Dave and Ruth plan for a longer-term living arrangement. For now, he will take Ruth back to Middleburg with him and leave Lydia in Adams to care for Jennie, though she seems to be doing much better. At the end of this post is a photo that on the back says “September 1936”, possibly taken after this week in 1936 or earlier in the month.
September 22, 1936
Adams Center, N.Y.
Hello Sweetheart,
You bet I will forgive my honey for not writing Friday night. I know how hard it is to try and write a letter when there isn’t anything to write about.
I received the M.O. all right but think I’ll keep it here until Friday. I will put it all in the bank then. I should have some money of my own Friday to put in if I don’t use it for something else. I didn’t expect you to send so much. I’m afraid you will be broke before you get paid again. You are doing very well with your dimes, much better than I have done since I started on the new saver.
I hope you can come up Thursday night but I won’t plan on it too much. It will be grand to see you again, darling. Every time it seems a little longer between the times when I see you. I don’t know what to tell you about leaving Mom if Lydia doesn’t come up. I suppose if I should leave Mom for a week Lydia would think it was terrible.
I didn’t tell Mom that you mentioned it but she says for me to go back with you whether Lydia comes up or not. She says she would be all right with June and Bill. I think she would, too, because she does quite a lot of work with me here. I would try and have the washing and ironing done before I left. I will see how things are when the time comes. Maybe if I can’t do it this time, I will try it the next time you come up.
Mom had a notice from school today saying Billy has to have his tonsils out. I suppose we will have to have that done some time before long. I never saw such a place, if it isn’t one darn thing, it is two.
I was sorry to hear Mother wasn’t feeling well and hope she is feeling much better by now.
Billy Sedgemore. “Billy very sheepishly admitted that he likes school.“
Billy very sheepishly admitted that he likes school. He has said right along that he hated it. At present Billy is practicing paper wad shooting. He says he hasn’t shot any since last year. Maybe that accounts for his sudden love for school.
Lemme see, I don’t know exactly how to go about telling you what “Old Maid’s Chills” are. Anyway that must be what I had last night again. I was certain we were going to have a frost but it didn’t come yet.
I washed yesterday and ironed today. We didn’t have as much ironing as usual due to the fact that we washed and ironed most of the kid’s clothes Saturday. I have been rather lazy today and haven’t done anything but embroidering. I finished Mom’s vanity dresser set. I have another pair of pillow cases to finish and then I won’t have anything to work on until I buy something more. Guess the next thing will be a luncheon set, unless it should by chance turn out to be “Leslie’s” diapers or sompin’.
I seem to be Billy’s target and I can’t say I enjoy the sensation.
Joyce said she asked Miss Hallenbeck if she knew you and she said of course she did. She said she went to school with your sister when she was in the third grade. She asked where you were living now.
We haven’t heard from Bill yet so we don’t know if he got a job in Buffalo or went on to Cleveland. We thought we would at least get a card today.
I thought you would be over to Slingerland’s Sunday but from your description you must have spent the day about the way I did and no doubt we were both plenty lonesome. It seems good to be able to look forward to next Sunday anyway, doesn’t it, honey.
Lydia said last Sunday was going to be the last picnic of the season so it looks sort of like I wouldn’t get in on any of them. I’ll probably get down there in time to show people how dumb I am about playing cards.
Sunday night after we had been to bed about three hours the radio came on full blast. It woke us up and we didn’t know for a minute what it was all about. I finally decided someone hadn’t turned the switch way off. Just a little jar will make it come on or off.
We, my precious hubby, I think I’ll go to bed and go to sleep and when I wake up there will be one less night I will have to wait before I see my darling.
I love you, sweetheart.
Yours always,
Ruth
P.S. How fast can you drive the car now? If you can’t drive but 30 and you don’t start until after work at night, you won’t get here until the wee, small hours, will you?
September 22, 1936
Middleburg, N.Y.
Hello Honey,
Well it won’t be long now or that is what I am hoping anyway. I have 11½ hours yet to work and neither Fran nor I worked at all today. He will be all caught up tomorrow night and I will have to work 3½ hours Thursday morning. I’ll have my clothes with me and start for A.C. as soon as I get thru work. How does that sound, honey? It sounds great to me but I want to warn you right now that most anything might happen to change those plans. So if I don’t arrive Thursday evening, don’t go worrying and thinking something has happened on the road. They might make me split that time up still more or it might rain to delay me. However, I hardly look for the latter as the Sunshine Fair is on this week and it would be against all tradition for it to rain.
I took Mom to the fair today and I guess she had a good time but she is awfully tired tonight. She has quite a cold. The school bands from all the adjacent schools gave a concert there today. That is why she wanted to go I guess. Of course Middleburg put it all over the rest.
It seemed good to get a letter from you for once saying you weren’t tired, dear. I’ll bet the old mouse did give you a scare but you have got to get over that. When we get living together I’ll get a pair for pets and you will have to learn to like them. At the rate your new kitten is going you will soon be cleaned out up there.
I’m glad you got a chance to get out and see some of your friends. I can just imagine how the gossip flew.
Lydia isn’t coming up with me this time because I will be able to spend a week with you anyway, but she does intend to come up and spend a couple of weeks.
You had better figure out some work to keep me busy while I am there so I can pay for my board.
Well, darling, I could write a lot more but what’s the use when I am expecting to see you a few hours after you read this. I would rather talk than write to you any time. Let me warn you again not to be disappointed or worried if I don’t get there Thursday. My hours are too uncertain to make promises but here’s hoping anyway.
Love and kisses to my darling wife,
“Me”
September 28, 1936
Adams Center, N.Y.
Hello Darling,
I am waiting for water to get hot for the hot water bottle so I’ll start a letter to my sweetheart.
It is nearly eight o’clock and we just finished canning pickles. I have five quarts of pickles like Mom had down cellar and there were fifteen pints of some sort of relish, of course, I got seven of them.
I should have washed this morning but when I woke up this morning I was sick and the weather seemed awfully cold so I decided to take my hubby’s advice and not wash. Instead we went to Watertown. About a mile up the road we ran out of gas so I had to walk about a half mile to Ramsey’s. I got a gallon there and John brought me back and put in the car for me. I wasn’t feeling in a very good mood so I guess I did everything but “swear”. Something would have to happen on the day of the month when I feel the worse.
After you left yesterday afternoon I was so lonesome I had to do something so I measured and cut the towels and have them all ready to stitch. I didn’t go to bed until 8:30. I thought and hoped you were at home or at least in Middleburg. You certainly had a lousy day for your trip. I had another $.50 in my pocketbook I intended to give you but forgot all about it. I hope you had enough money to get you home safely.
I am anxious to hear what you found out from Fran and if you still have your other job.
Mom still has quite a cold but I think it is a little better than it was. How is Mother feeling?
I sent your belongings this morning but didn’t insure them so let me know if you receive them or not. If they get lost, I’ll get you more for Christmas. With winter coming on you won’t need to shave until next May anyway.
I purchased another dozen quart cans today and I still have eight quarts to fill with something or other. Probably mincemeat. Mom got another bushel of apples so maybe we can make some more tomorrow.
Tuesday morning
The water got hot last night and I was cold so I didn’t bother finishing this letter. We had another big frost last night and it sure is cold here this morning. We will have to find some place to buy some wood today or else freeze. I’m not a very good wood chopper.
I feel a little better today than I did yesterday, but I’m not going to wash yet.
I bet my husband took some pretty cold feet to bed with him last night. I knew you were going to miss having my nice, warm feet to put yours on when you went back.
We had a letter from Eva yesterday and she says Hermann has hired Bob’s cousin for $10 a week but he won’t keep him during January, February and March. Now I’ll bet you are sorry you didn’t take the position, aren’t you?
Gee, this weather gets in my hair and this is only the beginning. I sure do dread the thoughts of winter but not as much as I did last year ‘cause I know I’ll be with my Honey somewhere or other.
Well, my darling, it is nearly mail time and there is lots of work to be done so will sign off until next time.
Take good care of my honey and wear your red flannels if you get chilly. Oh yes, and don’t forget, I love you.
Yours always,
Ruth
September 28, 1936
Middleburg, N.Y.
Hello Sweetie Pie,
Brrrrr, etc. It is cold up here and your hubby is tired so I’m afraid this will be a rather short letter. I guess it doesn’t do me any good to go on a vacation because I’m plenty tired tonight. However, I had a change in the kind of work I am doing and that may account for it. The biggest share of the day was just driving nails as fast as I could stick them in. We have started on the roof. My right arm and knees seem to be the main points of fatigue.
I guess you have already guessed from the above that my job was waiting for me. In fact I wouldn’t have worked more than one day if I had stayed as they were short of lumber. Everything is there now though and they are raring to go. With a new boss and all new carpenters but me it is like a different job. Claude finally got hired today and goes to work in the morning. I suppose there will be some more new ones there in the morning, too, because they had an ad in the Schenectady paper tonight. The ones that are already there are yelling union so I suppose I’ll have to sign up pretty soon or get thrown off the job. I told them I would join as soon as the Oneonta local sent a representative. Jim was their representative before he left.
I got my pay today so I am sending $28.00. I got $33.70 so I’ll have plenty to go me until Friday. I probably won’t be able to send any from the next pay. It will only be $21.00 if I work tomorrow and Wednesday and I’ll have to send that insurance and maybe the union fee out of it.
Lydia says she is ready to come up anytime now. She even said she would take the bus up and you could come back on it. I didn’t tell her to do it but after thinking it over I guess it would have been better if I had. Something may come up to change her plans if she waits two weeks and right now I think she is rather anxious to get away. She has cancelled the picnic for next Sunday.
Did you discover my shaving kit and toothbrush? I am hoping you found it in time to send them out Monday morning. If they don’t come tomorrow, I’ll have to invest in some new stuff.
Well, darling, I could think of more to write but I’m too tired to put it down so I’ll say goodnight to my honey. I love you, darling.
A million hugs and kisses to you from,
“Me”
September 29, 1936
Middleburg, N.Y.
Hello Hon,
The package and your card arrived O.K. Thanks a lot for sending them. I was just on the point of buying myself a shave and a new toothbrush.
We are having regular fall weather here today. It isn’t so cold tonight, however.
I forgot to tell you in last night’s letter that I have a missing brother, or at least he was Sunday night, and we haven’t heard from him since. Lena came up here and said he left for N.Y. more than a week before that and she hasn’t heard a word since he left and doesn’t know where to reach him. The finance men have been to her place every day for a week trying to collect two month’s back payments on the car. They said if he didn’t show up by Monday (yesterday) they were going to send out a police broadcast for the car. We haven’t heard any more so I don’t know how they made out.
Well, hon, now for the big news. You are going to see me quicker than you expected. In fact this Saturday night I went to M. to get a haircut and stopped to see Lydia. As I expected she was more than willing to come up there right away so I decided to act while the iron was hot and I told her I would bring her up Saturday night. How does that sound, honey? I hope nothing happens to upset it now. I suggested taking her over to see Fran some night and she said no, but I’ve thought it over and decided to take her Thursday night anyway. I don’t like the idea of taking her up there and leaving her without Fran knowing it or seeing her. She said she had written a letter to you today.
It is a month ago today I went to work in Jefferson. It doesn’t seem that long and I never expected to stay on so long. I still have a scary feeling every time they tell me to do something new but if I get fired tomorrow, I’ll know I have earned more than I expected to.
Well, darling, I feel too elated over the prospect of seeing you to write any more so I’ll say goodnight.
Pack up your duffle and be ready to start back Sunday morning.
Love and kisses,
Dave
Ida and Ruth Coffin at Bouck White Castle (Helderberg). September, 1936
Charles Browning (“Bouck”) White was born in Middleburgh, NY in 1874 and would have been contemporary with Wilbur and Ida Coffin (born 1866 and 1874, respectively). The name “Bouck” White came from his mother, Mary Bouck White (his father’s name was Charles Addison). It is possible that the Coffins knew him or knew of him. He was an author, a congregationalist minister, and later dabbled in pottery (known as “Bouckware”). One of his books, “The Mixing”, published in 1913, was believed to be based on real-life Middleburgh residents, who he referred to as “degenerate Dutchmen”. The residents tried to sue. As a politically active minister, his shenanigans landed him in jail more than once. There were other amusing stories about him on the Wikipedia website that are worth checking out.
The building in the photo, more commonly known as “Helderberg Castle” was built in 1935, located in New Scotland, NY. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1940 and today is a ruin located on private property. At the time the photo was taken, the castle and and other buildings on the 4 acre parcel were privately owned (they still are), and Bouck White himself would have lived there. It’s unknown whether Ida and Ruth stopped by there out of curiosity, or if he happened to have opened it to tourists. More about Mr. White and photos of his pottery can be found here, and more recent photos of the castle, here.