Helen Balusik: May 15, 1928 Evanston, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend. Mind was good. I had a busy day on Saturday. I went to the Edgar steam show. If you like old tractors and flea markets, it's a good place to go. Lots of walking and and  a lot of things to look at.The weather on Saturday was cloudy but while we were there it didn't rain.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Helen:

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

                     May 15/28
"Dear Howard"!
  well how are you
getting along out there
Howard, I hope just fine.
Was very pleased with
your letter always enjoy
reading them.
Today is my day off so
I was down Chicago most
of the day but now I am
back - If it doesn't
rain tonight I am
going down to the
lake get some good
fresh air & steal some
lilac blossoms, don't
you want to come along?

Really everything looks
wonderful out doors it
sure is hard to work inside
in weather like this.
You asked me when I was
coming home oh, either for
the 4th of July or little later
it all depends. I sure am
anxious to go home again
seems ages since I was
there.
Well last Sunday was Mother's
Day- The people here all wore
either a red or a white
carnation that was to signify
whether you have a mother
or not. If living they wore a
red one if dead why a white
one. Many times I wish
my mother was still living.
Imagine pretty soon is
Decoration Day. We all get off
that day so I sure am glad.
A bunch of us are planning on
taking a trip to Milwaukee some
time but I'm hoping we can
sometime this month. It's
such a long time since I was
there that I have almost
forgotten what it looks
like. I'm able to travel

Chicago pretty well now
but still I could get lost
if I didn't watch my step.
Well Howard, it seems I'm
so out of news I don't know
what to write - You always
can write such long ones
& interesting-
  How is your radio? I am
pretty tired of them things you
can't help but hear it every
where you go here in the
city. At times I think I would
rather have a phonograph
then that-

                 2
Did you hear or read about
the three great flyers
that came to Chicago the
other Day. Many of them
are trying to see if they
can beat Lindberg's speed
but I don't think they
have done it yet.
We will have to try &
beat them or else no
one else will, will they
Howard?
  I am getting hungry
now I guess I will run
down in the kitchen &
see what I can find in

the line of food.
Gaw I would love a
strawberry shortcake, oh my!
Well Howard, I think I
shall proceed & close
this letter of mine oh I
bet you get tired of reading
these letters, well I don't
blame you if you do.
I really hope I can hear
from you soon again.
Be a good boy now
and write soon.
        I remain
                Your friend
                   always
                     Helen

I wonder if she was able to get back home to Phillips after the 4th or not.
What do you think of the tradition back then with the carnations? I think it is something that should have stayed. Maybe it should be started again.
As for Decoration Day it is now called Memorial Day.

Which do you like better?

I think she meant Charles Linbergh. The year before he had done his famous trip across the Atlantic.


I wonder why she didn't like radios? But in a way I can understand why she does not like listening to so much at once every where you go.

I wonder if she got to have strawberry short cake?

Well here are two more viewer cards from The Fun With Friends set:

These cards are faded so I did my best to darken them.
I wonder if I will ever find out who took these pictures.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

I think this is Grandpa with a couple of chickens. No idea how old he was, if this is him.

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

Nellie Peterson: May 12, 1918 Paxton Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope this post finds you all well. As you notice I have a new name. Nellie Peterson. I still have more letters of Theresa and Katheryn but I decided I should do all the letters in chronological order. I went through all the letters and divided them into years. So I have to do a little back tracking time wise. This is the oldest letter I have. There are a few more letters from another person before I get back on track where I left off with the first two girls. This way if a number of people mention something it will create a story that can be followed from different points of opinion.
So here is the letter from Nellie.

  If it is hard to read, here is what is says:
                                                    Paxton Ill.
                                                    May 12 1918
Halow Howard:
Suppose you think I was never going to
answer your letter. But you bet I am, I
have been so busy that I haven't had
time to write before, but hope you will
excuse me this time for not answering
any soon.
Today it is Sunday and it is just
pouring down rain. We expect my brother
and his wife home today if it hadn't
of rain.
Say Howard you ought to see the
air plans go, hars here. One evening
there went five and another evening
there went one so low down you could
read the number on the air plan,
Have you flok's got any of your
garden planted yet. We got all of our
planted and we got 47 little chicken
beside.
We are going to plant corn
next week if the weather stay nice.
                      2
I have been to two parties since I
got down here.
What's going on up in Ogema.
Suppose you are having all kinds
of good times since I left.
Say Howard does Thomas have
to go to war.
Sure enjoyed your stick of gum
me and my aunt devited it. It tasted
good cause it came from Ogema.
How's your mother? Greet her
from my mother.
News is short so will ring off.
Thaursting to hear from you soon and
tell me all the news.
Greet all your floks from us be sure
and keep some for your self.
with love
your friend
Nellie Peterson
Paxton Ill.
write soon

There might be more letters from her later on but I'm not sure.
I kept some of the misspellings and fixed others.
She mentioned Thomas and maybe going to war. He did not have to go fight over seas. He got as far as Florida. He was in the cavalry.

 For those of you who don't know what war, it was the first world war.
She said something about air planes flying real low where she was.
Here is a picture of what could have been from that time.


I wonder what made gum from Ogema so good that she and her aunt enjoy it so much?

In honor of Mother's Day this weekend, I found a picture from a Mother's Day gone by.

Aren't you glad it's not 1960?

Now that spring is here I'll show you a picture of breaking land from a time gone by.

I'm thinking this picture is from the 19 teens.

The other day one of my brother-in-laws saw a family of bears(mother and four cubs), run through his yard to a woods that is not there any more. Once they saw it was gone they ran back to the woods they came from. With bears around I will not be putting up a bird feeder again. I do not want to give a bear a reason to come into my yard.
So in honor of this event here is a picture that just might amaze you.

I asked my dad who Me is and he was not sure. He thought it could have been his cousin Lois Marie, maybe. Looking at it now it's hard to believe people really did this. Times have certainly changed.
Well that's all the news I have for you this time.
Till next time, enjoy the weekend.
Your friend,
Sandy