Ruth: November 5, 1934; Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. I know a lot of places are having a lot of trouble. I hope that very soon things will start to settle down and become safer for all. My weekend was short and a little expensive. My dryer broke on Saturday so we had to get a new one. Sunday we tried to go to the fair after 4 o'clock. There was not much there by the time we got there. So we ate at the 4H stand, took a lap and left. That's what happens when you wait till the last minute to go to the fair.You miss everything.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Ruth:

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

                    Chicago, Illinois
                      November 4, 1934
Dear Howard:
How are you feeling these
beautiful fall days.
The Fair closed Wednesday
and I was down there in
the mob. We had a peach
of a time. We had to
hold on to one another or we
would have become
separated. It was so
packed at 23rd  Street that
we couldn't go beyond there.

                -2-
We had to go on the Island.
Everyone was feeling so
happy and half of them
tight. I was glad I went.
We couldn't get in any place to
eat. Couldn't buy a thing.
Everything was so jammed.
It's closed now and I guess
a lot of people are sorry they
didn't go more often. I have had
many good times there.
That's enough of that.
Yesterday I went to the
Chicago & saw Mrs. Wiggs
of the Cabbage Patch.

               -3-
it was very good. Did
you ever read that story?
Have you been over to
see Arnold lately? I got
a nice letter from him
when I got your last
letter. I take a long
time to answer don't I.
I am writing to him
today too.
Well, I'll have to sign off
as we are going to a dance &
it's time to leave.
             Ruth

I wonder how many times she went to the Worlds Fair that year.
It sounded like that fair ended with more attention then our fair did here.
As for "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch", it was a film at that time based on a novel written in 1901 by Alice Hagan Rice. This was the 3rd time it was made into a movie. The first was in 1914, the third in 1919. There was also a fourth one made in 1942. I think it is time to make another one since the entertainment business is in to remaking everything now a days.

 
Wikipedia has a very good description of this story.

I do hope she enjoyed herself at the dance.

Here is a cartoon from the newspaper "Labor"  September 4, 1934:

The question is, Is it still an answer to Wall Street's prayers today?

Here is a poem and a few jokes from the same paper:

Enjoy. There are a few more jokes from this same paper that I will share with you over the last letters. Remember after this one there is only 3 more letters to go. After that I will tell you what I will try to do with this space.

I thought since there was so much talk about a fair I would show a picture from a fair gone by:

A lot of very interesting things on display.

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

Thomas Johnson: Oct. 15, 1934; Chicago Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well, it's the end end of yet another wee. But my work week will not end till Saturday. I wish this overtime on Saturdays will end soon. I enjoy two day weekends more then one. How about you?
Anyway, here is a letter from Grandpa's brother Thomas who was in Chicago at this time to go to the Worlds Fair:

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

                 Oct. 15 1934
Dear Howard
We were over to see
Hildings Sat. we and
they are fine greetings from
them and old Walins
I think I will be home
Thursday eve or Friday
The reason I am writing
is so as to let you
now when to expect
me. Hope everything is O.K.
have had warm and nice
so far, don't now
much to write now. We
are going to the fair today
Esther send best regards
            Your Brother
               Thos.

I guess just a brief note from Thomas.
I wonder how often he was with Esther.
I do hope he enjoyed the fair.

Here is a story from "The Bee" Thursday February 1, 1940:

I love the wording in this story. I wonder if this kind of story could be written today and what would it sound like.

Here is something I found  about a movie:

The picture came out in 1930.


Finally, here is a random picture:

This might be mas but I'm not sure.

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

Ruth: Oct. 14, 1934; Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a very nice weekend. Mine was short but busy. Had a family get together on Saturday. I forgot my camera, so no pictures from me. On Sunday the husband and I went for a hike. About 5.1 miles. I know it was shorter then usual but with his ankle not being in the best shape the length was just right.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Ruth:

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

                    Chicago Illinois
                      October 14, 1934
Dear Howard:
   I am not in a very good
writing mood, but I must
not delay answering your
letters any longer.
We are having some beautiful
weather. It is just glorious.
I went to the Fair last
Sunday and saw a few  of
the Village shows. Did you
see the Black Forest Show?
It was excellent. Did you
see Little Egypt? She was
rare and daring.

I received a letter from
Mrs. Fick and she said you
had called on them. They
think you are quite all right.
Is Slim working now?
What made him quit his
job.
I cannot think of anything
else to write so I had better
sign off for the time
being.
            Ruth

It looks like she went to the Worlds Fair.  I don't think I have anything from the Worlds Fair. But on line I did find a couple of post cards from there. Here is one.


As Little Egypt, she was a Belly dancer.  I did find a number of Little Egypt's but I'm not sure which one appeared in the Worlds Fair 1934. I imagine she drew a crowd back then.

I guess Ruth was just not in a very good mood that day.

Here is a story from the newspaper "Labor"  Tuesday September 4, 1934:

Now that's what happens when you get matching luggage.

Now here is a poem from a newspaper called,"Svenska Amerikanaren" The Swedish American Newspaper. From September 11, 1924:

I will translate using Google translate:

You asked for a song

You asked for a song, dear
on a cheerful and happy melody.
How would you like this?
My song cannot be fun.

The instrument, my sick heart,
have no cords anymore,
and the string, as the recitals of narrow,
only twisted gnash ger.

Once there was a jubilee in the game,
for you sang where melody.
Then you went to the wrong place
in the harmony of strings.
                                      N.K.

It's a nice little poem. What do you think? I do wonder who N.K. is though.

I might scan a small story from time to time and try to translate it. It will take some time to do it though.

Here is a random picture:

No idea where or when this was taken. It doesn't look familiar to me.

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

Cousin Walter: Oct. 2, 1934; Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well the week is almost over. I still have to work Saturday for 6 hours. This week at work it was on the busy side for me. On Thursday I was always moving. I just hope that next week things will be at least a little bit calmer.
Anyway, it's been awhile, but here is a letter from Walter:

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

                 Chicago Ill.
                10/1/34
Dear Howard:
              Received eggs and
letter last week. Thanks a
lot for both. The eggs certainly
were good.
              Was glad to know
that you got back safely and
with out any trouble. It
must have been rather tiresome.
      Esther moved Sat.
and is just about settled by
now. I'm all tired out from
carrying all that junk up to
the 3rd floor. Her new
address is 4132 N Pulaski
Road.
   Let us hear from you
once in a while.
                      Walter
                           &
                       Emily
I sent that glass flower last Wed.
Hope she got it O.K.

We are sending case back
tomorrow. Thanx

It sounds like Grandpa had spent time in Chicago.
I do wonder how the eggs were sent. Would that happen today?
I wonder who Emily was. Was she one the letter writers I've shown you?
I wonder how long Esther lived in the place.
What is Esther's last name?

Here are a couple of stories from a paper called, "Union Advocate; The Peoples Voice; St. Paul Minnesota, August 30, 1934:

I wonder if the book he wrote is still around.

This paper was the Labor Day Edition.
I might sometime try to show some of the longer stories.

Finally, a random picture:

No idea who they are or when it was taken exactly. Maybe someone will be able to tell me.

Well, that's all I have to share with you today.
I just counted the letters left, 8. But I know there are a few other with dates from somewhere in the thirties, forties and maybe fifties dates that I have not really decided when I will show them. I will let you know later what I plan to do with this blog.
So, I do hope you will still come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Ruth Helene: Sept. 26, 1934; Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a very nice weekend. Mine was good. We were able to hike on Sunday. We did a little over 9 miles. A little farther then we planned. It was a little on the hot side. it was still a very nice hike.
Anyway, here is a letter from Ruth:

I'm not going to rewrite this one because it is typed.

It looks like she worked for Standard Red Crown Gasoline.

This is what a gas station could have looked like. This one was in Saint Louis. Not sure what year this is from.
I'm not sure if any are still open today.


I wonder if Grandpa was able to mail the card in.
It does sound like he did go to the Worlds fair that year.
I do like the paper she used. Very different.

Here is a picture from The Milwaukee Journal; Friday, March 20, 1936:

Water in Pittsburgh's business district was slowly receding Thursday as the flood moved westward, gripping Wheeling, W. Va., and other Ohio river cities and towns. This picture shows the flooded streets of downtown Pittsburgh near the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. -A.P. Wirephoto.

I wonder how long it took this area to get back to normal or I should say get cleaned up.

Here is a story from "Fate" November 1950:

I wonder how many Earth like world are out there.
Will we someday be able to move to different planets or is it just a dream?

Here is a random picture:

No idea who they are, when it was taken or where.
I'm sure someone might tell me, eventually.


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

Ruth Helene: Aug. 27, 1934; Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was okay. It was too hot plus we didn't hike because of the hot temps and it also rained a bit. My work week started too early. I had to get up at 2:10 am because I had to start two hours earlier. This makes you hate Mondays even more. But I lived through it.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Ruth:

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

                 Chicago, Illinois
                   August 26, 1934
Dear Howard,
  I received your two letters
and it was nice to hear from
you.
I feel as though I haven't
had a vacation. It doesn't
take long to get back into
the old rut, but I wouldn't
mind spending my next
vacation in Northern Wisconsin.
  I haven't heard from
Arnold, but I am sure he
appreciated your taking
him for a ride.

           -2-
We went to the Fair today
and went through the Transporta-
tion section of the Fair. I saw
Barney Oldfield and his Hell Riders
at the Chrysler exhibit. They put on
the standard lit. show. It is about the
biggest drawing card at the
Fair. It is wonderful. At least
so I think.
We have had a lot of rain in
Chicago; that is, we had a couple
of bad storms. Did you have any
rain?
     Best wish to you
                          from
                           Ruth Helene

Barney Oldfield was a racer.


This is a picture with him taken at the 1934 Worlds Fair. ( He's the one in the center with a cigar)
He was also known as the "King Of Speed".
He began racing in 1902 till 1918.
He was the first man to drive 60 miles per hour.
I wonder what they would think of the way they race today. or even drive down the highway.

I wonder if she was able to vacation in Northern Wisconsin?
I also wonder how much time she spent at the Worlds Fair that year.

Here is a story from the paper "Labor" Tuesday, August 28, 1934:

There is a lot of truth in this story. It still applies today.

Here is a page from the magazine "Fate" November 1950:

Has Fate ever touched you when you least expected it to?

Finally, a random picture:

No idea where this waterfall is. Or what year it was taken.

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