Tag Archives: Bart

Here’s the money (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
December 1, 1942 –

Dear Daddy –

Received the three money letters this morning and two others – Thanks – You certainly made two little boys happy – I was glad to get the gift but didn’t have quite the reaction Mark had. John was more quiet about his tho no less appreciative. Mark thought of more ways to spend his and had to take it to school to show off, then so he could stop at the P.O. on his way home and cash it. We had been looking for those letters since last Wed and the mail man came along just as Mark had started to school. He came dashing back in the house with his hands full of letters and so excited – He said “here’s the money.” Then I had to go to the door and sign for mine and David’s. David isn’t much interested in his – his main interest is in that bottle every 4 hrs. I couldn’t get his orange juice down him this morning. Now don’t think I am like some of those Mothers you used to get out of patience

[page 2] with when I do get the juice down he throws it right back up – so what’s the use? I’ll consult Dr. C. about giving Vit C by tablet.

Raymond Bower is home. I saw him in town yesterday but didn’t’ have time to talk to him so don’t know anything about his duties or where he has been.

It was cloudy yesterday and the wind was icy cold but I took David out for an airing. He was wrapped except for his face. I think he should get fresh air every day if possible and I think the walk to down does me some good too, since I haven’t much social life now.

You mentioned receiving the birthday cards. I sent a letter – mailed it the same time as the cards and that was why I didn’t write a note because had just written a separate letter but in the future I’ll write something if there is occasion for a card. I wish you would get your birthday box. Maybe if I had just sent a box of candy like Boonie did you would have rec’d it by your birthday.

I can’t give you a financial statement in this letter but will have the bank statement by tomorrow and after I get the allotment and add the gift I got today will give a full report.

[page 3] Clara Molter is here today cleaning some. She ironed the chair covers and has washed the kitchen walls and venetian blinds and is about to get through out there. It is after 3 P.M. and I suppose she will soon want to go home but it was a load to get that much done. I cleaned up the basement somewhat last night. It was so dirty. I don’t know whether this coal is dirtier or whether it was because there had been any cleaning done down there for so long. I do wish we could have finished closing off the furnace room and gotten a little more finishing done, but what’s the difference – since things are as they are now? That will be something for us to do when you come back. I am about to make a slight change in the den. Since I have to use it for a nursery in the day time it is so crowded and hard to keep the rug clean, think I’ll take the rug up and move a few things out. Will let you know what I do when and if I do anything. I won’t spend much money whatever I do but think I can make the necessary improvements without much expense.

[page 4] You should be getting the Enterprize. Bart has been sending it for several weeks. He also has written you – said he gave you all the gossip he could think of. I am short on that kind of news. You should be getting letters regularly – I send them all by air mail and use this thin paper so won’t exceed the ½ oz. Just hope you get our Christmas box. As I said before it isn’t much but as good as we could do with restrictions being what they are. If I had know about the mosquito cream, sardines, & crackers I could have included them in the Christmas box. I’ll try and get sardines if I can. Clara said she got some at the Grab – it Here store, so I’ll try there.

Arlene said they sent you a letter with some pictures and also a pen & pencil set but you have never mentioned receiving anything from them. She called today for your address. Their baby is almost a month older than David but much larger. However he was larger when he arrived – and David isn’t doing bad. He weighed 10-3 this morning and is 10 weeks old. He is making a more rapid gain now than he did at first. To be 6 – 3 ¼ when we came home 8 weeks ago I think he is doing OK.

Will try to dig up some news next time – Thanks again for the gifts

& Love – Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/01/heres-the-money-gladys/

A case of cold beer (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Destry Rides Again is a movie staring Jimmie Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. The movie has a rather infamous fight scene between Marlene Dietrich and Una Merkel and Jimmie Stewart. Although I have never seen the movie, here’s a clip of the big fight from the movie.

Letter transcription:

Nov. 27, 1942

Dear Mother,

The dates on my letters are a little confusing since I write in the P.M. The letter goes thru the censorship routine the next morning and to the P.O. about noon then to the main P.O. in the P.M. and then leave the next day so you see a letter is about 3 days off old before it really leaves the island but I guess that doesn’t make much difference in the long run because of the length of time it takes them to get there. I never seal the envelope until it is ready for censorship so if anything important comes up I can add it and that takes off one day. There is no point to the above whatever only just telling you the procedure.

I’ve been very lazy in the letter writing business the past few days. It seemed that when I wanted to write there was something else that had to be done and when I had time I wasn’t in the mood. The nightly shows cut into my writing schedule but they are pretty good past time. Last night’s show was a little odd. I guess. The name “Destry Rides Again.” Don’t know what the one is tonite we always have pretty good house even if the title isn’t

[page 2] known ahead. Most everyone goes even if they have seen it before. And many persons who go to the movies often have seen them, but as for me they will have to hunt pretty hard if they find one I have seen, as you are well aware.

Our living quarters are pretty good now. We – Three of us – have a space 12 feet by 16 feet. Have Iron bunks with springs. And electric lights. I’ve told you that before but I’m so pleased. We were up last night until 11:00 P.M. We seem to be in a part of the outfit where lights out don’t affect. So we can read write etc. And too the mosquitoes aren’t so bad but we still use our nets at night because the little bugs slip in some way.

Today outside the heat is very oppressive and the sun really burns. Inside the hut it is rather comfortable and there is a slight breeze, but standing perfectly still in the sun is almost unbearable.

So far today I received a copy of the Newton County Enterprise dated Oct. 22 and two V-mail letters one from you and one from John – Yours was dated Nov. 5 and John’s Nov. 3. That’s two V-mails from John and none from Mark. The one I got from John on Nov. 1 sounded more like Mark but it had John’s name.

I haven’t written Bart yet about the paper

[page 3] but I intend to in the very near future and I also intend to write Boonie again. I got his letter 3 days ago but wasn’t in the mood to write and have been a little busy what with moving etc.

Was interrupted for a time – Have just been to the P.O. but no mail or packages. I brought two packages for another Dr. but none for myself. Guess mine will be along sooner or later. It is now 1700 and still the sun is very hot. It’s supposed to be the dead of summer or very near it and by 1915 it is dark enough to start the movies so that proves the period of twilight is shorter here than there because it still very light there at 1915 in the Eve. As I remember it.

Just got a case of cold beer and is it good. Most of the time it is warm but once in a while we are able to get a cold one. Our beer supply is running low and I’ll be sorta glad because it put on too much weight.

Well, I’ll save the rest of the space until morning. It isn’t morning yet but the show was short. The name “Gold Rush Mazie”. It was about as good as it sounds. I’ll add more in the morning.

Nothing new. Very warm at 7:30 A.M. – will start another letter today

Love Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/24/a-case-of-cold-beer-roscoe/

Thanksgiving 1942 (Gladys)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Nov 26 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Thanksgiving Day and lunch over – including David’s. He just finished his 2 P.M. feeding. We lunched rather lightly because we are going to Krulls for supper and thought we had better go with good appetites. It is cold today but sunny. We did a small washing and the clothes froze while hanging them out so that can give you an idea of how crisp it is. Yesterday it was warm enough to hang things without gloves on. This kind of weather make me want a warm coat but really haven’t had an opportunity to get one yet. The mail was delivered this morning but no letters from you. I am anxious to get the letters you sent the money in so I can report to you. The one mailed the 18th came yesterday but there are three or four previous to that date that haven’t come yet. They often come in such a manner. Yesterday one came dated the 11th and I had already received the 12-13-14-& 15th.

John and Mark are washing dishes and being very pokey this

[page 2]being a holiday they aren’t very fast doing things. John’s report card was better this month than Mark’s. I mean John raised some of his grades and Mark dropped on his. Mark got A+ on Band but that was the only grade that high.

Uncle Wes stopped again this morning. He and Paul Harris were returning to Chi. Maybe he and Aunt Jessie will come down Sunday to spend the day – since gas rationing will start Monday. He thought I could get a better rating for gas on the strength of collecting bills, but I told him no. He was trying to tell me how to collect some of those accounts but I doubt if anything short of suing would get some – or most. The  check Amel Taylor gave me that bounced I put back in the bank and they are to run it though when & if he puts any more money on deposit. We should be able to collect all those accounts – the way most people are making money now. If I thought it would do any good I would send you a list and have you mail statements from there and make a plea – but I suppose it would be a waste of paper & air mail stamps.

I gave you Dr. Joe’s address some time back but will give it to you again so in case you didn’t get the first you might possibly run into him but that would be almost too good wouldn’t it? I went to see her two weeks ago and she wasn’t home. I should go again before rationing starts.

[page 3] I don’t know why, but it gives me such satisfaction to put a real address on your letters. Maybe you will get better mail service now. I hope. Just hope you get the birthday box & cards we sent.  You should get your Mother’s box before Christmas because she didn’t specify it as Christmas mail. We were instructed to mark all boxes intended for that date as such.

The Zell girls brought some ice cream over for the boys. It had turkey figures on it. They said their Daddy was coming over to clean out our furnace this afternoon. I told them to thank him but John and I had already done the job. I don’t mind having people do things for us we can’t do ourselves but I want to do all we can. Link said he would clean the leaves out of the guttering and I think I’ll let him do that job. Now that the leaves are all off it can be done.

I have been thinking about Christmas gifts for your Mother & Dad and I believe I will send them a subscription for Reader’s Digest. While here this week she read some from ours and I believe she & Dad would enjoy them. Kenneth said he liked to read them. I showed him some articles we had read and he read them and said he thought they were good. That is the most I had been around Kenneth. He certainly is a fine boy. He seemed to enjoy his visit and I [he] never seemed to be bored like some his age would have been without someone his

[page 4] own age to be with.

Bart told me he had written you and filled his letter with town gossip so that takes care of that sort of news and I won’t try to include such in my letters – in fact I don’t know much about the local scandals.

There was a notice from the Laf. Life Ins. to the effect if you want a urine [?] analysis you may have a free examination – but I hardly think you will be interested. There were slips from John Hancock for those dividends we take off our premiums every year. I don’t know whether I am sure about what to do with them or not – as you remember we have had a mix up on that every time. Don’t worry about the taxes. Agnes is taking care of things in that line for us, so just forget about it. I won’t quote the bank bal. today but will give you a report after the checks come the first of Dec. I haven’t been spending anything but am getting a chest of drawers for the baby things. It is in the unfinished wood and will fit in the den with some shelves of the same make. I am getting this from Sears. You know the shelves we wanted to put in the Den when we built the house. Now that we can drive only so far a week and aren’t spending money on much else I thought I could squeeze out enough to buy the things I mentioned and maybe consider would you want me to send you a good wrist watch? Let me know – if so I will

Love –
Mother (over)

J.M. Roberts Lt Cmdr Mobile Hosp #4 U.S.N.R. Fulcrum c/o P.M. San Francisco Calif.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/07/21/thanksgiving-1942-gladys/

Teen Age Draft Bill (Gladys)

1 Reply

Teen Age Draft Bill - 1942-11-13The Teen Age Draft Bill was working its way to President Roosevelt’s desk on November 13, 1942. The bill that required men to register for the selective service lowered the age requirement from twenty to eighteen. The war effort needed assistance from men as well as women, persons of color, and individuals of every age. A month previously on October 12, 1942, President Roosevelt returned from a two week tour of the country. He shared his new hopes and visions with the nation in a Fireside Chat. In this speech, he spoke of lowering the age requirement.  He felt that this was necessary for a more speedy victory of the war. A month later, Roosevelt signed the Teen Age Draft bill into law.

I am including two links to audio recordings of this speech:
The first link is to the Miller Center in Virginia which includes a rough transcript of the speech. The link to the audio is on the right hand side of the page.
http://millercenter.org/president/speeches/detail/3329
The second link is to My Old Radio which has many of Roosevelt’s other speeches in its archives as well as many old radio shows and commercials. http://www.myoldradio.com/old-radio-episodes/fdr-set-prejudices-aside/16

Letter transcription:

Kentland Indiana
Nov 13 – 1942
(Fri)

Dear Daddy –

Got up early this am (but went back to bed) David slept thru the 2 a.m. feeding then woke up at 5 – and then Mother wanted to get up at 5 because she was going to T.H. [Terre Haute] with Servies and they were coming for her at 6. I got part of washing done yesterday & finished today. With a little “fellar” there is always a washing to do. I am still able to hang things out but when it gets too cold I will put them in the basement.

Rec’d a letter this morning – and you were somewhat out of sorts when you wrote. Well maybe by this time you have a few more letters and know I am receiving yours and have all you have written to date. That is, the one I rec’d this a.m. was dated Nov. 4 & this is the 13th so that brings it to date. Now that you have rec’d some of those “back numbers: maybe you will get all or most of them. Remember you asked for your comm. & I sent it. Sorry, those two letters I wrote Oct 24 & 25 didn’t mention receiving your letters regularly, because I did mention it in most of my letters.

About Mark – I couldn’t get him a bike unless I found one second-hand – because you have to have a requisition from the ration board and I am afraid I wouldn’t have any reason for getting him one. I think I could get him a Jr. bike but that would be foolish because he wants a full size. He is learning to play the cornet and Mr. Webster says he is doing fine. That he has a better tone range than most of the band children. The only thing he lacks is perseverance. I have been bragging on him and he has been practicing a little better this week. I told him if he learned to play the cornet I would buy him a better horn but I didn’t want to invest anything is a horn if he wouldn’t stick with it. He can blow Taps & Silent Night. I am going to get him a tool set for Christmas and fix him a work shop in the basement. He would do something worthwhile I am sure if he had some help. That is what he says he wants and has one picked out in the Sears holiday book. John is doing as usual. He is playing a large Sax now and still takes piano lessons. He was in a play that is a ”stunt” by the 7th grade. When he came home last night I had to clean make-up off his face. Mother went to see it and said the 7th grade stunt was the best. Now I wonder why she thought that (or do I wonder so much)

[page 2] By Mother getting to go home before her birthday I had to go to town and get her something yesterday evening since she left at 6 a.m. today. While in town I saw Lucile Johnson and she said I could use the baby carriage she has until she is ready for it. The one Zell’s have will require so much work however I may fix it up so I can use it when L. wants hers. I saw Ira D. and he said he had another letter from you. I told him he could keep you posted on the local gossip – and he promised to do that. Ellsworth [Wilson] was in the drug store at the time and I talked to him about the Ins. policy for David and he is going to write it in the Laf. Life. He said that was a good company. Hope that meets with your approval.

Had a letter from Henry R. – Jr. today and he wanted to know about you. Evidently he is still at Moffett Field because his letter came from there. Here is his address – you write to him. his address is H. W. Reinhard, Ylc, CUB Two, Moffett Field Calif. He said “would like very much to know something about Jake.”

I sent you a birthday box and put the Lentz pictures & films in it. By getting Boonies candy as soon as you did you should get the box I sent. Again I’ll quote the present bank bal (721). I get my checks each month. It comes in two since you made the additional after you reached Calif. I haven’t done any spending yet this fall. Got the boys some new clothes, but haven’t paid that bill yet (50⁰⁰). That includes some things I got for Mother. I also gave her 10⁰⁰ this morning when she left. The bank bal. of course includes the birthday money. If you get all the letters I have made repeats in you may be sorry you asked for “rehash.”

The baby had a crusty formation in his eyebrows and I was afraid it might be impetigo – how he could get anything at all is beyond me because you know my “mania” for keeping clean. I had been using water on his face but but he got a rash or something so just used oil and the rash cleared but this thing started in his eyebrow – so decided to use some samples I rec’d – “Pragmusal” I applied it three nights in succession and it cleared up. I read the label on the tube carefully and decided it would not be too strong for his skin even if it didn’t help – but it did the trick. Of course if it had gotten worse & spread would have taken him to Dr. C. but didn’t want to make an unnecessary trip. I am not due to go back for more than a week yet. I want to make the trip just before gas rationing but then after that will have to make trips because will have to get David started on his shots when he is old enough.

The Myers twins were just sent to Laf. to the Naval Station there. They had enlisted in Aug. – 18 went from Newton Co. Nov. 6 – Jim Fletcher’s widow [Emma Fletcher] is working at Sharps. Just put in the above from glancing at the Enterprize. You should be getting it soon as Bart is sending it every week.

Have to register for gas ration card next week. Hope this finds you with all the letters you should get

Love Mother
(hope you can read all this)

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/06/23/teen-age-draft-bill-gladys/