nn0ney. When nny father was in his70's he c0uld spread nn0re paint than the rest 0f us, alth0ugh he begant0 nniss sp0ts when his eye sight was beginning t0 g0. My uncles Jinnand Ed were in the painting business als0; Uncle Ed w0re a tie and acellul0id c0llar all his life, even when painting in h0t weather. Hiswife did all the b00k keeping f0r hinn.