Doug Growing Up

Dec 1965

Doug in 8th Grade April 1968

Douglas James Hanson, April 19, 1970 15 years old

Jackson Citizen - Introducing New Jacksonians

Abt 1968 Fire in the Hole

My dad used to burn the grass and trash in the back yard. He used gasoline to help get things started. (These days we just use Boy Scout water to do the same thing) He would splash on some gas, strike a match at a distance and throw it hoping to catch a wet spot and poof, it would be in full flames.

Doug and I became pretty good pyrotechnics at the ripe old age of 13. We cut grass for about 5 neighbors in the summer and one of them, the Gilcrest family had a big pile of brush in the back. As I recall it was about 15’ x 40’ and about 6’ tall. We asked if they would like it burned and we were given permission. If they only knew! We used about a half gallon of gas to get it prepped, then we let it ferment a few minutes, and then we did the match thing. It took about 5 matches being thrown for us to hit a wet spot. Vavoom, the pile took off like a rocket. It lifted about 10’ off the ground and was in a fierce flaming mode when it hit the ground. The fruit trees close by were getting torched and we kept looking at the rear windows to see if they were looking out at us. Phew, they never said anything and we learned not to use so much gas next time.

Abt 1967 What are good neighbors for?

Us kids used to play all kinds of games in our back yards. Football, baseball, tag, hide and seek, cowboys and Indians, etc. One day we were shooting arrows and thought it might be fun to shoot them straight up and see how close we could have them land next to us. Good thing we were poor shots, else several of us would have split personalities. We used to have bee-bee guns that we would shoot at each other. One time I shot Danny King right between the eyes at about 30 paces. We thought we might switch to something else after that.

Abt 1965 Rabbit Trick

We grew up with woods and large fields behind our home. We would go hunting with my dad. He was a much better teacher than we were students. Doug and I would crunch-crunch as we walked and you could hear nothing when my dad walked. I remember one time we were walking ahead and BOOM behind us, my dad shot a rabbit. We did not even see it when we walked by.

Pearl's Family

Pearl's Mom: Amalie, Pearl's sister: Alma, Pearl, and Rudy holding David Hanson

Rudy, Alma's husband: Phil Kelly, Phil's mom: Enid, Alma and Pearl
3 children: Tim Kelly, David and Doug Hanson

Sitten' on the Dock at the Bay...

Darlene, Pearl, Pierre the Poodle, Darrell and Doug Hanson-
Possibly Luddington Michigan
1965

Abt 1967 Endless Equipment

Since Dad (Rudy) worked at Yard Man, our family was used as the unofficial test family for mower abuse.

We got a new mower just about every week. One time we had one named the Mustang. We would pull wheelies down the road so often that we wore the metal hitch off the rear of the mower. Another time we decided to cut a path in the back field that belonged to Mr. McCain. We cut about a mile long path over roughly 100 acres. At the beginning of the summer we started with grass and weeds about 3ft tall and by the end of the summer we had very green short grass that we ran mini bikes, snow mobiles, lawn mowers, go carts and yes, foot traffic on.

Abt 1969 Hamster Tracks?

Our home partially burned one day and the entire home was filled with soot. What a mess. When the fire department left and we were able to wander through the house, we noticed hamster tracks in a long trail. We ran to the top of the upstairs to find Puffy #?? still wired in his cage.

The funny thing about these tracks were that they were on the ceiling. It was clear that little feet with a touch of the little tail dragging behind them made the tracks, but we to this day do not know how they got there? Maybe one of the previous Puffy’s came to visit?

3 Generations of Egor

From Dar -- 

Doug, Matt and Grandpa Rudy

I'm adding this photo to Ethan's awesome story -- Here is Ethan's Uncle Doug, his cousin Matt and his Grandpa Rudy doing "3 Generations of Egor" on the back porch at Pioneer Drive.  Dad used to scare the hell out of us and we loved it!  I can remember mom saying "Now Cholly (Mom's nickname for dad), don't get those kids all wound up before bedtime". No such luck!  Mom and Dad both enjoyed their grand kids. 

I think each "Egor victim" should post his/her favorite hiding place during this Hanson ritual.  This game was also called "Shut Out the Lights".  Great story Ethan! 

OX AUNTIE DAR" (My favorite hiding spot was under the coats in the broom closet in the kitchen!) 

Thanksgiving on Pioneer Drive

Our front yard in winter

Our backyard in winter 

FROM DAR HANSON, daughter and 2nd child of Rudy and Pearl Hanson)

(Pioneer Drive Thanksgivings included Rudy, Pearl, Dave, Dar, Doug,
Darrell and later Dean Hanson/Uncle Phil, Aunt Alma, cousins Tim, April
& Bridget Kelly- PEARL & ALMA are sisters...)

MY MEMORIES:

-Us kids sledding at the "canyon" before dinner...(back when it snowed big in November!)

-Those toasty hugs from mom coming in from the cold...

-Dad wiggling the turkey legs to test for doneness.. he always said "just how I like it- falling apart!" (yah swede)

-Mom scouring the house into oblivion the week before (das German).

-The 'kids table' that you never seem to graduate from..."maybe next year" Aunt Alma sympathized...

-The chairs all matched with a piano bench here, & a phone book there....

-"Helping" mom pick out the linens from the linen closet...

-Dad hauling out the extra "table leaves" from the front hall closet...

-Mom's "golden wheat" pattern on the good dishes...

-Itchy sweaters....

-Aunt Alma & cousins Ape and Brigee bringing the DEE- licious pies made all the way from scratch...

-Uncle Phil's cool car where the doors opened like a limosine!

-The roasting bird driving us nuts...how the adults tortured us kids by "visiting" for what seem like HOURS before we could dig in...(if we had it our way, we'd just knock each other on the shoulder, show off any new toys and EAT..)

What are YOUR childhood memories?? 

"THE KID'S TABLE"  MY COUSINS BRIDGET KELLY, APRIL KELLY (ALMA'S GIRLS) & DAR HANSON- THANKSGIVING ABOUT 1968

 "THE MIESKE SISTERS" PEARL MIESKE HANSON & ALMA MIESKE KELLY- LATE 60'S

 MY FATHER RUDY DOING THE DISHES- PIONEER DRIVE

L to R STANDING: GRANDMA MIESKE, APRIL KELLY,  TIM KELLY, DAVE HANSON, MOM PEARL HANSON, DOUG HANSON, OUR UNCLE PHIL KELLY (ALMAS HUBBY)- BOTTOM SEATED L to R: BRIDGET KELLY, DEAN HANSON, AUNT ALMA KELLY &  DARRELL HANSON- THANKSGIVING PIONEER DR. ABOUT 1967

L TO R: RUDY HANSON, OUR UNCLE ROBERT HANSON, OUR COUSIN TIM KELLY, HIS DAD OUR UNCLE PHIL KELLY- FRONT DOUG HANSON, DARRELL HANSON- THANKSGIVING ABOUT 1965 ON PIONEER DRIVE.

 FROM BOTTOM TO LEFT: APRIL KELLY, BRIDGET KELLY, DAVE HANSON, DEAN HANSON (IN HIGH CHAIR), TIM KELLY & DARRELL HANSON- THANKSGIVING ON PIONEER DRIVE ABOUT 1967..

Family Picnic RUDY BURGERS!

FROM DAR HANSON

(for Hanson eyes only!)

One Father's Day I surprised my dad with a new Weber Grill. Shortly after,  "RUDY BURGERS" were born.  Rudy Burgers are always served with "secret formula" potato salad. I tried in vain to peek over Dad's shoulder to find out how he made both- other than the opening and closing of alot of cupboards, the only thing he told me was "potatoes can take A LOT of salt"...ok Dad-  anyway they were killer and we miss Dad manning the grill...here's the recipes we deduced: (BROTHERS: please correct any of this I missed)

The SECRET INGREDIENT for RUDY BURGERS was this awful liver powder, but I swear it made those burgers tender and juicy and full of flavor...

DAD'S FAMOUS "RUDY BURGERS" 

  -Couple lbs (and a 1/2) of hamburger
  -1 raw egg
 - Dried Onion Flakes
 - Season Salt
 - Dried Parsley
 - Dash Kitchen Bouquet (liquid)
 - (THE SECRET) Couple tablespoons desiccated liver powder. 
- Lots onion & garlic powder
 - Celery Salt 
 - Pepper
 - Big blob of Ketchup
 - Squirt of Mustard 

- Mix together with a ** LIGHT HAND ** so meat doesn't get tough

-Shape into patties

-Poke an indentation in center of each

-Place patties between wax paper and leave in fridge on a plate for a few hours to blend flavors

-Bring to room temp before grillin' 'em up. 

DADS FAMOUS "SECRET FORMULA" POTATO SALAD

-Boil peeled, cut up  Idahos

While taters are still warm, BUT NOT COMPLETELY COOLED, add:
-*Lots* a onion and celery salt

-Garlic Powder

-Pepper

-Miracle Whip

-Mustard

-Dash of white Vinegar

-Dried Onion Flakes

-Bottle of Kraft French Dressing (old fashion bright orange kind -- NOT Red Russian)-Chopped hard boiled eggs

Salad will be kind of soupy, but will absorb flavors and some liquid as it cools. cover in fridge.  Decorate with rounds of hard boiled eggs, cover with paprika and dried parsley.  Stick in Mom's big serving spoon before talking it out to the table.

Put word out to family and friends, set the picnic table on the porch with Mom's red and white checkered tablecloth, her old Melmac "picnic" dishes and plastic glasses, set out a jar of sweet pickles, ketchup, mustard, a bag of super soft Holsum Ham "Burgler" Buns, (bread for the kids), a plate of hot buttered corn from Dad's garden, Frito's and pop.  

Pile the burgers up on the side of the black Weber on the outdoor patio.  Those guests who are new to the game will try to get recipes from Dad.  Dad smiles and repeats two words -- "Secret Formula".  Mom will push vanilla or chocolate ice cream from big round paper tubs (Clark the milkman delivered) for dessert.  

(LATER)..Man, I'm full! 

Dean, Gramma Pearl, Billy George (Doug's best bud), and Brian Hanson

 L to R: Karen & Darrell, Kathy, Doug, Brian, Sherri, Dean, Gramma Pearl, Grandpa Rudy on our porch in Jackson, Mich- about '87

Pearl in front, Dar (standing), the rest Dean's buddies..)