Letterhead from the Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, Fairfield Chemicals Division.
At this point, Walter was still working for FMC in a consulting capacity, but he’d been out for awhile on sick leave after a cancer diagnosis. Remember those cigars he’s always smoking in photos?
February 27, 1961
These two photos have no information attached. I believe the man on the left in the first photo is Merritt Sarles, one of Walter’s graduate school classmates at Hopkins and later a co-worker at US Industrial Chemicals. Walter is on the right. The second photo shows Walter standing in front of the USI lab.
It is difficult to find photos of Walter without a cigar.
Walter with Colleagues, ca. 1950
Walter at US Industrial Chemicals, ca. 1950.
1024 N. Oregon St.,
El Paso, Texas,
Feb. 22, 1945.
Dear Walter:
After so long a time I thought I would drop you a line. Probably I am doing the wrong thing in writing a personal letter as there might be some Departmental regulations forbidding a superior writing an inferior or vice versa.
February 22, 1945
It was with the thought in mind that probably cigars were hard to obtain in Washington and the knowledge that you enjoyed cigars that prompted my sending you some last Fall. At that time I wrote you. Both the cigars and my letter had my return address on same, and, in-as-much as neither were returned and no word from you, I surmised that it might have occurred that I had some ulterior reason for sending the cigars. If such should be the case same was not received in the spirit in which they were sent.
There is a goodly supply of Mexican cigars to be had in Juarez. One brand in particular selling at 8¢ is a very good cigar. Before the war they sold for 6¢.
Very much to my surprise Dr. Laake showed up at the bridge this afternoon. From the New Orleans meeting he went to the Pacific Northwest and has visited practically all of the western states. He leaves tomorrow night for Dallas.
Robert Spencer, formerly in the movies but now in the Air Corps passed through El Paso this past week. He phoned me but we were unable to see him as he had but a 15 minute stopover. He was en route to Hollywood with his newly acquired bride. He is due to return via El Paso next week and plans to stop over for possibly a one day visit. His father is Mrs. Bishopp’s brother. They lived in Dallas some years ago.
Mrs. Pettit went to Dallas from Austin for the wedding which was last Saturday. She wrote that all of the country from Austin to Dallas was covered with water. Everything else considered there should be some good crops in that part of the country this year.
As you probably know, my wife is a registered nurse and has been on active duty for several months. My work hours shift weekly and she is able to get hours of duty to coincide with mine — so we are together as much as when she wasn’t nursing. She does general duty at the Southwestern General Hospital and does not have to enter private homes.
I have now had some 13 years on the Mexican Border and I would welcome a change back New Orleans way. Our work is pretty much the same old hum-drum and it becomes very monotonous. I believe there are more drunks pass our inspection booth than any other one place in the state of Texas.
Kind regards to you and your family from
Your friend,
A.K. [Pettit]
P.S. Once heard the remark if you live in El Paso for 10 years 95% of everyone you know will pass by. A.K.
Thursday Nite
July 10th
My Dear Ina,
Does that sound too familiar? I hope not.
You don’t know how glad I am to get the photo and the Kodak pictures of yourself. They are the next thing to seeing you, which is more than I have the nerve to tell you. You didn’t answer my letter until you had the birthday and then you very modestly told me how you were enjoying it. You are a good one. Maybe it was because you did not want me to send anything. I hope not, for I am taking the liberty to send something anyway. Please accept it, for it is more fun for me to send it than you imagine. I wouldn’t like you near so well if you didn’t take it. I know that you feel that maybe you don’t know me quite well enough and I rather think that your mother would feel the same way, but please try to feel that you do know me well enough. I’d be very glad.
July 10, 1924
It was mighty sweet of you to send the photo and you can bet your life that I’ll take good care of it until you want it. I believe that you look younger now than you did at 18, but the smile is just the same. I’ll keep it with me and it will be a real pleasure to have it when I am in Florida. You won’t seem quite so far away. Of the Kodak pictures I like all of ‘em best. All of them are good.
I am just as happy as a kid with a toy. I made the deal and traded in the Elgin today. I looked for quite a while and came back to the little brick-veneer I tried to describe to you. Maybe I can draw a little diagram which would give you some idea.
Dallas house plan
This is some drawing and I don’t have room to show the back yard, but it’s there just the same. Tall Johnson grass and brick bats. The garage is just a frame building and at the back of the lot.
I have a negro engaged to plow up the Johnson grass and re-sod with Bermuda. I guess he started this afternoon, cause he didn’t wan “to start no job on Friday.” He started one job on Friday and the following Monday had his finger cut off, so he won’t do it again. The curtain man will put them up tomorrow afternoon. I bought 21 so I guess there are 18 windows. The rear bed room has 6. 3 of the curtains are for doors. The 2 front doors and the ones between the living room and dining room are French.
I expect to get the lawn in pretty good shape and will arrange to have it watered regularly. May start a hedge and put in a few shrubs too, as the nursery people take care of them at first and guarantee them to live.
Don’t know whether I’ll ever live here or not but I want it attractive, for it is the house that one would like to live in that sells. It can’t help but increase in value and if I rent it, the rent will now take care of the payments pretty well. Others to be constructed of the same size but varying in design will be put on the market at $750 more than what I am paying. Will take a Kodak picture before I go to Florida and will send you one. You may think I’m crazy to tell so much about the house, but pardon me, as it is like a new toy to a kid.
The little girl (10) living next door didn’t know why I should want a house. She wanted some one to move there so that she would have some one to play with.
You say that there is nothing of importance on which we disagree, and I have been wondering if there is anything. You must know of something. What is it? Could it be that you think that I drink? Will tell you to what extent. Last Christmas I got a pint in South Dak. and it is yet 5/6 full. I have had one egg nog out of it. If you want the balance of it I’ll bring it down to you. I have never been a drunk and have had very little to drink, even in France. I believe my bad habit is smoking and maybe that’s what you think of. If it is, please tell me. I know that your Dad doesn’t have the habit. I do get an awful lot of comfort out of it and as far as I can tell, it has never been detrimental.
Mr. Parman has a good sense of humor, but in this case it is the Dove who needs the hunting license.
If possible I shall try to leave here Saturday night so that I can be at home for a few days. Won’t you write me soon to Roxie so that I can get it before I go to Fla. I’d be mighty glad to hear from you when I am with my mother and sister. I’ll probably not be there very many days but I’d like a letter anyway.
Always,
Walter.