August 11, 1943

P.O. Box 1378

Sanford, Florida

August 11, 1943

Dear Gang,

When I saw this letter coming last night I gave a sigh of relief because I thought I could get my last one out. That last letter was such a mess I've been wanting to get it out ever since I wrote it.

I really did enjoy all my campworks this summer. We had the best time. Mamma and Daddy were expecting me to come back just worn out and sick of camp. I fooled them, though. Of course I really was glad to be home, but I really did enjoy the camps.

I certainly did get lots out of the camps, too. I gained 12 pounds. I weigh 154.5 now.

I certainly got lots out of the camps besides weight, though. You get such a well-rounded life at camps. The last night of the last camp I got the girls to discusing what they liked best about camp. Some said morning watch, some vespers, and one said prayer groups. A couple of girls agreed they'd gotten more from that week of camp than they got from a year of Sunday School. Really, there's just something you can get like that from camps that you can't get in any other way. Of course we really had lots of fun too.

The last camp was just above Tallahassee. Margaret's sister, Anne, was there. I went home with the Clayton's Saturday morning. I went with Margaret to work and went with Leona's daddy out to Leona's. I stayed with her until Wednesday Morning and started home. I really enjoyed all of it.

Margaret is going to Tallahassee next year. She wasn't exactly satisfied at Southern, and Tallahassee is so much nearer home that she thnks she'll be satisfied there. She's planning to spend lots of her time at the Student house.

Leona doesn't know just what she is going to do next year. She wants to teach, I think, but she might have to stay at the Marianna Air Base. You see, she, her youngest sister, and her brother are the only children at home. They think they'll probably send Oscar Lee to the Berry Schools and probably Edith won't be satisfied going back and forth to school on the bus. In that case she'll have to stay away from home. Mr. Olive works for twenty-four hours straight then has 24 hours off. Leona doesn't want to leave her mother by herself for that long. Anyway her mother and daddy wnat her to stay there. Poor Leona doesn't know what to do.

We've really been ahving a good time here at home. Bill and I keep something stirring all the time.

Yesterday Mabel was making some cookies to send her suite down at school. She put them in the oven and set the clock on the stove to ring when they were done. Mamma said she thought the earth was turning over when the clock rang. Dinks, Bill, and I all beat her to them. She tried to run us off by giving us one cookie apiece. She gave the smallest ones with much chocolate. We wouldn't take them. Finally Bill handed me the one I wanted. Mabel yelled and ran at me, and jumped on my back. She had her arms around my neck trying to choke me and her legs doubled up around my knees. It is a good thing I am strong and knew life saving tactics. After that was settled I had to help Bill get his. I told Mabel that all the neigbor would know that she had her voice back now. (She'd ust gotten it back that morning while the chiropractor had been yanking on her neck.)

I suppose you know she is valedictorian of her class and supposed to make a talk at graduation.

Tomorrow Dinks and I are going to our scout troop camp. Miss Hinton, our leader, was going to take me along to pitch tents whether I stayed to camp or not. I'm going to stay through Sunday although I'll probably have to sleep in the open under the stars, in the rain, and in the mosiquitos.

Our whole Sunday School is having a picnic next Wednesday afternoon. I have to be life guard and plan some games to play on the shore.

Since I've been home I've made Helen and me each a dress and have started another for me.

I'd better stop before I have to pay entirely too much postage.

Love,

Olive

August 9, 1943

Phifer, Florida

Aug. 9, 1943

Dear Gang,

This delay or "hold up" in the "Gang Letter" certainly demands an explanation and I will try to give one. It came while I was somewhere in my rounds, but mother didn't get my address at that place until it was about time to move on, so she decided to take my mail when she went down to visit Marion because I was planning to stop by there, too. Of all things, she brought some but in some way left "The Gang Letter" and another very important one. I was with Marion a little over two weeks, so just last Saturday I got my hands on the letter! Please forgive me this time.

Finally, I have arrived home again for a little while after about two months. Do you remember that I was going to stay home almost all summer? Well, I have not done just that. But this summer has truly been a great experience and one that I shall always remember. It has helped me to meet and enjoy being with strange people, for in most places we knew no one and by the time we had begun to get acquainted it was time to move on again. Everywhere the people were lovely to us and tried to make us right at home. We met various situations in the different churches where we worked. Some were rather large churches; others very small; some had lots of local workers (in fact, Ft. Lauderdale had so many that we sometimes thot we weren't needed at all); one had none at all; etc. So, in spite of the fact that were were supposed to teach the same course for five week there was much variety.

Our last week- at Uceta Church in Tampa- we ran into a rather unfortunate situation. On Monday night we all went to an opening program for a new civic club building which had just been completed recently. One man who was quite enthusiastic about the whole project had just made a speech and sat down when he suddenly dropped his head on his daughter's shoulder and passed out before they could get him to the hospital. Of course there was lots of excitement for awhile around there. He was also an active member of the church where we we were working- in fact he was teacher of the Intermediate Class. Of course, that upset things considerably and so the rest of the week the Director of the School was unable to be there. So our teamof 4 "put on" the Vacation School there. The day before school ended one little girl who had attended for a while tried to jump up on a train and slipped so that the train ran over her leg and cut it completely off. I never have heard whether she pulled through or not but that was so terrible- she was only about 10 or 11. I thought it was a good thing we left when we did before something else tragic happened.

We thought about our best school was held out at Springhead. The group there ere so enthusiastic and eager to do things. There our daily sessions had to be held in the late afternoons from about 4 to 6 because regular school was gong on at the same time. I was afraid that children might be too tired to do much after being in school all day but they were about the easiest group of all.

I have especially enjoyed the with with children this summer; before I have worked mostly with people about my own age and have had very little experience with children. The more I worked with them the more interesting they are. The first of the summer I wanted to go on camps rather than a Comradeship Team, but now I am glad they couldn't find another councilor because I think I profited more from the work I did, although I still think Camps would probably have been more fun, for I love to do that sort of thing.

While in Ft. Lauderdale, I was called home for a weekend because of my Grandmother's death. I think in my last letter I wrote that she was been quite ill. She was getting quite old and seemed to have almost no interest in life for the last year or two; so I guess she's better off. But it is always hard to give up our folks isn't it? I came home on the train Friday night, then joined the gang in Ft. Pierce on Monday night, so I really missed only one day's work.

For the past two weeks I have been down in Lakeland with Marion; her husband has been in Junaluska so I stayed until he came back. She has a very comfortable place there right close to the college. Waldo's brother, DeWitt, is staying there and going to Southern this summer and I will go right on next year. I went to the show with Mabel one afternoon and spent one night with her just before she left. School surely seems different in the summer and winter.

We are all getting excited about Junior (or Judy) now. Mother has been sewing for him this morning. Don't you think Aunt Shott's will sound awfully cute?

My school starts Aug 30 so I won't be able to take in Assembly; however I think I might get down over the week-end because we are planning a sort of reunion of our Comradeship Teams- all 3 of the teams- during that week-end.

Well gang, I must close and get this off.

Lots of love,

Shotts.

July 11, 1943

Enterprise, Florida

July 11, 1943

Dear "Gang,"

I'm like Ethel, I don't have to hunt things to occupy my time. I work about eight hours in the office here at home. I enjoy it when it isn't too hot. I get sleepy when it's hot, and I'm not good for much.

I wonder if anyone else keeps these letters longer than two days like I do. It isn't my fault this time because it came Saturday while I was away. The Chorus from the Home went on a week-end trip down in the southern part of the state and I went as far as Winter Haven with them and from there to Lakeland to visit my sister. I had a grand time with my sister, and then with the Chorus in Dade City that Sunday night. We got home today just before lunch so I just received the letters today.

It seemed natural to be back in Lakeland. I've been back three times since school has been out. I went for the day almost two weeks ago to see if I have gotten the room the I wanted. I have room 321 which was Dorene's room last year. I wanted to be sure that I would have a room some where near the rest of the gang. They were having mid-term examinations the day I was there and poor old Mable was all in a flutter about them because she didn't know anything! (Excuse me Mable!) She probably knew was much or more than anyone else in the room as usual. I bet it isn't any fun taking exams in hot weather though.

We have started building on our playground equipment this week. We are going to build a basketball court, tennis court, and a skating rink, I think. We girls asked Mr. Barnes if we could help, and this afternoon he put the girls to digging the foundation for the basket ball court. I didn't get to help them this afternoon because of my work in the office, but I'm going to get in on it in the evenings after dinner. They said that they really worked and after they quit work for today they had a good sand fight. They seemed to think it was fun, but I bet it wasn't any fun washing the sand out of their hair!

I do believe that I'm going to have to continue this letter until tomorrow because I'm getting sleepy.

Here it is Wednesday, and I haven't finished this letter yet.

We have some very nice young people on a Comradeship Team here conducting a Bible school for the Juniors and Intermediates. Our pastor's wife is their counselor. I believe the Bible school will be a great success because they seem to be very capable and very interested in their work.

Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have left Margaret Hornby here for about six weeks this summer. They thought it would be good for her to have some other children her age to play with,and that the training that she would get would be good for her, too. I believe that she is happy here and is having a good time. I ask her every time I see her if she is still having a good time, and she always says yes.

Good-by for this time and much love to all.

Doris

July 7, 1943

815 Triplett St.

Owensboro, Ky.

July 7, 1943

10:00 P.M.

Dear Gang,

I'm certainly not having to hunt things to occupy my time nowadays. After working all day there is always something to do, some place to go every night nearly. You know me; again, I'm getting behind on my correspondence- yet no one likes to hear from friends any better than I. I'm so anxious for the first gang letter to return, so I can see what every one is doing in detail. For it's kind of lonesome up here in a way, even though I don't have much spare time to pine away and I enjoy my friends here.

The organist at St. Paul's Catholic Church, "Wishy" (we call her) (Mary Aloyish French) and I have been practicing together a lot lately for the mere fun and enjoyment of it.

Willard spent eight days here in Owensboro, and you can bet we had a wonderful time. One afternoon we walked across the beautiful Ohio River bridge here, over into Indiana and took some pictures, some of them of Owensboro from across the bridge. We had lots of fun. He has eight weeks of summer school- only six left now. Then he gets 6 or 7 weeks vacation, some of which he'll spend here and some he'll spend in Portsmouth with his folks.

By the way, out of my first pay-check I got me a nice portable radio (they're hard to get nowadays, too.) After the war, I hope to trade it in for a combination all electronic phonograph and radio set; then I can start my collection of symphony records which I've wanted so long.

I enjoy my work more every day. I believe Mr. Waugh, Chief Engineer, is swell, as are all the Engineers. I find such a wide and untouched field for experimentation along so many lines dealing with television. I don't believe I could give my job up if I should have to; I've become so attached to the work. One of my friends, a chemist, quit work though, today noon. I'll miss her terribly, though I don't blame her in the least. Her husband just got his commission in the marine corps and so she's going to live with him at Cherry Point, North Carolina.

Altogether (in addition to) not including amounts deducted for victory tax, Fed. D. A. tax, etc. I made $160.03 last month. In two more months I'm supposed to get a $15 (I think) raise, and then after the 1st five months, a $25 raise. Some of it I'm putting in war bonds, some I'm going to lend to Daddy for interest, etc. The income tax (20%) will catch me this next month, and I don't mean maybe.

Well, this is the main news I can think of now. Except- I certainly do miss those good oranges and grapefruit we had at school.

I'm having to review (or relearn) up on my calculus for one surely can use a knowledge of calculus in this business - in deriving formulas and different functions for television viewing tubes, etc.

This will be all for this time.

Much love to each and all,

Ethel Ruth

June 30, 1943

Spruce Apartments

Apartment B-5

Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

June 30, 1943

Dear "Gang,"

By the time you get this letter I hope Florida and I are moved to Kennett Square. We finally succeeded in finding a very nice apartment there, except that it is unfurnished. The apartment is on the second floor. It has four rooms and a kitchen and bathroom, with a nice big closet in each bedroom, a small closet (or maybe it's two) in the hall, and a very large linen and storage closet in the hall. The kitchen has a stove and refrigerator in it. The apartment faces west, I think, but I can't be certain because all my directions are all turned around. The living room has large triple windows on two sides of it. The dining room and living room are opening into one another with just part partitions. It surely is nice. It seems to be very cool.

Kennett Square is fourteen miles from Wilmington. It is just a small town, but is very pretty. I like what I have seen of it much better than Wilmington. There are some of the prettiest farms I've ever seen between here and Kennett Square. The country is very hilly, some of the hills being almost small mountains.

Florida and I have surely had a time finding furniture. She and Walter had decided to not buy furniture until they had saved enough to pay cash for it, but it was (and is) impossible to find a furnished apartment anywhere around here unless it's a sublet for the summer, and they didn't want that. But what we have gotten is very pretty and nice. As soon as the furniture can be delivered no we'll move. We had been in hopes of being moved before this but we were told yesterday that the furniture can't be delivered until we have Walter's signature. That makes me so mad, because here all this time (two weeks) they've been talking to us that everything is all right and that the furniture would be delivered immediately, then here when we now want the furniture delivered (we had to wait for the people to get out of the apartment) they tell us that. And Walter will be here Saturday or Sunday, but only for a few days because he has to go back later to take his exams. The man that he is working under is mad and won't let him off on the first (tomorrow) as was first planned.

I don't think when I wrote to you last I had gotten my suitcases. They came after three weeks, and one of them had been opened, but thank goodness nothing is missing, so far as I can tell. One lock is broken and everything on the inside was surely a mess. You know how I keep little things in boxes, all the little boxes had been opened. The contents poured out, and the boxes closed again. The only thing that seems to be hurt except the lock is that they (or he) broke my blue necklace so that I can't fix it. Some of the straps, etc., around the dresses (I was using La Dora's wardrobe case) had been undone. I don't think it was for an inspection because it wasn't marked inspected.

I've been making Junior a little sack. I'll embroidery it and bind it with a ribbon tomorrow. I'd have finished it tonight except that I want to wash it after embroidering it before putting the ribbon on.

I surely do hate to see Walter have to come here to stay a night or two, because I'm afraid he and Mrs. WIll are going to disagree. I'm afraid she's going to bring up how wonderful Germany and Hitler are simply because she knows he is Polish. We are going to have to just stay away from here as much as possible. Florida says that we'll have dinner out- that she and Walter will meet me up town right after church, then after dinner we'll do something, even if it's nothing but get the papers and go to some park and read them. Personally, Florida and I will both be glad to get away so that we don't have to hear the woman's fussing voice- she fusses at Mr. Will all the time.

Friday Mrs. Will, Florida, and I went to Philadelphia on a boat. The trip takes about three hours each way by boat, and twenty minutes by train, but the boat trip is much the cheaper. The big joke of the whole thing is that I had to come all the way from Flordia to Pennsylvania to get a tan. The trip was lots of fun, but very different from our boat rides home. I want to take the trip on some moonlight night. I think it would be pretty. I wish you could all go with me. I think you would like it.

La Dora is working in the sore at the sawmill this summer. She seems to be enjoying it, but she seems surely be tired out when she gets home. She works from eight to eight- pretty long hours. The little rascal- the dear- has already spent her first week's pay to get each os us a raincoat and umbrella. It's sweet for her, but I wish she hadn't spent it on me.

When we get in our own apartment and get settled I'm going to try to get some fruit and put up a lot of jelly and preserves. If it turns out pretty good I may even take some to school next year.

Tomorrow I have to wash, then iron Saturday, so as to have everything clean and ironed when we move because Florida doesn't have an iron, and I don't know how we're coming out.

Love,

Fannie Evelyn

February 23, 1943

Habana, Feb. 23/43

Hi there!... Screw Ball!

Are you missing me? I'd love to know because I'm missing you lots.

I am writing you this letter from the University. Nancy, Nenita, and I are sitting on a bench waiting for the teacher (who was supposed to be here at 9:00 and the clock has just stroked 9:30)

How is your father and mother? Be sure to tell them "hello" for me.

Wednesday night we (Nancy and I) went to the International Club with Joe and his brother Ed. We had lots of fun. Thursday night we danced at Neneydi's home and then then rode all around Havana in her brother's car. I spent all day yesterday studying with Nancy.

I am not sure whether I'll be able to be examined today for I've just been told that this examination is only for those who come to class... stinkers!

I'll have lunch today at my aunt's house and then go to the Nacional Gheatne to see Fu Man Chu. La Sociedad de Jovenes and Episcopales gives a carnival dance tonight and I expect to go.

Joe and I often talk about you. For instance last night I told him that you had surely taught in Eliza Bowman in the afternoon. Did you finally go? I haven't heard from home yet and I'm... here comes the teacher. I will continue later.

I've just been examined. It was very easy I did O.K on that one. It was History. I also examined French Literature the day before yesterday and did fine too.

Well as I was saving before I haven't heard from home and I'm a little bit worried about my mother's health. Do you know if the doctor has gone to see her?

Well, we are leaving, Nenita has just come out. So, so long.

Regards to all,

Lots of Love,

Titi

Joe wants me to tell you "hello" from him. I'm on the street car right now. Wish you could see me walking alone all around Havana. I'm going to see my aunt.

Jan. 18, 1943

Rev. J.H. Townsend
LA GLORIA
Prov. Camaguey
Cuba

Dearest Carlo:
Jan. is half gone. Let him go. I have had a few days breathing shell with out davelling but chained to my desk. Didn't realize how tired I was. Doubtless you have seen the enclosed clipping but thought one of you might like it.

I'm actually doing filing. Haven't decided wether to make my bed everyday or never make it for the duration. Please counsel me.

Tia says your ankle is still swollen- Does it hurt? How did you get along waiting? "your all" marks came all good except Biology- que Paso? I thought you were taking Spanish- you didn't say if the quotations were acceptable (any of them) and if you want more. But you dropped the Interlochen or are you helping but it out? I want to know as soon as possible if you are going to graduate in Feb.

Loads of love, hurry dear-
Dad

(Side note: Dad has terrible handwriting so some work are my best guess. Feel free to add input.)