Here I am again. It's noontime and I just talked with Ann; we received a letter from you today, Andrew. But, to continue with what I began yesterday, starting a little after six on Sunday evening we had what the papers next day called a real cloudburst. I know you have plenty of it over there but 1/2 inch fell in a half hour and before the evening was over 3.36 inches was the total. I was bemoaning a couple of inches of water in the cellar but felt awfully lucky when I read the accounts in the paper and saw the mess when I drove in to work. Frederick Avenue, from the National Cemetery at North Bend down to Beechfield was almost washed away. Somehow the water undermined the road and on both sides of the car tracks it had disappeared for blocks at a time. Luckily where it was missing on one side of the street there was passageway on the other. Abe had come out that way at the slackening part of the storm and said cars were all over the place and in the two foot gap in the road left by the missing asphalt. City crews were filling in with dirt and temporary surfacing so that some sort of normal traffic could proceed. Down at Chapel Gate where they've put in all those new apartments, a young fellow, name of Jack Edward Bentley, I believe, could bring his car at the height of the storm only as far as that Sherwood service station. There's a ditch there on the corner of Rock Glen and Frederick Ave. and he rolled up his pants and tried to jump it, according to several witnesses. He missed and was carried right into the storm drain. They didn't find his body until Tuesday morning somewhere at an outlet in Loudon Park Cemetery behind the Boehm's. You know those houses across from the high school on Bloomsbury. The McNaney's live in one and Ann was talking to her. Each house has a club cellar and each was flooded to the extent that water came up into the first floor. The stores along Frederick next to Abe's, - Cimino's etc. had water pouring out the front doors when we left for work Monday morning.
When you look out the front room window downstairs as of Tuesday, you can see part of Folkers and most of the hole across the street and Mrs. Mac's. The "For Sale" sign is not quite that large but almost so. Up till last week I disliked the idea and almost shuddered at it but it's funny how you can get used to something. I'll try to forward a picture but there are so many things I've promised and haven't that I won't promise.
Ann had a pretty rough day yesterday so we went for a ride for a change. I thought a good talk would do her good and headed to Ann Clapsaddle's. We were there only a short time but it did her good. Earl's on the move again. He is still working out of Connecticut. Comes down each weekend for a visit and golf. Went up to Conn. this past Sunday night and was back in Baltimore on Monday. Told his boss he was tired of the drawing board and wanted to go out on the road. Came down to see if Ann wanted to drive to Detroit with him but she said no. Plans to come back from there this evening and head for Kansas City this weekend.
END OF LETTER
Editor's Notes
The Boehm's are cousins of Charles who live near the Cemetery.
Abe Scop is a lifelong friend of Charles.
The Folkers and Mrs. MacDonald are neighbors on Bloomsbury Avenue.
Ann Clapsaddle is a long time friend of Charles' wife, Ann.
Next Posting: June 3, 1952
Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner
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