1927-1938

1927, Jan 18 Frances and Lawrence were granted an Interlocutory Judgment of Divorce

They sold their house to a neighbor, Mr. Gow. The same one that gave them their first ride in his touring car, he had even taken them to Santa Monica. Gow tore the house down and built a bigger one, then sold it. Lawrence went to a boarding house on S. Marengo and transferred to the Alhambra Post Office. Frances and the kids moved to 1066 Morado Pl. almost in Altadena off Lake Ave. They didn’t stay long, she then moved to N. Parkwood close to Colorado St. The three boys went to The Children’s Training Society boarding school on Del Mar (later the Sycamores in Altadena), probably because Frances was at her wits end. It was here that son Lawrence Wilson got the nickname “Pete”, when Lawrence moved in a kid named Peter Lawrence had just moved out so the kids called him “Pete.” Frances worked hard six days a week; on Sunday she and Florence would visit the boys. Around this time Lawrence may have traded Postal Routes with a fellow in Arizona.

There is a diary for 1928, somewhere. ed.

Douglas with a project at Morado Place

A year or so later Frances and the kids moved into a house on Howard St. and settled down to the single parent life. Frances was very dependable; she worked for different people each day, usually six days a week, got home at 4:30. The kids went to Washington Elementary and then McKinley Jr. High. Choir practice was Thursday night, when Florence got older she went to the regular Choir practice on Fridays. The boys had paper routes, coasted down hill to pick up their papers at the new Star News Building at Los Robles then pump up hill to their routes. They brought their paychecks home to mom. Frances did the Laundry for All Saints, the vestments, choir robes, etc.

As thing settled down the boys would spend their weekends with Pop; Echo Park for boat rides, the Ostrich Farm –do things; Florence would stay home with Mom.

Things were amicable between Mom and Pop, there were undoubtedly problems but they didn’t show. Lawrence said he wouldn’t marry as long as Frances was alive. He also made his weekly financial support.

Lawrence on his mail route

From the time son, George, could write; Lawrence corresponded with him regularly.

(I think every other week, ed.)

George Eastwood, age 18

Lawrence kept close tabs on the folks back home in England, there is evidence of this in photographs and memorabilia.

Doug and Warwick began their love affair with the automobile

in 1930-1931 when they were 14 years old.

The boys with their first car

For the 1932 Olympic Ceremonies at the Rose Bowl

Florence portrayed a scholar.

1933, 1934, 1936 was Graduation time for the kids

1936, Aug.1 Son Warwick married Millie Harnetiaux.

1936, Oct.10 Daughter Florence married Fred Vance

Fred, Flo and Mary Vance, Easter 1938

1937, Nov.10 Frances died during Goiter Surgery at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena

Age 54. She is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Altadena.

In Pasadena she was a member of All Saint’s Episcopal Church and the Daughters of the British Empire.

Douglas and ‘Pete’ were living with their mother when she died. Douglas and Warwick had jobs, they paid her final expenses and divided her things between them.

1937, Dec.21 Son ‘Pete’ married Yvonne Graff.

1938, Feb.12 Son Douglas married June Lacey at Bethany Church, Sierra Madre.

1938/1939 Lawrence (age 54) would go dancing. At the Women’s Club (Sierra Madre Blvd. & Colorado) during a Saturday Night Dance he met Sarah French. Sarah worked as a maid for a family that lived in the Vista del Arroyo.

April 1938, Lawrence at his residence, 288 S. Marengo