Tag Archives: genealogy

Letters received (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Dec. 21, 1942

Dear Mother,

Just back from the show, 52nd Street, A musical comedy. I really didn’t enjoy it very much because in the open air the sound doesn’t carry very well and the plot wasn’t good so it was about a total loss as far as I was concerned.

I received your letter today of around 17 and 18 of November. There was three in all and there are some things there I want to comment on. First, I don’t remember about the septic tank. That is I don’t remember you mentioning it. Anyway those shouldn’t be cleaned out yet and possibly will never have to be unless as you say Monroe connected

[page 2] the sink to the tank and even at that I don’t believe they are due to be cleaned out yet. I really believe there isn’t enough grease to cause those not to work. Anyway the worst thing that could happen would be for them to stop up and then they can be cleaned out without much more trouble than if they aren’t stopped up. There are two and I don’t believe they would both go out at the same time so you can use the other until someone can clean the stopped up one.

I’ll be glad to get John’s song for I believe I can get someone to play it. So if he hasn’t sent if have him do so.

I also received Floyd & Ruth’s

[page 3] box today. It was in very good condition. The peanuts really were swell. One can gone already but the only trouble is I’m about half “ga ga” since eating so many. I’ll save the other two cans a few days until I get over this can. Of course, I shared this can with 5 others so maybe I didn’t have too many.

I also received a letter from Wayne Watson – A V-mail but he had put an air mail special so it came thru just like it was. A V-mail also came from Sykes. So you see I have several letters to write but not tonight.

In your letter today you told me of the flash light batteries

[page 4] in the candy bar but I found them yesterday and wrote you about that. The shirt was in the box. Thanks. Wow I wish you had sent the whole of the laundry in Their box.

We all enjoyed the comic books haven’t started on the puzzle books yet nor have we played checkers. Probably won’t play any either.

I guess I told you but if I did or didn’t. I wrote Joe R. but haven’t heard from him yet. Our latest mail is still Nov. 27 so I’m really expecting mail now any day which will be later.

Well, I hope I’ve answered everything – So Solong
Lots of Love
Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/08/letters-received-roscoe/

Isn’t much doing (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Dec. 20, 1942

Dear Mother,

Sun P.M. and a little lazy at that. There isn’t much doing this P.M. so I’ll try to answer a few more Christmas greetings and presents. The one from Rotary etc. came today. It was real nice had a number and variety of things all very useful. I imagine they had a campain [campaign] for Reader’s Digests for I got one in my box dated Dec. 1941. That of course I had read but I passed it along to the boys in the hospital maybe someone will read it. There were razor blades, tooth paste. And this is some of the stationary I’m writing on. Some cigarettes, two combs etc. All will come to use in due time. The Clay City news also came today, but no first class

[page 2] mail.

A long time ago you said Geo Tilton said something about helping to collect the bills. I always forgot to mention that he offered to help the morning he went with Nick & I to Chicago. You said something about that one time so you might see what he has in mind. Don’t seem as if Cliff had much affect. If you fill feel real ambitious some day you might send me a few of the names with the bills amount they owe and I’ll look them over – don’t send any with less than $2.00.

There is one question I’ve asked several times but never yet received an answer. You possibly have sent it but I haven’t that letter. On what date did you receive the first letter from me after

[page 3] we landed? No particular reason only just wanted to know.

It will be past Christmas when you receive this so I can ask you if you had any surprises and what you did Christmas day and how the weather was etc. I doubt it we will know which day is Christmas because it will be like all the others as far as we know now. Maybe we will have turkey or something and maybe a snifter or two if any can be found. Just had an idea might go swimming on Christmas – wouldn’t that be something to tell the folks in Indiana – your grandfather went swimming on Christmas once upon a time. Fred suggested we go on New Year’s day also. (Pop) Porterfield as we call him

[page 4]might have something to say about that, but he’d say yes if we asked him to do most anything.

We’ve had a few sprinkles of rain today but the sun hasn’t shone much. In fact it been one week now since the sun has been out good and bright for any length of time. It’s OK too because it doesn’t get so hot as usual.

Well, I have several letters to write and this is the day for the letter to the folks at home. I’ll save some space in case the P.M. mail delivery is good.

So Solong Love Daddy

P.S. The envelope is one you sent not the sweetened edges

P.S. again – I was going to eat that Baby Ruth candy bar this P.M. and found two flash light batteries. That was a surprise. Hope I didn’t throw anything else out in the gue.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/06/isnt-much-doing-roscoe/

Forgot the pictures (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind.

Dec 19 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

To begin with if you received the letter I sent yesterday you probably wonder what happened to the pictures I promised or rather said I enclosed – well I was in a hurry to get the letter ready to mail and forgot the pictures – so here they are. The weather today hasn’t done anything unusual but it looks like more snow will fall. This present snow is very dirty. After the slight thaw and freeze the snow has a crust that can be walked on.

I went to the class party at Hufty’s last night. My mystery Pal was Pauline Hiestand. Dorothy stayed with the children. The party didn’t hold so late so I didn’t have to keep Dorothy as long as I thought I might. Nick and Buddy came out after Nick closed the restaurant. I tried to go in the car but couldn’t get out of the drive way due to ice – I couldn’t get the car either way so I walked to the party. When Nick came he got the car out of the rut and put it in the garage. I haven’t had time to get it out today but have an idea it is still to slick to get out of the drive. We have had more continuous cold weather this Dec. than sometimes have all winter.

[page 2] Mrs. Washburn & Helen came up this morning to see me. I was getting ready to bathe the baby so they had a chance to see him awake. He was in a very good mood. Helen said how good he was. Since they have to travel when they can get train accommodations they can’t stay over Christmas, but leave Sun. I showed them the shells, necklace and moneys. Helen thought the necklace very pretty. I wore it to the party last night and everyone I showed it to thought it unique. I wore a while blouce so the necklace had a good background.

I had three letters from you this morning dated Dec 9-10-11. So glad you rec’d the pictures. After Christmas I am going to have Hubertz make some and maybe you can get a better idea of how David looks. He looks more like your baby picture every day – I think. I just gave him his bottle and he is feeling pretty good. He still doesn’t sleep thru at night without a bottle but he wakes up so hungry I don’t know what to do but feed him, so guess I’ll keep on until he can sleep through.

John is listening to the opera this afternoon. I was trying to write so sent him up to his room so I could concentrate better. He is to play for Sunday School – in the adult Dept. tomorrow. He was asked to play something so made a medley

[page 3] of Christmas carols. He didn’t go take a music lesson this morning due to having been in Thurs & Fri. He was glad of an excuse not to go because Miss Smith is using Bair’s piano and John says it is so badly out of turn he can’t endure the sound. Mr. Simons is in St. E. for observation so Miss Smith can’t go there now – I suppose Mrs. Simons has closed the house and is staying with her married daughter in Lafayette. I haven’t heard anything about what Mr. Simons trouble is.

Mark has gone to town to do some of his Christmas shopping and buy a few more greetings for me. I didn’t do much about greetings this year. I bought a few at the variety store and sent to friends & relatives we always send to. I sent 16 with pictures of David. I was going to send you one of those pictures but ran out before I was thru so thought I would have a better one made for you.

Had a letter from Ruth M. today. She said she would like for us to come over if possible. If it weren’t for this unusual weather we are having I would try to go over some time during Christmas vacation but with the baby so small I am in favor of staying home till warmer weather.

David received a Christmas greeting from Dr. & Mrs. Cole. Their greeting this

[page 4] year is a picture taken of their cocker spaniel out in front of their house by the sign post. You remember they have the sign post by the driveway. It has the outline of the horse & buggy with their name underneath. You mentioned taking the serum along when I take David for his shots – I had thought of that – because it is still good and will be then and it is the combined shots. I won’t take him for shots until March (6 mo old).

I told you in a previous letter the boys bought 5⁰⁰ each worth of stamps out of their 10⁰⁰ – I wrote to F & R about what a kick Mark got from the 10⁰⁰ – Floyd said he bet that 10⁰⁰ looked bigger to Mark than next year’s budget to Congress. I think John appreciated his just as much but he isn’t so much to demonstrate. You can appreciate that. After Christmas I am either going to buy a coat or put “my” money in a saving acc’t and also take out most of the bank acc’t and put on interest somewhere. We really don’t need enough in the checking acc’t only to meet the monthly needs and any allotment will take care of that I think.

I have the humidity up a little this afternoon due to towels, diapers, etc., on the radiators. The towels sour in the basement before they dry so bring them up here. You won’t get this until after Christmas so hope you rec’d some of the boxes –

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/04/forgot-the-pictures-gladys/

It came! And how! (Roscoe)

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Letter transcription:

Dec. 18, 1942

Dear Mother,

Seems as if it’s only one week from Christmas so that makes only about so many shopping days until then. I was in town today and there was a definite lack of any kind of decorations. There were a very few toys but all of a very simple nature. I saw one bubble blowing outfit and one set of Jacks. No trains dolls etc. Maybe it’s the usual thing and maybe it’s the lack of shipments into the place anyway there wasn’t much there.

The biggest surprise and I might say pleasure today was your Christmas box. It came! And how! The box was open on one end and tied with heavy fishing cord. Maybe you tied it that way and it was opened for inspection or maybe it came open and some good soul tied it up. The content, all the candy sticks were melted into one big gob. With packages of chewing gum interspersed. It was fun finding the chewing gum. The flash light was incased in a “gue” of soft. The leather mirror case had sticky on it. The billfold with the pictures was untouched. The black tie had one long streak

[page 2] of sweet all along the broad flat outside surface and the underware were colored in spots yellow and I thought David had worked on them until I smelled but it was candy. The air mail envelopes were all stuck together with candy and but the paper was untouched. I think I can use the envelopes OK however. There was no batteries for the flash light, and there is about as much chance of getting batteries here that size as there is buying a flash light in the first place. Now I’ve given the low down on the stuff. Listen Dear it was a scream you couldn’t have sent me anything more pleasing and anything that I could have gotten more kick out of. I have a flash light now that was given me by the medical department. I haven’t been wearing any underware shirts. The pants can be easily washed. We don’t wear ties anymore. I’ve gotten candy from Ruth and Boonie. The chewing gum was not spoiled and that is about the best thing you could have sent. The mirror is OK and really is one

[page 3] thing badly needed. And the pictures I like very much so really I’m tickled pink and I really did get a kick out of opening the thing even to the Kentland Democrat and the Indianapolis Star funnies. And Thanks again Dear for all the things. The candy of course had to be discarded because it was mixed with paper inside of the box etc. I really think the mail sack are used to pack with and are probably down in the ship near the engine room where it is hot and that is the reason. Some of the boys have gotten candy sealed in tin cans and it is all stuck together in a big gob. So any way you would send it would be bad. Personally I’d rather have one late letter than all the boxes. I don’t mean to be rude about the box. I really got a kick out of it and I know you couldn’t have known the condition of the shipment of the things. I’m as happy as I could be about the whole thing so please feel that your gift was appreciated and I do mean it was. There are so many packages I really don’t

[page 4]see how things are as good as they are when we know the volume of business that is going on.

The office has furnished me with the figures that will determine the Income tax (federal) that will have to be paid. The gross amount is #1,317.79. That amount added to the amount that was made up to May 20. Less deduction for rent, Interest, Office girl, social security, Insurance on the office and malpractice, insurance on car, gas and oil. Less deduction for dependencies, Tax etc will be the payable tax for 1943, payable on Mar 15. I’d like for that to be figured and if not too much be paid. For as I told you before I don’t want a lot of things hanging over to be paid because I don’t want to have to get my nose to the grind stone right away when this thing is over. You and I are going to live for a while more time for each other and if those things are hanging over to be paid in 6 mo. we’ll feel that our style will be cramped. So pay if you can. Send me the gross of those first 4 ½ months. Or rather the amount that my practice brought in. Especially that that you paid state tax on. We will have to

[page 5] use that amount for federal plus the figure I gave above. I really don’t know what deductions are given this year for dependencies. Agnes will know those things but I take it from your letters that she is in favor of putting these things off but I’m not if they can be paid. So much for that.

Got a Christmas greeting from John & Inez Ley today. Won’t have time to answer that now because it is 2300 and time I was in bed.

Deanna Durbin, c1940s (Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons)

D. Durbin was the star in the show tonight. It rained almost all thru the show but we stayed anyway.

Again let me thank you for the package and believe me I appreciated it and I sent lots of love to you and the boys.

Daddy

P.S. Remember our mail might be delayed as I told you last night but don’t worry it’s on a change in schedule

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/03/it-came-and-how-roscoe/

Just a week until Christmas eve (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Dec 17 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Just a week until Christmas Eve. Seems like it is getting here rapidly and I still have some things to do. If we don’t go to C.C. (which I doubt our going) I will have to make some preparations for Christmas dinner, etc. Since Ruth & Earl can’t come here & Ruth & Floyd are going home we will probably have no company. I had a letter from Mother today and she said Thelma is going to Norfolk for Christmas. I haven’t heard any more about Jim coming home in Jan. I sent him two gifts last week and one to Thelma. I rec’d two boxes from her today. Jim’s came last week. We have been getting boxes every day and since the mail is so heavy we have to go to the P.O. to get packages. I couldn’t imagine where the two today were from. I didn’t expect any from Thelma since Jim had sent each of us gifts in his box.

The weather I wrote you about

[page 2]  this morning changed somewhat. The blizzard stopped and by noon the sun was shining and all was quiet. This afternoon the snow began to thaw and I went to town in the car and the streets were getting very slushy. There is quite a wind now but I think it isn’t a cold wind.

Arlene called a while ago and said she was coming up for a little visit. I went to town this afternoon and did a little shopping for her. Louise wasn’t there and she couldn’t leave. She said Donnie weighs over 16 lbs now. David weighed 11 – 4 today.

John is taking his turn being sick. There wasn’t any school today due to the blizzard this morning and the boys were home. By noon John said he didn’t feel so good. He was hungry and ate quite a good lunch. After eating I waited a while and took his temperature. It was 100 – I gave him ½ and at 6:30 ½. His temp. went up to 101 but he doesn’t seem to feel so bad. He drank a glass of orange juice for supper. I hope I can elude that little “bug.” I am trying to be careful so maybe I will be able to get by.

[page 3] I took a roll of pictures of the baby to try and get one to put on Christmas greetings. Out of 8 I got one that will do. I found some greetings at the variety store that the picture will fit in so will send a few to our close friends, Maces, Watsons, Mutch’s, Dolores, your Mom & mine and one to Mrs. P. After Christmas I am going to have the photographer make a picture of David and also one of myself for you as you requested.

Fri – John is much better but I didn’t allow him to go to school today. He is getting restless and that is a good sign. He is hungry so that is another good symptom.

The pictures are the ones Mrs. Zell took the morning I wrote about how beautiful & scenic it was. I was out of film that morning so didn’t get any with our camera. To get the full beauty one would have to take pictures with a movie camera.

The papers came today but have been too busy to read. Hume Sammon’s funeral was this afternoon. The Puetz have a baby boy – born Dec 13 – weight 6-9.

[page 4] After all the varied weather yesterday there was a little freeze and it was slick on streets where there isn’t much traffic. I went to town but drove very carefully and slowly. There wasn’t many cars on the streets so didn’t have much traffic to encounter.

I am going to the class party tonite and Dorothy is coming out to stay with the family. It was her suggestion. I wouldn’t ask anyone to do that but she offered her time. I have Clara M. engaged for Mon nite – the band concert – Arlene is having a party Sun nite so will have to get someone to come then – I haven’t been out much and it seems like everything is coming together. After Christmas there won’t be much going on so will stay home. I am going to take Bobby Funk to the concert Mon. nite. Arlene’s bridge club meets and she can’t take him so I told her Mark & I would take him. John of course will play in the band. It is about time for Mark to come home so will get this ready for him to take to the P.O. Helen W. Knollin has been here but is leaving Sun. She & her husband are in Chi. Now but will be back here tonite & tomorrow.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/09/01/just-a-week-un…mas-eve-gladys/

Got a big box of goodies (Roscoe)

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Dec. 16, 1942

Dear Mother,

The mail so far today hasn’t been so bad for me. Got a big box of goodies from Ruth M. and the Newton Co. Enterprise dated Nov. 12. I don’t believe there was a thing of news in it that you already hadn’t written about. The box Ruth sent was a mixture of candied fruit, cookies and some rum jelly. Maybe the packages you sent will finally get here but I’m afraid if you didn’t wrap them pretty good they won’t get here because most of them look pretty taggy by the time they are delivered.

So far today we have had very little rain but last night it sure rained plenty but luckily we have a little limestone and stuff which keeps the mud to a minimum, and of course since we don’t live in a tent it isn’t so bad either. We really haven’t had rain like we had those six days way back

[page 2] there.

Had a pretty good show last night as I told you and we sat right thru the rain – with rain coat and hat on it isn’t so good since the rain came toward our faces and it’s hard to sit with eyes open and the rain coming, but we still sit thru the whole thing. Now the sun is shinning so maybe it will be nice for tonight’s show. We hope. Don’t know why everyone likes the shows so well unless it because that is the only kind of amusement we have. Just like reading a story and you don’t have to hold the book. There has been a bunch of fellows in and out while I’m writing this so I’ve only been here in thought about half the time.

Had a Dec. issue of Readers Digest this A.M. Dr. Porterfield got it from home. I think maybe someone sent it to him. I’ve finished the Nov. issue so as soon as he gets thru with the Dec. issue I’ll start on

[page 3] that.

Since you wrote asking me for another piece of coral I haven’t been over toward the ocean. I keep thinking each day I’ll go but something always seems to come up to prevent it. Some day on the spur of the moment I’ll slip over. It just like anything else when we get started we keep on and then get out of the habit and it’s hard to start over again – Just like the bridge playing we used to do have. Haven’t seen a game in ages. Then we started domino and that has almost fallen thru. Only once in a while we play a game when things are a little dull otherwise.

I’ll add more later – after the P.M. mail. It is now 2200 and the show is over. There isn’t much more to report. More mail came in but it isn’t sorted so we will have to wait until tomorrow. Maybe will have more to report tomorrow. This isn’t much of a letter but it’s the best for the present.

Lots of Love Daddy

© 2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/31/got-a-big-box-…goodies-roscoe/

There is a blizzard raging (Gladys)

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Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Dec 16 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Received a letter today that was a little behind time but was glad to get it even tho it wasn’t the latest. The first letter you wrote was I think, the seventh I rec’d – It came “Sept 22” – the day I started to the hospital – I left here about 11:15 Sept 22 and it was 12:05 Sept 23 when I arrived on the 4th floor St E.

Dorothy came out this afternoon and we went to Sheldon and I got a supply of beef. The pork isn’t in the drawer yet. Will be next week. When we came back to town we stopped to see Mrs. P. and she gave me our Christmas gifts. I wanted her to see the baby. She said she would keep him any time in the afternoon for me. She said the gift was for you too – So since I sent you a box last week won’t send anything right now – I’ll wait until you mention something you want. I’ll wait until after Christmas and if you don’t get any of the boxes sent

[page 2] to you will send you something else to make up for them.

I have been thinking about the surplus in the bank and since I haven’t spent the gifts you sent to me will put that specific amt. in a saving acc’t and do you think I should buy more bonds than one a month?

The gift from Revlon came today – and thanks again for another gift. Dorothy was here so I opened it and showed it to her. I also opened the brush set and showed to her. She thinks they are both nice gifts.

Arlene just called me and invited me to a Christmas party Monday night. I should go to the band concert but I would rather go to the party – so that is where I decided to go. John gave me his consent. Arlene keeps asking me if you rec’d the letters they sent but you have never mentioned any. I think you would answer them if you did receive a letter.

I am sending St. E. a greeting and hope you have sent or are sending one from there.

[page 3]Had a letter from Ruthie today. They had your letter. They want to come over here Christmas Eve and take us in our car to C.C. for Christmas and come back Sun. following. I haven’t decided yet – I am not much in favor because I am afraid it will be too hard on the baby and his mother. Your mother said something about whopping cough down there and I certainly don’t want to get close to that. If it weren’t for that I might consider the trip – since the baby is on Carnation and his milk wouldn’t have to be changed. The baby is getting along so fine I certainly wouldn’t want him to get anything.

You mentioned the furnace. When I take out clinkers I always poke to the bottom and stir things around. I pull up the rings that form. Not long ago I cleaned it out and started a new fire and cleaned out the soot & silt too. I am going to put some baby things in the Bendix this evening and while down there for that take out some clinkers. Took out a few last nite.

[page 4] I am not up on local “gossip” – so can’t be very newsy in this letter. The paper will probably be out tomorrow but this will be in the mail by then. We are still having plenty of winter. It isn’t so awfully cold but lots of snow and ice. Seems no one can remember when we have had such an early winter. Nick said they had burned more coal so far this winter than all last winter. I can’t tell how much we have used – but will be able to figure out after winter is over. The coal in July was 69⁰⁰ and last week was 28⁰⁰. There is still room for more but Chet says they will get coal all along.

Fri nite is the class party and I will know who my mystery pal has been. I got Hannah a cake plate for her last gift. I haven’t anyone to stay with the baby, but I am going to the party & stay til 10 o’clock then if I haven’t anyone will come home. He sleeps after his 6 P.M. bottle until 10 – so think I can leave him with the boys that long.

If you go swimming again & can get it I would like some more coral. Also if you can manage – send your Mother a box

Sorry you didn’t like our pictures. Maybe if we keep on can get some good ones – I’ll have one made of myself after Christmas & send.

Love – Mother

[page 5] Thurs. morn – This weather again. There is a blizzard raging this morning and no school. It is coming from the south and the windows on the so. Side of the house are covered with snow & ice. I am certainly thankful for a good warm house and plenty of modern conveniences. I wrote to Mom & Ruthie and told them if this weather continues I know I won’t plan to do anything but stay home. In fact I don’t much like the idea of going now because of the weather and the baby being so small. I think we would be much better off at home and we can have our Christmas right here. I hear the baby cooing or making some kind of gurgling sound. He has been making a lot of changes this week – I think I mentioned he “chews” his left thumb.

The “bliz” is still going strong.

Love Mother

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/30/there-is-a-bli…-raging-gladys/ ‎

Packages – a goodly number (Roscoe)

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

Dec. 15, 1942

Dear Mother,

Up until the present I’ve received (today) one letter from Bart, the Clay City News and a Chicago Sun from Boonie. All of course were appreciated. The Chicago Sun was dated Nov. 11 and had many interesting news items. The Clay City was the mine as far as I was able to tell. It was dated Nov. 13. Bart gave me some of the low down but most of his news had been given me by you previously. There were no packages so my fun is still coming. Lots of the fellows have their packages – a goodly number came in today. Maybe mine will come this P.M.

We’ve been getting lots of magazines some dated as late as Nov. 25. Those of course are put out several days early and that makes some difference. We have copies of Life, Liberty, Colliers etc – So we have plenty reading and not too old.

We’ve had a very decided change in the weather and a welcome one at that. The

[page 2] sky has been overcast all day and rain has been the order – coming in spells and spurts, but it is cool – even a jacket wouldn’t feel badly. It hasn’t rained much but the mud is still pretty sticky.

Today was supposed to have been pay day but due to something or other we only get paid once per month now and that is the first. So won’t be paid now any more this year – but I should get along OK unless we have to pay mess bill again. I’ve forgotten when it was paid last.

I sometimes wonder if you can hear our loud speakers thru these letters. Seems it keeps going most of the time. Making announcements and calling men for this and that etc. Something like the loud speaker in the hospital only more noisy and too they put out a squeak each time it comes on to attract attention. They have never called Dr. Kildare yet but I’m looking for that to happen almost any day now.

Well, I wonder how the weather is up

[page 3] there now. I think of that very frequently along with other things of course, but that is a queer thing this weather when one thinks of it. At least right now it is for it is raining to beat the devil, but it may be over in 2 min. Good pickle showers back in the U.S.A.

Didn’t have any snoring difficulties last night – I got both sides of the story and tried to explain the whole situation so maybe we won’t come to blows. We hope. On

Our picture printing wasn’t so much a success. The fixing solution wasn’t just right and the pictures turned yellow. We are going to change solutions and maybe that will help. If we ever get good ones I’ll send them home. We just this minute got some new developer fluid and fixer. So will probably try again soon.

Our chow has been a little on the scant order the past few day but with Christmas candy it won’t bother if it is a little scant. I’m trying to reduce. I’ve

[page 4] gained 2-3 pounds and can’t let that happen. It’s a lot the starchy diet we have and too I think our  muscles have gotten more firm. In fact my trousers are more loose than they were when in the States but my muscles harder I suppose because we walk up and down the hills etc pretty much.

The way it looks now I doubt if we have show tonite because I’m afraid we would slip off the hillside – but if it stopped raining ½ hour the ground drys rapidly so we may still have a show since it’s only 1500.

Well, I’ll save the rest of the space until later but in case I forget –

Lots of Love

Daddy

P.S. Did have show and you’d think it very important because we sat thru hard spells of rain – Rain coat and hat. It’s fun – No more mail.

Love again Daddy

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/29/packages-goodly-number-roscoe/

This is “unusual” weather (Gladys)

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

Kentland Ind
Dec 15 – 1942

Dear Daddy –

Tues eve. and just before time for Fibber – will try to get something written. I went to Club this afternoon and then did some Christmas shopping. Clara Molter stayed with the baby. He fussed yesterday after his 2 P.M. bottle and acted hungry so today I put a full can of carnation in his formula. He was much better today. Clara was giving him his bottle when I left and when I came back about 5:30 she said he had been good all the time I was gone. In fact she was able to do the ironing. When I have her stay with him I have some work to be done because he isn’t any trouble and that way I get a little lift which I always seem to need. I never seem to get caught up but I suppose I do as much as the average person with a small baby and two others to think about. I know if you were here I would have to keep help – which I would gladly do if you could be. It seems to me I am not very efficient, but when I

[page 2] stop to think about it – you helped so much when John was a baby and we always had extra help after Mark came, so maybe I am not so slow after all. I do spend a lot of time with David, but after all he will grow up so quickly I must give him all the attention possible. He weighed 11 lbs 2 oz this morning.

Marks is about normal again. He didn’t want to go to school this afternoon. I took his temperature and it was exactly 98 6/10 – so I told him he should go because there really wasn’t any excuse for him staying home. He went and I saw him going home after school (I was uptown) and he seemed to feel as gay as usual. I ordered a new suit for him for Christmas and it came today. It is supposed to be a Navy uniform but I hardly think the color of blue would conform to Navy regulations. It seems more a cross between a Navy & Army uniform because it has a leather strap across the front & back with a leather belt. It looks like the Army uniforms Earl Roberts had on. His tool chest came but it wasn’t complete – due to shortage of certain things containing metal.

[page 3] The band is giving a concert Monday, so I will try to go and hear John play. He has sold me a ticket. Clara has promised to stay with the baby. The High School gave the entertainment at Club this afternoon. 7th grade sang, Glee club sang and the band played. I think they have a good band teacher this year.

Hume Sammons died today about noon. They were taking him to the hospital. I didn’t know he had been sick.

Mrs. Plummer called to tell me she had a letter but I had yours of 5 – 6 – 7 – and knew you had written her. She said she was going to write you and enjoyed your letter very much. She said for John to stop on his way home from taking his piano lesson Sat. for something – which makes me think of Christmas shopping. I am going to give potted plants this year which will relieve me a lot running around, wrapping, etc., trying to find something suitable for everyone. – – a pause – – went down to take some clinkers out of the furnace. I don’t like to trust the boys to that job all the time. Maybe I should hire someone to do the job but it doesn’t take much time once a day or so. I was thinking about how much I have written about

[page 4] the weather – but it snowed again today, but it isn’t quite so cold. Unless we have an early spring this is going to seem like a long winter. It has seemed long already and the really cold weather started Thanksgiving day. This is “unusual” weather for Ind because we would ordinarily have had a thaw by now.

Wed Morn – I went out and started the car this morning to see if it would still go. – I haven’t had it out for over a week and was afraid the battery would be down – but it started. I must get some meat so think I’ll have Dorothy go with me to Sheldon. It is so slick around town I don’t like to drive alone – The sun is shining this morning and it isn’t too cold. I am trying to get the humidity up but that seems like a big job I have pans of water on the radiators but that isn’t very effective. Wish we had regular humidifiers. Up until this cold weather the humidity outside was sufficient.

David is sucking his thumb trying to go to sleep. He takes a short nap before his bath every morning. I must go mix formula and get ready for his bath & bottle, and I am trying to get this ready for Carl to take when he delivers the mail.

Love – Mother –

© 2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/28/this-is-unusual-weather-gladys/

It’s too darn hot (Roscoe)

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In 1942, Roscoe and Gladys would not have been familiar with Cole Porter’s musical “Kiss Me Kate.” The musical did not premiere on Broadway until 1948. Roscoe’s letter reminds me of the song “Too Darn Hot.”

Letter transcription:

Dec. 14, 1942

Dear Mother,

It’s almost too hot to write but I’m doing it anyway. Here while back when I was writing about hot it just hadn’t started yet and besides that breeze don’t seem to know how to blow anymore. It’s about like that Sunday we spent at Norfolk only hotter if one gets out in the sun and too the humidity seems to be high – Towels don’t dry and unless clothes are hung in the sun they don’t dry and even then it may take some time to get a heavy towel dry.

Seems as if we might be having a little domestic trouble last night. One of the boys started snoring and one of the others got up and went over and poked him and woke him up and he didn’t like it very well. Guess one can do things like that at home but the wife poking isn’t like a stranger. The fellow said I was going um puf – – – but that didn’t bother him so I wasn’t

[page 2]disturbed. Thanks. Seems a shame to awaken one fellow so the other can go to sleep. Hope nothing comes of the whole situation. Don’t believe I would wake anyone even if I couldn’t sleep all night long.

I only got one letter written last night besides yours and that was to the folks. Seems I wasn’t in the mood and when that happens I just as well not try. The next letter I’m going to write will be to the Krulls but I’m not in the proper frame of mind just yet. Getting temperamental don’t you think. May not that – could be just the weather.

A November Reader’s Digest just came into our possession and I’ve practically finished it in the last day or two. Nov. isn’t very late – guess you have the Dec. and possibly the Jan. by now. Or has the subscription run out? It’s up to you now if you

[page 3] want to renew it. We seem to get them here Ok, but a little old but what’s the difference. It sprinkled just a little this A.M. We don’t know if that is the beginning of the rainy season – which is supposed to start sometime this month or whether it’s just another sprinkle. We could stand some rain but I’m afraid when it starts will be wishing for sunshine in a big way.

J. Edward Barce, circa 1960

J. Edward Barce, circa 1960

I never did hear from Ed. Barce while at Moffett Field. I wrote him a letter but didn’t get an answer and of course I didn’t know his address. I didn’t write H. Reinhart either. I just supposed that he probably was gone and the letter would have to be forwarded. Don’t you think that’s a pretty good excuse? The best I can think of on the spur of the moment. It’s a little hard to write when there isn’t much to write about as you will note I’ve been doing the past few days, but writing home is different. I’d be glad to get a letter from you even if

Henry W. Reinhart, circa 1960

Henry W. Reinhart, circa 1960

[page 4] you only wrote the date etc.

Of course, more is appreciated but I know it must be hard for you to compose each day. Even John’s letter was appreciated and about the only thing he told me was that you didn’t have meat for dinner that day. It’s hard for them to write much on V-mail because their writing is large and those pages are small. Hope you have the money letters by now. Seems as if that those letters were the only ones missing from your list when your last letter came.

There was no mail this A.M. but this P.M. delivery may be better to us. We hope. So Solong

Love Daddy

P.S. No mail this P.M.

©2013 copyright owned and written by Deborah Sweeney

Post originally found at: https://genealogylady.net/2013/08/27/its-too-darn-hot-roscoe/