Island Lions Club 1951
The picture to the right was taken in 1951 at the home of my parents, Vi and Jim Llewellyn. Not sure of the exact month, but it was after April of that year.
On November 29, 1950, Dr. Farmer had very hard news to tell our Mom. That news was that she had polio. That was the day Mom’s legs quit working. She was taken off the Island in Casperson’s hearse on a very rough ride as Dad recalled. She spent the next four months in a Madison hospital along with many other polio victims.
When she got home, she was quite scared and felt helpless. She was only 25 years old and had four little ones ages 2, 4, 4, and 9. We had no well or septic and had to get our water from a pump across the road from us on Andrew Grass’ property. It was no problem before the polio, but now there was no way Mom could do this and we kids could only do so much. Dad fished and worked from 4 a.m. to o’dark-thirty. He was tough, but had his limits too.
So Mom and Dad decided they had to leave the Island and put up a For Sale sign on our home.
I’m not sure, but I believe Gunnar Nelson heard about this and gathered the Lion troops. Pictured on the forefront of the Observer is the night all of these Lions came to our home and said, “If we give you indoor water and plumbing, will you stay on the Island?”
My brother, Bill, ran outside and took down the For-Sale sign even before Mom and Dad could say yes. It was a wonderful day and generous gift. Mom and Dad lived here on the Island the rest of their lives. Dad joined the Lions and Mom and Dad were always there to give their time and support.
Our Lions are still giving to the Island in so many ways and do it by giving of their time to raise the funds that are then given to so many special needs and projects.
Thanks Lions, thanks for the memories.
–by Nancy Thiele
