Karen Gray Matthews is the eldest child of Marjorie Morgan and Charles (“Chick”) Gray. She has lived in or nearby Wasatch since her birth in 1937. Her growing up years were spent mainly at 1481 South 1500 East. Her father owned and operated the Texaco Station at 15th East and Emerson and her mother Marjorie’s Beauty Shop just east of 15th East on Emerson. Karen and husband Lee Mathews live in the neighborhood.
Audio Interview
Here is an interview with Karen recollecting her years in the neighborhood. The soundtrack is followed by a summary and index of the interview.
The interviews and related files are shared with the written consent of the interviewee under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. (Note: Index times are approximate. Variations in browsers and operating systems may cause some timing discrepancies. Please use the audio player controls to fine tune the section you’re interested in.)
This is a collection of photos provided by Karen. Click on any photo to open the full-size image. Captions are available on the full-size image. You can move through the collection by clicking on either side of the full-size image. Click “close” to return to this page.
15th and 15th map showing historical and today’s shops.
House rented by my mother and dad, Marjorie and Charles “Chick” Gray on 16th East.
1481 South 15th East. Gray’s family home with beauty shop in the back.
1537 South 15th East. This is the house that was owned by Nicholas G. Morgan and his wife, Ethel Tate Morgan. Ethel’s brother-in-law, Samuel Campbell built the house for them in about 1914.
(L to R) Dorothy, Nicholas G. Morgan, Helen, Marjorie in her dad’s lap. This was taken on the side of the home at 1537 South 15th East. See houses in background. The house across the street is the house built by Claude and Emily Barnes Cannon. See story about Nicholas and Claude.
Marjorie, Helen and Dorothy Morgan. Taken at south side of house at 1537 South 15th East.
Marjorie’s little brother, Nick and her dad, Nicholas, Morgan, Sr. Taken in back of house at 1537 South 15th East.
(L to R) Helen, Marjorie and Dorothy Morgan, daughters of Nicholas G. Morgan and Ethel Tate Morgan. East side of 1537 South 15th East.
Wasatch Ward laying cornerstone, 1917.
Wasatch Ward laying cornerstone, 1917.
Marjorie, Nick & Puppy, 1918.
Helen and Marjorie Morgan, Ellen Hanks, Ethel Morgan, 1919, on the back porch of 1537 South 15th East.
Marjorie in Indian costume, 1919.
Tar Baby (Marjorie), 1919.
Dorothy & Helen and boyfriends, 1926, on front porch of 1537 South 15th East.
Marge Morgan & Ella Belovsky, 1931. In front of Ella Belovsky’s house on Roosevelt Avenue just below 15th East. Mom and Ella were friends from Irving Junior High School. She slept at Ella’s every Friday night. Marjorie’s dad told her not to go out after she had gone over to Ella’s but Mom told me she took some clothes with her so she could change as soon as she got to Ella’s and then they went out. From Marjorie Morgan Gray’s history: “Ella was my best friend in East High School and she invited me to go to Como Springs with her and her family. She lived at 1480 Roosevelt Avenue and I used to sleep at Ella’s house nearly every Friday night. (this part of my story took place before I went to Beauty School when I was in East High School). Ella’s father owned a poultry store on Richard Street between South Temple and First South. Ella had her own car and about everything she wanted.”
18th birthday. Marjorie Morgan, 1932, in back yard of 1537 South 15th East.
Hale Beauty Shop.
Merl Allred, 1932.
Charles (“Chick”) Gray and Marjorie Morgan wedding, July 14th 1934. Hottest day of the year. Wedding and reception took place in front room of 1537 South 15th East. No air conditioning back then, and Marjorie, in her long sleeved satin dress, holds her wilted bouquet of roses.
Hale Beauty Shop ad, 1936.
Edgehill Ward business directory ads, 1936.
Edgehill Ward business directory ads, 1936.
Beauty operators Beth Ivers, Marge Gray, and Verda Pace, 1939.
Marjorie’s Beauty Salon. 1939.
Karen and Marge on Emerson Ave, 1939.
Karen & Nicky on Emerson Ave, 1939.
Marjorie’s booth, 1939.
Karen, Marjorie, and Jerry at 1481 South 15th East, 1940.
Karen’s permanent, 1940. On 15th East, house next to duplex on corner of Emerson and 15th East. Marjorie’s Beauty Shop was south across the street.
Karen’s permanent, 1940.
Karen’s permanent, 1940.
Karen’s permanent, 1940.
Karen’s permanent, 1940.
(L to R) Marjorie, Karen with brace, Mildred Hollberg, and Helen Perry. Mildred was Marjorie’s sister-in-law and Helen was Marjorie’s sister. Picture taken on day that Nicholas G. Morgan blessed his grandson, Jerry, in the Wasatch Ward. Mildred Hollberg lived on 15th East on the northeast corner of Logan Avenue, 1941.
(L to R) Nicholas Morgan holding Jerry, Karen, Ethel Tate Morgan. Taken the day Nicholas G. Morgan blessed his new grandson, Jerry, 1941.
(L to r) Karen, her dad, Charles “Chick” Gray, and baby brother Jerry at the side of the house at 1481 South 15th East; Jerry’s blessing, 1941.
Karen and her cousin Joyce Hollberg in front of house at 1481 South 15th East looking south. Shows view of 15th East looking south. 1941.
Karen and her cousin Joyce Hollberg in front of house at 1481 South 15th East looking south. Shows view of 15th East looking south. 1941.
Karen with cast, 1941.
At the gas station. Chick Gray and his son Jerry in the middle. The two men on either side were Chick’s employees. Now part of the King’s English Bookstore.
Marjorie at 1481 South 15th East, 1945.
John’s christening. Marjorie Morgan Gray holding her baby, John. Marjorie’s daughter, Nancy, is also pictured on the porch at 1481 South 15th East.
Documents
This is a collection of photos provided by Karen. Click on any photo to open the full-size image. Captions are available on the full-size image. You can move through the collection by clicking on either side of the full-size image. Click “close” to return to this page.
