Edna: Dec. 29, 1931 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well it's the end of yet another week. For me it was a quiet one. No drama. I will say where I work, it is colder then I like. My feet are still cold. I know it is cold outside so what the real problem. I like to have warm feet while I'm working.
Oh  well, enough whining, here is the next letter from Edna aka Eddie:

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

                   December 28, 1931
Dear friend Howard-
Well, this is the ? letter
I have started to you. Hope
I will be able to finish
this one.
Thanks a lot for your lovely
Christmas card. I certainly
was well remembered with
both cards and lovely girts.
Would you like to hear what
I got? == 3 pair of hose, a
pair of gloves, some undies,
some money, perfume, pearls,
a photograph from Gladys
of herself, one hankie, pajamas,
2 scarfs, a 5 lb. box of candy
from our president, (as usual),
$10 check from boys in office.

We had our annual Christmas
party the 19th at the Blackstone
Hotel. Had a lovely suite of
rooms and had the nicest
party we have ever had.
We sure had one grand time.
I got home and got ready
for another party in evening.
Had another grand time.
Christmas Eve. we (Linnea
and I) went down to my aunt's.
We wanted to go to "Yulatta" and
if we were to go all the way
from our place to church that
hour of the morning, I'm
afraid we wouldn't have
managed. Well, we went to
Yulatta at 4:00. We left
my aunts at about 11 o'clock
as we were invited to dinner
at 2 o'clock at Gladys Holm's
in Rodger Park. We were
18 for dinner and a couple

             -2-
more for supper. I never
saw so much food. It
certainly was delicious.
We had a wonderful time,
as usual. I always have
such a lovely time up there.
Christmas Eve. before leav-
ing for the south side I
called Dad long distance.
I hadn't had a minute to
write him and I just had
to talk to him. I felt so
much better after talking
to him. I was so sorry we
couldn't manage to go home,
but it would have cost
L & I about $40.00, and as
she isn't working it was
impossible to make it. I was
glad, tho,we could talk to
him.

Well, it is almost time to go home
now and Linnea and I are in-
vited to a girls house for the
evening, so must ring off.
Hope you boys had as
nice a Christmas as I did.
       Happy New Year to you,
             Eddie

I sounds like she had a very good Christmas. I wonder who gave her what gifts?
She was doing a lot of partying.
I was trying to find out what Yulatta was. But I can't find out what is is. Maybe someone else will be able to find out the meaning of it.
I am glad she was finally able to talk to her Dad.
I do wonder how long it took Linnea to find a job. I know it was not a good time for many back then.
This is the last letter from 1931.

Here is a picture from the scrap book 1936:

The possibility that King Edward VIII of England may marry
was indicated Wednesday in his request to the house of com-
mons for more money. A royal message said "his majesty desires
that the contingency of his marriage should be taken into ac-
count..." This picture of him was made last December by the
court photographer and shows him in the dress uniform of an
admiral.

He looks like a very good looking man for his time.

Here are few pages from the joke book, "Bedtime Laughs" 1956:

Enjoy.

Finally, here is a random picture:

I pretty sure this is my cousin Billy. Not sure how old he is here.

Well, that's all I have to share with you today.
Have a good weekend and don't forget to come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Edna: Nov. 20, 1931 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope your weekend was not too bad. I know there is snow to the south, where it is rare for them to have more then we do here. And in California, where people are loses their homes because of the huge wild fires. The only question I want to ask is how these fires started? Mine here was on the quiet side.It is colder then I like but that is to be expected this time of year.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Edna aka Eddie:

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

(written upside down on the top)
Excuse this stationery please
                           Nov. 19, 1931
Dear friend Howard:-
Well, here is the letter I promised to
be so prompt about sending. Well,
don't think this is the first and only
letter I have written to you. I have
written several, but have found them
several days later, discovering there by
that I had neglected to send them.
Pardon me, won't you?
Did Dad give you my message?
You asked him to find out from
me if I lost a compact in your
car last summer. I did not, as
far as I can figure out, so it
must be some other "dame". It
was nice of you to inquire anyway.
Well, we have been horseback riding
several times this fall. I usually
go with Gladys Holm and some
other girls. Last Sunday we went.
Linnea went also, but we

certainly enjoyed it a lot. Linnea
is not working. She has been
home now for about a month or
possibly a little longer. She has
registered tho' at several agencies, but
there just doesn't seem to be any
jobs in this berg-- or any other,
for that matter. I certainly am
glad I still have mine, and they
say there will not be any lay-offs
in our office either. They fired one
girl a couple of months ago, but
that was because  she didn't care
to work very much. They got one
we used to have a couple of years
ago. We have not as yet received
a cut either. That sure is a
rare thing these days. The rest of
my girl friends have all gotten
cuts several different times. I
must consider myself lucky, that's
all.
Well, it is almost Thanksgiving.
Gee! I would love to come
home & cook dinner for Dad
and the boys, but of course
that can't be done. I can't
afford that.

                 -2-
I am going to a stage show tomorrow
night. I'm going to see "The Unexpected
Husband". They say it is a scream.
Next week I am going to see
"Blossom Time" at the Grand opera
House. I have seen it 3 times
already, but I love it.
It has been real warm here.
Almost like summer, altho' we
have had quite a lot of rain.
Today, however it has been cooler.
A heavy coat was much appreciated.
Somebody I know just came
back from a hunting trip up in
Maine. He was with eight other
fellows and they each came
back with a buck each. Pretty
nice, eh? Is this open season
up there? Um-m-m, what I
wouldn't give for a piece of
venison. He said he had lots

of fun too. He was gone two weeks.
What are you doing with your-
self? I sure have been busy. I
guess Dad was getting disgusted
with me for not writing him often.
I just couldn't do it. i stayed
at the office late almost every
evening in order to get things done.
Do you play bridge, Howard?
I have become quite interested in
it suddenly. A week ago last
Sunday I was invited to a bridge
party= 18 of us girls. We sure
had fun. Then the Tuesday
following I had Gladys H & her
girl friend(she rides with us) over
to play bridge. We certainly had
fun. Last Sunday we had a couple
girl friends over for dinner and
then we played bridge. We then
walked 22 blocks with them. It
was such a lovely evening.
Well, please forgive me for
being so slow in answering. Will
try to do better next time.
                      As B/4
                         Eddie
P.S. L. says hello.

It sounds like she has a habit of misplacing things, like letters. I wonder if it was the truth of an excuse.
I wonder how long she hung out with Gladys Holm?
As for the play "The Unexpected Husband". I could not find any info on it except it only played for a few months in New York back then.
As for the other one "Blossom Time" that she saw 3 times already before this letter.

This is what I found. It might have been an opera. I think it was about a nineteenth century Vienna composer Franz Schubert assisting a girl he is secretly in love with. But I could be wrong, but it is the only thing I found about it.
It sounds like she also found an enjoyment in playing bridge. That's a game I never learned. I have no interest in it.
I wonder if Grandpa found out who the compact belonged to.
It sounds like hunting in Maine back then was very good.

Anyway, here is a picture from the scrap book. 1936:

  An ice jam at N. Forty-second and W. Mount Vernon av. Tuesday afternoon was loosened by dynamite and manual labor in time to prevent a serious flood of the Menomonee river there. The workers had plenty of advice from the crowd which gathered.- Journal Staff Photo.

It sounds like it was a big blast to watch. Can you imagine using dynamite like that today?

Here are a few pages from the joke book, "Bedtime Laughs" 1956:

Enjoy.

Finally, a random picture:

No idea who she was or when it was taken. It is a torn picture. It looks like there was someone sitting next to her. I wonder who tore it and why? The answer has faded away never to be known again.

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

Edna: Oct. 2, 1931 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well, it's the end of yet another week. It finally feels like December out there. I think it is here is stay. What do you have planned for the weekend? As for me, I think we will be getting new tires for the car. After that, anything can happen.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Edna aka Eddie:

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

                         Chicago, Ill.
                         October 1, 1931
Dear friend Howard-
I really am going to send
this letter. I have written quite
a number of them and thot I
had mailed them, but a few
day later came across it. Don't
for a minute get the idea that
I am squirming around trying
to find an excuse, because
it really is the truth.
Well, how have you been?
I am fine, but ever since my
vacation have been terribly busy.
We moved our office and then
last Sat. we moved to a new
apartment. It is much nicer
and a lot more room. We
like it ever so much better. We
have a bedroom, living room,
in-a-door, 2 big clothes closets,
bathroom, dinette,& kitchenette, and
we have a phone too. That is

what I like. I don't like to
be called to the phone by
anyone.
Two weeks ago this coming Sun.
Gladys Holm, 3 other girl friends
of ours and myself went horse
back riding out in the forest
preserves. We sure had a good
time. (All Swedes). 2 of these girls
have cute little roadsters and
Gladys drives their Studebaker
a lot so we have very good
times together. This girl who
drove last Sun. had dropped
all the other girls off and
was taking me home, when
lo! and behold! we got a flat
tire. She didn't have a wrench
or anything with her, so we
had to call a garage and have
them send a man over to put
on the spare.- and the funny
part was we were in such
a hurry to get home. The Thursday
night before we rode in Lincoln
Park. This coming Sunday Gladys
H. is driving up to Round Lake to
ride. We will be about 6 I guess.

               -2-
I really like to ride a lot, but
didn't ride all summer. Every
time I planned on going some-
thing turned up.
We are going to have a house-
warming party here in a couple
of weeks. Hope we have a good
time.
Gladys (sister) is leaving the latter part
of this week with her patient.
They are going direct to Detroit,
will spend a week there and
then they go to New York for
a couple of weeks. Her patient
has "Three weeks of Fun" planned-
They are going places, do thing,
and see a few sights. I am
sure it will be nice for them
both. They made several
short trips this summer and
early fall, but these were
made in her car, her chauffeur
driving. She is a rich old
dame and I don't mean "Maybe".
well, Howard, we sure had
a good time that night up at

your house on the hill. Linnea
and I have talked about it often.
I hadn't been to an "out-door"
party like that since I used to
live at home, and you know
that hasn't been recently.
Well, now just because I
was so negligent that doesn't
mean that you are privileged
to do so. Write as soon as you
find time.
                    As B/4
                       Eddie

Well it sounds like she had a very good summer, sometimes anyway. Riding around in all of those different kind of cars. I wonder if Gladys Holm is the same Gladys that wrote the other letters I've shown you. Someone I work with knew a little about her. He told me she was a cousin of his Grandpa's. She never married but she did become very wealthy. She left her money to a children's hospital when she died.She was known as "The Teddy Bear Lady". I found a story about her. She died in June 1996 at the age of 86. She left $18 million dollars to The Children's Memorial Hospital. The largest sum ever donated at that time. Find the stories and you will be amazed how special she was. Maybe once I'm done with the letters I will do little stories about some of the people I've shown you. At least the ones that had some kind of family around here.
As for the outdoor party that Grandpa gave, it's still a family tradition to do this. My family have get together's every once in awhile at our family cabin. It must be in our blood.

Anyway, here is a picture from the scrap book. 1936:

The arrow in this picture of high water at S. Ninth and W. Harrison sts., shows the highest point Kinnickinnic there.- Journal Staff Photo.

It must have been quite the show watching the ice and high water. Notice the guys with the long sticks trying to guild the ice under the bridge.

here are a few pages from the joke book, "Bedtime Laughs". 1956:

Enjoy.

Finally here is a random picture:

No idea who this is or when it was taken.

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

Gladys: August 6, 1931 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I don't know about where you live but around here is was warm for the beginning of December. But now the weather is about to change and start to feel like it should for this time of year. We were able to visit our granddaughter Lilly on Saturday. And on Sunday the husband and I were putting more wood in the basement and also cutting a log pile up for later cutting down. I think we are almost ready. There is a possibility that the husband may have to have something done with his foot that could leave him laid up for a while. I'll keep you posted on that later. Also on Monday it was our 35th wedding anniversary.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Gladys:

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

                 Thursday
Dear Howard:-
I just want to let you
know that the book arrived
thank you so much.
My patient & I were
at St. Charles Ill. for a
few days & when I got
home I found your
book. That is the reason
I have not let you know
before.
I hear from E & L
that you & Tom are
fine as ever & I hear
from Dad that you
have a bran new
house keeper. Which

must make things
easier for you & Tom.
I am sure Miss Avery
& I shall enjoy Star
Eye as much as I ever
enjoyed it before. You
know I read it twice
already but Howard this
is not the same book
you used to have is it.
It seems to me your
book had 1 or more pictures
either on the cover or in
side the book. Or is my
memory bad. well any
way I'll return it as soon
as we finish & thanks
again with best wishes
to you & Tom. I am
as always your friend
                         Gladys
Here are the stamps
                   book.

 This letter and the last one were written on 3 by 5 cards.
It sounds like Grandpa sent her a copy of the book, "Star Eye".



I was still trying to find out what the story is but all I can find is it for sale. If you have $500 dollars it can be yours. All I can say is it must have been a very good book.
As for the stamps she mentioned, nothing else was in the envelope.

Here is a picture from the scrap book. 1936:

Members of the rescue party are shown descending into the hole which led to the hut in which Lincoln Ellsworth and Herbert Hollick-Kenyon lived for a month after a flight across Antarctica.- A.P. Wirephoto.

This has to do with the picture a showed you a couple of posts ago.
I guess it's a story that should have more to it. But who ever put this scrap book together only kept mostly pictures.

Here are a few pages from the joke book, "Bedtime Laughs". 1956:

Enjoy.

Finally a random picture:

No idea who they are or when it was taken.

Well, that's all I have for you today.
I hope you will drop by again real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Gladys: July 29, 1931 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well, it's the end of yet another week and the beginning of December, the last month of the year. I think I might be almost ready for this year to end. But in the mean time, I'll try to make the most of this month. Good things only. I just kind of wish it would snow so it looks like December.
Anyway, here is a letter from Gladys:

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

399 Fullerton pkway Chicago, Ill
Chicago Ill                  July 27-31
c/o Avery
Dear Howard:-
Well from my sisters
I hear everything is fine
with you and Tom. I
am fine also and have
such a wonderful case.
Am again with the nice
patient I had at the amb-
assador just before I came
home last year. I sure
wished I could have been
home with the girls.
but in these times we
must all think of work
before pleasure.
Howard I've tried
all over to get the
nice book you have
called Star Eye.

for my patient to read as
you maybe remember i
told you she is a great
archaeologist and hence
so interested in Indian
living- I was wondering
if you would send
the book for her to read
& I will take my good
care of it & return it
to you as soon as she
has read it. You know
I read it twice myself
and I never read any
thing I enjoyed more
I have never forgotten
that wonderful book
of yours.- My best
wishes to you & Tom
399 Fullerton pkway. as ever
Chicago, Ill                 Gladys
c/o Avery

I'm not sure right now when I showed you the last letter from her. It's kind of hard to read them because of all the loop-to-loop kind of writing.
As for the book she mentioned, "Star Eye". I was trying to find something that would tell me more about it. It is out there. And it looks like it has to do with Indians. But what the story is about I can't find. But it looks like it is a rare book that could be worth a lot of money if you have one. I do not. Maybe someday I will find out what the story is about that it was so good back then.  

Here is a picture from the scrap book. 1936:

Farmers near Wayne, N.J.' took to the hills as flood waters covered their land, but these three
got to thinking about the sad fate of a cow left behind and so came back in a rowboat for bossy.
The picture shows them leading her along behind the boat, headed for dry land.- Associated Press

I such hope they didn't have to go to far till they got to higher ground.
Notice how high the water looks in the background.

Here are a few pages from the joke book, "Bedtime Laughs". 1956:

Enjoy.


Finally a random picture:

Not sure if I have shown this one to you before. I think this might have been one of Grandpa's attempts of developing pictures back in the early twenties.

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

Margie: July 21, 1931 Westboro, Wis.

Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a good weekend. Did you go shopping over the weekend? I tried not to. I'm one who does not like to be in those kind of crowds, they make me nervous. I also don't like to shop on line. Not my cup of tea.  The weather around here is very warm for this time of year. I just hope we will at least have a little bit of snow when it comes to Christmas Day. Right now there is a lot of brown showing with no snow and no real ice on the different lakes or rivers.I still keep expecting for winter to really hit us full steam.
Oh well, here is a letter from someone named Margie

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

                Home

             Tues. 10:00 o'clock A.M.

Dear Howard:-

                 I just got

the great news from the

Milwaukee Journal and

since I know you are

interested I'll send you

the numbers I had were

25-215-227. Will you

please send them to me?

Thanx a whole lot!

am going to town this

a.m. so got to hurry.

                 Your friend

                   Margie

P.S. I am sending the old 

sections back to you as you

might want them.

Well, I don't know who this is. Or even if there are any more letters from her.

I wonder what those number mean and what was the great news from the Milwaukee Journal. Was it a random drawing she won or something like that?

Will the answer ever be found?

Well, here is a picture from the scrap book. 1936:

Safe on board the British ship Discovery II, Lincoln Ellsworth

(left) and his companion, Herbert Hollick- Kenyon, are shown

in the clothing they wore when they were rescued at the Bay of

Whales, Antarctica._ A.P. Wirephoto.

I wonder why they had to be rescued. 

Here are a few pages from the joke book, "Bedtime Laughs". 1956:

Enjoy.

Now, a random picture:

(Written on the back)

Tractor & Pulp racks

returning empty

No idea when this was taken or who is in it.

Well, that's all I have to share with you today.

I hope you have a very nice week.

Don't forget to come back soon for more Fading History.

Till then.

Your friend,

Sandy

Edna: July 9, 1931 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a very good Thanksgiving. Mine was good. The family got together at my parents house for supper. All had a good time. The weather is a little warmer then I think it should be for this time of year around here. But that was okay.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Edna, aka, Eddie:

Since it is a nice typed letter I will not repeat it, just comment on it.

Not a lot to comment on. Just people taking vacation and her planning on coming for a visit up here. I hope she was able to surprise her folks like she wanted to and that Grandpa did pick her up.

Here is a picture from the scrap book, 1936:

Upstate where there is still snow, Emil Chich, a dairy farmer
near Weyauwega, believes not only in keeping warm and his
vision clear but in keeping track of the time. He has pasted in
his cab a snappy calendar for use if he should get stuck in a drift
for a week or two. The windshield wiper is a brooder lamp with
old hose to conduct the kerosene fumes. One picture shows the
exterior of the sled and the other the interior. The milk cans are
behind the cab.- Journal Staff Photos.

Now this is an interesting story. I wonder how often he got stuck in drifts that he had to wait along time to  be able to get out of them. Or was this just a tall tale back then. I guess I will never know.

Here are a few pages from the joke book, "Bedtime Laughs", 1956

Another two page joke starting on the first page. Enjoy.

Finally a random picture.

I wonder what is at this spot today. It looks totally bare here. I bet it's all grown up again.

Well that's all I have to share with you today.
I hope everyone has a very nice weekend. And if you are one of those Black Friday shoppers, I'm not, be careful  and I hope you are able to get all the things you think you need to have.

I hope you come back real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy