Monthly Archives: June 2013

January 28, 1942

Stationery from the Bellevue Hotel, 15 E Street NW, Washington, DC.

Wednesday Night 1/28-42

My dear Sweetheart,

We got to Jax just in time to get the 7:45 ACL and I arrived here at 8:30 AM and was in the office at 9 AM the new time for starting in the Bureau. Hours are to 5:30 PM now. After a conference called by FC consisting of Stage, Back, Miss Trembley and myself, which did not amount to anything not already arranged for, I went over the different places with Miss Trembley and this PM we tried to find one that would furnish us some lousy clothes for fumigation tests. We spent some time in the Dist. Jail & got some encouragement, if we can give some new underwear to replace the old. We are trying to get a dispensation to do this.

January 28, 1942

January 28, 1942

Tomorrow morning I am to call on Major Stone (alone) and see what he can do to help and to let him know I’m here etc. I think he can command some cooperation from the city, because Wash. DC City is a federal agency. Anyway I am going to try it. It is just as difficult to get things done, except more so at present. Too much red tape and increased machinery.

Dr. Wakeland is here but I have not seen him. He was appointed as a division leader for ‘hoppers & crickets today.

Think I’ll ask for a conference with Ammand & talk to him. Dog fly will be in Bureau for Gulfport office next year, at least it is lined up that way. Would you like Gulfport?

A big hello to WW, Lewis & Tommie,

With love,
Walter

January 7, 1942

Walter and Ina were together in December 1941, so we don’t have any insight on their immediate thoughts about the US entry into WWII. However, Walter’s work is about to change directions because of that. The USDA is now consolidating various research and control teams, and will soon reassign Walter to direct a project that will define both his career and the future trajectory of entomology.

Tuesday Night

May get away in a day or two but I am not having all of the luck that was anticipated. We think that time will bring consolidation but objections are not easy to overcome.

Walter.

January 7, 1942

January 7, 1942

Late September, 1941

These photos show state-of-the-art insect control in late 1941. Walter and his USDA colleagues had discovered that the dog flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) infesting the Panama City, FL area bred in decaying organic matter along the area’s beaches. To get rid of the flies, the team loaded barges with oil and creosote, then mixed the two petroleum products and sprayed them on the beaches and marsh grasses all along the shore. This sounds completely horrifying by modern environmental standards – the resulting oil slick must have extended for miles – but these were the tools available at the time.

Late September 1941

Late September 1941

September 4, 1941

PANAMACITY FLO SEP 4 735 P 1941 SEP 5 AM 8 14
MRS W E DOVE=
220 WEST MESQUITE ST

ARRIVING NEW ORLEANS SATURDAY NIGHT AND WILL MEET YOU AT SP DEPOT SUNDAY MORNING. LOVE=
WALTER.

September 4, 1941

September 4, 1941

September 1, 1941

Stationery from the Fort Gatlin Hotel, Orlando, FL.

Panama City Monday.

My dear Ina & Boys,

Have been rushed, but the dog fly control work is getting under way now. The Public Health horned in for the money and 2 of their men are here to make purchases. It is a PH program but actually we are operating it with Bureau funds for salaries etc. on the basis of an exchange of funds.

September 1, 1941

September 1, 1941

I went in by air for a conference on Thurs. night of last week & left Washington last Monday night arriving here about noon last Tuesday. Verbal arrangements were made with the PHS while I was at Washington. On Wed. night I met Mr. Padget at DeFiniak [?] & spent the night there. Mr. Dopson & RA were there and all came here. On Thursday night trucks rolled in from Gulfport & Florala so that our yard at the lab was filled with them. Friday we mounted sprayers on 8 barges & opened an office at #11 Page Bldg (upstairs over music store). The phone number there is 10. The control set up there is entirely separate from research, but Dr. Simmons is in close work with us & one man is helping him on research phases. Oil is being bought from the Sunny State & 30000 gals of creosote from Pensacola, delivered here by trucks with 1000 gal. tanks.

Mr. Griggs is in charge at Ft. Walton with 3 barge units which we shipped by tug boat from here at 6AM Sunday. Our first sprayer operated at Tyndall field on Sat. Mr. Landrum, Duck, Culpepper and Miller are in the crew. We will have 2 big barges with supply tanks, one at Ft. Walton & 1 here.

At Wash. I had a good visit with Claudelle & BM. Spent night at their house & they seem like newly weds. Joyce was there part of the time. Dr. Annand seems to be starting out OK as Chief.

Yesterday I had dinner & a good one with Simmons. In PM I took Mr. & Mrs. Landreau, Mr. & Mrs. Duck & son (8 yrs) for a drive to see the barges.

The high school opens next Friday & the date for opening of other schools has not been announced. After the Board meeting this week they will announce the date. Usually it is one week after the high school. Will let you know when. If you could come either next Sunday or one week from Sunday I could meet you in the car at New Orleans. If you could arrive at N.O. on Sunday morning I could be at the station & we could eat breakfast at the station & drive home that day. I’ll bring the ice box in the car. You could wire me Tourate when to meet you.

With love to all of you,
Walter.

P.S. I am enclosing the Kehoe check with my endorsement. You can endorse & cash at Uvalde. Would suggest you call the station agent a day or two before you leave & reserve a drawing room to New Orleans.

August 23, 1941

Sat. A.M.
Aug. 23, 1941.

Dearest Sweetheart:

Tommy is 7 months old today. I don’t know how much he weighs, but he is a heap big man. He sits alone on the floor and plays now. No doubt it will not be long before he crawls. He really is a very fine baby.

August 23, 1941

August 23, 1941

Honey, I employed a Mexican girl to come at 8 o’clock every morning and stay until she washes the dishes after noon. During that time she cleans the house (at least she cleans as much as Mama will let her), and does most of the boys’ and my laundry. I pay her $3.00 a week, although I had a hard time persuading Mama to let me do it.

I must say you were smart to do all of that laundry. I can’t imagine ironing that many shirts.

It is definitely summer time here, but 108ยบ here doesn’t seem as hot as the Panama City temperatures.

We are going to see Reitha this afternoon. She brought her baby to see us when it was a month old. Last Sunday afternoon she carried W.W., L.D., and me to a show. Mama talked to her over the ‘phone this A.M., and she said tell you “hello.” She seems to be happy. Bolivar is making $30 a week keeping books for the construction company at the new air school here, and says he is in line for another raise. He started at $20 per week, was soon raised to $25, and now to $30.

Mama said to tell you she is very proud of your boys, and that she wishes you could take your vacation now in “good, cool Uvalde.”

A few afternoons ago Papa carried W.W., L.D., and me to the Nueces at the La Pryor crossing. The children could only wade though, because the water that was not real shallow was much too deep for them. He plans to take us all to Garner Park Sunday afternoon for a swim and a picnic supper.

Honey, will you please find out how early in Sept. the grammar schools open? The high school opens a week before the others, I believe. Uvalde schools are changing from 11 to 12 grades this year. We have 12 in Panama City. The work here will be rearranged in the grammar grades.

I do hope the control project has been arranged by now.

It is time for the postman.

We think of you lots and wish for you.

Lots of love,
Ina.

P.S. Have the sweeper and the ice cream freezer come? The freezer is not paid for because there had been difficulty in getting that item, and the lady in the Panama City Sears office thought it best to have it shipped to that office C.O.D.

Ina.

August 20, 1941

Wednesday P.M.
Aug. 20, 1941.

Dearest Sweetheart:

We were so happy to have your card today. Could you write more often? It had seemed such a long time since we had heard.

August 20, 1941

August 20, 1941

It was a great relief to know that Dr. Arman had been been chosen Chief. It probably would have been better if Mr. Hoyt could have been, but Dr. Arman most certainly is better than an outsider. Now that the chiefship is settled, perhaps the ball will begin rolling again. I’m anxious to know what your assignment will be. I know of only one person who qualifies perfectly for Dr. Arman’s former position. It would be nice if others with more authority than I would see it that way, and would act accordingly.

All the boys are fine. W.W. is spending the afternoon at Ina Marie’s. L.D. had his whooping cough shot Saturday. Dr. Fielder used the serum that we brought. Tommy is a little cross because he is cutting some upper teeth. It is the greatest relief to be free of the worry about polio. Have any new cases developed in Bay County?

No doubt you are having a nice, quiet time without your family. We hope you are eating and sleeping regularly, and are feeling well. We miss you lots.

Honey, will you please see that the front shades are kept down in the mornings so that the sun will not fade the furniture and rug? I am so sorry I forgot to give you the key before we left you. No doubt you have received it by now.

Regards to the people at the lab and their families.

I’m sorry that the control project is so slow in going though.

“Associate Chief” is a new position created in the bureau, is it not? That certainly places Mr. Hoyt next to the chief.

Lots of love & best wishes from your family.

Always, your
Ina.

August 18, 1941 (PM)

At home, Monday nite,
Aug. 18, 1941

My dear Sweetheart & Boys,

Your letter was a real good one and I was more than pleased that our boys are on their best behavior. I hope that they will keep up the standard they have already set, and that all of them including Tommy will not give any trouble to Mother and Daddy Lewis.

August 18, 1941

August 18, 1941

It is lonesome here without you and I’ll be glad when you return. At Gulfport I saw Helen and Kenneth and their little red headed boy. He whines like Helen used to, and I think she has quit it. They have a nice new home about 1 1/2 blocks from US 90 and the water front. The corn in the back yard is not as tall as it was in Minneapolis, but there is a larger lawn of fast growing grass to mow. Helen put a little package in my coat pocket for you, Ina, and at home I find that it is some sort of Verbena soap. I opened it to see if it was fruit cake which might spoil before you come home. You might care to send her a card. I had to promise that we would stop there on the return trip. I did not leave Gulfport until about 8:30 PM, after Kenneth and I had dinner down town, so that I did not get home until about 3:30 Tuesday morning. I had a good visit with the White FB men and learned something. Dr. Dickison was expecting his family soon. R.A. was in a very good mood and will be there two or three weeks.

As yet there has been no word on the control program. I am expecting it at any time, but am inclined to believe that the papers showed up on the desks of some disinterested parties. Mr. Wylie of the USPHS has been here a few days going over the problem. Apparently with a view of making recommendations for a PHS project by WPA. A high tide on Santa Rosa Sound gave a good degree of natural control, and it seems that there has been quite a delay in the season this year.

Saturday PM I washed 2 lots of soiled clothes and dried them. Sunday I ironed them, on the ironer, including 10 shirts and 3 pairs of trousers. Sunday night I drove to the Old Dutch Tavern for a steak. It was fair and I met Mr. Bergdorf who had a collection of heads and skins from Alaska. I found that he had spent about the same amount of time up there as you and I. He went north from Fairbanks to Point Barrow. I drove back by Panama City Beach and listened to Mr. Weir toot his trumpet. He isn’t as good as Walter White thinks he is.

That quart of milk each day makes me think that I am cheating some calf out of something. It is more than I need.

Have a good time and be good.

With love
Walter.

Walter is starting up a program to control dog flies in the Panama City coastal area. The flies breed along the shoreline, which is why an unusually high tide killed off a batch of them. Apparently there are some administrative snags holding up the program.

August 18, 1941

Ina is visiting her family in Uvalde, TX with the three boys, while Walter stays back in Panama City, FL.

Monday.

Thanks very much for the nice letter. No word on the control p. yet. Tides have helped some on Santa Rosa sound, but have not given complete control.

August 18, 1941

August 18, 1941

An announcement issued Sat. states that Annand was appointed Chief of the Bureau & Hoyt as Associate Chief.

The weather continues hot here.

Walter.