First home–Hibbing, MN at 3222 Outer DriveLowery started working with Hercules Powder Company in June, 1953. After a six months training period using explosives all the way from Connecticut to New Mexico the company sent him to sell explosives on the Minnesota Iron Range–Standing from left to right–John Richards (a good friend), ?, Bill Harley, Lowery Smith, ?, ?,–Front row- left to right–?, Emerson McNeil (manager of Duluth division, Wilson, ?Lowery was a charter member of the Hibbing Toastmaster group in 1953. Fear of Public speaking encouraged Lowery to practiceBlasting on a lake to create a boat channel.Jane’s art work on the wall of the Androy Hotel in HibbingCorky has his own house in HibbingJane, Corky and LoweryCorky getting a bath in HibbingLowery, Corky, Sherry and Jane in our 1954 (?) Christmas cardApparently Sherry was tied down to the “pot” and was able to get a hold of a lot of stuffJane was working on a mural for the Pacific Isle mining company1955 Christmas card with Sherry, Jane, Kim, Lowery & CorkyDoc and Ma Mae were frequent visitors to Hibbing and us to Mt. PleasantCorky in the second grade–second row, second from leftSherry and Kim taking a bath in the laundry sinkSherry, Doc and Corky in HibbingLowery giving Sherry a showerTwo beauties in the bath tub–Sherry and KimAbout 1956–House is painted and a concrete driveway and wooden fence around the lotIce fishing in a “dark house” on Upper Red LakeDuck hunting and fishing openings are highlights of Iron Range activitiesIce skating in our back yardRennie and Doc’s birth announcementRennie and Doc were born on March 23, 1957 in our home. Lowery was the midwife. They weighed 2 pounds, 11 ounces and 2 pounds 13 ounces. According to Lowery’s memory, Doc was born first.Rennie and Doc were born at 7 months of pregnancy. It was remarkable they survived.Rennie and Doc were on oxygen for several weeks because they were so prematureDoc is on top in the single crib1957 Smith Christmas cardSecond Christmas card fir 1957Chicken Pox, Mumps, and Measles–all in the same yearCorky isn’t happy about having MumpsStory timeBalancing act with Corky and LoweryJane was in Mrs. Minnesota contest in the Twin Cities in 1958Jane is in first row on leftJane learning how to play the dulcimer musical instrument that she got from her parents.Dinner with Dave and Maribel in the Twin CitiesRennie and Doc come home from the hospital after six weeks. Lowery delivered Jane’s breast pump milk to the hospital each dayThe wagon wheel gate to enter our back yard.Kim’s birth announcement. Lowery left for work at 8:00 AM and returned home at 9:00 AM to discover that Jane was going to deliver Kim. Jane had not seen a doctor during her pregnancy so we had no idea when she would deliver. This was Lowery’s first experience of being a Midwife. After Kim was born Lowery called the local Hibbing clinic and they sent out a doctor. Under the doctor’s directions Lowery supplied scissors and string for cutting and tying off the umbilical cord, and washed the baby. When all of this was complete the doctor wanted a cup of coffee and charged $50 for the entire delivery time in our home.
