Friday, March 12, 2010

Mom & Dad's Life - 1935 - 1936

I found a box of 'stuff' here's some of it:

Ticket:  Town Basketball Dance* Warm Springs Agency - Saturday Nite * January 5, 1935 * Admit One #27 * Gents 40cents, Ladies 10cents.  (I looked back in Dad's diary postings, sure enough he was at a dance that night - here's his ticket! m)

Letter mailed from Wes Smith, Veterans Hospital, Portland, Oregon, March 13, 1935 to Stanley Smith (Wes was Mom's dad, Stanley her brother - m)

Dear Son
I am going to answer you letter I received this afternoon was very glad to hear from you I am getting better little by little my leg is still swollen  Dear son I am glad you help you mother give her some money so with Catherine.  I thank you both I am on the wheel-chair for one week now on the crutches now  I feel better my leg is fractured  Yes I got letter from George Cooper don't worry son I am coming out of it we have moving picture here and pool room  This is all from you dad.  I got a letter from brother Victor I send him 1.00 all I had he is fine and dandy this is all from loving Dad Wesley Smith
address Veterans Hospital
Portland, Oregon
(I do not know why he was there, as far as I know, he was not in the military.  In fact, I think I remember Mom saying he signed up and left all proud but came back home sad because he couldn't get in the Army.  I guess WWI? - m)
- -  - -
Postcard dated August 11, 1935 from Dad's parents:
1146 Edgemon
San Diego, Calif.
Dear Terry and Kay.  We are sending your box today to Madras Oregon after so long a time.  Hope you get it O.K. We are well and hope you are too.  Not located yet.  We paid the express.  Love from Daddy & Mother Ellsworth
-----
Postcard dated August 14, 1935 from Railway Express Agency, 6855 Madras, Ore. showing 'books".  (Postcards were one cent.)
-----
Christmas card from Hazel Thomas, 2909 NE 32Ave., Portland, Oregon.  (Hazel married Mr. Hoptowit, they had children Janice and William - all of them are gone now.  Mr. Hoptowit rented the pasture where the Administration Building is now, he raised alfalfa.  We bought hay from him and when he was done cutting, we pastured our horse, Winnipeg, there - m)
-----
Letter dated January 31, 1936 from CIS (Chemawa Indian School), mom's brother Alvis.  The postage was 3cents.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Courtney:  Sure was glad to here from you folks again.  Glad to that the folks are all okey also.  The weather sure is keen down here for weeks now, must be spring.  I always here from Vic, he is fine at Lapwai.  (Brother Victor had TB - the hospital was in Idaho - m)  I'm now going to answer him too pretty quick too. 

I seem to be doing alrite in school at my lessons.  Wilson Spencer came down here to school last week.  He is going to stay here too until schools out.  He is a boxer here for Chemawa's 145 pounder.  He is not so hot to me, because the other nite he & I sparred around at the gym & he didn't seem to hot, I mean good at boxing.  We are going to box tomorrow nite here with Randy Hi team's.  Both boxing & wrestling the same nite here in Chemawa.  Yep, I box tomorrow here for Chemawa at 118 pounds.  Chemawa is going to play basketball here to-nite.  Hoping they win for once.  They lost to Ore. City the other nite.  They are getting kinda off now days on basketball. 

I send you folks a Chemawa American the next time we get one.  We changed the name of them now since last fall to "Redskins Sentinel" not a bad name eh.  A boy here in school named it that & he got a prize for it too.  So Claude is bad egger at basket ball & the old Injun gals eh.  Not bad for the young brother.  He can have my old girl because I have plenty of them here in school.  Got some to spare to some one. (Jokes) 

Did sis Mildred ask for some of my money in the office I told her to.  If not tell mom to or pop to send me some of my money in the office, very soon before Saturday, the boys town day.  I don't care how much doe I have left.  If I spend it all it's my own doe, be my fault.  If they can get it all okey & send it to me, I'll get a suit with it because I sold all my dress clothes to a guy here about two weeks ago & spend my money all, huh working fast, eh?  So tell them about it and send me some of it before this coming Sat.  Have nice eats here in school. 
Did Dottie get the postcard that I wrote her.  Tell her & her hubbie (brother Stanley - m) I says hello to them.  Tell pop & mom I says hi.  Also to them.  How is Mr. Russell Brown acoming along, hope fine.  Well I'm just about out of news myself right now.  We are going to have lots of fun on old C.I.S. birthday here & have all kinds of sports outdoors & indoors both then.  A cross country run is to be held here also that day for the kids here.  A cup is to be given to the winner & a pair of track shoes also for keeps.  But the cup is to be given to someone next year if the same guy don't win aain.  The cup is to given to someone every year on Chemawa birthday each year the winner gets the same cup.  You must excuse my poor handwriting sis, & mistakes also.  Sam Scott is here for somethine he been here about a week now.  I must close here, wishing you & Terry luck.  You must answer soon.  From brother, Al. Smioth
-----
Feb. 14, 1936
Letter from brother Vic to Mom:
Lapwai, Idaho.  Hello folks:  Received the present safe and sound.  Was sure glad to get it too.  Thankx to you all three.

Sure have quite a bit of snow here, about 9 or 10 inches.  I guess.  And 9 or 10 inches of snow is somethig to talk about 'round here.  How are you sis & how the little guy?  Hope both are fine.
-----
Letter dated Feb. 17, 1936, from Mom's sister, Myrtle Running Wolf, Browning, Montana.
Dear sister Catherine,

I am going write to you again as I thought of you, you must have new baby by this time.  I been waiting for your answer but I thought maybe you are sick yet.

So I am writing again.  How is all folks and yourself.  We are all well and so far my children never get sick yet.  There sure lot of sickness here.  And cold weather too and lots snow. Today is only time kind of warm.  Myles (her husband -m) got me some utensils for cooking.  It cost him $32.30 - and I am sure proud of them and he send for a range for me last Saturday but I don't know when it come next week sometime.  Well tell me how are you.  I hope you are well and happy.  I'll come to close with love.  I am your sister Myrtle R. Wolf, Browning, Montana.
-----
Letter from brother, Lapwai, Idaho, Feb. 20, 1936
Dear sis:  Received your letter a few days previous and sure was glad to hear from you once again.

Here's hoping that all of yours & Terry's family is still okay.

Me?  Oh, I am always okay - when I'm not sick.  Just now I don't feel sick so I reckon I'm okay.

Little Terry is sure a husky lad, huh?

Since I haven't mentioned the present I received from you folks, you may be thinking that I didn't get it, but, I did.  Thanks ever so much.

Gees, I haven't been writing letters for quite a spell and my fingers are sure stiff, so will you excuse my writing.  Maybe the stiffness is caused from too much gambling, I had to quit shooting 'craps" this evening 'cause I got a good cleaning out of my marbles, too bad, eh?  Your luck never lasts though, huh?

We still hve some snow on the ground.  The girl friend is okay I guess, altho' I don't know for sure, haven't spoke to her for quite a while.  Don't ask any more questions, please.  Tsh, tsk, such 'peoples' huh?

I suppose all is well with the rest of the families in "Smith" village, eh?  Nothing much to say so I must come to a sudden conclusion with love and best regards, I remain, your bro, Vic.  Ans. soon.

1 comment:

  1. These are great posts, Mom! I love how much Gpa talks about Gma and their love! ;) Awesome! Thank you for doing this!

    ReplyDelete