Anna: April 14, 1926 Milwaukee, Wis.

Dear Friends,
I hope this letter finds you all well. I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to the weekend. The week for me has been uneventful. Unfortunately the weekend looks to be the same. I just won't have to work.
Here is the next letter from Anna. It's been awhile since I've shown a letter from her.

 As always for you who find it hard to read here is what it says:

            Milwaukee, Wis.
                  April 14, 1926
Well old Pal-   It will
never happen again. I wanted
you to get a letter on your
birthday any way. I had meant
to get those mats for your car
but haven't gotten down town
for oh! so long. Freda must
have gotten your letter. Some
April fools joke. I've been up
side down for a week now.
Company and extra work.
Plenty of it the last week. The
laundress, Mrs. Mary and I
have some tatted around.
Ge! Howard you must
be hard hit. Hang on to Mary
she is a Jewel. I heard you

were engaged. Are you? Why
haven't you told your big sister?
Nothing would please me more.
I rec'id Toms letter yesterday
I am sorry your mother
is not feeling very well. It
certainly is to bad.
  This is the fourth letter
but I place them in envelopes
right away and want the names
taking each one separately so
no mistakes will be made.
Well I suppose in about
six more weeks I'll be leaving
here to go to Cambridge out by
the Lakes- Oh how I hate to go
because I know it will be
terribly lonesome. I think
I can come home for a week

or two during the summer
though and maybe get there once
in awhile. Its near Madison
about 60 miles from here.
I'm all alone home and it
is kind of quiet but very nice
for a change. I just felt like
being alone this afternoon.
All the orphans were
invited for supper to Sammers
Sun. night. We sure had fun.
We always do there. We and
Mrs. named orphans because
we are away from our folks.
and home. I'm "The kid"- oh
if we don't cut up.
Last night I was to girls
club. Oh if we didn't have
a stiff time. This woman has
her house just shinning

and its misery to go there.
I was there to a birthday
party last week with Hammer.
rev. H. was going to be dignified
but Mrs. H & I had the fun back
of the old ladies back. He forgot
his dignity there also.
We're going to have Y. P. social
next Friday night. Last time
it was so dull but hope this
one will be more exciting.
Nothing to write about
the weather now-  it is
ring cold to day. It has been
lonely & warm before-
  Take good care of Mary
but don't forget to write to me
some times. When will we go
to copper Falls again? lake many
home & I'll so along to Mankegen -as ever
                                                      Ann-
(Written along the first page)
Helsa your mother!


I know a number of words are wrong, sorry. I tried to guess at those the best I could.
Now for some of the things she mentioned. I'm not sure where she got the information that Grandpa and Mary might be engaged. I'm thinking that the two of them were the talk of the area when they hung out together and wrote letters to each other so much. But it was not meant to be.
When she talked about orphans I wonder if they were actual orphans or maybe children that were abandoned by their families. I guess I'll never know.
 I wonder what kind of fun they had that turned out to be undignified. Another part of history that has faded away never to be known again.
The word Hela is Swedish for healthfulness.

Here are few random pictures for you to look at.

No clue who any of these people are. Although I think there is a possibility that the middle one could have been taken by the home place, but I'm not sure.

Well that's all I have for you today.
Have a good weekend and don't forget to stop by again on Tuesday for another letter to Dear Howard.
Your friend,
Sandy

Cousin Walter: April 14, 1926 Los Angles, Cal.

Dear Friends,
How was your weekend? Hot? It's finally summer here. But I could really do without the high 80's and humidity. It was a busy weekend around the area. There was a number of different things to choose from. There was the county fair,still not good. It's sad that this community does not like to do things to help promote its businesses. To know what I'm talking about you just have to go. There was a car show in the park. That just might have been a bigger draw then the fair. I can't say for sure because I didn't go to it. There was a picnic for people who work for Weather Shield. My husband works there so we did go to that for awhile. It was a bigger crowd then I thought would be there. We didn't stick around to long.
Other things in the area was something in Westboro and I think there was something in Lublin. So as I said there was enough to choose from. That's just the local stuff. There were a number of different things going on around the state that could have been a bigger draw then here.

Anyway here is a postcard from Cousin Walter who was in California for some reason.

Court of birds, Glenwood Mission Inn, Riverside, California

Here is what he wrote:

Saw this place Monday.
Dear Cousin:
                   Just
a few lines to say
I'm still out here
and taking life
easy  Will be
back in Chi Mon
             Walter

Here is the information on the back:

Glenwood Mission Inn.
Riverside, California
The court with its luxurious
foliage,the low tiled Adobe
and the rustic ramadas  are all
reminiscent of the Old Spanish
days of manana. The old Adobe
made of sun baked mud bricks,
was one of the first houses in
the Riverside valley of "Glenwood
Tavern" of the early days.

It started in 1876 as a 12 room adobe boarding house. It still exists today. But something tells me it's a little on the pricey side.

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

This is the City Park and Legion Hall in Birnamwood, Wisconsin

This is the Bad River Canyon in Mellon, Wis.

This is looking back on Pikes Peak Highway.

I wonder what this highway looks like now?

Well that's about all I have for you today.

So till next time, take care.

Your friend,

Sandy

Mary Kauer: April 17, 1926 Rib Lake, Wis.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good week. Mine was quiet. Now that I do not have any practice to go to at night, I have no where to go.
Here is the next letter from Mary:

For those of you that find it hard to read, here is what it says.

                Rib Lake Wis
                April 17, 1926
Dear Howard:-
    I s'pose you were
swearing (blue streaks at
me when your car broke.
Just think, to have such
bad luck all on account
of a German. Oh have did
you have some other
reason for coming here?
But honest, I'm sorry you
had such bad luck and
I hope it doesn't cost a
lot or take so very
long to fix it again.
   But say what did
Frank Olson say about it?

Or doesn't he know
where you broke it?
Did you tell him you
were going to Westboro
to see your cousins?
  I don't know what kind
of a letter this will be as
the baby is sitting here
with me talking to her-
self. I guess she wants
to tell me to send you
her love. That's alright
isn't it? Because she's
the cutest kid that ever
lived.
  What did Thomas and
your mother say about
your car? I s'pose they

wish you'd quit burning
up your gas and losing
so much sleep. I hope you
don't break it again else
they'll all get sore at me.
Say, I can't think of
anything more to write. I
took the baby  down-
stairs just now and by
that I forgot all the
news that I know.
  Oh, I must tell you what
Mrs. H. said this noon.
She made some coffee-
cake today and it was
awfully good so Mr. H.
asked it I made it and
she said, "No, if Mary

could bake as good as
this, Howard would have
married her a long time
ago, but I guess he's afraid
he'll starve to death if he
gets her." That's a heck of
a compliment, isn't it?
But I guess it's so alright.
I mean that people would
starve to death if they
depended on my cooking.
Well, so long and good
luck next time you come
or aren't you coming any
more?
             M.K.
P.S. I have a bottle of wine for you
A regular hip flask.


I wonder how bad his car was broken. It happens. What ya going to do.
The baby she mentioned I think was one she helped looked after. I think it belonged to Mr. & Mrs. H.
It sounds like Mary was not a good cook and most people knew about it.
My Grandma, she loved to cook. She was known for her cakes. I remember she made wedding cakes for some people.

Well as always here are a few random pictures for you to look at.

I thought since she mentioned a baby I would share one of the baby portraits I have. No idea who this is. It was taken in Phillips, Wis by S.A. Johnson.

Since she talked about cooking I found a picture of some people enjoying what looks like a wedding cake.

This is a picture of Grandma. I'm not sure when it was taken.

Well that's about all I have for you this time. I hope you drop by again real soon for another letter and pictures from the past.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: April 5, 1926 Rib Lake Wis.

Hello Friends,

I hope this post finds you all well. My weekend was good. A little on the hottish side but not to bad.

Here is the next letter from Mary. It's 5 pages long. For someone who claims to not like writing letters she certainly can write.

For those of you that find it hard to read here is what it says:

                  Rib Lake Wis

                  April 5, 1926

Hello Howard:-

   I got your letter

before dinner and certainly

was surprised as I didn't

expect another one before

I answered. But that's

what I call a real surprise

cause you know I always

like to get letters but

I'm not so fond of writing

them myself.

I'm glad your mother

liked the Easter card I sent.

I didn't know whether I

should send one or not.

So you had to shovel

your road out again?

Well, that's good exercise

but I do feel sorry for you

anyhow Mrs. Hipke said

something about you com-

ing one lazy day and I

told her that you lived

off of the state road and

had to shovel quite a

ways. She said, "Gee he must

have had some hard work."

But then hard work is

good for Swedes, isn't it?

'Specialy  for big husky one

like you.

Joseph was to town with

the car yesterday. They didn't 

get stuck at all coming in

but going home we got stuck

twice and all had to get out

and push. Mary Schneider, went

out home with us so she had

to do her share and she

was all rigged up in summer

clothes.

Anton(my brother) was home from

Merrill for a few days. He

drove over with a team. He

said it took him six hours

to make 27 miles.

  Ella and Walter Schneider

were over yesterday evening and

Rose & her two brothers.

Anton k. and Ella walked home

and Joseph took me to town

with the team and Walter &

Mary went along and then he

took them home. It was 

half past two when I got here.

Still that was an hour

earlier than I usually get

home.

Say I saved the Herald

for you so if you remind

me of it I'll give it to you

unless you changed your

mind about coming.

Tom Enders of Medford

died last Friday. I guess I

told you that they used

to live neighbors to us. He

was about 20 years old. he

was operated on for

appendicitis and I guess

he never came out of the 

ether.

Say is that new family

that moved into your

neighborhood, Catholic?

because if they aren't

there would be a girl

just about the right age

for you. She's not so

old yet but she isn't

too young either.

  Well here's hoping

to see you Sat. or sooner.

I've got to go to work now.

                Love from Mary.

Like I said a long letter. It kind of sounds like there might have been a lot of snow at the time if they had to do shoveling. I wonder exactly how far Grandpa would have had to shovel. It is a distance from the home place to highway 13. It would have had to be an all day task.
Can you imagine taking 6 hours to travel 27 miles by horse and wagon in the snow?
But it sounds like Mary and the people she was with got their own exercise pushing a car.
It was sad to hear about the guy who died when he went into surgery for an appendicitis. Ether was a very hard thing to regulate back then. I hope I spelled his name right and got his age right. It was a little hard to read.

Well here a few random pictures for you to look at.

This is from 1958. I think my dad knows what happened here.

This is the picture of a train I wanted to show you last time. I finally found it. No idea for sure who is in the picture.

This is Kelvin Metzger, a classmate of my dads. I was told this is one of the few times he did not have a cowboy hat on.

Well that's all I have for you today.
Enjoy your week and drop by again for another letter to Dear Howard.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Tuesday Eve. Rib Lake, Wis.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good week. Mine was good. Wednesday night I got together with the people I was involved with in the play. It was a great time. I just hope we can find a way to get together every once in awhile. We were an amazing group on and off stage.
Enough of that, here is the next letter from Mary. I just hope it was put in the right spot because she did not put the date just the day and I think my uncle might have taken the stamp with the post mark.He collected stamps.

For those of you that have a hard time reading it, here is what it says:

                    Rib Lake Wis
                    Tuesday Eve.
Dear Howard-
   I got one of your
letter yesterday and
one today. Well, I'm glad
you had a good time
at the party. In a way
it's a good thing I
wasn't there. We can't
dance during Lent and
you said you danced

a square dance. Did they dance
at her dances too? I guess they
did not have a very big crowd
at Mores Sat.
  Rose stayed with me Sat.
eve so we went to show. It
was a dandy. I'll tell you about
it when I see you.
  John, Felix and Paul
Viisnecki were in town Sunday.
You know the fellows I told
you about from camp. It's the
first time Paul was here.
They walked home with us
Sunday and stayed at Kauer's
till about 11 o'clock P.M.
  We walked the track because
the roads were so bad and we
found an old hand car of Fuch's
so we took that. I pumped

it for a little ways
but oh, that was hard
work. John always wants
to know when the wedding
will be and if we will
invite him.
  John Kauer was home
too, Sunday.
Anton my brother left this morning
so I s'pose he is there
by this time. I hope he
doesn't get too homesick
I know I would.
                      Mary

I'm not completely sure that this is the spot where this letter belonged but I think it kind of fits here.
With Mary being catholic she had to observe certain things or give up certain things, dancing being one of them.
 As for walking the tracks she meant the railroad tracks and pumping on old rail cart.


I'm sure it looked something like this one.
I know now a days it is against the law to be on the rail road tracks. But like she said the roads were bad. You have to remember there were not very many paved roads.


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

I thought since she mentioned train tracks I would show you something with a train in it. I'm not sure where this is from. I also wonder if it still exists.

On the back of this one it says: Peter W. Johnson's  funeral Feb. 15, '26. I wish I would have seen it sooner. I would have included it when they mentioned his death.

Just another portrait of someone that is no longer known.

Well that's all I have for you today. I hope you have a good weekend. Try to stay cool.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Mar. 30, 1926 Rib lake, Wis.

Dear Friends,
I don't know about you but my weekend was really good. Our play was very good. The people that came were very well entertained. I will miss going to practice. So now it's back to my same old same old. Oh well I guess I can now do some other things around the house that I didn't get done during practices.
Enough of that, here is the next letter from Mary:

 As always here it is for those of you that have a hard time reading the letter.

                Rib Lake Wis
                Mar. 30, 1926
Dear Howard:-
   Thanks a lot for the
candy. It sure was a
surprise. I didn't expect
to hear from you so
soon. I thot you'd be late
too tired to write. I got
your letter in first and
then afterwords Mrs. B.
called up and said
she wanted me to come
down stairs right away.
I couldn't imagine what
was going on. When I
came down she asked
me whether I'd let her
have the first piece of

candy if she gave me a box
I couldn't imagine what
she was talking about at
all. Then Mr. Hipke said
"don't you do it," and Pete
said, It's yours anyhow.'
Well, they had some more
fun about it so I gave
them all some and Clara
said it was darn good
candy.
What did your mother
and Thomas say about
you getting home so early
Next time you've got to
go home at 10 o'clock so
you get enough rest. You
know kids should have

at least 8 hours of sleep.
Did you see Luella since
Sunday? I wonder if she
got any teasing for going
to Rib Lake. But I spose
so, because you know the
Swedes are all so mean.
How are you now? Still
tired? I felt pretty sleepy
Monday but I'm fine today.
Mrs. Hipke has been kind of
sick yesterday & today. Gee I
hope she doesn't get sick.
  Well, so long. I've got to
quit as I can't think of any
more news. There's a fellow
cross from here playing
the accordion and I can't

write anymore since he
started. I wish you could
hear it tho, it sounds so
nice.
         Best wishes from
                            Mary


Not a whole lot here. I do wonder what kind of candy he sent her that everyone wanted a piece.
One thing that is always odd to me is she is always complaining about the Swedes. Calling them mean. Yet she is always writing and hanging out with grandpa who is Swedish. Was she one of those people that was always talking out of both sides of her mouth at the same time?

Here are some random pictures for you to look at.

This one is from Ashland. No clue who she is.

Just another picture of people that I don't know who they are.

The only thing I can tell you about this one is it was taken at Grandpa's house. No idea who they are for sure that are cutting the firewood.

Well that's about all I have for you today.
I hope you drop by for the next letter and pictures on Friday.
Till then take care and have a good week.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Mar. 25, 1926 Rib Lake, Wis.

Dear Friends,
I hope this letter finds you doing well and looking forward to the weekend. Mine is turning out to be amazing! The play is a hit. Maybe I'll tell you about it before I end this post.
Here is the next letter from Mary:

At least this one is not as long as the last one. Here it for those of you that have a hard time reading it:

                       Rib Lake, Wis.
                       Mar. 25, 1926
Dear Howard:-
    This is just going
to be a hurry up letter
so it won't be long. I
got your letter this
noon and was surprised
to get it as I didn't expect
one till Sat.
  So you think you'll
come Sat. Well I hope
it doesn't snow any
more as I'm anxious to
hear all the Ogema
scandal. I was up to
Westboro last nite with
a car. 13 is good but
102 from Chelsea to Rib Lake

isn't quite so good but
we got thru fine.
  Mary Schneider & I
were out to Hess to see
Agnes Schneider last nite
and Mr. Hess just came
home as we were leaving
so he said he take us
back to town and he
took us way to Westboro
Gee, it seemed good to
ride in a car again.
Even if we did get our
feet wet driving thru
the water holes.
  How is Inez Swanson?
Does she still like you,
or did you make her

sore again? Which would be
just like you, not? Or did
you grow wings during
the winter.
   Well, I guess I'll close
as I have to go to the
barber shop yet and have
some other trimming to
do.
               Good luck from M.K.

   Not a whole lot here. I'm just wondering if she is referring to a certain scandal or just looking to find one.
I wonder how come they got wet feet in the car they were riding in. Guess I'll never know.

Here are a few random picture I choose for you to look at.

I thought since she mentioned a car I would show you a car from a time gone by going down a road.

Also since I'm in a play I thought I would show you a couple of jokes from the joke book that has to do with plays.

"Mortimer H. Peabody, where's the rest of your costume?"

"Miss Lucy Tassel, famous burlesque queen, will now do
her strip act over a network of 192 stations."


Well that's about all I have for this time.
Oh about the play, we got a standing ovation, which I think was almost completely sold out. Two more nights. I hope they will be just as full. I hope I'll see you there.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: March 21, 1926 Rib Lake, Wis

Hello Friends,
I hope you had a good holiday weekend. Mine was good. Quiet but good. I had no drama in my life but other people had lots of drama. There was a fire on the fourth. An apartment building burnt. There were I think 9 of them. The building is now roofless plus I'm sure not much survived. At least no one was hurt so that was good.
Here is the next letter from Mary (6 pages).

For those that have a hard time reading it:

                      Rib lake
                      Mar. 21, 1926
Hello Howard:-
     Well I guess here's
where you quit liking me.
You know you said if I
answered your letter last
week you'd like me forever.
I was out home today
and got back about half
an hour ago. Rosie & Mary
walked about 2 1/2 miles with
me and then while we stood
there to say goodnight Schnider
came with their sleigh so we
all rode to town with
them. There was Mary, Agnes,
Ella and Walter, Joseph-
Rosie's Brother. Anton & us three

Say, I'm writing this on my
lap so I guess it will look
quite scrawly but I guess
you're used to that by
this time.
  Did Thomas find out
what that stamp meant that
was on the card I sent him?
Tell me if you know, maybe
I'll paste some more cross-
wise. Tell him that diving
across the ditch didn't
bother me a bit, he can
drive anyway he wants as
long as he don't make me
break my neck.
  You wanted to know if
I ever tried those love cake

recipes. of course not, did you?
You know I'm altogether
too bashful to try any-
thing like that.
  Say, What do you think
you know Elmer & Lavina
are staying next door here.
Margaret was up here last
Sunday and Elmer just
went by so she called
down "Hello" to him and
about the first thing he
asked was " Is Howard up
there?" I saw Bert go by
Sunday this morning. Pretty
soon half of Rib Lake
will be Johnsons.
  There was an airplane
here all last week and

I tho't I'd take a ride
in it but he only gave
about a 5 minute ride for
2 1/2, so I changed my
mind. Wilma and Mrs.
Bogumill went up.
  Did I tell you that
Mrs. Hipke and her Sister
are here now. Her sister
is about 70 and kind of
lame.
  What do you think
Mrs. Hipke said once? We
were talking about the
weather and she said
I hope the cars will run
soon so your Swede can
come down again. When

I asked her why she said,
"Well it must be awful
lonesome for you here all
winter." But of course
you know I don't get
lonesome, ever.
So you will soon be
Uncle Hart. I bet you'll
go around as stuck up
as a peacock. You seem
to think it would be
nicer to be (daddy). Well
your dam lucky not to
be. Just think how hard
you'd have to work then
you'd soon be singing,
"Oh, I wish I were single."
You see how quick

Carl (I guess that's his name) Olson got tired of his
partner.
  Well I guess I'll have
to quit as my pencil's
getting dull and this
is a pretty long letter
anyway isn't it?
  I don't know whether
I should wish you good
luck this time or not.
You know what you
said about good luck
last time.
             Mary

Well it as a long letter. Just a peek into a few things that were going on at the time.
I wonder what a love cake was?
I wonder if this is what the plane looked like that was in Rib Lake?



Mary may have thought of herself as shy but she certainly is not shy when she writes a letter.
I wonder what the stamp was that she referred to?
So many questions where the answers have faded away into history never to be thought of again, until now.

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

No idea who this is. At least i don't know the name.

This is an old cab from a truck that I remember was in the woods. I'm sure my cousins remember it.

I was trying to get this one a little lighter so it can be seen better. It worked a little but not very much. I have no idea who this,I think family is or when it was taken.

Well that's about all I have for you today.I have lots to do. The play I am in starts this Thursday, "A bad Year For Tomatoes" Dress rehearsal tonight and tomorrow night. I hope maybe if you find yourself in the area you can drop in and let us entertain you.
Till next time.
Take care.
Your friend,
Sandy