Tag Archives: guns

November 30, 1943

Dear Mother,

We are getting along fine & having a wonderful time (wish you would stay there longer – you need the vacation). Daddy has broken a record – he went to the show twice in one year (extravagant, isn’t it?)

November 30, 1943

November 30, 1943

Yesterday the temperature was 29º (above zero) and today it is exactly 32º (freezing) but it hasn’t showed yet.

Speaking of snow, I’ve called all over town trying to find a store that has some toboggans. The nearest I’ve found to a toboggan are some skis at the Sport Center (I didn’t buy them, I just located them).

Lewis got his report card yesterday. He got O.P. (outstanding progress) on everything but arithmetic & writing in which he got S.P. (satisfactory progress).

We got out of school Thursday & Friday in addition to Sat. & Sun.

Thursday we went to Claudelle’s & ate & ate & ate.

We had chicken, dressing, cranberry sauce, creamed celery, sweet potatoes, & pumpkin pie.

B.M. has a regular arsenal at his house. He has a .410 double barrel shotgun, a 12 gauge automatic shotgun (5 shots), a 17 shot automatic .22, and an old flintlock squirrel gun which I think belonged to his grandfather.

I have memorized the Morse code & hope to pass 2nd class signaling soon. Our patrol is about 60 points ahead of the next highest patrol in the patrol contest. The troop will have a supper for the winning patrol at the end of the contest (about Jan. 1). The patrol with the least amount of points goes on K.P. & the rest of the troop (except the winning patrol) foots the bill. We don’t want to peel potatoes or foot the bill so we have to win.

I am enclosing a letter to Ina Marie.

Your eldest offspring,
Walter Dove

May 5, 1938 (from Walter White* Dove)

533 West Magnolia
May 5, 1938

Dear Daddy

We are going to Uvalde Saturday and I think we are going to the river.

If so, I will cast some. I know how to cast pretty good.

And maybe, if papa will come I may be able to shoot my thirty-two.

May 5, 1938 (Walter White)

May 5, 1938 (Walter White)

* In case anyone reaches this post through a Google search and is confused, this is a letter sent by a little boy named Walter W. Dove to his father, Walter E. Dove, in 1938. Neither had anything to do with the characters in Breaking Bad.

October 9, 1925

Friday Night.

My Dear Little Girl,

Have worked hard all day toward closing up work and getting things together for the trip. It looks as though it will be Monday before I get started. It will take that long. As there will be no one here in the house I am getting things so that they can be stored. Also some material I’ll send to Washington and get that out of the say. Today I used all of my animals and there will be none to leave with the neighbors for attention.

October 9, 1925

October 9, 1925

You are a good shot to have killed the snake by shooting it through the head. They have rattle snakes down here so I am told, but I have never seen one. It might be a good idea to keep in practice with your shooting. If you had the revolver in the pocket of your car Sweetheart, and also had it loaded, it might be handy when you need it the next time. Really, no kidding, you should have it there for protection when you are driving. I often read and hear of cases in which a negro jumps on the running board. I wouldn’t have you frightened that way for anything in the world, and I’d feel better if I knew that you had some protection in case such a thing should happen to you.*

With a real sweet goodnight and with all my love, your,

Walter.

* Yes, these letters were written in the early 20th century, and I’m not editing them. Walter’s and Ina’s opinions are their own, and were a product of the times and places they lived in.