Helen Balusik: Dec. 11, 1928 Phillips, Wis

Dear Friends,
I hope everyone had a good weekend. Mine was quiet and uneventful as usual. Of course Mother Nature keeps doing her best to keep winter around as long as possible.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Helen:

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

             Phillips, Wis.
             Monday eve.
Dear Howard:-
  Yours was received
some time ago but
I have been rather up
set here lately- My sister
was home during the
past week and busy
packing the childrens
things to go back to
the city. So while she was
here we did a lot of
visiting for she wanted
to see as many of her
friends as she could
while she was here. They left
Saturday night- I sure
seems dead around

here now- Especially when the
children are gone for they made
all the noise.
There has been a lot of accidents
around here during hunting
season. My brother was almost
shot. His boss was shot in
the arm perhaps you have
read about it. So now they
all have to go to the court-
and see what will be done.
Last night I was to a party
here at our neighbors place.
Had a pretty good time but
could be better-(Ha Ha)
Well Howard, you asked me
what nite could be the best to
come down- Saturday would be
better then Sunday - if I knew
just when you would come
I would plan to be home then
because I usually am gone skating
or somewhere most of the time.
Wasn't today one grand day
tho? doesn't seem like the
month of December at all- But
I suppose we get our share
of winter after New Year.
Pa is getting ready to go to bed.

I feel sort of sleepy myself-
Wish I had your radio here
Now to waken me up a little-
well Howard, this letter is
short but I can't seem to have
any more news. Will make
up for it next time, is that
alright with you?
I can imagine how bashful
we will be when we are to meet
Can't you (Ha Ha)
   Hoping to hear from
you again
    Lovingly Helen

Here is a clipping of the shooting she was talking about:

 Some things never change when it come to hunting. Some people become so disrespectful to others and where they live, they think they can do whatever they want to whenever they want.
I wonder how everything worked out.

It sounds like they were having a kind of warmer weather around here at that time.
I wonder how much longer it was before the two of them were able to get together.


Here is a picture from the scrap book:

Scenes similar to this one, taken on N. Sherman blvd., just north of W. Roosevelt drive, are common on the northwest side of Milwaukee. Ald. William Esser of the twenty-sixth ward, which comprises the far northwest side, reports that not an alley has been plowed and that many streets are closed due to drifting.

We had gotten an inch or two around here right now but I think East they were suppose to really get hit.

Here is a page from the joke book:

Enjoy this page.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

It could be Grandpa but I'm not sure what year this was taken.

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

Harriet: Dec. 9, 1928 Chicago, Ill.

Dearest Friends,
It's the end of yet another week. Boy was it windy around here for a few days. One night when it was raining and the wind blowing it kind of sounded like my house was going through a car wash. I am surprised that there were not more trees down then there was. At least the lights never went out here but other places were not so lucky.
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
                   Friday Eve.
Dearest Sweetheart of mine
  Sure was glad to receive
your loving letter the other
day. Am always glad to
get letters from you (honney)
How's the world treating
you now days anyway
It's treating me fairly good
only thing it is getting
a little to cold to suit me
Suppose it's the same
up there eh?
it snowed yesterday the
first snowfall so looked
like Christmas especially
to me--

                 -2-
Margret is going up home
for Christmas. Wish I could do
so to. But could only stay for a
few days so would only make
me more lonesome than ever
for you sweetheart-
A few of us girls went to a dance
last night (Ladies Choice) Did
we have a good time. and
who did we see but Candorsey
Soderbeck. Oh boy was she loud
We sure got a good kick out
of her.
We may go to a Swedish dance
to-morrow night (that's maybe)
So Catherine & Johnnie comes to
see you quite often don't they
Suppose it won't be long
now ha! ha!
Was surprised to hear that
Lillian Carlson is married. but
guess there was reasons ha!
No Walter hasn't called me
for a while. Did you hear
from him lately
Is Luella still going with Harold
Peterson or is it all off.--

If this letter isn't up to standard don't
blame me as they have the radio a going
and some peppy music and how
so am writing and listening to the radio
the same time--
Well sweetheart there isn't any
news whats so ever so guess I
might as well sign off this hum
broadcasting station for this time.
Heaps & heaps of (love & kisses)
                 Your till
               Niagara Falls
                      Harriet
Answer at once
 (SWMK)xxxxxxxx

  I think I got that one name wrong or at least I think I did. But I do wonder who this person was. Was she famous or just someone they knew? I doubt I'll ever find out.
Still no word from Walter, poor girl. But I don't think she was that worried about hearing from him.
I wonder what a Swedish dance was like.
I like the way she signed off. I don't know if I've ever heard of doing that before or not.
I guess she can't multi task. Listening to music must have been kind of distracting for her at that time.

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

 This mass of twisted iron and steel is the remains of two engines, pulling 60 cars, which Monday
crashed head-on into a stalled freight train near Jordan, Minn. Four members of the train crew
were killed.- A.P. Wirephoto.

That looks like one big mess.

Here is a page from the joke book:

Enjoy jokes from 1940.

And here is a random picture:

This one is very dark. I've lightened it the best I could. I think they might be thrashing but I'm not 100%  sure.

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

Cousin Walter Walin: Nov. 28, 1928 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good week. Mine was good. I was on vacation all week because of the play. it has been a lot of fun.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Walter:

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

                   11/28/28
Friend Howard:
Received your letter some
time ago and will try & get in a
few minutes now to answer it.
        I hear you are
having winter weather up there.
It's not so bad here yet. I'm
still wearing B.V.D's and sometimes
only a light coat. It's raining a
little today.
Haven't seen much of
your girl friend. I only took her
out once but called her up several
times. She always seems to be
so busy altho she says she has
no boy friend but that's a lot of
bunk I guess. I really didn't
try very hard to take her out
again as I've my own friends
to go out with and haven't a

great deal of time. I sure do
kid her along when I call. The
last time I called her was a
month ago.
       Pa, seems to like it
pretty well up there and I'm
glad of that.
Did you do any
hunting this fall? When it gets
a bit colder I'll be going out
for rabbits. They are pretty scarce
around here. We generally go
about 100 miles or so from here.
        Well Howard, I must
start to work now. Will get all
the dope about Harriet I can and
don't worry I won't say any thing
to her about it. Don't you say
anything either.
                   Your cousin
                    Walter

Well the weather at time time sounds like it was warm around Chicago. I wonder how much snow they got that year?
I wonder if he was able to go rabbit hunting and if he did how many did he get?
It sounds that from his point Harriet was not the one for him so he was just going to kind of string her along.
I wonder how long that lasted?

Here is a picture from the scrap book:

Sawing and blasting have cut this channel in the ice of the Milwaukee river north of the Lincoln park bridge.
It is hoped that such channels will carry off expected flood waters. A dynamite blast can be seen in the background.

I wonder how much dynamite the used that people were standing so close to the blast. Kind of scary to me.

Here is a page from the joke book:

Have fun reading it.

Here is a random picture:

No idea when this was taken or who is in the picture.
I did my best to lighten it up a bit. The original is a bit darker.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today.
I hope you have a good weekend and if you find yourself my area tonight or Saturday night and want live entertainment come and see our production of "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike". Last night was our opening night and it was a good one.
I hope you will drop by again real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Harriet: Sept. 2, 1928 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Well it's almost the end of another year. Where has the time gone? I just wonder what 2017 will bring? I'm hoping it will be a better year then the last one.But I get a feeling I'll be saying, "Hang on it's going to be a bumpy ride." But I'm trying to focus on the good things that will happen.
I don't do New Year promises. I like to say I'm a constant work in progress. Change little things little by little and eventually the bigger things will not seam so big.
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.
                 Thurs. evening
Dearest Howard.
Received your dear
letter and it certainly
cheered me up to hear
from you.
well what's the
news around Ogema
So and so eh:
What are you
doing for excitement
anyway. I'm not
doing much of anything
- anything to keep

out of mischief- ha!
Well I went out with Walter
Tuesday night. He sure is a
nice kid. He brought his
hay friend along for Margret
And we all took in a show.
Well where are you going
(Labor Day) I don't know just
where I am going.
August Erdman & Walter even
are coming down for Labor Day.
I went to a party last Sunday
night at Clarence's house. Sure
had a wonderful time.
You should of been along.
and (how) eh!
So Clarence has a car now eh!
Seeing he has the car has he
picked his chicken yet. -ha!
So Catherine sill going with
Johnny. Maybe we will soon
hear of their wedding, or
are you the next on the program.

Or are you going to wait for
me. honey- No kidding eh!
Well Howard haven't any more
news in particular will try and
write more next time. Will send some
more jokes as I heard loads of
them.
Will close with "heaps of Love & kisses"
                     Harriet
Answer
at
Once              SWAK


Well she finally got together with Walter. I wonder how many more times they will hang out together?
I kind of like reading her letters. She sounds like a very nice person.
I hope she does send more jokes. I like her jokes. How about you?

Well here are the next two viewer cards from the "Jamaica 1907" set:

 15. Hospital tent and interior, showing cots, etc.

16. The scenes in the Kingston Hospital.

I wonder how long people had to use those tents or stay in the hospital.

It's been awhile since I showed you something form the scrap book.

I scanned it the best I could. I hope you can read it. I like the head line: "Wolf Is Tamed By Isolated Coastguard Crew".

I thought instead of ending this post with a random picture I'd show you another page from the joke book. A kind of the end of the year gift.
Enjoy.

I hope you like these jokes.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today. The next time you will hear from me it will be 2017.
So I hope you will come again soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Harriet: July 24, 1928 Chicago, Ill.

Dear Friends,
Another week done. This weekend in Wisconsin is the start of Deer gun season. Right now this has been the warmest November I can think of. This will be a harder hunting season because there is no snow on the ground. Water is not even frozen. The first shot deer hear and they will heading to the swamps. They will also have an easier time hiding in plain sight also.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Harriet:

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

                Chicago, Illinois
                 Monday Eve.
Dearest Howard
Received your dear
letter and it certainly
cheered me up to hear
from you.
How's the world
treating you now days
It treating me fine
and dandy as ever
Oh boy have we
had some hot weather
and I don't mean
maybe either.
Sure did think so
when I am working
of course I am to ambitious

          -2-
That's me you know.
What's all the news
around Ogema any-
thing special happened
ha! ha!
You have to excuse
my writing with pencil
but the pen went
on a strike ( oh that's
that)
You asked me if
I had heard any
new jokes. Well yes
I have heard of
few but am bashful
to tell (em) ha! ha!
You know me don't you

      -3-
Gee I am dead tired
to-night from hard
working poor me ha! ha!
I have been out
visiting all week so
am i going to bed
early to-night (and how)
Margret told me
to tell you hello from
her
She is working at
the same place as
I am.
Thanks very much
for the pictures you
sent me. They were
very good of you

Well dear I haven't
any news in particular
So I better sign off my
broadcasting labor
So will close with
Hope & love & kisses
       Your Sweetie
             Harriet.
   S.W.A.K
 xxxx
Answer immediately
    Please.

A few of the words I was not sure of so I'm pretty sure I got them wrong.
Not a whole lot to comment on.
It sounds like Grandpa was always looking for a new joke. Plus I think he liked to tell jokes.
I just might have to find a few jokes to share from the joke book.

 Here are the next viewer cards from the "Panama 1906" set:

 15. Steam Shovel in Cut, Bas Obispo, Panama.

16. French Machinery in Fill, Pedro Miguel.

These two are showing views of the work going on at the beginning of the construction of the Panama  Canal.
I'm trying to figure out what the French machine is doing.

Here is a page from the joke book:

I thought since someone is always talking about jokes I'd show you a a whole page. Enjoy.

Here is a random picture for you to look at:

No idea who they are or when it was taken. But it was taken by Rash at Appleton, Wis.

Well that's about all I have to share with you this time.
Remember if you are a hunter, have a safe and successful hunt.
I hope you will drop by again real soon for more Fading History.
Till then.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Jan. 21, 1927 Rib Lake, Wis

Hello Friends,
Well I hope you enjoyed your Xmas weekend. Mine was good. I did have to start work 2 hours earlier on Monday. I did survive, barely. I just hope it's the last one, but I think I might be wrong. I'll let you know next time.
Anyway, here is the next letter from Mary:

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

         Rib lake Wis
         Thursday 3 P.M.
Hello Howard:-
    Well this last
letter you wrote was
more like a real letter
again. I believe I'll
------ scold you
oftener. But i won't
write such a long
letter today seeing
I'm not mad.

You said you wanted to walk
over sometime, isn't that
quite a trip? Isn't the state
road open at all or can't you
get to it from your place? If you
walk out here and back you
won't be able to work for a week.
Of course if you were a German
you could easily do it but I
didn't think a Swede could
stand that much.
All jokes aside, but I would
be glad to see you but How-
ard you've got to be absolutely
good or it'll be goodbye. I'm
telling you that now because
when you're here I can't.
  Well, I think I had better
close as I have a bunch of
socks to darn yet. Don't you

want to bring your's
over, too?
    goodbye & good luck
    Love from me.


Ever time she mentions something about his letters I wish I could read what he wrote. But now I know how she got him to be more mindful of his behavior.
She always seams to bring up something about German's being better then Swede's. It must have been her thing.
I wonder how many socks she had to darn. Now that's something that very rarely done by anyone these days.

Here a picture from the scrap book:

I know it is hard to read. It as almost to big to fit on the scanner, so here is what it says:

"Those muffled booms which north side residents heard Monday afternoon and night were from Lincoln park, where a channel deepening project has been under way in the Milwaukee river. The blasts widened gaps in the dike which was constructed to allow men to work in one side of the river while the water flowed in the other. It is hoped that the gaps will allow the river to carry off the expected flood waters successfully-- Journal Staff Photo"

Now here are a few random pictures fro you to look at.

No clue who they are or when it was taken.

No idea who this is. it was taken at Neenah, Wis. I think the studio's name was, Denninger.

No idea who they are. But it looks like it could have been taken at Cooper Falls.

And to end this post, here are a few jokes.

Well that's all I have for you this time. The next time you hear from me it will be 2016. It's hard to believe that another year has gone by.
Lifting a glass, Here's to a New Year with many wonderful surprises.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Mary Kauer: Oct. 5, 1926 Rib Lake, Wis.

Hello Friends,
It's me again. I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was nice and quiet. No drama for me. Just the way I like it.
Here is the next letter from Mary.

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

                  Oct. 5, 1926
Hello Howard:-
   Thanks a lot
for the candy and
the two letters. You
ought to get a prize
for writing letters. I
think I should too, don't
you? My letters are
all so real love letters
aren't they?
I couldn't write a
love letter if I had
to. I wasn't cut out for
such stuff.
 Say, all I can say
today is hello & goodbye

It's almost 5.30 and
I've got an awful stack
of work yet.
  So goodbye till
next time.
   Love from Mary

Not a whole lot here. I think it sounds more like just a thank you letter. For him to write two letter and candy tells me he must have liked to write. I know I will never see any of the letters he wrote. But some of the women  mention his lengthy letters.  I know this blog would be a lot more interesting if I could share at least some of his letters with everyone. Then we could all see how he actually wrote.

Since it was a short letter I thought I would share a few jokes from the joke book.

And a picture from the scrap book.

 "Twenty-Seven-Month-Old Jean McElroy is shown on her
arrival in San Francisco Tuesday from Shanghai after an un-
accompanied trip across the Pacific ocean. Her mother died in
China and she was brought to her father, a Los Angeles resident.
A ship's stewardess took care of her and en route three couples
sought to adopt her."

Now here are some random pictures for you to look at.

Just one of the portrait pictures of an unknown person. No idea when it was taken.

No idea who they are or when it was taken.

Someones classmate from school.

Well that's about all I have to share with you today. I hope you have a good week and that you drop by again real soon for some more faded history.
Till next time.
Your friend,
Sandy

Edna: August 26, 1925 Chicago, Ill

Dear Friends,
I hope you had a good weekend? Mine was on the short side but I enjoyed the warmer temps. This week the temps are suppose to be in the 40's and  50's. By the end of the week hopefully almost all the snow should be gone. The question is will it stay gone or will it come back again and again before we can enjoy a nice spring.
Anyway here is the next letter from Edna:

As always here is what it says:

                          Chicago, Ill
                         August 26, 1925
Dear Friend Howard:
    I am at taking
time to answer your letter
which now has been in my
possession for some time.
Really tho: I've been very busy
of late. Have not had time to do
a thing for myself or anybody
else.
  I have now been at my
new position for almost two wks.
I'm working for the manger.
Like it very much. There sure
is enough to do here as I'm
doing secretarial work also.
  It sure is lonesome with-
out Linnea. I should die
if it were not for my
books. I am reading more
thou I really ought to.
            2
  next Thursday, if possible,
I'm going to have my operation.
Maby then I shall feel more
like living. Today I really
ought to be at home. I
feel miserable. My throat
is so sore and swollen I
can scarcely eat or speak.
   Well, you say._____
wears rolled stockings. That's
nothing. Here half of
them go without any.
But I don't even wear
mine rolled. Besides,
we would be fired here
if we should be caught.
  Do you think Julia
or Frida have changed any?
I don't. I think they are
the same. We sure had
a picnic when Julia stayed
with us, just before they
               3
left.
Last Saturday I went out
to Gladys. I stayed there
over Sunday. Had a very
nice time. We walked about
two miles. On our way
back we found some
trees and we sat there
in the shade till it
was time for her to go
back. We sang all the
old songs we knew. I
came home Sunday eve.
  You say you have
heard many more
jokes. Why don't you tell
me? You promised me
also that you would
send me that book to
read. I know no more
jokes. I told you all.
  Guess I must stop

now.  Please answer if
you care to.
                In haste,
                     Edna

Not a whole lot here. I wonder if maybe she was going to have her tonsils taken out.
I wish I knew what kind of jokes Grandpa shared with people back then. I do have an old joke book but it is from the fall of 1940. Maybe I'll tell you one of them. Or maybe I'll start by showing you the first page.

Here is a sample of a couple of the jokes:

"How can I cure a sleep-walking habit?"
"Sprinkle tacks on the floor."
or
Some women grow old before their
time trying to look young after their
time.

Those kind of jokes. Maybe from time to time I'll include a joke or two from the book.

Here are a few random pictures for you to look at.

The name on the back of this one is, Rosalene Preston. No idea who she is.

A logging picture that was made into a postcard.

Not sure who this is. It almost looks like Grandpa but I could be wrong.

Well that's all I have for you today.
Enjoy this nice warm weather and hope it stays.
Your friend,
Sandy