ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW
Dorothy Guion
March 7, 1986
by Larry Lowenthal

0:00:16	Came to the Springfield Armory August 1950.
0:00:23	Husband, Col. James Guion, had been the head of ordnance for the Pacific.
0:00:36	Lived in the city of Honolulu.
0:01:08	They had been stationed in Boston twice before.
0:01:38	Talks about changing from a warm climate to a cold climate.
0:02:03	Talks about her first impressions of the commanding officer's quarters.
0:03:14	There were 6000 employees at the armory.
0:03:26	Talks about the problems she encountered when she moved.
0:04:26	Even before they were settled the officers began calling on them.
0:05:23	Then the officers entertained them.
0:05:56	She was unable to get help cleaning the house.
0:06:40	Sergeant Zimba and his wife Sophie would help out.
0:06:56	Talks about the Zimbas.
0:07:22	Every officer quarters were taken.
0:08:02	When she first came she did a concert in Washington.
0:08:22	Springfield Garden Club visited the gardens at the Commanding Officer's Quarters.
0:09:02	Established a social club for the officers.
0:09:44	Gave a reception every New Years for the Army Officers.
0:10:38	Also entertained people from Springfield.
0:11:24	Had gardener assigned to the post who raised vegetables and flowers.
0:12:03	She had to distribute all the flowers from the garden to the officers.
0:12:40	Had to put up grapes.
0:13:40	Entertained the music club.
0:13:53	Had 200 people for the New Years Receptions and they paid for it.
0:14:56	Uncle lived them and also a friend.
0:15:20	Never got kitchen help gave up the idea of getting help from the city.
0:16:06	Talks about her friends in Springfield and why they stayed on in Springfield after leaving the Armory.
0:17:26	They were not involved in politics.
0:17:54	Had Halloween party for the children and Easter there was an egg rolling.
0:18:35	Had to keep in contact with the contractors outside of the ordnance dept.
0:19:11	At first she thought she would not like army life.
0:19:47	Son was in Vietnam and Korea and husband was in the 1st and 2nd World Wars.
0:20:02	Went to West Point and came into the Ordnance.
0:20:36	Went to Boston and went into music there.
0:21:00	Always studied music and the music has been an open door for her when she moved.
0:22:02	Had her piano in the back parlor and they lived in the library.
0:22:40	Gave dances in the parlors and reception in the hallway.
0:22:50	Talks about an antique chinese table that was given to her and she put it in the hallway.
0:23:37	The small room farthest to the back was used for light.
0:24:18	Talks about the Springfield women's club and how she was never asked to pay an initiation fee.
0:25:14	Gave a couple of children of the officers music lessons.
0:25:20	Talks about the people she hears from the Armory.
0:25:57	Lewis was in the same Latin class in high school.
0:26:28	Lewis died at 81 years old in Jan. of 1976.
0:26:28	She is amazed at how few of the Springfield population have come to the Armory.
0:27:24	Talks about the semi-private group that charged for admission to the commanding officers quarters.
0:27:52	At one time they were going to furnish the commanding officer's rooms in old furniture.
0:28:18	All the commanding officers brought most of their own furniture so no one would know what period to furnish it in.
0:29:34	Talks about Mrs. Garand who used to visit her on the way to see her daughter.
0:30:38	Mrs. Garand used to paint.
0:31:17	Talks about the kitchen.
Side 2
0:31:53	Talks about the Springfield Women's Club and the pictures they took of her in antique clothes.
0:33:21	Talks about the Springfield Women's Club and the plays they used to put on.
0:35:17	Talks about how she felt when she had to leave her home to go somewhere else.
0:36:16	Tells of where she and her husband moved to during his career.
0:37:13	Had 18 different homes.
0:37:49	Talks about the social life in Watertown Arsenal.
0:38:25	She would help the women who moved on base to get settled in Springfield.
0:38:53	Officers got along well.
0:39:20	Most of the 2nd in commands are dead now.
0:40:12	Talks about an Mr. and Mrs. George Malice.
0:40:50	She used the bedroom with the bath and adjoining room.
0:41:15	Uncle used the other room with the bath.
0:41:22	The suite in the back was for her permanent guest.
0:41:50	Used the attic for Halloween.
0:42:02	Ceiling were 14 feet high.
0:43:00	Talks about the widow's walk in the Commanding Officer's quarters.
0:44:47	Talks about the different interests of the women of the Armory.
0:45:20	Wished that the house would be turned into a place for weddings and receptions.
0:45:51	Talks about the transition to the next commanding officer and how well they got along with the Crowes.
0:47:08	Talks about how they bought their present house and had to live with friends while they renovated it.
0:48:02	Used to know all the commanding officers before them and after.
0:48:43	Son has retired from the army also.
0:49:03	Son had flown a helicopter in Vietnam.
0:50:03	Lewis and she were engaged in the 1st World War and married a year after he got back.
0:50:50	She started a women's club and officer's club.
0:51:14	Gave permission to one of the high schools to use the circle in front of the house for band practice.
0:52:14	Talked to Mr. Marshall about trying to entertain all the civilians and he advised against it.
0:52:56	Knew some of the heads of the departments.
0:53:17	Had some very bright men working at the Armory.
0:54:14	Talks about how her husband and she had complementary interests.
0:55:23	Aberdeen has changed a great deal since she lived there.
0:56:00	Talks about wanting to stay in her house.
0:57:12	Her uncle Lewis lived with them until he died.
0:57:39	Talks about living in Pittsburgh.