210 Charles Larsen Chapter

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Charles Erwin Larsen 1889-1966

Charles at seven. Cut from studio photo.

Charles at 15. This pose cut from 1904 group photo made on the occasion of his mother’s marriage to Anton Naderer.

Charles was the oldest son of Laurits and Marie Larsen. He was seven when his father died in 1896. This probably thrust him into adult roles while still very young. He and his older sister Josie Charles Erwin Larsen at age 21 Hotel manager, 1910 stayed with their mother during the first Daughter Audrey thinks this may be in Hood River difficult years after Laurits death. The From Lorraine Bauder’s files. chores on a dairy farm are relentless and they must have put in long hours helping their mother to keep the farm going. Charles’ nephew, Lyle Larsen, taped an interview with his father, Charles’ younger brother, Walter. Walter remembers Charles as his hero: strong, brave, and handsome—a man you’d want on your side in a fight. [He even describes one fight in which Charles demolishes the city tough with a single blow.] I spent my youth on the same farm under easier circumstances and I clearly remember that I decided that farming was not for me. I thought it too much work for too little reward. Charles apparently made the same calculation. He left the farm as soon as he could to make his way in the great and [sinful?] city of Portland, Oregon. He found work in the hotel business and continued in that business for more than 50 years. He partnered in a small hotel in Hood River, sold that, and went on to manage Portland’s finest hotel, the Benson, for more than 40 years. When he retired he was honored with a banquet attended by many of Portland’s most prominent citizens.

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His only child, Audrey, remembers him as a quiet, honorable man who cared deeply for his family and provided well for them. He and his wife, Nan, had a long and happy marriage. Charles read the Bible every night, but felt no need for church membership. He kept a fine home in the Lake Oswego disctrict. He kept a large garden and shared the produce with people less fortunate.

The picture of the retirement banquet intended for this space did not arrive in time for publication. I hope to make it available at some later date. -- EDITOR

The need to work denied Charles the chance to continue his education through high school and on to college. However he helped his brother Walter get a college degree, and helped his sister Lily to finish high school. [She was the only one of her family to do so. Walter got his engineering BS without ever attending highschool.] Niece Lorraine [Larsen] Bauder remembers: Steve and I stayed with Audrey at their Oswego home a few days one high school summer. Steve & I concluded we didn’t have the same interests as Audrey & friends. I think I stayed there in some younger years, too, and had loads of fun swimming, climbing trees etc. Their home was attractive and about the size as your current one [Ed. My home is a comfortable size.] We could walk to the lake on a path thru the woods and brush. Nephew Ralph Larsen remembers: [From telephone conversation Nov 18, 2000]: One summer Lorraine and I each

spent a week with Charlie and Nan and Charles Larsen at Larsen Reunion 1936 Nan Larsen. Aunt Nan treated Portion of Larsen family photo. me so well that I felt that if ever I were orphaned I would want to be adopted by them. Every day was a new adventure and Nan would give me a little gift every day. We swam at Lake Oswego, rode all the rides at Jantzen Amusement park, etc. Jean (Watkins) Hall remembers Uncle Charlie: Uncle

Charlie and Aunt Nan, I remember as having a real nice house near Lake Oswego. I would go out there for some weekends, when I

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was working in Portland. I remember sleeping in the front room, and hearing the old clock bong the hours and tick the minutes. …Mom and Dad never stopped visiting Aunt Nan and Audrey after Uncle Charlie died. John Watkins remembers: I remember Uncle Charlie as a quiet man who I never got to know. He was thoughtful, I am sure. His mother’s house held many of his gifts. I particularly remember the radio, the phonograph, and the vacuum cleaner. I remember that I inherited his shirts. I wasn’t as grateful as I should have been, but it never bothered me that I wore handme-downs. I remember his wife, Nan, as one of the most charming women I had ever known. I remember his daughter Audrey as a cute little girl. How could she not be with such a handsome father and lovely mother? We saw the family on reunion occasions like Thanksgiving and the Glorious Fourth, but seldom at other times. Perhaps that’s because my family was [to my embarrassment as a teen-ager] a church going family and Uncle Charlie’s was not.

Charlie Larsen with daughter Audrey and nephew Ralph, 1932 Larsen family photo.

Larsens: Walter w/ Lorraine, Charlie w/ Audrey, Ralph in 1932 Larsen Family Photo.

Charles and Nan appear in many group photos taken at family gatherings in the 20s, 30s, and 40s telling us that he enjoyed being with his extended family. After 1946 families changed. Nieces, and nephews grew up, went to college, and on to form their own families. Family reunions with no small children are not the same as those with them and the great Thanksgiving clan gatherings became a thing of the past. This 1946 picture of Charles with

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his brother-in-law, Amos Watkins, is the last I find in my files. Charles’ “retirement” in 1954 was to manage the Tioga Hotel (9 stories) in Coos Bay. [How many of us would call that retirement?] He did this until his health failed and the family moved to Depoe Bay for full retirement. The pictures on this page were taken at one of the last of the great Larsen Clan Thanksgiving feasts.

Charles Larsen and Amos Watkins The photo was taken after Thanksgiving Dinner in 1946 From family files.

There is an aspect to Charles Larsen’s story that I find Thanksgiving at Laurelview, 1946 painful to deal with. A very Lily & Jean Watkins, Nelly Larsen, Charles Larsen Ted & Steve Watkins, Ralph Larsen, Nan few members of the family Larsen hint that Charles had a long time problem with alcohol and that it finally brought him to poverty. His daughter, Audrey, vehemently denies this and I have come to agree with her. She says that her father was merely a social drinker for all but a short period in his life. That short period of alcohol abuse came late in his life and was, perhaps, exacerbated by health problems. Charles recognized his problem and volunteered for treatment. The treatment was successful, probably because Charles met the problem courageously. After the treatment, Audrey assured me, he did not drink at all. Nephew Ted Watkins remembers: My middle name is Charles, after my uncle Charles. I am proud to bear that name. I believe he and Aunt Nan always impressed us. Once Aunt Nan asked if they could take me as their boy because they had no son. I was about ten at the time and thought that I would like that. I don’t know if she was serious. [Ed note: Ralph Larsen remembers that he too would have liked to be adopted—a second choice to his own wonderful parents.] Just after discharge from the Navy I took a cute girl friend to visit Uncle Charlie and Aunt Nan. They were good hosts and their visit with us was warm and friendly.

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At the end of his life Charles Larsen could look back with pride. He succeeded in business. He loved and cared for his family. He helped his brother and sister to complete their education. He shared the fruits of his garden with those less fortunate. I am proud to be his nephew. I hope that you are equally proud of your relationship to him.

Notes -

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