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July 26, 1939

Wednesday Afternoon.
July 26, 1939.

Dearest Sweetheart:

The children were so happy to have the letters from you. They will answer them soon. Those compliments on their good behavior work like magic. Really, I’ve never known them to behave so well for so long before. I think a great deal of it is due to the fact that they both feel so well and they have plenty of room to play.

July 26, 1939

July 26, 1939

I believe you are behaving well too. I like the idea of your quitting work at 6 or 7 o’clock and walking home every evening. No doubt you notice a big difference in the way you feel.

I’m so tickled over the rug. Has the Olson Co. suggested what adjustment might be made? It would suit me to get another one exactly like the one in Reitha’s room – color and all; we know it’s all right. Perhaps we can wait until after we return to order it.

It is well that you are looking around for a place to live. Before we decide on one I wish we could know whether or not we shall be in Minneapolis for another year. It would be too bad to go to the expense of moving, and then have to leave town in a month or two, wouldn’t it? If we knew positively we were to be there only a month or two longer we could stand the dirty walls and even the neighbors for that short time. However, if we are going to remain in Minneapolis for a year, let us move by all means.

Mama is feeling very badly now. Her favorite sister, Aunt Ophelia Brumfield – the one you met in Jackson – is being buried there this afternoon. She must have passed away very suddenly, because Mama had a letter from her this morning which she wrote Sunday; she was feeling fine then. Mama and Papa enjoyed her so much when they visited her in Mississippi recently. It gave us a strange feeling to have the letter from her today after we had already received the telegram telling of her death. The shock of the message yesterday affected Mama so deeply that we were worried about her for a while – her arms and legs remained numb for a long time.

Perhaps you don’t like this high-handed way in which we are planning the trip to Mississippi, but I had to admit to Mother Dove that the children and I were hoping we could go after I learned that someone, perhaps you, had written her that we were going. I’m anxious to hear from you about it. I shall not answer the enclosed letter until I hear from you. If you want to go by Ethel’s after we go to Mother Dove’s it suits us fine.

We love you lots, Honey.

Always, your
Ina.

July 25, 1939 (Ina)

Tuesday A.M.
July 25, 1939.

Dearest Sweetheart:

It seems ages since I heard from you – what do you do with your time?

July 25, 1939 (Ina)

July 25, 1939 (Ina)

Sunday afternoon Mama, the boys, Ina Marie, and I went beyond Barksdale to see Mr. and Mrs. Fisher. They live in a tiny two-room house, away out in the brush on a little ranch road, depending upon a few sheep for a living. They seemed so happy to see us; they hadn’t seen anyone for two weeks, and haven’t been to Uvalde since March. They used to have so much. It is pathetic for people to be reduced to such circumstances in their old days. If I ever complain of any inconveniences again, spank me, will you? Mr. and Mrs. Fisher asked a great deal about you; they said tell you to come to their place to shoot squirrels next time instead of going to Reagan Wells.

Walter White and Lewis Dunbar are impatiently waiting for that letter from you.

We hope all goes well with you. We’d like to see you sometime.

Lots of love,
Ina.

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 22, 1939 (Walter)

707 Thorpe Bldg
Saturday PM

My dear Ina,

In order to keep peace in this family, separate letters are being enclosed to Lewis Dunbar & Walter White. They have been good boys at Uvalde and it looks as though we can take them places.

July 22, 1939 (Walter)

July 22, 1939 (Walter)

The week has been light for shipments but vouchers and payrolls have been heavy. Most every evening I have been able to leave here about 6 or 7 o’clock and I’ve walked home every evening. When the sun shines I park on a bench at Loring and read the evening paper, then go by a restaurant for dinner. Three times I’ve eaten dinner at home, eggs, bacon and hot cakes. I made up some syrup & then found some already made.

A letter finally came from the Olson Co. enclosing shipping tags for return of the rug. They say send to Chicago so I am arranging to do just that. I am not writing to them as the tags have numbers and they also show your return address.

It is surprising how long one can keep the same sheets on the bed and how long towels can be used. This week I’ll send them to the laundry.

I looked up our lease and find that it expires August 31st. It therefore seems advisable to look for a place to live. I’ve walked to a few places near our apartment. Tomorrow I’ll have a pickup truck so that I can see some that are not so near by. The Studebaker is at Mandam & will be returned when some one comes in to Mpls from up there, probably this week.

On Friday & Sat. we have a conference scheduled for survey & the general supervisors will be here. Also Wakeland & Gaddis.

Mrs. Quarterman came by for Kenneth and she looks just fine.

Polly was pleased to get your hello and love. She is about normal now and she came back at a good time.

Dorward phoned a few times last week. The planes are still working & flights are there but not nearly as serious as last year. The general opinion is that we have done a good job. Nebraska may be in for some criticism of us but most of the states have already expressed strong approval. Canada received some of our hoppers on Thursday & Friday of this week.

I love all three of you just lots and lots and lots, and I’ll be glad when you come back home.

Your
Walter

July 22, 1939 (Walter to Lewis)

July 22, 1939 (Walter to Lewis)

Dear Lewis,

You have been a pretty good boy and both Mother and Daddy are proud of you.

I saw Judy on the side walk last night.

I hope you have a good time and that you will be ready to go to school when you finish your vacation.

With love
Daddy.

Dear Walter White,

I was pleased to get your letters also the report from Mother that you had been a good boy.

During June we shipped 90,000 tons of grasshopper bait. A ton is 2000 pounds or 20 sacks. This much bait would make a line of box cars 41 miles long. In other words as far as Uvalde to Hondo. That is a lot of bait. Of the 14 airplanes, 3 have crashed so that only 11 are working now. They are still working in eastern Montana and we are getting some flights out there. Some of the ‘hoppers are flying into Canada.

I am proud of the way you can shoot a rifle and I hpoe we can go to Reagan Wells again.

With love,
Daddy

July 22, 1939 (Ina)

Saturday A.M.
July 22, 1939.

Dearest Sweetheart:

I judge from the enclosed letter from Mother Dove that either she is a mind reader or you have written her that we are going by there en route to Minneapolis. I replied to her letter yesterday and admitted that the children and I had been planning that way. I promised that we would let her know when we would be there as soon as we learned when you could go. I know it is against your principles to let her know when to expect us, but I know she much prefers to know, and it will be much easier for her as she can arrange her work so as to be with us more.

July 22, 1939 (Ina)

July 22, 1939 (Ina)

We are anxious to make the visit. The children are especially looking forward to being at the farm, so please don’t plan to go to the house in Roxie or to Ethel’s instead. If your time is limited you might want to fly to Dallas; the children and I would be glad to meet you there. According to the map it is 365 miles to Dallas from Uvalde, and 374 miles from Dallas to Natchez by way of Shreveport. The map shows a paved short cut to Natchez from Shreveport. We shouldn’t think of returning to Mpls. without visiting Mother Dove; she would feel hurt, and I don’t blame her.

Mama, the boys, and I plan to drive to Barksdale tomorrow afternoon to see Mr. & Mrs. Fisher. I’m wondering how you are going to spend the day Sunday.

We have just about decided not to spend a day in San Antonio. It would be a little expensive, and we haven’t any business there except to visit friends. Perhaps we can see them some time in not the far distant future when we may be transferred to the South – we hope, we hope.

We love you lots, Honey.

Always, your
Ina.

P.S.
This jittery writing is not caused by nervousness; I’m using my lap for a desk.

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 15, 1939 (Ina)

Saturday Night
July 15, 1939.

Dearest Sweetheart:

We were glad to have your letter today.

It greatly pleases us to know that most of the baiting season is over. We hope you will have more time to relax now. Walks home from the office should be refreshing. I don’t like the idea of your going home to an empty apartment – or had you noticed?

July 15, 1939 (Ina)

July 15, 1939 (Ina)

Lewis Dunbar wrote you a letter, but I can’t find it now. He cried when he found that you hadn’t written him a separate letter. If you could write a separate note to each of the boys in your next letter they would be pleased. They are having a good time and are behaving beautifully.

Please give our love to Polly. I’m anxious to talk with her. I’m glad you are having dinner together Sunday.

The floods came. We always bring one you know. Uvalde had 3 inches of rain, and the much heavier rains in the canyons brought the rivers down to within a few feet of the bridges. The ranchmen are delighted but they think there should have been several inches more.

Sunday A.M.

Paul & Bob caught lots of fish last night. The children and I are going to help them eat them at Thelma’s today. Our boys have gone to Sunday school with Ina Marie this A.M. Thelma & Reitha will be by soon to take me to church.

We think about you often, and want to see you.

Lots of love,
Ina.

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