[This letter is written on small, skinny notebook paper, plus a sheet of sale or order paper. Also, Grandma had sketched a picture of a man sitting across from her who had fallen asleep, along with the note "The gentle man across the aisle who has gone sound asleep." Very good artistry!]
Dearest Larry,
I've just heard some news that's stunned me so that I've got to write now, -- I can't look out the window and I can't read. -- I took a train that went through Milwaukee and had a twenty minute wait there. I decided to call the Prather family to say hello and when I got Ken (you remember meeting him) he informed me that his younger brother Bob had died Sunday and was being buried tonight. He was in an accident and had a broken leg and pneumonia set in. He was such a big, vigorous fellow, too. Never sick a day in his life, as far as I know. I suppose it might have been in the Madison papers but I had no way of knowing.
I had a little bad luck today, -- strained a ligament in my shoulder or something, when I lifted my suitcase and started toward the I.C. It was so bad and so hard for me to manage my bag, the racket, my coat and handbag that I changed my plans and went right to the station and took a train that left an hour earlier and went right thru Milwaukee. It was air-conditioned and a lovely train -- beautiful wood panelling and new beautifully upholstered seats, etc. so I was fairly comfortable. I was able to get on it a half hour early, too.
I'd had no lunch and wouldn't get home till after supper so I investigated the cocktail lounge in the rear of the train for a sandwich and a coke.
There were no stops made between Chicago and Milwaukee -- took 80 minutes for 90 miles.
A streamliner just passed -- may have been the Hiawatha - it really was travelling. I'm coming to the end of my paper and will have to stop this scribbling - it helps to keep from dwelling too much on sad news, tho, and you probably don't mind a letter scribbled on a train. Wish you were with me now. I thought of you when I was in that good looking cocktail lounge -- it was like a modernized diner, -- and I haven't been on diners often enough but what I still get a kick out of it. The tables jiggle just enough to make it interesting.
We're going through Pewaukee now, where we once spent a summer in a cottage from May to October. The water looks high. There are so many crossings over the road that it seems like this train is constantly blowing its whistle. It's air-cooled too but not as new a train as from Chicago to Milwaukee. This train is making all the little stops. I'm wondering if it will stop at [can't read town -- Ionia maybe?] a little Podunk if there ever was one. I remember the first time we took Jane S. to Madison with us. We told her she had to remember all the little towns and she worked so hard at it.
We are now in Pashots [maybe Nashots? again, can't read very easily] Isn't that wonderful? Now it's O'Kauchee we're in. Don't you like the names of these Wisconsin towns? This next 85 miles will be in two hours and twenty minutes. Some difference . Arrived home safely --
Love,
Ellen
Saturday, November 13, 2010
August 1, 1939
Tuesday, 8:30 A.M. (Chicago Time)
Dearest Larry,
I'm all alone, here in Doris' apartment, hoping I can find my way to the various places I'm going to go to before I leave on an afternoon train. I wish I had some vague idea of where places were in this city. I found Doris' without any difficulty, but now I'll have to do a little guesswork etc. If I could be that extravagant I'd take a cab,-- but I can't,-- so -- I'll just keep my fingers crossed. I'm going somewhere on Jackson St. (wherever that is) to see about registering with a teacher's agency (commercial). One of Doris' roommates told me a personal interview would be a good idea. Then before I go there I'll have to check my bag and Crosby's tennis racket (which I acquired last night) some place. I'll also have to eat lunch someplace. I've never been alone in this city before, and I've decided I don't like it.
That train you put me on was all right after all. -- it was an express and didn't make a stop until the 63rd St. station, -- the trip only took 45 minutes. With my usual luck I found most of the seats occupied by darkies, with a few nuns and other miscellaneous people. (No young people) I was wondering which one I'd pick out to sit with when I saw an apparently vacant seat far forward. When I reached it I found that some one else's bags were there first and was thinking I'd have to retrace my steps when a very nice appearing man came up and asked me if I would like to sit there and removed his bags. Then he went to the smoking car. I was very grateful. -- but of course I wasn't alone long. An old lady soon joined me and began to tell me all about herself and her trip etc. The train was air-conditioned, so Chicago seemed very hot when I got off.
When I arrived here I left a message for Doris as I couldn't reach her by phone and I called Crosby. He was on a case and had to cut me off and ask me to call back later.
I walked out to 63rd, wondering how I would kill time, and discovered a little local movie that was air-conditioned, so I went in. Doris got back before I did and called Crosby to find out if I'd gone there. He was very worried, thinking that he had cut me off abruptly, and finding out I was alone, which he hadn't realized. I called him, to reassure him, as soon as I got back.
Last evening, then, Doris and I walked over to Lying In and waited for Crosby until he was free (it took telepage an hour to locate him) and then we went up to his room and talked and had cokes until he had his next call about an hour later. He gave us explicit instructions as to how to get back here on the most brightly-lit streets, -- which seemed unnecessary to me. But even on them I discovered a few things. It was only about 10:30 but we met several lurching drunks (one just missed bumping smack into me) and several men who tried to get our attention. I learned to follow Doris' example and apparently not notice them, walking steadily along and not looking at them. But I don't think I like this town. The sight of all those dirty roof tops and the noise is depressing, too, especially after where I've just been with you.
I felt so lonely after the girls had left this morning, wondering how I'd get around and feeling lost etc., but I'm allright now, -- Doris called and gave me a list of el trains I could take and told me when to get off the I.C. etc. I guess this is a bad place to be alone when you don't know the city.
Crosby loaned me his tennis racket without an argument, -- said he didn't use it enough to play. Aren't you glad?
I must go now, -- I'll write after I get back to Madison to let you know that I arrived safely, but you can't expect me to write that close together ordinarily, can you?
Heaps of love,
Ellen
That racket has a larger grip than I like but it's a good racket. Has a zipper case with a handle, so it won't be hard to carry.
Dearest Larry,
I'm all alone, here in Doris' apartment, hoping I can find my way to the various places I'm going to go to before I leave on an afternoon train. I wish I had some vague idea of where places were in this city. I found Doris' without any difficulty, but now I'll have to do a little guesswork etc. If I could be that extravagant I'd take a cab,-- but I can't,-- so -- I'll just keep my fingers crossed. I'm going somewhere on Jackson St. (wherever that is) to see about registering with a teacher's agency (commercial). One of Doris' roommates told me a personal interview would be a good idea. Then before I go there I'll have to check my bag and Crosby's tennis racket (which I acquired last night) some place. I'll also have to eat lunch someplace. I've never been alone in this city before, and I've decided I don't like it.
That train you put me on was all right after all. -- it was an express and didn't make a stop until the 63rd St. station, -- the trip only took 45 minutes. With my usual luck I found most of the seats occupied by darkies, with a few nuns and other miscellaneous people. (No young people) I was wondering which one I'd pick out to sit with when I saw an apparently vacant seat far forward. When I reached it I found that some one else's bags were there first and was thinking I'd have to retrace my steps when a very nice appearing man came up and asked me if I would like to sit there and removed his bags. Then he went to the smoking car. I was very grateful. -- but of course I wasn't alone long. An old lady soon joined me and began to tell me all about herself and her trip etc. The train was air-conditioned, so Chicago seemed very hot when I got off.
When I arrived here I left a message for Doris as I couldn't reach her by phone and I called Crosby. He was on a case and had to cut me off and ask me to call back later.
I walked out to 63rd, wondering how I would kill time, and discovered a little local movie that was air-conditioned, so I went in. Doris got back before I did and called Crosby to find out if I'd gone there. He was very worried, thinking that he had cut me off abruptly, and finding out I was alone, which he hadn't realized. I called him, to reassure him, as soon as I got back.
Last evening, then, Doris and I walked over to Lying In and waited for Crosby until he was free (it took telepage an hour to locate him) and then we went up to his room and talked and had cokes until he had his next call about an hour later. He gave us explicit instructions as to how to get back here on the most brightly-lit streets, -- which seemed unnecessary to me. But even on them I discovered a few things. It was only about 10:30 but we met several lurching drunks (one just missed bumping smack into me) and several men who tried to get our attention. I learned to follow Doris' example and apparently not notice them, walking steadily along and not looking at them. But I don't think I like this town. The sight of all those dirty roof tops and the noise is depressing, too, especially after where I've just been with you.
I felt so lonely after the girls had left this morning, wondering how I'd get around and feeling lost etc., but I'm allright now, -- Doris called and gave me a list of el trains I could take and told me when to get off the I.C. etc. I guess this is a bad place to be alone when you don't know the city.
Crosby loaned me his tennis racket without an argument, -- said he didn't use it enough to play. Aren't you glad?
I must go now, -- I'll write after I get back to Madison to let you know that I arrived safely, but you can't expect me to write that close together ordinarily, can you?
Heaps of love,
Ellen
That racket has a larger grip than I like but it's a good racket. Has a zipper case with a handle, so it won't be hard to carry.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
July 13, 1939
Dearest Ellen,
How do you like my new letter paper? I just ran out of Dick's so I guess I will have to buy some for myself. I hunted all over the place for some other but couldn't find any except some of Doris's which is lavender and with a white border, cute eh? I decided it would be better to use some office stationary.
Well I expect to drive up Friday afternoon, July 14. I don't think I can get away from here until 4 or 5 o'clock and it will take 8 or 9 hours to make it so I don't suppose I will get there much before 1 or 2 in the morning. If that's the case I wouldn't want to barge in on you so early so I will crawl in at Grandma's and see you early Saturday morn say around 8:30 or 9:00. If I should perchance, be able to get away from here right after dinner at noon and arrive in Madison by 10 or 10:30, I might call you up and say, hello. Aunt Laura is going to ride with me as far as Kankakee and from there I will be alone. Doris and Miriam can't come at this time. Mother could spare both anyway and right now with Aunt Laura gone, they are needed to sell at the market.
You should see our roses in bloom now! We have about 80 varieties all grouped together just south of the market and they are all blooming profusely. We have to water them nearly every day because the hot sun dries them with the pot sticking up in the air. We have been selling a few every day but we still have over a thousand. We had over 10,000 to start with and we potted over 3,000. Today I planted a dozen along with $30 worth of evergreens. Les and two of the boys started work on a $100 job which they will finish tomorrow. Les finished the second pool yesterday and we will probably plant it tomorrow or Friday. We have been pretty busy considering this is our slack season. We have 5 men working besides 5 of us counting Lloyd, Jr. He does a lot of the watering and works on the golf course. He thinks he works awfully hard and I suppose he does for a boy his age but he likes to go swimming or playing golf with the neighbor boys. He takes them on for a nickle a hole and usually wins all their spending money. He lets them win enough to keep them interested. They get tired of it after a while.
Monday and Tuesday, Dick and I went around town trying to sell some roses and stuff. We took our sprayer along and got a couple jobs spraying for worms on the evergreens. Monday I got a lead for a job which will probably amount to $50 or better. Tuesday I booked the $30 job which we planted today. If we can do that good every week during the summer it will be real good. When fall business starts, though, along in September, we should do nearly 3 times that much a week.
Enough about my work. The golf course has been doing pretty good. We had a big crowd Sat and Sun night which makes us feel good. We have advertised it in a couple papers and hope to do better. When it is hot in town it is nearly always cool out here with a good breeze as soon as the sun goes down. The past couple days haven't been so hot which is certainly a relief. It certainly did get hot last week. It was 96 in the shade and you can guess what it was in the sun, and I was helping mix concrete!! But right now we are having a relief period. The paper says it is only supposed to go to 90 tomorrow.
You should see "Ching" now!! He is growing more and more and just as playful. He seems to get more independent every day. We have a lot of fun playing with him, too.
Today was 3 cent day at Riverside, our amusement park and Lloyd and some of the kids went. You can ride on any of the things for 3 cents. I just had to go get him and his bicycle because he lost the key to his lock. He had a lot of fun but couldn't ride home.
Well, I'll get there soon after this letter does so I guess I'll have to tell you the rest. I'm expecting to bring you back with me for a visit here so your excuses better be good. I know you're just dying to come and I'm dying to have you so??? You know there is no better place for a vacation than good old Indiana especially for a native Wisconsinite. We have thousands of beautiful places, ideal picnic spots, and a thousand and one different things to do and places to see. And then too, I'm here. When I'm here and your there, neither of us can have much fun, but when your here with me, boy what fun we can have!!!
I'll be seeing you soon.
Lots of love,
Larry
How do you like my new letter paper? I just ran out of Dick's so I guess I will have to buy some for myself. I hunted all over the place for some other but couldn't find any except some of Doris's which is lavender and with a white border, cute eh? I decided it would be better to use some office stationary.
Well I expect to drive up Friday afternoon, July 14. I don't think I can get away from here until 4 or 5 o'clock and it will take 8 or 9 hours to make it so I don't suppose I will get there much before 1 or 2 in the morning. If that's the case I wouldn't want to barge in on you so early so I will crawl in at Grandma's and see you early Saturday morn say around 8:30 or 9:00. If I should perchance, be able to get away from here right after dinner at noon and arrive in Madison by 10 or 10:30, I might call you up and say, hello. Aunt Laura is going to ride with me as far as Kankakee and from there I will be alone. Doris and Miriam can't come at this time. Mother could spare both anyway and right now with Aunt Laura gone, they are needed to sell at the market.
You should see our roses in bloom now! We have about 80 varieties all grouped together just south of the market and they are all blooming profusely. We have to water them nearly every day because the hot sun dries them with the pot sticking up in the air. We have been selling a few every day but we still have over a thousand. We had over 10,000 to start with and we potted over 3,000. Today I planted a dozen along with $30 worth of evergreens. Les and two of the boys started work on a $100 job which they will finish tomorrow. Les finished the second pool yesterday and we will probably plant it tomorrow or Friday. We have been pretty busy considering this is our slack season. We have 5 men working besides 5 of us counting Lloyd, Jr. He does a lot of the watering and works on the golf course. He thinks he works awfully hard and I suppose he does for a boy his age but he likes to go swimming or playing golf with the neighbor boys. He takes them on for a nickle a hole and usually wins all their spending money. He lets them win enough to keep them interested. They get tired of it after a while.
Monday and Tuesday, Dick and I went around town trying to sell some roses and stuff. We took our sprayer along and got a couple jobs spraying for worms on the evergreens. Monday I got a lead for a job which will probably amount to $50 or better. Tuesday I booked the $30 job which we planted today. If we can do that good every week during the summer it will be real good. When fall business starts, though, along in September, we should do nearly 3 times that much a week.
Enough about my work. The golf course has been doing pretty good. We had a big crowd Sat and Sun night which makes us feel good. We have advertised it in a couple papers and hope to do better. When it is hot in town it is nearly always cool out here with a good breeze as soon as the sun goes down. The past couple days haven't been so hot which is certainly a relief. It certainly did get hot last week. It was 96 in the shade and you can guess what it was in the sun, and I was helping mix concrete!! But right now we are having a relief period. The paper says it is only supposed to go to 90 tomorrow.
You should see "Ching" now!! He is growing more and more and just as playful. He seems to get more independent every day. We have a lot of fun playing with him, too.
Today was 3 cent day at Riverside, our amusement park and Lloyd and some of the kids went. You can ride on any of the things for 3 cents. I just had to go get him and his bicycle because he lost the key to his lock. He had a lot of fun but couldn't ride home.
Well, I'll get there soon after this letter does so I guess I'll have to tell you the rest. I'm expecting to bring you back with me for a visit here so your excuses better be good. I know you're just dying to come and I'm dying to have you so??? You know there is no better place for a vacation than good old Indiana especially for a native Wisconsinite. We have thousands of beautiful places, ideal picnic spots, and a thousand and one different things to do and places to see. And then too, I'm here. When I'm here and your there, neither of us can have much fun, but when your here with me, boy what fun we can have!!!
I'll be seeing you soon.
Lots of love,
Larry
July 10, 1939
Dearest Ellen,
I'll bet you are surprised to hear from me so soon but I have a good reason. How would you like me to come up this week end??
I've been talking to Dad and he says I can have the time off. I thought I had better write early so you could cancel all other dates. :)
Another thing, would you and your mother be able to come back with me? If you can I will drive up but if you can't at this time I will probably come up with Uncle Quincy and take the bus back.
We've been busy this week putting in a pool. Les and I went to a place south of Shelbyville, about 40 miles and got a load of flat stone to use on the pool. It took us two days to do the entire job and it surely looked nice when we got done. We have another pool to start tomorrow which will take a couple days to do. It is a little larger and may take longer.
Mother and I went to a show tonight and saw "The Mikado", in color. It certainly was a good picture and the acting and scenes were very good. [Here's a link to an archive web page of this movie: http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/mikado/1938film/index.html]
Well Les is waiting to mail this letter so I will write more later or see you.
If you can come back with me write immediately and let me know. Write anyway.
Lots of love,
Larry
I'll bet you are surprised to hear from me so soon but I have a good reason. How would you like me to come up this week end??
I've been talking to Dad and he says I can have the time off. I thought I had better write early so you could cancel all other dates. :)
Another thing, would you and your mother be able to come back with me? If you can I will drive up but if you can't at this time I will probably come up with Uncle Quincy and take the bus back.
We've been busy this week putting in a pool. Les and I went to a place south of Shelbyville, about 40 miles and got a load of flat stone to use on the pool. It took us two days to do the entire job and it surely looked nice when we got done. We have another pool to start tomorrow which will take a couple days to do. It is a little larger and may take longer.
Mother and I went to a show tonight and saw "The Mikado", in color. It certainly was a good picture and the acting and scenes were very good. [Here's a link to an archive web page of this movie: http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/mikado/1938film/index.html]
Well Les is waiting to mail this letter so I will write more later or see you.
If you can come back with me write immediately and let me know. Write anyway.
Lots of love,
Larry
July 6, 1939
Dearest Ellen,
I received your fine letter today and it made me wish I were up there with you. Your descriptions of the moon and sailboat was truly ideal. I, too, saw the moon but I didn't sleep with it shining in my face. The only trouble with that canoe trip on the Kankakee River was that the moon wasn't shining. I wonder if the moon will shine when I get up to Madison.
I can't quite make out what you meant about the party at the McCordie's last weekend. You said that Vic had been hitch-hiking down every weekend but didn't think he could make it last week so they planned a party for Doris and Ella. What did they do, plan the party because Vic couldn't come? I guess Rena wanted another date and was glad Vic couldn't come. Its too bad you couldn't go. You didn't tell me about your anonymous phone call. Too bad he didn't leave his phone number, eh!! Maybe I should read your letter better. Now I see you said Vic got there anyway and that did complicate conditions.
Well Les and Betty got home yesterday after a swell week in Wisconsin. They went all the way up to Lake Superior and would like to have gone farther but couldn't because Dad said Les could only have one week. They got back to Chicago Monday and Tuesday drove the rest of the way home bringing Betty's mother and a car load of things. The car was plastered with red clay from Superior which showed they were way up there. Betty has spent all day today unpacking dishes and other things.
We got the golf course opened and have had a number of players. The greens aren't in very good condition yet but with a little more work we will have them fairly smooth. We never have had the greens as smooth as those of a regular golf course and we probably never will. We have a lot of fun anyway and get used to the bumps. We usually make the holes in one anyway as a few bumps more or less don't make a bit of difference. I went out with Dad to play a regular game on a big course and I beat him two strokes. We quit on the 14th hole so I don't know what my score would have been on the 18. At the half way I had shot 50 with Dad a 54. He picked up 2 strokes on the next hold and we stayed even until we quit. We were playing one of the toughest courses around here with real long fairways. The course is partially inside the Speedway and while we were there a car went whizzing past. They said he was doing about 120 miles per hour and he really was traveling. I think I played about as well as I have ever played. Of course I had several bum shots which was only natural for me. On the first hole I hit the same tree twice. The first time I tried to go under it but hit a branch and the ball flew back so I was farther from the hole than when I hit it. The next shot I hit it again and dropped below it so I couldn't hit the tree again. Some fun don't you think. Dad has promised to see about getting me some new clubs so maybe I can count on them for a Christmas present. Not much good for this year but I may not get to play much anyway.
We have been doing some planting this past week. Thursday Dick and I and another fellow planted 50 roses and some other plants as well as trim a few trees. Friday we planted 80 hedge plants and hope to get a lot of work from the same party. By the way, how is your garden coming? Has your flower bloomed yet? Yesterday we had a vacation to celebrate "the Fourth" in grand style with a big bang. We shot off lots of firecrackers and my ears are still ringing. We did plan to have a picnic but called it off the last minute. I got a date to go on the picnic but when they called it off we decided to go swimming. We went out to Westlake and had a lot of fun. In the evening we went to a big display given by the Sahara Groto at Butler Bowl. It surely was a magnificient sight. They had every color aerial bombs and lots of other displays. The date I had was kind a young and --. I'd much rather been with you.
That circular writing nearly made me dizzy. I've been trying to think of some way to get you but as yet no inspirations have come. Don't try Chinese - we may have a chow dog but I'm no Chinaman. I'll bet it took you longer to write it than it took me to read it ha, ha. Boy, today surely was a scorcher. I'll bet it was the hottest day we've had yet. It was hot clear up until after dark tonight and then it clouded up and rained. That surely did releave the heat. Well I guess I've run out of something to say. I never was much at writing long letters. I can't think of everything at one sitting.
Do you know that if you get a job in Chicago that you will be a whole lot closer to Indianapolis than you are now. It is 199 mile from here to Chicago and 180 or there abouts from Chicago to Madison. And you don't want to teach school anyway, do you?
How about you and your mother coming down here for a week or more? I might even come up and get you if your Dad couldn't bring you down. How about me coming up in a couple weeks and staying a few days and bringing you and your mother down to stay for a week or more??? Wouldn't that be swell?
Lots of love,
Larry
I received your fine letter today and it made me wish I were up there with you. Your descriptions of the moon and sailboat was truly ideal. I, too, saw the moon but I didn't sleep with it shining in my face. The only trouble with that canoe trip on the Kankakee River was that the moon wasn't shining. I wonder if the moon will shine when I get up to Madison.
I can't quite make out what you meant about the party at the McCordie's last weekend. You said that Vic had been hitch-hiking down every weekend but didn't think he could make it last week so they planned a party for Doris and Ella. What did they do, plan the party because Vic couldn't come? I guess Rena wanted another date and was glad Vic couldn't come. Its too bad you couldn't go. You didn't tell me about your anonymous phone call. Too bad he didn't leave his phone number, eh!! Maybe I should read your letter better. Now I see you said Vic got there anyway and that did complicate conditions.
Well Les and Betty got home yesterday after a swell week in Wisconsin. They went all the way up to Lake Superior and would like to have gone farther but couldn't because Dad said Les could only have one week. They got back to Chicago Monday and Tuesday drove the rest of the way home bringing Betty's mother and a car load of things. The car was plastered with red clay from Superior which showed they were way up there. Betty has spent all day today unpacking dishes and other things.
We got the golf course opened and have had a number of players. The greens aren't in very good condition yet but with a little more work we will have them fairly smooth. We never have had the greens as smooth as those of a regular golf course and we probably never will. We have a lot of fun anyway and get used to the bumps. We usually make the holes in one anyway as a few bumps more or less don't make a bit of difference. I went out with Dad to play a regular game on a big course and I beat him two strokes. We quit on the 14th hole so I don't know what my score would have been on the 18. At the half way I had shot 50 with Dad a 54. He picked up 2 strokes on the next hold and we stayed even until we quit. We were playing one of the toughest courses around here with real long fairways. The course is partially inside the Speedway and while we were there a car went whizzing past. They said he was doing about 120 miles per hour and he really was traveling. I think I played about as well as I have ever played. Of course I had several bum shots which was only natural for me. On the first hole I hit the same tree twice. The first time I tried to go under it but hit a branch and the ball flew back so I was farther from the hole than when I hit it. The next shot I hit it again and dropped below it so I couldn't hit the tree again. Some fun don't you think. Dad has promised to see about getting me some new clubs so maybe I can count on them for a Christmas present. Not much good for this year but I may not get to play much anyway.
We have been doing some planting this past week. Thursday Dick and I and another fellow planted 50 roses and some other plants as well as trim a few trees. Friday we planted 80 hedge plants and hope to get a lot of work from the same party. By the way, how is your garden coming? Has your flower bloomed yet? Yesterday we had a vacation to celebrate "the Fourth" in grand style with a big bang. We shot off lots of firecrackers and my ears are still ringing. We did plan to have a picnic but called it off the last minute. I got a date to go on the picnic but when they called it off we decided to go swimming. We went out to Westlake and had a lot of fun. In the evening we went to a big display given by the Sahara Groto at Butler Bowl. It surely was a magnificient sight. They had every color aerial bombs and lots of other displays. The date I had was kind a young and --. I'd much rather been with you.
That circular writing nearly made me dizzy. I've been trying to think of some way to get you but as yet no inspirations have come. Don't try Chinese - we may have a chow dog but I'm no Chinaman. I'll bet it took you longer to write it than it took me to read it ha, ha. Boy, today surely was a scorcher. I'll bet it was the hottest day we've had yet. It was hot clear up until after dark tonight and then it clouded up and rained. That surely did releave the heat. Well I guess I've run out of something to say. I never was much at writing long letters. I can't think of everything at one sitting.
Do you know that if you get a job in Chicago that you will be a whole lot closer to Indianapolis than you are now. It is 199 mile from here to Chicago and 180 or there abouts from Chicago to Madison. And you don't want to teach school anyway, do you?
How about you and your mother coming down here for a week or more? I might even come up and get you if your Dad couldn't bring you down. How about me coming up in a couple weeks and staying a few days and bringing you and your mother down to stay for a week or more??? Wouldn't that be swell?
Lots of love,
Larry
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
June 29, 1939
Dear Ellen,
Well we got home safely, bycycle and all and we had fun in Kankakee - canoeing. We didn't leave Chicago until nearly 5 o'clock and arrived in K3 [written like K to the 3rd] at 5:20 - pretty speedy. We had to stop at the Cordes and the Ames before leaving and that took nearly an hour.
At the farm in Kankakee we had a lunch, visited the nursery and went canoeing with Jean and her boyfriend, Bill. Some fun paddling on the river but I wished you were along. Doris and I sat back and took it easy while they paddled.
We left the next morning about 8:30 and got home at 12:20. I let Doris and Miriam do most of the driving and I slept part of the way. Everything at home looked fine, not much different than when you were here except you weren't.
We've been working to get the golf course ready to open this weekend. I've been stringing up lights - putting back wires that came down during the winter and putting in light bulbs. One of the big pine trees broke off and I fixed it up as a light pole with a big spot light. I only got shocked once. Tomorrow we have to work on the greens, fertilizing and tamping to get them smooth. It's a lot of work but its worth it I hope. Last year we had quite a lot of customers and we have had several call wanting to know when we will open.
Has it been hot up there? We've had it plenty hot here lately. It generally gets cool in the evenings but I'd hate to say how hot it really gets. I feel cooler when I don't know how high the thermometer goes. Aunt Laura nearly melts with the heat so she gets in the tub after dinner and cools off. Another thing is the Oats bugs. Do you have any up there? They are little black bugs about 1/16" long that flies. When I get sweaty they land all over me and I feel crawlly!
Dick, Don and I went swimming last night at one of the public pools here. It felt good after a hot day and was almost cold. Don is an excellent diver and we stood around watching him dive. He has one dive he does from the high board which makes the water fly. One time it shot up over twenty feet, a regular geyser. He did it once and splashed water all over the lifeguard.
We got a card from Les and Betty yesterday from Madison. They couldn't find a cabin after leaving Chicago so drove all the way to Madison and got there at 5 in the morning and stayed all day. He didn't say where they would go from there but I presume someplace in northern Wisconsin or Minnesota.
We just listened to the Joe Lewis - Tony Galento prize fight. Tony lasted longer than I expected and gave Joe a pretty good fight. I suppose you tuned in too. Tony surely had the stuff it takes to last four rounds against the Brown Bomber. Now we are listening to the Indianapolis Indians - Columbus Redbirds in a ball game. I'm listening while I'm writing so it probably rather disorganized so please forgive it.
I finally got Dad to buy paint for the house so as soon as it gets here I'll probably start painting the house if ? There's a lot of house here and it will probably take two weeks and more providing I can keep at it. I don't mind it, in fact the thought of it rather intrigues me.
Well I guess I'll close. Uncle Willis' address is 5140 Kenwood.
Lots of love,
Larry
Well we got home safely, bycycle and all and we had fun in Kankakee - canoeing. We didn't leave Chicago until nearly 5 o'clock and arrived in K3 [written like K to the 3rd] at 5:20 - pretty speedy. We had to stop at the Cordes and the Ames before leaving and that took nearly an hour.
At the farm in Kankakee we had a lunch, visited the nursery and went canoeing with Jean and her boyfriend, Bill. Some fun paddling on the river but I wished you were along. Doris and I sat back and took it easy while they paddled.
We left the next morning about 8:30 and got home at 12:20. I let Doris and Miriam do most of the driving and I slept part of the way. Everything at home looked fine, not much different than when you were here except you weren't.
We've been working to get the golf course ready to open this weekend. I've been stringing up lights - putting back wires that came down during the winter and putting in light bulbs. One of the big pine trees broke off and I fixed it up as a light pole with a big spot light. I only got shocked once. Tomorrow we have to work on the greens, fertilizing and tamping to get them smooth. It's a lot of work but its worth it I hope. Last year we had quite a lot of customers and we have had several call wanting to know when we will open.
Has it been hot up there? We've had it plenty hot here lately. It generally gets cool in the evenings but I'd hate to say how hot it really gets. I feel cooler when I don't know how high the thermometer goes. Aunt Laura nearly melts with the heat so she gets in the tub after dinner and cools off. Another thing is the Oats bugs. Do you have any up there? They are little black bugs about 1/16" long that flies. When I get sweaty they land all over me and I feel crawlly!
Dick, Don and I went swimming last night at one of the public pools here. It felt good after a hot day and was almost cold. Don is an excellent diver and we stood around watching him dive. He has one dive he does from the high board which makes the water fly. One time it shot up over twenty feet, a regular geyser. He did it once and splashed water all over the lifeguard.
We got a card from Les and Betty yesterday from Madison. They couldn't find a cabin after leaving Chicago so drove all the way to Madison and got there at 5 in the morning and stayed all day. He didn't say where they would go from there but I presume someplace in northern Wisconsin or Minnesota.
We just listened to the Joe Lewis - Tony Galento prize fight. Tony lasted longer than I expected and gave Joe a pretty good fight. I suppose you tuned in too. Tony surely had the stuff it takes to last four rounds against the Brown Bomber. Now we are listening to the Indianapolis Indians - Columbus Redbirds in a ball game. I'm listening while I'm writing so it probably rather disorganized so please forgive it.
I finally got Dad to buy paint for the house so as soon as it gets here I'll probably start painting the house if ? There's a lot of house here and it will probably take two weeks and more providing I can keep at it. I don't mind it, in fact the thought of it rather intrigues me.
Well I guess I'll close. Uncle Willis' address is 5140 Kenwood.
Lots of love,
Larry
December 28, 1938
Dear Ellen,
Well the Christmas tree sales are over and we now have plenty of time to relax. We sold more trees this year than the last two years. One good thing was that we cleaned up all the good trees we had. The years before we usually had a couple hundred trees left over to burn but this year we only have about 50 trees left and about half of them are on consignment and we don't have to pay for them. We all feel good about the way things sold. I myself sold over 50 dollars Saturday and averaged better than $30 each day of the week.
Our Chrismas surely has been a swell one. We worked until 10:30 Saturday night and then came home and had our presents. Some of us had to wrap a few after getting home so Santa didn't arrive until nearly 12:30. It was after 3 when we finished passing presents around and just as we were starting to pick up papers and things Betty, Lester's girl, and her folks arrived from Chicago. We fixed a lunch for them and didn't get to bed until nearly 4:30. Sunday morning we got up about 9 and left for South Bend about 11:30. There we met alot of relatives, attended my cousin's wedding, had several swell feeds and then came home. Just as we were leaving S.B. it began to snow, a wet snow that sticks to the road and windshield. Dad drove most of the way because he says he feels safer if he is driving. It took us an hour and a half longer to come home but we were lucky. We saw two cars in the ditch and once or twice we skidded a little but we arrived here safely. Yesterday we cleaned up our stand at Sears and carried home the few trees and wreaths we had left. Today we haven't done much only pick and clean 16 chickens and plant a big tree. Well I guess that gives a brief summary of what I have done these past few days.
Doris has just been in here tormenting me. She says to tell you "hello." We have been scraping all morning while picking the chickens. We nearly busted our little radio. She started to throw some water on me and as I jumped I hook the aerial and pulled it off the cabinet. It landed on the top and wrecked the box but it still plays so I guess it can be fixed. Les got a swell little radio from Betty and he was surely delighted. We all got a lot of things, several games and things. I got three shirts, a fountain pen which won't write - look at the first of this letter, I tried to use it there. [the writing was very faint] I also got a pocket knife, several ties and even a tack hammer. My little brother Lloyd got me a hammer and Dick a jig saw. I don't know what for unless he wants to use them, what do you think?? All in all we had a dandy Christmas and everybody was pleased. I hope you had a swell one, too. Did you get a lot of nice things? I'll bet you did.
How is the weather up there? Have you got a lot of snow? We got about a inch here and the temperature dropped to nearly zero last night. Yesterday morning as we got out the wind was whistling around the house and we couldn't get the truck started. The Nash started ok but the truck had the oil frozen so it wouldn't even turn over when we pulled it. I guess it had too much water in the oil. We built a fire under it and after about 15 minutes we got it thawed out so it would run. Dick left the heater turned on in Grandma's Chev and we had to pull that to start it. We didn't get anything else done except start cars all morning.
Have you been skating yet? We haven't had much cold weather until yesterday and a few of the ponds we call lakes froze over. We may go skating tomorrow unless something turns up to prevent us. Usually there isn't much skating here all winter so we make use of all the opportunities we have. Once in a while there is enough snow to go tobaggoning too but that is not very often.
Well I guess I had better close. We expect to leave here Monday morning arriving there sometime around six if we can get through.
Love,
Larry
Well the Christmas tree sales are over and we now have plenty of time to relax. We sold more trees this year than the last two years. One good thing was that we cleaned up all the good trees we had. The years before we usually had a couple hundred trees left over to burn but this year we only have about 50 trees left and about half of them are on consignment and we don't have to pay for them. We all feel good about the way things sold. I myself sold over 50 dollars Saturday and averaged better than $30 each day of the week.
Our Chrismas surely has been a swell one. We worked until 10:30 Saturday night and then came home and had our presents. Some of us had to wrap a few after getting home so Santa didn't arrive until nearly 12:30. It was after 3 when we finished passing presents around and just as we were starting to pick up papers and things Betty, Lester's girl, and her folks arrived from Chicago. We fixed a lunch for them and didn't get to bed until nearly 4:30. Sunday morning we got up about 9 and left for South Bend about 11:30. There we met alot of relatives, attended my cousin's wedding, had several swell feeds and then came home. Just as we were leaving S.B. it began to snow, a wet snow that sticks to the road and windshield. Dad drove most of the way because he says he feels safer if he is driving. It took us an hour and a half longer to come home but we were lucky. We saw two cars in the ditch and once or twice we skidded a little but we arrived here safely. Yesterday we cleaned up our stand at Sears and carried home the few trees and wreaths we had left. Today we haven't done much only pick and clean 16 chickens and plant a big tree. Well I guess that gives a brief summary of what I have done these past few days.
Doris has just been in here tormenting me. She says to tell you "hello." We have been scraping all morning while picking the chickens. We nearly busted our little radio. She started to throw some water on me and as I jumped I hook the aerial and pulled it off the cabinet. It landed on the top and wrecked the box but it still plays so I guess it can be fixed. Les got a swell little radio from Betty and he was surely delighted. We all got a lot of things, several games and things. I got three shirts, a fountain pen which won't write - look at the first of this letter, I tried to use it there. [the writing was very faint] I also got a pocket knife, several ties and even a tack hammer. My little brother Lloyd got me a hammer and Dick a jig saw. I don't know what for unless he wants to use them, what do you think?? All in all we had a dandy Christmas and everybody was pleased. I hope you had a swell one, too. Did you get a lot of nice things? I'll bet you did.
How is the weather up there? Have you got a lot of snow? We got about a inch here and the temperature dropped to nearly zero last night. Yesterday morning as we got out the wind was whistling around the house and we couldn't get the truck started. The Nash started ok but the truck had the oil frozen so it wouldn't even turn over when we pulled it. I guess it had too much water in the oil. We built a fire under it and after about 15 minutes we got it thawed out so it would run. Dick left the heater turned on in Grandma's Chev and we had to pull that to start it. We didn't get anything else done except start cars all morning.
Have you been skating yet? We haven't had much cold weather until yesterday and a few of the ponds we call lakes froze over. We may go skating tomorrow unless something turns up to prevent us. Usually there isn't much skating here all winter so we make use of all the opportunities we have. Once in a while there is enough snow to go tobaggoning too but that is not very often.
Well I guess I had better close. We expect to leave here Monday morning arriving there sometime around six if we can get through.
Love,
Larry
December 23, 1938
Dear Ellen,
"Merry Christmas"
I wrote you a letter last night but got down to the store this morning and decide that it wouldn't get to you before Monday so I decided to write one special. I was delightfully surprised to receive you swell card and nice letter when I reached home last night. The hankerchief was swell, with my initial and everything. Thanks loads.
I don't know how long it will take me to write this with all the interruptions. I just had to write a delivery order for Dick and looking out for customers. There are 6 of us down here today and we are trying to get rid of as many trees as we can. The day is foggy and damp with plenty of water on the streets from the rain and sleet we got yesterday. We look like a pine forest or woods of some kind with trees strung all around. We really ought to sell a lot of trees today but who knows.
Les just got back with a truck load of silver trees. We take some trees over and have silver paint sprayed on them and makes them look real pretty. We also have red, white and blue ones. Real snazzy don't you think. Yesterday the wind blew so hard that we couldn't keep any of the trees standing on their feet. As fast as we would stand them up they would blow over and we finally got disgusted and left them lying.
I can't remember what I wrote last night but I guess you won't mind if I duplicate a little. The crowds are beginning to thicken coming to the store. The store is located several blocks from the center of town and they offer free bus service to and from the circle. They unload in the rear of the store right where we have our trees. It makes it nice for us but at times the crowds get pretty thick just waiting for a bus. I've only made a couple small sales this morning but I hope to get going good later on. Most of the people want one for practically nothing. They think that since it is so close to Christmas we had better sell them cheap rather than have them left on our hands. But we don't mind because part of them are on consignment and if we don't sell them, we don't have to pay for them. We have quite an assortment of cemetary wreathes too. They sell about as well as anything.
Well I suppose this letter so far has been rather broken and uninteresting but considering the conditions and everything it is the best I can do. I'm not much of a letter writer anyhow and it's hard for me to sit down and write one with out any interruptions. I should have written soon after we got home but I couldn't get started. I guess I had better end this now and get back to work.
I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and hope you have a good time.
Love,
Larry
"Merry Christmas"
I wrote you a letter last night but got down to the store this morning and decide that it wouldn't get to you before Monday so I decided to write one special. I was delightfully surprised to receive you swell card and nice letter when I reached home last night. The hankerchief was swell, with my initial and everything. Thanks loads.
I don't know how long it will take me to write this with all the interruptions. I just had to write a delivery order for Dick and looking out for customers. There are 6 of us down here today and we are trying to get rid of as many trees as we can. The day is foggy and damp with plenty of water on the streets from the rain and sleet we got yesterday. We look like a pine forest or woods of some kind with trees strung all around. We really ought to sell a lot of trees today but who knows.
Les just got back with a truck load of silver trees. We take some trees over and have silver paint sprayed on them and makes them look real pretty. We also have red, white and blue ones. Real snazzy don't you think. Yesterday the wind blew so hard that we couldn't keep any of the trees standing on their feet. As fast as we would stand them up they would blow over and we finally got disgusted and left them lying.
I can't remember what I wrote last night but I guess you won't mind if I duplicate a little. The crowds are beginning to thicken coming to the store. The store is located several blocks from the center of town and they offer free bus service to and from the circle. They unload in the rear of the store right where we have our trees. It makes it nice for us but at times the crowds get pretty thick just waiting for a bus. I've only made a couple small sales this morning but I hope to get going good later on. Most of the people want one for practically nothing. They think that since it is so close to Christmas we had better sell them cheap rather than have them left on our hands. But we don't mind because part of them are on consignment and if we don't sell them, we don't have to pay for them. We have quite an assortment of cemetary wreathes too. They sell about as well as anything.
Well I suppose this letter so far has been rather broken and uninteresting but considering the conditions and everything it is the best I can do. I'm not much of a letter writer anyhow and it's hard for me to sit down and write one with out any interruptions. I should have written soon after we got home but I couldn't get started. I guess I had better end this now and get back to work.
I wish you a Very Merry Christmas and hope you have a good time.
Love,
Larry
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
December 22, 1938
Dear Ellen,
I was very please to receive your swell card and letter today. The card was a very nice one and thanks a lot for the "hankie." I was sorry to hear of the accident of your grandfather and hope you don't feel to bad about it. It couldn't have been helped and you shouldn't let it worry you too much.
We have been working long and hard trying to sell a few Christmas trees. We work from 9-9 with a little time off for meals. There are a lot of trees to sell and each day sees a few more gone and we count the days until it will be over. The hardest part of the work is pounding the pavement all day long. The concrete is plenty hard and my feet ache after standing all day. I really enjoy the selling part. We meet a lot of people and some of them are funny trying to pick out the tree they like. They all want one tall and bushy and you should see the different ideas they get about the various trees. Then too, it is fun trying to sell a poorer tree to somebody who has his heart set on something better. We do have our troubles and a few complaints on how much higher our prices are then somebody else's, the poorness of our trees, or somebody bringing one back because it dropped all its needles before it should have. I have sold better than $25 all three days until today and now I sold better than any day before. I can't find out the exact amount but I know it should have been more.
Yesterday was my birthday and I celebrated by working hard all day. I don't think I worked any harder than usual but I worked. Lloyd was the only one who gave me a paddling but he said he was getting even for the one I gave him on the 13th. After work, we had a swell cake with my name written on it and 4 quarts of ice cream divided among the 10 of us, and coffee. We each had plenty of ice cream. For presents, I received a swell pair of gloves and a game, "Kriss Kross." Remember?? We played one game last night and I won, too - as usual!
Our hours are terrific 8 in the morning till midnight. We don't have to be in town to the store until 9:00 o'clock because the store doesn't open till 9:30 and we don't try to get there any to much before that time. The last two days have been pretty cold and windy. Today the trees would fall over as fast as we would set them up so we finally got disgusted and left them lay until some customer wanted to see the one that was in the bottom of the pile. We have a windy corner as most corners are in the city!! We sold over 100 trees today along with a lot of wreaths. I don't know if you are terribly interested in the happenings of the christmas tree salesman but this is it.
I suppose I better say we got home safely and without a mishap. It was cold and snowy part of the way. There were a few parts of the country without any snow and every place we saw people skating on river or pond which made us want to go, too. We won't be able to until after Christmas but we brought our skates with us and if there is still ice then we will certainly use them. We are going to have our tree and presents Sat night so part of us can go to South Bend Sunday. My cousin is getting married then and a few of us will journey up there to attend. We will probably stay overnite and come back sometime Monday. Other than that I haven't much planned for the next week. I hope to get in some good rabbit hunting. I'm not much of a shot and the rabbits are scarce but I can sure hunt. Then too there will be some work to do around the place. I bet I keep plenty busy. If I were up there we would go to the Hollywood or someplace, "I betcha". We surely had a swell time the last two weeks didn't we?? The folks tell me I'm slipping after being such a good boy so long but_____.
Well I must sign off as it is nearly midnight and there's another day tomorrow. Thanks again for the swell card and stuff.
Love,
Larry
I was very please to receive your swell card and letter today. The card was a very nice one and thanks a lot for the "hankie." I was sorry to hear of the accident of your grandfather and hope you don't feel to bad about it. It couldn't have been helped and you shouldn't let it worry you too much.
We have been working long and hard trying to sell a few Christmas trees. We work from 9-9 with a little time off for meals. There are a lot of trees to sell and each day sees a few more gone and we count the days until it will be over. The hardest part of the work is pounding the pavement all day long. The concrete is plenty hard and my feet ache after standing all day. I really enjoy the selling part. We meet a lot of people and some of them are funny trying to pick out the tree they like. They all want one tall and bushy and you should see the different ideas they get about the various trees. Then too, it is fun trying to sell a poorer tree to somebody who has his heart set on something better. We do have our troubles and a few complaints on how much higher our prices are then somebody else's, the poorness of our trees, or somebody bringing one back because it dropped all its needles before it should have. I have sold better than $25 all three days until today and now I sold better than any day before. I can't find out the exact amount but I know it should have been more.
Yesterday was my birthday and I celebrated by working hard all day. I don't think I worked any harder than usual but I worked. Lloyd was the only one who gave me a paddling but he said he was getting even for the one I gave him on the 13th. After work, we had a swell cake with my name written on it and 4 quarts of ice cream divided among the 10 of us, and coffee. We each had plenty of ice cream. For presents, I received a swell pair of gloves and a game, "Kriss Kross." Remember?? We played one game last night and I won, too - as usual!
Our hours are terrific 8 in the morning till midnight. We don't have to be in town to the store until 9:00 o'clock because the store doesn't open till 9:30 and we don't try to get there any to much before that time. The last two days have been pretty cold and windy. Today the trees would fall over as fast as we would set them up so we finally got disgusted and left them lay until some customer wanted to see the one that was in the bottom of the pile. We have a windy corner as most corners are in the city!! We sold over 100 trees today along with a lot of wreaths. I don't know if you are terribly interested in the happenings of the christmas tree salesman but this is it.
I suppose I better say we got home safely and without a mishap. It was cold and snowy part of the way. There were a few parts of the country without any snow and every place we saw people skating on river or pond which made us want to go, too. We won't be able to until after Christmas but we brought our skates with us and if there is still ice then we will certainly use them. We are going to have our tree and presents Sat night so part of us can go to South Bend Sunday. My cousin is getting married then and a few of us will journey up there to attend. We will probably stay overnite and come back sometime Monday. Other than that I haven't much planned for the next week. I hope to get in some good rabbit hunting. I'm not much of a shot and the rabbits are scarce but I can sure hunt. Then too there will be some work to do around the place. I bet I keep plenty busy. If I were up there we would go to the Hollywood or someplace, "I betcha". We surely had a swell time the last two weeks didn't we?? The folks tell me I'm slipping after being such a good boy so long but_____.
Well I must sign off as it is nearly midnight and there's another day tomorrow. Thanks again for the swell card and stuff.
Love,
Larry
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