At Home With The K.A. Lord Family
- kellison71
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
“Mrs. Kenneth A. Lord, who during her long residence here was leader in women’s affairs at St. John’s Episcopal Church and Red Cross volunteer work, died Friday in Sarasota, Fla., after an illness that began with a fall and hip fracture five weeks before. She marked her 80th birthday the day before her death.
One of the activities for which she was best known here was her contract bridge skill. She held the rating of Master, and for years conducted classes.
She leaves her husband, who was a Dodge-Plymouth dealer here for years; two daughters, one son and 14 grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Lord left here 11 years ago to make their home in Florida.
The funeral will take place Monday at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Siesta Kay, Saratsota. Burial will be in the ancestral plot at Tarrytown, N.Y.”
--The Saginaw News, January 11, 1969.
Kenneth and Emily Packard Lord arrived in Saginaw in 1922. Mr. Lord was a partner in Lord and Parris Company, a newly formed dealership for Dodge Brothers’ cars. The company’s first location was a former Roller Rink at 309—today 709—Lapeer.* Soon, the firm relocated to an elegant new home just beyond the west approach of the Genesee Avenue Bridge. In 1926, the business became simply K.A. Lord Inc. and continued until the midst of the depression. The firm transitioned into selling used cars and relocated to 303 Court Street. In 1937, K.A. Lord Inc.’s former West Genesee Avenue showroom was transformed into Saginaw’s first self-serve A&P.** Later, K.A. Lord was a manager for Bendix Aviation.
Soon after their arrival, the Lord family resided at 446 N. Jefferson Ave. The home is described in a 1921 real estate listing:
“446 N. Jefferson Ave. One of the prettiest homes in Saginaw. Owner leaving city. Can be bought on very good terms.”
Newspaper articles suggest they entertained frequently. Mrs. Lord’s community involvement included the local chapter of the D.A.R., her church, Red Cross, groups associated with her children and--of course--bridge. Mr. Lord’s activities included Rotary, Boy Scouts, and numerous other business groups. About 1926, the Lords moved to 29 West Hannum Boulevard in the fledgling development of Golfside. While their lives still centered around their commitments in the city--which included teaching contract bridge lessons for Mrs. Lord--Golfside, only short commute to the city, offered many amenities.
Advertising for the development touted:
“Just outside the city limits on Gratiot Avenue, within reach of grammar and high schools, you build that home you have always wanted, in GOLFSIDE.
You can have all the conveniences of a city home, paved streets, well lighted with beautiful boulevard lighting system, sewer, gas, water and electricity, sidewalks, playgrounds and spacious lawns.
In ideal surroundings where shrubbery and shade trees have been planted by landscape gardeners to add to the comfort and charm of county air and sunshine.
And All Within the Reach of the Man with an Average Income.” (The Saginaw News Courier, October 12, 1924.)
“Did you ever have a desire to live in the country, to get your family and yourself away from the hum-drum clatter and dust dirt of the city street? To get out of the congestion and confusion of the already crowded city? Out where your kiddies could romp and roam to their hearts content in the great out-doors, enjoying the pleasures of the green grass, the blue sky and pure country air, untainted by the poison of factory smoke and undisturbed by hundreds of automobiles that now pass your home in endless stream endangering the lives of all of who venture outdoors?
Did your ever long for home surrounded by beautiful flowers, with a garden tucked snugly away in one corner of the lot where you yourself could experience the joy being your own gardener’?” (The Saginaw News Courier)
An August 9, 1926, classified advertisement offering a buffet and dining room table for sale at the Lord’s North Jefferson home, suggests they acquired a new dining room suite when they moved to West Hannum.
While they lived in Saginaw Township, the Lords’ children graduated form Arthur Hill High School – it would be decades before Saginaw Township would have its own high school.
The Lords lived at 29 West Hannum until about 1941. About that time, they moved a few blocks away to 2005 Allegan, to a home constructed by Saginaw builder Vitor Nurmi. Nurmi builders had constructed a number of homes in Golfside and the surrounding neighborhood. In 1940 his company promoted their work by holding an open house at 52 Benton Road, a residence recently constructed by the firm.
In 1950, The Saginaw News announced, “Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth A. Lord, formerly of 2005 Allegan, left Sunday to make their home at 51 Glendale Road, Stamford Conn.” (The Saginaw News, August 9, 1950.)
Although the Lord Family had left Saginaw, they retained numerous connections and the activities of various members of the family were frequently reported in the paper.
The Recipe: Mrs. K. Lord’s Cantaloup and Olive Salad
Sliced cantaloup, iced, in rings; remove seeds and peel; fill center with balls of either cantaloupe or honey dew melon and garnish liberally with sliced stuffed olives.
Drench with lime juice and serve ice cold as a first course or marinate with French* dressing and serve it as a dinner salad. (From the 1929 Edition of The Saginaw Cook Book, Complied by the Woman’s Society of the First Congregational Church)
CTK Interpretation:
We simply followed the instructions for creating the first course version. Creating a symmetrical, elegant cantaloupe ring is challenging – please do not judge us too harshly.
Even with our clumsily formed melon ring, this is an elegant, exotic dish. And it is quite likely at this point you have searched the internet and discovered that this is not only recipe to combine melon and olives. However, it is a uniquely simple version. Yes, we will serve it again and look forward to creating a dinner salad version.
Caution: This is 1929 recipe, and Mrs. Lord is not suggesting that you marinate the melon and olives in sticky reddish dressing from a bottle. Until well into the mid-twentieth century, when a recipe called for French dressing, it was understood you used a form of vinaigrette. This link will take you a post exploring French dressing and a recipe:
*As you are waiting for guests to arrive and admire your craft project – we mean culinary creation, you should have time for little more historical exploration. This is the history of the building on Lapeer that housed Lord and Parris’ first Saginaw showroom:
** It was at this store, the newspaper proclaimed, “Among the novel features are baskets which fit into steel frames mounted on wheels. This feature [which has nothing to do with Lord family] will make it possible for shoppers to visit the various department without the inconvenience of carrying a heavy basket…” (The Saginaw News, June 20, 1937.)