Mary Kauer: Sept. 10, 1924 Rib Lake, Wis

Dear Friends,
How are you? Me, I'm good. The week was the same old same old for me. Are you ready for the change in the weather? I hope you have a good Halloween.
Enough small talk, here is the next letter from Mary.

As always here is what it says:

         Rib Lake Wis
        Sept. 8, 1924
Hello Mr Johnson;
   How are you getting
along and how do you
like the weather? I'm
fine, the same as always.
   I finishes the book
already and I certainly
enjoyed reading it.
   Did you know that Rose
is working at Youman's again?
We were up at Westboro
Sunday, Rose's brother, my
brother, our schoolmarm &
myself. We had one grand
time getting there. We went

thru the hills and in one
place our car skidded so
that it stood crossways over
the road.
   Well, we got there anyhow
and we stayed about an hour.
Rose was out to Riverview
Sat. nite and they had a
couple of flights, same as
always.
   That Finnlauder sweetheart
of yours, Anna R is working
at Youman's too.
   Going home we took 13
but that was almost as
bad, but it hasn't so many
curves. In the evening

we went to Wellington, the
four of us in Anton Kauers
coupe! So you see we had
all the rides we wanted for
one day.
   It's getting late so I'll
close with best wishes from
              Mary K.
I almost forgot to send my
wedding picture, what do
you think of it?

 I think I got most of the words right. But I'm sure I got the name of the business right. I'm not sure what it was right now. I'll check into it a little farther.
It looks like at the time Grandpa was seeing Anna R and that she is a Finnish girl. I'm not sure what Finnlauder is or if I even spelled it right.
She always seams to be on the go somewhere.

I think I have an old postcard that might be of Westboro in the 1920's. Here it is.

Most roads were not paved like they are now so it was very much of a challenge to travel comfortably. And back then there were not seat belts so you can imagine what it was like travelling done most country roads.

How do you her picture of a bride and groom? I think she had a kind of wicked sense of humor from time to time.

In honor of Halloween here are a couple of pictures of Grandpa dressed up for Halloween.

At least I think it's Grandpa. What do you think?

Well that's all I have for you today.
Tell next time.
Good luck and best wishes
from your friend,
Sandy

Cousin Walter: Sept. 2, 1924 Chicago, Ill

Dear Friends,
How was your weekend? Mine was good. It could have been the last nice kind of warm weekend we will have around here for the rest of the year. But, I could be wrong. On Sunday the husband and I went up to Tim's Hill. The leaves are all down but it was still a very peaceful place to visit. With all the leaves on the ground you kind of had to plow the leaves with your feet they were so thick.
The husband said it would be fun to bury yourself in the leaves and then pop up when someone walked by. We didn't do that but, it's an idea for someone to do this. You know with Halloween at the end of this week.
Anyway here is the next postcard from Cousin Walter.

It's kind of hard to read so here is what it says:

Dear Howard:
           Got here
O.K. Sat. & it sure
seems nice to be
back in good old
Chi. again. Too
bad you're not here &
I'd show you the big
building. As ever
                   Cousin
                   Walter
Keep away from Rib Lake
(along the top this is written)
Regards to all.

Well it sounds like he knows about Mary and is trying to tell Grandpa to stay away.
As for the building on the front of the postcard it still stands and is used to this day, I think. It was built in 1914.

Here are a few random pictures I chose for you to see.

I thought it was a funny kind of postcard.

Not sure who any of these guys are. In the top one, I wonder if they were playing baseball. It looks like the guy could be holding a bat. What do you think?

Well news is scarce so I'll close for now.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Aug. 27, 1924 Rib lake

Hello Friends,
How are you this fine day? Me not bad. I've a three day weekend. I picked a good time to take off. This could be the last nice warm weekend of the year. From here it could be down hill.
Anyway here is the next letter from Mary Kauer. Included was a picture cut out of the news paper, it was wrapped in tissue paper.

Well as always, here is what it says:
     
           Rib lake Wis
           Aug 26, 1924
Hello Howard,
   Well, seeing I'm going
to write a long letter
this I think I had
better start. Because it
takes me more than
one day to write a
half way decent letter.
  How did you get home?
I hope you weren't held
up or anything.
  I wasn't home Sunday
for the simple reason that
they didn't come after
me. It made me mad

but that didn't help any
either. My brother & Rosie
& another fellow came in
the evening and we went
out to Wellington. And
tomorrow go again. Tonight
in that show up at the
church and then there is
a tent show here yet this
week. That's almost enough
for one week, don't you
think?
  Well I'm happy again
because I saw my mother
today. There was a funeral
here today and they came
in for that and then Of

course she came to see
me.
  There's no more news
around here except that
its awfully hot today
which is just what I like
                 Good Luck from
                      Mary K
P.S. How do you like this
picture of me? I think
its as good as can be
expected.

Well it sounds like Mary had a very busy week.
She mentioned a tent show. I think the kind of tent show she was talking about, but I could be wrong, is one of those traveling kind of church things that happened back then. or maybe it was just a traveling entertainment kind of show with singers and dancers.I guess I'll never know. Just another thing that has faded away.



I wonder where she was staying and way she does not see her mother very often. I think that will be answered in future letters.
As for that picture, Once again she was trying to be funny. Here is a real picture of her.

She definitely had a sense of humor.

Anyway here are a couple more random pictures.

This one is Grandpa in the middle. I think one of the girls could be Mary, but I'm not sure.

This Grandpa on the top and Thomas on the bottom. Thomas was a smaller kind of guy but to hold Grandpa on his shoulders like this proves he was strong. Grandpa was I think at least 6 foot tall. Thomas was a lot smaller then that.

Anyway no more news for now.
Enjoy your weekend, I know I will
Good luck from
Sandy

Mary: Aug.12, 1924 Rib Lake, Wis.

Hello Friends,
How was your weekend? Mine, we painted the living room and hallway painted. By we I mean me and my youngest daughter. So that's done. My next big project will be the basement.
On to the next letter from Mary.

  It's not a very long one but here is what it says:

            Rib Lake, Wis
             Aug. 19, 1924
Hello Howard,
  I just wanted to
tell you that I won't
be here this week. I'm
going home Tuesday
evening and stay till
next Sunday.
   How are you? I hope
alright the same as
myself. I spose your
thin making hay by
this time.
  Will close with best
wishes from Mary K.
P.S. Its dinnertime so I can't
                     write more.

Not to much here. Grandpa is still making hay.
If she is not writing from home, where is home and where is she staying and why?
These answers be answered in future letters.

Anyway here are a few hay related random pictures for you to look at.

Not sure which of Grandpa and Grandma's  boys these are.

Grandpa baling up the hay. Not sure what year this was but I remember him doing just this.

After the baling the hay taking a trip up the elevator to be stored in the barn.

Well that's all I have for you this time.
Till next time.
Best wishes from your friend,
Sandy

Mary: July 29, 1924 Rib Lake, Wis.

Hello Friends,
How was your week? Mine was the same old same old. This weekend I will painting my living room and hallway. So I will starting to tape things up and getting thing out of the way so we can paint. me and my youngest daughter will have a busy day on Saturday.
Anyway here is the next letter from Mary.

As always, here is what it says:

          Rib Lake, Wis

          July 23, 1924

Hello Howard,

   Well, since I am

not busy just now

I'll try and right

write a decent letter.

I sp'ose your busy making

hay while the sun shines

and I'm glad I've not

got your job today.

Me for the shade.

I like warm weather

but if I had to work

outdoors today I

think I'd die.

  How'd you spend

your Sunday. I didn't

see you at Wellington

But Rosie gave me an

introduction to Dorthy

Mathews & Mildred  Engstrom.

Saturday evening I was

to a barn dance 7 Sunday

afternoon to a church

picnic out at Greenwood.

And Monday morning I

was so tired I almost

forgot to git up.

  How did you get home?

I hope you didn't break

down on the way.

And did they make you get

up at 5 o'clock again?

Say, I told Rosie about

those nets and she laughed

like a fool. She said:

"Well that's going some.' She

can laugh because she

doesn't use them any more.

   Well so long now

    good luck from

           Mary

Wellington is a lake that people like to hang out at, then and now. I've been there I think maybe once that I can think of. I am a swimmer but I did most of my swimming at the lake my other grandparents lived on, Sacketts Lake and  Mondeaux Dam. But a lot of people from the Rib lake area hung out there. I'm sure how much they do now a days. As for Greenwood, that's south of here aways so that was a lot of running around for a weekend. 

I'm not sure right now if Dorthy Mathews or Mildred Engstrom wrote to Grandpa but we'll find out over time if any of their letters show up here.

Well it looks like the hairnet in the last letter was her just being funny.

Now for a few random pictures based on things mentioned in this letter.

Just a couple of pictures taken at some lake. No idea who are in them.

And another picture of someone sitting on top of a hay pile. it kind of looks like it could be one of Grandpa and Grandma's kids.

Well that's about all I have this time.

Tomorrow, I paint. Wish me luck.

Your friend,

Sandy

Mary: July 18, 1924 Rib lake Wis

Hello Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was good. We had gone to Wausau and spent a little time on Rib Mountain. I forgot my camera so no pictures. There were a lot of other people spending time there and taking pictures. It was more then likely the last good day to see any color on the trees this season.
Here is the next letter from Mary. A little something else was included in this one. I think you will get a kick out of it, if you know what it is.

Here is what it says:

               Rib Lake Wis.
               July 18, 1924
Hello Howard,
   You said I was to
write first this time
so I'll try my luck.
  How did you get home
Tuesday? I hope you did
not have any accidents
going around the all
those curves. I got home
alright so you needn't
worry about me.
  Did you know that
I was to a show at
Ogema? It certainly was
a dandy. And Ogema

is a nice little place
isn't it? Even if it isn't
as large as Rib Lake.
  How were you at your
work Wednesday? You
didn't fall asleep on the
job, did you? At least
I hope not, that
would make me feel
awful. You know I'd
hate to have some-
thing like that on
my conciense.
I can't think of
a single thing to
write any more so
I guess I'll say

goodbye. Best wishes
   from Mary
Do you think I'd get
any kind of a stand-
ing on this letter?

(This is from the last note with that special gift.)

This is what you get for
not keeping both hands
on the steering wheel

Can you guess what it is?
I'll tell you. Ready....
A HAIRNET!!!
I guess it does not matter what decade you grew up in. Keeping both hands on the steering wheel when you have a date has always been challenging.
I'm not sure if she is saying Grandpa didn't keep both hands on the steering wheel or if she was just trying to be funny. What do you think?

I was trying to figure out what the populations of Rib lake and Ogema  was back then but it has been a little hard to find the right info, when you don't want to have to pay for it. But it looks like back then Rib Lake could have had the population of about 1100, maybe. Back then these town were good sized places because of the logging that went on around there in those days.

Oh well, here are a few random pictures for you to see.

This could be someone from Grandma's side. It was taken at Ross studio in Appleton, Wis.

I think the one on the left could be Grandpa, but I'm not sure.

This is one of the logging camps. Heden Camp in the Town of Hill. I wonder if grandpa worked at this one?

Well that's about it for now. I hope you have a good week.
So till next time.
Best wishes from,
Sandy

Postcard: June 29, 1924 Minnetonka Minn & Mary: July 11, 1924 Rib Lake Wis.

Dear Friends,
It's me again. And it's Friday! Yeah!
I'm going to show you things. A postcard and a letter. I think the postcard might have been sent by Oscar Johnson. I'm not sure who he was. The only one I ever heard about while I was growing up was a brother of Grandpa's that was often known by that name. His full  name was Joel Oscar Johnson. He died in 1908. I will tell you the story of him sometime in the future.
Anyway here is the postcard.

Here is what it says on the back.

Hello Howard: How
are you old timer?
I'm fine. Am out
at Lake Minnetonka
this evening with
Nels P. Peterson
Oscar Johnson
220 ??????? ave.
        Mpls.

I'm thinking Nels P. Peterson is the same one that had sent a letter to Grandpa once before.
I like the picture of the steamboats on Lake Minnetonka. I wonder how long these boats were used and if maybe they still exist anywhere now.

The letter is the first from Mary. I think this Mary's last name is Kauer. Grandpa and Mary hung out a lot back in the day. Rib Lake is not real far where Grandpa lived.
So here is the letter.

Here is what it says:

        Rib lake Wis
        July 11, 1924
Hell Howard--
   Recid your letter
alright but was sorry
to hear that you were
so tired. There ought to
be a law that wouldn't
allow people to work
the day after a holiday
That would give them
a chance to rest up.
I didn't get up till
quite late so I wasn't
so very tired.
That evening I had a
ride out to Chelsea

One of the neighbor girls
left for Chicago and she
asked me to go along.
But it wasn't all joy-
riding. There was quite
a stretch of bad road.
 I saw Rosie Sunday
and she said all her
brother did Saturday was
to tease her. I think
brothers are just awful,
anyway, don't you?
well, so long from
                    Mary
P.S. heels hoping you can read
this.

I left a few of the miss spelling in it.
This is the first of many letters from Mary.
 I wonder if the two of them were out late together?
She mentioned Chelsea. It is a small town just north of where I live. It's one of those small towns that has become smaller over time.


For those of you who do not know the area here is a map showing where it is.

Here is picture of Mary.

I have a number of pictures that I know are of her. Over time I will show them to you. I wonder if she was any good at the accordion?

Now for a couple of random pictures.

Not really sure who this is and how the family knew him.

No idea who these two women are that are handling this team of horses.

Well that's about all for now. News is scarce.
So till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Edna: June 2, 1924 Chicago, Ill. (and Gladys)

Dear Friends,
How was your weekend? Mine was quiet and uneventful. Nothing happened that is worth saying anything about.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Edna and a little note included from Gladys.

It is a little hard to read in spots, so here is what it says:

                 Chicago, Ill.

                  June 2, 1924

Dear Friend Howard:

   Received tour letter

some time ago, but

circumstances have

delayed my answering

it. Now I am through

with my collage work

but I am working and

all my spare time is

evenings and I am

awfully tired sometimes.

So if my letter does

not sound very good

(as I presume it will

not) you will know

 the "Reason Why"

  Well did you have

a nice vacation the

30th? I sure did. Did

 not work all day. Went

to Lincoln Park with

Uncle Walter & Gladys

and in the evening I

went to a dance

sure had a wonderful

time.

  As I have told you 

before, I am working

for Mr. Block. Mrs. Block

and Leon are away

for a two week vacation 

went in car this morning

at 4:00 o'clock. So I

 go with Mr. Block in

a Taxi every morning

& night.

Do not know yet

when I will be home

but it will be some

time soon maybe in

July sometime or August.

  Well news is

is scarce so guess I will

 ring off.

  Was to a picture 

show tonight, saw " The

Woman on the Jury". Sure

was swell. Yesterday I

saw 'The Arizona Express"

that also was a peach.

   Howard, are you 

still angry with me 

since that time on

Christmas when we

went to show at Ogema?

Hope you forget about

it.

  Well greet Thomas

and tell him I am coming

back soon. It is a year

ago tonight the 2nd since

I left home. Arrived Chgo.

tomorrow morning 3rd

Please let me hear

from you sometime

again.

       Sincerely,

          Edna

Hello 

How are you

I am fine &

hope you are the

same, tink I sk all

quil for dis time

   from Gladys

P.S. Oh. ya! I forget to

tell you. I see you soon

        "Ha Ha"

Well, interesting. It sounds more and more like she can get a bit crabby from time to time and like to write about it so the reader knows how she was feeling at the time.

I looked up the movies she said she saw and this is what I found.
"The woman on the Jury"
It was a silent film, of coarse. I was trying to find out what it was about but I could not find what I wanted. But, it was remade in 1929 with a title of "The Love Racket". It is a story of a woman who is put on a jury that is to judge another woman for something she herself had done.
I tried to find a picture of it but this is all I could find.




I did find a description of this on. This is an edge of your seat kind of story.
It involves a murder, someone being falsely accused of it and then trying to clear his name, running from the gang who set him up, getting on a train, The Arizona Express. A girl helping to clear his name and getting the real killer to write a letter of confession. The getting that letter to the governor before he is executed in the morning. I wonder if they would remake this one. I can see it being done today, couldn't you?

I wonder what happened at Christmas time that she wants him to forget?

As for Gladys's note on the back, I don't think I copied it right. Any ideas what it says for sure?

Anyway here are a few random pictures for you to look at.

 I think the one on the right just might be Edna.

Not sure who they are or even what they are doing.

Not sure what this picture is of but someone had a habit of writing where it was taken in a certain sector.

Well news is scarce so I will close for now.
Till Friday.
Your friend,
Sandy