Tag Archives: Kentland

No Mon, No Fun, Your Son

Letter transcription:

[Postmark Feb. 8, 1962 Wright 533 – Handwritten by David]

Thanks for sending the paper.

Dear David:

When I dropped in to visit Mrs. Myers and she showed me your letter I was about to disown you because we hadn’t heard from you since you had returned to school and I remember you promised to write weekly. I was reminded of the little “joke” I had once heard – it goes like this – A young man was in college and having such a good time he didn’t have time to write until he ran out of money and this is what he wrote – Dear Dad: No mon, no fun, Your Son. The reply was: Dear Son: How sad, too bad, Your Dad. But since we have received a nice long letter and you made the Dean’s list, we won’t have to resort to such measures. We have marked off May 2^nd and plan to visit Bloominton that day and attend the Ceremonies. You know we used to do that when John was in school. Mark and Shirley and Becky were here Sunday (I was showing Mark how to do the book work) and they were quite pleased that you had made the Dean’s list.

Becky was cut as a bug Sunday. Mark and I were back here at my desk trying to get something done and she kept wanting me to hold her. Usually she doesn’t want to be held, but Sunday she just wouldn’t leave us alone. Finally Shirley put her to bed for a nap. They came down at just about 12 o’clock and we went out to the Nu-Joy for dinner. They stayed for supper and we had a few thinks I had on hands, like ham, eggs, etc. I don’t think anyone was really too hungry, because we all had such a huge dinner.

I have been so busy this week, it seem like I have been on a tread mill. Monday I attended a meeting in Lafayette that last from 10 AM until 3 PM. Monday night there was a Bd. of Education meeting at the church and since I am Chairman of that Commission I thought I had better attend. I think things are not going so well in the MYF on Sun. mornings. Rev. Fields told us that the MYF’ers are thinking about going back into the worship service with the rest of the S.S. in the Sanctuary. I really think it is due to their leader not being equal to his job. Rev. Fields has intimated to me that the young people do not care for him. Incidentally Rev. Fields did have a bone broken in his ankle, and Dad put a walking cast on his leg yesterday. Now that I have mentioned it, you didn’t know about his fall. One day when Joan drove for me to go to Lafayette to get an x-ray treatment, he fell on the back step at the parsonage and Dad thought he had sprained his ankle. He kept walking on it and how he could do that is more than I can figure. Tuesday night there was a meeting at the Church for the solicitors for the parsonage fund to report on their work. The week before Dad and I both attended the meeting to get our assignments. We took 8 names and of course, I did the soliciting. Out of about 120 names 76 cards were returned this week with the result of $14,700.00 pledged. We need 23,000.00, but since all the contacts haven’t been made we feel sure the balance will be met. Twenty-five persons at least have been working on the project and at least 65 families have made pledges in spite of the fact that Nev. did a lot of talking against it. Some of the workers thought she influence some people against it, but I don’t think she did too much damage (except showed a few people what she really is) since we have accomplished what we have so far. The WSCS is going to do something on the project, since we have about $2,000 in the bank. We gave $1,000 before Christmas to get the think going and pledged $1,500 for the next three years ($500 a year). Ours, I am sorry to say was the only one that large. Rus A. had hoped to get several $1,000, but so far the only one next to ours is $750. Dad said with our initial $1,000 and the additional $1,5000 making more than a tenth of what they need, he thought they should be able to raise the rest.

Dad got one set of shelves built in the work area for me – on the west wall. We have taken out the old washing machine and dryer (temporarily they are stored in the garage) and as soon as the new combination comes and we get it installed, Dad is going to build a cabinet around on the wall above it, so when not in use, will look just like another cabinet. He at present is working on shelves to be built on the east wall, just under and south of the wall safe. I said I wanted to get rid of this desk, because I want to get a new unit to use back here, but Dad thought you might want to keep this desk, so I won’t do anything about it at present.

Next Thursday we are going to have the annual smorgasbord at the Church and I am ticket chairman, so have a few tickets to get distributed today. I sold tickets amounting to $31 yesterday, but have to sell many more than that to make the thing a success. I am not going to do much more selling myself, but put them out for others to sell for me.

I had to have the car worked on again and they couldn’t get it finished the day I took it in, so drove a Buick for an evening and morning. I have my car back not and had a wash job done and it looks pretty good again.

Love Mother

(over)
Keep up those good grades, and don’t forget to write, Rec’d a long letter from John yesterday & he described a Muslim wedding he had attended. Let me know when to deposit for you again. I have love track.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/29/no-mon-no-fun-your-son/

Calcified Tendinitis

4 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – Handwritten by David]
October 24, 1961

Dear David:

I had an appointment with Dr. Ferguson yesterday. He said I had injured a tendon in my right arm and he called my injury “calcified tendinitis.” I am taking x-ray treatments – have to go to the Home Hospital in Lafayette every other day this week for 3 ½ minutes of x-ray. So far the hospital here isn’t equipped to give x-ray treatments. I am also taking cortisone (35₵ a tablet). We had some samples. Since we had intended to take a vacation this week and next the appointment book didn’t have much in it and Dad hasn’t been very busy so far this week. Dede went to the hospital last Fri., but nothing happened so Dad sent her back home and so far she is feeling fine and as far as I know hasn’t given any indication of being ready to have her baby. Since I am having to take these treatments, it wouldn’t have been much of a vacation for me this week.

We received word today that Mr. Shirk passed away. He and Sarah had been in Florida on vacation. He had a heart attack last week, but the last word we had was that he was so much improved that he was about ready to start back home.

I hope you received your gloves. Julie talked to me after Sunday school and said you wanted me to send you some. Arvella gave me the same message and I sent you a package last Monday.

The way my arms still feels, it looks like I am going to have to try to find a cleaning woman. Dr. Ferguson told me not to try to wash windows or do any painting.

We had shelved our vacations plans for the time being. I don’t know what we will do about Edna. She was to take hers when we take ours. She has moved and is living across the street from the office.

Dad has been working on Mark’s record player and thinks he might get it fixed.

Love Mother

Newspaper article published on Chafee Shirk’s death can be found here.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/28/calcified-tendinitis/

Vacation Plans

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – Handwritten by David]
Kentland
10-19-61

Dear David,

We bought 50 shares of National Homes B – (an over the counter stock) at 8 ½. With the comm. the total was $434.25. You had 400 so as of today you have a part of your Christmas gift. I think you will realize something from this stock. It doesn’t pay a cash dividend but stock, which we consider better than cash. In the long run I think it amounts to more.

Dad is working on Mark’s record player, but so far he hasn’t been able to do it much good.

I made a trip to Valparaiso yesterday. The weather was beautiful and I enjoyed seeing the Valpo campus. I drove – went by way of 16 and then thru Rensselaer. The strain on my arm must have been too much – I had difficulty in getting to sleep

[page 2] last night because of the pain. I read until 2 p.m. Finally with the aid of the heating pad I got quieted down and was sleeping beautifully when at 9 a.m. Rev. Fields called me. If he hadn’t disturbed me I might have slept all morning. We are having a typical Indiana fall day with rain and much lower temperature. I went to the office this morning and took a diathermy treatment on my arm.

We (several different organizations) are getting ready for a UNICEF drive (instead of trick and treat) – Oct. 30. I am getting the thing organized but hope we are always on vacation when the 30^th rolls around. Dede hasn’t had her baby yet. According to the schedule she was due the 6^th. Another one is past due. I hope they cooperate. We plan (if they have their babies) to go to Indpls. Monday to the convention.

[page 3] There is a meeting at the high school gym tonight – a Dale Carniege meeting and all Rotary members are supposed to take guests. We have planned to go and have asked Janssens to be our guests. The new land bank building is having open house today also and we are planning to go there before the day is over.

Due to the change in weather Dad isn’t mowing today. This is the first week since you have been away that he hasn’t had to mow. He got the sodding done around the house and I will agree it looks better than the flower bed around there.

We may come to Bloomington but can’t promise anything for sure as of now.

Edna has the Johnson apt. across the street from the office.

[page 4] (Richard & Janet moved) and she thought her brother would get some of her things moved today. Jo Wenger said since Esta wound’t have enough work for her this winter she wanted another job where she would have a steady income.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/27/vacation-plans/

Stock Martket

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana
October 16, 1961

Dear David:

Arvella gave me your message. I mailed two pairs of gloves to you. I haven’t looked at the market today. I have been pretty busy all day so far and haven’t had time to study the situation. I presume you want me to select something for you since Benquet is not available. Have you looked at the market recently? In case you haven’t International S. closed last Fri. At 30 5/8 which makes it work a little more (about $180.00) than we paid for it. Also we have received another (regular) dividend check for $82.00, plus the one for extra we received right after purchasing, for $125. As you can see that makes our dividend so far this year a little more than $200. We purchased on May 31, the close of one quarter, so naturally didn’t receive any dividend that quarter – regular that is, but the extra. Dad and I will go over the market tonight and see what to select for you. John’s G.E. is worth 12.375 a share more than he paid for it in July – he bought 50 shares, so you can see it is work $618.75 more than purchase price. His Rexall has climbed a few dollars also, but he only bought 25 share of that. It has been very warm here today, so hope it has been warm enough in Bloomington that you haven’t needed gloves. Dad is trying to fix Mark’s record player, but he has hit a snag. He has it back here in the family room on the round table (the J. Paul table) in parts. I have been having a little trouble with my record player. I will have to get Paul out here again to look at it. I had Paul fix the car radio. Just one little fuse had burned out. It took him about five minutes to fix it. I am still having some pain in my right arm and still take a diathermy treatment daily. I haven’t been able to use a broom since my injury, so the garage is getting a little mussy looking. I don’t do anything I feel is unnecessary. The windows look terrible, but they will just have to wait until my arm can handle a window cleaner. I put $130 in the bank for you, so your Nov. deposit has been made. Just keep your bank account straight. We haven’t heard from Mark since they were here a week ago Sunday, so we presume everything is OK with them. We have promised to visit them at the first opportunity. They want us to see their apt.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/26/stock-martket/

Sprained Muscle

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – Handwritten by David]
146 W. Graham Street
October 10, 1961

Dear David:

So much has happened since I last took time to write to you. I can’t remember where to begin. The last week in Sept. I attended four meetings in Veedersburg, Oxford, Stidham and Delphi. I would leave home between 7 and 8 o’clock each day and be home by four or 4:30. Two days I left the meetings after the morning sessions and was home a little earlier. One day Clarence and Clara came at about six o’clock. They were going to attend the Progress show at Rensselaer the next day and couldn’t find a place to stay, so came here. I had just opened a can of soup and was thawing some hamburger, but changed my menu and had steaks and a few other thinks that made a fairly decent meal. We showed John’s pictures after dinner and since they wanted to get away early the next day went to bed early. Dad had to leave to go to the hospital, so he left just as we were ready to go to bed. Clarence & Clara got up so quietly the next morning, I just heard them as they closed the front door (5:30). Last week I was getting so much done on Monday and Tuesday (had taxes to figure, month-end book work to do, etc.) getting ready to take care of Becky from Thurs. to Sunday. Tuesday evening I unfortunately sprained the muscle in my right arm and had a rather painful time – couldn’t sleep because of the pain – for several days. I was so happy to have Becky with us, but was sorry I had to feel so uncomfortable while she was here. Sunday I decided to stay home because it was too hard on my sore arm to try to get in and out of the car with Becky. Putting her in the car seat was more than can be done with one arm. Rev. Fields took my S.S. class. My arm felt much better yesterday morning and I did a little too much in the way of using my arm and last night had a bad time again. I didn’t sleep very well after 4 o’clock. I am going to get another diathermy treatment this morning. Jo has quit working for Esta. She is working for Mingles at their factory in Goodland. Mark and Shirley got their moving done and took their refrigerator. The apartment they now have isn’t new and required a lot of cleaning and painting. Becky has a room of her room now. Mark thinks he will be able to get an accounting job by the end of this school term – February. They don’t particularly like the apartment they have now, but their rent is just about half what it was on N. Kenmore, so for the difference they feel like they can put up with less. I asked Mark how long he intended to live there and he said “one year” – that is now long their lease runs. He thinks by that time he will have a job that will pay him enough to afford a better place. We plan to go see them as soon as we can get the baby schedule cleared. Dad delivered a 2 lb. baby one day last week. HE thought it might make it, but last night he had a call from the hospital that the little fellow wasn’t doing so well. I haven’t heard yet this a.m. I find myself writing in the same style I use when writing to John – without paragraphs. We are waiting on the baby schedule to make our vacation plans. Had thought we would take the last week in Oct. and first week in Nov., but now we are just waiting for the babies to be delivered and plan from that time. I must get this finished and get to the office for my heat treatment. I saw Audrey Jackson last night. We were both attending a meeting of the Hospital Auxiliary at the Presbyterian Church. It is still so warm and we have had enough rain, the grass keeps growing. Dad has had to mow every week and sometimes more often since you have been gone. I have decided to give up the flower bed around the north side of the house, so he is sodding that space. It really looks a lot better and will be a lot less work for me. He says he is going to fill in the place where the violas are, since it is too low. He said he is going to take over that project next year, but won’t tell me what he is going to put there. Probably geraniums. At least every year he asks me why I don’t put geraniums there.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/25/sprained-muscle/

Severe Infection

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – Handwritten by David]

Dear David:

A lot has happened around here since I last wrote to you. Sunday evening Mark, Shirley and Becky came. Mark had been having a severe infection (kidney & bladder) and wanted to see Dad. Monday morning early Shirley went back to Chicago and Mark and Becky stayed here. I took Mark to Lafayette Monday morning to the Clinic to see a Specialist. Of course, Becky went along, but was very good. She travels well. Tues. evening Shirley came after work. After we had dinner and she had time to rest from the trip down, they went back to Chicago. Mark was feeling better, but still not first rate. He was supposed to have registered for school last Friday, but called the registrar at NW and was told he could register Wed. I think he could have had another day of rest, but since he felt he had to go back for Wednesday they started for home around 9 o’clock. He had given notice to Home Federal that he was quitting Fri. the 15^th. As it turned out, he was ill and couldn’t work Wed., Thurs., or Fri. of that last week. He called and told his boos he had been ill and asked to have his pay check mailed to him and he refused to send it, so Mark was going to have to make a trip to Home Fed. to pick up his pay check, in addition to going to NW (downtown branch) to register Wednesday. I just hope he felt better by that time. Becky was in the best of health while they were here. She certainly is a good baby. We had quite a time. We became very well acquainted in the two days and she was always ready for me to take her. I just wondered how she would react when her mother came Tuesday evening. She really jumped for joy when Shirley came. We have John’s latest pictures developed and have shown them twice. I finally got around to getting enough holders for the pictures, so we don’t have to stop and re-load the box every time we want to run another set thru the projector. Mark called this noon and is still having difficulty – now he is having diarrhea (from taking so much medicine in the past week) and wasn’t feeling too good. Dad told him to take the pink liquid until he gets things slowed down. He said he just had to push himself to go yesterday. He said by last night he couldn’t make but one class. He doesn’t have another class until Monday night. I am hoping he will be much improved by then. I called Mr. Owings yesterday and he still hasn’t been able to get Benquet for you. He says sometimes it takes weeks to get an order thru. Why don’t you decide on something you can get and get your money to work. John received a dividend check from Rexall today. He bought 25 shares at 49 and it is now 55 or 56. I didn’t look at it today. Dad is building a house for the tools. He is making a pre-fab – that is he is nailing parts of it together in the garage. He is using a material that looks like very thick cardboard, but it is weatherproof. I am going to start on statements today, since I will be away next week (26, 27, 28 & 29) when I should be home working on them. I am going to address them and the envelopes and next Saturday I should be able to fill in the amounts, and get them into the mail for delivery Monday. We have marked off the last week in October and first week in November for our vacation, but haven’t made any plans yet as to where we will go. I will get your deposit into the bank tomorrow. I have to go to the dentist tomorrow. I had just received a notice that my appointment is due and today I broke off a piece of filling while eating some raw carrot. I am washing quilts today and the family room is very hot and humid, but I want to get these things washed and put away. Yes, the car has been reclaimed. It is clean inside and out. I checked on the mileage – as to oil change – after you left and it had about 2,600 miles since the last change in July, so one of the first things was to have the oil changed and a lube job. I think I am going to have to weaken and get a new seat cover for the front seat and new floor pads. If I do that I think it will look almost like a new car again.

Since you have your birthday gift I will just say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Love Mother

9-21-61

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/24/severe-infection/

Back to School

4 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright Sept – Handwritten by David]
9-14-61

Dear David:

We are still waging the battle of the crickets, but from the way the weather has turned maybe they will go underground. It was so hot yesterday I had the air conditioner on and today I have the heat on. You can add another $2 to your bank account (GM dividend check came Tuesday). I haven’t heard any more from Mr. Owings. I went up to the office Tuesday to pay my little account and he said there was a long waiting list for Benquet so you may not get it for a while. It closed at 1¼ yesterday. I can’t remember – did you tell him to buy at 1¼ or 1 1/8? Dad mowed most of the lawn yesterday evening after office hours – can you believe it, it needed to be mowed after all of that rain. He finished this afternoon. He is working on some shelves at the office this afternoon since finishing the lawn. We have the Cadillac books. Mr. S. wants us to select the colors for a new one. Unless GM gets their strike settled, we won’t need to bother – but I rather think it will be settled soon. If it is as cool in Bloomington as it is here you won’t be needing your Burmuda shorts now. We have had cloudy weather all day with the temperature around 56°. Dad was looking for some gloves when he did the mowing. Did you take any gloves with you? He found a pair and didn’t seem to know who they belonged to so I am wondering if you forgot gloves in your packing. – – We have had supper – not the usual fried chicken for Thursday, but ham and soup. The refrigerator is beginning to look like we need, as you put it one time, a CARE package. I haven’t had to buy any groceries yet since you have been gone. When Mark gets the refrigerator from the garage I won’t be able to keep such a meat supply. Did you know they are going to take the refrigerator for their apartment on Lawndale? They asked me, that is Mark did, if I wanted to help them move. I told them I would take care of Becky. I didn’t think I would be of much help on a moving deal, but I think I could manage to take care of the baby sitting job for a day. I suggested letting me keep her here. I think Shirley’s mother and father and Janet and her husband are all going to help with the moving. I had started this letter and written quite a bit before I discovered I was using the same form I use in writing to John – no paragraphs. We have the 2 rolls of films John sent home developed and are going to look at the pictures on the projector tonight. From what I could tell from just looking at them I think he got some very good pictures. Quite a few from Bangkok. I made a raid on the crickets with a fly bomb and as of now I don’t hear one cricket. Maybe I have won.

Love Mother

P.S. I banked $250.00 & $2.00 for you.

Failed to Subtract

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 513 – Handwritten by David]
Dr. R.S. Yegerlehner
Physician and Surgeon
Kentland, Indiana
May 15 – 1961

Dear David –

I sent you a letter yesterday telling you that you were overdrawn .53₵ and that I added $25.00. I will get your statement from the bank today. You haven’t added or subtracted somewhere along the way – you have fail to subtract I would say. It looks like Sperry is climbing. So I won’t indent incorrectly, I will use the same method as in writing to John. I am enclosing your housing contract which Dad has signed. Thanks for the cartoon. I haven’t had time to decide about when I will come down – Thurs. or Fri. a.m. Will let you know in time to get me a room if I come Thurs. The weather has been real summery. I think we had a record high for May one day last week. It is making everything grow like mad. So far Dad has been able to get the mowing taken care of by himself. I am at the office but I am ready to go get papers and go to the bank. See you either the 25^th or 26^th.

Love Mother

Mother’s Day 1961

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright – Handwritten by David]
May 13, 1961

Dear David,

Your Mother’s Day card received. I also rec’d one from Bob & Lea and a card and (two gardenias) corsage from Shirley, Mark & Becky. My corsage from last week-end (prom, etc.) is still good. I told Dad he could wear one tomorrow. He gave me a new watch. My old one flipped off my wrist one day and hit the floor. After that it wouldn’t run. I took it in to LeBeau. He said it would cost so much to repair it he recommended a new one (naturally). I also received a notice from the bank that your account was .53₵ overdrawn. I deposited $25.00 for you. I took a sunbath today. That old tank platform makes an ideal secluded spot for a sun bath. This is my first day

[page 2] so only took about 3 or 4 mi. on each side. If this sunshine continues I should be getting a good tan by the time you come home.

Mrs. Myers had to have a tooth pulled this a.m. Since she doesn’t have anyone to give her a Mother’s Day gift and since I had received so much I took her a pretty plant. She was quite pleased but was feeling rather shaken up from the tooth pulling ordeal. Let us know where to come and get you. We are going to C.C. Tuesday to Clarence’s to hear the family history from the cousin who went to Switzerland last summer.

Love Mother

Spring Blizzard Blocks Highways

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – Handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana
April 24, 1961

Dear David:

I think an epistle like the one just received deserves an answer. Glad to learn of your good grades and suggest that you do what is necessary to improve your grade in Government. I can’t understand why it should give you trouble, when you are so interested in the subject. Just try a little harder. We are going to Indianapolis Saturday to spend the night and attend a Blue Cross meeting. We will be staying at the Athletic Club (on North Meridian Street, a few blocks north of the Circle). We will be coming back home Sunday afternoon. If you want to come to Indianapolis Sunday, we will be at the Athletic Club. There is a meeting in the morning. I told Dad I would go to Church, so if you want to come up and see us, let me know and we will make some definite arrangements.

From all reports Kentland probably had more people staying here Sunday night than had ever stayed here before. The Mingles, Wengers and Janssens kept people. People all over town kept travelers and the overflow stayed in the gym all night. The roads were still blocked until Monday afternoon. Without a doubt the restaurants and hotels and motels had more business than they had ever had in one day.

We had a letter from John last week. He is planning to be home – arrive in Chicago – July 5^th. He will be leaving to return to Indonesia August 1^st (unless he has made some change in his plans he didn’t mention). His plane arrives in Chicago at 10:10 PM so we should be able to go meet him.

We are having rain today. I had intended to work in the yard some, but it keeps raining every little while. The rose bushes we set out the day before Easter look like they are about ready to start growing. I am ordering another set (7) to finish the row. I am also ordering some mums, so that I will have some flowers this fall. Dad has been mowing the lawn every Thursday. Now that the weather is warmer, with this rain, everything is beginning to turn green, (that wasn’t already green) and it makes me want to get out of doors.

Let me know about Sunday.
Love Mother

To read more details about the blizzard that stranded travelers, click here.