Tag Archives: Boston

Mother’s Day 1965

Letter transcription:

Sunday May 9, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

This afternoon John called me instead of sending me something for Mother’s Day. I told him you would be home June 13, so he is planning to be here to see you then he is going to Arizona for the summer (Jun. 14). Thanks for your card and letter. I talked to Mrs. Myers and she was quite happy to get your card. I had intended to take her to a store in Kentland Friday, but she wasn’t feeling up to leaving her apartment, so I have promised to try and find something for her in Lafayette Wednesday. I think the trip to Lafayette would be almost too much for her now. She still goes to Watseka to the Dr. to have her feet taken care of, but that is only 17 miles.

Dad gave me a new radio with stereo speakers, for Mother’s Day. The old radios we have around here aren’t much force and the last time John was home we couldn’t listen to the Saturday broadcast of the Met. John made some remark about not having a decent radio on the place. I knew Dad was going to get one for me, so I didn’t get one myself. The opera is over now, but I will have it for other listening and the opera next fall.

We went to the NuJoy for dinner today. There was a large crowd, but luckily we were waited on soon after we were seated and served quickly. Since it was a special day we didn’t know whether we would have to wait a long time and Dad had had a rough night at the hospital and would have settled for a bowl of cereal, but we had planned to go out and took a chance on not having to wait an hour or so to be served.

John had received a letter from a Ford Foundation friend who has recently had to leave Indonesia. He sent John a copy of the petition which was signed asking the Foundation to leave Malang and according to John it is quite insulting. After all the work that they have done there, they seem to be getting no thanks. I was going to write Oka again, but John says there probably would be no use in sending a letter, because he probably would not receive it. John had word from an Indonesian who wanted John to help him, but says he doesn’t see how he can, since their letters aren’t received. John has written to him and he has written to John without either receiving anything. This friend who wrote to John from Switzerland apprized John of his friend’s desires. I sent Oka a package by air, which he did receive. I am wondering if he will get the package which was sent by sea. Since that takes about 3 months, by the time it arrives it may not be delivered.

Tomorrow I am to go to Battle Ground for a meeting. Wed. I am to go to Lafayette to give a program. Thursday afternoon I am scheduled to give a program in Remington in the afternoon and one at Mt. Zion in the evening. One evening this week we are to attend a dinner for hospital employees. Looks like the coming week is going to be a busy one. When you come home, I promise there will be no meetings—and especially since you will only be home for a few days. I see by the IU calendar of events that your summer school begins June 21—that is counseling the 21 and classes 23.

John Janssen helped me Saturday. He washed all the windows and spray painted the bamboo shades (for east windows) green. When Dad hung them last Thurs., we decided they would last one more season with a coat of paint. Don’t you miss all these little chores?

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/03/mothers-day-1965/

The Town’s Sewers

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

April 28, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

This has been a busy week so far and I have one more day of going to do. Conference at Lafayette tomorrow (Woman’s Society). I am planning to go with Joan Fields, since there are only two of us going from here. I gave a program at Rensselaer for the Presbyterian Woman’s Society today. I used slides from Hong Kong and Bali. Also took along some articles which had been purchased in H.K. The slide projector worked fine—it has been giving us some trouble—until I was almost thru, so since I had been going for an hour, decided to call it enough. We always tell people we do not charge for our programs, but the President gave me a check and said she thought I should have at least that much ($10.00) for my trip. That makes $48.80 we have received besides gifts—pair of gloves, floral arrangement, etc., etc. I think we will take that amount and put it into a new screen—one that is larger than the one we have.

Your stocks are as follows: GM 108 5/8 Sperry 14 Echlin 13 and I am not sure what Bankers is worth now—probably 5 or 6. Those quotes are as of 4-27-65.

Dad had to attend a meeting at the Town Hall for a decision on the new sewer system. I am tired and about ready to go to bed, but thought I had better get this off to you first. Our town is being torn up and the digging machine is in front of the office now and it looks like they are digging deep enough to bury our office and we are hoping it doesn’t slide of its foundation and go down. All the streets in town that are being torn up will, of course, have to be repaved. In some places quicksand has been struck and that always makes much more work because of the fill. Dad had a good idea, he thought it would be a good place to throw all the old junk automobiles around here. We may not have to be torn up out here at the house. They tell us the sewer system that was installed when we built will be sufficient and I that is correct. When I see all those mountains of dirt around town where the digging has been done, I am ready to settle for what we have. Dad will have the answer when he comes home, I hope. That is why he is attending the meeting—it just concerns this part of town.

Dad finally got the chests of drawers remade for Shirley and Best Way is shipping them to Roselle. I called Shirley this evening to tell her that the shipment has been started. It usually takes a week for something to reach them from here. Both of the children had to talk to me. Becky talks so fast I can hardly understand here. Kirk is talking more. I was afraid they would be sick after they were here Easter, but evidently their big day didn’t hurt them. Crazy Foam was a part of their Easter gift and they had a great time playing with it. There were two cans, but Mark wouldn’t let them take any home with them. Becky got rid of one can that day.

Finally I am having something done with our couches. Mr. Schuh is remaking two to look alike and the old one that has been in the living room for years is going to be moved out to the family room. Maybe some day I will chuck it and get a new couch with a decent built in bed. Dad got the unit in our bedroom finished and a desk unit for my office. If I thought you wouldn’t need that old desk in your bedroom some day, I think I would get rid of it. It does come in handy at times. John used it when he spent Easter vacation at home. He had some work to do. He showed me the paper he read at the Linguistics meeting he attended in Chicago several weeks ago. Of course, there wasn’t much about it that meant much to me because it was about the Javanese language.

Last weekend we went to Indianapolis to attend a BlueCross-Blue Shield meeting. On Sunday morning I had planned to go to church with Jim, but he was ill and called up to tell me he wouldn’t be around to get me, so I started to attend the Broadway Methodist and saw two women who had been at the dinner the night before who were headed for a church on the north side and went with them. It was a Church of Christ—and when I was telling Bob Fields about my experience, he said he had heard it called the Acapella Church of Christ, because they have no organ or piano. They evidently do not believe in having a musical instrument in their church, but the song leader used a tuning fork or a pitch pipe, or something—and both Bob and I agreed that was a musical instrument. I think the next time I will just quietly go get a taxi and go to Broadway. You would have a hard time leading the singing, I am afraid, the way that song leader did Sunday (unless of course, your singing voice has changed).

Love Mother

P.S. Mrs. Floyd (Louise) Hoover passed away Sun. a.m. She has had a long history of health problems, but her death was caused by chicken-pox and pneumonia.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/02/the-towns-sewers/

The Minister’s Raise

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Letter transcription:

April 7, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

We have been looking for that letter. At last spring has arrived, and we hope to stay. Two weeks ago the ground was covered with snow, but Dad got the lawnmower ready just in case and after rolling the yard today thinks it will be ready for mowing next Thurs. That is going to make a long summer.

The town is being torn up for the new sewer system and I suppose it will be a year or more before we recover from the torn up streets—that is, get the repairing all taken care of. The digger is at present travelling down North Second Street and from the rate of progress being made, we figure they will either be in front of the Church Easter Sunday or maybe in front of the office. At least the town is catching up with the times a little. We have been giving programs again. We are to go to Indianapolis tomorrow to give a program for Uncle Jim and Aunt Thelma—I think it is their S.S. class. Since Indianapolis is on Eastern Time and we are on Central Time, we will have to leave here by 2:30 to get to Jim’s by 5:30. If I have to go alone, I will spend the night with them, but Dad is planning to go with me. He has surgery scheduled for Friday AM, so we plan to come back Friday night. Of course, we gain an hour coming back.

We received a magazine from Malacca today. It is all about the school and I suppose Bonnie knows what I am referring to. I presume they are not too upset over the situation. We heard the Foundations had to leave Indonesia. John was afraid of that, from all the news he had received from his friends still there. All the news we get about invasion attempts seems to indicate they haven’t been successful. (Indonesia into Malaysia)

For about two weeks I was having a little battle with a flu bug. I finally got over it, but the day we had quarterly conference here (which was held at 2 PM following a carry-in dinner) I came home after church and after a light lunch, went to bed for the rest of the afternoon. Dad had been up all night at the hospital and didn’t feel like going, so we gave in to our feelings and stayed home. The Finance Committee and Pastoral Relations Committee didn’t quite get together before the meeting and have things worked out like it is the custom to do and the minister wasn’t offered a raise and I am told that amounts to asking him not to return. At a Board Meeting this last Monday evening (Dad and I went to the Hospital to give a program for the Nurse Association) the raise was brought up and a vote was taken, 10 for and six against. Joan was in our office and told Dad she wasn’t sure they would be back. She indicated they weren’t sure, so I don’t know where the matter, or rather how it stands at present. Since I am not on any of the committees I had nothing to do with it one way or another. There are a lot of opinions on the matter. One group wants a change and another group thinks we could do a lot worse. I was with a group of women Tuesday and after hearing their tale of woe about the minister they have, I think we could do worse. Well, come June we will know. I have been going to the Presbyterian Church on Thurs. mornings to attend a Lenten series prepared and presented by Rev. Watson. I have been recording the lessons and will have to use at some future time if I need them. In appreciation we are going to have the Watsons come to dinner one evening. I had promised Joan we would have them come some evening for Rock Cornish Hens and Wild Rice, so I think we will have them come the same evening. I used the tapes in my S.S. class and several of my members liked Rev. Watson’s lessons. They seemed to think he was

[page 2] easy to listen to. Today was the last session and several of the Presbyterian ladies told me they think he is extra special and they know they won’t be able to keep him. I agreed with them. He hasn’t been out of Seminary very long and I imagine after a year or two more here he will be invited to a larger church.

John is coming home next Thursday for Easter vacation. Mark and Shirley and the children are coming for the day, Easter, that is. Aunt Ruth may come if she doesn’t go to Des Moines. I haven’t heard from Lea, but I told John to call her and invite them to come. We will probably stop at Floyd’s tomorrow for a minute or two and will ask them to come also. Wish you could be here, but I know that isn’t practical, but will expect to see you several times this coming summer.

Dad is finishing the job of separating the chest of drawers he took out of our bedroom. He is fixing it for Shirley to use in her bedroom. She thought it would be better in two small chests than in the one large one.

I have several letters to answer. Had a letter from my little friend in Kyoto today. I had sent her a Christmas card and she thanked me for that and wants us to come back to Kyoto. We plan to go in 1966, and I am sure we will stay at the hotel where she works. We are going to the west coast in Sept. Had a letter from a friend of Dad’s who lives in Reno and he wants us to stop there for a visit with him and his family. Aileen wrote from L.A. that she has made arrangements for a place for us to stay when we visit her. Also had a letter from friends in Hong Kong one day last week. They had been living in a house which belonged to a minister from United Church of Christ (Duane’s church). Seems United minister was away on furlough. He must have returned, because the Bylers said they were in an apt. building and their apt. is on the 17^th floor. They also said with a view like that who needs trees, (or for that matter grass).

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/02/01/the-ministers-raise/

Lenten Season

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Letter transcription:

Kentland, Indiana
March 16, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

We hope David is over his infection. Since we didn’t hear any more about it, we presume you have recovered.

The weather is fair this morning, but we keep having some snow. Yesterday morning there was a fresh fall and the ground was well covered, but by mid afternoon most of it was gone. However, we still have some of the drifts that the blizzard left two or three weeks ago. Everyone seems to be anxious for spring to come and the weather forecasters keep telling us spring will be here March 20^th. I remember last year spring wasn’t quite here March 29. I have been attending a class Rev. Watson is conducting at the Presbyterian Church—a series of lessons for the Lenten Season. I took the tape recorder last Thurs. and got about 30 minutes. I didn’t think about getting a larger tape until after the session. I did take along an extra tape the hospital administrator had given Dad, but unfortunately I had it wound the wrong way and I didn’t get much sound. I went to Sears and ordered a 7” tape which records 4 hours, so I am ready for the rest of the sessions. Yesterday I used a part of the tape for my SS class. Rev. Watson, I think, is a very good teacher. We were all so interested in what he had to say we didn’t ask any questions. At any rate I didn’t. I wanted to hear him and not some of the other class members. When I saw in the paper that a class was going to be conducted I called the Watsons and asked if they had a study book, but Rev. said it was something he had put together. I took the Gospel parallels along and saw that he also had a copy. His, he had used in Seminary and had it marked (or underscored) with colored pencils (for source). I am planning to take the recorded to Mrs. Myers and let her hear it. I think if Rev. Fields ever gets the recorder, he is supposed to use, repaired, I will try and take his sermons to her like you used to do. She complained of trouble with her lame leg the last time I saw her. She says it keeps giving her more trouble, which is to be expected, in view of the condition of her bones. She went to see Dr. Stahl last year while we were away and he told her there was deterioration going on where he had put the pin.

I called Aunt Ruth M. last week. She is staying home. Romaine had asked her to come back to Des Moines for a visit, but she decided she would rather stay home. She is wanting to sell her house, but so far hasn’t had much luck. I told her to come and visit us, but she didn’t indicate that she would in the near future. Dad is tied up with baby cases and duty at present, so we won’t get away for a while. Dr. Kresler, Dr. Schoonveld, and Dr. Gary are going to be away from March 21 to 28, so Dad feels he has to stay around while they are on vacation. We would like to go to Chicago some time this spring and see Lord Him. That was being made when we were in Cambodia. It opens March 24.

Shirley as a job working at the library in Hoffman Est. She works Saturdays and evenings, so they can’t come down like they used to do on Friday evenings. We haven’t seen them since the weekend of Feb. 6^th. I sent the children their Easter gifts (maybe a little early) from Sears. When I ordered the tape for the recorder I saw some things for children in the catalogue, so decided to take care of them a little early.

Our TV isn’t performing to suit Dad, so he had Bun pick it up this morning. I asked Bun to get a new needle for the record player. The one I had to put in the record player when you were home was in the cabinet and Bun put it in and we played a record and it was OK. It must not have been put in correctly the first time.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/31/lenten-season/

Worst Winter Storm

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Letter transcription:

February 26, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

We have just had (according to the weather men) one of the worst storms in 20 years. It even kept Dad home all day yesterday. Our driveway was filled, and the drifts were almost as high as the trees by the hedge in front. We could see the tips. The wind blew for about 24 hours and hard. The inside of the garage floor was covered with snow and we even had snow drifts inside. I had one flash bulb, so took one picture of the west end of the garage. Even our cars were covered with snow from that driving wind blowing the snow in around the garage door. Dad just called me from the drug store and thought I shouldn’t try to get my car out today. We had one path made to his side of the garage so he could get out this morning, and that one path made a mountain of snow by the street. I am content to stay at home, since the temperature is just about 5 above this morning. We have mountains of snow in the yard. The trees on the west side, the small ones on the inside were completely covered – just see the tips. Dad went out yesterday afternoon and took several pictures. The way the wind swirled around the house we had snow on the south windows – like a window decorator had been at work making snow scenes for Christmas.

Today is Mark’s birthday and I couldn’t get out yesterday to send him a card, so called him last night. He said he would rather forget about birthdays – since he is 32. He thinks he is getting old, from the way he talks. They are all fine, except for the usual bumps and bruises the children get. Shirley has a part time job working in the library in Hoffman Estates. I think she really wanted something like that, and I am glad she got the job. She was talking about it the last time they were here and was afraid she wouldn’t be hired because they have two small children. It seems they are reluctant to hire a person with small children.

I have figured your intangible tax, which amounts to $4.00 so will buy the stamps and affix to your stocks. That will be your Easter gift. We also figured ours – I got Dad to help me – and it is considerably more.

Dad finished the desk unit and I am using it. It is a table a little lower than the desk for the typewriter and adding machine and has two drawers on the left side. It really adds a lot of room to the desk and makes my work here easier or organize.

Someone called last night for you. Dad answered the telephone and told the person calling that you didn’t live here any more, that you are married and live in Boston. I don’t know who it was since Dad didn’t inquire. I think a number of people were stranded here, because all the highways were closed. We kept the radio going yesterday to get the Rensselaer station as to road conditions. The roads to the hospital were closed all day and the staff that went to work at 11 o’clock Wednesday had to stay on because they couldn’t get away and the 7 o’clock staff couldn’t get there Thurs. AM. We hear according to the weather forecasters the storm is heading your way and by the time you get this you will probably be in the midst of it. We keep telling ourselves we should have gone away this winter, since nothing like this happened while we were away last year. However, I think I wouldn’t want to try to go to Indonesia now and I know we couldn’t go to Cambodia. John had a letter from a friend in Indonesia and he said things are getting worse all the time and the Foundation may have to withdraw. A petition was being circulated against the Foundation and the person responsible for petition had been to this Country on a scholarship. We don’t think much of his gratitude.

Love Mother

P.S. Mrs. M. was quite pleased to receive the Valentine card. I picked up a Sears Catalogue for her Monday and left it at her apt. She was at the beauty parlor getting a permanent. I talked to her over the phone

[page 2] after coming home from the office. She was very glad to get the Sears C. She hadn’t had one before. I think she will use it quite often. Just happened to think of something else – Addie Padgett had been living in the cottage back of us. Lask week I suppose she thought winder was over so she moved back to the country. I just hope she didn’t get sick and need help because she was probably snowbound with the storm. When she moved in over here she talked about buying the house and making it her home. I know Esta would prefer to have her in town.

Do you want me to renew Opera News for you?

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/30/worst-winter-storm/

Valentines

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

February 22, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

I hope you have been able to figure your tax. Saturday Marge Janssen went with me to Champaign to see Oliver. Dad was to go, but thought he was too busy to get away. I told him he could go and probably not have a call during that time and that is what happened. However, there was one baby case he felt he didn’t want to leave. Dr. Schoonveld is on vacation and he thought he should stay home. John had gotten tickets for us several weeks ago. Show was held in field house, which looks like a mushroom. I suppose Bob and Lea pointed it out to you when you were there last year. Our seats were near the roof, but I took binoculars along and the sound was good, so I got along fine. We drove home after the show and were back here by 1:15 Saturday AM. John Janssen had washed my car and cleaned it out with a sweeper on the inside. I really felt like I was driving a Cadillac. Then on the way home, about 45 minutes before we arrived in Kent we went through a rain storm and there were several trucks passing and my car looks like I had driven through mud. Lea and Bob had us come to their place for dinner, so Marge and I really had a nice evening.

I stopped to see Mrs. M. last Friday. She was so happy about receiving a valentine and let me read your letter. I make it a point to stop and see her at least once a week. We also were happy to receive a valentine. We had sent valentines to Becky and Kirk and they sent us one. Uncle Jim always sends me a valentine and since that is his birthday, I always send him a card.

I am listening to Das Rheingold. John brought me a record by Anna Russell—the same thing you have on tape. I get a chuckle out of it every time I listen to it.

We have had missionary speakers at our church the past two Sundays. Last night we attended a pot-luck dinner and listened to the missionary speak about her work and show slides. She has been in Chile for a number of years. Last week the speaker was from Korea. He was with us from Sunday through Wednesday.

[page 2] I think Arvella’s sister has gotten permission to take her vacation in Sept., so all is taken care of. She said if Caroline couldn’t take off in Sept., they would do something else. I rather think Ralph will let her off then. I told Arvella either that, or for her to get someone to work for her and she didn’t seem to think much of that idea.

Dad finished the bedroom unit and is working on a unit for my desk. We moved the desk out of your room and he built a wing for the typewriter and adding machine. He still has two drawers to finish before the unit is complete, but I am using it as it.

Love Mother

P.S. Did the visiting D.S. ever call on you? Did I write you about hearing Joan Fields give your address over the phone? She told me it was Dr. Bailey. He was getting the address for the D.S. from South Bend Dist.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/29/valentines/

The Smorgasbord

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

February 13, 1965

Dear David and Bonnie:

I am enclosing the 1964 instructions for (Federal) preparing income tax returns. We took David as a dependent, so you won’t be able to take him. As far as State taxes are concerned I am sure you don’t have to bother with that because you don’t have to pay the State tax if you do not reside in the State. We also used David as a deduction on our State taxes, but since you are living in Mass. and were not making any income while you were in Indiana I am sure you need not bother with it.

The little piece of thread is the yarn I am using to make myself a dress. I am following instructions and using size 2 or 3 needle and it is going so slow that I am about to change patterns and use a larger needle. The size needle I used to make Bonnie’s dress was #8 and it makes a lot of difference.

John Janssen is here today cleaning and waxing the bedroom and bathroom floors. He washed windows last Tuesday evening while we were still having warm weather. We are having a cold wave again, but without snow, for which I am very thankful.

We have decided to go to the west coast in September and have told Arvella she will either have to take her vacation then, or get someone to work for her. I think she has about decided to take Sept. All I know is that I am not going to work for 2 weeks in the office, unless I have to.

There is a missionary speaker from Korea who is going to be at our Church tomorrow morning for the worship service. In the evening there is to be a fellowship dinner. After the service tomorrow morning my class is going to furnish a coffee. I have been on the telephone for the last hour (more or less) getting help lined up to prepare for the serving.

The smorgasbord was somewhat of a failure this week. All I had been asked to do was bring a casserole (lima beans), which I was glad to do since I wasn’t asked to do anything else. Food had been prepared for 450 and 350 (or near that figure) were there, so food for about 100 had to be disposed of after the dinner was over. I had Cosmopolitan Club yesterday afternoon and told them I was going to speak my piece, like it or not. I told them I thought it is time the Church “grew up” and quit trying to raise the Church budget by giving dinners. Mrs. Chidester said if everyone tithed we wouldn’t have to worry about the budget. I told them that was the answer. Well maybe it was a good thing it flopped this year, because they said there wasn’t going to be another, the main reason being they can’t find anyone who will take charge of it. If as much effort was put into getting people to come to Church as was put into the preparation of the smorgasbord I am sure we would have much better attendance.

It is getting late and since the bank closes at noon, I will have to get this wound up and in the mail.

Love Mother

P.S. David’s razor came back and I sent it to you. Hope it arrived in good condition.

Severe Cold Wave

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Jan. 29-1965

Dear David & Bonnie,

I just happened to think I didn’t answer one of the questions in your letter. Your Blue Cross Blue Shield expires July 1-1965.

We are having another severe cold wave, but at least it is without snow and ice. Last weekend Mark & Shirley were without electricity 30 hours. They have a gas stove and by keeping the oven going could keep warm. They have had more severe weather this month than has been here. While all the ice was breaking electric and telephone wires, we were just having cloudy skies. From all we heard on the news the Chicago area had a lot of damage.

We haven’t seen Mark’s since Christmas, but they plan to come next weekend. We are planning to go to Champaign Feb. 20^th to see the play “Oliver.” John is getting tickets for us. I just hope that one baby case doesn’t keep Dad home. I plan to go weather permitting and Dad plans to go “if.” Aunt Ruth is back in Wilmington and if Dad can’t go, I may go get her, since John has our tickets purchased.

I have been reading some in Anchor Genesis. It really is full of information—some that is over my head—but much that I do understand. I took the other one (Epistles) for Mrs. Myers to read and since I have all I can read at present I am leaving it with her until she has finished reading it. I stopped to see her yesterday. She doesn’t get out much in this weather, but did manage a week ago to get to Watseka to have her feet worked on.

[page 2] Haven’t got Dad started on the record cabinet project yet, but will get around to it in the near future. I really need one since my records and albums more than fill the available space in the rack and cabinet of record player. Have been listening to Handel’s Messiah today. It is so beautiful and I can listen to it while I work—(working on the books today.) Just finished taxes yesterday. It is always such a relief to get that chore finished. Let us know if we owe you anything on taking you as a dependent.

Love Mother

Long Weekend Vacation

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

January 25, 1965

Dear David & Bonnie:

Yours of the 20^th (you mailed it 23^rd) received today. We have just returned from a long weekend vacation. We left Wednesday evening after attending a stockholders dinner meeting given by the Bank. The dinner was at Sumava and we traveled as far as the Howard Johnson Motel in Lafayette to spend the night. Thursday AM we leisurely traveled to Indianapolis, stopping at Lebanon to see Ruthie. Floyd was busy and we didn’t get to see him. Uncle Jim was gone (on a business trip), but we did see Aunt Thelma. I hope you sent them a thank-you note for their gift. Also I was wondering if you sent Phyllis and Art a thank-you for the Teflon. If you didn’t, I hope you will. Which reminds me, I sent your thongs and the pan lid and also a few little items for Bonnie which I purchased while I was buying some things for myself. Just in case she hasn’t had time to make a blue slip for her knitted dress.

We spent Thurs. and Friday in Indianapolis and saw My Fair Lady, Father Goose, and John Wayne in Cinerama. Saturday morning we left for Champaign and spent the afternoon with John and Lea and Bob. John took us out to dinner then we saw a James Bond – Goldfinger. I wouldn’t advise it for children. We attended the Methodist Church which is located on campus, and heard the Wesley minister. He gave a very interesting sermon about Timothy and St. Paul. He addressed the congregation as Timothy speaking. We visited with John and Bob a while after church—we went to the 11 o’clock service and had eaten at the pancake house at 10 o’clock so we didn’t need any lunch—so started home soon after 1 o’clock (Lea had to work, so wasn’t with us Sunday).

While in Indianapolis we visited the Legislature (it is in session now) and saw Senator Landgrebe. He wanted to know your address so you will probably be hearing from him. I was supposed to attend a Legislative seminar in Indianapolis (for WSCS) Tuesday, but since we had planned to go Wednesday night, I didn’t see how I could make it, so did the next best thing, but visiting the Legislature while in the city. Our Christian Social Concerns committee had met the Sunday before to compose a letter to send to Rep. Hendrix about the gambling bill. The Bishop sent letters to (I suppose) all churches to be read to the congregations urging everyone to write to Rep. or Sen. in opposition to the bill. I didn’t write since we made the trip in person.

I think your grades are not to be looked down upon, but if you are trying for all A’s I hope you succeed next semester. And about the typing—how many times did I try to get you to learn to type correctly? From the looks of this letter I didn’t learn too well myself, but I will blame it on fatigue. That makes me think of something else. We have decided to take a month’s vacation in September and go out through the northwest. I told the girls not long ago that we were going to take a month and of course, expected them to take their vacations at the same time. Arvella said she wants her vacation in July, because they want to go to California. We haven’t mentioned the subject further, but I do not want to work for her and we were wondering if you had any definite plans (Bonnie, that it) as to what you will be doing this summer. Would you want to work in the office two weeks? Of course, if you get a job in Bloomington, that might not work out so well for you to work for us two weeks, but if you think you want to do that, let us know. We have to get a replacement for those two weeks if Arvella is to go in July. We plan to take a month this year and another long vacation in 1966—something like 3 months. It doesn’e look like it is possible to find a young man to come in here, so since Dad doesn’t want to quit work altogether, we will

[page 2] have to take a long vacation every year or two. Let us know what you think about working. John has received a grant and is going to Arizona and Bob thinks he is going to get one and plans to go to Texas for the summer.

Love Mother

Bible Study Class – Genesis

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Letter transcription:

1-12-65

Dear David and Bonnie –

Dad wanted you to read the enclosed article which was in Wall Street Journal.

I sent the finished sleeves for Bonnie’s dress. If you can’t get them joined to your satisfaction, send back the dress and sleeves and I will see what I can do with them.

Dad has the bedroom finished and hasn’t got the fever to make the record holder, so is just loafing around this evening. Tomorrow a.m. I have to conduct a study class for W.S.C.S.—Genesis—I have no idea how many will be present. I have enough literature collected—a text book, Genesis, Beginning of the Biblical Drama, a paper bound Genesis, my anchor Bible, Genesis Abington Commentary, Interpreter’s Vol. 1, The Torah, and Atlas of the Bible, besides a few pamphlets. If every one reads all the literature I have collected for them they should get some idea about what they are supposed to learn. I really would rather not do this, but since I took the course of lectures on Genesis at School of Mission and the Bible Study Class has taken the course, I was asked and I consented.

We had such a nice letter from Nell George thanking us for a pleasant visit. She thinks you and Bonnie—well this is what she wrote—“Meeting David and his lovely wife was a rare treat. I was

[page 2] very impressed with them and know that God will use them in a wonderful way to further his cause in this troubled mixed-up world. I know you must be very proud of him and the way he has chosen.” Dr. George selected some slides of our Bali pictures and I have sent him the duplicates.

I have some filing to dispose of and a few other things to do, so must get to work, since I will be at the church tomorrow a.m. for study group and have a group coming in the afternoon to clean the nursery.

Love Mother

You left your thongs. Do you want them?