Tag Archives: Karen Johnson

Local News

Letter transcription:

Thurs. Nov. 12 – 1964

Dear David & Bonnie –

Yours received. Now let’s hope the weather will be fair Dec. 23.

Yesterday I went to Lafayette and bought evergreens to finish the around the house planting. I drove from Lafayette to Attica and gave a program for W.S.C.S. I showed pictures from Bali. It was guest day so a number of women were in attendance from other towns. Dad got one of the evergreens set out last night. He finished this afternoon. Last week Bill Stenz had his workmen take out the terrace. We have stone all around the house now, so no more weeds to pull. Dad is making stepping stones out of cement at the back living room door. John Janssen is here now cleaning windows. The breaking up of the cement made a lot of dust. Today we had a terrible wind most of the day but by the time John was ready to work the blowing had stopped. This afternoon we made a quick trip to Morocco to get our driver’s license renewed and the fields where corn had been but – along the fences it looked like someone had been decorating for Halloween or a fall festival – the fences were so covered with corn cuttings. It is so dry everywhere – there was a prediction for rain today but so far only wind. We have been watering the new evergreens once a week, but after this fall that shouldn’t be necessary.

I have read about the anchor Bible. The Chicago Tribune had an article about it. I took the paper to Sunday school and showed it to my class. They didn’t seem too impressed, but after reading about it I was quite interested.

I am hoping the whole family will be home for Christmas. Don’t worry about sleeping arrangements – as suggested we can use the motel. If I could find some air mattresses I would make a dorm in the living room.

I have been invited to a shower for Patricia (Cookie) Franklin, who is to be married to Jerry Carlson Dec. 8. I can’t attend the shower since

[page 2] I have to serve on a committee for a vesper circle meeting that evening (next Wednesday). Monday Dad and I are to give a program for Sheldon P.T.A. – Tues. Dad is planning to go to Lafayette to a meeting and I am to entertain a BC class. Wed. afternoon I have promised to give a program for Raub W.S.C.S. and Wed. evening help at Marge Fisher’s for above mentioned meeting. I half way promised to take Mrs. Myers to Lafayette a week from tomorrow.

Howard Fisher was going to Bob Jones College (I think it is in Tenn.) He was expelled. According to what his parents tell I would think he would be glad. He says they have informers and the first rule of the college is “no griping” and if anyone complains about not liking anything there is always an informer around to run and tell and that was what happened to Howard. He talked to his roommate about something and the roommate was one of the “informers” and in a very short time he was called to the office and told to leave immediately.

I saw Janice Ross this week. She and Bill had been to visit Nancy at Indiana State and Sara and a friend had driven from Bloomington (Sara is going to I.U.) to join them. Joy Funk dropped out of Marquette and has applied for work in Peace Corps. Don is going to St. Joe at Rensselaer and according to his mother has settled down. Jim Johnson was home two weeks ago. His mother says he is getting interested in a girl he has met in Midland Michigan. He works for Dow chemical. He has met a Methodist minister who seems to be making quite an impression on Jim. Karen is back at Hanover and so is Margaret Krull. Bob is still at I.U. and Bud Krull is doing graduate work at Harvard.

Dad had to go to the office to take care of an emergency and he wasn’t too happy about it. He as so “fed up” with a certain case one day this week I think he was ready to take off for a prolonged vacation. He just came in and from what he has said it wasn’t much of an emergency.

Love Mother

Will take some pictures all around the house, now that project is finished.

©2017 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2017/01/21/local-news-2/

David’s Birthday (Gladys)

1 Reply

September 23, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 23, 1945, p. 1

9-23-45

Dear Daddy –

The party is over and we have had a little supper. We put David to bed before we ate because he ate ice cream & cake and drank punch and then after refreshments he kept eating candy so I didn’t even try to get him to eat supper. We just had some ice cream & cake that was left – I snitched a sandwich but J. & M. didn’t want anything else. Dorothy came out early – they had to go to Chicago this afternoon – and brought David’s gift. She had Lucile Jones bake him an angel food besides. I put the birthday trimmings on it. I baked one too but it didn’t look as smooth as the one Lucile made. I asked Dorothy about ice cream and since the drug stores are closed Sun. afternoons, she had Betty Lou bring the ice cream out from the restaurant before they left for Chicago. I was afraid it wouldn’t keep in the frost chest if I put it in last night. Arlene overslept so she didn’t get here with her youngsters until the party was nearly over, but since we had two cakes, I sent cake home with her and gave the children their favors. I fortunately found some candy that was wrapped individually and different shapes so it made nice favors. Altogether David received $5.00 and several nice toys and a pr. of corduroys. Lucile gave him a telephone with a dial that works – it looks like a real phone. It was quite popular with all the children. Arlene brought a little pull toy – a wagon with two hares that bob up and down like the push toy I got for him. She also gave him the corduroys. Statons brought a pull toy and

September 23, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] a set of graduated blocks. Dorothy gave him a Mickey Mouse toy that turns somersaults. He likes cards so much and seemed to enjoy his cards very much. Mark gave him a magic slate this morning and he was quite delighted with it. John gave him a card with a dollar. When he saw the bill I said, “What is that?” He answered “Money.” He put his pennies in the birthday offering and planted three flags in the sand. He is so much more grownup acting than the little Smith boy (McCloud) who is just a day or two younger, but David has been with J. & M. whereas the Smith children are younger. I had the boys bring up that old play table from the basement and with a good dusting off and a white table cloth it served perfectly for the little folk to eat their refreshments. Also brought up that old bench and with a covering it served for chairs. Martha, Myra & John Hufty, Jimmy Ed and David had a good time at a table by themselves. John, Mark, Jimmy, Betty & Virginia were seated in the den at a card table and the mothers were seated at the dining room table. I placed the play table by the south dining room wall so the mothers could keep track of the children. Everyone seemed to have a good time. The children played with the toys and the mothers visited. After the rain and cool weather yesterday it was so warm today we stayed out in the yard except when we came in to eat. It has been warmer today than it has been for some time.

Mrs. Washburn in Club President this year and is having the opening meeting at her home in the country. Lucile dropped club so said she would keep David for me. I told her I was planning to go. I kept Karen & Jimmy not long ago and she said she would keep David for me sometime.

September 23, 1945, p. 3

[page 3] Dorothy didn’t get to go to Laf. last week so she said today she is planning to go sometime next [week]. They are serving Rotary Thurs. evening. Nick served them Thurs. noon last time, but they would rather have evening meetings. John & Gladys are opening Wed. this week. I wonder if Rotary will go there. It’s a cinch John will have all the business he can handle – so maybe he won’t want special dinners.

John is doing homework and keeps asking me for words. Mark said he had a headache and wanted an aspirin but I told him I didn’t think he needed one – so he went out of doors and came back in much improved, he says.

So far my thumb is still stiff – It seems to have affected the joint. The allergy is gone and it’s about all peeled off but I can’t bend it very far. I can use it but without bending it much. Jimmy had another attack of asthma and Lucile thinks it was caused by red beans. She said they had chili for supper and that night Jimmy began to stop up – the next day he was in the kitchen and ate two red beans she was preparing for lunch. She said while chewing the second one he began to cry and said it burned his mouth and wanted to spit it out – He had a severe attack after that. In checking back Lucile said they had had beans before another attack of asthma he had.

David was so tired I think he must have gone right to sleep. I haven’t heard a sound out of him since he went to bed. John decided this was a perfect day for the birthday. It has been warmer than any Sept. 23 in the past 3 years. I remember last year it poured down rain in Mo.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/06/03/davids-birthday-gladys/

You Must Do This Again Soon (Gladys)

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September 21, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 21, 1945, p. 1

Fri. Sept. 21

Dear Daddy –

I dated yesterday’s letter the 19^th so consider it the 20^th – if you can tell which one dated the 19^th was the 20ths. It is very nice today. Just hung out a washing and David is out on the front sidewalk playing with an old trike Mrs. Z. loaned. He doesn’t use the pedals yet but it’s a little hard to propel that way. So far he just puts his feet on the ground and pushes along that way. I am sure there are no trikes on the market yet – If there were I would get him one for his birthday. Yours of the 18^th & 19^th and David’s came. I read him the letter and he enjoyed the faces. We put the money in his piggy bank – (sticking out) and I put the bank up where he couldn’t get it. I’ll put the money in something he needs for his birthday. If Dorothy wants me to go to Laf. today I may find something down there. She may have called while I was out hanging up the clothes, but otherwise I haven’t heard from her about going. I called her last night to tell her I have Bobby’s snow jacket & cap finished but Betty Lou said she had gone to the show with Nick, so her cold was better (I would think).

The mornings seem to go so fast. It is 10:55 and that means time to start lunch. They aren’t going to like it but they get leftovers in meat. I baked a peach cobbler yesterday and Mark said, “You must do this again soon.” John was telling me about a conversation with Miss Sizelove – she said Mark had made a B on a test and was well pleased. She said he could have made an A if he had tried. She insists that he has a good mind, if he would use it – in other words, he is a little lazy.

September 21, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] Gail Dye told me yesterday that she is to meet her husband (Sat. I think) in Chicago. He is to go to Camp Atterbury for his discharge and that it that. It’s been nearly two years since he was home – a year ago Christmas for 10 days. Well his long term away is about over and he can resume his regular work. I didn’t ask her any questions, but they own a home in Valpo so they may go back there to live.

Jimmy Ed is having asthma again. Lucile & Karen both have colds – there seems to be quite a cold epidemic around – just hope I don’t get it – not with my sinus – the way it can act at times. My thumb is in the peeling stage now and very tender where the new skin is exposed. I still can’t bend it very far, but it doesn’t bother me.

Our first light bill came and it $2.91 for 13 days. There is a charge of $1.95 for the stove switch but I think the electric part is about the usual amount – according to the way our bills always run.

I still have a washer of colored clothes to run, so I must run and get lunch – however I am not going to hurry as much as I sound like. The boys helped me change the beds this morning before we came down so I haven’t had to do any big rushing.

Love,
Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/05/29/you-must-do-this-again-soon-gladys/

Nu-Joy Restaurant (Gladys)

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September 9, 1945, p. 1

Letter transcription:

9-9-45

Dear Daddy –

We had quite an exciting afternoon. The Nu-Joy Restaurant burned to the ground. The fire started in the kitchen and the fire Dept. wasn’t called soon enough, so the story goes. All the fire trucks around here came but about all the good they did was to keep the garage from burning and the Kentland Café building. John & Gladys are back and getting their place ready to open. I suppose they will step up their work to get opened sooner now that the Nu-Joy is gone. The Harlan Parrs were in town and had come out this way so they took David and me down. J. & M. were already down watching the fire. We parked by Childress Station and watched a while, then I asked them to take be back home. There was such a mob gathering I thought I would rather be home. Traffic had to be re-routed out this way to 24. There were cars parked on 24 out past here. Ed J. took John out for another driving lesson this evening and he told John what the Electric Co. had to do when they knew how the fire was going. Ed was on the scene most of the time – until after the fire was really over. I could see smoke for a long time.

Jimmy Ed is much better. I took David and stayed there while John & Ed were driving. Jimmy seems normal. Lucile says he chokes up some at night, but while we were there I didn’t notice any signs of hay fever or asthma. Maybe what was bothering him a week ago is gone now.

Joe Bill Mullen was in church this

September 9, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] with Gloria Blanke and his mother. He has to go back to the hospital for more treatment. I have heard there is to be a wedding, but I don’t know when.

The Foulkes were entertaining dinner guests at the Nu-Joy when the fire started. I think they left before they had finished eating. No one was caught in the fire but Katie told me all they could get out was the money. I heard later that some other things were saved – some 5^ths. One fireman was supposed to have taken 3 cases of beer.

Olene Miller says Emmett wrote her not to send him any more packages, so she things he will soon be coming home.

Lila called me tonight. She said Joe is still in N. Africa. He got his promotion so is now Comdr. She doesn’t know anything about when he will get home and wondered if you knew anything.

Mrs. Glick was at church this a.m. She asked me how soon you were coming home. I told her I didn’t know. Dr. G. seemed to think it would be soon, or something to that effect.

I got the boys started back on their regular monthly allowance again. Mrs. Koon came out Sat. and paid the bal. of the rent $15.00 – so that helps out the petty cash fund.

The Statons were gone from home today and came in on 24 and turned to come up the short street so didn’t see what had happened. You can imagine their surprise when we told them what had happened.

We were up late last night so in order to get the boys settled down early will go to bed myself. Lucile came out late last night to show us Karen’s pictures. She stayed until 11:30. I made a pot of coffee and we ate some of John’s prize cake he baked yesterday morning.

Love Mother

Photograph of the Nu-Joy fire, from the Kentland-Newton County Centennial, 1860-1960. Note the incorrect date!

[Editor’s note: A newspaper clipping regarding the Nu-Joy fire can be found here. Note that both Gladys and the newspaper give the date of the fire as Sunday, September 9, 1945, not September 7th as printed in the centennial book.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/05/18/nu-joy-restaurant-gladys/

Pictures from Missouri (Gladys)

2 Replies

September 5, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

September 5, 1945, p. 1

9-5-45

Dear Daddy –

This being fair week the stores will be closed today, Thurs. & Fri. PM’s. School will be closed Fri. Mark wants to go out for the day with Buddy – but what they can find to do out there a while day is a mystery to me. Mark went yest Monday evening with Statons so he may have changed his mind by now. The mail hasn’t been delivered yet, it being just past 9 o’clock. I finished the dishes and put dough to raise in the sun by the piano – the only place I could find. I promised the boys hot rolls for lunch.

I went to Brook with Norma yesterday – their locker here is full and she had corn to put in, so took it to their Brook locker. I took your brown suit to the tailor at Brook. Lucile said Ed took an overcoat to have a hole repaired and that he did good work. I also stopped at the upholstery place. T seems hard to find the man but I talked to his wife. She said he had enough tapestry material to cover a davenport – someone ordered it and then didn’t take it. It is turquoise (a greenish blue) flecked with a rose flower. I thought if perhaps he would make me a good price on the job I might go ahead with hit. Since he doesn’t have much other material to work with he should be able to get this job done. She (his wife) says he restyles furniture, and from the looks of things I don’t think he is very high in his prices – but I have heard he does good work.

The roll of film I took in Mo. turned out about 50%. There was one miss – I forgot to turn the camera

September 5, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] and lost one picture. I’ll enclose what I think you will care to see. My picture was not good, so I am not sending it. I hope by now you have received the first pictures I sent – David’s & our group.

Yours of Aug. 30 just came – had been misspent to La Fontaine, Ind. I was glad you could get out for a while. We haven’t had much social life since coming back, but that isn’t exactly necessary see we see people we know every day and the boys are in school. I go to town every day or so in the afternoon and visit a little while with the crowd in at Krulls. Lucile called me this morning to give me a bit of news. Arlene had bridge club last night and announced that she is having a baby in 3 months. I don’t believe anyone knew it – however I thought Arlene was looking unusually good and “plump.” She must be different this time because she usually gets very large. She says she is going to have 6. Mark wondered if we could have a little baby girl – not adopted – but one of our own. I said “why” and he said he thought it would be nice. I said “is it because of Karen,” and he grinned and said “yes.” He thinks Karen is tops. I told him to take the matter up with you when you come home.

Uncle W. & J. stopped on their way to C.C. They are to be here for dinner the day they return home – sometime next week. They wanted to know if there was anything they could bring back and I said some evergreens.

Mrs. Capes called me about something and she said Doris is in San F. Her husband, a Dr. in the Navy has ship duty and is out now in the Pacific. Mrs. C. thought you might call Doris (Mrs. Wm. Douglas) W.9718.

David is trying (not too hard) to take a nap. He is on one of his tears today and I doubt if he goes to sleep. If he doesn’t take a nap he will go to bed earlier tonite. It has been very cool, but is getting warm today – the temp. is supposed to get up to 90°.

I’ll try to get a camera and take this other roll and send you some brand new ones – (Hope you get back by then.)

Love Mother

Demobilizing the Navy (Gladys)

1 Reply

August 31, 1945 envelope

Letter transcription:

August 31, 1945, p. 1

8-31-45

Dear Daddy –

We had quite an electrical storm last night and it’s beginning to blow this evening. The lightning and thunder kept me awake until after 2 o’clock. I would just get to sleep, when bang a crash of thunder would awaken me. I felt a little dragged out this a.m. I am sleep now, so think I’ll turn in pretty soon. Lucile called me today and said Jimmy was so bad last night he couldn’t sleep. They were up with him all night. I told her if she wanted to go someplace with him I would keep Karen. She said they would wait now since the season is so near over. I think the people who go away come back about the second week in Sept. Angus is to come back Sept. 8. Lucile had me buy a toy lamb for Jimmy today and I stopped to leave it when we came home. She had all the doors and windows closed and fans going. Jimmy was lying on the studio couch. Karen was raising a howl, but Lucile just lets her howl. She wants her eats when it’s time and it was just past 6 PM. Now John’s glasses are taken care of. He is to get them one day next week. We took David along and he was a little “dinker.” We bought Donnie Funk a birthday gift – and David could hardly wait to take it to him this evening. We missed his birthday by two days but he was very pleased to get something. Little Joy is growing up as rough & tumble as the boys. She is so short – much shorter than David and

August 31, 1945, p. 2

[page 2] she would run up to David and push him. We measured David & Donnie and David is as tall as Donnie but much lighter. David would soon learn the art of self preservation if he played with those children. They are a lively lot.

The town seems to be going for Bendix laundrys. Nick & Dorothy said they were to get the first and today Arlene says they have one ordered. Bill took Arlene’s washing machine to the Lodge and now she is without one. Coke Foulkes tried to get a B. right after the war started but couldn’t so I suppose she will be ready for one soon. All of those people could have had one when we got ours. In some ways we are smart, eh what?

Mark went with the Washburns to the Fairgrounds this evening for a little while. I suppose they were taking things out for display. John says he doesn’t care to go at all. I don’t either and certainly don’t intend to take David.

John talked to Smith today about changing his course and carrying two solids he wants to take – (Latin instead of Geography). He would have to take Latin every other class & English likewise, because Jr. Latin & Soph. English meet at the same time. Smith said no – John says he knows he could do it. I wish you could have contacted Smith that day you & John went over there. Maybe you could have helped to iron things out. John is going to play the oboe for band and piano for the Glee Club.

You rec’d a bulletin from the U. of Buffalo on Postgraduates Course for Practitioners – Sept. 24 & 29. You also rec’d some adv. from Cole Chem. Co. on Derfule, etc., etc. Those companies are not going to miss an opportunity if they can help it. Seems good tho, to get things thru the mail for Dr. Y.

Love Mother

August 31, 1945, p. 3

I’ll finish my letter on this. Yours of Aug. 29 came today. We heard some good news this afternoon. Adm. Denfeld – head of demobilizing the Navy talked on a program. He said 11,000 officers would be released in Sept. – I wonder if you will be in the first group??? At any rate so many more will be released

August 31, 1945, p. 4

each month – the number to be increased every month and by Navy Day in Oct. a huge figure. 24,000 is the goal for Dec. Those are some of the figures I caught. Maybe you heard that broadcast too. It’s logical to assume that as the force is decreased the Drs. will be too. Had a letter from Ruthie Y. They haven’t gotten their apt. yet, but living in a room at

August 31, 1945, p. 5

the Methodist minister’s home. She went to Dr. Kizer for a check-up. He said not so much any one thing as a number of things – low blood count – low blood pressure. He is giving her medicine and she is to rest every day. Her chest hurt so they made an Xray

August 31, 1945, p. 6

but everything was OK. I think she must have the chest pain like I had from a run down condition. I have to go with Mrs. Wood to the church at 4 and it’s 3:45 now. Here’s hoping for your early return

Love Mother