Kathleen Bridwell

Birth: She was born in 1911 at East Prairie, Missouri.  

Family Information: Daughter of Louis and Elizabeth Bridwell.

Sister of Harlan, Dario and Dorothy Bridwell.  

Description:  

Pre-Colony History: She came to the colony with her family from Forestburg, Texas in 1928.  

Home in Colony:  

Job in Colony: She often helped out in the hotel kitchen. In March 1929 the hotel crew included the Mesdames Maki, Swenson and Bridwell and the Misses Kathleen Bridwell and Jennie Black.

She sometimes helped out at the "Vernon Parish Democrat" and in March 1929 it was noted that she, her father and brother were part of the print shop crew who had helped the "Democrat" make good during the prior three quarters.

In April 1929 the print shop crew included Comrade Bridwell, his daughter Kathleen, Jean Enfield, Raymond, Zelma, Florence and Fred -- they made the wheels go round in the printshop, getting out all publicity for the Llano Movement that spreads to all five continents and the isles of the sea.  

Other Info: In 1928-29 she was often part of the program at the theater; she sang first soprano as a member of the Senior Glee Club along with Zelma De Fausell, Hope Shoemaker and Jennie Black; second sopranos included: Ruth Shoemaker, Blanch Porter, Beatrice Jensen, Ruth Kingsbury and Florence Aiton; and alto was sung by: Gertrude Maki, Laura Synoground, Allie Belle Hewitt, Bonnie Enfield and Lois Brattland.

In November 1928 she sang two songs accompanied on the piano by Miss Wilson; the following week she and her mother sang two duetts.

In December 1928 she sang the solo in "Dear Llano" with telling effect.

In May 1929 she and her mother gave a vocal selection with guitar accompaniment at the colony theater. A solo by Mrs. Bridwell served as an encore.  

Post-Colony History: She married Jessie Enfield in September 1929 at Arkansas. In 1940 they were living in California with their 5-year-old daughter, Jean.

When her father died in 1951 she was named in his obituary as a survivor under the name Kathleen O'Connel of Fresno, California.

In 1975 her name was changed with the Social Security office to be Kathleen Anita Smith.  

Death: She died in April 1989 and was buried at Sanger Cemetery at Sanger, California.  

Sources:

"Llano Colonist": November 10, 1928, November 17, 1928, December 8, 1928, December 15, 1928, March 16, 1929, April 13, 1929, April 20, 1929, May 11, 1929, May 25, 1929; "Vernon Parish Democrat": February 28, 1929, March 28, 1929; Arkansas County Marriages Index; US Census: 1940; US SS Applications and Claims Index; California Death Index; FindAGrave.com: Louis Harlan Bridwell, Kathleen A. Smith