Harriet: Nov. 27, 1928 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was fairly uneventful. I did kind of twist my ankle a little but it's fine. A little sore but OK. I know what was I doing that this happened. Well, I am involved in the local Community theater. I'm back stage manager. I forgot about a platform and stepped off it wrong. believe me I will not forget about it again. The play we are doing is called "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike". The performances will be this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 each night.So if you find yourself in Medford any of these nights and looking for live entertainment, come let us entertain you.
Anyway here is the next letter from Harriet, I think:

  As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

Dear Sweetheart
If of me you always think
Send me back a bow of pink.
If of me your heart is true
Send me back a bow of blue.
If you want to be my fellow,
Send me back a bow of yellow.
If of me you always dream,
Send me back a bow of green.
If you want me for a wife,
Send me back a bow a white.
If for me your heart is dead,
Send me back a bow of red
          Anxious
P.S. If the writers hand you guess
Send this back to her address
               Without fail
                  Just me.

Well it's a nice poem. I wonder if he sent a bow back and if so what color was it.
I guess I'll never know.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

 This picture, taken Monday morning, shows five of the seven CCC boys on an ice floe in
Cape Cod bay. They had been marooned 22 hours when this picture was taken. A short
time later they were rescued by coast guardsmen.

I wonder what they were doing out there that they got stranded.

Here is a cartoon that was in the scrap book:

"Look on the society page and see if you find out where I was last night."

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

No idea who this is or when it was taken.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you will come back real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Helen Balusik: Nov. 26, 1928 Phillips, Wis.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good week. Well most of it was good, until Friday. I think Mother Nature wanted to show us all four seasons in one week. Oh well we'll live.
Here is the next letter from Helen:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

                     Phillips, Wis.
                 Saturday eve.
Dear Howard:-
   Yours came this A.M.
and sure enjoyed every
bit of it.
Tonite is such a cold
nite, seems good to stay
home only if I had a
radio now, wouldn't it
be grand?
I will have to write later
for I guess someone is
knocking at the door
see you later!
Here I come again
few minutes later it
was only a friend to
see pa about some
lodge meeting so that's

that.
So don't know whether
you are going hunting or not?
The boys around here can't wait
till the season opens- I hope there
isn't any accidents happen like
I heard of one today.
Two fellas went out hunting
together and after they separated
one of them saw a fox so shot into
it and at the same time this
other fellow was somewhere
near it and also was shot
with the same bullet. So the fella
was taken to the doctor quickly &
from there to the hospital. He
was shot in the hip and today
he died. I knew one of the fellas,
not the one that died. Isn't it
sad when something accidentally
happens like that?
We had our heater put in
yesterday it sure feels good to be
near it just now. wish you
were here instead so I could
talk instead of write.
I sure had to laugh when
you wrote haw bashful you are
to come up here like my brother
was to go to dinner up to his girls

place. Really are you so bashful
as all that? Well, I suppose it
takes alot of nerve, seeing we
never saw each other, but it
doesn't seem we are such
distant strangers does it , all the
letters we have written eh?
I'm sorry Howard, but I really
don't know the name of the people
Gladys Martin is staying at but
i could find out for you next
time I get to see her- I'll do that, eh?
Didn't I tell you I had two
sisters, and one was married?
She lives in Chicago. I surely
am anxious to see her again

                2
she was home only a
couple days last summer
so I'll make her stay
awhile after she comes
maybe two weeks.
Did you read in "The Bee"
Frank Novy came back
from Evanston? He sure
came back quick this
time. I wonder why.
well tomorrow is Sunday
School again. If the
weather isn't too cold I'll
go.
We have church every other
Thursday evening while the
roads are open then I
suppose we have to go
without having any

services. I'm use to going
to church alot so I sure will
miss it during the winter.
Pa wants me to keep house
for him during winter so
I guess I'll have too, altho I
enjoy being my own boss for a
change instead of being under
a boss all the time.
Well, Howard, its now almost
eleven I wonder if you are
atill up or in dreamland.
I haven't had any pictures
taken for a long time, other
wise I would send you a
couple- Wish you had some
more to spare??
Yes, I wish I was in California
now that winter is approaching
don't you? Wait till we get
snow bound
They say green is good for
the eyes (Ha Ha) No wonder
I'm using it eh?
Well Howard, Be a good
boy now and live close
to Jesus daily- Bye Bye
                   Lovingly
               "The Helen"


I wonder who the two fellas were that were involved with the shooting. I wish she would have mentioned their names. I wonder if something like that happened today what the odds are that he would have survived.
I guess we will never know.
As for Grandpa being bashful, not sure I believe it. But then again there is a lot I don't know about him in his younger years.
The Bee, is the local paper from that area.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

Washington county- where human shovelers have to precede the snowplow so it won't get
stuck. Highway 41 was practically cleared when this picture was taken a mile south of Rich-
field Wednesday afternoon but Thursday it was snowing again- Journal Staff Photo.

Can you imagine if people today had to shovel before the snowplow could do it's job?

Here are a couple of random pictures for you to look at:

 It kind of looks like what it looks like right now.

I wonder what kind of big job had to be done.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you will come back again soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Helen Balusik: Nov. 21, 1928 Phillips, Wis.

Dear Friends,
Well I hope this post finds you all feeling very good. I also hope you had a good weekend. I did. The weather was very warm here. It as very sloppy but at least you didn't have to warm a heavy coat if any coat at all.But then on Monday , it rained. But by the end of the week, there could be more snow on the ground. Mother Nature can't seam to make up her mind what season it is.
Oh well, here is the next letter from Helen:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

                Phillips, Wis.
                 Nov. 18-28
Dear Howard:-
   As I am waiting
for the dinner to cook
I thought I better answer
your nice letter.
Aren't you surprised to
have snow on the
ground? It makes it
look like Xmas right
away don't it Howard?
I like it in away and
then I'd rather be without
it- Won't be long now
and skating will
commence. They are
planning an having
a skating rink in Phillips
so I'm sure it will
be lots of fun.

It's too bad you are so far away
you could come with eh?
Today I don't intend to go to
Sunday School because, pa is
going to lodge meeting and
some one has to be home
don't you want to come over
and keep company? Too bad
we haven't telephones.
Last night some of us kids
went to a show- It was a
western so it was rather inter-
esting. I usually enjoy the
comedies don't you?
My brother makes me laugh
he was out with his girl
last night I guess to a dance
and she knew he works only
till noon today so she invited
him there for dinner- He told
me this morning how he dreads
to go, and that she was bound
he would come- I just about
know how he feels about
eating there for the first
time with the whole bunch
I'm glad it isn't me in (Ha Ha)
such a case-
Well another week more
and my married sister will
be here- She is coming only
for couple weeks- perhaps

I have told you about her coming
already-I write about it so
much I don't remember who
I did tell- that's me (Ha Ha)
That teachers name at the
Stone Lake School is Gladys Martin
she sure is a nice kid- Her
father is a wonderful Christian
also a teacher of our Sunday
School class- Wish you could
get to meet her sometime-
I don't believe she had any
basket socials yet for she
didn't mention it to me-
Well Howard, you going

             2
hunting after the season
opens? i hope my
brother gets a deer this
year- He usually has
good luck when he
does go- Wish I could
get a hunting license
I would be out there
alright (Ha Ha) But, what
I would get I don't
think much-
Pa is getting sort of
inpatient about dinner
so I'll have to set
the table and get
through with it-
Maybe I'll practice
up on the guitar some
this P:m-
Well Howard, I am

wondering what you
meant by those
abbreviations on the
outside of your envelope
(H.H.B.B.S) please tell
me, will you?
Must hurry now
see you some
other time again-
Lovingly
Helen

It sounds like they might have had snow for hunting season that year. I wonder if Grandpa got one that year. I also wonder why she couldn't get a license to go hunting? Was it not legal for women at that time or did her pa not want her to be out in the woods with a gun?
I wonder if Grandpa was interested in Gladys or was she just trying to set him up with another girl.
I wonder what show they saw?
I wonder what H.H.B.B.S. means. Any ideas?

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

Through mountainous drifts, plows slowly sliced their way to free scores of stranded motorists
in a near-record snowfall that accompanied sub-zero weather in a great area from northwest to
the east coast, this scene near Algonquin, Ill., being a typical one of rescue. Rail and highway
traffic was paralyzed, schools were closed, and blocked roads brought grave peril of fuel famines
in many communities.

I wonder how long it took the snow to build up to look like that?
I also wonder how long it took to get that car out of the snow.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

No idea who they are or when it was taken.
It looks like they are hanging around a clothes line.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I'm trying to find other things I can share with you. The old pictures are starting to run out or be to much of the same the picture or just plain boring. I might start sharing more pictures from the scrap books. But some of them are hard to scan because the are to wide for the scanner.
Oh well, I'll figure something out.
I hope you will drop by again real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Harriet:Nov. 15, 1928 Chicago, Ill.

Dearest friends,
I hope you had a good week. For me it was the same old same old. The weather is getting warm for this time of year. I think that we could have an early spring. But I think Mother Nature will say at some point, wrong! Time will tell.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

                   Chicago Ill
                  Nov 14, 1928
Dearest Sweetheart of Mine
Received your dearest letter
some days ago and sure was
glad to hear from my sweetie again.
Please excuse me for not
answering sooner but have been
working over time this week
so didn't get any of my letters
answered.
You will excuse me this
time. Won't you honney.
It has been so rainy here
lately and to-night it is so
windy it almost blew us off
the side walk coming home.
You asked if Margaret was still
with me. Yes she is still here
rooming with me.
we are going to a show
to-night.
Going to see Our Dancing Daughters
sounds good doesn't it ha!
Have you heard from Walter yet.

              =2=
he called me couple nights ago
and asked if I had heard from
you lately. Got teased but it
sure is a good thing that I am
use to it.
Well what do you know?
Anybody else getting married up there.
Must be a game around Ogema
lately.
You sure must be getting your
house all dolled up. Sure wish I
could see it.
Ans also that pretty buffet
you got.
Honney please excuse this
terrible scribbling but Margaret is
pestering me as usual. So if it
isn't perfect don't blame me.
Well Sweetheart guess I will sign
off for this time.
With hope a mile loads of "love & Kisses"
                             Your Everlasting
                             Sweetheart
                              Harriet
Please
answer sooner
then I did
Honney                   (SWAK)xxxxxx

I wonder how long Margaret stayed with her.
It sounds like Grandpa was still working on the house.
I looked up the show she said they were going to see.


This was a silent drama film in 1928.
Starred Joan Crawford and John Mack Brown.
It was about the loosening of youth morals that took place during the 1920's.
This film helped make Joan Crawford a major star.

If you go to Wikipedia you can read the summery.
I wonder what this story would look like today if it was made.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

"Sea Food," reads the sign, and why not? Unprecedented floods in the east have resulted in
the streets of Easton, Pa. being under several feet of water, as the street signs show. The cus-
tomers in the boat are being served by the owner of the tavern.- Associated press Wirephoto.

I wonder how many customers were served this way and how often it happened.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

No idea when this picture was taken or who is in it.

Well that's about all I have to show you today.
I hope you will come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Helen Balusik: Nov. 10, 1928 Phillips, Wis.

Dear Friends,
Well I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was good.
But I did just learn that one of my classmates passed. I can't say we were friends but I think we could have been if only.... But I guess I will never know what could have been. It will always be one of my biggest regrets that I did not reach out more when I had the chance.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Helen:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

                Phillips, Wis
                Nov. 9-28
Dear Howard:-
    Here it is Friday all over
election and everything - So
our man got his vote eh?
I sure was glad when I heard
the news.
I'm not doing much of any
thing today so I decided to write
some letters. Yours will be first see?
Well, its too bad you didn't
come to the social at Hackett
after thinking of going. I bet we
would have known each
other eh? Maybe we would
be too bashful to speak, no
doubt we would.
Speaking of you being there
two years ago. I'm pretty sure
I was because I was here at that
time- But I was to so many
around here that I don't
really remember if it was
just then.
No, I do not know Ester
Anderson, not personally-
There is a girl teaches at the
Stone Lake school near Spirit
that comes from my home
town. She was home last week

for couple days- we had a
good visit together. Do you
happen to know the school?
Yes, everybody is installing
radios in their homes- Wish I
was the lucky one. I surely
would make use of it while
reading books. I'm reading
some of Zane Grey's books now
they sure are interesting especially
the romance part of it (Ha Ha)
Now don't laugh at me - for I'm
sure you will-
I must see how the bread is
baking so I don't burn it
like I do sometimes when
I do something else.
News are scarce so will
have to sign off this station
Hoping you are felling fine
like myself.
           Your friend
         as always
           Helen

Well I wonder if they ever met up or not. Or maybe they met before and didn't know it at that time.
I wonder what kind of radio was the more popular at that time.
I do know that Grandpa did like to read Zane Grey books. I remember seeing them from time to time when we were growing up.
I hope here bread didn't burn.

Here is the last viewer card. I think it should have been shown first.

Mr. Slight is spending a pleasant evening with Miss Havyway.
when Mr. Newcome, his sworn enemy is announced.

I think I got it right it was very hard to make out a couple of the words.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

Willard Peterson, 25, of Appleton was killed early Thursday when his 10-ton trailer truck skidded on the road and was ditched
on Highway 55 and N. One Hundred Eight st. The trailer loaded with 11 tons of paint, tipped over on the cab, wedging Peterson
inside. It took a wrecking crew with a derrick almost four hours to remove the body.

I don't know why I choose this picture. I guess it was to show the hazards of winter driving at any time.

Since it is Valentine's Day I thought I would show you one from the past.

 Happy Valentines Day to All!

Here is a random picture:

This is Peter Keuer. He was a classmate of mine who just passed away.
I would like to say this:

To the boy I knew
and the man I wish I
would have known,
you will forever be in
my heart.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you will come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Cousin Walter Walin: Nov. 6,1928 Chicago, Ill

Dear Friends,
It's the end of another week. Time is sure flying by isn't it? Mother nature is certainly having fun with us.
Oh well, here is the next letter from Cousin Walter:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

              Chicago Ill.
                11/5/28
Dear Howard:
       First of all
I'll have to apologize for
not writing sooner but
have been rather busy.
Didn't get much time to
look around for a set
but tonite I happened
into a store that is
handling Stewart Warner sets.
Stewart Warner you know
has built up quite a
reputation the last few
years. First auto parts
and now radios. The
circular I am enclosing
shows sets that can
be operated by either
battery or eliminators and
come complete with tubes
and speaker but less batteries.

Batteries only cost $10 or $12
 if you want any of
the models shown let
me know at once and
I'll go in & hear them
first & if O.K. will get it
for you.
Called your lady friend
up a couple of times. Don't
find much time for anyone
but myself & my personal friends.
why don't you drive down some
time for a week. It wouldn't
cost much. Just for your
trip down & back. It wouldn't
cost you anything while here
as I'd see to that. I'm sure
your friend would be glad to
see you Says she lonesome
as much as ever but don't
tell her I told you. Think
it over and let me know.
I'll show you the town
in any way you want to see

it. Boy I'd just like
to take you to some of these
night clubs. You'd have
the time of your life. You
only live once.
  Let me hear from
you. With best regards
I am           Your cousin friend
                     Walter.

 He did send a booklet about those radios. I scanned the whole thing so here it is:

I looked it up on Wikipedia and it said that this company is no more in  Chicago but is in Lancaster as part of another company.
I wonder if Grandpa got a radio form Walter?

Here is the next viewer card from "The Wedding" set:

Finally married and alone at last.

I was going to include a picture but because of length of the booklet I decided not to.

Well I'll close for now.
I hope you will come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Harriet: Nov. 2 1928 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. The weather was kind of cold and breezy on Saturday. On Sunday it was a little better. We put more wood in the basement so we are good again for awhile before we have to put more in.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

                  Chicago Ill
                 Wednesday- 1928
Dearest Sweetheart"
Received your dearest letter and
to sure was glad to hear from you
again.
Are you having any winter weather
up there yet. It has been quite cold here
for the last week but have no
snow yet ha! ha!
Well to-night is "Halloween" So
suppose you have some pranks
on your mind eh!
A bunch of us girls are going to a dance
all dressed up in overalls pretending
we are some farmers ( from Ogema)
ha!
Don't you wish you could
see us We might be liable to
take the first prize of beauty-
No kidding ha!

               -2-
went to a Halloween party last Sat. night
and sure did enjoy myself.
Walter called me the other night sure
did surprise me.
I told him to hurry up and answer
your letter. I hope he took my advice
If he didn't just let me know
You asked me about Buff color.
Yes dear I think that will be OK
as that is one of my favorite colors.
You are getting our (Bungalow of dreams)
all dolled up aren't you?
went to a show last night Saw
Clara Bow "In Fleet's in" It sure
was very good.
well "dearest" haven't much to write
about so hope you will excuse my
uninteresting letter this time will do
better next time.
Loads of love & Kisses
                 Your sweetie
                Harriet
  Answer
at Once         (SWAK)


It was Halloween time. I wonder if Grandpa had fun that year.
The post mark on the letter was Nov. 2. So it took her awhile to get it in the mail.
I wonder how often Walter got in touch with her.

  The actress, Clara Bow was born July 29, 1905 and died Sept 27, 1965 at age 60 of a heart attack.
She appeared in 46 silent films and 11 talkies.
She was known for being the original "it girl"
She married Rex Bell in 1931 and retired from acting and became a rancher in Nevada.




Here is the next viewer card from "The Wedding" set:

(9) "To the health of the bride."

There was nothing printed on the back of this one.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

Just as towns in Kenosha county were hoping to get some coal cars through with the arrival of a
railroad snowplow to clear a path into village switch tracks, the plow was wrecked, as shown
above blocking the railroad right of way. As a result a dozen towns are facing a shortage of
fuel until wrecking equipment can make its way through to clear the tracks. (Associated press Photo)

I wonder what happened to the plow. How did it get wrecked?

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

I wonder how many sleds of wood this tractor was pulling.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you will come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mabel Elmblade: La Grange, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Another week done. I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to the weekend. I don't have anything planned. It's a take as it comes kind of weekend.
Here is a letter from Mabel. I think this letter is out of order because someone took the stamp(Uncle Peter). It should have been shown before:

As always, for those that find it hard to read, here is what it says:

Dear Friend,
I will write you a few lines
How are you. I am fine.
Alice Johnson gave me your
name and address and told
me to write you. I live in
La Grange, Ills. I have blue
eyes Brown hair love music
I'm 5ft my name is Mabel
and what is your name
when you write give me a
description of yourself and
also a Picture of yourself.
well this is all for this
time. So Bye Bye.
         Mabel Elmblade
29 Washington ave.
La Grange
         Ills.
over)

Say Listen I'll come up
with Alice sometime to
see you is that alright
Don't forget to write
    Your truly
     Mabel.

I guess that this letter should have been the first one she sent. With the date cut off the letter I should have read the letter first and put it in the right place.
But now we know who gave her Grandpa's name.
But right now I don't know who Alice was. Not sure if she was a relative.

Here is the next viewer card from "The Wedding" set:

With this being The Wedding Breakfast, what time did they get married?
Just asking.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

Wolves may be killing deer near Clintonville, but here's one
110-pound fellow that Joe Petka (right) fixed so that it won't
bother any more deer. Petka has killed 91 wolves in four years.
This is the biggest. Albert Eland is with him- Dekarske Phto.

Now that is one big wolf.
For one person to kill that many wolves in four years is a lot.
Now remember, this was 1936.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

I'm one who does not know a whole lot about different cars, so I don't know what year this one is from or who's it was.

Well, that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you have a good weekend.
Don't for get to come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy