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Family Stories
A potpourri of stories about various family members or events
Life in Our Trailer Home
When our family lived in the Ann Arbor (Michigan) region, we lived in a trailer in a trailer court. I was born after my family had been there for about a year and a half. We moved to St. Cloud after my father's spring semester at the University of Michigan. (You may wish to read the Leaving Michigan story about the time before Michigan and where we first moved in St. Cloud, as well as why we moved.) I don't have any memories from Michigan, but I do have some memories about living in the trailer that we parked in our grandfather's farm yard. This story focuses on this trailer.
Our trailer in about 1960/61, with the machine shed on the left. Al and Lou are shown.
I was likely three or less when we moved into this trailer. My clearest memory is of the bedroom where I slept. It was a very small bedroom. A three-level bunk-bed took up most of the space. There must have been a dresser in the room, but I don't recall that. I do remember that Keith slept on the top level, Ken on the second level, and I slept on the bottom level. That is, until Louie was old enough to join me in this bottom bed. Sometimes we slept with both heads at the same end (likely when it was colder to keep us covered better), but sometimes we also slept with his feet by my face, and conversely. Yes, that was fun. But it was only for 2 or 3 years!
My parents had their own bedroom, but Becky did not. At her bedtime, my parents put her to sleep on their bed. Then, when they were ready to go to bed, they would move her to sleep out on the couch.
When Mom became pregnant with Bruce, I am guessing my parents began thinking about the need for a solution to this "shrinking" trailer. By the early summer after Bruce was born, work began on building a home just north of Grandpa's home. During those months after Bruce was born, I am guessing that Bruce stayed in my parents' bedroom during the night, but I don't know. Maybe one of my older siblings does.
I have a general memory of our kitchen and dining area, but of only two specific events. Otherwise, I don't recall a lot.
If you wish to read a related story about an experience of mine in this trailer, check out First Call Answered.
Published 2026-02-19.
If you find any errors in the text, please let me know. Thanks. Contact me with errors or comments using hibbardac@gmail.com. [Back to the top] [About the author, Al]