Tag Archives: Ruth M. Myers

Diamond Lil

1 Reply

December 9, 1962 envelope

December 9, 1962, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland, December 9-62

Dear David

You will never know just how much I have enjoyed the Mae West book. I was thrilled when I saw it, and it has made a dull and otherwise boring week and one filled with laughs and remembering of old times. You know, she is only four years younger than I, and I remember so well those different plays and characters she writes about, especially during the twenties and thirties. I just adore it, and I thank you more than I can say. You really did something for me.

I fully intended to get to work on my Christmas cards, but my hands are so stiff and painful I find it almost impossible to do so. I will try to do a few at a time if I can.

Business is at a very low ebb of course, as always at this time of year. It is very cold tonight and has been snowing and blowing all day, but there is not much staying on the ground. The weather report tonight said there was eight inches in northern Indiana. Harold is going to Gary in the morning to attend what he calls a tax school for three days. He is planning to drive home each night but maybe he will change his mind. There seems to be new tax laws with which he has to get acquainted for his accounting work.

I have not seen your mother since you were home. I have read and watched TV until I am bleary eyed, since I have not felt like exerting myself otherwise. I’m sorry to hear you have been losing sleep. That is no good for a hard working youngster. I wish I could help you.

Good night and don’t work too hard

Love
Grandma

I saw her in Diamond Lil

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/08/19/diamond-lil/

Senator Landgrebe

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November 15, 1962 envelope

November 15, 1962, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland, November 15, 62

David Dear

How I thank you for the book you sent me. I read it through that day, and now I am gong over it again more slowly. It is indeed helpful and I seem to gradually begin to have a better understanding of some things which have troubled me concerning the Bible. The more I read along these lines, the deeper my faith becomes.

For some reason I feel very low spirited today. I have been heartsick, actually, about Nixon and all that has happened since the election. Like you, I have that helpless feeling and it is hard for me to concede that a dear old belief and way of life is being discredited. I simply could not believe that Capehart had lost, and I don’t like the smart aleck young Democrat who has displaced him.

The day before election day Landgrebe and his son came in to call on me. He was going to Rotary that evening, and I believe he was to speak at the dinner. He certainly is your friend and admirer. I don’t believe he had any idea at the time that Capehart would not be elected. I told him what you were considering, and he said he was delighted.

I don’t even like to watch anything on the ABC channel since that disgraceful broadcast, and on Veteran’s Day at that. Well, words fail me.

Jim Wagoner came home from the wonderful job at Thule Air Base in Greenland, and Shirley (the maid) wanted some time off to be with him, and she was to come back to work yesterday. But on Tues. Jim called up and said she was sick and I don’t know when she will be back. You never know what they will do. I got Helen Hillis to take me in her car to Watseka yesterday to Dr. Wood the podiatrist. Shirley has been taking me in Harold’s car.

We had ten men together in a pheasant hunting party the other night. They were from Indianapolis. There is news this morning that Red Bruck (B & B Store) had a lung removed at Mayo’s yesterday.

I watch the papers for clippings which might be of interest to you, but this has been one period I simply didn’t have the heart. Thank you again dear for the book.

Anymore dates?
Love,
Grandma

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/08/18/senator-landgrebe/

College Students at the Hotel

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October 31, 1962 envelope

October 31, 1962, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland, Oct. 31^st

David Dear

At long last I have my old trusty typewriter back again, without which I am out of communication. It got a complete overhauling and it seems it took a long time. Big deal.

Your mother was in for a few minutes this morning, and she tells me that your date with Chris came off as you wished, and that makes me happy for you. She said you would be home this coming weekend, so maybe you will have time to tell me about her.

The way things look now, it could be we will all be here for a while longer, I hope. I saw your picture in the paper, and clipped it to send you. If you did not pose for this you could have, it looks so much like you. Your mother brought Becky in to see me, which didn’t seem to interest Becky in the least as you can imagine. She said they were in Chicago Sunday and the new baby is big and beautiful. You know what I was thinking? You just save that name “Julie” for the future, for that lovely day when you will have a Julie of your very own.

We have been having lots of college students at the hotel. A couple weeks ago we had a bus load of girls, 35 in fact, from St. Mary’s of the Woods. We have them every Fall and Spring. They are brought here to attend something they call a “mixer” at St. Joseph in Rennselaer. We are going to have another group this coming Saturday night for another one. Last weekend we had 25 boys and girls from University of Cincinnati who were out on a field trip through Indiana. Their geology Prof. Richard Durrell brought them here. He comes here frequently to look after farm interests of his own. He gave a lecture to them that night in the lobby. It was too technical to understand for me. They were going to invade the Newton County Stone Quarry the next morning.

There was a picture at the Kent theatre I wish we could have seen “That Touch of Mink.” I enjoyed Roz’s story in the Post. I also read the “Fail-Safe” which is causing so much discussion. Blood curdling. Last night I read a piece in Reader’s Digest taken from Nixon’s book, the story of his part in the Alger Hiss case.

Bye for now
Love
Grandma

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/08/17/college-students-at-the-hotel/

Broken Typewriter

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

Kentland Oct. 24

David –

Thanks for your letters & contents. I started to write some letters yesterday & my typewriter stopped so now Boyd Neher had it for repair & I will have to wait till he returns it. I can’t hold a pen long. Your mother & Becky were in to see me this a.m. They are going to Chicago Sunday. Nobody talks or thinks of anything except “The Crisis.” Will write

Grandma

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/08/16/broken-typewriter/

Jackie and Carolyn Dolls

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October 11, 1962 envelope

Letter transcription:

October 11, 1962, p. 1

Kentland, Oct. 11, 62

David Dear

At long last I thank you for your two good letters and enclosures. I, too, feel sorry about Goldwater’s statements. I happened to catch him on a film in a late news cast while the Miss trouble was going on, and heard him say that he thought Gov. of Miss had every right to do what he did, although he did not approve of his actions and was sorry he had done it. He did not even look like he did on film a couple of years ago. I still have your book by Goldwater, and have been going through it again.

I am enclosing the clipping on Jackie, and share your feelings exactly. I sometimes think she is not really very bright. I heard on the Tonight show last night, there is a Jackie and Carolyn doll coming out for Christmas, and the two dolls and their complete wardrobe cost $400. I wonder if it was a gag?

A week ago tonight I saw a TV program Alcoa Premier and it was a baseball story, shown at this time on account of the World Series I suppose, and it starred Jimmy Stewart as an old worn out player, who sponsored and coached a young chap who of course went on to become a star and win a World Series. Jimmy turned in his usual flawless performance.

I have been ailing, really kinda bad this time. I have had a spell of acute pain and disability with arthritis and my lameness. For the first time in five years I was not able to do for myself. I almost decided to go to the hospital, but then Nettie Fitzgerald came and stayed with me during the day for several days, until I was able to be around again. The medication has made me listless and dreamy like, although it has taken the edge off my misery and helped me sleep.

I have heard nothing from your mother, and I too, am anxious to know about the new baby when SHE arrives. I hope it will be Julie.

Your description of the tasks before you sounds like you have too much. I don’t see how you can do it all, but I know of course that you will. I wish you had time to take one of your wonderful books and sit in the woods under the beautiful trees and read for a whole day. Yesterday I went to Watseka to have my feet taken care of, and enjoyed the little drive. We are having real Indian Summer, and I love it. I like warm weather, and would like to go where it is always warm.

Hope you enjoy the football game, and whatever else you can find time to do that isn’t work. I enjoy your letters and appreciate your writing when you are so busy.

Love
Ruth

[Disclaimer: The views of Ruth Myers are not necessarily my own. My task as a historian is to present documents in their true and unedited form.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/08/15/jackie-and-carolyn-dolls/

Birthday Greetings to a Grand Person

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September 19, 1962 envelope

: Card exterior

: Card interior

: September 19, 1962 envelope

© 2016 copyright owned Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/08/14/birthday-greetings-to-a-grand-person/

Bing & Bob

1 Reply

July 27, 1962 envelope

Letter transcription:

July 27, 1962, p. 1

Kentland, July 27, 62
8 PM Friday

Dear David

I enjoyed your nice newsy letter. I have had a rather busy week as Harold has been away. He and his family last Sunday drove up into Wisconsin to join Dr. & Mrs. Logan at their cottage, and will return Sunday.

Your comments about the Road to Hong Kong took be back twenty or more years. You know Bob & Bing made a series of “Road” pictures away back when, and we didn’t miss a one. An early one, I think, the Road to Zanzibar, had an incident I have never forgotten. A black tribe of some sort had captured Bing & Bob, and had a huge kettle boiling over a fire, and the boys stood petrified, and one of the tribe turned to Bob and said “Don’t worry, we won’t cook you today, we are going to put you in the deep freeze for the Fall festival, but we are going to serve him (Bing) on our blue plate special tomorrow.” And of course they were forever chasing Dorothy Lamour.

I haven’t read Around the World with Auntie Mame, and would like to. You could bring it with you when you come home. That article about Maurice Chevalier was in a magazine that a guest gave me to read, and he took it away with him. It was one of those movie magazines, but I don’t remember what one.

You know, if Kennedy keeps up his present rating, I don’t believe he will get a second term. I hear nothing but critical comment about him. Of course not from Harold, but he has quit bragging about him.

I’m glad you are having an opportunity to read your Interpreter’s Bible, and make use of it in your work also. I think that’s wonderful. It surely would be absorbing reading.

No doubt it is cool enough to suit you. The Lafayette paper this evening said that it was 48 there this morning at sic o’clock. I know I had to arise and close my window in the night, and get another blanket.

I am wondering if you went on your trip to Tell City. Somebody is knocking on my door, and I think I have a caller, so will say by for now. Don’t work too hard

Love
Grandma

[Disclaimer: The views of Ruth Myers are not necessarily my own. My task as a historian is to present documents in their true and unedited form.]

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/08/13/bing-bob/

Your Daddy Says Not So

1 Reply

July 17, 1962 envelope

July 17, 1962, p. 1

Letter transcription:

Kentland, July 17

David Dear

Your Grammaw has not willfully neglected writing to you, but last week’s heat together with the terrific humidity brought on a bad case of stupidity, also a slight attack of asthma to which I have recently been subject, making breathing, and exertion, difficult. At first I thought I was having a heart attack, but your daddy says not so, it is a mild asthma. I have always enjoyed hot weather, when others were uncomfortable, I felt fine, and I still love the hot summer time, but last week was a rough combination. Today, for a change, it is quite cool with a brilliant sun.

I do so enjoy hearing about all your work and other activities. Geography was always one of my great burdens in school. I always just barely passed, and sometimes not even that. I simply cannot locate other countries. To this day, I cannot tell you in what direction from here a given country is located. Way back in grade school, I used to get an F in geography. F meant “Fair,” but I would get an E plus (excellent) in reading, spelling and grammar, and once in a while a G (good in history) but always an F in geography and sometimes a scolding about it. I don’t believe I would have even got the F except for my efforts in other subjects.

I am so glad that good books are coming out in paperbacks although the few times I am in the drug store, which is the only place I know of in Kentland to buy them, I never seem to find anything worthwhile. I am so glad you are going to finish your set of the Interpreter’s. They are so wonderful.

I just finished reading an article in the July Red Book “The Nixon Family Under Fire Again.” I am almost sorry he is going to place himself in position to suffer the ignominy of another defeat. He doesn’t deserve it, and I just cannot see why some people feel as they do about him.

I also read an article in July McCall’s about William Holden, you remember “Father O’Banion” in Satan Never Sleeps. The reason I mention it, it said that he is strongly Conservative Republican. Now I admire him more than ever. If I were young enough, like Joyce, I’d gladly wear a Goldwater sweatshirt.

Your Chevalier record reminds me of another article I read last week, which was about him. Imagine, he is 72 and still has everything. It seem incredible that he could be my age. Still dancing and singing, and still the gay dog.

I miss Ike too, even Harry. Ike is going to be in Indiana I think it is this week. I wish I could see him.

Your trip to Tell City sounds like fun, and I think you have

July 17, 1962, p. 2

[page 2] a “break” coming. It sounds to me as if you are working hard, and then being a soda jerk also, yet. No doubt you are as anxious as I am as to what they are going to do today with “Medicare.” Phooey! The senate finance committee disposed of the withholding tax on dividends and I read where Kennedy had brought all his powers to bear on it, and left nothing undone to try to get it through, but how thankful I am he failed.

I must close so this will go in the afternoon mail, and get busy with a bite of dinner, or I won’t be though by 5:30. I have not seen your mother but once since she was in the hospital. She stopped in for a minute one morning, and said she was going to Lafayette for therapy. I do hope it is all worth while and that she will be more comfortable.

Lovingly,
Grandma Ruth

[Disclaimer: The views of Ruth Myers are not necessarily my own. My task as a historian is to present documents in their true and unedited form.]

State Convention

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May 10, 1962 envelope

Letter transcription:

May 10, 1962, p. 1

Kentland, May 10, 62

Dear David

Thank you for your two good letters since I have written you. You do indeed have a busy week, and today you are going your observation and taking a test. I hope the weather is better there for your ROTC parades than it is here. It has been rainy all week, and quite cold. Right now we are having a cold rain, with a lot of thunder.

I haven’t seen your mother, but I presume they went to Bloomington on May 2^nd. You didn’t mention it. I thought of you all that day, and hoped you were together.

I have the Post with the Nixon article, and started to read it last night, but had callers so will finish it sometime today. I read the book condensation that ran for several months in Reader’s Digest of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. I was glad I read it, for a lot of things I had not realized, or had forgotten.

I now understand how you can enjoy seeing a movie more than once, because I am sure I could see Pocketful of Miracles again with great enjoyment.

Your colored church dinner must have been quite an experience and no doubt delicious. In the old days when we had the dining room operating in the hotel at Mattoon, there was an elderly colored woman in charge of the kitchen and the food she turned out was wonderful, at least it seems so to me now, and I don’t think it is entirely nostalgia.

I pray that nothing interferes with your attending the State Convention. That would be just tragic. You just must go.

We are having a good week of business for a change, in fact the last two weeks have been better. But for goodness sake, look at where AT & T is today. The stock market started to fall and has fallen steadily ever since Kennedy and the steel affair. He scared business to death and it won’t recover in a hurry. I mean big business. I hope he’s satisfied. I would hate to have to sell at the present price. Still he wants to withhold 20 percent of the dividends.

May 10, 1962, p. 2

I read a lot in the papers about your new President, Mr. Stahr. From his history he should be qualified. I am enclosing some clippings from the Trib.

Yesterday I went to Watseka to Dr. Wood to have my feet taken care of. He is the only podiatrist closer than Lafayette. Our maid drove me in Harold’s car. Marie brought me an armload of lilac from her yard, and they are so fragrant and lovely, a real breath of spring.

Now please don’t work too hard, and I will be anxious to know how your tests came out, and how you survived your busy week.

By for now
Grandma Ruth

[Disclaimer: The views of Ruth Myers are not necessarily my own. My task as a historian is to present documents in their true and unedited form.]

Future Republican President

1 Reply

April 5, 1962 envelope

Letter transcription:

April 5, 1962, p. 1

Kentland
April 5, 1962

Dear David

Thank you so very much for your letter and the campus newspapers. I am taking my time and shall read them thoroughly. My, what publication, and daily, at that. I’m sorry you are not going to show “King of Kings” as I remember the old silent movie of many years ago, and it has always remained with me.

I am delighted to hear about you’re a on your government test. Ah youth – how wonderful to be able to accomplish so many worthwhile things. I have not been feeling well recently, and last week I was in the office and while Arvella was doing a blood test for me, we decided that a certain young man of whom we are both very fond, would very likely, twenty years from now, be our smart young Republican present of the U.S. Or, if that is expecting too much, we would settle for having him be governor of Indiana. How about keeping that in mind. I would not expect to be here to see it, but it could very easily come to pass.

Yes, I remember Faye Emerson when she used to be on I’ve Got A Secret. She always impressed me as being a person of great elegance. I remember one time she lost one of her very high heels on stage. She proceeded with the utmost aplomb to remove both her pumps, and carry on from there in her stocking feet.

It’s fine that you are elected chairman of the council for next year, and I am sure there couldn’t be a more competent one and that you will do fine things. No, your mother and I do not compare your letters. I think we are both to glad to get them to have any thought other than appreciation. I know I am telling you no secret when I say that your mother is quite a little proud of you.

I watch the Tribune for anything worthy of sending you, but it is all in such a negative vein that I dislike to read some of it, and of course you are familiar with it all anyway.

I am glad your snow lasted only the day in Bloomington. A year ago it was April 16 when we had the terrific snow storm here that blocked traffic for two days. The grass is only starting to green here, quite late. My fingers are quite stiff and painful, so I make mistakes, but I intend to keep at it. Bye for now, and thanks again.

Ruth M.