Tag Archives: travel

June 1929

We’re in another gap in the letters, as Walter and Ina are together again. He returned to Dallas with his Sc.D. from Johns Hopkins, and the two of them left immediately for his new assignment in Alaska. Walter investigated a parasitic fly that was laying its eggs in the hides of reindeer, sickening the animals and riddling their skins with holes. After working out the insect’s life cycle, Walter recommended a series of control measures that would prevent the problem. I believe someone in the family still has a chair upholstered in fly-damaged reindeer hide, a souvenir from this trip.

Ina was pregnant with their first child as they journeyed up the Nome River in an open boat.

June 1929

May 9, 1929

Thurs. A.M.

My Dear Ina,

Have had breakfast. Will stop in Baltimore before going to Washington. Due there 9:05 AM but we are about 1 hr late. Trip has been fine except that you were not along. Meals have been very good. Raining at St. Louis, cool here.

May 9, 1929

Since we go through Balto., I’ll stop, see how the cucumbers hang, and if advisable to remain there I’ll phone B at his home about supper time. It may be best to get the written before going to Wash. Have been studying quite a bit en route. Smoking car has not been (hic) crowded and it is OK for study.

We witnessed an accident in Indiana yesterday PM. This train hit a Studebaker sedan at a crossing and killed a man and wife almost instantly, wife breathed about 5 min. We were there for three hours, hence our delay.

Tell Claudelle we passed Riley’s “Old Swimmin Hole” yesterday. It’s on a crick and looks like any other nice old swimming hole. The poem is given on the menu. A photo also.

With love to both of you and with promise of another letter after I see Cort[?], I am

Your Old Man

Notes on inner envelope:

Next Friday – Written.
May 21 – 4PM – Oral.
To Wash. this PM & return Sunday. Helm. Soc. meeting Sat. Nite honor Dr. Cobb 70th birthday.

I believe these were exams for Walter’s PhD at Johns Hopkins University.

July 18, 1927

Monday 6:30 PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

The letter came as usual this morning and as usual I enjoyed it very much. Also had a letter from the Disbursing office, but no check. The bond was returned for a signature. The first one did not require it. So I mailed it in again and I believe the check will come this time. Borrowed 50 from Mr. Laake and I expect to leave Wednesday morning if my goats are OK tomorrow. Am getting one species going on each of three goats. Cultures from single individuals. Have one today and I believe I’ll get the other two tomorrow.

July 18, 1927

Had the freight transferred to a storage house this morning. The total cost of storage and drayage to where we will live will be 5.00 if less than a month from today. The railroad Co (Cotton Belt) had me charged with about 7.50 storage in the freight depot, but I managed to have them deduct the charges. Told them that I had given several days work to the Cotton Belt last Spring in an exhibit car and that I felt it was worth something to them. If they insisted on storage charges I would pay them but that I would remember it. Got by OK.

Tomorrow I hope to get Carl’s check. It had not come in today. He pays the middle of the month.

I am bringing something for Mother Lewis and also Thelma Lee & Reitha. These are from both of us and I hope you will approve of what I selected.

I love you Dear with all my heart and pretty soon I’ll see you. Am mighty anxious for the month & 4 days has seemed like ages.

Always your
Walter.

July 16, 1927

Sat. P.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Your letter always comes every morning and I look forward to it. I have a wonderful little wife.

I did not attend to the freight today. Will have it transferred to storage Monday. Hope to have the expense check and also Carl’s check Monday. Will have the Willys Knight people to tighten up all bolts on the car, change the oil and tighten the clutch & brakes. Think it best to do this before I start for Uvalde. Bishopp suggested that I do some work at several places en route. Thinks I ought to spend 3 or 4 days in going down. In this way I can charge 7¢ per mile both ways which means practically $60 mileage. I think it is a good idea. Had thought of charging RR fare but would prefer 7¢ per mile.

July 16, 1927

A few weeks ago I suggested to Bish that we needed to put the goat work on a quantitative basis. He poured cold water on the idea. Today I told him my plan for working out a quantitative basis and it went over with him OK. It took a long time for the application to the problem to soak in. He thought it was OK. He plans to leave the 22nd but told me today that he doubted if he would get away before the 25th.

I’ll leave here about Wednesday, if the check comes in Monday. Might get away Tues A.M. but I have quite a bit to do on the animals. I’ll probalby spend three days in coming so that I can charge mileage with a clear conscience. This would put me in Uvalde Friday PM some time. Will phone you from Hondo.

I am getting mighty anxious to see my little girl and I’ll be there as soon as possible. I love you with all my heart.

Always,

Your,
Walter.

July 7, 1927

The Lab. 8:30 PM.

My Dear Little Girl,

Guess this one will reach you about one day late. I have been driving to the Young Street Station every night and in that way I believe they leave town at 10 PM. Tonight I worked on the car until just a few minutes ago, so I cannot drive down town. I have the blue part repainted and tomorrow PM I expect to go over the black portions. It does not make a perfectly smooth job but it will be much better than it was.

July 7, 1927

Bish left for Minard this evening. Don’t know why but Mr. Roberts has been doing some work out there. They have one pretty hot prospect for their home, but Mrs. B said she kept putting them off another day and had not yet decided. In one letter to Wash Bish said he would try to get there by the 18th. Tomorrow will be the 8th. It will take five days to drive it. He should leave the 13th which will be next Wednesday. I do not believe that the car will be ready so that I could drive to Uvalde this week end, and I believe it would be a good idea for me to come after he leaves, provided of course he does not wait too long. I am getting pretty anxious to see my Sweetheart and I am coming just as soon as I can. Perhaps my media supplies will be here before the middle of next week so that I can bring some tubes for cultures.

I love you Dear with all my heart,

Your
Walter

June 6, 1927

Western Union telegram:

DALLAS TEX 1216P JUNE 6 1927

MISS CLAUDELLE LEWIS

CARE BOY SCOUT OFFICE UVALDE TEX

ARRIVED LAST NIGHT HAD GOOD TRIP BOTH FEELING FINE

INA

110P

June 6, 1927

This is what social network updates used to look like, kids.

June 3, 1927 (Ina to Claudelle)

St. James, MO
Friday night.
June 3, 1927.

Dear Claudelle:

We are having a splendid trip – no trouble of any kind. The roads are fine. We passed through St. Louis at noon today. We decided not to go by Little Rock on account of another rise in the Mississippi. Instead, we are going through Oklahoma. So don’t worry about the floods affecting us. We are far from them now, and will be all the way. We are in the mountains now.

June 3, 1927 (Ina to Claudelle)

Lots of love to all of you. Will write again soon.

Waler & Ina.

January 3, 1926 (Ina to her family)

Stationery from the Hotel Metropole, Waco, TX.

Waco, Texas, Jan. 3 1926.

Dearest Mama and All:

Before leaving this morning we want to assure you that we are still “upon this earth” and as happy as larks. We have thought and talked of you all lots but remembered that you would not expect to hear from us until we arrived in Dallas.

January 3, 1926 (Ina to her family)

We have had a wonderful trip and lots of fun – will write details later – and are looking forward to getting home (Dallas). We left New Orleans on the Sunset Limited Friday P.M. at 12:10 and arrived in San Antonio at 4:30 A.M. (unearthly hour, but not ‘specially bad!) Saturday, and left S.A. in the car before daylight, driving in the rain all day and arriving here just at dark last night. The roads were pretty good and we had lots of fun.

We enjoyed our visit with Walter’s people so much and they were so nice to us. I’m in love with all of them (yes, Claudelle, with the handsome unmarried brother too) and they are all just as sweet as they can be. And good things to eat!!! I never saw the like. If I stayed there I’m afraid I’d look more like Mrs. Walter Graham than Mrs. Walter Dove.

No, we will not go to Sunday school today nor Epworth League either.

We spent a few hours with Aunt Ophelia’s folks in Jackson and Aunt Bertha and Ted in Meridian. Will write you about it later.

How is the trade? We are hoping the man has bought the ranch by now.

Tell Thelma, Bob, Mrs. Ball, babies and all that this is for them too.

Will write when we get settled in Dallas.

Lots & lots of love to all.
Your “children??”
Walter & Ina.

Box 208,
Dallas.

December 19, 1925

T.P. Station, New Orleans.
Saturday 11 A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

I arrived here this morning about an hour late, but as the train was due here at 7:30, it gave an extra hour to sleep and less time to wait at the station. I leave at 1245 and should arrive in Dallas at 7 tomorrow morning. I expect to leave my work in shape so that some one at Dallas can take care of it, and will leave there Monday night for Uvalde. I haven’t looked up the schedule, but am quite sure that there is a night train down there. I may take a bus from S.A. but at any rate will be in Uvalde Tuesday. I’ll phone as soon as I get there.

December 19, 1925

I love you, Dear, and am mighty happy that the time is so near for me to come for you.

Always your,
Walter.

December 15, 1925

Jacksonville, Fla. Dec. 15 1925
Tues. A.M.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Since writing you yesterday I have planned to go direct to Dallas before coming to Uvalde. Will leave here Friday noon, arrive Dallas Sunday A.M. Will see Alvis & will probably come to Uvalde leaving Dallas Monday night.

I love you.

Walter

December 15, 1925