By Naomi Hatch Friends were on hand at the Taylor Museum recently to greet sisters Violet Elizabeth Lewis Nikolaus, 95, and Louise Lewis Woolford, 94, and share memories. The sisters walked into the museum, Elizabeth with a walker, and chatted with friends, though Louise was quieter. Elizabeth was eager to visit and share her memories of Taylor. Elizabeth’s son Gerald Nikolaus gave a brief history of the sisters. Elizabeth was born Nov. 29, 1920, in Taylor, and Louise was born Jan. 3, 1922, to James Arthur and Violet Colbath Lewis. Arthur was killed in a train wreck Feb. 3, 1947. The train overturned near the Y where Western Welding now stands, and the brakeman and conductor, their father, were scalded to death. The website ArizonaWrecks.com notes the following; “3 February 1947 Apache RR 2-8-2 engine #300 turned over at 12:50 p.m. due to a faulty journal near Snowflake, Arizona. The brakeman and fireman were scalded to death. Apache RR was an independent line that ran about 75 miles of track from Holbrook to McNary. This locomotive was pulling a 14-car freight when it overturned near the depot at Snowflake (five freight cars also derailed). It had just started up to Holbrook and the accident occurred just 200 yards from the station and near the old sawmill west of town. Arthur J. ‘Art’ Lewis (49 yr. old fireman) and William A. Brent (62 yr. old brakeman) were killed. The engineer, Lew Calhoun, was treated for steam burns. A journal broke off one of the locomotive wheel axles, overturning it, causing the steam lines to break. Lewis and Brent were both killed by steam scalding.” Those present reminisced about this tragic event. Charlie Hall said that he was called to the scene to pick up the train, and remembers it well. The sisters’ mother, Violet, died of diphtheria at the age of 23 when Elizabeth was 4 and Louise was 3. With the death of both parents, the girls were sent to live at different homes. Louise and their brother Vincent went to live with Emma Jane Lewis, and Elizabeth lived with her grandparents, Josh and Harriet Allen. They lived in Taylor, and attended school in Taylor and Snowflake in the 1920s and 1930s. “They made many friends and memories while in Taylor,” said Gerald. Elizabeth lived on Center Street in the pink adobe home kitty corner to the old church. Louise married Joseph S. Woolford, and they had five children, Lynn, Ferrel, Lewis, Evelyn, Joleen and Leslie. They lived in many places throughout the United States, though mostly in Utah and Arizona. Joseph is 95, but has health problems. Elizabeth married William Lamar Nikolaus on Feb. 6, 1940, and they had six children, Gerry, twins Gerald & Geraldine, D.L., Lorraine and Dale Roy. Geraldine died on June 4, 1992. Elizabeth and her husband owned and operated Nick’s Market in Show Low for many years. “He was known as Arizona’s Famous Butcher,” she recalled. She now lives by herself in Show Low and crochets a dishrag every day. She gave one to everyone in attendance. Elizabeth was full of life and said, “I loved all of you when I lived in Taylor.” She noted that she enjoyed playing the piano and still does. “I play the piano a little bit and then make a dishrag,” she said. Eddie Hancock expressed his love and appreciation to the sisters. “I remember you folks at an early age,” he said, telling them that he is the grandson of Art and Florence Hancock. “Whenever we saw Elizabeth that was a special event. Taylor is a great place, a wonderful place because of people like you. “Thank you for coming down and letting us get reacquainted,” said Hancock. “I remember as a little girl, Mom was Young Woman leader. Oh, how she loved Elizabeth, Louise and the girls,” said Shirley Cole. “Elizabeth was the most popular girl in the area.” “I was raised by grandma, that’s why grandmas are so special,” said Elizabeth, who recalled that her Grandmother Allen delivered many babies in Taylor. “We didn’t get to live together, so we spent the night together,” said Louise. More than 20 people came to visit with the sisters. Refreshments were served and following a formal visit, everyone stayed and visited some more.
