Returning the book
 

About ten years ago my dad gave me a bag of books he put together while doing a major spring cleaning. One of the books was a used paperback edition of The Catcher In The Rye, twenty-fifth printing, April, 1963. On the inside cover it reads:

Vicki Gutekunst
507 Evergreen Rd.
Pacific Grove, Calif.

The handwriting suggests a teenage girl. Sure enough, a cursory Google search shows a Vicki Gutekunst, Pacific Grove High 1960-1964.


Fast-forward to today and I've read this particular edition twice. The death of Salinger inspired me to read it again recently and I was reminded that the girl who was proud to be the book's first owner had put her name and address on it. As a bookaholic, I can only keep my absolute favorite favorites or I'd end up a hoarder with a book maze for a home. The Catcher In The Rye doesn't do it for me to the point that I need to keep it with my faves, and I'm thinking of trying to return it to Vicki. The book is not in great condition, but still...


I bring this up because we are staying in Pacific Grove this weekend and I really have the urge to visit this address knowing the odds against Vicki Gutekunst living there now are very long indeed. A high school freshman in 1960 would have to be at least 63 today. But the address is only two blocks from where we're staying (Asilomar) and who knows what could happen. Will I meet Vicki? Will I get shot at by some psycho homeowner and/or Vicki's dad? Maybe.

What say you? Would you cold-call 507 Evergreen Road, or would you find her via the internet? Or maybe you think I should keep the book and leave Vicki Gutekunst the hell alone. What would you do?

I think it would be uber cool to return the book, but I think I'd do an internet search first rather than walk up and knock on the door of that address.

I would do a search of tax records in the area and find her address that way. If she was a teenager when she lived at that address, then you'd basically be showing up at her parents' house. If they're still around, they'll be in their 80's at best. But if she stuck around town then you could probably find her.

It is worthless as an artifact and almost certainly worthless as a sentimental object. A kid writing their name in a book is hardly a sign of any particular pride and is really very common (I certainly when through a bookplate phase and none of those books were important to me).

This isn't to say you shouldn't try, there are pretty much three outcomes I see in increasing likelihood (assuming you find her in the first place):

1. It was an important book to her and she's extremely happy to have it back. You're mildly disappointed it wasn't a cooler outcome.

2. It is a meaningless book to her but she gets a kick out of you tracking her down to return it. You both get a laugh out of it.

3. It is a meaningless book to her and she is a bit skeeved out by a stranger showing up with a book she doesn't even remember owning. You're a bit saddened to have caused her even a little distress.

4. It is a meaningless book to her, she says "uh, ok, thanks" and you're disappointed it wasn't something cooler.

So long as you can handle the disappointments for the small chance of something cool then I say go for it. You have a small chance of becoming a story on This American Life and a small chance of worrying she might file a restraining order. But the fun in life is generally in small chances.

There isn't any scenario that would leave me disappointed, even mildly. As I said:

It's all on the table and everything's fine.




Yep.

Or 5. - She's a total hottie and doesn't really care about the book, but is so impressed that you tried to return it, and hey you're kinda cute ....

I say film the entire thing then submit it to the networks as a new reality show: Reuniting people with random stuff from their past.

I'd have sexy time with Vicki's mom before I'd participate in a reality show. But you give me hope, Moonliner, that one day my long-lost copy of Ball Four will be returned to me.

I say do a little hunting beforehand to see if she is still in the area and try to return the book to her.

It would be funny to find out that she moved to Sacto

I have a great idea:

1) I have a camera.
2) Kevy owns various frightening frocks.
3) I also have a tiny POV camera that can be hidden in most costumes.
4) We could totally use this to pitch a whole new disturbing "Candid Camera" type show. ;)

Various?!?

Tooth Fairy
Playboy Bunny
Jon Bonet

... and the upcoming ones for this year. :evil:

Contact her via the internet first. Good luck!

My dad bought me Ball Four, featuring the aptly named Gene Brabender, when I was a kid. I understood the part about shooting beaver, but I remember being confused because there didn't seem to be a game going on when they were talking about balling.

I say go for it. Maybe you'll get to hear about how she gave that book to your dad and how he broke her heart.

I plan to ask my dad if he knows how he came into possession of the book, but knowing my dad he will:


*Not remember giving me the book

*Not remember owning the book

*Not remember where he got the book

*Tell me to give the damn book back if I'm done with it

I couldn't help looking. Do you want further information or do you want the fun of finding it out yourself?

I think I want to drop in unannounced at the address in Pacific Grove tomorrow and then go from there. If Evergreen Road turns out to be the dead-end I suspect it will be, my lazy ass would love some help come Monday, Alex.

Deal?

Am I the only one who kept thinking "Evergreen Terrace" while reading the address?

What day do you drive home, STC?

Sunday.

That's fine (and know that I don't have a final answer. Just a lot more family information that may help if needed). I can't say "This is where she is"

Bah, nobody home at 507 Evergreen Rd when we dropped by around 1:00 Saturday afternoon. I knew as soon as I saw the newspaper still on the driveway that we were wasting our time, but that didn't stop us from knocking on the door for a couple minutes. The kids were bummed but amused themselves by calling out "Hey Vicki" in the vicinity of women of a certain age that we passed on the street the rest of the day. As surprising as it may seem, this ploy produced no results either.

Aww, that's so cool that you went. Kudos to you.
:)




On a side note...
Ah, Pacific Grove, the poo-poo stained rectum of the Monterey Peninsula. I hated that place.
:D

Do you want further information?

Even if he doesn't, post it with spoilers. I want to see what you found.

edit: Ah, found a linkie

My information doesn't entirely match Morrigoon's. It is, of course, possible for one or both of us to tracked the wrong person.

Alex: I just realized the dating on mine is way off though, so your info may be more accurate

Ok, yeah, that link is among the information I have.

I can understand why Mr. Schlechtekunst might have become a government lab technician, but why Mr. Gutekunst? Seems a waste of talent.

Keep pressing, SacTown. I bet she'll be so thrilled, she'll break out the Grade A fish sticks.

Am I the only one that thinks I might feel differently about this entire thread if the book was something like an old edition of The Hobbit or some such rather than "The Catcher In The Rye"?

I, for one, am thrilled that this person was reading that book in Pacific Grove which was once run by a strict Methodist preacher who surrounded the city with a fence, gave the city a curfew of 8pm and insisted that the windows of everyone's houses be open at night so he could monitor their sexual activity... Also, the PG City Council once refused to allow a Taco Bell to open there because the food was "too ethnic". To also add to the sh!ttyness of the place, they have the yearly Festival of Lanterns where Caucasian girls dress up in white face parading around in kimonos and chopsticks in their black wigs... The person reading TCITR was probably suffocating.

I think they should just pave over all of Pacific Grove with asphalt.

:D

I'll keep pushing forward on this. I don't think my kids would let me stop even if I wanted to at this point. I appreciate the link, Morrigoon. Any other information you have would be welcome, Alex.



Even Asilomar? That's my happy place, man.

This is starting to remind me of the quest for the Spider Pool.

I still keep thinking about it (the Spider Pool) and want to find it.

Ok, here's what I found. Nothing after 1986 for Vicki herself. Unfortunately when she got married her named changed to something common. Plus, Vicki (Victoria) is her middle name so official records may be under various other combinations of her real first name and her used name.

But I have three addresses and one phone number for siblings which seem to be current (but may not actually be; for example, one source says Bob Welch still lives at 507 Evergreen but another suggests he died in 2008).

===

Vicky Gutekunst
Birth Name: Julia Victoria Gutekunst
Birthday: 1/31/1947
Married on 10/1/1966 to Robert D. Paul and took his last name.

Lived in Salinas, CA, at the time of her sister's death in 1968.
Still lived in Salinas, CA, at the time of her father's death in 1986.

Graduated Pacific Grove High School, class of 1964.

No information on current situation or living situation. SSN Death Index does not have her listed however. Unfortunately she changed her last name to something common and doesn't go by her real first name so it is hard to narrow the search since you have to do both Julia and Vicki.

Father
John W. Gutekunst
Birthday: 4/25/1916
Death: 2/14/1986
Lived in Pacific Grove at time of death.

Mother
Mary E. Gutekunst (maiden name unknown)
Birthday: 11/2/1914
Death: 10/13/1989
Lived in Pacific Grove at time of death. Unknown with certainty if it was 507 Evergreen address.

Husband
Robert D. Paul - No further information

Sister #1
Mary Margharetta (Gutekunst) Bolinger
Birthday: 10/15/1942
Graduated Pacific Grove High School, class of 1960.
Lived in Phoenix, AZ, in 1986.
Married 3/17/1961 to Michael S. Bolinger
At least three children (as of 1968) named Sheri, Scott W., and Russel D.

Current address and phone:
4839 N 62nd Ave., Phoenix, AZ
623-846-0609

Sister #2
Jan Marika (Gutekunst) Ellis
Birthday: 10/15/1948
Lived in Marina, CA, in 1968 at time of sister's death.
Lived in Salinas at time of her fathers death in 1986.
Graduated Pacific Grove High School, class of 1964.
Married: 10/21/1972 to Leonard G. Ellis

Current Address: 911 Sierra Madre Dr., Salinas, CA.

Sister #3
Lindsae Richardson (Gutekunst) Tugwell
Birthday: 1/26/1946
Died: 1968 in three car automoblie accident at intersection of Salinas-Monterey Highway and Lagunca Seca after she lost control of car.
Graduated Pacific Grove High School, class of 1963.
Married 7/25/1964 to Michael L. Tugwell, divorced August 1967 (I think, there's a divorce decree in records but her obituary suggested she was still married).
Only one child, Christopher Michael (injured in car accident as three year old) who may still live in Seaside, CA, but can't find a solid record.

Brother #1 (and only)
John William Lyle Gutekunst
Born: 10/25/1943
Lived in Salinas as of 1986
Graduated Pacific Grove High School, class of 1961.
Married Katrina V. Jensen 10/29/1967, divorced 3/20/1978.

Current Address: 291 Tapadero St., Salinas, CA


The Address
Assumes that the house that John W. and Mary E. Gutekunst lived in as of 1978 was the same one they lived in when Vicki was writing in book.

After John died in 1986 he was removed from the deed (3/28/1986). On 9/11/1989, shortly before their mother, Mary, died, a filing was made giving daughter Jan Ellis power of attorney over the property and at that time the house was sold to Robert Franklin and Ruth A. Welch (mortgage provided by BofA). Reverse look up finds says current resident is "Bob" Welch so may be same person as Robert Welch. Next door at 509 Evergreen are Geoff and Joy Welch, almost certainly related. It's possible that these people would still know something about the people who owned the house before them.

Fixing one typo in Alex's post per a PM conversation with him (in case he doesn't fix it):But an amazing bit of research on Alex's part!

Ah, there's the typo you mentioned. I wasn't finding it because I was looking at the main spot where I'd mentioned both people's death down under their names and I had it right there.

I am cursed with an eye for typo's.

I hated even pointing it out as you did such great research.

Gutekunst is such a cool name for a story or something...

Also, if you want to know more, way more, about the possible long term roots of the Gutekunst clan.

http://www.gutekunst-archiv.de/

Yes, even there. That's the site I designated for the La Brea Tarpits #2. We'll find you another happy place, Sac.
:D

Amazing research... all through public records?

Mostly:

whitepages.com
SSN Death Index
A geneology site or two
The Monterey County Recorders Office public documents search

Made more difficult by an unrelated John Gutekunst being a form U of Minnesota football coach.

If I ever go missing, I want my search party to include Alex, Sac and Thurston.












...and Sam Worthington.

In case you require mouth-to-mouth, I assume?

I had read GC's post earlier and wondered why he'd want Sam Worthington involved.

JWBear's post triggered that I was thinking of Sam Waterson. Though maybe he'd also like mouth-to-mouth from Sam Waterson.

I thought it said Cal Worthington

Me too! And I immediately had to add - and his dog Spot!

Cal Worthington? I'm desperate but not that desperate.
:D

As for Sam Waterson, hmmm older, distinguished... worth a romp maybe.

Sam Worthington will be crushed.

To any member of the Gutekunst family who is researching their family history and finds this thread....

Yeah OK, this might look a bit creepy at first but if you get to know us you'll see that we're mostly harmless. Mostly.

Do you like Bacon?

Fortunately, there are a lot of Gutekunsts out there I've found.

Me Too! and I had to go back and check

It's funny, I thought the same thing after seeing all the detail Alex found!

...you can thank Alex for doing half your work for you.


I'm going to attempt to make contact using the information provided by Alex when I get a little free time later this week.





No worries, Scrooge McSam and I inserted a GPS chip in you while you were sleeping. Finding you will be a snap.

Some people don't know how to keep a secret.