Steen and Doris Parker: They Liked to Sing and Play

Steen and Doris Wheeler Parker, both subjects of previous posts at this blog, enjoyed musical entertainment. Steen Parker took piano lessons as a young man. The May 26, 1923 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that at the piano recital of the students of Eva Post Williams, Steen Parker played Chopin's "Prelude in C Major," while his cousin Harry Martin played "Consolation" by Mendelsohn. The recital was held at the studio of Eva Post Williams at 214 East Washington Street in Sandusky, Ohio.

An often told family story is that after Steen returned from military service, one day he and his brother in law, Paul Baumeister, were moving a piano. The piano was in a trailer behind a truck. While the Paul was driving down the road, Steen was in the trailer, playing the piano and singing, all quite loudly. He would wave at onlookers as they went down the road. (Steen Parker was known to enjoy a drink now and then, and this was probably one of those occasions.) Steen's daughter was also along on the trip, and she recalls feeling very embarrassed. Everyone who heard and saw the traveling piano solo had a good laugh!

Doris Parker and her sister in law, Florence Lindsley Parker performed a vocal duet for the Open House of the Perkins Grange in April of 1931. I wish I could have been there to hear my ancestors sing! The "stunts" by the ladies of the Perkins Grange must have also been a delighful sight.