Memories of Grandpa Archie Brown
October 24, 1906-October 14, 1971
Compiled on October 24, 2003 and additions on October 20, 2006, if you would like to add a memory, e-mail me and I will gladly add it on. :)
Richard Borget
One of my Favorite stories about Grandpa Brown is that he once was selling a Sewing Machine. The customer was really trying to get him to drop the price of the machine and really working him over finally Grandpa said that he wouldn't drop the price another dollar, so the customer offered him a dollar less and Grandpa said you just made a liar out of me. Mom always told me what a wonderful Dad she had and I have always been sad not to have known my grandpa in this life. One of the great things about working in the Bernina business is that I feel like I am carrying on my dad's heritage and Grandpa Browns too. I miss you Grandpa Brown, HAPPY Birthday to you.
Darlene Borget
Grandpa Brown was one of the most fun people I've ever known. He was truly an incredible dad. He had a way of making us all think that we were his favorite. He was a great tease and so much fun. We couldn't have had a better dad. He made out lives so much fun! I'm so glad that he was my dad. When I was a little girl, I always sat on Daddy's lap to eat when he was home. I only did this till I was 12 years old. Everyone laughed at me but I loved it and I think Daddy did to. Daddy was always dressed meticulously. He always had on a long sleeved white shirt (usually from the shirt laundry) and tie and loved being in a suit. He always made me feel sooooo special. Thank you so much for doing this tribute to him. He was truly an incredible man! Daddy always had a new car.
We always called him Daddy and he was the best Daddy you could ever have. He always called me his "honey child". The last time I saw him in the hospital he called me that. Glenys, Jerry & I all think that we were his favorite. He only got mad at me once in all the years I was growing up. My cousin Marilyn came to visit and we were playing hide and seek. It wasn't my fault that she had to be it for a long time. She just couldn't find us. Daddy thought it was my fault and got really mad at me. I didn't like her for a long time because she made my Daddy get mad at me. He didn't go to church with us when we were little but he didn't care if we went and after church he would take us for a ride and go to get an ice cream cone. Sometimes we would go and walk through Grand Central and look around on Sundays. One time he had a $100 bill.(he almost always did) in his wallet. Jerry wanted it and so did I. Finally he just tore it in half and gave us both half. We both started to cry so he took it back. I used to love to comb his hair. He had the nicest hair and he was so patient to let me comb it. He always dressed so nice and looked so great! He liked to have his shirts done at the laundry so that they would be just perfect. He was so good to me and I am grateful to have had such a wonderful Daddy.
Elaine Lawrence
I remember I was in third grade when Grandpa Brown died. I remember how tall he was. I remember he would give me quarters. I remember in the summer he would sit at the top of our stairs where the air conditioner was to cool off. I remember he told me I would be Miss America in 1980.
Robynn Thiot
I was lucky enough to have Grandpa Brown in my life for 14 years. I have many fun memories but the one I’d like to share happened on a summer afternoon. Grandpa called to see if I could come down to his little store in Midvale and be his helper for the day. I couldn’t have been more thrilled. He had lots of pink cards that he’d gotten at a drawing at the county fair and needed some help to file them away. After I did that fun job he asked if I’d go across the street to the Rexall drug store and buy some lotion for him. I came back with the lotion and Grandpa took off his shoes and his socks and let me rub his feet with lotion. I remember how much he enjoyed that and how much I loved doing something for him. That little store is still there on State Street in Midvale and I always have a warm feeling when I pass by. I remember his breath always smelled like Listerine.
Laurie Cline
Shortly before Grandpa died, Bonnie and I spent several Saturdays down at his store in Midvale "working" for him. He had us do various odd jobs at the store including calling some people who had put their name in a drawing at the state fair and telling them they had won some great prize, (I can't remember what it was) He always took us out to lunch and we had a great time visiting with him.
I remember Grandpa had this cool coin purse that was made of brown leather and when he squeezed it, it opened up like a flower. Whenever we saw him, he would always give us whatever money he had in his coin
Ric Birks
I remember Grandpa had little pink peppermint or wintergreen mints in bowls that I loved to sneak and eat. I remember when Grandpa started selling the new Rainbow vacuum cleaners. He came and demonstrated it at our house. He took a big bag and blew it up with air and I loved sitting on it. I also remember he had a cool coin purse that always had change for his grandkids. I always think about him whenever I drive down State Street in Midvale and go past his little store there.
Glenys Birks
I think that anyone who ever knew the Brown family knew what good sense of humor they all had. Daddy was certainly no exception. He managed to always see the funny side of things. In his later years when he had a little sewing machine store in Midvale, I used to call him on the telephone to see how he was doing, and he would almost always say, “oh, your back from your trip.” And I’d reply “I hadn’t been away.” And he’s say when I hadn’t heard from you for so long I figured you must be on a trip. He always knew the things to say to put me in my place with a smile on my face.
Summer vacations were always a regular thing for us. We had some grand ones. Over the years we went to Sun valley, Colorado, Bryce and Zion’s Park, Yellowstone Park, and Northern and Southern California. No vacation was more memorable however, than the year we packed up all of our heavy bedding, warm clothing, and got into the car for a trip to Yellowstone Park. I can remember driving down 21st south and when we got to Highland Drive, Daddy turned south instead of going north. I can still see us passing Southeast Furniture store in Sugar House and mother saying, “Arch Brown, you are going the wrong way.” To which he replied, “I just decided we’d go to California this year.” I can only imagine how frustrated mother must have been. But we had a grand vacation to Southern Californian that year. If Daddy was anything, he was FUN!
I can't think of anything much more pleasant than remembering my younger days with my dad. Before we moved to SLC we lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho and for a while Dad worked on a route traveling to several towns servicing Juke Boxes in different cafes. I can remember him taking me with him occasionally and how fascinated I was when he emptied the coin boxes out of the machines. He would sit in a booth and stack the money and put in papers. I loved listening to the music that was always playing and watching dad interacts with the people who worked in these establishments. I remember one time one of the waitresses came up to dad and said "Hi Arch” and he introduced me saying " This is my sister Glenys." To this silly remark I came back with "Oh Grandpa, you are too funny." The waitress laughed her face off and kept repeating the story and each time saying that I was truly his daughter. I think that that was very flattering to me. Everyone who knew him knew about his great sense of humor.
Jay Birks
I remember Dad Brown would come up to our house and sit down on the couch and fall asleep and take a quick little nap. Then he’d wake up and go back down to the little store. He loved to buy new cars and surprised his family each time. Whenever he got in a new car, he’d smell the new car smell and have to bring it home.
David Borget
I loved Grandpa Brown. He always made me think when I would talk to him. He would always be teaching me something of importance. Since I was new to the sewing machine business I would always listen to every word. Sometimes Elaine Brown would say something like OH Arch don't tell him that and without hesitation he would explain that he was telling the complete truth. I knew it was exaggerated and knew he was simply making a point to me. Dad Brown was really a father to me personally. I had the uttermost respect for him. I will never forget his warm smile and generous kindness. When I had been in the business about 2 years he wiped a debt clean at Bernina in Salt Lake. At the time it made the difference in our staying in the sewing machine business. He was a partner with Harrell Dalton and together they cleared the debt with no questions asked. I knew that Dad Brown had made this happen. I have thought many times since that the Saviors forgiveness of sin is much the same. So you see what this has meant to me personally.
Bonnie Danielson
Daddy was the most fun guy ever. I thought he was a genius and an artist. He could sit and doodle the greatest things while he was talking on the phone. He was fast on the adding machine, which was very impressive. He used to play me in checkers and he would let me jump all of his players but one then when he had only one left (a king) he would let me chase him a bit then all the sudden he would turn and jump all my men in one swoop. He would do that time after time. He was very smart. When I moved in with Jerry he would call me every day after school to see how my day went. I would be putting the key in the back door and I would hear the phone start to ring, I would try to hurry and be flustered but he let it ring until I answered. I love my dad and I never doubted that he loved me. I hear some people talk about how their families never expressed love for one another and I am so grateful that our family is not like that and never has been starting with my sweet dad. I remember one time when I was little in Church Daddy was saying the closing prayer. He walked up to the seats on the stand during the closing song and promptly fell asleep...I remember Mother sending me up there to wake him up. It sure is funny the little weird things you remember after so many years. Mike reminds me a lot of my dad and that is a huge compliment. They are both so sweet and fun to be around. Their personalities are a lot alike I think.
Daddy was always the guy with a pocket full of money. At any given time he would give me a dollar to go buy a hamburger or whatever. Well when I was about seven Mattel came out with these wonderful clothes for Barbie that you could make yourself simply by glueing the sides together. They were all cut out when you bought them and you used their secret fabric glue to put them together and like magic you could make your own clothes. I was thrilled. I thought it was the most wonderful invention ever. I remember they cost $5.00, which was a LOT of money then for anything. (Remember that 14 years later as a newly wed we could eat for $20/week.) Anyway, I begged I am sure and finally Daddy gave in and one day on our way home from the Bernina store we stopped at Grand Central and Daddy gave me the money so I could go in and buy the wonderful clothes. I was so excited; I found the clothes and was having the hardest time deciding which one I wanted the most. Suddenly I realized that Daddy had given me a $10 bill...I wouldn't need to decide I would be able to have them both. Proudly I went to the cash register, with a big smile on my face I paid and then trotted out to show Daddy my purchase. Well, unfortunately this was not one of Daddy's proudest moments of me. He gave me a stern lecture on money and told me I would have to go back in there and return one of the outfits. He demanded that I choose which one I wanted. I couldn't decide (lots of tears and crying by now) so I told Daddy to take them both back (using some of my manipulation skills but not very good at them yet). He grabbed the sack and me and away we flew back into the store. He asked which checker I had used...I remember lying and saying I couldn't remember although I knew exactly which one. He waltzed right up to the one closest informed her we were returning our merchandise (both) and got the money and walked right out. By now I was in a full fledge cry. I remember I cried all the way home, I cried my way to my room, into my p.j's and then into bed...still crying. After a long time I remember Daddy coming in and rubbing my back and telling me that he loved me. I finally quit crying. I never did get my wonderful little Barbie outfits but I certainly learned a much bigger lesson that day. Perhaps if I had gotten those clothes I never would have learned to sew? What a great dad I had.
