Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 6, 2014

8

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 6, 2014


NED & PRINCE


LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

My dear Auntie Evelyn will be turning 101 years old 
this coming November, and believe me when I say 
that you would never know it if I hadnÔt told you. She 
is remarkably healthy for her age, and she has a Òsteel-
trapÓ memory that is as sharp as a tack! My motherÕs 
older sister, Evelyn Swallow-Leake was born in 1913 in 
Worcester, Massachusetts. She spent her teenage years 
growing up during the Great Depression, which was a rather difficult time in AmericaÕs history. On 
the other hand, it was a time that seems purely ethereal to me, at least from the way my Aunt Evelyn 
describes it. She always enjoys sharing her childhood memories with me, and I truly enjoy hearing 
them. I try to write most of what she shares with me in my journal, and I treasure them as if they were 
my own. 

 In one conversations 
I had with Aunt Evelyn, 
she recounted a very vivid 
memory of the times 
she accompanied her 
Uncle Carl Woods (my 
great uncle) on a horse-
drawn carriage, during 
his lumber deliveries 
from one area of town 
to another. Evelyn, who 
was about 12 years old at 
the time, would wait by 
the road side after school 
had let out, knowing that 
was when Uncle Carl was 
expected to pass by with a 
horse-drawn rig, towing 
a load of lumber. She rode 
along with her Uncle 
Carl on his afternoon 
deliveries until it was 
time to take the horses 
back to the barn.

 Even as a young child, 
Aunt Evelyn was an avid 
animal lover and she was 
fortunate to have had 
pets of her own. Her face 
lights up every time she reflects on her memory of showing affection to the two work horses that 
pulled the lumber truck Uncle Carl drove. She delights in remembering the fact that she made sure 
each horse got a carrot and a friendly pat on the nose before she was hoisted up and assumed her 
position up in the seat next to Carl, then off they would go. Among the many specific details that 
my aunt remembers about this experience, most amazing to me is the fact that she recalled the name 
of the company that Uncle Carl worked for at the time. It was ÒStone & Berg Lumber CompanyÓ of 
Worcester, MA. Even more amazing is the fact that Auntie remembered the names of the two horses 
that pulled the loaded lumber cart. Their names were ÒNedÓ & ÒPrinceÓ.

 The day after Aunt Evelyn shared this fascinating story with me, I decided to do a little research 
on Stone & Berg Lumber Co., just to see if there was any history available on the internet that I could 
connect to AuntieÔs childhood memory. Well, I am happy to say that my Google search rendered 
way more than I had expected to find. First of all, I was so surprised to discover that Stone & Berg 
Company is still in business! I called the phone number I found on the website, and was directed to 
the current owner of the company, Jennie Berg. Jennie was very cordial and kind, taking the time 
to listen to my story my Aunt Evelyn so vividly remembered, of having been on several Stone & Berg 
lumber delivery excursions back in the mid 1920Ôs.

 Needless to say, Jennie was as please as I was with the fact that my Auntie had such clear memories 
about the early days of the Berg familyÕs business, including such specific details as the names of the 
horses that pulled the cart and delivered the lumber. Jennie confirmed that my auntÕs memories were 
consistent with the history of their company, and amazingly accurate down to the last detail. She was 
pleased to know that Auntie Evelyn was able to remember and share her story of having been there 
when the Berg family business was in the hands of her grandfather, so many years ago!

 Soon after we talked on the phone, Jennie was thoughtful enough to send me a package of Stone & 
Berg Lumber Company memorabilia items, most important of which was a photograph of the two 
horses Auntie remembered, Ned and Prince, hitched and harnessed to a fully loaded lumber cart 
parked in front of the Stone & Berg building with a gentleman standing beside.

 I forwarded the photograph to my Aunt Evelyn as part of her Christmas package that year, and after 
comparing the face of the man in the Stone & Berg picture to a family photo taken around the same 
time, she agreed that the man standing next to the hitched horses is indeed my great Uncle Carl! I 
canÕt begin to describe how happy it made me, to bring my AuntieÔs story to life and Òfull circleÒ! All it 
took was a listening ear, a little research and a bit of random kindness from someone I have never even 
met face to face. As you can well imagine, my Aunt Evelyn and Jennie Berg were also very pleased to 
have found a bit of their own family history in a place and time where they may have least expected it!

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc


Looking For A Best Friend??

So is Faith! 

 Faith is an adorable, lovable little four year old 
black and gray terrier girl weighing about 9 lbs. 
She has a sweet, calm temperament and easy 
going energy.

 Faith is very warm and friendly to people, 
happily greets them and enjoys their company. 
This sweet girl is very loving, enjoys pets, cuddles 
and sitting on laps. She gets along well with other 
dogs, but is not demanding or competitive for 
attention. 

 Faith loves to go on walks, is very good on 
a leash and pleasant to walk with. She has a 
curious nature, loves to explore her surroundings 
and greet other dogs and people along the way. 
By far, her favorite past time is interacting with 
the person walking her.

 Faith would make a wonderful companion for 
a single person, a couple or a family. She doesnÕt 
require a big home or big yard and could easily 
live in an apartment. She just wants to be loved, 
cared for, a forever home she can call her own, 
and to go on little walks or outings with her 
family. Faith looks out from her kennel everyday 
hoping and waiting for someone to fall in love 
with her and take her home. If she sounds like 
the right companion for you, please come and 
meet her. 

 She currently resides at the San Gabriel Valley 
Humane Society located at 851 E. Grand Avenue 
in San Gabriel with her roommate. We are 
located off San Gabriel Blvd., north of Mission 
and south of Las Tunas. 

 To arrange a ÔMeet and GreetÕ with Faith, 
please stop by any time from 10:00am to 4:30pm 
Tuesday thru Sunday. 

 Her adoption fee is $120 which includes a 
microchip, spay surgery, first vaccinations 
and a free wellness check-up at a participating 
veterinarian. Feel free to call us at (626) 286-
1159 for more information on Faith. 

 See our website at www.sgvhumane.org for 
information and photos of all our available pets. 

 Join us as we celebrate our 90th anniversary on 
September 27th with an Open House Block Party. 
Since 1924, the shelter has been serving the San 
Gabriel Valley and all past adopters are invited to 
bring their dogs and walk in our alumni parade. 
From noon to 5pm, there will be carnival games, 
blessing of the animals, art walk, and vendors as 
well as doggie tattoos and games.


PET OF THE WEEK: GALADRIEL

Animal ID # A4747072

Love comes in cute packages! Check out Galadriel 
(A4747072)! Galadriel is an exquisite four-year-
old brown female Shorthaired Chihuahua mix 
who was found in El Monte and brought to the 
Baldwin Park Animal Care Center on August 
19th. Weighing eleven pounds, Galadriel is a lot of 
name for such a little dog; but 
maybe thatÕs because she has 
so much personality! Despite 
the shelter environment, she 
is affectionate and trusting 
with people right away and 
rolls over for pets, rubs, and 
just about any kind of love! 
She walks well on leash, has 
a medium energy level, and 
seems to get along with all 
small dogs and some big dogs. 
She is also a unique beauty 
too, with her ladylike frame, 
radar ears, and small ridge 
on her back reminiscent of a 
stegosaurus! Galadriel will 
make a winning indoor pet for any individual or 
family living in any situation. To watch a video 
of Galadriel, please visit the following link: http://
youtu.be/nh5jgMie0qs. 

 To meet Galadriel in person, please see her 
at the Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N. 
Elton, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-430-
2378 or 626-962-3577). She is currently available 
now. For any inquiries about Galadriel, please 
reference her animal ID number: A4747072. The 
shelter is open seven days a 
week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-
Thursday and 10am-5pm 
Friday-Sunday. This is a high-
intake shelter with a great 
need for adoptions. For more 
information about Galadriel 
or the adoption process, 
contact United Hope for 
Animals Volunteer Adoption 
Coordinator Samantha at 
Samantha@hope4animals.
org. To learn more about 
United Hope for AnimalsÕ 
partnership with the Baldwin 
Park Shelter through its 
Shelter Support Program, as 
well as the many dogs of all breeds, ages, and 
sizes available for adoption in local shelters, visit 
http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/
shelter-support-program/.