Harriet: Feb. 7, 1831 Oak Park, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well I hope everyone had a good week. Mine was quiet. No additional dramas. The husband is still dealing with his foot. He did cut some firewood. I put it in the basement. So we have some wood in the basement but will have to put more in at a later date.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

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

                  Oak Park Ill.
                  Friday Aft.
Dearest Howard,
Am sorry I didn't
get to answer your letter
sooner. But will try and
do so next time.
      Well are you
working hard these days?
So am I. Don't you re-
member we were always
suppose to work hard for
a living ha! (superstitious)
we are.
  Have you any snow
up in that part of the
country yet.

      -2-
We haven't any here. We are really
having Florida weather- ha!-
I hear that you are having
quite a few parties at your house.
I bad I am not there & enjoy
some of them. What do you say?
Who does all come any of them
up north. Suppose Minnie is there.
   Had a letter from her yesterday.
reminding me of climbing ladders
again ha-
Do you ever see Clarence. What
is he doing for excitement-
I also heard that Dorthy M.
is married. Gee they sure are fast
up in that country.
   Wonder who's next. maybe you
Howard.
Had a letter from Gladys C. today
and also a picture of her and her boy
friend. So maybe there will be some
more wedding bells ringing-
  Yesterday was my day off so
bummed around so much that I'm
really tired or sleepy which ever it is.
Had a permanent so was in the
beauty parlor 4 hr so who wouldn't
get tired.
One has to suffer to be beautiful. they say ha

                 -3-
Gee I haven't any news. So will leave
it up to you to tell me some.
how's that?
  So guess I will ring off for this
time. With hopes & an speedy answers.
                   Love
                   Harriet
Answer
soon

641 n. Grave Ave

 Not a whole lot of much here. I wonder how often she got her hair done with a perm.
How many of their friends were getting married?
Was it as warm up here as it was in Oak Park at that time?
It sounds like Grandpa was a kind of party animal back then. I wonder how big his parties were and how often he gave them.
Just information that has forever faded away.

Here is a picture from the scrap book. 1936:

 The spring thaw has caused a rise in the Milwaukee river and the result is this striking-but not foreboding-picture of the stream out of its channel. Ice cakes are shown churning past a willow tree growing along the banks of the river, north of the Capital drive bridge. trees in that area are so close to the river that a rise of a few inches surrounds them with water.-Journal Staff Photo.

I wonder how often this tree had to put up with this kind of ice and how long did this tree live?

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

A little fashion and a little advertising. Enjoy.

Here is a random picture:

Just a random logging picture. No idea when this was taken or who is in the picture.

Well, that's all I have to share with you to day.
Stay warm. It's almost below zero here. I just hope the weekend will be a little warmer. I'm not ready yet for cold temps.
Don't forget to drop by again real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Harriet: Jan. 14, 1931 Oak Park, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well, my weekend was nothing I thought it would be. The husband still can not step on his foot. So I have to help him with other things around the house that he usually does. Like helping him feed his cattle. I'm hoping he will heal fast so we can get back to normal around here. I hope everyone's Halloween is a safe one.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

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

                   Oak Park Ill.
                 Monday Eve
Dearest Howard,
Received your card
and thinks for same
and also excuse me
for not writing sooner.
Well how is every
body at Ogema & westboro?
Fine I do hope.
    So you have moved
to the big city of Westboro
now.
   I went to see (Allen
Shrattbult.) Saturday night
He sure was comical
and they sure had a crowd

         =2=
By the way what is new up
around there. Anybody gotten
married lately?
             How did you spend
New years eve. I went to a show
and from there to a party so had
a dandy time.
Ostrid Carlson left for Florida
to-day with the people she works
for. Ain't that grand?
        What is Bert doing thru
winter. and who is his latest?
Have you any snow down there.
It has been trying to snow here
all day. but can't succeed.
  Had a letter from Minnie the
other day. She still can't forget about
climbing ladders. ha! ha!
You better get her in practice
again, or haven't you any more
beer-
How's Margret. Send her my
best regards. or maybe you better
not.
Now don't be so evil minded Howard.
  Is Anna R. home thru winter
or is she still in Canada.
you will be getting tired of me

                 3
al asking all these questions.
So I am so sleepy can hardly keep
my eyes open any longer. So better
ring off for this time.
      With hopes of a speedy answer
                            lovingly
                               Harriet
                          614 No Grove Ave
                          oak Park Ill.

I know I got a lot of the names wrong. So I'm sorry. I wish I could have gotten the comics name right. I tried to look up comedians from 1931 hoping to find a spelling close to what she wrote, but could not find one. Maybe you can.
I wonder why she told him not to be so evil minded. I wonder what he said?
I guess I'll never know.
I wonder if Minnie had one to many beers and was climbing ladders. It sounds like they were having some fun.
I do wonder how much snow they had that year.

Here is a picture from the scrap book. 1936:

Because of deep snows, grouse and pheasants in the Kettle Moraine district near Elkhart lake
have been sorely in need of food. Among those feeding the birds was George La Budde (right)
of Milwaukee, whose summer home is in the area. He is shown here with Eugene Cole, Oshkosh. The
snow was so deep it was necessary to use snowshoes.

See there were very thoughtful people even back then when it came to caring for wildlife.

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

Laughs for the working man. Enjoy.

Finally, a picture from a past winter with a reminder of what is in store for us very soon.

All I can say is Brrrrrrrrrr. Not ready for it.

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

Harriet:1929? Wednesday, Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was quiet. I spent Saturday by myself because the husband and our oldest daughter went to a Badger game. We all had a good day. On Sunday, not much shopped a little for the week and then just stayed home. No drama.
Anyway, here is a letter from Harriet. it might have been written a different year. No postmark because the stamp was taken. Thank you Uncle Peter.:

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

             Chicago Ill.
             Wednesday
Dearest Honney bunch,
Received your sweet
letter this morning and
sure was glad to hear
from you again.
So you are working up
north now. Suppose you
have a cute dame on
the string by now.-
I have such a cold so
stayed home to-day seems
nice to have a rest once
in a while.
I just finished having
breakfast and imagine
it is 11 bells. ha! ha!

            -2-
So am a lady of leisure to-day.
Have you plenty snow and
cold up there.
It sure is plenty cold enough
here. Almost like the north pole
if you know what that's like-ha
Well haw does Johnnie feel
to be away from Catherine. Suppose
he's love sick. eh--
like all the rest of em.
Am going to see one of
my girl friends dancing on
the stage to-morrow night.
It's her first time on the stage.
 She works the same place
as I do.
Margaret also stayed home to-day
so we are having a good time
doing nothing ha!
Oh yes I think of you honney
wishing you was here with
me to keep me from getting
lonesome.
Which I so often do.
Do you go home every week-
end. So Clarence didn't want to

go with. Must be some attractions
up around that part of the country.
Say Howard you ought to
keep better track of Hattie
Has she got the Chicago "Sheikh"
and how? Marge
Hope you don't believe it kid.
Well dinners ready so guess I
will sign off. with heaps of love & kisses
                           Your Sweetie
                             Harriet
Answer
Immediately                  SWAK


Like I said, I'm not sure what year this was. But at least it was during winter at sometime.
 I wonder who her friend was that was dancing on stage.
Whenever it was, Grandpa was working at one of the logging camps.
There was a picture included with this letter.

If I remember right, in one her letters she mentioned including a picture in one of the letters. But at that time I could not find it. Well, here it is. I'd have to go back and look at the other letters to find it. Then I would know when it could have been written. Unless you want to find it. Just look up Harriet on the side. I'm sure you find where it should have been. I'll do it later. I think it was from 1929.

Here is a picture from the scrap book, 1936:

A wrecker is shown Thursday putting an interurban back on the tracks at St. Martins, where it went off the track earlier in the day. There were no passengers on the car and the crew was unhurt. It was bound for East Troy.- Journal Staff Photo.

It must have been interesting to watch this happen.

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

 Enjoy.

Well since there was a picture included with the letter, I decided not to show another one.
I hope you enjoyed this post.
Don't forget to come back soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Harriet: June 14, 1929 Chicago Ill.

Dear Friends,
I don't know about you but I had a real good weekend.
On Sunday I became a Grandma! I now have a granddaughter. Her name is Lillian Rose. She weighted 7 lb 14 oz. Was born at 4:16 pm. I was in the room when she was born. I haven't got any pictures of her yet but I promise I will show you when I get some.
We also took our oldest daughter out for dinner on Saturday. Her birthday is today. She is 32 years old. They grow up so fast.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

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

              Chicago Ill
               Thursday night
Dearest Howard
Suppose you thought
I had died as I haven't
answered sooner.
But am all here. ha!
Hows the world treating
you anyway.
Fine as myself i hope.
It has been raining
here for the last few
days.
Well hows the dances
coming along up there

          -2-
Suppose they are all
going strong eh?
Can't wait until I
go home so can take
in some of them.
You asked me who
Isabel was going with
Its August Frisk. Agnes's
brother. You maybe know
him.
But she said in
her last letter that
she wasn't the only
one in love with
him. So she's maybe

          -3-
out of luck. ha! ha!__
Well where are
going to spend the
fourth. I don't know
yet. but would like
to go to Milwaukee on
a boat. That is if the
rest of the gang agrees
on that.
Intend to come home
some where around
the middle of July.
Had a letter from
Alice the other day.
Haven't seen her tho.

             -4-
since she came back
Is there anything
new up there or
are things the same
as ever.
Am waiting for two
of my girl friends any
moment. So guess
I will sign off with
heaps of love & kisses
              Your Sweetie
             Harriet
Answer
Soon
               SWAK

I wonder if Grandpa hung out at any of the dances being held back then.
Was she able to go to any of them when she was able to come up.
I wonder who August  was and why did he have so many girls falling in love with him.
Was she able to ride a boat on the Fourth?
There was a stamp on the front of the letter that says,
"LET'S GO
CITIZENS MILITARY
TRAINING CAMPS"

Every once in awhile there is a something stamped by the stamp. Which is for 2 cents.

Here is a picture from the scrap book"

Way out on the edge of the shore ice off Bradford beach Frank Lamia, 2702 N. Twenty-sixth st.,
saw this ice formation. He was struck by its resemblance to an eagle and took this picture.

It does look like an eagle. Kind of cool.

Here is a page from the joke book:

I enjoyed these. I hope you do too.

Finally, here is a random picture:

No idea what year this was taken. It looks like they are maybe, breaking ground for a new field.

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

Harriet: May 24, 1929 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well another week is gone. it looks like it's going to be a humid weekend around here. I enjoy summer but the humidity is something I would rather do without.
For anyone interested on what happened to the hawk. Well I was able to get him and saw to it he got to a place where he could get the best help. But unfortunately he did not make it. They told me they made him as comfortable as they could and he peacefully passed away.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

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

                  Chicago Ill
                   Thursday
Dearest Howard.
Received your long
looked for letter at last.
Thought maybe that
you had forgotten all
about me.-
Well hows everything
with you fine as
myself I hope.
It has been raining
here all day.
I was suppose to
go to a shower on one

           -2-
of my girl friends, but its
just pouring so guess I will
have to stay home.
So all the dances are
going strong up there. That
almost makes me lonesome
to be there ha!-
Have you been down
to Vinnedger yet. I was
just wondering how it is
Had a letter from Isabel
yesterday.
Her beloved came back
so she was the happiest
girl on earth I guess -
Guess it wont be long
before she will be married.
Some of us girls went to
a fortune teller last night
ha! Got a good kick out
of it. We get a notion to
go every once in a while.

      -3-
Have been working over time almost
every night this wk. I am getting
ambitious- won't be long now
before vacation time comes around
Think I will be home some time
in July. Am not positive yet.
Well dearest must sign off for
this time with
     Heaps or love & kisses
                  "Beloved"
                         Harriet
Answer
immediately           SWAK
or
sooner

I wonder what the fortune teller told them. I wish she would have mentioned more of about it.
I wonder if Grandpa was going to any of the dances I know he was not a dancer.
I wonder if she was able to make it up here for her vacation.
I wonder if Isabel married her beloved.
So much wondering, and no real answers.

Anyway, here is a picture from the scrap book:

Proving that the fatal climb of Delmar Fadden (inset) extended to the top of Mount Rainier.
This picture was on a film found in the camera of the dead Seattle youth, who died at the
13,000 feet elevation after being the first to reach the peak in January. The picture shows the ice
choked crater at the summit.- A.P. Wirephoto.

I wonder how many people were with him at that time and how did he die?

Here is the next page from the joke book:

This was new humor? Okay. But where is Superman. This might have been before his time.

Here is a random picture:

Not sure when this was taken.
I thought I'd try and find a more updated picture to compare. Here is what I found:

I think the tree might even be the same one. That is a big change in the snow cover.

Well that's all I have to share with you today.
The next time you hear from me I will be a Grandmother.
So don't forget to drop by again real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Harriet: April 30, 1929 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
We finally had a summer like weekend. It was warm 80's but it also rained on Saturday. A few places got to much rain again. Like about 3 inches in a very short amount of time. I'm not sure how much we got here. At least it was dry on Sunday so the husband could start cutting some hay down.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

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

                 Chicago Ill
                 Monday
Dear Sweetheart
Received your most
darling letter and sure
was glad to hear from
you.
Hows everything and
everybody up around Ogema.
Same as ever. I suppose.
Well what are you
doing to keep yourself
out of mischief ha! ha!
Plenty I imagine_____
Went to a show yesterday
and saw (David Lee) in
Sonny Boy it sure was

         -2-
a good picture. He sure is
a good actor for only 4 yrs old.
Is there any excitement up
there. Has Ranbergs started yet.
Suppose it won't be long now.
Is Alice still at home. Is she
going to Minneapolis with her
Swedish boy friend.
Margaret also has a foreigner Swedish
lad. They must be popular ha!
But this one don't keep his dates
very regular. It sure is a joke tho.
Had a letter from Isabel the
other day. She was so disappointed
in love poor kid.
Her sweetie hadn't written for two
months. So that sounds like an
hopeless cane eh!
Well it won't be long before
I will get my vacation sometime
in July I guess. Sure will
seem a relief to have a rest.
Altho I don't work so terrible hard-
Am going to have my permanent

wave to-morrow night. So you won't
be able to recognize me when you
see me.
Well honney news are so scarce
so guess I will have to sign off this
un-interesting scribbling for this time
will do better next time.
Heaps of Love and Kisses
                                 Harriet
Answer
immediately
Hear
                             SWAK

 
It sounds like having a Swedish boy friend was the thing to have back then. well at least with Harriet anyway.

As for the movie she saw:


It had to do with Sonny Boy's parents getting a divorce. It's a bitter one.
The mother sister tries to  hide the boy but he gets away and goes to a movie where by the time the adults find him the song Sonny Boy is being sung.
this film is sometimes silent and other places filmed with vitaphone.
As for the David Lee:
He was in six films between 1928 and 1930. His mother took hime out of films because she wanted him to have a normal childhood.
He was born in 1924 and died in 2008 from natural causes.

I wonder if Grandpa got to see her with her hair permed.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

When the steamer Illinois, became stuck in the ice Wednesday freight was carried by stevedores,
who walk across the ice as the captain, A.K. Hoxie is doing in this picture. Capt. Hoxie, who
had been conferring with the operators of the boat, climbed aboard with the aid of his ladder
and tooted for a tug, which freed the Illinois shortly before noon.     (Journal Staff Photo)

I guess stevedores, is another name for dock workers. I guess I learn something new everyday.
I wonder how many things they had to carry before it was unstuck.

Here is a page from the joke book:

Enjoy.


Here is a random picture:

On the back it says "Me on my same job 1920".

I think it's grandpa. This picture is very faded. I did my best to darken it up.

Well that's all I have to share with you today.
I have to go and find a way to help an injured hawk that is in a tree at the end of the driveway.
Here is a picture of him.

I'm just waiting for some help getting him safe.
Wish me luck.

I hope you will come back soon for more fading history.
Till then. Your friend,
Sandy

Harriet: April 12, 1929 Chicago, Ill.

Dearest Friends,
I hope everyone had a very nice holiday weekend. Mine was good. The husband and I did go hiking again. It was on the sloppy side because of all the rain we have been getting lately. The wood ticks are still a problem. He had more then I did as usual. I was carrying Bounce dryer sheets with me. I did wipe out once so I got a bit muddy. We will be waiting awhile again because of the sloppiness and our daughter is about to have a baby any day now.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

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

                  Chicago Ill
                 Thursday Eve
Dearest Sweetheart
Received your sweetest letter and
certainly cheered me up to hear
from you.
Hows the world treating
you anyway. hope as fine
and dandy as it is treating
me.
Gee is it cold here to-day
seems like winter again and
last week it was 84 above
So was quite a difference ha!
What kind of a weather man
is there up in northern Wis.
Has Walter & Archer left for
Chicago and Edward also I
suppose.
Just when are you coming
to Chicago.
Have you heard from Walter
any lately. Haven't spoken to
him for coons age.
Sure was surprised to hear

          -2-
about Marian Cummings.
They are going sane up around
there eh!
Margret had a letter from Catherine H.
to-day. She is working at Spirit
Falls. So Johnnie has some way
to go now. ha! ha!
What is Clarence doing for
excitement. I wrote to him but
he never answered. Just like
him.- Slow but sure eh.
Is Carl Miller married yet.
Saw his old sweetie Dorothy Saderbeck
the other night. Don't mention it
to anybody. will tell you all about
her when I get home. as its a
 long story. She comes to see Margret
as I won't have anything to do
with her. Just ask Walter all about
her. ha!
Well honney its getting to be bed
time for me. So will close with
Heaps of love & Kisses---
                    Your Sweetie
                         Harriet
Answer
at once
SWAK

 It sounds like the weather back then was just as messed up then as it is now. Was that global warming back then too?
 Lots of names mentioned. I only wish I knew more about all of them. Like why didn't she have anything to do with Dorothy. But I know it's a tale I may never hear.
She still keeps mentioning Walter.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

Our nomination for the most desolate stretch in these parts is the lake front, where the wind blows snow across the ice formed by the spray.- Journal Staff Photo.

I suppose being on Lake Michigan at that time of the year did feel like it was desolated.

Now here is a page from the joke book:

Enjoy. I like the cartoon with a drunk in the radio station.

And here is a random picture:

On the back it says: "Switching at Macky Spur"

No idea when it was taken. I did have to tweak it a little. The original is a little faded.

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