Harold Eugene Shields Santa Days

Harold Eugene Shields

Santa Claus 

“Unlike the story of Virginia, I believed in Santa Claus and still do.  Every year for Christmas all the grade school children in Magna were invited to a Christmas party at Kennecott Copper.  We would watch the Christmas story of the “Littlest Angel” and Santa would give us Christmas stockings filled with candy and small toys.  For several years Santa would always know my name when I went through the line to see him.  When I was about twelve years old my Mother had to have the “Santa Claus” talk with me.  She told me of Santa’s special helpers, who put on the red suit and visited the boys and girls at our school’s Christmas party.  During the talk Mom told me that my Dad was one of Santa’s special helpers and he would be wearing the red suit at our school’s Christmas party and had done so for the last couple of years.  Now I know how he knew my name.  She was worried I would recognize my father and would say something to my younger brothers and my friends.  At the Christmas season for the next several years I helped my father put on the red suit and helped him prepare for the Christmas parade and visits he made.  Christmas always reminds me of Santa Claus and his helpers that give freely or their time and talents to bring joy to the hearts of men”

-Linda Taylor

30 November 2005. 

I was little upset at my mother for telling me about Santa and at 63 years old I still remember the day she broke the news to me. 

My mother, Lorraine Coon Shields, loving made my father’s Santa suit out of red velvet.  Many years after mom made the Santa suit dad was getting ready to take a load of junk to the dump and he put the Santa Claus suit in the pile.  My mother was angry about my father taking the suit to the dump and every time she would think about she would have to tell the story again and again of the beautiful Santa suit that Shag took to the dump.

 

 

Santa is standing in the living room of Harold and Lorraine Shields home at 2859 South 8500 West, Magna, Utah

 

Santa at a family Christmas party in Dec 1962 at the home of Harold and Lorraine Shields at 2859 South 8500 West, Magna, Utah. Eugene built in the basement and was very proud of his knotty pine and the checker pattern wood walls. That is Ruth Coon, mother of Lorraine Shields standing behind Santa. I think Jerry Shields is the boy talking to Santa

 

 

 

This almost looks like my grandparents, Amos and Dorothea Shields home.  The windows and drapes look like the ones in their dining room.

 

 

Newspaper article

Harold Eugene Newspapers

Harold Eugene Shields

Newspapers 

I found 3 newspaper clippings that I would like to share.  They are in not very good shape and will be hard to read. 

The first one is of dad being Santa Clause. The photo could have been taken approximately 1962 and might have been in the Magna Times.  There are several children with him and it looks like they are winners of some kind of contest. When I found the newspaper clipping it was wadded up and torn.

 

The second photo could have also been in the Magna Times and I would guess the date was approximately 1959 – 1962. The photo caption reads: “H.E. Shields, G. W. Alldredge and James Coulson, left to right, continue to picket copper industry operations Friday pending ratification of agreements reached between unions and management. Work won’t resume until after union membership votes to accept contract terms.

 

The third article is about elections in 9 districts of Magna, Utah.  It could have also been in the Magna Times approximately 1963-1968.  I can remember my dad being involved in politics for a short time, but never understood what he was involved in.

“Magna Elected Council Committees Named; Town Work Moves Forward”

 

Caption under picture 1:  COMMITTEE NAMES: In charge of Constitution and By-Laws of newly enacted Magna Elected Council are left to right, Jimmie Hales, Eugene Shields, Earl Clegg, Rex Conradsen, and seated Kent Bowen, Chairman Dick Monsen has ben named secretary-treasurer 

Caption under picture 1:  HEAD ELECTION – Of the proposed Magna Elected Council are left to right Arthur Curtis, Carl Kohler, Mrs. Villa Williams, Don Thomas, Bernell Day, chairman.  These residents will proceed with arrangements to conduct an election for the nine districts which embrace Magna from 7200 West to 9200 West. They will shortly announce election dates.

 

Harold Eugene Shields Army Days

Harold Eugene Shields

The Army

 

Eugene served in the army for 15 months from November 16, 1945 to February 19, 1947. In his Separation Qualification Record it shows he was Private for 2 months as a Engineers Basic (521) and a Sargent for 13 months as a Military Police (677). He did 5 months 15 days of Continental Service and 9 months 29 days of Foreign Service. 

Eugene reported to the Local Draft Board #15.  On his draft card it is marked that he was Commissioned 11/16/45 – AFIS Ft. Douglas, Utah.  He was single and his parents were Amos Kenneth Shields and Dorothea Louise Kinnomd Shields who lived at 17 B and C Row, Magna, Utah.

 

On the Separation Qualification Record under “Title-Description-Relayed Civilian Occupation” it state:

“Military Policeman;

Was stationed at Frankfurt, German, with the 381^st M P Service Battalion.  Worked as railway guard, guarding American supplies.  Carried a .45 caliber carbine, and automatic pistal.” 

On Eugene’s Separation papers it is recorded under “Decorations and Citations”:  Victory Medal   Army of Occupation Medal Germany.  His place of separation was Fort Sheridan, Illinois. 

When dad went into the Army World War II was at an end and he served in occupied Germany.  

When I found dad’s US European Theater Hunting and Fishing License For Land Greater Hesse for the period of 1 April 1965 – 31 March 1947, I had to laugh. The man that loved to fish and hunt had a fishing and hunting license while in Germany serving in the Army.  The License Number was F-5238. It was issued to Shields, Harold E. Pfc 39948338 Unit 381^st MP BN CO A Apo 757.  One of the regulations I found interesting was “Full automatic weapons will not be used, nor will the carbine cal. 30 be used to hunt deer or larger game.” What you cannot use your machine gun to hunt deer. The other regulation I found interesting was: “Dead game will not be left in the forest, but will be turned over to Army messes.”

 

 

 Eugene & his dad Amos

 

 Eugene and his mother Dorothea

 

 Eugene & sister Shirley

 

 Eugene & Lorraine

 

 Photos & Messages sent to Lorraine

 

 Hunting License

 

 

Harold Eugene Shields High School

Harold Eugene Shields

High School 

Harold Eugene grew up near Toronto, Ohio and moved to Magna, Utah when he was a teenager.  His family moved to Magna, Utah when his father, Amos Kenneth Shields was offered a job at Kennecott Copper Corporation in the Power Plant. In a newspaper article announcing Dorothea and Amos Shields 50th Wedding Anniversary it states they moved to Utah in 1943. On a job application Eugene filled out in 1973 he states under the heading of “Education” that he went to Roosevelt Grade School for 8 years, Toronto High School 2 ½ years and Cyprus High School for 1 ½ years. Eugene’s pictures are in the Toronto High School Year Book for 1943 and the Cyprus High School’s Year Books for 1944 and 1945.

I once heard dad tell a story about riding to Utah on the running boards of their car.  He also told about the many flat tires they had in their trip.

I cannot imagine how hard it was for dad to leave his friends and family in Ohio to move to Utah and start in a new high school.  In his Cyprus Year Book of 1944 a friend wrote:

5/18/44

Dear Gene,

   We’ve had a lot of fun together these last four months and I hope it can go on.  I know you don’t like Utah or the people in it, and I’m sorry, but maybe one of these day’s you can go back to the people you love.

   I want to wish you all the luck in the world although I know you don’t need it either because you have what it takes.

As ever,

Barbara Harris

Sophomore “44” 

Over the years dad learned to love Utah, especially the mountains.  When I picture him he is either with a dog or fishing or sitting quietly watching birds in the trees.

Listed under Senior Accomplishments in the 1945 Cyprus High Yearbook:

Eugene Shields

Electricity Club, 45; Football, 45; Psychology Club, 45; A.B.S., 44-45 

I think the 45 and 46 under Senior Accomplishments represent the year and not the page number. 

Lorraine and Gene started dating in their Senior Year of High School. In the1945 Cyprus Yearbook Lorraine writes to Gene:
 

“Although we never started going together until the end of school you made my senior year the happiest to remember, and in you I have found what I expected and wanted of a boy.  Honey there is no one I’d rather spend my time with, you’ve always something interesting stored up to do.  I said interesting, even if I’m not very agreeable.”

Gene and Lorraine loved to hear the big bands play and dance at Saltair located on the Great Salt Lake.

Harold Eugene Shields graduated from Cyprus High School May 17, 1945. World War II was raging while he was in high school.  The dates for World War II were 1939 – 1945.  The United States became involved in 1941.  In May of 1945 the war ended.  This colored the activities that went on in high school. Dad’s high school year book reflects the war years.

The theme for the seniors was “Seniors, What is Your Contribution To God, To Country, and To Humanity?” In mid-year the class president left for the Navy and they had to replace the class president. The students sponsored fund raisers for War Bonds and Stamps. The students also collected dimes to aid in the fight against Polio.

1943 Toronto High School Yearbook

 

 

1944 Cyprus High School Yearbook

 

 

Barbara Harris wrote in yearbook

 

 

 

1945 Cyprus High School Yearbook

 

Picture not in Yearbook.  About 18




Electrical Class



Psychology Club




Vocational Training

 
 

Lorraine Coon's message to him in his 1945 Cyprus High School Yearbook



 

 





Harold Eugene Shields Middle Years

Harold Eugene Shields

The Middle Years

I do not know much about dad as a child, I never ask him questions about his growing up years.  He did tell me that he would go live with his aunt and uncle on work on the farm, but I do not know which aunt and uncle.

These are pictures of Eugene in his youth.

 

Eugene and his sister Shirley

Bike Eugene won

 

Harold Eugene Shields - The Younger Years

Harold Eugene Shields

The Younger Years

Harold Eugene Shields was born at 9:00 A.M. on August 16, 1927 to Amos K. Shields (Amos Kenneth Shields) and Dorothea S. Kinemond (Dorothea Louise Kinemond).  Harold was born in Toronto, Jefferson County, Ohio.  On his “Certificate of Birth” it states that Amos K Shields was a Laborer born in Salem, Ohio and was 21 years old.  Dorothea S. Kinemond was a old housewife born in Hickory, PA and was 17 years old.

Harold Eugene Shields went by the name of Eugene or Gene.  His nickname was Shag.  When I was growing up my father would answer to Eugene, Gene or Shag.  I don’t remember him being called Harold too often.

Harold Eugene was the oldest of three children born to Amos Kenneth Shields and Dorothea Louise Kinemond.  Their children are Eugene born in 1927; Evelyn Dorthea born in 1929; and Shirley Elizabeth born in 1931.  Evelyn Dorthea died when she was six years old on November 15, 1933 of diphtheria.

His proud parents Mr. and Mr. A.K. Shields sent out a birth announcement.  They were living at 298 Stewart Street, Toronto, Ohio.

 

 The 1930 Federal Census documents Amos K Shields 27, Dorothea Shields 20, Eugene Shields 2 1/2 years, and Evelyn Shields 1 1/2 living at 266 River Avenue, Village of Toronto, Island Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio. His father Amos was working as a Fireman in a Power Plant.

 Evelyn Dorothea Shields died 15 November 1933, her death certificate has the Shields family living at 505 Clark Street, Toronto, Jefferson County, Ohio.

 The 1940 Federal Census documents Amos Shields 36, Horthea (with and X next to name the name could be Dorthea) 29, Eugene 12 and Shirley Shields 8 living at 505 Clark Street, Toronto, Knox Township, Jefferson County, Ohio. His father Amos was working as a Mechanical Control Operator in and Power Plant and his wife Dorothea was a Beauty Operator working at home. They were living at 505 Clark Street Toronto, Jefferson County, Ohio.

I am not sure what kind of child my dad was or what kind of childhood he lived.  He never talked about his past life and I did not ask him questions.  I wish I could ask him those questions now. Sometimes I get the impression that dad was a handful.

When dad was born his mother was 17 years old.  Dorothea and Amos Shields were married when Dot was 16 years old.  I once hear a story that Dot and Amos secretly got married and did not tell their families.  Amos lived at his family and Dot lived with her family until the family found out. I am not sure if this is a true story.  I do wonder what kind of mothering skills Dot had at 16.  As I think back on the interaction I saw between Dot and my dad I think she was not prepared for mothering my father.

 

The thing that amazes me is how much my brother, Jeff's childhood pictures look like my dad's pictures. They have the same color hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

Harold Eugene Shields and sister Evelyn

 

Lovely Holiday Wedding Unites Couple

Lovely Holiday Wedding Unites Local Couple

 Magna Times, Magna, Utah

Friday, January 2, 1948

 One of the prettily planned holiday events of the past week was the marriage of Miss Lorraine Coon, charming young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Coon, to Mr. Eugene Shields, son of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Shields of Magna.

 
The ceremony was performed at eight o’clock at the Shields home by Bishop J. H. Breeze in the presence of family member and intimate friends.

 The bride chose a white after-noon crepe and a corsage of orchids.  She was attended by her two sisters, Mrs. Mary Johnson, who chose grey, Mrs. Norene Lloyd who wore corsages of gardenias.

Mothers of the bride and groom were dressed in black and wore rosebud corsages.

Ferris Coon was best man.

 
The guest were greeted at the door by Mrs. Jean Coon and Mrs. Enid Coon and Miss Mildred Hardman were in in charge of the gift room.

The living and dining room were bright and colorful with holiday decorations and a large beautifully decorated Christmas tree and added a further festive touch.

The young couple are making their home in Garfield.