Cousin Walter Walin; Sept. 3, 1920 Chicago

Dear Friends,
I hope this post finds you in good health and spirits.
Here the next letter from Cousin Walter.

It's a little hard to make out sometimes so this is how I made it out.

                                 Chicago, Ill.
                                   Sept. 3, 1920
Dear Cousin Howard:
     Read your
letter a couple days ago and
had almost given up hopes of
hearing for a while
     Well we
got everything straightened out
now about the house we bought. You
see I quit my job when paw
came here from Grand Rapids, so
that I could help him make the
deal and show him around some
The deal was closed last week
and now I'm looking for a job
They are quite scarce now.
Alfred T hoop quit his job so
we were out together for a week
looking for a job. He got one where

I used to work (Western Electric)
cheapest place in the city.
  It's nothing for me to find my
way here. I can go any place I
want to. Pick out ads in the paper
and then go down there and answer
them. Later I might go out
and work for Fred. You
know there is more money
in that than in working
in a factory.
   Do you still work 10 hr
a day up there? The most
places here its 48 hr a week.
  No i haven't seen those
girls. have you heard from
any of them since? I got a
pretty nice girl that I go out
with once in a while. It costs
a whole lot to take them
out $7 or$8 a night.(Ha)
  Hows the folks & Thomas?
Greet them from me.

Ma said she had a letter from
someone up there and they said
there was forest fires around your
place all the time. Pretty dry
I suppose.
   have you seen Alfred N.
lately. I haven't heard from him
for 2 months. To hell with him.
   Well news is pretty scarce
so must close.
write soon           Your cousin
                           Walter
We have been planning on
moving into the house next week
but the people aren't out of there yet.
I didn't want to go to work until
we'd cleaned up and everything
as there is a lot to do, but time
is too long with nothing to do.

I wonder how long it took him to find a job he liked? I also wonder how many people Western Electric went through if they were the cheapest in town.I also wonder what kind of work Fred did?

Wouldn't it be great if it only cost 7 or 8 dollars to take someone out on a date?

I was trying to see if I could find see if I could find any info on forest fires that happened in the area near where grandpa lived but, I could not find what I was looking for. There was mention of a fire that happened near Peshtigo Wis. on Oct. 8, 1871. The same day as the Great Chicago Fire. It was the deadliest with an estimation death toll of between 1500 to 2500 people losing their lives. To this day they are not sure what exactly started it.

Now here a few random pictures.

I choose this one in honor of all the graduations that are going on this weekend. It says "Class of 1897". It was taken in Phillips Wis.

 Not sure anyone is or who's place this was.

Well that's all I have for you today. I hope everyone has a enjoyable and safe Memorial Weekend
Your friend,
Sandy