June 17, 2019
I'm late mentioning Earl Bockel's 90th birthday party held on May 25th at Bob's home which was the old home place when the Bockels first came to Almeda in 1926. According to Bob's deed, the house was built in 1905. Earl thinks the oak tree in the front yard is about 150 years old as it was a big tree when he was a little kid. His cousin, Dorothy Roco filled me on part of their family tree: Johnny and Mary Kerr Bockel had kids including Mrs. Bruins, mother of Dorothy Roco, and Mrs. Elam, mother of Billy and Lula Belle Elam, and Arthur  "Shorty" Bockel, father of Earl and Dick. 
Johnny also had a sister who was the mother of Allen Kaufhold. Back in the 40's, you could pretty well count on anybody living east of Almeda Road being kin to a Bockel if not by blood by marriage.

Another old timer I talked to was Mollie Stevenson Taylor Jr. She has slowed down but still has her traveling western historical  museum going to schools and special events.

Today I noticed that both both the Almeda Diner and the World of Children has been demolished. The corner at Almeda and Anderson Road is bare.