Tag Archives: Kentland

Visiting Relatives

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – in David’s handwriting]
March 20, 1961

Dear David:

I think I forgot to tell you to add another $2.00 to your bank account, (GM dividend). I deposited it for you when it came, but haven’t written since then. I am a little tired today, but not as tired as I thought I would be. I have just about replaced everything and have washed all the extra bed clothes, so by tomorrow I should be ready for the club luncheon and meeting in the afternoon. The only thing left is food. I put the steak into several packages and put it in the freezer and the ham also. For some reason my apple pies didn’t get eaten and now we are working on them. The Clay City relatives and the Mutchlers left around 4:30. Uncle Floyd and Aunt Ruth and Steve stayed a while longer. When they got ready to leave Floyd told Ruth she had to drive home. He had taken a long trip on Saturday and only had two hours of sleep Sat. night. Mark and Shirley stayed long enough to feed Becky her supper. I put her in her pajamas and when they left Shirley had a bottle to give her on the way.

I have some tax business to work on, so must get with it. Can’t keep them waiting (they gave us ten days to answer a question and it has been almost a week since we received the letter).

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/19/visiting-relatives/

Overdrawn Account

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – in David’s handwriting]
February 18, 1961

Dear David:

I was informed by the bank yesterday that your account was overdrawn, so I put in $100.00 and got your statement today. You have a .50 charge for overdrawn account and .65 monthly charge, so subtract $1.15 from your balance. According to your statement you have a balance of $95.47. All your checks thru 36 (Feb. 11 IGA for $5.00) have been returned.

We had a letter from John this week. He is starting home June 29^th and returning to Indonesia – leaving here August 1. Plan to be home the month of July if possible, because that is as long has he will get to be with us. Had you made any plans for working this summer?

Mrs. Simons told me yesterday that Chuck is planning to come home for Julie’s birthday (I think it is the first week-end in March) and wondered if you would be interested in coming home to help with a surprise party for Julie. Let me know.

I made a trip to the hospital this morning and stopped on the way to take a plant to Mrs. Littlejohn for her birthday. I think she is 95. I also stopped to see Edna’s mother and took her a plant. She was in the hospital two or three weeks ago and I was out to see her, but forgot to take her anything, so I told her this morning the plant was supposed to have been for her while she was sick. She said she would be able to enjoy it more now.

It is so warm today it is just like spring, but the forecast is for a drop in temperature tonight. My S.S. class is having a party at Alberts (east of Goodland) tonight. I hope the cold doesn’t catch up with us until after tonight. It is 62° now on the north side of the house. It has been so mild all week I was able to get all the windows washed on the outside Wednesday. You know that was supposed to be your job while you were home, but it was too cold then.

We went to Monticello Thursday evening to a dinner given by the Bankers Mortgage and Banks Insurance Company and Bankers Growth. We have stock in Mortgage, and Insurance and now we have opportunity to buy in Growth. Haven’t decided yet. I think we will buy your Sperry next if you want to sell to us.

I am listening to opera this afternoon.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/18/overdrawn-account/

Out of the Office

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Kentland to Wright Quad 513 – in David’s handwriting]
February 10, 1961

Dear David:

Yours received and $10 added to your bank account. We received a letter from John yesterday. He said they are in the rainy season and from his description, it really rains there.

I finally got the Chev. garage repairman to work on my car. I am waiting for it now. It is 11:10 and he was supposed to have it here around 10. At any rate it will be like new when I do get it and clean again.

Mark, Shirley and Becky are coming this evening. Mark called two evenings ago. They (he and Shirley) had had the flu, but so far Becky was OK. I do hope she doesn’t get sick. Mark has decided not to quit his job after all. They have a baby sitter and Shirley is going back to work the middle of this month.

Dad has been out of the office so much this week – most of the day Wednesday – he had to go to Hammond to confer about a court case he will have to testify in. One day he had to go to Fowler to appear in court. He wasn’t gone too long that day. Today he has to go to the hospital for a staff meeting at 12:30. He hasn’t been around here for lunch much this week. This month the baby cases are few, but next month I think there are about 15 due.

We were listening to the news (as usual) and thought we might hear some comments on the President’s answer as to whether he have a missile gap. You will remember that during the campaign he was positive on the subject but now it seems he is waiting to hear from his investigating committee. We have heard two prominent republicans commenting. They said essentially what we were thinking. Now that he is in the driver’s seat it doesn’t sound so good to be telling the world we aren’t in top place, or that we are second rate.

Our weather is warm enough today to do some window washing, but I have an appointment at Doris’s this afternoon, so the windows will have to wait.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/17/out-of-the-office/

New Parsonage Movement

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright 513 – in David’s handwriting]
Kentland, Indiana
February 6, 1961

Dear David:

Yours received this AM. I put $80.00 in the bank for you today. Be sure and put that on your check book balance.

We entertained the Polks last night with a supper and bridge. After we finished playing we sat and talked for a while and Dad decided to show them some of Becky’s pictures, along with his baby picture to see if they could see any resemblance. Speaking of pictures, I finished the roll in the camera yesterday morning. After a fog Saturday night, the temperature dropped and made Kentland look like fairy land Sunday morning. I sent the roll in this morning along with the negative of Dad and Becky you want enlarged.

I attended a meeting with a few members of the Finance Committee last week one evening and the thinking has gotten around to the place that we think we will have to take care of Capital Funds. We are also going to make a drive to get enough money to buy a new parsonage. There is to be a special board meeting Wednesday night to get a vote to give the Board of Trustees the power to proceed with a New Parsonage Movement. There is a medical meeting at the hospital that night and I am planning to go with Dad to that. I talked to Rev. Fields this morning and he seemed to think there would not be any opposition to the “Movement” and that I would not be needed at the Board Meeting.

I sent to DuPont for a booklet called “The story of World Trade.” I am going to prepare a program for club. I was put on without my consent and given the subject, International. I decided World Trade is about as International as anything can be. I wish you could help me draw some maps, but I rather think you won’t have time. This booklet has a lot of maps and information I am going to use and since this is Feb. and I don’t have to give the program until April I should be able to get it done myself.

Some new books came from Book of the Month. I ordered the January selection which was “The White Nile” and “Shadows on the Grass” (both about Africa) and with them came a dividend, “Gibbons Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.” I have started to read “Shadows on the Grass” which is quite interesting. This afternoon, however, I have some book work to do, so must forego reading until tonight. Also have my Getty work to do.

Just been listening to the news and about the storms on the East coast. Sounds very wintry. We are supposed to get more here. So far we haven’t been snowbound. We have a lot of snow in the driveway, but we can get in and out.

I have lots of work to do, so must get busy.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/16/new-parsonage-movement/

City Gas

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[to Wright 513 – handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana
146 W. Graham Street
January 31, 1961

Dear David:

We are enjoying a little warmer weather. If we didn’t still have snow on the ground we might think it is spring.

I worked on statements last night and this morning. I thought about running the total up on the adding machine, but didn’t have you here to do it, so just didn’t take the time.

We now are using city gas. The plumbers and Public Service men came Saturday and made the change over. Our furnace had to be turned off about two hours, but the house didn’t get too chilly. Dad goes out and looks at the meter once in a while and says the needle travels awfully fast. Walter Small and John came yesterday and took the tank away. John is home for between semester vacation.

Pres. Kennedy was on Dave Garraway’s program this morning. We listened to his State of the Union message yesterday. Did you? The commentators pointed out the striking difference between his message and the one Ike gave recently. The Democrats applauded, but the Republicans say he has painted a picture that isn’t quite true. I will agree with him on his view on physical fitness.

There is a meeting tonight at the Church for members of the finance committee and others to discuss what our church is going to do about the Capital Funds drive. R. Zell came out last night and talked to us about getting the ball rolling for a new parsonage. I found the program for Jan. 1. Here it is in case you still want it.

Have some book work to do, so must get at it.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/15/city-gas/

Far Behind Schedule

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[513 Wright – handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana
January 12, 1961

Dear David:

I haven’t ordered the Bible for Gary yet, because I want to know if he wants his name on the cover. Let me know and if he does, just how he spells his name, etc. It won’t take long to get it and you can take it back with you after semester vacation. The Commentary is $8.75 from Cincinnatti. I think there will be a handling charge in addition.

Mark and Shirley won’t be down the 20^th or 21^st. That is the Saturday Mark has to work. Maybe we can go to Chicago and see Becky while you are home if they can’t come down. All depends on the weather, etc.

We received a letter from John this week. He said he didn’t get my letter suggesting he call home for Christmas until after Christmas and since the last time was so unsatisfactory he didn’t think too much of the idea. He said when it was Christmas morning there, he got to thinking that we were having our Christmas Eve, well this is what he wrote, “As I woke up on Christmas morning here, the thought came to me that it was now Christmas Eve back home, that you all would have finished stuffing yourselves and that you would be sitting around watching television or something, waiting to open the presents. I suppose you had the usual potlatch?” Let’s just hope he can be with us Christmas Eve 1961.

This has been a busy week for me. I had to work for Arvella yesterday. She had to go to a funeral out of town. Daddy has been so busy in the hospital, he has had to miss some office hours. I am going to the office again this AM to help out a little since they are going to be so busy. I didn’t get the shirts to Mrs. Shoaf as usual on Tuesday, so I am going to take them today. That is how far behind schedule I am this week.

If I get time will send you some vitamins today. There are some here at home, but Dad said last night there were some he thought would be better for you at the office, so will send them out this morning.

Let me know if you want me to meet you at Rensselaer.
Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/14/far-behind-schedule/

Sperry Dividends

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright 513 – handwritten by David]
Dr. R. S. Yegerlehner
Physician and Surgeon
Kentland, Indiana
1-4-61

Dear David:

The Sperry dividends came today, so I deposited $3.00 to your account. Don’t forget to add that to your balance.

Nothing much to write about this soon. Dad has been awfully busy since you left. He had to go to Watseka to help on surgery last night. Didn’t get home until after 8 o’clock. He had to go to Geo. Ade this afternoon to assist Dr. Gery. I am at the office now. He just returned from the hospital at about 4:30, so we are rather busy.

Your stock came back with your name corrected. You are supposed to sign some papers and return them. I think you can sign them when you come home again. The stock salesman will be here tomorrow and will tell us. If they are in a hurry, I will send the papers to you to sign and return to the Company.

Are you taking any vitamins? If not let me know and I will send you some. You were complaining about being tired. Maybe it is because you need vitamins.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/13/sperry-dividends/

Christmas Presents

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[to Wright Quad 513 – in David’s handwriting]
Kentland, Indiana
December 12, 1960

Dear David:

Your GM dividend came today, so I banked it for you – – add $2.00 to your account.

I suppose it is cold in Bloomington. The temperature was down to 10 when I first looked at the thermometer, but now has climbed to 20. It seems awfully cold. We had a little snow, but nothing like the areas where storms stuck.

My S.S. class party was held at the parsonage last night. There were 33 present (counting 7 children). We are going to decorate the church Saturday night, then come out here for pie and coffee.

Mark and Shirley came Saturday afternoon and stayed for supper. They went back to Chicago Sat. night, but we had a nice little visit and had a chance to play with Becky. We could see a difference in her since the last time we saw her. I am sending in the roll of film that was still in the camera – we finished the roll after they came Saturday. I dare say Becky is a most photographed baby. Maybe not the most, but she is getting more pictures taken of her than most babies. I was going some Christmas shopping this morning – bought a very pretty pink sweater to give Mrs. Myers – and ear rings to match – and I saw a cute little dress that I just had to buy for Becky. When Mark and Shirley were here they were surprised I think, at the packages that I had wrapped. I have turned your room into Santa’s work shop. Shirley took Becky to your bedroom and when she came back into the kitchen, she said Santa had already been here. Mark went in and started snooping. He wanted to know what was in the big boxes. I bought two end tables and just had Jack leave them in boxes and a high chair for Becky – and it was in a box. I have all those things wrapped in holiday paper. There are several other packages stacked on the larger boxes – to disguise them if possible. Mark said he could remember when he used to snoop around the tree when he was a little boy – he said he didn’t do any of that snooping when I was around.

Three stores had grand openings this past weekend – Murphy’s, Stevens Pharmacy and the new TV story Mailloux.

I tried to buy some record albums from Sears, but Janssen said they didn’t have them in stock – Magic Flute and Madame Butterfly. I think if we could find Butterfly that would be enough – a gift from you to Mark & Shirley. I didn’t think about how expensive they are – about $12.00 each when I started looking for them.

Love Mother

(over)

I will try to find something for them they will like – if not Butterfly. If you have anything else you would rather get for them let me know.

John is OK

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

[to Wright Quad 513 – in David’s handwriting]
12-8-60

Dear David –

Just read your letter. Do you want me to send your jacket? You didn’t specify. I just called the bank and your balance is $0.33. Maybe I had better put some in for you. I will deposit $30.00 this morning. When we ate dinner at the Nu-Joy Sunday Cele gave me a menu they had made the day after election. I was going to send it to you but I am writing this at the office and the menu is out at the house. There were such items as roast rump of elephant, etc. The bags (3) were stolen out of Dad’s car, right by the office last Sat. afternoon. We did not have the kind of insurance to cover the theft. We estimate the loss at around $500.00.

I haven’t finished taking the pictures in the camera but Mark & Shirley are coming Sat. so I will finish the roll. I am as anxious to see Becky as you are. I finished the cap and sent

[page 2] it to her. I have knitted another and also have a sweater started. I dress the doll. I am wrapping Christmas gifts and will wrap the teddy bear if I can find a box to put it in.

I am having the neighbors in for coffee next Thurs. afternoon. Mrs. Fields is having a cookie party this afternoon. She & Rev. Fields are going to entertain my S.S. class Sunday nite at the parsonage.

We received a letter from John. He is OK. I think he just gets too busy to write – or maybe he feels like he doesn’t have anything to write about.

I also clipped an ad from the paper – “an abacus” – I thought if we can find one we would give it with the ad to Mark for Christmas.

Love Mother

Christmas Party Planning

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Kentland – to Wright Quad 513 – in David’s handwriting]
December 1, 1960

Dear David:

Thanks for the schedule – just what I needed. I suppose you will have a few days at home after examinations in January.

My S.S. Class (the girls) came out this afternoon to plan the Christmas party. Mrs. Fields invited us to have the party at the parsonage. I am in favor of that if it meets the pleasure of the rest of the class. Mrs. Fields is having a cookie party next Thursday, so she will have quite a gathering if everybody responds to her invitation. She had a chance to extend the invitation to all my class today. She didn’t bring Mark along, but most of the rest of the crowd brought their children along, so we had quite a meeting. Several of the children – the smaller ones – wanted to get between the tv set and the draperies. I should have shoved the set back a little further against the window, but didn’t think about it being such an inviting spot.

We received a letter from John Monday. He is having trouble with his cook. Says she has been taking things and that he is going to have to get another. He didn’t sound too happy about the whole thing. He had received the pictures we sent of Becky, so he can have some idea about her looks. I am going to send him some more when I get the next roll developed.

I have been rather busy this week. I made statements which took Monday evening, Tuesday evening and Thursday morning. Edna and Arvella helped me get them ready to mail. I didn’t run them on the adding machine (you remember you did that little chore one time), so have no idea how much my mailing list was worth. I told the girls we had to get those statements out this month so we can buy them a Christmas gift. They wanted me to tell them what to get for Dad. I told them I was having the same trouble. I brought Kathy Cheek a Christmas gift today – a charm bracelet. I bought it from LeBeau – a sterling chain with one little charm – the charm is a miniature bicycle.

I need to do some work on the books, so must wind them up.
Love Mother