Mary Kauer: Jan. 9, 1931 Dousman, Wis.

Dear Friends,
Well it's the end of yet another week. This weekend will be Harvest Days. Your trick or treating. On Sunday there will be a Halloween parade. Not sure right now if I will go. It's suppose to be on the cold side. I think I might stay where it is warm.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Mary Kauer:

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

              Dousman Wis.
             Thurs. Eve.
Dear Friend Howard:-
  It's been quite a while
since I had your letter
but you'll have to excuse
me. we were awfully busy
then. we had a gang of
men here and I was home
for a while after that;
and you know how it
is around Xmas time.
I was breaking my neck
trying to get some Xmas
shopping done.
I tho't I'd see Anna R.
while I was home. Rose
said she was working at
Bogumills. Margaret is
working in town so I

called her up and told
her. She went up to the store
to see her but then Anna
was gone already. I saw
by the Harold  that she
was sick and that you
and Anna Hannah took her home.
Gee, I'm sorry to hear
that your mother is dead.
My grandmother died a
year ago last August. She
was real helpless all that
summer. It must be hard
for Roseens not to have
Nels, but I guess there is
nothing anyone can do.
I s'pose the Lord knows
what's best for us. Give
them my sympathy. And
also best wishes for a Happy
New year even if it is

rather late. And the same
to you.
You wanted to know
when I'm getting married
Well, I don't know yet
but not for awhile. It's
not so easy now that work
is so scarce. You wanted
to know what he looks
like. Well, he's just as tall
as I. k quite fat, has black
hair and a mustache once
in a while.
   So long and I guess
I better not write any
oftener but wish me
luck anyway and I hope
you'll be happy too
              As ever your friend
                    Mary
My writing hasn't
improved any.

It sounds like Mary was still coming around from time to time. At least that year.
I wonder how long it was before she got married.
I think she said he was fat. It must have been love.
And yes, her handwriting has not improved at all. Still a little hard to read from time to time.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

'Sorry, Bossie, but Chicago Wants Its Milk an Hour Earlier'

I'm thinking this might have been around the Spring time change.

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

Enjoy.

Finally, here is a random picture:

This might be a picture of Mary and I might have shown you it before.

Well, I did start writing this post yesterday when all was fine. But today, all is not so good, for the husband. He was hurt at work last night. He some how got his foot a little smashed between two carts at work. They say it is a contusion. He thinks it might be broke. I guess we might have to wait till the swelling goes down. I'll try to keep you posted.
I hope you will come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Oct. 7, 1930 Dousman, Wis.

Dear Friends,
Well, it's Tuesday. I hope everyone had a good weekend. Ours was a half and half one. Rained all day Saturday. Was sunny and warm, Sunday. But now it's feeling more like Fall, finally. I'm still not ready for what's coming. You know cold and snow. Maybe lots of it? We'll see.
Anyway, here is a letter from Mary Kauer:

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

           Dousman, Wis.
           Oct 7, 1930
Dear friend Howard:-
I s'pose you think I
didn't get your letter,
it's so long ago.
But whoever told
you I was home didn't
know what they were
talking about. I s'pose
you know that Joe &
Mary Schneider got married.
Well, they're staying at
home this summer and
I s'pose that's who they
meant. They have a
little boy now, he was
born last month the 7th.
No, I'm not mad
about that stuff you

told me, I had forgotten
all about it.
  But I was awfully
surprises to hear from
you as someone had
told me you were getting
married. I s'pose they
were just handing me some
bunk. And then Mary
sent me a clipping out
of the paper saying that
there had been a big
paty party in your
honor.
How is your mother &
Thomas? Is Anna Roseen
and Hannah still home?
As ever your friend
                Mary
or won't you be my friend any
more if I tell you that I'm engaged?

Well it's been awhile since there was a letter from Mary. I wonder why Grandpa was trying to get back in touch with her now. Well, I really don't have to guess, I kind of know he was still looking for a wife. I guess he thought maybe he would see if there could have been a connection between them yet. But I think, that what ever went down before was something that was hard to get past. At least for her. I wonder if I'll ever find out what he said to here that ticked her off. I think with this it's best to just let it go.
I looked up where Dousman is. It's in Waukesha County. Which is in the southeast of Wisconsin.
Today the population is about 2,317. In 1930 it was 256.It sounds like a nice small town.
At one time it was referred to as "Bullfrog Station" because of the numerous bullfrogs in the area.
Their baseball team is known as the Dousman Frogs. They also have an annual frog jumping competition during Dousman's Derby Days. I wonder when this happens. It would be interesting to check out sometime.

Here is a picture from the scrap book: 1936

 (Under 1st picture)
The Archie Tegtmeyer is shown Tuesday afternoon smashing
through 33-inch ice to its dock near the Becher st. bridge after
the fist day's fishing the fleet here has had in three weeks. The
tugs were again idle Wednesday due to the east wind.

(under 2nd picture)
The fishing fleet found nets pretty well torn. Capt. Joe Adrian
of the Anna examines his net after returning Tuesday after-
noon. Only about half the nets could be raised.

I wonder what kind of fish they were fishing for at that time.

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

The ups and downs of married life. Enjoy.

Finally, a random picture:

One of these girls could be Mary, maybe.

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