Tag Archives: Wright Quadrangle

Clean Up Kentland

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
March 4, 1962

Dear David:

I was glad to read the last paragraph of your last letter. If you had one date, you can surely have another.

We are still having some wintry weather. I talked to Mark this morning – Shirley and Becky have been sick, but I think they are both better now – and he said it was snowing in Chicago. It rained a little here today. We still have snow on the ground and ice on our driveway. I was just thinking today, if you had been home, we probably would have insisted that you try to chop some of the ice off the driveway, but since you aren’t here, it will just have to stay, after all these weeks, until the sun can melt it off.

I attended Bible Study class tonight – the last in this series, because next Sunday, Sunday Evening Lenten Services will begin. I attended a reception for the Charles Morgans – their Golden Wedding anniversary – at the church. I think all their family was present, except Bill Starks and his family and since they live in Minneapolis I suppose it was too far to come.

Yesterday afternoon I took Mrs. Myers with me to the hospital just to get her out of the hotel for an afternoon. After I had checked stock we came back to Kentland and I brought her out here. We visited and enjoyed a soda, then at about 4:15 I took her back home. She seemed to enjoy getting away from the hotel for a little while. As she says, the view isn’t very interesting from the lobby.

Sharon Stonecipher is to be married Tuesday evening. An invitation to the wedding bulletin this morning. They will be married on the Morgan’s wedding anniversary date – also Harold and France’s wedding date.

Dad spent last night in the hospital. He didn’t get home until about one o’clock this afternoon and just had a call to go back. He is taking care of the emergency duty for Dr. Kresler this evening. He said there was an accident case he took care of – he was there on a baby case – last night. Three men who had been drinking had an accident and all of them had a broken bone or two. He put casts on two of the, but the third one may have to have surgery. He was pretty tired this afternoon, so while I attended the reception, he slept.

Have you had a chance to look at a financial section lately – International S. closed at 37 Friday. Dad says, “let us sell,” but I don’t want to sell that one. It pays such good dividends. Your National Homes enjoyed a brief upswing, but the last time I looked at it, it was down again, but I think without a doubt, it will go up during the building season.

I put $100 in the bank for you Friday. I received your bank balance and you didn’t need any just now, but I thought I would put it there for when you will need it.

We received a letter from Lea this week. She wanted some pills, but didn’t say anything about when they would be coming over. Mark and Shirley and Becky plan to come down next week-end. They had originally planned to come this week-end, but Mark had to work on Sat.

Dad has finished three sets of shelves for me and is working on a set over the new washing machine. Since he had to go to the hospital Saturday night, he didn’t get [to] do any work on it as he had planned.

We are trying to figure out the changes we plan to make on the office this spring. Since we have to do some repairing, like a new linoleum in the waiting room, we decided to make the waiting room larger and also the room where Edna works. I don’t look forward to the mess we will be in during the repair period, but it should be worth the effort when it is finished.

– Monday morning – snowing lightly and the temperature is a little below 20, so we are still going to have some winter weather. I think everyone around here is getting tired of winter weather. I certainly will be glad to see the grass again, even if it does mean getting it cut.

I am working on a committee to “Clean Up Kentland.” We haven’t done much yet but talk, but hope to have a clean up drive in April, with all organizations in town helping. We are going to try and get people not to throw things down, but put waste paper in the trash cans stationed around over town. I hope we can accomplish something. I am tired of looking at all the trash we have on our streets and side walks.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/10/04/clean-up-kentland/

Musical Advice

3 Replies

Letter transcription:

February 26, 1962

Dear David:

I’ll try to answer some of your questions, but you must understand that I am not the ultimate authority in matters of this sort. (1) I remember reading some reviews of Walter’s last recordings of the Beethoven symphonies (two or three years ago) to the effect that the interpretations were rather too mellow and leisurely for Beethoven. Walter, who died recently, was of course a very old man when he made these recordings and that, it was implied in the review, had something to do with it. I’m sure Toscanini’s recordings have more snap and vigor. He seemed to be able to extract everything there was in a piece of music and get it out where people could hear it, and his sense of what you might call dramatic pacing was wonderful. The trouble with the Toscanini recordings is of course that because of their dates they are acoustically obsolete. But if you don’t have Hi-fi equipment anyway I suppose that doesn’t make too much difference. If you are really interested in records, you can often read reviews of recent recordings in such magazines as the New Yorker, the Sat. Review, The Atlantic, Harper’s, etc. (I wouldn’t trust the recording reviews in Time and Newsweek.) Of course reviewers often don’t agree among themselves not only when it’s a matter of records, but in all other fields of the arts as well. So it comes down to the fact that you have to choose what you like. (2) I’ve noticed a tendency on the part of the RCA Victor people to spread the music as thin as possible. Whereas some other recording company may put a symphony or a concerto on one side of a record, for some reason it takes RCA two sides. (It’s not because the other companies are cutting the music or playing it faster or anything like that). (3) Aaron Copland is O.K. You may find some of his things pretty rough going if you’re not accustomed to modern music, but I think you would like some of his ballet music: Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Billy the Kid, El Salon Mexico. As far as modern music is concerned, I think you should try to get used to it; it is immensely enjoyable after you get to know it. The trick is just to listen to a piece of music enough times so that it begins to sound familiar. This may take 10 or 15 times, but in the end it will be worth it. Start with the Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps) by Igor Stravinsky. Stravinsky has probably conducted it himself on records (I forget whether RCA or Columbia). Le Sacre incidentally is hardly “modern” music, since it was composed about 50 years ago, but to many people it would still sound rather queer. If you will pardon my putting it this way, I think Orff is orfull – boring, trivial, and repetitions. As for Saint-Saens: if all of his music just vanished from the world tomorrow, I don’t think anybody would notice much, and even fewer people would care.

The Tewa and Hopi still live close together. That’s a rather complicated situation, and I must say, the way your sociology book has of describing it sounds rather amateurish. If you have to take a social science, why mess around with sociology. Take anthropology.

If you have any further questions on music or records, I will try to answer them. For a start in “modern” music, try Stravinsky, Bartok, Hindemeth (sp?), Berg, Webbern, Schoenberg. You should actually work up to these with Ravel and Debussy.

John

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/10/03/musical-advice/

John Glenn

2 Replies

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]
Kentland, Indiana
2-27-62

Dear David:

I just finished a letter to John. Packed a box which I mailed to him yesterday with a few little items like tooth paste, brush, etc.

I have been watching the proceedings on TV about John Glenn. Last Tuesday down town looked deserted. The stores said they didn’t have many customers, so many people were home watching TV. I watched the parade in Cap C. last Friday and the one in Washington yesterday. I was very well impressed with Glenn’s appearance before the joint session yesterday.

We are still having winter weather. Had a blizzard Friday which piled more snow on our driveway. That driveway still has ice and snow from weeks ago. I will be glad to see spring. We saw Nancy Holley Sunday while we were having a snack at the Nu-Joy. We had bridge club Sunday night at Battons, but I was having an infection in my left ear and didn’t feel like doing any cooking Sunday, so we went to the Nu-Joy for a sandwich at noon. I spent the afternoon in bed, not that I was particularly ill, but not feeling top notch, and wanted to be ready to go to the party Sunday night. I attended Bible Study class from 7 to 8 before going to the party.

We attended a meeting of the Cancer Society at the home of Mrs. Bob Yochem last night. Dad is on the board and I was asked out of courtesy. I took my knitting along and got a lot done on Becky’s coat. I didn’t sit in on the meeting, but Mrs. Yochem said she didn’t want me to have to sit home alone.

I have a very cute picture of Becky. We took several when they were here Feb. 4. I liked it so well I had an 8×10 made and put it in the office. When I get another copy made of the small one, I will send you one. They plan to come for this week-end, so will get some more. I had the batteries in the flash attachment changed, so got some very good pictures the last time.

Did you take the examination for advanced ROTC yet? You haven’t mentioned it. I was thinking you would have taken it by this time. Since you got such a good grade (Mark said that was better than he ever made in military) you will probably pass.

Dad is going to install an inner com. system from our bedroom to the front door, so we won’t have to go to the door at night. We may have a station in the kitchen also, but to begin with it will be from bedroom to front door.

Just had a telephone call which lasted too long so must cut this so I can get to town, and pick up the mail.

Love Mother

Additional Links:

John Glenn orbited the earth on February 20, 1962. For NASA’s biography of Glenn, click here.
For an example of one of the newspaper spreads about Glenn, read this excerpt from the Los Angeles Times here.
In the local news, read about the efforts of the Newton County Cancer Society in the spring of 1962. Part 1 and Part 2.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/10/02/john-glenn/

Golden Anniversary

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]

Kentland, Indiana
February 19, 1962

Dear David: In your last letter you mentioned having a sore throat, but that you were taking some antibiotic. I hope you were able to get rid of it. I heard there was a lot of Flu in Bloomington. Sara told me that one day the temperature got up into the 70’s, but fell drastically the next. We are still having all kinds of winter weather. The Statons celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary yesterday and when I was ready to go we were having a freezing drizzle. I waited a while, but it wasn’t much better. The reception was held in the Pythion building. In spite of the weather, there was a large crowd.

Yesterday there were several accidents near Kentland. Dad was in the hospital all morning taking care of patients from the accidents. Last night there was another one and since I had intended to go to the hospital to check stock this morning, I went along last night. The roads were slick. The highways are in terrible condition from all the ice and snow we have had this winter. 16 is one continuous series of holes. I hope the highway dept. gets busy in our area as soon as possible.

The Jr. MYF is going to have a chili supper Saturday night (tournament time) to raise some money. I gave Mary Dye the chili receipt I had saved from the last MYF supper. Mary is going to be in charge of the supper. There are only 12 members in that MYF group.

I went to the church last night to a Bible study class. Several weeks ago Rev. Fields started a class and used The Unfolding Drama of the Bible. We had finished that one last week. He said if the class wanted to continue he was willing. At first there was a large group – 35 or more, but it has dwindled down to about 1/5 of that. There was 7 present last night besides Rev. Fields. We are not using a book now, but following an outline made by our teacher. A few people have learned that we have a good Bible teacher. Of course, a lot of our congregation aren’t interested.

We watched a program on TV last week that we thought very interesting. Mrs. Kennedy gave a tour of the White House. I do think they are doing a fine thing in trying to restore pieces that were in the White House years ago. Mrs. Kennedy has a committee working on the project and if they are only in the WH four years, her committee should be able to accomplish a lot. She told one thing which I thought had been a good idea – they got a law passed that thinks cannot be sold from the WH, as has been done in the past. So many of the pieces they are reclaiming now, which they think should belong to the WH were sold by different past presidents.

Dad got the shelves built in the work area and our bedroom. He still has to build shelves over the new washing machine and a cabinet around it. He thought he should get the lawn mower ready to roll, so worked on that Saturday night. He will be rolling the lawn at the first opportunity. Geo. V. asked me recently what kind of tree I would like to have. He is getting himself some magnolia trees, so I think I will tell him to bring one to us.

Let me know when to put $ in the bank for you. Did you know your National Homes has gone up. It had a bid last Friday of $10.50, which makes your stock worth $100 more than you paid for it. I don’t think you should sell just yet. Wait and give it a chance to climb some more. The new bucket shop is in operation. Dad visited it last Thursday. We haven’t been able to buy anything this year – that is on the market, since we bought 50 shares of bank stock. I think we are going to pick up a note at the bank for an individual here in town, so that will take all our ready cash in the near future. We will also need some money to do the remodeling on the office, as soon as weather permits.

Love Mother

Jeptha B. and Eva J. (Stockledger) Staton celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on February 21, 1962. Read the newspaper article here.

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/10/01/golden-anniversary/

New Washing Machine

1 Reply

Letter transcription:

[Wright 533 – handwritten by David]

Dear David:

First, John’s address is
Dr. John Yegerlehner
FKIP
Djalan Semarang
Malang (Djatim)
Indonesia

Second, you may order the two volumes and I will put the $15.00 in addition to the $130 tomorrow (bank is closed today for Lincoln’s birthday).

I am listening to our new washing machine which was installed last Saturday. It seems to make a lot of noise, but I suppose I will get used to it. This is just the fourth load of clothes I have washed. Since it is a combination, it has a lot of cycles to go thru before the clothes are ready to take out. One of the items being washed now is the white table cloth which you put on the MYF alter. I had noticed it was pretty dirty, so after the Bible study class last night, I took it off and brought it home.

I attended a hospital auxiliary committee meeting at the hospital today. It started with a luncheon at 12:30 and it was almost 3 o’clock when I returned home. While there I visited a few minutes with Mrs. Donaldson. Her baby stillborn. She is getting along very well and seemed quite adjusted to the situation. I took her a little gift and she had received so many flowers. Our S.S. class decided to give them some money since the expenses of a funeral is something not very many young people have included in a budget. She said everyone had been so nice to them and said so many people had brought food (to the house, of course) they had to deep freeze some of it. She was sewing on Kleenex holders, so was doing what she could to keep herself occupied.

Dad finished shelves on the west wall and the east wall of the family room. He is now planning how he is going to build a cabinet around the washing machine. Also he is going to build in a tier of shelves in our bedroom. After those projects I can’t think of anything else I want built in, but it should be getting about time for him to be getting the lawnmower ready for spring. He is going to have one big job when he starts on this lawn, since he quit cutting too soon last fall.

A bunch of letters from Doubleday & Company, inc. came to you from Los Angeles. Since it isn’t first class mail I opened one and it is an (so it says) an important message to friends and supporters of Richard M. Nixon. – well I will enclose one. I just took a second glance and find it is a book selling campaign. I think it isn’t included in your budget and you wouldn’t have time to read it anyway.

Have you done anything about looking for summer work. You have not mentioned anything in your letters.

The medical meeting is at the Nu-Joy this Wednesday. By the way, I sent that card to Mr. Halleck after the last meeting and I received a letter from him acknowledging my card, so cards are read by politicians. He assured me he is not in favor of the bill I wrote about (King-Anderson).

It is getting to be time for me to go to the office, so must get this ready to mail.

Love Mother

©2016 copyright owned and transcribed by Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2016/09/30/new-washing-machine/

No Mon, No Fun, Your Son

1 Reply

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.

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

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

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