June 29-July 1, 1936

Dave had driven up to Adams Center and returned with both Lydia and June, who must have stayed with the Spragues during this week. They finally settle on a wedding date of July 3, 1936. The wedding itself was a small ceremony with Lydia and Francis serving as witnesses, and there are no photos. Images of the marriage certificate and Ruth’s dress are at the end of this post.

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June 29, 1936

Middleburg, N.Y.

Dearest Ruthie,

I don’t know where the time has gone to tonight.  I thought I would get to bed early but here it is nine o’clock already and I’m just starting a letter to my darling.

We arrived here about ten o’clock last night so I shouldn’t have been sleepy today, but I managed to eat dinner and fall fast asleep on the ground before the half hour was up.  I had to take a little kidding for that of course.  We stopped in Fort Plain last night but didn’t bring Lula back.  There was a note on the door saying they had all gone to the show and if we didn’t want to wait, Howard would bring her out today as he was coming anyway.  He is staying here all night.

June enjoyed the ride a lot.  She sat on the edge of the seat all the way down so she wouldn’t miss anything.  She seems to get a kick out of the mountains as she calls them.  She pointed out every hill and wanted to know if it wasn’t a mountain.  Rather unlike her sister, eh what?

I hope your Mother didn’t have any reaction from Marion’s visit and our leaving all at once.  I don’t know if she was holding in or not but I though she seemed to take it pretty good.  I think she is quite a lot improved from the last time I was up.  I do hope it lasts and she keeps on improving.  It will be so much easier for you if you can see where all of your care and worry is doing some good.

Only four more days, darling.  I can hardly believe it is so close.  I guess I am holding my fingers crossed most of the time.  I’m awfully glad it turned out so I could see you, dearest.  You are the best tonic for all of my ailments.  It made me feel a lot surer of things to be able to see and talk to you.  I’m sure this week will pass quickly now.

I guess I pulled a boner by not thanking your Mother for the breakfast set she is giving us.  I hope she doesn’t think I don’t appreciate it.  It is wonderful of her to give us so much darling.  She is just like you I guess, a wonderful person from head to toe.  When I stop to think what a great little girl I am getting for a wife it makes me wonder what I have done to deserve such good fortune.  My one wish is that I can be worthy of you and that you will never regret marrying me.

Well, Scoop, I think I’ll take myself off to bed and sleep away a few more of my bachelor hours.

Goodnight, darling.

I love you,

“Me”

P.S.  I have your birth certificate here.  I’ll try not to lose it.

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June 29, 1936

Adams Center, N.Y.

Dearest David,

There really isn’t anything to write about but I thought I would write and mail this from Adams when I go to see the Dr.

After you left last night I asked Joyce when they are having Bible School Achievement night and she tells me she thinks it is Friday night.  In that case it looks like there is a chance that unless you come up earlier than you had planned, you won’t find the minister.  He will be down to Smithville.  I thought perhaps I should let you know so if you wish, you can write and tell him you might be there.  In case you do, his name is Ivan Cash and the address of course is Adams Center.  You can do as you think best, but let’s get married Friday.  I have forgotten what time you said to expect you.¹

Gee, it is cold here today and I have commenced to wonder if what you said about the wind blowing all the time isn’t true.  It was so disagreeable I decided to wait until tomorrow to wash.

I do hope you arrived home early and with no trouble.  You must have been awfully tired.  I know I was and I hadn’t made such a trip as you did.

Mom has felt pretty good today.  She was a little nervous last night but not as bad as I expected.  She stood Marion’s visit much better than I thought she would.  I am glad that is over and I don’t think with the reception she got she will bother coming again.  We all think a lot of Eunice Anne, but I don’t exactly feel the same toward Marion.  We noticed a big difference in the way she acted and the way June did.  June told Lynn if he thought it too much for Mom she wouldn’t come in.  Lynn told Marion about Mom’s condition and asked her not to come to see her.  Looks like she wanted us to be sure and know that she wasn’t pining away.  I haven’t anything against Marion and we have always gotten along fine, but I don’t think coming here showed much discretion on her part.  I feel awfully sorry for both Eunice Anne and Beverly.

Billy went to Bible school but not because he wanted to.  I think I had better start getting dinner as he no doubt will become cross as a bear because he is hungry.  I also want to be in Adams at one so I won’t have to wait.  Eva is upstairs looking for the lost bank book.  Anyone might think I had a lot of money in the bank.  I’m getting to be a regular Scotchman.

I showed Eva my rings and she thinks they are both pretty nice.  I am awfully anxious for the time to come when I can wear the new one.

Eva just came rushing downstairs with a picture of Lydia’s ex-boyfriend “Josh”.  Remind us to show it to you when you come up.

Billy is home so I’ll have to get dinner before I get discharged.

I love you, Hon.

So long, Sweet,

“Me”

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July 1, 1936

Middleburg, N.Y.

Dearest Ruthie,

Only two more days to go and all is well as far as I know.  I’m beginning to think we are really going to get married.  In fact I felt so confident of it I broke my silence and told Mom about it tonight.  She wasn’t surprised.  She said she had been expecting it for quite a while.  She said she was glad I was getting such a nice girl and I thought to myself, she doesn’t know the half of it.

I was surprised to find your letter here last night, dear.  I suppose I should have answered it but two letters in one night is a little too much for me.  I wrote to Mr. Cash and warned him of our coming event and told him if he wouldn’t be available, to either write to me or let you know.  I also told him the time was uncertain but as near as I could judge it would be between seven and eight o’clock.

I thought once today it looked as if we would be able to leave here Friday morning but now I don’t know.  The job seems to be drizzling along so that we may not be able to finish by tomorrow night and I’ll have to work Friday morning.  Fran expects to be thru at Mercer’s either tonight or tomorrow so he will be able to go whenever I can.  All I can say is be prepared, honey, and I won’t leave you waiting at the altar.

I went to P.H. last night and Fran and Lydia were in bed at 7:30.  June and Janice were listening to the radio.  About 8 o’clock Jo and Ralph came so they had to get up then.  It was nearly 11:30 when I got home.

Tonight I have to go to M. and get me a brand new haircut as you say.

You can tell that no good sister of yours, Eva, that just because I am going to marry you doesn’t give her the right to put mash notes on the back of my letters from you.

Well, Scoop, supper is ready so I’ll close and feed my face.  Here’s hoping everything is alright with you.  Keep your chin up until I get there Friday, honey.

I love you, dearest,

Dave

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July 1, 1936

Adams Center, N.Y.

Hello Honey,

Come to think of it, if you do as you planned about coming up from work Friday, you won’t receive this letter but I’ll take a chance anyway.

There isn’t much use of writing this because if you do get it, you will be in too big a hurry to read it.  I fear I would be bothered by a guilty conscience if I didn’t at least try and answer your letter.

I went to H20town this morning and ordered our breakfast set.  I hope you like it, dear.²  It isn’t very large but it will do for a family our size anyway.  They are going to deliver it Friday morning so you can see it when you come.  I guess Mom realizes we are pleased with anything.

I also went to the bank and they gave me a duplicate bank book.  I have $4.89 left there.  I’m going to start depositing our dimes soon.  I told Mom I thought I would start saving for a washing machine but she says she thinks it should be for a studio couch.

I can hardly wait for the time to come when we can start getting things together to keep house.  The more we have to save for it the more we will appreciate what we have.  It is going to be so much fun working and planning together.

I bet June will be coming over with things to tell when she gets home.  We miss her a lot.  Billy has been a very good boy so far.  Of course he tells us every morning he isn’t going to Bible school but he has been every day.

Ivan cut his foot the other night.  He had quite a deep cut and it bled rather hard for a while.  I went down a couple of times and washed and bandaged it.  I told him to keep off of it but I have seen him out in the front yard a couple of times.

Speaking of being lucky, I feel pretty fortunate to have you.  If I hadn’t had you, I’m afraid at times I wouldn’t have had much to live for.

I went over to Glenn’s the other day to see how Eva’s boys were making out.  They seem to be getting along fine.

Mom had a nice letter from Lynn and June today.  She was pretty pleased with it.  Mom feels pretty good but she is a long ways from being herself.  However, she is so much better than she has been that I can’t help but feel encouraged.

Well, sweet, I have to get supper so I’ll call it a day.  See you Friday, dearest, and until then don’t forget I love you.  Of course after that, I intend to love you forever.

Oodles of love and kisses.

Yours,

“Parky”

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Footnotes

1. Update: The Rev. Ivan Cash served as Pastor at Adams Center Church from 1933-1942. We’ve added a photo here as well as his obituary. The obit surprisingly does not mention that he was also predeceased by his first-born daughter, Barbara (1931-1973). Sadly, his other daughter Phyllis (b. 1947) died not long afterward in 1993. He is also pictured (though cut off) in Francis and Lydia’s wedding photo here.
2. The glasses in the photo may be juice or water glasses that were a wedding gift to Ruth instead of the “breakfast set” she had referred to.