Thursday

Dear Joellen:

The picture of the group as you arrived in Wellesley was very good. All the girls were

carrying overnight cases except you. Where was yours?

We got to the "Paper Inn" again last Sunday. It was another nice day and we took all the

family. I never saw so many people there. Your mother is very busy this week and is going

around in circles. Tuesday was bad & Friday going to be. On top of everything else the little

girls go to a birthday party and your mother one of the hostesses of the dancing club on Friday.

You know what that means - decorations & food.

(the author) wasn't born in Boston, but lives there. From what he says Boston is cold & lots of

snow.

When you get home for your vacation I will borrow the book again.

Well, I must close as we are going downtown to shop, such a bother.

Lots of love

Grandmother

Thursday Feb. 17, 1949

Dear Joellen:

I am writing just a line as I sent a box of brownies. It was a "Duncan Hines" recipe and at

least they won't break. Everything I've tried of his is rich and this was my first time. I can't

practice on Bapa as he thinks he is allergic to chocolate. Everything around here is about as

usual. Bapa had to get help this A.M. as he slipped off the driveway. We have the jeep to

shovel but it drifts after he leaves. Jill often gets lost but seems to know enough to come back

after dark and scratch on the door. Priscilla tells me she cries in the night - because she has to

sleep in the basement. She likes the bedrooms for sleeping and I guess when she is older they

will let her stay upstairs. I am anxious to hear about your week-end, also your marks. Marbeth

gets good ones but if yours are not quite so good I would much prefer them combined with

the children's dresses. She says there are better ones here and that isn't saying much. They had

Hope tell me what he looked like. She may remember him. (Probably a grandson.)

know her etc. Her name is "Malcolm Walton" and I figure she must be a second cousin of Mary

and see if there is such a person. I think they live in some southern state.

Carol Mason and children are visiting here and I guess Judy hasn't changed much from what

I hear. The little boy can think of lots of interesting things to do too. At the age of 3 is far too

Dear Joellen:

I'll have to write and keep you up with the little news there is, as today Gladays has the "flu"

(temp, and aches - sore throat and everything) and I think your mother went to Woman's club.

Victoria had her "flu" start in Detroit and she was very uncomfortable all the way home and

today is in bed. As Bapa told you, I had it last week but I was lucky once. About the second

left an hour after I took the first one. The ten capsules cost $10. They are new and your mother

our car which was standing outside, coated with ice as Harold was inside. They tried to get the

ice from the windows but couldn't so ran back and managed to start their own car. They got as

Samaritans" from 5 St. and went into Ninas to telephone. Mr. N. drove your mother home and

the ice off front & back windows. So your father went on down town with your car and your

mother home with ours. We saw the Thomas girl start to walk to H.S. and I think at the rate

she was going it would take some time. Dinah was trying to dig up something and all four feet

slipped out from under her. They had a re-count on the Woodside & Ferenbach ballots &

St. Petersburg, Fla.

Jan. 24, 1950

Dear Joellen:

thought it took too much time. Anyway we go over about the same thing, going over the Keys

coral and a few shells to the little girls. This resort country is vast (a whole state) and much

more beautiful than I had anticipated. Tonight we go to a "Woman's Club" entertainment that

Marjorie and Pete are dancing in. (This is worse than the one Winston Churchill wrote.) I got a

poor start and couldn't stop. I think Dad & Harry have gone to view some Florida cattle this

A.M.

time for the bedtime story "Walter". I don't know whether it was her way of reading or the story

look them up and tell me how good they were. A woman at the church lighted one at a time and

lectured about them. It was very interesting.

I sit on the porch in the sun in a thin dress in perfect comfort. We like Florida and I hope

Love

Gram

May 7

Dear Joellen:

Thanks so much for the lovely socks and handkerchieves. I shall enjoy using them. My pen

seems to go too fast this A.M. Your parents have just gone to church and we are going over for

dinner. We had that high wind for two days that was quite general over the mid-west. It didn't

do much damage here, tho. Your family lost your back screen & storm door, and the air was

full of dust. The lawns are green at last tho trees are still bare. We will go right into hot

weather.

I guess the Kirskers are really coming up this summer. They are a strenuous family, but

The Nelsons have moved into a ranch house. I imagine it is much smaller as Laura said they

Bapa had "flu" last week. He is out and quite well again. Glen Kraus had it days before he

did and is just getting out. They plan to go fishing as soon as they dare.

A new Doctor has moved here and lives in the Pors Apt. we had. They pay $80 rent and heat

I am glad you had a nice week-end and enclose $5 as you must be broke. Don't you want

some of that allowance?

Lots of love

Dear Joellen: Saturday

I said I was going to have a letter at Wellesley to greet you but it may not get there at that.

You know I never use the airmail. I haven't seen the children this morning but Bapa says they

were out early. They didn't stay long as it is cold - very. Easter won't see many new bonnets

here, I fear. The night you called we were having a snowstorm - maybe an inch and we have

had at least five in the nights since. It melts off each day. Adler Street was full of water and

those ditches running most of the time! The children were just possessed to play in that ice

water & the mud. I am glad it is frozen today.

Caroline Hartel Allen is back from Hot Springs so Debby has a girl to play with again. If

Patty hadn't been gone the Abbotts wouldn't have had the ink incident. I don't think boy

do it.

Mr. Woodside by six votes and he has asked for a re-count.

isn't particularly fast work. I have two finished. I am making Priscilla two more dresses. I

another blue. I brought two ready mades home and neither fitted her at all. I decided my fitting

is better but that isn't saying they are perfect. I think I may make the fifth one. I mean I get the

material now and make it new for school in Sept. I have an idea I want to try out.

dinner. When Dad went over in the evening Gladys and the three girls were playing "old maid"

and having a wonderful time. I am glad you all had such a nice vacation and hope you all reach

your places of residence without troubles. I am anxious to hear about the Washington end of

Dear Joellen:

It is a long time since I wrote but I had flu and got over that, or so I thought, and then had a

bladder infection and had to take sulfa and drink water till I nearly drowned. I am OK now, I

guess. I read in a story the other day that saying "O.K." is very vulgar. Dear me, I never knew

that and I don't believe it for, custom makes lots of things "Oll Korrect" that never were before.

Besides it was started by a former President of the U.S.A., I think.

News - Today we had a snow flurry - enough said! No green grass yet but I think one warm

sunny day would do the trick. I bought a green figured Bemburg sheer today. It is about so so.

teach and at the same time get her degree. She has lots of pupils and plays in churches, and is

the property of others.

many things against going - malaria, and a long trip home alone. There are no roads in that

strange backroad country where you don't know the language, too well. I wouldn't have been

happy at all. Just at first, when I thought you might fly both ways with Ingrid and stay all

summer, I didn't feel quite so worried. But if the plane had to make a forced landing and all

were killed we wouldn't have thought it was worthwhile. You can have a nice trip sometime if

mind. It is only in my mind so far and depends on several things we aren't sure of now but it

Anyway you and I might go to Racine. We have been asked many times.

Now it really is snowing hard.

Must close for this time, so "cheerio."

February 24, 1950

Dear Joellen:

This is a nice cold day, below zero.

Dad wanted me to mention the $40 allowance you have coming. If you want it, write and

give us time to get it to you by mail. You might want to go somewhere tho it wouldn't take you

far.

After we got home, someone at the Livestock Exchange said to Bapa "Why didn't you stay

longer? (5 weeks) and Bapa said "Well, I only took a couple of thousand dollars along so when

that was gone, I came home." It is no joke, 2000 wouldn't last long at a hotel.

in Florida & Monday at card club.

you want to mail a package or buy stamps you can go inside, tho the door was not in sight from

the place the car was parked. You can do lots of things where it is warm all of the time!

Maybe we mentioned the 3200 green benches on the streets. They are always full of people.

read about them and never saw one till now. It is more sturdy and stronger than most wild

flowers here, with a small thick leaf. We saw rows of them that had been planted right by the

rails of the track at the St. Pete station. They looked so clean & sturdy! Anne tried to root

some for me to bring home but I had too much to carry.

To change the subject, Mrs. B. says there is a window peeker in the neighborhood. Her son

We have some nice parsnips buried under two feet of snow. Guess we will have to mine for

Dear Joellen:

Just a line to tell you the little I know about the picture of "grandmother" and the painter.

Your mother says the picture was painted about 1837. I was told that Mark Hanna, a Cleveland

politician, had this artist come to Cleveland from New York to paint miniatures of his father and

mother. At the same time Grandfather Kelley had him paint the portrait and two miniatures of

himself & grandmother. The min. of Gran, is just like the large painting. Aunt Laura Elizabeth

has the two miniatures. I think the same [Samuel] Lovett Waldo painted many large pictures in

State Capitols and I think there is one in New York. I don't remember the name Sammuel, at any

rate the company didn't go out to Cleveland, probably. They probably worked together on those

large murals. Everyone can't paint miniatures so the Waldo that could is the one you want.

Aunt Laura's are worth $2000, much more than the large painting.

family will be able to go East as planned. It will be a nice vacation for you all.

Laura, tho I just realize I didn't send her one. They never stay long, I am told.

I have to go to vote today. (Primary). Election is next week.

Gram

large pictures in that church. Some were very modern & indistinct - and the idea was explained

Marshfield, May 10

Dear Joellen:

Just a line as you are coming so soon and I know you are hard at work. Your family are all

at the lake but return tomorrow. Your Dad, Bruce & Priscilla come in the morning & your

mother is spending the day with Caroline Allen and takes Debby along too. They return

We had a fine Decoration Day and spent it at the farm. The first meal out there this year!

We may have it sold, we don't know yet, so don't say anything about it. We will probably know

Wednesday. We can stay this year and maybe next. We are going to be very bored without it

and will have to find something else for a hobby.

where he was a boy asked everyone who wanted to go to heaven to stand up and all stood but

I am glad you will have company home. I am enclosing $5 again. I want you to be sure to

Love

Don't forget about daylight saving time in Chicago. They have it in Chicago but not here.

Our radio is all an hour earlier because we don't change. I don't think this state has it. Anyway

your trains arrive & leave on Cent. Standard Time. Chicago eats earlier but you go to

Time and I think the clocks in the station stay as always too.

Dear Joellen:

I know your mother wrote you Sunday but my letter won't start until Wednesday so they

won't be too close. Your mother caught a nice cold from a good friend who entertained them

when she was getting one. Mrs. Paul Doege got one the same day - same place. Paul said to her

"Why didn't you turn around and come home when you found what you were getting into?"

Good advice! If only that doesn't go through the family.

Sunday we all drove up to Spencer to see the little car they make there and driving around

later they passed a new little Ford. I can see that there is a possibility that we may have a third

car. We surely need it at times.

very tired. Be sure you have at least ten dollars that you can't possibly need to carry along. If

the older generation.

come till late April or May. She will go down in May. They live in the Cambridge section.

wrote his parents that he thought he would buy a car. They wrote back that if he had too much

money they would send him less - no car!

I must close and go over to your house to see how your mother is. It is just a head cold, I

Thursday

Dear Joellen:

I thought I would write you a note in place of a Christmas card.

Bruce came home today and is bringing our gifts so I am sending Dora's and also some bibs

that Dora made and sent to Kris.

I read something the other day about the man at the head of the air force of the U.S.A. and

that is he has a teenage daughter named Kristin.

I also want to thank you for sending all those dresses for me to try on. The red one is a

Hope we may be seeing you soon.

flute.

Saturday

Dear Joellen:

overshoes. His back is bothering a lot and the Dr. told him to keep warm. The weather is the

coldest on record here for Nov. 1-2-3.

Your mother, Carrie and the children are in Chicago and we finished the skirts because they

Your mother missed the dance but Mac couldn't go either so your Dad & Victoria went

together (last night).

front or back. Good day to stay at home. I am having Bruce and your father in for dinner

Our anniversary at the library was a great success. So many people sent flowers & Mr.

Hefko sent the four librarians corsages. We showed the microfilm of the early newspapers in

thing to me was an exhibit like one on display in the New York Public Library for a month. It

merits. Strange as it may seem we found a list of them & had enough for a good display. Miss

Millard bought a few more. One was hand blocked from cuttings from linoleum. You must see

that one when you come home. If I ever have to take gifts to the Kerskers, I think I'll take them

from that list. We had children's only in that exhibit. I am sure it wasn't appreciated as to most

Saturday, March 8

Dear Joellen:

Today we have a nice snowstorm. Feb. wasn't so bad, lots of sun for a change. On Sunday

your Dad wanted to get miles on his car so took us to Powers Bluff. It was a nice day and there

were so many people there! I had no idea the place was so nice. Someone told me they went

out on Sunday and couldn't find a place to park, so had to leave. We were in luck as a man

moved out just as we came and we got his place. They will have to make more space for

parking somewhere. The wooded park is so nice I would hate to see them cut any trees.

I enclose some darling pictures of shoes. You must try to get some!

Mrs. Woodside is from Tenn. and told me she was leaving immediately after the play to visit

there. I see her at D.A.R. and like her so much.

Bapa has had a cold for about two weeks and now is staying home and taking aureomycin.

He stays down part of the time and sits and writes and works on his books some of the time.

Frederick Upham has moved to Idaho. He does something in the conservation dept. Letty's

so Grace is going to be all alone in that big house. They want her to sell it but she says she

Gram

I enclose a little green paper that perhaps you can use. I am trying to make my letters worth the

parents read all the letters. "A hint to the wise is sufficient."

Mrs. W. D. Wheeler

May 13, 1952

Dear Joellen:

You see I am making good use of my birthday gift. It is very nice - thank you.

It is a glorious day here today. I wish you could see our Park-Avenue Park. It is such a

beautiful fresh bright green - trees & grass and so much of it. We passed it yesterday when the

sun was shining and it was startling.

expensive flies. They have dozens & dozens.

I heard the other day that you had a job in Wausau! I told my informant that I didn't think

job till you have it. They said teach and I said I didn't think you were interested in teaching. I

Valley where I knew the paper mills had Librarians and I thought they might need women for

other posts. I have a Library Bulletin that mentions several. Their only interest was libraries

but there are probably others, as I see the place where you applied has three librarians on their

staff. I'll keep that bulletin for you to see. Better get a list from the woman you talked to of

Very foolish I call it!! You remember that evening after the wedding she slept all evening on

the porch in all that noise.

don't write us as we see your letters. It won't be long before you are home. Are you driving or

Mrs. W. D. Wheeler

Dear Joellen:

At one place in the state today we have temp 80 humidity 70. So you see we have warm

weather at last. Bapa and a friend & me and Jim went to Fremont to fish. For a few days they

can fish instead of talking about it all of the time. Incidentally they will connect the fountain

and clean the floor. A place like that is a lot of work.

Your parents are looking forward to another weekend out of town. Their guests arrive

help us drive. I just looked at the calendar and there is a week left in June after you are back.

Ellen Roddis came home for the funeral of Aunt Frances - she brought one child with her.

Has anyone told you that your father filled the low lots next door? It looks so much better.

We are having Fourth Street paved to the tune of $400,000. We won't use the street any

more for a year. I don't know what the people along the street will do. Glad I don't live on it. I

am reading "A South American Speaks." I think the author is very smart. I wonder if he is a

Spaniard? He made a very strange statement - in the chapter "Meaning of Democracy." I'll

Lots of love

Gram

I am enclosing $5 bill in envelope - enough for a telephone call.

Sunday

Dear Joellen:

Bapa is doing his busy work so thought I would write to you. Today your mother, Victoria,

Bruce, Mike & Phil have gone up to the cottage. You will get a report later. They stay one

night (last) and get back this eve. Your cottage is the one they chose to stay in, as you do have a

wood stove.

Your family had dinner at MacCormicks and Carrie came to get them (girls) this P.M.