April 1958 - Mrs Louie White

On the Envelope:

Mrs. Louie E. White

Natoma Kans

No Such Number (check mark)

Mr and Mrs Archie Wineland

1414 Holden

Seattle 6 Wash

Letter:

Apr 29, 58

Dear Archie and Mable,

Guess I’ll write a little Iv forgot if I wrote last or not. Iv got so I forget so bad.  some things I can remember all right then others I forget But guess others do the same I have some sad news to write But maybe someone else has all ready told you Poor Aunt Mattie was laid away yesterday Pm. It was such a shock for us as she had kept her ailment so careful that we shouldn’t know it she did write Uncle Geo But he was to keep quiet about it so others wouldn’t hear she had cancer of the breast and kept spreading It had been going for years They had went to Texas a time or two But it seemed to just be on trips we supposed to be pleasure trips then here came a death message. Thursday (writing in pencil) It just seems as tho it cant be possible Poor Bob he looked so bad and then for him. The old Lot is filling for a long time your mother laid there alone then, grandmother & Uncle Louie grandfather Aunt Violet, Now- and Aunt Nettie and Aunt Mattie and my place is waiting for me, and likely wont be a very long wait. So its filling up pretty fast the past few years Uncle Wm and Aunt Katie didn’t get to come perhaps you knew that. Have you got to see them yet Elaine isn’t very far from you Is she? Iv not felt too good the last 3 or 4 days was on the bed part of Sun and of course yesterday was hard on me and today Iv been on the bed a good part of the day again hope I can feel better and get at something again. Gladys didn’t get to come to the funeral yesterday they bought a home in Waldo and live there now they want to see the farm Bryan is in Hosp. Again went Thurs I believe Twice he’s been there since last fall. Guess Ill go to bed and finish in the m. (back to pen) Sat m Well here its Sat and this isn’t on the way yet.  We are getting soaked this m and believe it rained a good part of the night or commenad partly early this m and been coming pretty steady this forenoon you have never written for a long time Do you ever plan to come back to see your native state any more It looks a little lighter maybe it isn’t raining so heavy.

Guess this all for this  time, Have a letter started to Philo and G so I should try and get it read for the mail box too.

Write when you can

Your Natoma Aunt  

August 1 (1959) - Unknown

Saturday

August 1

Dear Shirley and all,

I haven’t run on to any work as yet. Boeing lost a contract of some sort, I have no idea what. They haven’t been doing any hiring since.

Things haven’t been the same since you, Chris & Lynn eft. It is kind of quiet.

Lynn & Chris will be pretty big, compared to the time they left, when I see them again.

Learn a lot of the German language so you can teach it to me when you g back.

I haven’t been home much any of the last week and a half. I have only watched a few TV programs in that time. I met a kid, Dave Holtzclaw from White Center and weve been together every since. He and his fokls are real nice, we get along fine. Dave is as much a screwball as I am.

I put my HiFi on that 3 legged whatchamacallit beside the bed.

I’ve taken up reading as a pastime now. In the last 2 weeks I’ve read 10 pocket size books. I’ve read 4 assorted and 6 by Rex Stut. (the ones with Nero Wolfe in it)

My car became immobile last Tuesday. Tuesday and Wed. it was down because of a broken starter. Every thing is ship shape now.

Better sign off now, getting tired.

Love always,

(looks like) Jollad

(signed)

Note:  Believe this to have been written in 1959.

July 18, 1959 - Diane George

July 18, 1959

Dear Shirley & Family,

I’ve been thinking about what I would write all day. Now that I’ve started, I don’t know what to say. Frist I’ll ask how your trip was. I hope you didn’t have a hard time with the kids.

Your mother said, you were lucky to get to go. I’m so happy you got to go.

If you have time, would you write and tell me about your house. Your mother didn’t ay much about it, but she said was interesting to read about in your letter. She said you have great, big keys, and double windows. How does Chris like it in Germany, and the baby? I bet he is glad to see his daddy.

You know our puppy. Well his ears are trying to stand up. Right now the left ear is up and his right ear is still down, like when you saw him. We got him his cod-liver oil to make his ears stand up. Boy, does he love it. He takes it from a spoon, just like a baby. Enough about my dog.

I don’t know Myron but say hello to him for me. I hope I will meet him some time.

Mamma and your mother had a Tupper party today. They sold about $20 worth. They said it was not much but they learned from it.

I sure miss you Shirley but I know you like I better in Germany with Myron.

As you can tell I am an awful letter-writter, so be patient with me till I can brush up on my spelling and English. Write when you can.

Your Friend

Diane George

PS I don’t know if you have our address so here it is:

------

Seattle 16 Wash

This letter is not very long but I’ll improve with time.

August 4, 1959 - Darlene & Bob

August 4, 1959

Dear Shirley, Myron & kiddies –

Gee it was so nice to get your letter – I would have answered sooner but we had had company from Calif., for a week. A couple we met in Texas. Myron knows him, his name is Jonnie Worley. We really had a great time but I was so tired from chasing and lack of sleep I couldn’t hardly move. Bob was & still is on vacation & we are really enjoying it all we can. Ronnie & Bob went down & watched the hydro-planes try out today & you can well imagine how Ronnie liked that. The weather hasn’t been too nice this weektho so it kind of limits us as to what we can do.

Tomorrow we plan to put the 3^rd coat of paint on our house (which I have) & it sure looks nice now. I just love to paint.

Oh yes, I am going to play golf Thurs & that is a real joke as I don’t even know how to hold the club – but Bob insists I go – so if he wants to baby sit who am I to argue.

You remember Joy DuCharme don’t you? Well she had  baby girl last week, don’t know what kind of a mother she will make but who knows she may be better than me!!

Gee your trip just sounded so nice & what an experience for you. I’m so glad you like it so well, but even if it were a hole it would be wonderful just to be with your hubby & family. I don’t doubt but what Myron does love that little girl she is so sweet & Chris is just a regular little man.

Ain’t you surprised that I don’t have a list a mile long of all the things I need from Germany? I’ll wont until you have time to settle & for me to get some money (that is another joke). Only one little thought if you ever run into Channel #5 price it for me & maybe I can save my pennies!

Well, butter get to bed now & try to catch up on a little sleep but I will be writing again.

Take good care of yourselves & write when you have time.

Love,

Darlene, Bob

Kathie & Ronnie

Please understand....

I just wanted everyone to see what I'm going through to get these letters posted. This is a copy of one of the letters I've already posted. I file them in a "acid free" plastic sheet. Each letter posted is filed in a binder. Eventually the binder(s) will be labeled and dated by each person sending the letters.

Over the last week, I have been going through boxes of photos, letters, documents, etc., that my great great grandmother, great grandmother and grandmother felt needed keeping. In all of these papers, I'm going through to see if they need to be noted for genealogy purposes. It's overwhelming at times.

Crazy me, had "piles" of stuff for each set of family members. One pile for each of my mother's uncles, one pile for the True family, etc. The box that I set aside for my brothers and myself seem to grow. At times I want to just burn them, and I would never know what I missed, but I tend to be the "keeper" of the family.

So, that pile you see all over the floor was cleaned up, put into bigger piles for each family member we plan to return photos and documents to.

Trust me, this is not all I have.

This is a photo of the letters I found in the 2 shipping boxes you see at the top of the photo. You can take those letters and multiply them at least 4 times, and you can get a good idea of what I'm going through. I have more letters and my parents tend to tell me they have even more at their house.

So, please be patient with me, as more letters will be copied and posted. It takes a lot of time to copy the letters, and as I do, I keep them in a thumb drive. My brother has offered to help me with the letters, and I may just take him up on it.

In the meantime.....more letters to come......

1980 - Becker (family friend)

Mrs. Irene Becker

7515 – 15^th Ave SW

Seattle WA 98106

Air Mail

Dearest Mable,

I’ll bet you by now wonder if I remember where you are – I am so sorry. I have had two letters come back – Hope this one reaches you.

Mable we are leaving Seattle the end of June -  the girls & I will be living in Painesville Ohio. George will be working in N. York this summer – But at least we’ll see him weekends, this every two mths of seeing each other does not work – Is very hard on the girls.

Did Elsie write and tell you Mary Ellen is going to have a baby – We were very upset at first. But somehow time heals – the baby is due the end of August. She s going to keep the baby, and has been able to continue her school year – So at least she will not be missing school. Or I should say her 10^th yr. Mable. I felt so bad But have gotten over it now the one that really helped me through all of this is Betty – I really love that woman – they have told me I am like there family.  Diane cryed as hard as I did, Gee she is a wonderful Girl.

Jim is still giving Elsie a bad time. He can be so mean at times. I guess a person should really understand those things. He has failed so much. I think his problem is liking to stay in Bed.

Mable, where would you like me to Store your things that you had me keep. Gee I wish you were here, you better come to see me when you get home. You know Mable your house sure isn’t the way you left it. I’ll put a bug in your ear. I do not believe the party who you having takeing care of things ever comes to check. I know Elsie doesn’t want to admit this.

Rain, Rain –I sure would like to see it go away – Very Depressing –

I just got back from Boston I spent ten days with George, Gee we had such a wonderful time: we plan to do this more often. Time slips by to fast. We’ve been seventeen years Sure seem impossible. Please excuse all my spelling I try to write too fast. When will you be coming home from Japan?  Mable – thank you so much for everything you gave us for Christmas. I thanked you before, But those letters came back. Sorry I didn’t get you anything – Please let me know what you need – panti hose or anything I will get them from the Ban before I leave.

George’s mother & Dad will be having there 50^th wedding anni. The 22^nd of June – So we plan to move around that time.

Mable, I misplaced all those books you sent me on China, But you use your own Judgement, Something plain would be nice. All white or maybe something trimmed in Gold. I also would like a tea set with cake plate’s – something very dainty – No Blue. I have a 16 piece setting of Blue anian. If you can find the good Danhue Coffee mugs, they cost $2.00 a piece here – very expensive – I would like ten of those. If they think it will take longer then a month of come to the states. Please send them to the address that I will put at the Bottom of the paper – I feel guilty asking for all of these things and never doing a thing for you. Is there something I can do for you.

Bozzali’s are about the same still on there high horse, half the time these yard is so full of Junk, you wouldn’t believe it. Have they ever put there pail on the fence? Noisy me

How is all the taylor Family? Hope fine tell them all hi. Will they be going back east, when he is out of the Air Force – my Oldest Brother will retire the end of this month – my mother & Dad are real well – mom is Drawing her – Social Sec now – I’ll close now – think of you very often – I was going to write to you from Boston & send you a card – I forgot your address at home – Mable – I will deposit money in the bank – One day this week – will send you deposit slip then – Love as Ever Irene & family

I have to tell you what Bette Lou said today – I wish Grandma Wineland was here – then we would have someone to visit.

Other address to send the China and other to if not possible to reach me by the Frist of June – or Last of May is.

Next day – address on small paper

July 11, 1940 - Ernest Birge

SEYMOUR MANUFACTURING Company
Seymour, Indiana

July 11, 1940

Mrs. Sarah A. Johnson

1506 Y Ave.,

LaGrande, Oregon

Dear Mrs. Johnson:

I thank you very much for your letter of July 7^th enclosing to me your pictures. You may not feel younger than your age but you certainly look quite a few years younger. I am very much pleased to have the pictures and can see in them something of a family resemblance to an aunt who lived with me for a number of years.

I was very much pleased several days ago to have a visit from your nephew, Charles B. Birge, who lives in Bonnville, Missouri. He was traveling through this part of the State and stopped off to see me. I found him a very pleasant gentlemen and should like to have the pleasure of knowing him better.

Last week I took three or four days off and ran up to our summer camp in Michigan to celebrate my fortieth wedding anniversary. Not all of our family could be with us however we had a very pleasant time. I would like to be able to spend most of the summer in northern Michigan as it manages to get so hot here.

I will be very glad to have you write me again whenever you feel inclided to do o. I am always glad to hear from you.

Very sincerely,

(signed: Ernest N. Birge)

ENB:VS