Chapter 1: A Life Rich in History

My fascination with history and genealogy is deeply personal, as it intertwines with my grandfather’s remarkable life story. Born in 1906, he witnessed a series of transformative events before passing away in 1992. His 85 years encompassed a world that feels almost alien to many of us today. Upon watching a thought-provoking video on Facebook, I realized that my grandfather was just five years old in 1911, an era filled with monumental changes.

Despite being born over a century ago, I find myself in my mid-40s, grappling with the reality of a past that my grandfather lived through. He grew up during a time that seems both distant and compelling, witnessing events such as the sinking of the Titanic, World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II.

In the quiet decades of the 1970s and 1980s, Grandpa Popeye—so named after the cartoon character—was a gentle presence in our home. With his large hearing aids and soft-spoken nature, he brought a sense of calm during family gatherings. Every Easter and Thanksgiving, he would share recipes, like his mother’s method for preparing golumpki (or stuffed cabbage). His freezer was always stocked with Klondike bars, and his pantry held caramel corn, both staples of his generous spirit.

My father, who had Italian roots, could be fiery, but my grandfather, fully Ukrainian, was an enigma—quiet yet profound. The love of his life, my grandmother Elsie, passed away from lung cancer in the late 1970s, leaving him with cherished memories and a heavy heart. He frequently visited his sons, sharing stories of the old country and recounting his fondness for ice skating on the Erie Canal and working at General Electric.

Curiosity runs in my family, and my mother managed to uncover one detail my grandfather seldom discussed: a secret from his past. In the 1980s, as a child, I overheard whispers of the word "bootlegger" without understanding its implications. As I matured, I delved into writing and genealogy, discovering the historical context of the 18th Amendment and the Volstead Act, which sparked the rise of illegal liquor production and speakeasies. Simple math revealed that my grandfather was in his twenties during this tumultuous time, transforming him into a legendary figure in my mind.

I only recently began to explore this part of my heritage, prompted by the loss of my father to Alzheimer’s in 2016 and my uncle in 2020. These events ignited a desire for deeper understanding about my family history. However, my search met challenges; my grandfather's long Ukrainian surname had multiple spellings, complicating my research. He had shortened his last name during the 1930s, but I have yet to find documentation for this change.

Another puzzling piece of information emerged: my uncle was born in 1935, yet my grandparents’ marriage license wasn’t filed until 1940. This delay in such a significant life event raises questions about my grandfather's life during those years when my grandmother was a single mother—a rarity in that era.

So what lessons has my grandfather imparted? As a first-generation Ukrainian American, he did what was necessary to persevere. His experiences as a bootlegger, trolley driver, and worker at General Electric until his retirement in the 1970s reflect a survival instinct similar to what many face in today’s world. Life during the Great Depression and WWII was undoubtedly tough, echoing the current challenges of a pandemic, political unrest, and rising costs.

He passed away in the hospital in 1992 and rests beside my grandmother in a small cemetery in upstate New York, with my father laid to rest nearby. I hope he would be proud of me for sharing his story, as he was a storyteller at heart. This connection to history has always resonated with me, and I often wish I could turn back time to ask him the questions that now linger in my mind.

Chapter 2: Connecting with the Past

The second video titled "Living History—The Popcorn Sutton Interviews (complete)" captures the essence of storytelling and personal history, much like my grandfather's narrative. It offers insights into the lives of those who lived through significant historical moments and preserves their legacies for future generations.