Martha transcribed all the letters with their unique spelling, punctuation, and grammar — or lack thereof — so they are immortalized here as originally written.
Nevis, Minn 217
June 1, 1933
Thursday
Dear James,
School time again and the last day I guess. We've had 3 lovely warm days. Yesterday I got in a big day. I did a large washing and ironed half of it and in the evening we set out 3 more rows of cabbage plants, and mowed a little more of the lawn. There are a lot of dandelions but I dig out those that are blossoming every morning and the grass always looks nice.
Ruth's cold is much better and John and I are all right except that John has a tooth that needs to be filled. It aches every little while. I have Ruth's dress nearly done. The potatoes are starting to break the ground.
How did your case end? You surely put in some long hours. Are the boys at camp now? When does school close there? Would you like to have us all come down and go to the family reunion together or would you rather have us bring you up here? There isn't any more news now. We'll write you all about the picnic tomorrow.
Love to you from us all, Martha
Mpls., Minn 218
June 1, 1933
Thursday
Dear Martha and Children,
Well folks, during the day I have jotted down the things I wanted to write to you about. First I want you youngsters to know that I am mighty proud of the way you are improving in your writing and spelling, just keep up the good work. Second, mamma, there is 1/2 acre in the garden patch. Third, did the hollyhocks along the house come on again or is it some others you have? Fourth, I have earned a little over $58.00 for our June 12th check which I think is good. I am glad you got me the shirt.
Oh say there was no extra charge for the license so that saves us something. You had better have them put on right away as the time is about up on the old ones. Did you get the new inner tube yet? I am glad you got a new pair of oxfords. How are the children's shoes?
And now some news that is not so good, they are pulling 8 runs off of Selby about June 15th and Emerson went 100% one-man this morning so I am still going down the list. We will be layed off oftener now with 16 more men on our list.
I am going to St. Paul soon to see what the chances are for getting a Federal loan enough bigger than the one we have so we can get started with the building, for I think this job is almost done.
Well folks I must close and take this down and mail it so you will get it tomorrow. Lots of love to you all and I hope I'll see you soon. Daddy
Nevis, Minn 219
June 3, 1933
Saturday
Dear James,
Well we're trying to get to bed. This is one of those nights when you can't hurry the children and I am dead tired. I guess I haven't written as often as I should but there seems so little to write about and I am quite busy.
Assorted vintage seed packets
We have 240 tomato plants set out and 100 cabbages. The weather was cool and rainy when I set them out so the plants will get a good start. This morning we didn't get up until almost 8. It was rainy and cool and we were sleepy. I drove down after the milk since it was raining, then we had breakfast of shredded wheat, toast and coffee and then went out to get wood. John got down some nice dry pieces and I split enough for 2 days. Then we dug out the dry split wood that was piled way back and filled that place with heavy chunks and piled the other in the front rack. There is plenty of room for all the garden tools and they have been kept under cover except for the wheelbarrow. Then we made beds and washed dishes and decided to finish planting the garden so we drove over to Brian Sells and got some pop-corn and another bu. of potatoes. He charged me 25 cents for the potatoes and she gave me the pop-corn to plant as much as I wanted and return the rest.
Then we came home and had dinner, boiled potatoes, fried eggs, biscuits and jam and candy. Then we went to the garden and planted the last row of cabbage 5 rows of pop-corn and 13 rows of potatoes. So the garden is all in now. It is awfully weedy at the lower end and will have to be hoed. By the way how do you sharpen a hoe? We had fresh onions and radishes for supper, also fried potatoes, boiled rice and biscuits. We finished planting the cucumbers, melons and squash last night. Then Mitzi noticed that Jenson's horses had gotten into the oat field and she chased them out. She is so proud when she does something and we praise her for it. Last night we left her in the house and when we were all asleep she crawled into bed with John, right next to him. She pushed him clear to the edge of the bed and when he woke up he thought he was next to the wall as usual and couldn't figure out how he could be hanging over the edge at the same time.
The roses are beginning to bloom and many other wild flowers. We like the little flower book so much. Ruth is learning a lot from the Girl Scout Book. Can we keep that a while longer? The raspberries are loaded with blossoms. We should get some fruit if we have plenty of rain.
We had the school picnic in Rood's pasture by Stony Lake, there was potato salad, sandwiches, pickles, ice cream and cake. The children ran races and played a few games, and the rest of us sat around and talked. John rolled up his overalls and waded around the shore looking for shells and water-lily leaves. Ruth waded a little while and stayed with the other girls.
"The Farmer" came this week. It explains all about the new Mortgage Bill and how it will help the farmers. I wish you could afford to give up streetcarring and live here but with times so uncertain I believe you had better keep on as long as you can but we'll be together this winter.
Nearly everyone puts up ice around here so we can get it done very cheaply. We are going to try fishing in the river. I hope you'll try it again and have better luck.
What do you really think we had better do about the family reunion? The children would like to see all their relatives and we'd like to have you come here and just loaf. We should decide soon.
I'll be falling asleep over the paper if I don't stop soon. Good nite Daddy dear, keep well and be as contented as possible.
Lots of love from us all, Martha
Mpls., Minn 220
June 4, 1933
Sunday
My dear Martha and Children
Well here its Sunday again say but don't the weeks roll by. I am well and hope you are the same. Tell Ruth that I am sorry she did not feel good. I got in a good night's rest last night it was the first one I have had for a week. I have an afternoon run on Franklin today, and will try to double again. I have done that twice in the last ten days.
It has been terribly hot here in the last few days. The radio man said it was 80 degrees at 8:30 this morning and its hotter now. I took a shower before going to work yesterday and when I got thru last night I had sweat my coat thru till its not dry yet this morning. About the reunion, I will leave that to you. I would like to have you go and I would like to go up to the farm with you too, but I am going to have to put in all the time I can for things don't look so good. But maybe we are "more scared than hurt". Anyway I want you to drive down before long and I will try to find a place with furnished rooms where we can all stay while you are here and that way I won't have to lose any time.
I hope I get a long letter from you tomorrow for its lonesome without you and the children.
(Later)
I am on the line now and have 15 minutes lay-over on one end each time so I will finish this and mail it. I did not get a package Sat. maybe it will come tomorrow. I am short on towels and collars. Well I must close.
Love to you all from Daddy. Keep on writing often.
Mpls., Minn 221
June 5, 1933
Monday
My Dear Martha Ruth and John
Front view of a Minneapolis streetcar
Photo courtesy Minnesota Streetcar Museum - Click for larger image
This will be a company letter again. Oh but it is hot here. Yesterday I almost cooked. I only got one run and it was so hot I was glad of it. I am marked off today but I am at the Station now and Gil says there are 3 runs open so I am sure to work, and I am first up for a run tomorrow so that will be a day run. Say folks I am sure proud of Mitzi. I don't think we could have got a nicer pup, and if you praise her each time she does something good she will remember it and know what to do next time. I would like to have seen her push John over in his bed. I bet he was surprised.
How are you getting along with the cultivator? Does the ground still work as nice as it did when we planted the stuff? Tell me how high the different things are as I like to know how its growing.
Jack and I sit around every day and wish we could be with our families, its so much nicer than in the dirty noisy city. Don't forget to send the bank card as I got the 2nd notice about the life insurance today and June 12th is the last day to pay it.
Say, John and Ruth, I wish we could fix you a shower bath and I think I can when I come, for they are sure fun. I take one often at the Station for they furnish towels, soap and everything. Are there any birds' nest around the house that you know about? Do you ever see the little chickadees? How about the little squirrel under the well platform? do you still see her. I am sending you a little book on wild flowers that I bought and 3 story books. I think John will like the one about White Beaver. Say folks you are going to have a time to answering all my questions. I could not find anything about rustic furniture at the branch library but maybe they have something at the Main one. I inquired about the book "Track's End" at Dayton's and in Powers. It will cost $1.75 new so I will keep looking in the second hand store a while longer.
The soap I am sending was 10 bars for 15 cents. I kept 2 so if its no good let me know. It seemed to be all right for me except its soft and won't go so far.
Well I hope I get a nice long letter from each of you tomorrow so by by and lots of love, Daddy
