Sigrid Niemela: July 2, 1928 Mt. Iron, Minn.

Dear Friends,
The weekend is finally here again, sort of. I do have to work on Saturday but I did volunteer. So if I get crabby, I have no one to blame but me.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Sigrid. The writing is very light so it's on the hard side to read. I did try to darken it so you could read it better then I can.

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

              Mt. Iron, Minn.
                July 2, 1928
Dear Howard,
July 2, already imagine
and fourth Of July this
week too. But I
don't think we will
have much of a cele-
bration here. I'm going
to Virginia, the nei-
boring town, there
always are great big
doings there. I'm so
glad they aren't selling
those crazy firecrackers
and all those shooting
things. it makes a
person nervous to
listen to them for
many days ahead &

then all day on Fourth.
We had an awful
storm last night I
heard. I slept like
a log I didn't know
anything about it.
I guess they could
carry me to Europe
and I wouldn't wake
up when I once start
sleeping. But still the
air didn't cool off.
It's so hot now I
just wish I could go
swimming.
Are you starting to
make hay soon I
just dread that time.
The latter part of this
week we will cut
down some places be-

           2.
cause it's all fallen
over when it's rained
so hard. We haven't
so very much but it's
always such a slow
process with one horse
only & so few people.
My brother might come
here and help now
that grandpa isn't able.
Gosh, I sure wish
you were around
here with your
coupe so I'd get a
ride sometimes too.
I bet your always
out with some nice
looking girl now, hey?

I saw Harold Loyd's
comedy "Speedy" last
Saturday. I sure laughed
to my hearts content
then. I think he's so
funny and clever.
I'm all alone again,
my sister went to
Deer River to work in
a bakery. Heck of a place
to work in at summer.
Must close now.
Hope you have a
good time with her
on Fourth.
             So Long
                  Sigrid

It sounds like she was not a big fan of fireworks of any kind. It does sound like a number of people liked to set them off over a number of days and not just on the Fourth. But at least she was a sound sleeper.
Grandpa must have been telling all of the girls about his new car. How many got to ride in it before he finally met Grandma?
I have seen a number of Harold Lloyd's pictures. He was, as she says, very cleaver and funny.

This was his last silent film.
In this film he is trying to save the last horse drawn street car in New York. Babe Ruth is one of the hapless passengers.
I'm not sure if I have ever seen this one but I plan on trying to find it.

Here are the next two cards from the "Panama 1906" set:

 3. Looking Across Savannahs, Ancon in Distance.

4. Last End, From Roof of Administration Building, Cristobal.

Ancon is mentioned in a number of the cards. I looked it up and it turns out it's a hill that is about 654 feet high near Panama City.
Cristobal is a port city on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal.

I have found on the internet these same pictures in color.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

I think this one was taken during someones trip to maybe Yellowstone. Back when you could feed the bears from your car.Back when we didn't know any better not to.

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

Nellie Currier: June 27, 1928 Manchester, N.H.

Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was uneventful. The weather is starting to stay cooler around here. But that is normal for this time of year.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Nellie:

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

             June 26
            Back again
Dear Howard:-
   I just returned
home and got your nice
letter and before starting
any work I will answer
your letter so I won't
be keeping you waiting
any longer for my ans.
letter to reach you. What
kind of a coupe have
you got now, Howard?

             2.
No my mother is still
living and has two more
little girls so you see
it makes 3 boys & 3 girls
in our family now. My
little sisters are here
with me for a week,
and sure keep me
busy so I am afraid your
letter won't be very long
today. No my mother
doesn't live with me.

          3.
The difference between
a soldier and a woman
is that a soldier stands
up to be knocked down &
a woman lays down to
be "knocked up".
You were right when
you told me about the
water stopping at the foot
of the hill.
A hen lays an egg because
if she dropped it, it would
break. Ha, Ha. How's 'at?

             4 
No Hazel has left for good.
Well I can't seem to think
of any more news for
now
So will ring off.
          From
            Nellie
XXXXXXXXX
some nice big x to
sleep on. Ha, Ha.

At least your finally have the answers for riddles she told last time.
It sounds like she came from a good size family. I wonder how old the rest of her siblings were?
It's to bad that Hazel moved away for good. I wonder where she ended up?


Here are two viewer cards from a new set I'm calling "Panama 1906":

 1. Docks at Cristobal, Panama.

2. Ancon From Roof of Administration Building, Panama.


This set of cards, I think was taken around 1906 when they were working on the Panama Canal..
Here is a newer picture of the dock at Cristobal:



I was trying to find an updated picture of the Administration Building. I found this one. It does not look like the same place.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

 I don't know exactly who she was. It was taken in 1928.

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: June 26, 1928 Congress Park Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good week. Mine as usual was on the quiet side. The weather is starting to cool down again. Time for a warmer coat. I might have said this before but it did a little warmer for a bit and cool down again.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Mabel:

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

La Granger June 25. 1928
Dear Howard,
I received your loving letter
Hope your well, I'm the
same. We have rainy
weather here. Your picture
is good. I just long to see
you. But when? Is another
question. I think of you
real often it seems nice
to have a Swedish friend
you have a wonderful
handwriting. So you
keep a hired girl. Well
I'm not going with any
steady. Sure would love
to. Well time will lead
things out. Do you go
to church because I do. We
have a 9 room house
My Dad is 83 years old
my mother is 57. You
would like to know my
age. I'm truthful. So to
tell you, I'm 31 years old

They tell me I don't look
it. Butt love comes-
first. I feel I'm in love
already. Don't forget to
come up and visit me
soon sometime.
Well dearest I must close
           with love&
xxxxxxx  kisses
xxxxxxx
             Mabel
                  E.
          Write soon

Not a lot here. Just saying a few things about her life.
I think she is trying to find someone and is sounding a little desperate.
She is another one that says he has very nice handwriting.
There was a big age difference with her parents. 26 years.And her being 31 years old. I wonder if she was able to find her soul mate.

Here are the last three viewer cards from the set "Scene's from New York":

 The Hall of Fame.

 A Birdseye View of the Skyscraper District.

Brooklyn Bridge, including a Birdseye View of the City of Brooklyn.

The first picture is known today as the Hall of Fame for great people. It is located on the grounds of the  Bronx Community Collage. It was built in 1900 and dedicated in 1901. It looks about the same on the outside. I know this picture is not exactly from today but it is in color.


The second view, I'm not sure what this view would look like today. So here is just one of many kind of views there are:
 

The last view, here is a similar angle of today:
 
It looks a little bit different, wouldn't you say so?

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

Not sure who this is or when it was taken or who was taking the picture.Maybe it was Grandpa taking the picture.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today. Enjoy your weekend and I hope you drop by again real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Mattingly: June 21, 1928 Springfield, Ky.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a very nice weekend. Mine was good. I got a few things put away for the winter. I have a number of little statues that I always like to put away for the winter. It will not be long and winter will be knocking on our door.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Mary Mattingly. It's always a bigger challenge trying to figure out her letters.

  As always, for those that find it hard to read here is what it is. I've done my best to figure out exactly what it says:

                    Willisburg Ky
                     June 19 1928
Dear Friend Howard
I received your letter yesterday
and it is so wet and we can't work I
will answer your letter for we will
be busy when it gets dry for a
while my garden looks good if it
would fair up so I could work it
the ground have hardening been dry
enough to work for three night
you know have for be kind we are
with our work it is fair today
and I take it will scurry that till
we can get home work done
which do you like the first town

                .2.
or the country it is nice you don't
use tobacco there an't many in our
country that don't But i think
it is a bad habit don't you
Well I have some pictures made
on that I will get them by
the time you write again and I
will have you one as soon as I get
them I'm sure you are tired waiting But
I had some taken once and they
weren't any good an I have had them
taken again I think they will be good
this time I know so far you are
tired looking for a picture an I don't
blame you but I can't help it I would have
sent it long go if I had had one so I will
close for this time looking to hear from you
again soon.

From your Friend
Mary Mattingly


I did my best to figure out what she meant but I know I did got a lot of it wrong. Maybe you can do a better job of figuring it out.
She is still promising to send a picture of herself.
  She must live in Willisburg but it gets postmarked in Springfield.

Here are two more viewer cards from the "Scene's from New York":

 Interior of Madison Square Garden at Night.

Madison Square at Night.

The picture of the interior of Madison Square Garden is from the second version of it. The one we know today is the third version of it.
Here is what Wikipedia had to say about it:
 Madison Square Garden was an indoor arena in New York City, the second by that name, and the second to be located at 26th Street and Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Built in 1890 at the cost of a half-million dollars and closing in 1925, the arena hosted numerous events, including boxing matches, orchestral performances, light operas and romantic comedies, the annual French Ball, both the Barnum and the Ringling circuses, and the Democratic National Convention in 1924, which nominated John W. Davis after 103 ballots. The 1890 version replaced the first Madison Square Garden, and was itself replaced by the third Madison Square Garden (which was the first to be located away from Madison Square).

And as for Madison Square this is what Wikipedia has to say about that:
 Madison Square is a public square formed by the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The square was named for James Madison, fourth President of the United States. The focus of the square is Madison Square Park, a 6.2-acre (2.5-hectare) public park, which is bounded on the east by Madison Avenue (which starts at the park's southeast corner at 23rd Street); on the south by 23rd Street; on the north by 26th Street; and on the west by Fifth Avenue and Broadway as they cross.

The park and the square are at the northern (uptown) end of the Flatiron Districtneighborhood of Manhattan. The neighborhood to the north and west of the park isNoMad ("NOrth of MADison Square Park") and to the north and east is Rose Hill.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

No idea when this was taken or who they are. 

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

Helen Balusik: June 21, 1928 Evanston, Ill.

Dear Friends,
It is now starting to feel a little bit more like fall. It's time to start wearing warmer coats when you go outside. The trees are becoming bare getting ready for winter. The question is, are you ready for the changes coming our way. Well, at least if you live in the kind of area like I do.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Helen:

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

                     Wednesday 4 P:M.
                       Evanston, Ill.
Dearest Howard:-
   Yours came today&
surely was pleased to
hear from you.
Speaking of rain, yes
we have plenty of it
here this week the sun
hasn't been out any
of the time.
So you have traded
your car in for a coupe
is that it? Well, what
kind of a Model - Ford?
have you seen the New
Fords that are out? I
think they are the cutest
cars, don't you? Now, I
don't believe you have
to be looking for a

            2
chicken I bet you have
all kinds of them there
only if you wanted too
(Ha Ha) I know the boys
alright--
Oh well lets forget about
that and talk of some
thing different.
Last nite a girl friend of
mine & myself walked
to the lake. It was a
wonderful evening. Believe
me I was wishing you
were along. "Don't you
believe it."
Tonite we have a big
crowd coming in for
dinner usually Wednesday
& Sundays we have
the most people

          3
to wait on. Oh well, I just
take things with a smile
wouldn't you. That's the
only way a person can
get along & be happy.
Anna & Frank N. are
leaving Saturday morning
by car. Have to go & see
them before they leave
but I always hate
to say good bye's don't
you? But she's coming
to see me out at home
so that will make it
nice.
Well Howard, I suppose
you will soon be
pitching hay, won't you?
I know what that is
and how I love it-

Seems I haven't anything
new to tell you. I know
we'll have plenty to talk
about when we see
each other if we don't
fight (Ha Ha)
Well Howard, hope I
hear from you again
and I will have to
close my conversation
till next time.
    I remain your
          friend
             Helen
P.S. come again
with your nice
letters-
anytime.

It sounds like the weather at that time was just as rainy in Ill. as it was up north.
I think I've shown you a picture of Grandpa's car and if it is the same one, my dad has it in his garage. It needs a little work but as of right now, everything is still original on it.
I know I've shown you a couple of pictures of wagons piled high with hay.
As for chickens, my grandparents always had them. Grandma sold eggs also.

Here are two more cards from the "Scene's from New York" set:

 The Custom House.

Bartholdi's Statue.

This is what I found on the Custom House on Wikipedia:
 The Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House is a building in New York City built in 1902–07 by the federal government, to house the duty collection operations for the Port of New York. It is located at 1 Bowling Green, near the southern tip of Manhattan, roughly on the same spot as Fort Amsterdam, the original center of the settlement of New Amsterdam. The building is now the home of the George Gustav Heye Center of the National Museum of the American Indian, as well as the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York; since 2012, it is also the home to the National Archives at New York City.
It looks about the same today as it did back then.
As for what we know today as the Statue of Liberty, this is what I found a little bit about it's beginning.
It was unveiled in Oct 1886. So that would be about 130 years ago this month.
It was originally designed for the Suez Canal in Egypt. America was second choice by the designer.
It took American's 15 years to except it. Suffragettes protested the unveiling because women had no liberty to vote. Originally it was suppose to be a light house.
 
It has not changed much over the years.

Here is a random picture for you to look at.

I wonder if this is some the hay she was talking about.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Don't forget to drop by again real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy