Category Archives: Uncategorized

July 9, 1940

Tuesday Night 7/9-1940

My dear Ina,

After closing time today Mr. Thompson and I visited the Central Warehouse for electric appliances. I purchased a GE electric range, a Thor washer, a Thor Ironer (short roll), a floor lamp and a bridge lamp at a very good cash price. The articles are standard and I feel quite confident about the quality of the merchandise. I hope you will like them. They are to be shipped by freight to Panama City and will probably not arrive until we reach there. The bridge lamp or bed side lamp has a new feature of a small light in the base or a night light. I won’t try to describe the different pieces. I have not located the sectional cases as yet but will see if I can get an attractive buy.

July 9, 1940

Shipping containers through today with almost a par day, but Dr. Drake says we have reached the peak in shipping. Dr. Dickison was here yesterday PM until last night. I may go to Mpls about Saturday. I am not sure yet, as Mr. Rainwater is in the field.

With love,
Walter.

June 30, 1940

Sunday A.M.
June 30, 1940.

Dearest Sweetheart:

I’m hoping you will telephone today, but am writing this letter in case you don’t.

I agree with you that the Barrow house, 105 Cove Blvd., looks like the best bet. It looks like it is not crowded, it has no stairs, it is close to the lab and the grammar school, it rents for only $45.00, and it requires only a 6 mos. lease. The two-story house must be lovely, but $65.00 is too much to pay for a house in a small town like Panama City; furthermore, we had unpleasant experience with a long lease in Mpls. We can endure almost any unforseen unpleasant condition for 6 mos., and that will give us time to look around. Moreover, Mr. Gaddis told me something confidentially to tell you. When he saw Dr. Strong last, Dr. S. repeated that, although he could appreciate the value of your continued services in Mr. G’s division, he thought it was more necessary that you put the S.E. on a productive basis. AND he said “I’m going to need a new division chief in that work (whether it was Dr. Bishopp’s work or some other research work wasn’t quite clear to me, but I think it was Dr. B’s) and it may not be so very long off.” Moreover, Mr. G. asked him specifically if you were going to have to submit to Dr. B’s ideas in the S.E. Dr. Strong replied with an emphatic “No,” and said he was going to see to it that you did not. So, my dear young man, cheer up; your Panama City assignment may prove to be a very pleasant stepping stone to greater things. In that case, it might not be wise for us to sign a year’s lease, although we might be there longer than that.

June 30, 1940

We are enjoying Mama’s visit. I wished for you yesterday when Mama, Claudelle, Mr. G. and the boys and I took a picnic supper to Haines Point.

Don’t be too disappointed when I tell you that we received a letter from Thelma yesterday in which she said that Reitha and Boliver had married the preceding Saturday night in San Antonio in a double wedding with her roommate. Reitha had telephoned Thelma & Bob that afternoon for their consent. Reitha will finish her business course at Draughn’s in S.A. in August, and Boliver will finish his course in accounting in Uvalde in November, I believe. They both expect to work. It’s bad, but we shall have to make the best of it like we did Thelma Lee’s and Paul’s marriage. Theirs has turned out to be an unusually happy one. Thelma wrote that Thelma Lee had just won the $80.00 at the show on bank night.

Walter White has acquired a BB gun and a puppy since you were here. He acquired the latter before we learned definitely that we were going to move. Just what we shall do about it I don’t know. Lewis Dunbar is more fond of it than W.W.

We all are looking forward to seeing you on the fourth.

It is going to seem good to get our little family together again in the car and get on the road.

Honey, it is important that the house in Panama City be put in first class condition before we move in, don’t you think?

Lots & lots of love,
Ina.

It was very kind of Dr. Simmons to go to so much trouble about a house for us.

June 27, 1940

This page is the only thing in the envelope, but the enclosure appears to have been a set of real estate listings for Panama City, FL.

My dear Ina,

If you can decide from the enclosed let me know which one & I’ll let Dr. Simmons know & the matter could wait until I come to Wash.

Walter.

June 27, 1940

June 22, 1940

Chicago
Sat. A.M. 9/22

My dear Ina,

The enclosed is from Polly & her mother has a malignant cancer which requires 2 more operations. Polly seems to have more than her share of trouble.

June 22, 1940

When she came thru Chicago last Sunday A.M. Mrs. Simonson and I met her at Clyde a sub station on the RR & carried her to the airport where we ate breakfast with her.

With love,
Walter

Enclosure:

1430 E. Greenwood Ave.
Nashville – 6/20

Dear Dr. D. & Lillian –

Arrived still in one piece, and not frothing at the mouth. Altho’ I’d just as soon do my flyin’ low.

Mother is still battling; so are we all. She has 2 more trips to surgery, and Drs. say we must build up her strength as fast as possible for that. It has been definitely determined as malignant but – while they don’t offer too much encouragement, she does have a chance. Only time can tell.

I just don’t know when I’ll be back thru, altho possibly sometime next week. I’d like to stay for next phase of operation if possible as perhaps a little more can be known then.

Her expenses are terrific, so I’m doing hospital duty during days to eliminate nurses’ services – and we’re holding all offers in abeyance until I have to go. After then except few days after surgery, p’raps she won’t have to have anyone full time.

They tell us it means 6-8 weeks in hospital at best, and after that, we’ll just have to wait for developments. They’re not too optimistic about her returning to her usual active life – but – they (medical profession) do not always know.

Let me hear if you have opportunity. You’ll be advised when I come thru you may be assured.

Thanks for everything, and best to all.

Sincerely
Polly

June 21, 1940

830 S. Mich. Ave., Chicago
June 21, 1940.

My dear Sweetheart,

I expected a letter this AM because I thought you might want me to come to Wash. and drive for you to Chicago. Since I did not hear I assume that you want to stay there until we move to Florida. B.M. said that I might come in on the 4th, but this will be governed by the activity of the program at that time. If shipping is heavy I think I should stay here. At present it is a small program & it looks as though Kans. Neb. Iowa & Missouri represent the extent of it. Mr. Rainwater is in the field now but if things are rather quiet he could come in & let me get away on the 4th. If you want to come to Chicago I’ll come for you & we will go from here to Miss. & then Florida.

June 21, 1940

For the past few days I have been buying a few books. I have about 62 at a cost of about $20. I hope you & the boys will like them. They are on varied subjects – some fiction.

Hope you are feeling OK. I love you.

Walter.

June 18, 1940

Stationery from the 830 South Michigan Hotel, Chicago, IL.

June 18, 1940.

My dear Sweetheart,

Your letter of Sun. night came this AM and I think you have had the answer from Mr. G. before now. I mentioned the visit of Mrs. G. when I finished talking to you and it seemed to disturb him a great deal. He had already told me of the divorce, and although I had not previously heard one word about it, and knew of no reason why they would separate, I was not surprised when he told me. There was nothing I could say when he told me, except that it would not be mentioned outside of Claudelle and yourself. If you are yet of the opinion that you would like to come to Chicago for the short time I’ll be here, let me know so that I can locate a place here and also so I can come for you & drive the car on Sunday. If the moving can wait until July 15, I think it would be better. Mr. G. said I might plan on coming to Wash. on the 4th. We expect the last week of June & the 1st week of July to be the heavy shipping period. We have shipped 106 cars so far, with 100 while Mr. G. was here.

June 18, 1940

I love you lots & lots & I am now looking forward to joining you before many more weeks. Have just written to Mr. Simmons about a house at Panama City. Orlando is a large place but I am trying to move the station from there.

Your
Walter

June 15, 1940

Friday night [Wrong day again, I think.]

Dear Sweetheart,

Am enclosing the pictures with negatives. The little girl’s mother may wish to borrow the negatives of LD & the little girl, or you may care to give her prints showing the little girl.

June 16, 1940

Thompson & I arrived today & we have requisitions for 51 cars of creosote oil, which will be ordered shipped when Mr. Gaddis arrives tomorrow.

I wish I knew what the Chief has in mind as to the leeway I’ll have on research. If plenty of latitude I know I can get the kind of research that is needed, but if this is not given I doubt if we will stay with it long. I don’t intend to camouflage Bishopp’s weaknesses as we have always done.

I feel that I have accomplished something this season & will get something done here. I don’t believe the Denver set up can handle a hot program, even after the help they have had this season. Yet the ‘hopper program seems definitely on the down grade, and it looks as though it will be a question of dropping men now employed on it. At least 75% could be dropped by the end of this season.

Will wait until I see you before planning to ship furniture from Mpls. Could take bids before July 1, but this appears as though we are anxious to move & I do not wish to show anxiety until I know more.

With love,
Walter.

June 11, 1940

Tuesday PM. 6/11-’40

My dear Sweetheart,

Yours of the 31st was returned to the office from you and was received today. I was very glad to read it even though you had told me most of its contents. Also the card and letters from Mother Lewis and Mother Dove were gladly received. I am not returning the latter for I am sure that Claudelle has seen them.

June 11, 1940

I thought I’d hear from the Chief’s decision today but as yet no news from him. I am wonderingif he is going to insist on my going to Man & Animals. I hardly think so, but ordinarily he does not wait this long for a decision. Perhaps he had to develop some information first.

Claude, RA & all are most cordial and there seems to be quite a change in them. RA & Messenger are in the field now. Claude has made several friendly overtures and asked for suggestions on a few things. He does not seem to lock up so much. This makes me feel better though I still feel that they regard me with some suspicion. I think I’ve helped him & he appreciates it, especially on the situation in S. Dak.

The office at Chicago has been turned over to us by Mr. Corliss and they are most cordial. Corliss, Mrs. Corliss, Mitchell, Rainwater & I drove along the lake shore Sunday. There are some beautiful places even though we do not see many in passing through the city. Mrs. Simonson did not go with us as some of her relatives took her for a drive. Mr. Thompson and I will go down there on a moment’s notice, and I imagine as soon as it is time to ship creosote oil.

The buying here is about complete and within about 3 weeks the baiting will be over except for fall baiting. Montana counties have added a little spice to the program, but other than about 5 of these counties the program has been mild, indeed. The cricket program is hardly a drop in the bucket.

I found a little hotel on Michigan Ave. with good rates. All of us are stopping there except Mitchell & I think he and Thompson will stop there. It is known as 830 South Michigan Hotel, which is the street address. So far I have had no mail sent there, but should you phone or wire at night I could be reached there OK.

With love, I am

Your
Walter.

June 8, 1940

Sat Night
June 8, 1940

Dear Walter W.,

Tonight I went to the broadcast of the Barn Dance WLS, which is a regular show in a theatre where one buys a ticket just like any other show. I am sending a souvenir program.

Mother does not feel well during this summer and I want to ask you and Lewis Dunbar to be careful and not worry her or displease her. It will help a great deal if you will mind her, and do not cross or argue with her.

Always
Daddy.

June 8, 1940 (front)

June 8, 1940 (back)

May 20, 1940

Personal

Sunday Night [Postmark suggests Walter got the day wrong again.]

My dear Ina,

Your very important news is great and we hope that the little daughter is on the way. According to your calculations the date would be some time near Walter White’s birthday. She would be grown about the time I reach 65. I am sure that she will keep both of us young and a lot of company, after W.W. and Lewis are grown. With 5 and 6 years between the ages of the youngsters, we should find it not so difficult to see them through college.

May 21, 1940

I am rather glad that we are not going to Menard, for two or three reasons including the arrival of the daughter. I am wondering about the steps at Mr. Gaddis’s house. You will need to be very careful and not undertake to carry things up the steps. Perhaps we can know something definite before long and guard against your climbing too many steps. Is the colored girl coming regularly and could she come every day instead of part time? You do not have a good place for walking, as the road is too dangerous for long walks.

I believe it is best not to mention it to the Cushings until after they go to Menard. We feel sorry for them, and as you say we can consider ourselves lucky. Feb. 19 you had completed your period and I recall that March was on time. In April it was late as we expected it in N.Y.C. You remember I went by the drug store for you while in N.Y.C., and you did not need the napkins until after we returned home. About 2 days after. May be this will help you check the date. April 12 sounds about right.

Since I wrote you I went with R.A. & Thompson to some boxing matches which were OK. The Elk Club here have a good team & there were 8 bouts with the Golden Glove team of Chicago. Denver won 5 of the 8 matches. Every day I manage to walk quite a bit and I am feeling fine. On Sat. & Sun. I get in some extra walking. Tonight I went to a movie for a change. One reel on the trophy winners of 1939, a comic & I think the other was called The House Across the Bay, across from Alcatraz prison.

Both Dr. Wakeland and R.A. seem to regard me with some suspicion, although I have been able to get R.A. to talk some. I do not see him evenings. When Messenger was here it was not a great deal I could get from him. It’s a good thing we do not have a big grasshopper program, because it would be so different that several adjustments would have to be made in the way they do things.

I love you lots & lots & I hope to see you before many moons.

Always your
Walter.

I find this discussion about Walter and Ina’s expected daughter amusing, for reasons that will be apparent soon.