Since Jim was not working because of his illness, he stayed awake at night so that Irene and the children could sleep safely. Several days later, Irene who had been walking a mile and a half each way to work because they could not afford gasoline for their old 1936 Chrysler, brought groceries home in a taxicab. The items included a large cake, which she had bought on sale. She put the cake on the kitchen table and went to a neighbor's house with Jim to borrow an ironing board. When they returned, not more than five minutes later, the cake had been devoured, except for a few crumbs. Irene and Jim saw rats jumping off the table as they entered the kitchen.
Jim longed for the opportunity to return to his music. He had been too sick to think about playing or composing, and the demise of his Trio dejected him. He was taking a stroll several blocks from home when he saw a piano on the sidewalk, leaning against the front porch of a house that was being raised several feet so that a new basement could be constructed under it. He inquired at the house and was told that the piano was a Junker and he could have it if he would haul it away. It took Jim two weeks to repair the piano. The piano inspired him to resume practicing his accordion. He began composing again. Bob Hoffman visited occasionally and admired his compositions. "I want to write a Nebraska song." Jim told him. "It will be a song either written about Nebraska or dedicated to Nebraska." Bob did not encourage him. "There already is a popular song about Nebraska," he said. "It is called, 'There Is No Place Like Nebraska'." Jim was not discouraged. "I will write a song for my own satisfaction, expressing the way I see Nebraska." he said.

In the days that followed, Jim searched the keyboard for an appropriate melody. He could not arouse his muse. He concluded that he had not traveled and seen enough of Nebraska to develop a natural inspiration for a song about it. He abandoned the project.

In Memory Of Jim W. Fras

May 15, 1925 - September 9, 2002

Children enjoying the front porch of the Fras' second rental home at 116 K Street in West Lincoln in the mid-1950s.
 

 

 

Each move through the years improved life for all the family and the safety of the children. This is the very first owned house for Jim and Irene in the North Lincoln Belmont area at 1100 Belmont Avenue.