Gladys Hoyt to celebrate 100th birthday years ago
Gladys Hoyt, who served as librarian at the Peabody Carnegie Library for 34 years, from 1936 to 1970, will be 100 years old Dec. 31. Her many cousins from the Baker and the Potter-Berns families are celebrating with her Dec. 30 at Peabody Community Living Center.
Hoyt's ancestors came early to Peabody from Wisconsin and Michigan. Her great-grandfather, Edwin Hoyt, was a merchant with stores in Peabody and Plum Grove. (Plum Grove, about eight miles south of Peabody, was the community notorious for Frederic Remington's misguided prank of yelling "FIRE!" at the Christmas Eve school program.)
Hoyt lived with her parents, Grace (Walton) Hoyt and Lucien Hoyt in the large two-story house at 310 N. Walnut. The home always had a large Boston fern in the front window. The porch gatherings found neighbor men rocking and smoking cigars as they discussed politics and the condition of the world as they knew it. Many single teachers roomed in the home after her mother's death.
A 1922 Peabody High School graduate, Hoyt remembers many trips to Emporia on the train as a member of the PHS Glee Club. She tells of picnics at Grinell's Grove, two and half miles east of Peabody, and at the Doyle Creek bridge area on South Walnut. Picnic fare in those days was bacon instead of hot dogs. Chautauquas were a summer highlight.
As a young woman, Hoyt baby-sat, helped in the Presbyterian church primary department, and cared for her invalid mother.
Family say Hoyt is direct and has an independent streak. An example is the story of her driving. Her father had died and her mother needed to go to the doctor. There was no driver available, but Lucien Hoyt's Reo was in the garage.
"Mom, I'll drive you," she told her mother.
"Gladys, you've never driven a car," said her mother.
"But I can," Hoyt answered.
So she found the car keys, went out back to the garage, started the car, drove back and forth in the alley several times, and took her mother to the doctor!
Hoyt's brother, Walton, was a KU graduate, a competent musician, and a lifelong civil service employee in Washington, D.C. After he retired to Florida, Hoyt enjoyed traveling cross country to see him. She preferred bus trips so she could see the country and visit with passengers.
Family members enjoyed the brownies and blueberry/pineapple salad she would bring to the gatherings.
Her interests include family, local news, and University of Kansas athletics.
Though hard of hearing, she keeps up on Peabody Community Living Center activities and visitors. She also works cross-out word puzzles and pieces quilt blocks.
Cards and greetings may be sent to her at Peabody Community Living Center, 407 North Locust, Peabody KS 66866.
Hoyt's brother, Walton, was a KU graduate, a competent musician, and a lifelong civil service employee in Washington, D.C. After he retired to Florida, Hoyt enjoyed traveling cross country to see him. She preferred bus trips so she could see the country and visit with passengers.
Family members enjoyed the brownies and blueberry/pineapple salad she would bring to the gatherings.
Her interests include family, local news, and University of Kansas athletics.
Though hard of hearing, she keeps up on Peabody Community Living Center activities and visitors. She also works cross-out word puzzles and pieces quilt blocks.
Cards and greetings may be sent to her at Peabody Community Living Center, 407 North Locust, Peabody KS 66866
