Edna: May 3, 1924 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you enjoyed the beautiful weekend we had here. It could be the last warm sunny weekend for the rest of the year. (sigh) We took the dog for a walk and saw a couple of natures other beings. A snake which once fawn saw tried to go after it and ended up tossing it in to the ditch. The second thing we saw was a porcupine sleeping in a tree. I didn't have my camera with me but once we got back home I got the camera and got a picture of it. I'll show it to you after I share with you a letter from a new person.
 Her Name is Edna. I have a of picture of an Edna Swanson. I'm not sure if she is the writer of the letters but I will show you a picture of little Edna Swanson.
But first the letter.

Here is what is says:

      Chicago, Ill.,
      May 3, 1924
Dear Friend Howard:
  I'll bet you will
faint when you see
that I have written you
at last. I sure have
been going to do so
many a time, but
other circumstances
have prevented it.
You know I am
quite a busy girl
and have been
almost all the while

I have been in Chicago.
I graduated from my
College the 18th. So
I have been working
this week. The people
where we stay Mr.
Block is Vice President
of United Cigar Stores Co.
of America. So he has
me working for
him in his office.
I like it very much.
I had to fill out
an insurance blank
and had to have
references so I gave
you as one. I did
not know your

occupation, so I said
it was Lumber Business.
So if you hear from
them I know you
will give them a good
opinion of me, as you
are one of my truest
friends, you know.
  How is Thomas?
Greet him from me.
Tell him to write me
soon. Gladys says
to greet you. Mr. Block
has given us money
to go to show every
night this week.
And every morning
I ride with him
down in the taxi.

don't have to pay any-
thing.
  I don't think I will
come home until
next fall. But any
way I know I will see you. Am
getting kind of lone-
some for my old
friends.
  Well Howard
please write me
soon. I will be
waiting to hear
from you & Thomas
      Sincerely,
        Edna
3817 Rokeby St.

It sounds like she was someone who lived close to Grandpa and then went to Collage in Chicago then got a job.
Here is a picture of Edna.

I wonder if she is the writer of this letter. There are more to come. Maybe sometime she will sign her whole name and not just her first.

I looked up United Cigar Stores Co. of America and this is what I found.

It was a chain store not only selling cigars but other things like Micky Mouse watches and shoe trees. By 1926 it had 3000 stores.


I think it was very nice of Mr. Block to pay for her and Gladys to go to the show every night.
I wonder how often Grandpa and Edna got to see each other?

So many questions that will never be answered because they have already faded from history.

Here are a couple of pictures of the lumbermen at work.

No idea who are in these pictures and I don't think I ever will.

Before I go here is the picture of the porcupine I saw this weekend taking a nap in a tree.

Well that's all I have for you today. I hope you have a good week.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Laura Spiels: March 31, 1924 Westboro, Wis

Dear Friends,
  I hope this post finds you all well. Like me I suppose you are looking forward to the weekend.
Here is the next letter from Laura Spiels.

As always here is what it says:

            Westboro Wis
            March 31, 1924
Dear Howard:
                 I will
answer your letter
this afternoon.
Sunday seems to
be the only day I seem
to get time to write
letters.
  I got your letter
and pictures two
weeks ago, and I
thank for the pictures.
  We had Friday
off, but we had to
go to the Farmers
Institute so I don't
call that much of
a vacation. I am
getting tired of school
and I will be glad
when vacation is
here!

What are you doing
now?
It was some snow
storm we had
yesterday. I was
wishing the snow
would go away
so I could go home
but I guess it is
going to stay awhile.
I am here alone to
day so I am going
to answer all my
letters and then
I am going down and
play the Victrola
the rest of the after
noon.
I don't know of any
thing to write you
know theine there
is never anything
going on here, so I will
have to close
                 With love
                  Laura Spiels


Not a whole lot here. I wonder if going to the Farmers institute  was what we call a field trip today? I wonder how much snow they got that day? I also wonder what she listened to on the Victrola?
So many questions that will never be answered.
Oh well. Here are a few random pictures for you to see.

One of the unknown pictures of an unknown woman. I wonder when this one was taken?

Since it's fall I thought I would share another haying picture. On the back it says "Ma" Summer 1941. This is Grandma standing on top of this load of hay.

This is a picture of a young deer that was crossing the road. I'm sure the date on the side of the picture is not the date it was taken but just when it was finally developed. I decided to share this one with you to remind you that it's that time of the year when deer are becoming more active. So drive carefully.

Well that's all I have for you today. Enjoy the nice warm sunny weekend.
Your friend,
Sandy

Alfred Johnson: Feb. 26, 1924 Park Falls Wis.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was not to bad. I went to a 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday for my Uncle Jerry and Aunt Nancy. It was nice to see some of the cousins that I don't get to see very often. Plus my husband got a 6 point buck Saturday, so we will have fresh venison in the freezer soon. As soon as we get it back from the meat processor.
Enough about my weekend, I'm sure you want to read the next letter that is from Alfred Johnson.

 Here is what it says:
                Park Falls Wis
                Feb. 26, 1924
Friend Howard.
     Just received your
letter and I am sorry to
say that we cannot pay
4.00 Pr day and board the
Best we can do is $4.75 Pr day
if you want to work for that
you can start next
Monday.
if you want to come
let me know. if you come
you can be sure that you
will be treated 100% Human
no teasing going on here.
            Sincerely
             Alfred

I wonder if Grandpa took that job. It looks like he could have made more a day then he thought he would. Could you imagine earning $4.75 a day? That was a lot back then. Today people expect a lot more then that. I wonder what that would translate in today's pay rate?
It was good to know that he would be treated like a human. I'd hate to think he would have been treated like anything else. And no teasing, that is good to know and I suppose was a load off of Grandpa mind. That is one thing most places don't promise today.

Here are a few random pictures for you to look at.

I wonder if these are the men that Grandpa could have worked with. If this is the same place the job was offered at.

I thought since it was harvest season I would share a picture of a field that was harvested of what I'm not sure right now.

Well that's about all I have to offer you today.
So till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Alfred Johnson: Feb. 20, 1924 Park Falls, Wis.

Dear Friends,
 Well it's the weekend, finally. I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to it.
Anyway here is the a letter from a new person, Alfred Johnson. I don't think he is a relative. At least I don't think it's Grandpa's brother.

Here is what it says:
       Park Falls Wis.
       Feb. 20, 1924
Friend Howard.
    I am writing to
let you know that there
will be a chance for you
to come up here and set.
for me this summer
if you want to come
let me know how
much you want per day
we have a new Enter-
Price mill it is a dandy
and I am sure you will
like it if you want to
come up and look it over
I will Pay your fare one
way we have 75000 trees
to saw

and will be ready to
start in about 2 weeks.
       Sincerely
       Alfred Johnson

My address is

J.A. Johnson
       Park Falls
Bx 24        Wis

P.S. I am staying at
Wisconsin Hotel.

I think that he was offering Grandpa a job in a saw mill or logging or both. I wonder if he took the job or not? I do have a lot of pictures of logging. I just wonder if any were from this area or if most of them were closer to home.
For anyone who does not know where Park Falls is here is a map of where it is.

The population of Park Falls today is about 2,462. It was incorporated in 1912. Logging use to be the biggest business back in the day. A paper mill was and still is a large employer of the area.

Here are a few random pictures.

 Just a couple of logging pictures that are from that area.

Just a picture of flowers that grandma planted in an old water tank.

Well that's about all I have for you this time.
So I hope you will come back and visit again real soon.
Your friend,
Sandy

Laura Spieles: Feb. 24, 1924 Westboro, Wis

Dear Friends,
   How are you? Did you have a good weekend? Mine was drama free.
Here is the next letter from Laura.

As always here is what it says:

            Westboro Wis.,
             Feb 24, 1924
Dear Howard:
         I think I
will answer you letter
this afternoon. Saturday
afternoons are always
so long that I don't
know how to pass
away the time.
  I was to the basket
ball game last night.
There surely was a
big crowd there.
were you there? I
don't think I saw you
or probably I didn't
know you.
  I think I know who
wrote that letter

and signed my name
to it. I will tell you
who it is when I
see you. I didn't send
you the valentine and
I think the same person
sent the valentines that
wrote the letter. Save
the letter because I
would like to read
it.
  I am glad you like
bobbed hair then
probably you will
like me.
  I would send you
a picture if I had
one. I haven't had my
picture taken since I
was a little girl.

Will you send me
a picture of yourself
if you have one. I
will close for this
time.       Yours truly
            Laura Spieles

It looks like the mystery continues over who wrote the first letter. As for the valentine she is talking about, this might be the one she is talking about.

   I wonder if we will ever learn who the mystery writer is.
The reason I know that this is the valentine she is talking about is that this come in an envelope with the post mark of Feb. 13, 1924 Westboro, WI.
Sometimes reading these letters it's almost sounding like somebody from a time that is not so long ago. Talking about going to a basketball game, the team might have looked something like this.


Oh well here are a few random pictures.

I'm not sure who she is but she was asking how her bobbed hair looks.

Another unknown person with bobbed hair.

This is a picture of my older sister and it's her birthday today. Happy Birthday Sis!!!

Well that's all I have for you this time.
So till next time.
Yours truly,
Sandy

Laura Spieles: Feb. 10, 1924 Westboro, Wis.

Dear Friends,
How are you? A little wet? I'm getting very tired of all this rain we have been getting around here. Now it's starting to get colder also. Before you know it there could be snow on the ground here. Out west they have been getting snow already. Nothing is sticking yet but it won't be long and a winter wonderland will be happening.
Anyway here is the next letter. According to the writer she has never written to Grandpa before but I have put a letter out there already by this same name. Is it possible someone just used her name just to write? Or did someone do it just to play a joke on her? Will there questions ever get answered?
The writers name is Laura Spieles. You decide if they could possibly be the same person or not. Just go to the other letter written by this name.

   As always here is what it says:

           Westboro Wis.
            Feb. 10th 1924
Dear Howard;
                  I suppose
you will be surprised to
hear from me. I got
your letter about a month
ago but I didn't know
who had written it.
You didn't sign your
name to it. I showed
Olga Sulko the address
and she said it was
from you. I did not
write that letter you
spoke about and I
don't know who could
have written it.
Altho I didn't write
the first letter I hope

you will keep up the
correspondence I think
I have seen you once
and from what I have
heard about you I
think I will like you.
I don't think you will
like me because I heard
you didn't like girls
with bobbed hair and
I have bobbed hair.
I am a Junior in
high school and am
rooming at Mrs. Evan's.
A school teacher is
rooming here to and
we sure have some
good times. I will close for this time
hoping you will answer
my letter.
             Yours truly,
              Laura Spieles

Looking at this letter and comparing it to the other letter, The Sheik letter, the hand writing is different. You compare.  As for grandpa not liking bobbed hair, I don't think that was true. A number of the girls he wrote to along with Grandma, had bobbed or short hair.
I wonder why she was staying in a rooming house. Just another question that will never be answered I guess.

Here are a couple of random pictures of girls from Grandpa's past.

I have no clue who they are, do you?

Now something from the scrap book.

"I always wash and iron on Mondays and my 'usband works in 'is
garden-- flood or no flood."     (Passing Show, London)

I thought with all the rain we have been getting I'd show you it's something people have been having to deal with for a very long time. Just something to think about this weekend.

Well that's about it for now.
Till next time.
Yours always,
Sandy

Lila Haapoja & Laimie Annala: January 20, 1924 Brantwood, Wisconsin; Leap year letters

Dearest Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. I spent half of it painting Now I just have to find the right boarder and it will be complete.
Anyway here is the next two letters are from Lila Haapoja and laimie Annala. They are leap year letters, which was a popular thing to do back then. I've scanned both even thou they say the exactly same thing.

They are a little  hard to read so here is what I see.

            Brantwood, Wisconsin
               January 20, 1924
Dearest Beloved,
  As leap year is here, I
think it is a woman's
duty to propose. I there-
fore ask you to be my
darling and husband for
life.
  My beloved husband, I
am working every day
and earn enough money
to support two persons. I
have a bed without legs, a
chair without a seat, a
bed without springs, and
a mirror without glass.
Kindly take these things
into consideration before
you answer me.
  If you think I am fine
and dandy, send me a
box of candy.
  If your love is dead,

send me a loaf of bread.
  if you think I am fine,
send me a bottle of wine.
  Our eyes have met, our
lips not yet, but O, Georg-
ette,I'll get you yet.
   Your Beloved Darling,
        Lila Haapoja
(  Laimie Annala )

A little corny but kind of fun to read. Maybe it could start the trend again.
I'm not sure right now if there are any more letters from either one of these girls right now but time will tell.
Here are a couple of old pictures that have to do with this tradition.





And now a few random pictures for you to see.

 I'm not sure who these girls are exactly but they look like they are good friends.

This is Grandma. I'm not sure where she was but it has to in one of the local parks.

And this is my younger sister. Ginger. It's her birthday today. Now how old are you today?

Well that's all have for you today.
So till next time.
Your Beloved Darling,
Sandy

Alep Paulsen: Jan. 18, 1923 Thief River Falls, Minn.

Dear Friends,
I hope this post finds every well. Me, I'm doing good also. Now if only it would stop raining around here.
This next letter is from another different girl. I'm not sure if I spelled the name right but it was very hard to read a lot of this letter. If you can make out the name better I would be glad to know it because the name just does not make any sense to me.

This is what I have deciphered  of this letter.

           Thief R. Falls Minn
             Jan. 18-24
Dearest Howard-
  Today I recid your letter
and must say was much
surprised to get it. If you
did get my name in a
car as you say. I can't
imagine who has the
nerve to put it there. I
know this girl Bessie L. But
haven't much time for
her. So if you write to her
Don't correspond with me
then please- This town
sure is dead. Not one
dance or any excitement
at all. So must I do is
stay at home because

when I came home for
Xmas vacation, I got
sick. So haven't gone
back to school yet. I don't
think I am until after
Easter some time. I am
a coed at the Marquette
in Milwaukee. Have
been there two years.
So now you know that
much. Is Ogema far
from Mil. if it isn't
maybe you will come
up to Milwaukee
some time and meet
me. You may think that
by the way I say I've
been in school for two
years that I am old and

mean not exactly young
But I am eighteen- how
old are you.I'm sorry
I haven't even a snap
to send you but I've not
taken any for so long I had
my picture taken
for Xmas but I've given
them all away-
See it's terrible to
be ni this town very
long at a time. I've
never stayed at home
much lately. Ho it
sure is lonesome
especially when your
used to being busy
etc. You have a route
number- so you live

on a farm- Really I am
sorry Howard but I
simply can't think
of any more to say So
here's hoping you can at
least read my poor
penmanship. But it's
the best I can do. Answer
soon if you can and
be good in the future.
Please spell my name
Alep.
    Yours as I always am
       Alep Paulsen
        725 8th St.

This was a bit of a challenging letter to read. I'm sure I got some of the words wrong. Don't be afraid to tell me what I should correct.
To me she sounds like a kind of a strong personality for being eighteen. But she does not think eighteen is young. I wonder if Grandpa did find her name in a car and who this Bessie L. is and why she does not like her.
I wonder what she was going to school for and if she got her degree or found a husband first.

I had never heard of Thief River Falls and was not sure where it was.So here is a map showing about where it is.

Today it has a population of about 8,410. In the 1920's the population was about 4,685. So it has almost doubled in size.
Well not to much else to really think about in this letter so here are a few random pictures for you to enjoy.

Not sure who she was. It was taken at Wilbur studio in Algoma, Wis. She kind of reminds me of an old school marm. What do you think?

No idea who this is with the chickens. One of Grandpa's many friends I suppose.

No sure who this is either. But he kind of looks like Uncle Thomas or maybe even Grandpa. What do you think?

Well news is scarce so I will close for now.
Take care and have a good weekend.
Your always,
Sandy