Ruth was busy working with a patient. Her friend (and roommate) Loretta starts looking into making arrangments for living in a different apartment over the summer. The weather this week in 1936 brought massive flooding to NY state and New England. The flooding was so bad that many people couldn’t go to work, school was cancelled, and some had to evacuate their homes. Dave and Francis consider purchasing another gas station. Dave and his father, Wilbur Coffin, find work with the W.P.A.
[There is an envelope from Dave addressed to Miss Ruth J. Parker, 464 First St. Albany NY, post-marked Mar17, 4 PM from Middleburg NY, but the letter is missing; if it contained a letter, it likely would have been dated Mar 16]
March 16, 1936
464 First Street
Albany, N.Y.
Notice: Please don’t start reading this before dinner or everything will be cold or maybe it will be warmed over for supper by the time you finally get it doped out.
Hello Dear,
Finding a few minutes to spare, I might as well use them to the best advantage and get a letter written to my honey. As you must have gathered by this time, I survived the night o.k. even if it did look rather doubtful for a while.
Gee, hon, I’m awfully sorry I wasn’t more sociable last night. I had oodles of things to talk to you about but it seemed like I just couldn’t keep my eyes open and I didn’t even have ambition enough to talk. I got to bed somehow or other after you left and I can’t remember staying awake very long. I usually stay awake and think of you on your way home, but last night I went to sleep and the next thing I knew it was morning.
Loretta wasn’t in yet when I left home. I imagine she put in rather a hectic night. Gee, you sure do earn your money on a case like that or most any case for that matter. I have harder work to do than she, but at least I have something to work on.
I walked over to Western Avenue this morning as usual. I have long since given up the idea of ever catching a trolley. They are usually just disappearing around the corner as I come up the street. I need the fresh air and exercise anyway so it doesn’t matter much. It is nearly twelve and the Dr. hasn’t been in yet. I think he said he had an operation of some sort to do this morning so no doubt that accounts for the delay. The patient seems to feel pretty good this morning and her temperature is down. I wish it would stay down. She is awfully weak and it has been over two weeks since she had any solid food.
I have a sinus headache today for the first time in a week. I guess it must be caused by the damp weather.
I hardly know what to tell you about my uniforms. I can manage nicely until Saturday and maybe if I am a very careful little girl and don’t forget to wear a bib at meal time, I can manage to make one uniform do me three days. I really would like to use all of my uniforms up so you would have to come up with my clean ones Wednesday night but I guess I can’t use that for an excuse this week.
Pardon the interruption. The doctor came and after he went I had to eat dinner. The Dr. says she must have a central pneumonia and along with it she has very low blood pressure which leaves her with very little resistance. He says some of these days the congestion will break up and we will see some improvement. She is getting whiskey about every three hours.1 I hope she doesn’t get the load on. He wanted to know what I did with all the tablets and I told him I used them in my coffee. Looks like I’ll finish out my week here alright.
Loretta said something about looking for an apartment tonight. I judge from the way you spoke last night you didn’t think too much of the idea. I don’t like the idea of moving all the time but on the other hand, I think we aren’t going to have a very pleasant time at Hewitts with Clifford. He resents our being there and after school is out, he makes a regular club house of the place. So you can imagine what kind of a time we would have trying to get sleep. He acts bad enough now. Of course I hope Loretta realizes that I don’t know how long I am staying in the city. I have already told her that if I can’t get work, it will be impossible for me to stay. I think if we were in an apartment, we would eat better. Even if I do have the money, I never feel like going out to eat alone.
Listen, honey, the next time you come up, you had better stop in P.H. and get our dime box. All I lack is one dime which I might be able to scrape up before the week is over and our dime saver will be full. We aren’t doing so bad. We have six dollars toward the worthy cause. I guess I had better get busy on the next three dollars. It seems like you saved most of the last. We are supposed to save three dollars a month. We are caught up to the first of March.
I really meant it when I said you were getting fatter last night. Maybe it is because you got caught up on your rest last week or maybe it is because you are a “milk fed baby” as Fran would say. Anyhow you looked pretty swell to me, and don’t tell me you have the mumps or I might forget myself for a minute and lose my temper. Then of course the usual procedure is to bop you in the puss followed by me being bopped on the back or sompin’.
This sure is a blue Monday alright. It wasn’t blue enough so it had to rain to make matters worse. Here I am at work with no rubbers or umbrella. I spoiled my new hat last week in the rain. Darn gosh the luck anyway, everything happens to me
Gee, how very asinine of me, I even forgot to ask about Fluffy last night. I trust that her daddy is taking very good care of her and not letting her go astray. Don’t put too much faith in this birth control idea of yours or you’re apt to find yourself with little Fluffy cats to dispose of.
Ye Gods! Another enema to be given this afternoon. This is the sixth day I have been here and I’ve given an enema every day. I seem to have made a record for myself. I think one of these days I’ll do as the Dr. suggested and blast. I bet I could give an enema in my sleep and still have perfect results.
Holy cats, look what I went and did. Here I am forgetting this is a letter to you and writing all this stuff about enemas. Oh well, you might as well be put through the third degree first as last. After having been with me for seventeen months, one week and two days you should expect to hear most anything and not be shocked. However, I really am sorry I said so much about enemas in this letter, but I just had to confide in someone about my troubles so since you were the only one I happened to be writing to, of course it had to be you.
Cheer up, honey, I don’t have brain storms very often so if you will bear with me for a little while, I might pull myself together and be o.k.
My head still aches like the deuce and even though Lewis makes aspirin, I can’t find one in the place. I ought to jump all over him when he gets home tonight.
Everything is running smoothly around the house since the new maid has taken things over. I think we are due for spinach and cream puffs for supper tonight.
Gee whiz, if I don’t finish this before long, they will think I’m writing a manuscript of some sort.
Ed is in town tonight and Loretta is working so there isn’t much I can do but go up and help him and Dick initiate the new apartment. I think it would be rather big of me to go up and cook dinner for them. What do you think? Never mind telling me I’m one of those people who know all the answers. Don’t worry, darling, I wouldn’t get dinner for anyone but my own little honeybunch. Wasn’t that sort of cute?
You know that tent and grass idea of yours isn’t so bad. I think we will pitch a tent somewhere along the bank of the P.H. Creek. If you are a very good boy on Sunday, we will have a fish fry for dinner which I will have caught with my very own little hands. Isn’t that ducky or isn’t it?
Well as I sez before, beloved, it is about time I called a halt to this nonsense before I have so much written that you have to pay extra postage on it. The truth is it isn’t even worth the three cents I’m wasting on it.
So long and don’t forget to write soon or I might punish you by sending you another letter like this. Now I guess I have made up for what I didn’t say last night.
Oodles of love and kisses,
Yours,
“Parky”
P.S. Now that you have read this and your dinner is cold, don’t you wish you had taken my advice and eaten first.
More love,
“Me”
March 18, 1936
Middleburg, N.Y.
My dear girl,
How do you do it, hon? The letter, I mean. Gee it was a swell one and worth a great deal more that the three cent stamp it took to bring it. The mail came early so my dinner did get cold while I was reading it, and if I am lucky, I may be able to finish this in time to send it today.
As you said, I can’t say I am crazy about the idea of your taking an apartment but if you don’t get along where you are, you might better move.
Schenectady, NY Gazette
March 19, 1936
A few minutes ago I thought I would be able to answer all of your letter and some more besides, but I guess not. There is too much going on. About everything in this country is under water. All the creeks are on a rampage and I can’t begin to tell you the damage that is being done. M. is all afloat and there is no school today. Three bridges right near us have gone out this morning. One of them a new one last fall that cost $14,000. Most telephone lines are down and people in Livingstonville are moving their stock up to Franklinton as there is danger of barns going down. I have only heard one report from P.H. and that was that people in the upper end of the village were driven from their homes and are living in the Baptist church. Lydia and Fran’s place is far enough from the creek to be out of danger though. The only damage done here is in our cellar. We have about five feet of water in it and a lot of canned stuff was tipped off a table and spoiled. I have been out since daylight helping here and there. I’ll try and get to P.H. this afternoon.2
Gee, hon, I’ve got lots to tell you but I’ve got to eat now and go out again. Maybe I’ll get time to write again tonight but can’t say for sure.
If you need your uniforms before Sunday, let me know and I’ll bring them.
Bye, bye, darling.
All my love to you,
Dave
I’m just like the wind I change so often. I’ve decided to finish this now. Mom wants me to take her to Livingstonville and it will be a half hour before she is ready so I’ll improve my time.
Yesterday I was coming up from L. and passed a car and just as I did I recognized the driver. It was none other than Mrs. Francis Sprague. They came up to see me and Fran and I had quite a talk. It seems he is finally coming to the conclusion that Frank is doing him dirt and he is thinking of striking out for himself or rather for ourselves. In other words, he wants me to take the venture with him in case he does. Of course I’m only too willing to do it because you and I both know I’ve got to do something if we are going to get married. Anyway, I went back down with him and we looked at a couple pieces of land below P.H. either of which would be suitable for a gas station. We don’t know yet if either place can be bought, but Fran is going to try and find out on the q.t. For the station we can buy the one this side of P.H. that Clayton Rivenburgh tried to run last year. I’ve got to stop in L. this afternoon and ask for a first option on it. The price is $300 but I rather think I can get it a little cheaper. Of course this is only talk amongst ourselves as yet and there are plenty of things to hinder it ever being done, the main one in my opinion being Frank. He was supposed to come down again last night and figure up the books with Fran but he didn’t come. Even so I’m afraid he will talk Fran into staying yet even though Lydia doesn’t want him to.
You can take all of the above for just what it is worth but I thought I should tell you about it anyway. Maybe I’ll know more by Sunday.
Well so far I’m doing pretty good, I mean I’m covering a lot of paper but I don’t expect to equal your letter.
Lydia had a letter from Eva. It is as much to you as her and full of nonsense. She sent me the pay for putting up the stove. Wait until you see it. I haven’t decided what I’ll buy with it yet.
I hope your headache stops, hon. If it doesn’t, you had better go to the Dr. again.
I’ll try and remember the dime box when I come up. Seems like I have fallen down lately.
All that you said about enemas didn’t bother me a bit. I guess I am pretty much hardened in already. I don’t think you could make me blush, but that isn’t a challenge for you to try it.
Well Mom is ready to go so I’ll have to say bye, bye, sweet and see you Sunday or before if you need anything.
Bushels of love and a million kisses,
“Me”
March 18, 1936
464 First Street
Albany, N.Y.
Hello Dave,
How goes it? I just called Loretta and she tells me I have a letter there from Middleburg. Now I’m all atwitter and can hardly wait for the rest of the day to pass. She offered to read it to me over the telephone, but I told her not to bother.
Loretta’s patient died Monday night about 8:40. She is on register again. She went out with Ed for a St. Pat’s party. She said she had a date for me with another fellow at the office, but she knew what the answer would be so she didn’t ask me.
My patient was doing nicely yesterday, but during the night she was taken with sharp pains in her side and she had them all morning. They certainly are terrible. She screams and it isn’t because she is a sissy either. Seems like she no sooner gets over one thing then she has another. The doctor seems to think the pain is caused by a stone in her kidneys. She has no temp and feels fine only for the pain.
Last night I didn’t even think about my week being up and when I got ready to leave Mr. Stumpf says “here is the pay for your first week’s work”. They gave me an extra dollar for car fare.
Gee, it sure has rained this week. It rained all night and when it was time to go to work I had to call a taxi. They only charged $.50 this time so I guess the other guy wanted to be sure of his tip. Believe me, if I ever call a taxi again and he is the driver, he won’t get any tips.
Lewis took me home Monday night because it was raining so hard, so I didn’t get a chance to mail your other letter until Tuesday morning.
Last night about 2 a.m. I was blissfully sleeping when the telephone rang. I didn’t dare let it ring as Loretta is on register and I thought it might be a call from the “Exchange” or a long distance call for us. I answered and someone wanted to know if the floor show was over yet. They thought it was Smith’s Grill. Boy was I mad and I guess the fellow realized it.
Loretta and I have been arguing about who buys the ice cream tonight. She got paid Monday night and I got paid last night. Gee, I’m getting to be a regular Scotchman these days. I hate like the deuce to spend a cent.
I told Loretta I didn’t know what I would ever do. I got paid last night and since I am still working, I can’t go downtown and spend my money, so I won’t be broke. I am never happy unless I am broke.
Gee, I’ll be glad if it ever stops raining. I bet you are out in this and I am afraid you will catch pneumonia. I suppose by this time you have taken off your winter underwear, only it will be better for you not to let me know about it.
I guess Zelma and Marion are coming over to see me tomorrow or Friday night.
Mrs. Herlihy called me this morning. She said Edward told Jack I was here. She wanted to know what my address was so she could forward a letter to me. She seemed very nice and asked me to stop in and see them sometime.
Wagar’s matchbook
I think my patient is awake, so I’ll go and give her a little attention.
Thursday afternoon-
As usual, my plans went on the rocks last night. I intended to finish this and mail it last night after I had read your letter so you would get it today, but Marion and Zelma came over. It was after twelve before I got to bed and I was so tired, I ached all over. It wasn’t enough I should walk home from Western Avenue after working all day, but I walked over and back again with the girls. We went to Wagar’s for a hot chocolate and sandwich.
Norman has chicken pox today so he is home for a while. Mrs. Stumpf is feeling better for a change, but no doubt by tomorrow something new will probably be next. The Dr. thinks she has a kidney stone that causes all of the pain. He is giving her medicine which he hopes will dissolve it.
Gee, I guess there is an awful flood downtown. Lewis came home from work as the plant is flooded. The P.P.W. factory is shut down because most of the machinery is in water. When the flood subsides this should mean lots of work for somebody. I guess I’ll send you a dollar to give Lydia for my laundry. I don’t know if I can make one uniform go three days or not. If I do, I’ll be doing well.
Seems like you keep quite busy going places these days. I wish I were around to help you.
I know darned well you would manage to get soaked through half a dozen times this week. I expect you to get a good cold for yourself.
Norman was supposed to take a nap for himself, but I see he is up and around. I had to play him a couple of games of dominoes a while ago.
Evidently, I’m not in the mood to write letters today, so I’ll see if I can find a magazine to read until my patient wakes up.
Lots of love,
Ruth
P.S. If you don’t hear from me again before Sunday, you can plan to pick me up here about 7:45, or if you don’t mind taking a chance on waiting, I might make it a little earlier. Don’t forget to bring the dime box!
March 19, 1936
Middleburg, N.Y.
My Dear Ruthie,
Am I doing good this week? Three letters. Maybe it will be all right though if I don’t make a habit of it.
I’m a three letter man now, hon, and I didn’t earn them on any athletic field either. They are the three principal letters of today, W.P.A. Yep, I go to work tomorrow morning on the road in Livingstonville. It was just luck that I got in. After talking to the road commissioner, the town supervisor and the W.P.A. foreman and getting refused by all of them my father and I went to Schoharie to see the county superintendent. When we got there all three men we had talked to were in his office and we barged right in. They were all out of excuses so they told us to go to work in the morning. It probably won’t last long but I ought to get as much out of it as Fran did.3
Well, I guess most of the water around here has returned to its normal channels and people are surveying the damage. Of course there is nothing here compared to the disasters in some places. Most of the damage around here is to roads and bridges but that is plenty. We had a busy morning here cleaning out the cellar. Boy was it a mess.
No school yet today as most of the back roads are closed, probably won’t be any until Monday.
I went to P.H. for a few minutes yesterday afternoon. No new developments in the gas station proposition. I saw Fran’s car in M. today. He probably went down to see Frank and find out what is what. I’ll bet ten to one he lets him talk him into waiting around another month. But that is as it may be. I’m not saying a word to encourage him to leave Frank. If he does, it will be of his own free will and I’ll be glad to join him in something else.
I tried to set myself on fire today. I had some matches and celluloid chicken bands in one pocket. All of a sudden I felt something very warm and saw the smoke. I couldn’t smother it out so I ran in the house and my father threw a pail of water on me. Aside from a burnt out pocket and a hole in my red flannels there was no damage.
Time to retire now, hon, and rest up for at least one day’s work.
See you Sunday.
Love and kisses,
Dave
March 20, 1936
464 First Street
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
I thought I would get away without writing another letter this week, but after receiving such an unusually long letter from you yesterday I just can’t resist answering it. I was some surprised to receive an answer from you so soon. I asked if I had any mail about a half hour after I got home. Loretta told me I had a letter from you and I thought she was kidding. She said she wondered why I wasn’t in more of a hurry getting my letter.
Yesterday she went downtown and Cliff said he would stay in. I tried to get the house twice in the afternoon and got no answer. That goes to show how much you can depend on him.
My patient is feeling pretty good today. Her temperature is down to 98.6 for the first time. She is anxious to get up but the Dr. wants her to take it easy for a while yet until he finds out what ails her side. I don’t imagine I’ll be here much longer but, or course, I can’t tell for sure. I think when she tries getting up, she won’t feel as good as she thinks she will. If I’m not working Sunday, I’ll call you so you can come up earlier.
I can’t say I blame Fran for being fed up with Frank. I am anxious to know what you boys decide. I think it would be a good idea to have a business of your own. You have to start for yourselves some time and the sooner the better.
Gee, this is a swell day and does it seem good for a change. It is a good thing it came just as it did or we would all be swamped. I guess conditions in Rensselear aren’t so good as it is.
I think I’ll cut this short and see if I can’t get out in the sunshine for a few minutes.
My patient is getting steak for dinner tonight, so you can see she is doing pretty well.
Lots of love.
Yours,
Ruth
P.S. 7:30 p.m.
I guess there are no new developments since this afternoon. Of course, I don’t know yet how much longer I’ll be here. Tomorrow may be the last day and in case it is, I’ll call you tomorrow night after work and have you come and get me. However, don’t depend on that as I may be working Sunday in which case, come comparatively early and I’ll try and get out.
More love,
“Me”
Footnotes
- Prohibition had ended in December, 1933, a little over 2 years before this letter was written. During that time, whiskey or other alcohol could be legally purchased as a prescription for any number of ailments ranging from flu to cancer. The American Medical Association had at first condemned this practice, but changed their stance on this once it became clear that the sale of alcohol as a pharmaceutical was massively profitable. Although prohibition had ended by this point, it’s possible that some doctors maintained the habit of prescribing alcohol for illnesses that they didn’t otherwise know how to treat. More reading on this topic can be found here.
- Due to very heavy snow-pack and more the twice the amount of normal spring rain, there was extreme flooding from March 12-18, 1936. The Hudson River swelled to 17.9 feet in Albany. The Schoharie Creek in Middleburg reached 16.8 feet. According to a Federal Geological Survey, the Creek flowed at an average of 68.6 cubic feet per second (second-feet) in February. In March of that year, it was on a rampage at an average of 4,525 second-feet!
- The W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) was part of the Emergency Relief Appropriations act of 1935 under the New Deal, and established by Executive order by FDR in May, 1935. Its purpose was to provide employment to carry out public works projects, which not only included construction of roads and public buildings, but also grew into multiple divisions that encompassed art projects, gathering statistics and information, etc. Over the 7-8 years that it was active, it employed over 8 million Americans, both men and women of all ages. More about the W.P.A. can be found here.
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