The Story of 20 North Ora

 

 

This is the real story of 20 North Ora and where the name of my blog came from.

 

The U.S. Government built 500 prefab houses in Pryor, OK during the war because outside of Pryor was the ammunition plant which produced the gun powder for the war.

An article came out that 25 Veterans could buy one of these houses after the war was over.  They called them Chouteau Court Houses because of the area they were built in.

 

My Dad came home from the Army and just months afterward, this announcement came out.  Mom & Dad applied and were one of the lucky 25 couples to be able to buy a house.

 

They bought a lot in Pryor for $250.00 in 1947 and paid $1200.00 for the house.  They had to build the foundation, sewer system, etc. themselves.

 

This house was 30 x 24 feet and had a living room, two bedrooms, one bath and a kitchen.

 



 Now, you must realize that in the next few years, this family of three would grow to six and then eventually seven.  All in this two bedroom home.

 

My Mom and Dad worked so hard.  Mom always was a stay-at-home Mom. When I started the First Grade, Mom was expecting her fourth child the first of October.  They had a hard time keeping me in school because I was afraid I was going to miss the baby #4 coming.

 

So, they told me if I would stay in school, I could name the baby whatever I wanted.

 

If you remember in the First Grade we had readers that were stories about Dick and Jane and Spot the dog.  So, my parents prayed every night that I wouldn't name my baby sister Spot.

 

I didn't.  I named her Jane.

 

The Smith family ended up with four girls.  I am the oldest, then Jean, then Rita and then Jane. 

 

At one time, I had a twin bed, Jeannie and Rita were both in cribs and we were all in the same room.  Jane was in a crib in Mom and Dad's room.

 

Then, Mom and Dad built on two more bedrooms on the back of the house because my Nana was coming to live with us.

 

This fairy tale story continued and for 57 years, we never had a Christmas Eve that we were not all at 20 North Ora.

 

So, this is why the name is so special to me.  It was here that I learned to sew, and do handwork.  So, the name was so fitting.

 

The pictures are of the front of the house and Mom's beloved Elephant Ears on the side of the house.

 

The sign at the top was on their front porch until we sold the house after they had both passed away.  It now hangs over the back door of my home.

 

Enjoy!

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!!  Today is the last day to enter.  Giveaway is tomorrow!!

Till next time, Judy