Tag Archives: David W. Yegerlehner

Gladys – December 17, 1969

 

Letter transcription:

12-17-69

Dear David & Bonnie,

Since Dad has the duty the 26th we will plan to leave here at 7 a.m. on the 27th. We should, weather permitting, get to Rockport by the evening of the 28th. We will plan to start back on the morning of Jan. 2 – so we will be with you 4 days.

If you want us to, and if we can fit it into the car, we will bring the large baby bed along and also a hobby horse which Becky, Kirk and David have used. If you do want either let us know. The hobby horse and bed are both in good condition, and should do Debby as long as she will need either. Please let us know in time to bring them.

I went to Kentland Monday and took Mrs. M. her gifts for Christmas. She said she would be alone for the first time on Christmas day. I said we could bring her here, but she thinks she couldn’t stand the trip. Doris and Harold are not going to be home for Christmas. I wish we could bring her here, but she only gets out now to have her hair done and to the foot Dr.

Our U.N.I.C.E.F. sales this year, so far has been almost $4,300.00, which is about $700.00 more than last year – in spite of all the John Birch members here in Lafayette and their hate literature. Dad said he thinks they helped promote the sales.

Looking forward to seeing you the 28th

Love Mother

P.S. I wrote to Irene & Joyce we would be in Rockport and asked them to come and see us. I haven’t heard from either, so don’t know if they plan to come. If they do, we will go to Capt. C. in G. for dinner.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/07/17/gladys-december-17-1969/

Gladys – September 1, 1969

Letter transcription:

118 Juniper Court
West Lafayette, Ind. 47906
Sept. 1, 1969

Dear David, Bonnie and Debbie,

Enclosed find check for $20.00 – $10.00 for each of you for your birthdays.

John was quite impressed with Debbie’s reaction to the brightly colored blocks which Lea said you had bought with the money I had sent for her birthday. I asked John what he gave her and he said nothing – that he doesn’t give his nephews and nieces birthday gifts. He has always given them Christmas gifts, but not for birthdays. I have also put $10.00 in Debbie’s savings account for her birthday. That is something I have been doing since Becky arrived. Becky reminded me when we were there over the weekend that she would be having a birthday the 10th. I also reminded her that I had bought her birthday present in Japan and it was on the way.

The house that Mark and Shirley are buying is only two years old. The couple have been divorced and are living in other states, hence the delay in getting the final settlement and the key. We looked at the house from the outside and I would say it is in the same class as Bob and Lea’s house. The big difference is that Bob and Lea are on a lake. However, there is a woods and a field back of Mark’s. They will have a very nice large yard for the children to play in and the children will only be a few blocks from school. Shirley will have to take them the 5 miles, beginning tomorrow, to school until they can get moved. The house is brick – light buff – and has some landscaping. It has been vacant since July 1st, so Mark will have a man sized job getting rid of the weeds all around the house. There is a large living room, family room, kitchen, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, a small den and a two car garage. There is an area around the side of the garage and back of the house that has been fenced and has a cement floor. There are morning glory vines growing all over the fencing. We can’t figure what that area was used for. Dad suggested they could put Kirk and David in there at times. Shirley said she thought it had been used for a dog, but Mark didn’t seem to think they needed a dog – since there are several in the neighborhood already.

Dad has washed and waxed his car and mine today. We had thought the forwarding company was going to ship our car via auto transport (that was what we were told by the company in Indianapolis), but I got a call Tuesday evening that the Mercedes had been cleared through customs and that I could pick it up at any time. We got a flight out of Indianapolis Wednesday evening – spent a night in a motel near the airport in Newark and Tuesday morning had the car and were on our way home. In the papers which I received there was an authorization for a car wash job – $35.00-, but I didn’t order that because the Company in Indianapolis said – when they had told us the car could be shipped that they would wash the car – it was covered with cosmoline to protect it during shipment. It took two washings to get the cosmoline off, but I still think $35 was a pretty high price for a car wash job.

John Janssen was married to Lana Farlow Saturday evening – in the Christian church in Rushville. The minister gave a different sort of marriage ceremony – it amounted to a lecture. The Janssens told us last night – they stopped here on their way home – that he lectured John and Lana one hour Friday evening before he would consent to marry them. Also they had to rehearse the wedding three times on Friday and he ordered that no pictures be taken at certain times during the ceremony. However, friends of Janssens from around Kentland and other points north didn’t hear his prohibitions, so flash cameras were flashing all

[page 2] around the church. I didn’t have my instamatic along, so I was not guilty.

Today Dad had the duty, which so far hasn’t amounted to any work, but he still had to be here. The day isn’t over yet, so he may have to do something Health Center wise yet – but I am hoping he will not. He had to have Friday and Thursday covered by another Doctor for us to go to NJ, but since there isn’t much going on now, I rather think it wasn’t asking too much to get away those two days.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/06/27/gladys-september-1-1969/

David’s Diary – May 19, 1969

Monday, 19 May 1969

Up about 7:30. Spent the morning getting ready for the trip—had to write some letters, straighten up my desk. Alan Federick brought his parents over to say good-bye; wrote to Cambridge re: apartment. Virginia Bate was around most of the morning. Had lunch about 10:30. Shaved. We finally were ready to go about one o’clock. Strong winds +  our car-top carrier kept our speed low; we stopped 2 or 3 times. In general Debbie traveled well—didn’t get car-sick. We arrived at Stoners in Schnectady at 6:15—230 miles from home. Good weather—mostly cloudy but very little rain. We had supper, Mr. Stoner and I went for groceries. In the evening we showed slides, saw Stoner movies—sat around and visited. Very weary; looked at Niagara folders; bathed, off to bed; lights out about 11:30. θ+

Tuesday, 20 May 1969

Up at 7:30. Had breakfast—loaded the car—heavy rain falling when we got up—kindly let up when we were loading the car. We finally got off at about 9:20. We drove through quite a bit of rain stopped several times for picture taking—including a shot of the site of the old Erie Canal locks. We ate lunch at a pleasant park along the road. We got to Buffalo about 4:30. Came directly to the camping ground: Miller’s Creek. Only 2 or 3 other campers in the area.  We ate supper in the car, then about 7:00 head up on the road to see the Falls—several miles away the mist from the Horseshoe Falls was visible. We strolled around, drove around, took pictures—we found the Falls very spectacular—Debby seemed astounded by the Falls. Our drive ended about 9:00 back at the Falls; we took pictures of the illuminated falls; back at the campsite about 10:00—prepared for bed; this is written by auto headlight lights out at 10:40.

Wednesday 21 May 1969

Up at 6:15! Unfortunately a chilly morning. After breakfast we broke camp and got everything in the car, loaded, packed by about 8:30. Then got on the road back to Niagara. Mist was blowing from the horseshoe falls across the road—impossible to get good pictures. But we found a lot to photograph. Saw the replicas of the crown jewels. Strolled around the gardens. We had lunch on the grass in the sun near Niagara glen,  headed toward Detroit—stopped to see the locks at St. Catherine. Unfortunately took slow rt. 8 through Hamilton to get to 401. Got there about 4:00—then straight through to Detroit—arrived about 7:45 our time (6:45 theirs),  at the Kings [1];  had supper; visited; Mattijane’s brother + wife are here with 2 kids—a real madhouse altogether. Later in the evening showed how our slides;  11 o’clock saw moon TV pictures;  bathed off to bed, lights out 1:12.

Thursday, 22 May 1969

The Yegerlehner Clan, Roscoe and Gladys’ anniversary weekend, May 1969

Up about 9:00. Had a big breakfast—all the household had breakfast together—quite a gathering. Spent the morning getting the car loaded—and shaved. We finally got on the road to Gary about 11:30—somewhat later then we had hoped. A cold, overcast day. But we were able to make a good speed—with the help of huge trucks which drew us along. We arrived in Gary at Paul + Marty’s shortly after 5:00. We unloaded the car, then had supper. After supper watched CBS news—Apollo 10 orbiting the moon. After this we all got in Paul + Marty’s car and drove to the ditch where their boat is docked. We spent about an hour or so on the water—but didn’t go on to Lake Michigan—too rough. Came home, had a snack, then set up the projector—we showed them our slides. They are going through a “boat” stage— + were very interested in some of the slides; off to bed, lights out 11:45.

Friday, 23 May 1969

Forget what time we got up. The morning was not rushed—rather leisurely—sat around and talked; Paul + Marty didn’t go to school—both of them weren’t feeling very well.  The morning seemed to go fast; we got the car loaded and then got on the road about noon. Arrived in Kentland at Mrs. Myers’ apartment about 1:30—an hour earlier Kentland time.  We stayed until after 5:00—Mrs. Krull, Mrs. Johnson, and Mrs. Hufty came by to see Debby. We got on the road again and arrived at the folks in W. Lafayette about 5:40. Unloaded the car after hurriedly looking at the box of slides which had arrived. Had supper; in the evening we just relaxed—watched a comic movie on TV. I got several pictures of the raccoons as they came begging + were fed—Al + Gwydelyn. Ran the slides through the projector; off to bed; lights out 12:07.

Saturday, 24 May 1969

Up at about 9:40—it was good to sleep so late. One of the first things to be done was a trip to the grocery store for baby food; then I went down into the ravine behind the folks’ home to take pictures. A very sunny, warm day. It was a day of just relaxation;  Bob + Lea + John arrived for lunch. In the afternoon I made a trip for film + postcards—wrote postcards to people in Rockport—had an opportunity for chatting with Bob and John. For supper we ate out on the patio—a delightful meal. Debby was in her playpen; Lea was pretty occupied with Debby; Lea had her third miscarriage last week. After supper we watched TV—some inane programs, but then The Miracle Worker came on—the story of Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller. During the movie we saw a telecast from Apollo 10 at hundred at 169,000 miles from Earth; after movie we showed our slides; bathed; off to bed; lights out 12:54.

Sunday 25 May 1969

Up about 7:30. Shaved; dressed; mother, father, John, Bonnie + I went to the 9 o’clock service at the Trinity Methodist. Home around 10:00. Relatives began arriving: Floyd + Ruth came after Bob, Lea, John; Mark + Family; Alma Hubbel. We had lunch on the patio—a nice day. Uncle Clarence + family were here for a short time. Posed for pictures—I was the photographer. We spent the afternoon lounging around, talking, relaxing. Bob, Lea + John were still here for supper; after supper I climbed down into the ravine with Dad. Watched TV—utterly slummed. During the evening we called Joyce Fitz-Randolph in New Jersey to arrange to stay with her on Friday night. This has been a very relaxing day—we managed to avoid feuding over politics. But also rather tiring; off to bathe about 11 o’clock. θ+ lights out before midnight.


[1] Rev & Mrs. Levon King (wife Mattijane); he was one of the ministers who married us; the other, Harold Hill.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by David Madison and Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/06/06/davids-diary-may-19-1969/

Gladys – April 12, 1969

Letter transcription:

118 Juniper Court
West Lafayette, Ind. 47906
April 12, 1969

Dear David and Bonnie-and Debby,

Thanks for sending back the tax statement. We are not even supposed to receive that statement, because we pay our taxes through the agency where we make the loan payment – insurance and taxes are included in our monthly payment. I can’t imagine why it was included in your envelope, because we received a statement for our personal property. Someone was “asleep at the switch” I suppose.

This weekend we are keeping four young women who are attending a Baptist Youth Meeting at Purdue. I asked them how far reaching this meeting is and they said it covers the entire state of Indiana. This group (here with us) is from a little town in the vicinity of Terre Haute. They just spend the nights here and are at Purdue the rest of the time. The only meal we furnish is breakfast.

Last week John, Bob and Lea, Mark Shirley and children were her for Easter. We hid eggs on the patio and the children had a lot of fun gathering them. I had made up baskets for them and I am still picking up the artificial grass. A lot of it came up with the sweeper, but I suppose I will be picking up bits and pieces for a long time, but the children had fun, so what is a little grass on the carpet. We talked about our 40th wedding anniversary which is next month. They are all coming back to help us celebrate – wish you could be here also – . We are going out to eat, because they said they thought it wouldn’t be right for me to cook a meal for all of them on my anniversary. I agreed with them. We decided just to make it a family affair. We haven’t been here long enough to hold open house for people here in Lafayette – I suppose enough from Trinity would come – but Dad seemed to think it was too far to ask people to come from Kentland – and besides I would just rather have the family.

After reading your last letter, Dad seemed to think you might get a Rotary scholarship, but it would be too late to get it for this year. I think the one granted this year has already been granted. I think you have to apply several months – maybe a year in advance.

Dad has gone to see an eye specialist – about the condition I mentioned to you some time ago. I think it is nothing serious, but the Dr. said for him to come back. I went back a little more than a week ago to have a check-up and was found to be in good condition. Have to have one lens in the glasses I wear after I take my contacts out stepped up.

The weather here is beautiful and we are enjoying every minute of it. Dad has built a fence where the canvas sheets used to be to give us privacy on the patio. He is also going to make a gate – to keep out the neighbor’s dogs – on each side of the house. We would rather the stray dogs would not come and disturb our wild friends. Last night the raccoons came to be feed while we had company. The Baptist girls got quite a kick out of seeing them eat. Dick and Nancy (the couple who stayed here while we were gone last summer) were here last night to bring us some grapefruit and oranges from Florida. That is where they spent their spring vacation. They borrowed a camper from Nancy’s parents. They also enjoyed seeing Al and Gwendolyn come begging.

[page 2] Received a note from the Loan Company today asking us to send them the tax statement, if we have received it.

Have much work to be done on my desk – would rather be out in the yard to enjoy the sunshine – so must get at it.

Love Mother

P.S. Last Sat. afternoon John & Lea cooked a Chinese dinner for us. Very good. We watched Peter O-Toole & Richard Burton in Beckett and fed the raccoons. Lea made egg rolls which were very good. They came for lunch and I had one of their favorite meals – beans & cornbread. I can just see Bonnie droal (?)

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/05/31/gladys-april-12-1969/

Gladys – November 24, 1968

Letter transcription:

118 Juniper Court
West Lafayette, Ind. 47906

Nov 24, 1968

Dear David and Bonnie and Debby,

Yours received. We were more than pleased that you will be coming home after Christmas. Dad has 16 days off during the holidays and we were contemplating going south for a few days, but we would rather stay home and baby sit (if necessary) with Debby. I know John and Bob and Lea and Mark and Shirley and the children will all be very happy about your decision to come home. I talked to John via phone yesterday and we are both agreed that your idea about camping on the way home is a very poor idea for this time of year. I wouldn’t say a thing if you and Bonnie wanted to do that to yourselves, but I think you shouldn’t try that on Debby at her tender age, so here is what I am suggesting. I will pay for your night’s lodging – since you will have only one night at a motel – you will be at the McGraws the second night – then you get home. Now I will not give you the money otherwise – that money is earmarked for a motel room for you, so please do not plan to stay in a camp coming or going back. We have had a very mild fall, but who knows it may be very cold by that time and who knows, Debby might smother in a sleeping bag, so please don’t think about doing such a thing. Next summer in Europe is another matter. You won’t be travelling in such cold weather.

Yesterday Purdue played I.U. and it was a cliff hanger. Purdue won in the last 7 minutes of the game. By the half we thought I.U. had it all tied up since the score was 10 to 28, or a similar difference. We had thought Purdue had a good team, but on the way home Dad says they have about four good players. They played a very poor game and by all odds I.U. should have won. Dad had the duty until 7 AM, so he got all the repercussions – at least his share – all night long. One man with a heart condition died shortly after the game was over – I suppose the excitement was too much. The Purdue fans were wild in those last few minutes. And what a waste of energy. If we could get people steamed up about the injustices in this world, perhaps we wouldn’t have so much wrong with the world. (A little sermon there) Dad was in and out all night long. Finally when he came home to have breakfast, I said, “Why didn’t you just stay at the Health Center all night, instead of driving back and forth?” He replied, “I wondered about that myself.” He had surgery (and this has nothing to do with football) for a student with bleeding ulcers. He is wishing the student will decide to go home and have his own Doctor take care of him, but I rather think he will stay here. They have such a good hospital here and any surgeon in Lafayette they want will come over and do any kind of surgery necessary (except maybe a heart transplant). I just hope Dad gets to spend the afternoon on the couch sleeping – he will need it.

Dad got Lea’s shelves installed and now we are making plans for the ones in our own living room. John hasn’t gotten his plan drawn up yet. We are going to Champaign Wednesday evening and spend Thanksgiving Day with John, Bob and Lea. We will come home Thursday evening. I want Dad to get as much done on my shelves as possible. I have another unit in the planning for my office. This room has been like a stepchild, but I want to get it made over, since I do spend some time in here when I need to do book work or type.

I liked the article in the Gloucester paper, but I would bet a lot of people won’t agree with you. The picture looks just like you.

My next door neighbor is going to church with me this morning. Dad is over at the Health Center.

Love Mother

(over)

Your Sussannah Wesley has been used four times and booked for another meeting.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/05/06/gladys-november-24-1968/

Pat Oliver Hyman

Letter transcription:

April 25, 1968
118 Juniper Court
West Lafayette, Ind. 47906

Dear David and Bonnie:

29 years ago today we moved from Clay City to Kentland. I just happened to think of that when I looked at the date today. As you know, it has been a little more than a year since we moved to W. Laf.

We are having a little set-back in weather. It has been so very warm. Lea and Bob came Friday evening and we gave them a steamboat dinner – William calls it Hoko – that is the name of the pan you sent us which means fire pan. Mark and Shirley and children came Saturday and stayed until Sunday afternoon. The children wanted to watch The Wizard of Oz Saturday evening and it worked out just right. Since they were late in arriving Saturday, we didn’t have lunch until after one o’clock, so didn’t plan an early dinner. We set the two older ones – David Ward had been put to bed – in front of the TV set with trays and they ate there while we adults enjoyed another steamboat dinner. Becky and Kirk said they didn’t think they would like a Chinese dinner, but that is what they got and they were so engrossed in watching the movie, I think they would probably have eaten anything we would have given them. All the adults said they enjoyed steamboat and we finished it off with an apricot dessert which I will show Bonnie how to make when we come in July.

We have tickets to The Lion in Winter with Walter Slezak (sp?) for tonight and tickets for Oliver for Saturday night. Dad has been doing some work on the walk around the garage, so I think a night out will do him some good. He is building up the area around the garage which we had to leave for the winter so the dirt would settle. He said this AM that about two more working sessions and he will have it just about finished. He has seeded the front lawn and the new grass is showing very beautifully. It has to be watered every day or so while it is so young and tender. We have had some good rains since the grass was sown and that has helped. Also all the warm weather helped.

Easter weekend John came and we also had William Yue come Easter Sunday and had steamboat. William seems to enjoy eating here – our second time to have him for that kind of meal. He says it tastes so much better than dorm food. John is getting ready for a Linguistic Institute at U. of I. this summer, so he will be teaching instead of taking the summer off as he did last year.

Mrs. Myers is still in the hospital, but getting along just fine. She is taking cobalt treatments and is going to remain in the hospital until probably May 3rd when she will get her last treatment. She will return home. I haven’t said anything about nursing home, since that seems to disturb her so much. She has come through the surgery and the treatments much better than I thought possible. She looks fine and since she is in bed most of the time and on a salt free diet (she doesn’t know that) she has no swelling in her legs. She was able last week to go to the beauty parlor in the hospital and have her hair washed and set. I go to see her if not every day, nearly every day.

I am to attend another workshop in New York June 4th to 7th. I was hoping your graduation would come at a time when I could come on to Boston and attend the ceremonies, but in your letter received Saturday you stated that your graduation is May 19th. I am afraid that would be a little too long for me to be away, in view of the other places I have to go this summer, such as Bloomington Illinois June 15th to 21 and Greencastle July 7th to 12th. I also have a meeting in Terre Haute May 9th & 10th. I hate to miss this graduation. We were quite pleased that you will receive the honor of Magna Cum Laude. I took your letter to the hospital and read it to Mrs. Myers and she was quite pleased also.

Pat Oliver Hyman’s parents were quite disturbed with her appearance about a month after her wedding. They had a large church wedding, with all the trimmings – reception in the church and a dinner for friends and relatives at their home after the reception. They came to the conclusion that Pat had been pregnant for some time before her wedding and they didn’t know anything about it. She was with her mother at the hospital one day last week and she looked then like she wouldn’t go much longer. She was married Nov. 25 (Dad’s birthday) and told her mother finally on being questioned by Doris that the baby was due in August. After Doris and Patty left that day, Mrs. Myers asked me what I thought (she had told me all about Doris and Harold’s upset). I said if she went until August she would have to be in a wheelchair, because she wouldn’t be able to walk. I also told Mrs. Myers I thought Harold and doris should not make a fuss over this and she said that is what she told them.

[page 2] Monday when I was to see Mrs. M. she showed me a letter she had received from Pat. Pat said her Doctor had told her no more long trips, so she was bemoaning the fact she would not get to go home any more until after the baby comes. Her husband is in school in T.H. Mrs. Myers thought it was strange that she has been limited to trips in the car this soon (presuming the date is August) when Bonnie makes the trip to Boston four times a week.

We have had a lot of fun watching our bird feeders since last fall. When the children were here Saturday and Sunday they got quite a thrill seeing the different birds come for feed. David Ward would get so excited he would stop anything he was doing to watch. Today we have had the cardinals, jays, nuthatch, titmouse, brown headed cow birds, grackle, sparrows, and maybe a few others I haven’t mentioned. We usually have the woodpeckers and the black and white warblers every day also.

It is about time for the mailman to come, so must get this out to the box (to save a trip to the P.O.)

I asked the clerk to send you an application for voting. I am paying your taxes and will count that as a wedding anniversary gift – a little early.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/19/pat-oliver-hyman/

Closing the Office

Letter transcription:

[October 1967]

Dear David and Bonnie:

Your correspondence cards have been ordered – 200 and they will read Rev. and Mrs. David A. Yegerlehner, and it is a good thing there wasn’t another letter, because that was as many as could be printed on this type of card. You can consider that part of your Christmas from us. I ordered and gave them your address, so the boxes (2) will come directly to you.

John came over Friday and spent the weekend with us. He had an appointment with the eye specialists on Saturday. Saturday night we attended a play at Loeb’s Theatre – The Miser. It was quite interesting (have you read the play by Moliere?) and we thought the Purdue players executed it very well. One of Dr. Schoonveld’s sons – Mike – had a bit part. He is a freshman this year. John left after breakfast this morning. Said he had so much work to do he should not have come Friday. We attended church this morning and have spent the rest of the day relaxing. Dad is watching TV now, but the program wasn’t very interesting, so I decided to catch up on my writing.

Last week I attended a meeting in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which for all practical purposes took most of the week – Tues. thru Friday. That was the week of Oct. 10 and this immediate past week I entertained the Vesper Circle from Kentland and on Thursday night a bridge group – Johnsons, Fords and McClures. Everyone was quite interested in seeing our place. We are bit by bit getting things finished, but still have quite a few things to do. We did finally get the driveway and retaining walls finished. Now we want to get our Japanese gardens completed, but it seems we don’t make as much progress as we would like to make – between Dad’s work and my running around. Last weekend we went to Kentland late on Saturday afternoon – and I had just returned from C.R. the day before. We had dinner with Florence and Ray. Jim and Mary Ann and Tom were home. Jim had just returned from his tour of duty in the Air Force. He had been to Japan and had some very beautiful pictures. He is out of service now, but since he took communications while in service is trying to get some kind of job in that field. Mary Ann is going to college in Indianapolis and is wearing a diamond. I think her boyfriend is a medical student. Rita R. is teaching school in Indianapolis and I think Florence mentioned a man one time, so no doubt Rita will become engaged also. Tom is going to St. Joseph College. We then went to LaPorte to visit Janssens.

I have seen Mrs. Myers twice recently. She was out of the hospital the last time I saw her – last Friday and seemed to be feeling

[page 2] well enough to be up. However, she was wearing her robe and said she wasn’t feeling quite as well as she would like to. We have closed the office and Saturday was Edna’s last day to work for us. Arvella is working for Dr. K. She says he is very nice to work for, but so slow. Some evenings she doesn’t get away from the office until 7:30. She doesn’t go to work until 10 AM and does get every Thursday off (all day). Edna is seriously thinking about going to Memphis to live since Betty Joe is now living there. She said she was not going to look for work for a while. She is working on her own now making records for people who were too late to get in on the record bit while we still kept her working for us. We told her she could work making records for people if she wanted to do it, but to make a change, so she is charging $1.00 per person. That won’t bring in what we were paying her, but it will be some income while she decides what to do. We are going to sell the office building and give the equipment to a charitable organization of some sort…

We have been attending all the home football games and believe it or not I am learning to follow the game. Of course, I am not an expert, but can follow what is going on (most of the time). We have tickets to attend the game at Champaign Nov. 4th. John said he and Bob and Lea want us to come on Friday and spend the entire weekend. They are going to celebrate my birthday which will have passed, but it will be a celebration anyway. If the weather is good I plan to drive to Champaign Tuesday evening to attend “Falstaff.” Bob said I could use his ticket since for some reason he is not going. Bob and Lea have bought a new home and from all descriptions from Bob and John is quite a nice place. Much larger than their present home. They are trying to sell their place at 1608 Rosewood and plan to move to the new house Oct. 28th. I said I was sorry I couldn’t help, but we have promised Mark and Shirley we will keep Kirk and David (I call him roadrunner) while they take Becky and go to Chicago. The last time I kept David he wasn’t still except while eating. Dad has the duty next Saturday and the play we were to see has been cancelled, so it just works out right for us to keep the boys.

I haven’t checked yet on transportation in December, but will fly to New York the 6th and probably to Boston on the 9th. I think we are to be finished with our meeting by noon on the 9th. Will let you know definitely when I know more.

Love Mother (over)

I paid your fall taxes – another Christmas gift. Also notified the proper authorities here of your change of address to 118 Juniper and you should receive your ballots.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/11/closing-the-office/

New Drapes

Letter transcription:

Sept. 8, 1967

Dear Bonnie and David:

I hope this finds both of you much improved. Sorry to hear your trip to Expo wasn’t what you would have like it to be. But that’s life. I remember one time we were in Kentland and David came down with chickenpox and Dad was in Liberty, Mo. He drove all night to get us and then we started back as soon as we could load into the car. I felt like I had been cheated out of a vacation that year. Imagine having a child come down with a contagious disease in the home of friends and them with a child about a year old. I had on a new knit jersey dress and having to hold David all the way home, by the time we had traveled that far, my dress had a permanent sag in front and had to be discarded, and in times like those, one didn’t lightly discard clothing.

We are gradually getting things done. I finally got the living room drapes hemmed and now have the drapes in the room where you slept pinned, but haven’t had a day to get them finished. Brought home some drapery hooks to finish hanging the small drapes (the one you stole the drapery hooks from so we could hang the living room drapes) and found I had bought a different kind, so had to take both drapes down and re-hang them. We are having counter tops made to order at National Homes. We bought a new sink, garbage disposal, dishwasher, stove and hover from Sears. I am waiting for the things from Sears to be delivered this a.m. (I hope). When we bought the things, we could not be given a definite time for delivery – except Friday.

John has an appointment at the Clinic this afternoon for his eyes. I am going with him because he will have his eyes dilated and will need me to drive for him. Mark and Shirley came last Saturday. They took Kirk to the Clinic to have some warts burned off. I kept Becky and David. David had a big time on the patio – as did Becky. He thought it was great fun to pick up the acorns, pea gravel and anything that he could lift. Becky suggested that we take him and go to the bottom of the ravine. She was vetoed immediately by grandma. She also enjoyed playing on the patio. She kept trying to find a good hickory nut. We finally found two that were not rotten, but they were green, so she couldn’t have a feast. Saturday is Becky’s birthday. We took her to Sears and got her a new fall coat. It has a zip-in lining and can be used as a rain coat or for not too cold weather. Their selection wasn’t too good, so we decided to wait until the more expensive winter coats go on sale. The one we bought was about $12.00. I looked at some at Ayres one day this week and the prices for a girl wearing 6X (her size now) were $34.00 and up.

I am sending the magazine you wanted to give to Dr. Beck. I won’t send it first class, so it may be a week before you get it. I think you left a pair of shorts, but I won’t bother to send them. Dark blue – light weight material. Yours?

We have our bathroom just about completed. We got tired waiting for the cabinet (which the Company sold that was in stock when we put in our order – and then they had to reorder) and found one we like better at National Homes. I help Dad mount it and after the electrician got the lights hooked up – it contains 6 60 watt bulbs – you can imagine how much light we have in that little room.

Love Mother

P.S. Credit card received.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/09/new-drapes/

Human Rights in World Perspective

Letter transcription:

O’Hare Field

Aug. 1 – 1967

Dear David & Bonnie –

Up at 6 o’clock this a.m. to get a plane from Purdue to O’Hare. I had heard Lake Central is not very reliable as to time schedule, but I can’t complain today. We were on our way not more than 10 minutes late. After arriving here I had to walk at least a mile, or so it seemed to get to T.W.A. I met two other women in the T.W.A. lounge headed for the same meeting “National Seminar – Human Rights in World Perspective” to be held at St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City.

I really hated to be away just now, but when we started the remodeling, it was to have been finished and we were to have carpeting down and everything moved into new part by Aug. 1 – but we are going to be doing good if we get ready (the way I wanted it to be) by the 22nd. However, I am sure we will all enjoy being together whether the house is right or not. We should be ready for overnight guests by the time you come. When the new part is finished, we will have 3 bedrooms for company. I won’t tell you any more, let you see when you come. I talked to Lea and Bob. Mark and Shirley probably won’t make it until the end of the week. Mark’s vacation ends Aug. 21, but they will be with us probably the end of the week. We haven’t been able to have the children up this summer because of the remodeling mess. When we get the place the way we want it, Kirk, Becky, and David should have plenty of play space.

Sunday we were in Kentland to attend the 40th wedding anniversary celebration of the Washburns. After the reception I went out to the hospital to see Mrs. Myers. I didn’t know she was in the hospital until I went to her apt. and found the place empty. I made some inquiries and was told she had been in the hospital since the middle of the week. I was not surprised. The last time I saw her her legs were so swollen they looked terrible. She got an asthmatic attack and had to have oxygen. Dr. K. sent her to the hospital – the only thing to do under the circumstances. Sunday her legs were down to normal and her breathing normal and she thought she would go home by Wed. I hope you remember to send her a birthday remembrance. She said she was sure she would hear from you on her birthday. I have a card ready to mail from K.C. to her. Also told Dad to send flowers.

Pat Owens took two years at Indiana State, then took a beauty course. She is now working in a shop in West Lafayette and lives just two blocks from us. She came over last evening and set and styled my hair. She is engaged

[page 2] and thinks she will be married in about a year. Her fiancé is attending Indiana State, but is thinking of transferring to Purdue. Doris has closed her shop and is spending the summer at their cottage on the lake in Monticello. Harold also spends much time there. He has moved his office to the house. Pat was so happy that her mother had quit work. Harold still looks after Mrs. Myers. I told her about the nursing home about a mile from where we live, but can’t get her interested. Dad even made a concession – he said he would take care of her if she would to W. L. She just can’t bring herself to the idea of a nursing home, but I am afraid the time is coming when she won’t be able to stay alone.

As of now, we have no one to take over the office – so Dad says he is going to close Sept. 1 and sell the building.

I thought you should have the enclosed tax receipt.

Love Mother

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/08/human-rights-in-world-perspective/

Office Hours

Letter transcription:

April 13, 1967
12 Sharon Drive
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906

Dear David and Bonnie:

The enclosed came and I should have forwarded it, but thought it might be a statement for the Bible Dictionary which was received in Kentland and which I gave away. You know your Dad has definite ideas about people (firms, etc.) sending you something whether you want it or not and I didn’t think I wanted to pay the postage to send that book back. Well I suppose they figure they will get enough people to pay for them that they can afford to send them out and lose one or two. If they do send an inquiry I may pay for it. I think it was $6.75.

Mac and Louise appeared at the District Meetings and were a great success from all the reports I have had. I heard them at Fowler. They spent the night here before going to Fowler. We invited the minister of Trinity Church and his wife out that evening and went over to Morris Bryant and feasted at the smorgasbord. We came back to the house and had a nice visit. We are supposed to go to Centerville the 20th of May to visit. The Trinity minister here was in Lebanon several years and knows Floyd and Ruth quite well. He also knows Clarence and his wife told me they attended a picnic at St. Peters one time and met quite a few of the Yegerlehners. We feel we know them.

We are still talking about the house down the street. It is on Juniper Court – just about two blocks from here. It is small, but we plan to add on a room or two. The lot is quite interesting. The back of the house overlooks a wooded ravine. There isn’t much front yard, so there wouldn’t be much grass to mow – just enough to look right in front of the house. There are dogwood trees around the patio – remember how we tried to get dogwood trees to grow in Kentland. We finally succeeded in getting one to live. There is even an outdoor fireplace on the patio. It is quite secluded, so we could even entertain there if we wanted to. The square footage isn’t enough in the existing house to afford 3 bedrooms, but the original builders put three in it. One measures 9½ x 9½. I was measuring the roll away cots which we have in one bedroom here and in that small bedroom there wouldn’t be enough room for a baby bed and the roll aways. I think we will probably take out some partitions and make two good bedrooms on that side of the house. We are contemplating building on an addition which will include a generous size bedroom for our own use (convert the existing garage into a family room) and a garage. We will get possession June 15th, then we will have two houses. I just hope the Colonel will let us out of the lease which we signed for this place. If he doesn’t we will have two houses to use. Dad intends to do a lot of the work on the remodeling himself, so he will have plenty of time if we have to keep this place until Mar. 1 ’68.

Dad is planning to go to Kentland the 15th and 22nd to have office hours. We are trying to get someone to come in and take the office, but if someone doesn’t show up pretty soon, he says he is going to close the place out. He is too well satisfied with his hours here and doesn’t like the idea of being tied to that place. However, so far the girls have made enough to make expenses. They, of course, would like see the office stay. However, they said they wouldn’t work for another like the one we had. He must have given them a bad time. I plan to go to Kentland also Saturday and will see Mrs. M. The last time I was there – Apr. 6th, she seemed to feel good and had been to the foot doctor in Watseka the day before.

I tried to get you registered, but was told you cannot register now until after May 15th. We got in the last day ourselves – a week or so ago. We almost didn’t make it. We had been quite busy with moving and it didn’t occur to us we had to register. One day a woman called and said she would send someone out, but we managed to get to the court house and take care of it ourselves. I went yesterday and tried to get cards for you and Bonnie, but was told you would have to wait now. Doesn’t make sense, but the woman who talked to me said she would mail the cards you have to sign which you will return to her.

Dad is making a headboard for our beds – since the one in Kentland was built in, we couldn’t bring it along. I bought a new dressing table and chest of

[page 2] drawers, but couldn’t find a headboard to match.

We went to Indianapolis Sunday after church and spent the day with Mark and family. David got acquainted with us. The last few times we had been with him he wouldn’t let me touch him. We went out to see Shirley’s parent’s new home. They have a very nice new home a few miles north of where they used to live. A huge lake and dam is going into the area of Traders Point. David is going to have crooked teeth. I just hope his permanent teeth are better. If not, he will have to wear braces. Mark and Shirley are looking for something to buy before fall. Virginia Zell Gale lives not far from the apartment complex where Mark lives and since the Gales are going to build a new home, Mark and Shirley are considering the house the Gales now have. There is also an apartment complex which they may buy into. It is a cooperative affair and very reasonable. We are supposed to go back Sunday and take the old TV set. Dad has been wanting a color set, so when we got to a place where we can get cable TV the new set had to come. The old one is still good, so we have told them they can have it. The children wanted to know if the set we are giving them is color. – sorry about that.

This neighborhood should make us feel young. There are children in every house, I am sure, but ours. There are no alleys, so all the back yards come together and so do all the children. Easter Sunday when Mark and Shirley were here Becky and Kirk wanted to do something in the afternoon and I told them to go find someone to play with. They did without any trouble. In fact I think they would have stayed and they could have because Becky was having spring vacation, but Grandpa said we had too much to do and he was right. They will probably he here sometime this summer for a visit while their parents take a vacation. They said something about vacation last Sunday, but didn’t follow it up, so I have no idea when Mark will get off. We won’t be going any place, except to places close, this summer, since Dad won’t get his months vacation until after Mar. 1, 1968.

Love Mother

P.S. The Janssens have been transferred to La Porte – Garnette is to be store manager there. They will move late in May. They were here and had lunch with us Sat. (over)

About Ins. We will pay the premium on your Bankers life policy this year – we will send you some information about the difference in Ins. policies. I think you have been talking about Term insurance which isn’t the same as the policy you have with Bankers.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/04/01/office-hours/