Theresa Lambert; Aug. 25, 1920 Chicago

Dear Friends,
It's me again. I hope this post finds you doing well. I'm doing fine. But now it's to wet from always raining. It could be raining for the next week or even more.
Anyway here is the next letter from Theresa.

 As always here is what it says.

Dear Howard;
I received you letter and was very glad to
hear from you. We went to Benton Harbor Saturday
on the boat and Oh, Daddy the waves came in the
window so you can imagine how sick I was. The boys
that were with us were over the railings and the
girls were in a berth, so take my advice and never
cross the lake when its stormy or you'll come back
in pieces. When we got out there we had a dandy time
dancing and everything, But I'll tell the world
we came home in the train but that was almost as bad.
We came on the Pierre Marquett and it rocks almost

as bad. We pulled in about 2 A.M. Monday morning and
got up at six for work can you beat it. Well how
are you enjoying yourself pretty fair eh, , Lucy
sent me the pictures and there dandy. Well I guess
I'll close know hoping to hear from you soon.

Your friend
Theresa

P.S. Please excuse the stationary as I run short
and simply had to answer your letter.

I looked up Benton Harbor and found a picture that could have come from around that time.

I wonder if this was the kind of boat they took that weekend. If it was it must have been a heck of a storm.Or maybe they just got sea sick very easily. But It could not have been that bad if they still had a good time while they were there.
As for the train. She could have meant Pere Marquette.

I wonder if it looked something like this.

Theresa sure does like to use the phrase "Oh Daddy". I always thought it was something from the 50's and 60's not the 1920's. I wonder when that phrase started being used?
OK I looked it up. It was used in the 1920's. Although it was just Daddy. It meant a young woman's wealthy boyfriend or lover(sugar daddy). As far as I know grandpa was not really wealthy. But I guess that depends on what you think is wealthy. As for a lover, I don't think so, just friends.

I decided that since there has been so many wicked storms in the middle and southern part of the country I'd show you a picture from the scrap book.

A sudden cyclone swept over Miami Monday night, causing wide property damage and in-
juring 30 persons. A carnival was wrecked by the wind and this picture shows Joe Gowdy, one
of its employes, being helped from the wreckage.

See there was cyclones back then.

Now for a few other random pictures.

I'm not sure who this is or where the house was. At least I don't know who it is sitting in the doorway.

This is a picture of grandpa's home. It says on the back; Spring April 1939. It looks like mother nature was doing the same thing back then as she is doing now.

This the house where Uncle Thomas lived when I was young. It was originally the Johnson homestead. I think the ones in the picture are Grandpa and his brothers. 

Well that's all I have for now. But I will tell you that in the next letter Katheryn will give her version of the same event.

So till next time.

Your friend,

Sandy 

Lucile: Aug. 9, 1920 Hayward

Dear Friends,
How are things going for you? I'm a little tired but I'll survive.
Here is the next letter from Lucile. I'm still not sure if she is Theresa's mother or not.

                                                                 Sat. Aug. 7, 1920
                                                                  Hayward, Wis.
                                                                   R2.
Dear Howard,
I wrote to Theresa
and she said she always
intends to write to you but
something always happens
that she doesn't do it
any how. That's very
exciting isn't it?
Say listen are you
listening, will you
send those pictures
you took of us to me/
I don't think you can
take any pictures of
us this time because
we won't stop there.
Theresa isn't going to
drive back either

this time. I am. Your
place is out our way
ten miles because we
looked at the speedo
meter. My sister&
brother are measuring
our little dog as I'm
writing this nuts aren't
they you tell'em.
Our old dog came back
here again to us.
I'll bet Theresa is
having the time of her
life out there. You
know when the cats
away the mice will
play har! har!

Well I don't know what
else is interesting to write
so this will be all.
This time. Hoping I'll hear from you soon.
Lucile
P.S. Don't forget to send
the Pictures.
Lu.

Now after reading this letter a little closer I think that she is a sister. And that her name is Lucile not Lucila.
I'm trying to figure out what they were measuring the dog for.
Here is another picture I think might be of Theresa or a sister and brother.

Here are a few pictures that I think you might like. And I know who they are.

This is the Johnson brothers. It was taken in May 1958.

This is their sister. I'm not sure what year this was taken but I'm sure she will let me know. Right auntie?

This is grandpa's brother Thomas. I don't know what year this was taken but I'm sure it was around 1920's or something like that.

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

Theresa Lambert: Aug. 6, 1920 Chicago

Dear Friends,
I hope your Easter was a good one. I know that spring if finally here.How you ask? The frogs are singing, very loudly. I wonder if I spied some in one of the many puddles if I would catch them have fun, if you know what I mean.
Any way here is the next letter from Theresa.

As always here is what it says:

Dear Howard;
      I have a few
moments left to write
you a letter. I have
not had time to turn
around. Katy is having
a birthday party Sat.
Oh daddy I guess I
am going to have a
good time. My mother
is still in Hayward. I
got home safely and
am having rather a

wild time, out every nite.
We went to the pier Sunday
and took some pictures, I will
send you some if you will be
real good. How did the
pictures we took that day?
Write & let me know how
they turned out. We got to
Hayward all right will the
battery but they are having
trouble with it now. I had
a swell time in Hayward
when I was there. I got home
Monday morning. Gosh but
it was a long ride I thought
I would never get in Chic.

Well this is all for
this time. Hoping you will
write soon

Theresa

Not a whole lot here. But it sure sounds like she was having a very fun summer that year.
Here are a few pictures that I think are of Theresa and her family.

At least I think it is of her family. If not it's still a look at a past that has faded almost away.

I decided to include a picture from the scrap book. Not a winter one but one I think people who can't get enough cat pictures will like.

 Cats are hard to photograph, but a Journal camera man
snapped Scram, which belongs to Mrs.Howard Watts, 5536 N.
Hollywood av. Whitefish Bay, trying to eat a candle on its birthday
cake.

Well that's about it for now.
So till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Theresa Lambert; July 8, 1920 Chicago

Dear Friends,
I hope you are enjoying the start of this Easter holiday. After getting snow,again. I think I will be too.
Any way with out further ado, here is Theresa's next letter.

I know it's a nice type written letter but here is what is says.

Dear Howard;
     I received your letter a few days ago and have not had time
to answer it. I am down at work now, with a few minutes to spare
so I am going to write to you. So your a busy man too eh? Well my
mother leaves in a few weeks for Hayward. I just can't wait, oh
boy parties and everything. I was in St. Charles Saturday and did
not get home until Monday night. This is a little town forty miles
away. One of the girls at work lives out there and invited me to
spend the week end out there, so I did and such a time. I got in a
 bathing suit Sunday morning at eleven o'clock and did not get out
of it till two o'clock Monday morning. You see this is a big sum-
mer resort and the people go swimming in the Fox river a few feet
away. We ate out dinner and supper in the suits and drove up the river
about two miles up to a fellows camp. There we had a victrola and
danced in our bathing suits. Some time you tell em match you have
been srtuck. Well I will have to close now as it is one minute before
time to work.

Your friend,
Theresa.

Theresa sounds like your typical teenager. Can't wait till her mother is gone so she can party.
I looked up the style of bathing suits for 1920 and here is what I found.




Just think how far we have come from this

to this.

She also mentioned a Victrola. This is what I found.

We have definitely come a long way.

As for St Charles along the Fox river, the population back in 1920 was 4,099. In 2012 it was 33,327.
I just wish I knew what the name of the resort was she stayed at. Oh well at least she had a good time.

Now for a few old pictures.

I don't know who is in this picture. I thought since she was talking about swimming I'd show you this one. It's hard to tell who they are but they are guys.

I don't know who they are. It was made into a postcard. I wonder what their message was in this picture.

I thought I would add this one because of the hat. It kind of reminds me of the song about "The Easter Parade". You know wearing your Easter Bonnet.

Well that's all I have to share with you this time.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Katheryn Clary: June 28, 1920 Chicago

Dear Friends,
How are you? I was getting kind of excited for spring until it snowed, again. The ground was almost bare. Everything was covered again.
Any way here is the next letter from Katheryn. To tell you the truth the post mark was hard to read but I think this is where it belonged in the order of things.

I know it's typed but in case it does not enlarge big enough here is what it says:

Dear Howard:
     I suppose you think I am a fine one for not answering
sooner but I have been very busy working over time every nite.
Do you hear from Theresa very often? They are selling their old
machine and are going to get a new one. Lucy is going to drive to
Hayward this summer so I suppose they will stop in your place.
How is your mother, I hope she is better than she was when I last
heard from you. Theresa wrote you a letter but I don't know if she
mailed it or not. Did you get it? They are tearing down our office
and we have not any work Saturday, Sunday, Monday some vacation
eh? Oh well we have to get one some time. I'm not coming up in the
machine this summer neither is Theresa we are going to take the
train, as we are working now and only get a week or two for a vacation.
Then I suppose I won't see you will I? Maybe you can come up to the
farm in Hayward eh? Well we have rather warm weather here now and I
am real glad because I cannot wait until we go swimming can you? Or
don't you swim? How is Elmer tell Him I will answer his letters when
he writes me a nice one. Our manager is on his vacation so that is
why I got a chance to write a letter during working hours. Friday
nite I am going to Elgin and spend Sat.Sun.&Mon. there gee I wish
I was going to stay a month. Are you still working at the mill or
where ever it was? When are you going to answer this? Pretty soon eh?

     Do you still go ice skating or roller skating?
Do you play with your toys yet. Which do you prefer a horse and
wagon or chu-chu-train? Both? Well I shall see that you get them both.
 
      So long until next time and write soon.

Your friend,
Kay Clary.
3818 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, Ill.

Nothing really new here. But it does look like she is working some place else.

I think this might be the building that she worked at in 1920. It's the Rookery in Chicago.
I wonder how he answered her questions.
Elmer sure does sound like he likes to write the wrong kind of letters Katheryn.
I wonder if there is a chance that Lucy is Theresa's mother and just might be Lucila.
A lot of things to wonder about.


Here are some random pictures your might enjoy.

Someone wrote on the back "about 1921". So if you are from Eagle River, Wis. and if the Hemlock Lodge is still there you will know what it looked like in 1921.

Another logging picture from about 1916.

It's hard to make out the studio but I think it was Chicago some where. Does anyone know what kind of uniform this is for?

Well that's about it for now.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Katheryn Clary; June 10, 1920 Chicago

Dear friends,
I hope this post finds you all well. Me, getting a little bit better. The snow is finally melting. It's melted so much I can actually see most of the ground, except where there are snow banks.
Any how here is the next letter from Katheryn.

This one is written in pencil and is a little hard to read. So here is what she says:

Dear Howard,
Received your
letter today and I was
very glad to hear from
you. I don't care if
Elmer writes again
or not. Say listen
Howard will you
make me about 3
pictures of each of these
real good because I
want them to come
out very good. Send
back the negative

please. Well I am very
glad to hear that you are
having a nice time with
your "Ford". Also and
glad that your mother
is well. I was not feeling
very well today but expect
to be better tomorrow. Gee
I don't know what to write
as there is not much
"news", only that H????
Johnsan thinks he is
president already and
I hope he never gets in.
Well I don't know
anything else to say
so I'll close.
Your friend
Katheryn
Write soon, please
send the pictures and
thanks for the larice.

Not a whole lot of new info here.She does not like Elmer and likes Grandpa to develop film for her. I wonder if he ever charged her for the pictures? I wonder if she only wanted him to develop pictures for little or nothing in exchange.
After a little bit of research I think I figured out the name of who was running for president at the time.
I think it was Hiram Johnson. Sept. 2, 1866-Aug. 6, 1945

He was a leading American Progressive and Isolationist politician from California. He served as the 23rd governor In California from 1911 to 1917. He was a senator from 1917 to 1945. He was Theodore Roosevelt's running mate in the 1912 presidential election on the progressive aka Bull Moose ticket. He ran for president in 1920 as a republican.
When he died his death was over shadowed by the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, Japan.
As far as I know he is not related to grandpa in any way shape of form.

I wonder if the last word just might have been licorice.

Boy he like to send candy to the girls.

Now here are a few random pictures of unknown people.

These picture make me want to sing about the good old summer time.

I'm thinking that this a picture of kids from one school house. I'm not sure, as usual, who any of them are or what year it was taken.

This picture was taken in Appleton, Wis. The studio is a little hard to figure out. I think it might be H. G. Derbel. It's hard sometimes to figure out some of the writing.
Anyway, don't you just love her hat and that heavy coat she is wearing?

Well that's it for now so I will stop.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Theresa Lambert: June 8, 1920 Chicago

Dear Friends,
It's me again. Are you ready for the next letter from Theresa?
Well ready or not here it is.

This one is written in pen, I think. So in case it's hard to read here is what it says.

Dear Howard;
I know it's a heck of a
trick for me to play but I
have not had time to move.
Same old stall but you will
excuse me I hope. We have
had cold weather right along,
we would have a hot day now
and then but what's that. It was
pretty cool yesterday along the
lake but today, it's hot enough
to roast a pig. My mother is
going to Hayward this year
but I can't go because I only
get one week vacation and
                 2
it would not pay to go up
there for one week, so I stay
home. Boo hoo. I suppose you
are laughing. Well it's no joke.
Don't get eggy or I will scramble
you. Getting real rough eh? Well
treat em rough they like you
better. Suck scribbling well this
pen is driving me insane. We
were out riding in a great big
Jeffry motor car Sunday. Oh
daddy that was some boat.
How is your mother? Any
better than she was around
Christmas time? Well I

hope so. The warm weather
makes any body feel better.
I suppose you are very busy
now planting all kinds of
 things. Well plant a little sweet
pea for me and when I go stealing
thro the country some night I
will come and get it. Well I guess
I will close now. Hoping this letter don't find you so over
worked that you won't be able
to write right away.
Your friend
Theresa

Well not a whole lot here. But if you notice the time between letters are getting longer. Or maybe I don't have all the letters. Maybe there are some he didn't save or maybe they are mixed up with some of the other letters. Time will tell.
I counted the number of letters to go between Katheryn and Theresa and there are 24 more to go. So it will be a few more months before I can start another person.
She did mention something about a Jeffry motor car and that it was a big boat. I found something that could be what she was referring to on the internet.

I figured it was big so maybe it's the boat she was talking about.

Well since she mentioned cars I thought I'd share some pictures of old cars of about that time.

Not sure who the woman is and I'm not good at telling one car from another.

Not sure what the occasion is but look at all those cars that look alike.

Must have been a family friend.

Someone who was driving by the old homestead.

Well I hope you enjoyed this letter and pictures.
I'll close for now. Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy