Tag Archives: friends

July 25, 1939 (Walter)

Tuesday PM.

My dear Ina,

Your two letters came yesterday one enclosing a letter from Mother Dove. Can assure you that they were most welcome.

July 25, 1939 (Walter)

July 25, 1939 (Walter)

Every evening I have taken a walk of about two miles. On Sat. PM about 3 miles & on Sunday PM about the same distance. Gradually I’ve developed a coat of tan and a reduction in the waist line. I haven’t weighed but I’ve lost some weight. Sunday I ate all three meals at home and prepared them myself so you know they were good. Have been eating breakfast at home most every morning lately.

Thurs. & Friday the Ents of the Great Plains meet at St. Paul. We have a survey meeting at the West Hotel on Friday & Sat. Gaddis and Wakeland will be here also about 12 field men. It will be a night mare & especially with Gaddis in a bad mood over anything that is not favorable to plane baiting.

You and I, Shotwell & Mrs. S. & Wakeland & Mrs. W. were invited by Dr. Ruggles to come to their home Friday evening. I explained that you were not here. He said in that case they might invite a young lady in your place.

Dr. & Mrs. Creighton of Gainesville Florida called upon me today & regret that they did not meet you. We are invited to see them at Gainesville.

Am glad you had the car worked on as it needed something. More about your suggestion that I meet you Dallas & drive to Miss. The road between Uvalde & San Antonio is under repair & not so good for the kind of driving you like to do.*

With lots of love

Your
Walter

* I have fond childhood memories of Ina’s driving. She had excellent reflexes even into old age, which was good because she liked to cruise at about 85 mph on the highway.

Separate letter on Frisco Lines stationery:

Dear Lewis,

It is hot here too, and there are some mosquitoes but none at our house. Some mice got into your bag of popcorn and I killed both of them with a broom handle. Judy and Mary asked about you. Polly asked about you, Mother and Walter White and sends her “hello,”

Daddy

July 21, 1939

Friday A.M.
July 21, 1939.

Dear Sweetheart:

Lewis Dunbar is in the back yard building a railroad and Walter White is at Ina Marie’s where he spent last night. They are enjoying the freedom of the wide open spaces immensely. Mama and I have carried them on several picnics. Yesterday afternoon we carried our boys and Ina Marie to the Nueces for supper and a swim. It was the first time they had been in the river since the flood, so I felt that I had to go in and locate any deep holes that might have been left. There were some, but I stood on the edge of them while the children swam to me over the shallow section. As much as I dislike the water, I feel that I should go in with them now while the water is clean. When we first came it was too dirty in most places for them to go.

July 21, 1939

July 21, 1939

Honey, you remember the car was missing some when we arrived in Uvalde. It grew worse, so I asked Papa to take it to Ray Baker, the best mechanic in town. Papa stayed with him while he examined it, and found that the overheating of the motor had done quite a bit of damage; he said we never would have been able to make the return trip with it in that condition. The points were bent, two valves had to be replaced and the others ground. I don’t remember what else had to be done except I had the crippled hose replaced with a new piece. The bill was $18.55*. I gave a check for $33.55 to cover it and to give me cash for $15.00, which I might need. I’m sure this work was not a mistake; I’ve never heard our car run like it did before the work was done.

It had been 7 months since my teeth had been examined, so I went to Dr. Massie and had them cleaned and the small amount of necessary work done. The bill will not be much. He examined Lewis Dunbar’s teeth and said it had been a long time since he had seen as fine a set of teeeth in the mouth of a child his age; they were perfect. I am taking Walter White today; I think the report will be the same on his. Dr. Massie doesn’t make any charge for just an examination.

I hope you are finding time to take your daily walk – and relax. It will pay.

Dr. and Mrs. Donier (recently he has received his Dr’s degree from Ames) have just been informed by Dr. Bishopp that they are to be in California by August 1st to work on gnats with Mr. Lindquist. They don’t seem to relish the idea. They are expecting a little Donier some months from now.

I hope you’re not playing on the Dibbles’ lawn.

Lots of love,
Ina.

* That’s $226.32 in today’s dollars. Apparently the cost of car repair has gone up considerably faster than inflation.

July 19, 1939

Wednesday Afternoon.
July 19, 1939.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Thank you for your letter and the air mail stamps. Often in writing you I have had the uncomfortable feeling that you think the reading of my letters takes up too much of your valuable time. It pleases me greatly to feel now that I was wrong. I shall be delighted to use the postage. The clever grasshopper post card puzzles Lewis Dunbar; he said he didn’t know they had such big grasshoppers. No doubt he has visions of capturing such a one on our return trip.

July 19, 1939

July 19, 1939

We are having a quiet, pleasant visit. We don’t see Reitha a great deal; she has a date almost every night, but not with the same one every time. She has been with Bolivar Black of Del Rio twice. The heat of our first week here almost finished her, she thought. We were entirely wrong in thinking that Thelma Lee had any regrets about her marriage. She is as happy as a bride, and Paul is as happy as she is. He makes $100.00 a month, and they live on it without the help of anyone.

If the survey begins on August 1st, will you be able to make your plans and requests for another year some time in September? I’m so anxious for you to let the Powers know that you are not going through another year like this one has been.

I don’t think I have ever thought of you as often as I have since we have been away this time, Honey. Some of my thoughts are very disturbing, based upon a sudden realization that I had just before we left Minneapolis.

You don’t know how much I love you.

Ina.

[Enclosed letters from Lewis and Walter White.]

Dear Daddy I love you
Lewis

July 18, 1939
220 W Mesquite
Uvalde, Tex

Dear Daddy,
We have had a good time here in Uvalde. We wish you were here. Mother wonders if you could come down here so we can all go to Mother Dove’s. We hope you will do it.

Yours Truly,
Walter D.

July 19, 1939
220 W. Mesquite
Uvalde, Tex.

Dear Daddy,

I have read your letter and I enjoyed it very much. We are using one of the stamps you sent us for this letter.

Your Son
Walter D.

July 18, 1939

707 Thorpe Bldg
Tuesday AM.

My dear Ina & Boys,

Came down about 30 minutes before 9 today & have time for a short letter. Have not heard from you during the past week. Enclosed for your convenience are a few air mail stamps.

July 18, 1939

July 18, 1939

Sunday noon I had dinner with Polly at her boarding place & then we went to a movie near Lake Street. Some kind of an airplane picture. We ate lunch at the Rainbow about a block from the movie & walked to her home. She talked about Wash. but I believe there was nothing especially new. She seems to be feeling much better, looks better and is in a better mental state.

A few times I’ve eaten at home. Most of the time I have been eating all meals down town.

The work is greatly reduced now, except at the office where vouchers & payrolls are heavy. Most of the labor came off duty Saturday. Airplanes still working. Large number of minor flights & one large one in Montana toward the west. It looks as though they are headed for the Rockies. They have done some damage but not as much as we expected. As a whole the flights do not compare with those of last year.

Polly just came by & sends her Hello to all of you.

Shotwell returned from Montana after having about 3 days with Dr. Parker in the flight areas. Next week we expect to hold a conference on the adult survey & get that started about Aug. 1.

More rain here yesterday & I note that Uvalde had a real good one (Leader News sent to Reitha).

Next time I’ll write to Walter White. Is he a good boy? Is Lewis a good boy?

With love
Walter.

July 12, 1939

Wednesday Night.
July 12, 1939.

Dear Sweetheart,

Your letter was here when I returned tonight. I walked home from the office. Have just finished writing checks for milk coupons, Auto Assn. Club dinner, rent, fire & tornado insurance on Owenwood, electric bill, gas bill & for laundry $6.60. Storage & drayage Savannah. Will get the laundry out to you. The only thing from the Olson Rug Co. is a mimeographed sales letter. Will not do anything with them but will await your return.

July 12, 1939

July 12, 1939

The release for Owenwood was recorded & returned OK.

There is no news except that requisitions continue for Minn., Nebraska & numerous diversions come right along. Fires in Black Hills are handicapping loading of sawdust for Nebraska. Hope this clears up some tomorrow. Minor flights reported in Mexicanus area. They are not nearly as serious as last year. This week should complete the major part of baiting out there.

Polly looks just fine & as normal as ever. She thoroughly enjoyed Claudelle & Wash. She has lots to tell me about Wash. & I promised to eat dinner with her at her boarding house next Sunday noon.

Tell W.W. I appreciated his letter very much. When Lewis can write I’ll be glad to hear from him too. I want both of them to be good boys.

With love
Walter

July 10, 1939 (from Ina and Walter White)

200 W. Mesquite
Uvalde, Texas
July 10, 1939

Dearest Sweetheart:

We were so glad to have your letter from Denison and your telegram from Minneapolis today. It seemed like old times for you to be thoughtful about writing and wiring us. You have been on our minds a great deal since you left Saturday. We were afraid that bus ride would be awfully hot. Do you know that the temperature here that day was 112ยบ – the hottest in 20 years? It was the same again yesterday, but I think it was a little cooler today. At least we have had a breeze.

July 10, 1939 (from Ina)

July 10, 1939 (from Ina)

Walter White and Lewis Dunbar have been behaving nicely. Walter White has seemed so much more grown-up since he went to Reagan Wells with you. He hasn’t cried a time since then.

Honey, I’m not giving orders, but may I remind you of three things – the laundry, the due bills, and the letter from the Olson Rug Co.? Please have Mr. King B mail us clothing belonging to Reitha, the boys, and me. Your insurance, the gas, milk, rent, and perhaps other bills are due. You remember I told you about complaining to the Olson Rug Co. about the way the rug in our room behaves. If you will forward their reply to me, I shall appreciate it.

We hope you are not snowed under with work since your brief vacation. Don’t forget the sunshine and walks to the lake.

We love you lots and lots.

Always, your
Ina.

220 W. Mesquite
Uvalde, Tex.
July 10, 1939

Dear Daddy,

We went to Ina Marie’s today. We had a nice time only Ina (Ina Marie) couldn’t come back with us.

Tonight Lewis is going to sleep on the studio couch for the first time this summer.

See if you can manage to get a few days off to go to Mother Dove’s (which I doubt).

We went to Garner park yesterday to go swimming (which I didn’t).

Your Son,
Walter W. Dove

July 10, 1939 (from Walter White)

July 10, 1939 (from Walter White)

May 15, 1938

Sunday PM. May 15th

My Dear Ina & Boys,

Your letters were appreciated very much. I think Lewis Dunbar and Walter White are improving in their letter writing. I am enclosing a sticker for Lew’s automobile (Northwest Airlines). A statement on insurance in Charleston is also enclosed for Mother. It is due June 1.

May 15, 1938

May 15, 1938

These are rush days and nights. Today I listed some expense accounts & I hope to get them in some time this week if the sec’y is not rushed too much with other things. Hoppers are hatching and bait materials are being shipped. The next six or 8 weeks will tell the story of control or no control. Naturally everyone is doing all he can to get them poisoned while they are young and before they leave the hatching beds along the roadsides and edges of the fields.

I am glad that you sent the gifts to Mother Lewis & Mother Dove, also that the boys had one for my wife.

I feel sorry for Gilbert but perhaps it is best after all.

I am enclosing a receipt on the New England payment of $100. I think we can afford to pay another $100 on it now, if you will send it. Seems better to do this than try to reduce Kenmore house now.

Our work is pretty trying but we seem to be ahead of the game this year by shipping some materials early. Also some were shipped in excess last year which helped a great deal. Gaddis was here when I got back but left two days later after the conference with Annand & Packard here.

Tomorrow I am to talk an hour to the University of Minn. students in Entomology on screw worm control. This makes the 3rd time I’ve been called on to do this in universities up here. Iowa, Missouri & Minn. I packed some graphs and haven’t used them yet but plan to take them to Minn. U. tomorrow.

Strong is to receive his doctorate at LSU on May 31 and you and I were invited by Anderson to attend the banquet. I wrote to him of the affair & expressed regret that we could not be present. No doubt Strong and Rohner will come out before long. I look for them when Congress closes its session. It looks as though our G hop funds might be replenished with another million or more before the closing of the session*.

With lots of love to all three of you.

Your
Walter.

A million-dollar appropriation in 1938 would equal about $16 million in today’s money.

March 29, 1938 (Ina)

Tuesday Night
Mar. 29, 1938.

Dearest Sweetheart:

We were glad to have your card and letter and endorsed checks.

I made the deposit yesterday. As soon as I get our bank statement I’ll tell you what our balance is. I’m not sure I have everything on my check stubs. I mailed the Mass. Mutual check for the loan and a check to the Southland Mortgage Co.

March 29, 1938

March 29, 1938

Don’t you love the compliments Messrs. Lawton & Cunningham paid our business ability? Tomorrow I shall send 11 notes to Mr. McAvoy for collection. If he charges the fee that real estate agents charge for collecting rent our “profit” on the sale will be reduced even further. Let’s hope he will be satisfied with the bank account.

Please tell us, did Dorothy Peets marry Albert or the man in Gulfport? We are so anxious to know.

I’m enclosing a card Claudelle wrote Mama & Papa. We have had a letter since then in which she said she was going to ask for leave to come home before we move. I do hope she can. We didn’t go to Uvalde last week-end after all. We found that, although Mama & Papa had moved into the new house the carpenters were still building cabinets etc. We thought we might be in their way. We do intend to go this Friday though.

One evening last week Gilbert came and visited with us. He has been on another visit to Augusta since we last saw him. He is to begin night flying soon. Walter White enjoys his aeronautical conversation.

Your plan for moving sounds good to me except I think I should be here while they are doing most of the packing. You will know the kind of house we will need. I am convinced that it should be much smaller than the one we now are occupying. At Mrs. Schroeder’s one afternoon I met Mr. & Mrs. H.J. Clements of 334 W. 50th St., Minneapolis. They are the elderly couple I was telling you about when you were here. They have been spending their winters in S.A. for several years. They will return to Minn. in May. They have lived there for many years and have children and grand children there. I like them very much. They said they would be glad to be of any service possible to us. Their married son is occupying their home during their absence and the telephone number is Colfax 3622. They live in the Washburn (I believe it is) Park section and said they thought that would be the section we would like. They feel pretty sure that the kind of house we would want would rent for $65 or $70 per month. Is that one of the penalties for living in a cold climate? Of course having Madie with us is going to be expensive but I believe we would have to pay a native more and still we would not be sure of the trustworthiness of a stranger.

Our silver is paid for. I gave the final check the 9th of this month.

The children are feeling fine. The other day while Lewis Dunbar was playing with his toys I heard him say “O dolly, I thought I had this fixed.” I was puzzled at first at the “dolly” until I remembered that little Arthur Johns always pronounces his g’s like d’s.

It is almost ten o’clock and I have some history to study.

We love you, Honey, and hope you sleep good.

Always, your
Ina.

P.S. A Mr. Leary, from some storage Co. that has handled some things for you before, came here to see about moving us. Mr. Townsend had told him to get in touch with us he said. Of course he had not received a request to bid on it but he wanted to be sure to have a checnce. He wanted to know if Mr. Puchett was going to handle the bids. Is he?

Love,
Ina.

March 6, 1938 (Ina)

Sunday Afternoon.
March 6, 1938.

Dearest Sweetheart:

I’m wondering where you are and what you are doing this afternoon. We hope you reached College Station on time and hope your entire trip has been a pleasant one. We enjoyed your visit so very much.

Walter White and Tommie are skating and Lewis Dunbar is beside me on the couch talking a blue streak.

We had a light norther last night which made it cool enough for me to wear my fur coat to church this A.M.

March 6, 1938 (Ina)

March 6, 1938 (Ina)

Yesterday I went to Pincus’ 1/2 price sale again. I just couldn’t resist buying several things for the children – for Walter White a good looking brown suit (coat, vest & 2 prs. long trousers), 1 dark brown pigskin jacket, 1 slip over sweater, 5 long sleeved shirts and 1 pr. outing pajamas (all they had left), everything in 14 yr. size so he can wear them next winter. I realize the unlined leather jacket will be too light for midwinter but it will be good for Fall and Spring. For Lewis Dunbar I bought 2 all wool two piece suits, 1 slip-over sweater and one coat sweater. These are in size 6 and should fit him by Fall. He wears size 5 now. All this is good merchandise and I couldn’t resist it at 1/2 price. The things are stored in your big trunk in the toy room in plenty of dichloricide. You see I had to fill in some of the space left vacant when you took all your clothes away.

The important papers left by you have been placed in our safety deposit box, checks sent to the New England Mutual and the fire insurance agency in Dallas and a request sent to the Massachusetts Mutual for the amount of balance on our loan after dividends have been deducted. The latter probably will be mailed to your office address in Minneapolis as I thought it advisable to notify them of the change of address from 1010 Travis Bldg. Should I mail $29.15 to Investors Syndicate soon? Don’t you think Mr. Kehoe would like it better if you were the one to ask him to make his payments directly to us here? I can mail him the receipted notes as soon as the checks are received. The first one will be due the 17th of this month.

Yesterday afternoon Walter White, Lewis Dunbar, Russell and I spent 2 or 3 hours at Brackenridge Park. Madie was off, you know. This afternoon we plan to take a picnic supper to some place in the country. Yes, we shall return before dark.

Walter White wrote the letter without any help from me. I didn’t even know what he was writing until it was finished.

Polly has lost 6 lbs. since the rush started. She will need a rest when she reaches Minneapolis but no doubt she will find just as much work there as she is having here. She was not complaining at all. She just casually mentioned the loss of weight in connection with the rush. Perhaps the invigorating climate will be refreshing.

Wednesday we are to have our 6 weeks exam in history. I can’t get used to exams. They make me so weak and nervous that I can hardly write, much less think.

Please remember me to Doris. I’m sure she will be glad when Polly arrives.

We hope all goes well with you.

Lots of love,
Ina.

February 16, 1938

My dear Sweetheart,

I am enclosing the annuity contract with a receipt of the Mass. Mutual that monthly payments to July 20 are charged to the loan. The difference between $1500 & $1790.01 equals the $50 monthly payments less interest. Payments made between now and July 20 apply on the principal. I am enclosing a yellow envelope which gives the agent’s address at Savannah (H H Wilson). I think we should send $100 per month and mark the checks Reduction of Loan on A2620.

February 16, 1938

February 16, 1938

The papering is being done at the Dallas house this month and the check from Mr. Chamberlain will be a small one. The check for the 1st payment on the Savannah house was to have been made to you by Mr. George McDonnel so you could deposit it. By this time you have received it, no doubt. I am enclosing the cancellation by Mrs. Nellie Adams which should be kept with our deed in the safety box. Could you replace them in the box also put the Kehoe notes in there for protection.

Enclosed are two old receipts from the Mass Mutual which I had in my bag. Also deposit slips for Lewis Dunbar & Walter White for Nov. 3, 1936. They show the total amounts of the accounts at that time. Please place them in their pass books.

I presume Mr. Townsend sent my check to Minneapolis, West Hotel as I gave this as the address. I have enough money to get to Mpls but for safety I’ll cash a check here on the San Antonio Bank for $50 tomorrow. Am planning to leave tomorrow night for Mpls with Mr. Gaddis. Mr. Andrews will leave about tomorrow too. The authority for 500 thousand to run until July 1 was given today and I started on grasshopper payroll today. Mr. Townsend also started on that payroll today. He and RA will be ready to leave the latter part of this week & will meet Gaddis and me at Salt Lake City. I’ll return by Arizona, N. Mex., get a Studebaker at San Antonio & return to Mpls by College Sta., Texas, Oklahoma A&M & other state colleges en route to Mpls.

Please send a monthly check of $29.15 to Southland Mortgage Col, Gulf States Bldg., Dallas & mark it 3010 Kirmine St. &c.

Will make out expense accounts & income tax at Mpls.

This work is going to be one big rush with shipments of hundreds of cars of poisoned bait into 24 Western states. There are to be about 110 field men & about 10 in the office at Mpls. The season is short for g-hoppers and we are going to be rushed. Think it best to wait until after the rush is over before moving to Mpls. By that time I can tell more about the permanency of that program for me.

Strong will go to the Houston meetings on the 24th & will drive one of the Studebakers from San Antonio.

Claudelle is to be here soon & hope she gets here before I leave tomorrow.

I tried to find the slides showing C.E. larvae in the skin but I am not sure that they are in the dozen boxes of slides I found. Spent about 2 hours looking tonight & will ask Dr. B to send all of them to Dr. K.S.

The Cushings are leaving here Sat. for Texas East meetings at Houston & will see you at San Antonio. I spent 2 nights with them here. Pauline is over her operation & I ate dinner with them Sunday. Dave cooked chicken & dumplings and did a good job of it. I had dinner with the Bishopps one evening.

With lots of love and looking forward to reaching San Antonio.

Your
Walter.

Don’t worry about Evalyn. I have no idea I’ll stop at any places in the Dakotas except Brookings S.D. & Fargo N.D. at the college. I’ll bet she is short & fat like her ma.

W.E.D.