Abe's Green Suit

Abraham Gudmundsen and
THE GREEN SUIT

As told by Richard A. Gudmundsen

Lettie Austin Southwick had only been married to Samuel Southwick for five years at the time he was killed in an accident in the Lehi Sugar Factory. Abraham Gudmundsen's first wife Jane Evans also died at a young age.

Lettie and Abraham were married for time in the Salt Lake Temple in 1895.

Back in those days, Saratoga Hot Springs Resort was owned by one of Lettie's brothers, John Austin, who also was a co-owner of the Austin Brother's Cattle Association, as well as owner of a lot of farm acreage around Utah Lake. Lettie and Abe were in the process of raising nine children, and were having a difficult time with the monies brought in from Abe's Jewelry and Goldsmithing business. To help out, John Austin offered the managership of the Hot Springs Resort to Abe and Lettie.

At that time, the resort was a highlight spot for people throughout all of Utah County and for people from Salt Lake as well. After a few years, Austin (Abe's son) served as life guard and "bouncer" to keep order. My Mother, Myrl Goodwin, who was somewhat of a "Tom boy", often went to Saratoga. She was an excellent swimmer, and would even dive off the top of the lockers into the outdoor pool. (A practice strictly against the rules).

One time, Dad (Austin Gudmundsen) recalled that a drunk from Pleasant Grove, was going to drive his brother's car home. Dad was very concerned and suggested that the drunk get someone else to drive him. While they were arguing the situation, the man suddenly said to Dad, "Do you know what makes my brother mad?"

"No", said Dad. "Its this!", he cried. At the same time he kicked his leg right through the windshield. He also succeeded in getting it cut painfully on the non-shatter-proof glass shards! Dad pulled him from the car and bound up his wounds. Finally someone else drove him away.

However we are getting away from our main story. While Abe was at the shop in town, Lettie and the older children ran the resort. There were a myriad of chores to be done, and Lettie always had a lot of things for Abe to do when he got home at night. One day after work, Abe came home wearing a new suit. It was all green in color and Lettie thought it was hideous. However Abe liked to wear it for some reason. He steadfastly refused to pick out a different one for years. Some thirty years later, long after they had moved away from the resort to their home in American Fork, Abe finally owned up to why he wore the green suit. He called it his "camouflage suit". By wearing the suit and coming home by a back way, he was able to avoid detection by his wife by hiding in the bushes. He thus was able to get a few minutes to unwind from the stress of the day where she could not find him!