Monthly Archives: March 2012

June 8, 1926

The Lab. Tues 5:45 PM.

My Dear Little Girl,

Have been printing photos all the afternoon. When I came upstairs a few minutes ago your letter was on my desk. Mr. Seaton probably brought it up. It is a real sweet one. All of yours are, and I enjoyed every second of it. Nothing would please me more than to be in Uvalde now, and your descriptions etc of Mother Lewis’s dinners make me hungry too.

June 8, 1926

Mrs. Laake is feeling pretty good today. Her illness was not serious. No one is alarmed. She was very pleasant last evening and visited with us until quite late (10 o’clock). She certainly thinks a lot of you. Mrs. Geary expressed the same sentiment. Mrs. Laake told me how lucky I was to get such a dear little wife, just as if I did not know it. Ernest & Dr. Roarke are going out for golf tomorrow morning. Meet at 6:30 AM. I rather like the game but that is too early. Mrs. Laake intends to learn after Ernest has gotten on to it pretty good. She wants to reduce and thinks it might help her. All of the Lab bunch eat lunch at the barbecue stand on Carroll and Columbia. The sandwiches are good but not as good as the ones we had on our picnics.

It was mighty sweet of Thelma to write a note in your letter. You can just bet that I’ll be down there as soon as I can arrange it. It seems ages since I saw you. Dr. Roark and I are together quite a bit.

Sweetheart, “there ain’t no tellin'” how much I do love you.

With all my love and also to the folks, I am,

Always your,
Walter.

June 6, 1926

The Lab. 8:30 PM. Sun Nite.

My Dear Sweetheart,

Believe me, I was getting anxious to hear from you and had I not heard today, I would have phoned tonight. Your letter came this PM. I read it several times. You don’t know how glad I was to get it. It seems like you have been away a mighty long time.

June 6, 1926

Last night I had dinner with Smith at a Mrs. Aikens. It was a very good dinner and I enjoyed it, but I couldn’t help but think of you. Dr. Roark and I are eating at Mrs. O’Callaghan’s. I started this morning. Both meals were up to her standard, except for the coffee.

Today I crated the two chests and case of books. Also boxed most of the packages. It will be a few days before I ship them as I also have some stuff at the Lab to ship with them. Found some lumber to replace the strips I spoiled when I uncrated them. I believe that they are in good shape.

The news clipping re Fulford lot is interesting and probably explains why I did not get an answer to my inquiry. If they have gone into the hands of a receiver, the lot is worth much more than what we are paying. The improvements already established, and the fact that the company are bonded for the hotel and public buildings makes it OK. We are too close to those buildings to be holding a sack. I am writing the Miami East Coast Realty tonight.

The top of your car looks the same as before the hail storm. The dents were also removed without marring the finish.

I love [you] Dear, no one knows how very much.

With a sweet goodnight,

Your
Walter.

June 5, 1926

Saturday 5PM.

My Dear Sweetheart,

The enclosed letter from Mrs. Stampley is self explanatory. I have written to her for both of us but if you care to write it would be nice. It is not necessary. I am a poor hand to offer sympathy, but I did the best I could in a letter.

June 5, 1926

The sleeping porch was very comfortable and I enjoyed it last night. Lee left last evening for a visit over the week end, but will be with me almost constantly when he returns. Dr Roark and I are going to take breakfast and dinner at Mrs. O’Callaghan’s. She says that she doesn’t love me anymore. She didn’t know that we were married or in the city. Don’t know how I’ll explain. Wish you could have known her.

This AM I checked out with the Gas Co. & Light Co. Also paid Sangers & the North Texas Trust Co. Left the car for the top repair. I couldn’t bring it to Uvalde with the top patched like that. Am having a new strip put in.

Have no exciting news. Things at the Lab are about as usual.

No doubt I’ll get your letter tomorrow morning. Am anxious to know if you arrived safely.

I love you Dear, with all my heart.

Yours,
Walter.

Walter and Ina, Sometime in 1926

Walter and Ina, sometime in 1926. The car behind them is the Willys-Knight that Ina won in a newspaper-selling contest in 1924.

May 7, 1926 (Walter to Ina’s parents)

4505 Columbia Ave.
Dallas, Texas.
May 7, 1926.

My Dear Mother Lewis,

It was not my intention to wait until Mothers’ Day to write to you. I always have the feeling that Ina writes for both of us and that letters addressed to either of us belong to both of us. I know that Ina must have told you that both of us are happy. I want you to know that I am as happy and as proud of my wife as one could be. Some one frequently compliments her to me, and I know that I am not the only one who knows how lucky I was to get such a wonderful girl. When I think of all her good qualities, and all of hers are good, I realize that most of the credit is yours.

May 7, 1926 (Walter to Ina's parents)

Hoping that Mothers’ Day will be a bright one for you, and with love, I am,

Always your,
Walter.

P.S. by Mama,
Yes it was terrible about the A&M boy. Tell Lois to be careful how she encourages Bert, and you and Lucille do be careful about the Bus Driver.

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.

A Note about The Blog

Yes, they finally tied the knot. This blog is not ending, though. There’s another war, a whole lot more science, an enduring love that will continue to mature, and a few kids on the way. The letters become less frequent, of course (they’re married now and traveling together), but I’ll be transcribing correspondence that both Walter and Ina wrote to each other and to other people over the ensuing decades. I hope you’ll stick around and continue enjoying this intensely personal, front-row view of history.

December 23, 1925

Wedding

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