After what must have been a heavy snow storm, everyone is busy clearing out. Ruth’s job had ended, so she is back to waiting for another call. She receives news that her stepfather, Bill, was also laid off from work.
November 18, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Dearest Ruth,
How is the weather in Albany? It is not so good here yet. I arrived home safely but, believe me, I took plenty of time doing it. It was about 11:30 when I got here. I didn’t realize the snow was so deep until I stepped out of the car and made a dash for the house. The general average around here was about ten inches but a great deal of it was wasted today. I had to put on a couple of grab chains to get out of the yard today.
I got the job of shoveling snow alright, but it wasn’t for the city. By the time I got things cleared out here I happened to think of Lula down there alone so I went down there and shoveled another hour. After that I decided I had done enough for one day so I went to P.H. to take your things down. Lydia liked the things you bought very much. Fran asked if they were ice box dishes or ash trays. Lydia said she knew he was dumb but she wished he would keep it to himself more. And here is another one on Pa. I guess I told you he was supposed to take June and Janice home last night. When I got there this morning they were still there and June was having a fit because she missed school. It seems they got all ready to go last night and Pa went out to start the car. It was too stiff for the starter to turn it over so he cranked until he was blue in the face. Finally he got some help, pushed it out in the road and with another car they pushed it was down the road and back but nothing happened so he gave it up. This morning he went out and looked everything over, even had the distributor cap off, and cleaned the points. After some more cranking and I suppose considerable cussing he looked under the dash and discovered the trouble. He had forgotten to turn on the gas, which he swears he didn’t turn off even though no one but him has driven the car. Poor Pa. He sure wins the Brown Derby.
I stayed for dinner (yeah, go ahead and say it, I would) and in the afternoon we played pinochle. What is more, we had corn for dinner so I must be nearly even with you.
I hope you didn’t have to do any walking this morning with no overshoes. Did you get any sleep last night?
Some day this week I am planning on coming to the city for some things, but I can’t tell you just what day. Anyway, I’ll call you when I do, sweet.
For now I’ll say bye, bye and send you all my love.
Dave
November 19, 1935 [Actually, November 18]
464 First Street
Albany, N.Y.
Hello Honey,
This is Monday morning and while Clifford is out and the house is quiet I’ll try and write. Once again I am unemployed. They decided to try Loretta on twenty-four hour duty. They really haven’t needed two nurses any of the time. I wouldn’t have minded another week but I suppose I should feel lucky that I worked one week. They say if this doesn’t work out, they will have me back, but there is no reason why it won’t work o.k. so there isn’t much chance. Dr. Lally didn’t want her to let me go yet but she says she will need a nurse for three or four more weeks.
When I called up to go on register Miss Harrington answered and asked me if I hadn’t been on a case with Miss Sosville. I suppose some one of our dear friends were kind enough to let them know. Distell was the only one who knew about it and just wait until I talk with her again. Probably I’ll be on register at least a month before they even know about it. Such is life or as Dot Thomas would say, “Life is so futile.”
Dr. Hannon brought me way home this morning so I didn’t get my feet wet. Gee, am I in a bad way. I haven’t even a pair of rubbers here and only light gloves. If the sidewalks ever get clear, I may go down on Central Avenue and see about getting some.
How were the roads last night? I bet you didn’t make very good time going home. I thought about you a lot and wondered if you were having trouble. Mrs. Lally told Mrs. Hannon a guy must think a lot of a girl to drive so far on a day like yesterday. I says, “heck, he has been up in lots worse weather than this” and did I get the laugh.
I haven’t seen Clifford to get the dope on his trip yesterday. Loretta tells me he sat up with her and Ed until the wee small hours last night. He sure has it in for them. I hope we keep on the good side of him.
Wow, was Loretta peeved when I went in last night. She near took my head off. She said poor Ed had been out in front a half hour. I said so what, he won’t die and anyway I warned him beforehand. Mrs. Lally said she didn’t know if she was really mad or not. I told her I didn’t care, if she was, she could get over it. She was o.k. this morning so I guess we were forgiven.
Albany Art Union Photo cover
I called the Albany Art Union and they said I could have my picture taken for six dollars a dozen. The usual price for that size is twelve dollars but in as much as I am a nurse, I get them for a special price. I don’t think that is bad. Of course they are small pictures but I would rather have them anyway. My mother has wanted me to have it done ever since I graduated. I haven’t told anyone but you about it.
Today starts another long, lonesome week which will end only when I see you again. Seems like the shortest day of the week is Sunday. I wonder why.
So you held out on me about the pockets. I find I have three and only thought I had two. I like you a lot in that blue suit, not that I don’t like you in anything, but I think it looks very good on you.
Cliff just came in and gave me a line on his father. If you think he talked mean yesterday, you should hear him sometimes. He just came in and got his father’s best gloves to shovel the sidewalk. He gets away with murder around here.
I managed to sleep from 12:00 until 7:00 last night. I was so tired I didn’t even bother eating a lunch. I may take a nap this afternoon. I have a uniform to hem and some stockings to wash then I can go back to my embroidery.
Monday night
You should see me now. I went to bed with my clothes on this afternoon and just woke up. Boy did I sleep. The door wasn’t even closed and the noise didn’t bother me at all. I didn’t know I was so tired until I got a few hours of real rest. The sleep I got in the chair was a lot better than nothing, but it was just enough to spoil my daytime sleep. I bet I’ll sleep good tonight.
This is another blue Monday nearly gone. I don’t know why Monday should be any bluer than any other day unless it is because it is farthest away from the next Sunday.
I asked Cliff where he got the puzzle book and he said Helen gave that to him but you can have it. There are fifty puzzles in it and he has only done about two of them so it looks like it will keep my Darling busy for a few minutes.
Well, Sweetness, I haven’t done so bad, I managed to get four pages out of less than twenty-four hours.
Oh yes, Hon, I nearly forgot but since you have so much spare time and are apt to read a great deal I worry about your eyes. They say there is nothing that relieves eye strain like writing nice, long letters to one Miss Parker. Isn’t that kind of cute? No kidding, dear, remember I haven’t much else to do but wait for the mail.
Pardon me, but that cussed dog just took sick on the floor and if I don’t get out of here, I’ll be sick, too.
Oodles of love,
“Me”
November 21, 1935
Middleburg, N.Y.
Hello Hon,
I wish you would give me some ideas for starting a letter. No matter how much I have to say I never can think of anything to start off with. Anyway, I have this one under control so maybe I can continue from here.
I had visions of snatching a little extra sleep this morning but as all my wishes seem to go, so went that one and my dreams were rudely shattered at six-thirty. After I left yesterday, Mom went down to Lula’s and stayed all night so I was called upon to get breakfast. Even after that I thought I might snatch some sleep later in the day, but that also came to naught. About seven-thirty Mrs. Bishop and Ward came and wanted me to take Ward out to Ft. Plain. It seems Emma finally got rid of the girl I was telling you about and she called Ward to ask if he would help until she could get someone. Boy, I don’t envy him his job. Mother went with me and we had dinner in the restaurant where Howard works.
After I got back here, about two o’clock, I started to put a new water pump in the car and did I run into difficulties. Before I could get at the thing I had to take everything but the horn button off. I finally got the new one in but darkness caught up with me before I could get the radiator back on, so I hope none of my girlfriends call up and want to go for a ride. I haven’t put the tires on yet either.
Last night my talented young brother was supposed to play his clarinet in some kind of hick amateur contest in Livingstonville. He forgot and left the clarinet at school so he borrowed a harmonica from someone and walked off with first prize. Tonight he plays in the orchestra at school.
My pen went dry again so I’ll finish up with a pencil.
I told Mom she owed you for a pair of shoes but I don’t know if you will get them or not. We got the cinnamon drops in M. today.
Oh goody, here comes my favorite program Amos and Andy. Oh yeah! I like it so much I’m going to sign off and go to bed.
Goodnight, my sweetheart. I’ll see you Sunday.
Love,
Dave
November 21, 1935
464 First Street
Albany, N.Y.
Dear Dave,
Once again I will try and answer your letter and maybe this time I won’t be interrupted by a telephone call. Darn it all!
Loretta called and woke me up at 10:15 this morning. She wanted me to go to a show with her this afternoon, but I reminded her I was on register.
Listen, B.F., what in thunder was the matter with your whiskers last night. After you went I looked in the mirror and my face was as red as fire and I wasn’t blushing yet either. I put cold cream on and even that made my face smart. Today I have a lot of little pimples and a so-called cold sore. It’s a good thing I don’t see you every day. You must have taken an early shave yesterday morning.
Gee, this is a swell day. It is much too nice to stay in the house but I guess there is nothing to be done about it.
Loretta said she felt like sleeping so I suppose I have to go back to bed again when she comes. We may decide to take some pictures if she gets here before the sun goes to sleep.
I hope you weren’t sleepy going home last night. I don’t know what makes you stay so late. I tried to make you go at 9:00 but you wouldn’t listen to me.
I am sending Lydia a note and a dollar along with this so don’t forget to deliver them. You may put your o.k. on the note if you desire. I would have sent it to her but she owes me and in these times of depression, one cannot afford to use stamps unnecessarily. You know how it is with me, old rigid economy in person.
Well, my sweet little “Chrysanthemum”, since you have had a “tonsillectomy”, your little “Delphinium” will have to have “tonsillectomy”. At least I never called you names that couldn’t be found in the dictionary. That’s more than you can say “Mr. Smarty”.
“In Flanders Fields”. A war poem written by John McCrae.
Was your mother pleased with the cinnamon drops? I meant to tell you to paint the holes red before you gave them to her. Since you say you have a few poppy seeds left, I would suggest you plant them. Looks like that’s the only way you will ever get any more. Unless, of course, you make a special trip to Flanders Field.1
Paul must have forgotten to bring Loretta over. Now I’ll have a lot to tell Ed tomorrow night.
Loretta called and decided not to come over after all so I went to bed.
Zelma just called and wants me to meet her at the Palace at five o’clock. There isn’t much use of hanging around here doing nothing. I won’t get called anyhow.
Loretta is going to try and get us some cinnamon drops at a Greek place down street.
Don’t forget to get me some stamps if you get a chance will you, dear. Now that I have my allowance, I can pay you for them. Oh yes, darling, the penny is one I over looked in my pocket book. Sort of holding out I guess. Don’t forget to put it in the cup.
If you’ll be a nice boy, I won’t even remind you to come up Sunday (early).
Lots of love to my sweet,
Ruth
November 22, 1935
464 First Street
Albany, N.Y.
Greeting My Sweet,
I haven’t anything to say, but since it is Friday and some people are having fish for dinner I might as well write. Don’t take me wrong, I don’t mean that you remind me of a poor fish or sompin’.
I am alone as usual with only the lousy dog to keep me company. I would much prefer being alone. I just made the darned dog get off the davenport.
I had a letter from Mom this morning. She said Bill had been laid off and Eva and her kids are down for a week.
I wrote a letter to Lydia a few minutes ago trying to sell her the idea that the four of us should pool our money and go up home for Thanksgiving. Of course I know what her answer will be but at least it doesn’t do any harm to make a suggestion. I realize that she is as firmly attached to Preston Hollow as Willy Smith, Harvey Wood and the rest of the lifelong residents. One of the most impossible tasks I can imagine would be getting her to stay someplace other than Preston Hollow overnight. She will have a list of excuses a mile long.
RKO Palace Theatre, Albany NY
I guess I told you Zelma asked me to meet her at the Palace last night.2 We saw Ray Perkins and his amateurs. They were as good as Major Bowes only there were no soprano singers. We had dinner at the Van Schuyler. I was home by 10:30. How’m I doin’?
I haven’t done a thing today, not even made my bed. If I don’t get work soon, I’m going to stay in bed all the time.
When I was taking a bath this morning, the telephone rang. I jumped out of the tub quick to answer and by the time I got out here, it had stopped ringing. Gee, was I burned up or I would have been if I hadn’t been all wet. Near as I can dope out it was a call for the people upstairs. I called the school afterwards and asked if they had tried to get me. Miss Van Deusen said no calls had come in. Nurtz to them!
The puzzles must be about complete by this time. I shouldn’t have given you that book. You were already puzzled enough.
Gee whiz, I wish I had something nice to do. There aren’t even any flies around to pull the wings off from. Life is so futile. If Fluffy was here, I’d teach her to bite the palm of my hand. I wish Cliff would come home so we could stage an argument.
Well, my little cream puff, I think I’ll call it a day.
Love,
“Me”
P.S. Don’t forget to come up Sunday will you, love.
Footnotes
- This was a reference to the poem, “In Flander’s Fields” (posted above), written by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. He was inspired to write it on May 3, 1915, after presiding over the funeral of friend and fellow soldier Alexis Helmer, who died in the Second Battle of Ypres during the Great War. Its references to the red poppies that grew over the graves of fallen soldiers resulted in the remembrance poppy becoming one of the world’s most recognized memorial symbols for soldiers who have died in conflict. The poem and poppy are prominent Remembrance Day symbols throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, particularly in Canada. The poem also has wide exposure in the United States, where it is associated with Memorial Day.
- Construction of the RKO Palace Theatre was completed in October 1931, and was the largest movie theatre in the city. The theatre was sold in 1940 to FAST Theatres when RKO pulled out of the theatre business due to anti-trust concerns. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 1979. It still stands today at the corner of Clinton Avenue and North Pearl Street and hosts more than 150 events annually.