Sunday, July 29, 2012

A Tour of "The Inn" and Cousin Claire



Tuesday, July 29, 1952

Dear Andrew and John,

Sorry I couldn't get something off to you yesterday but with working for Doctor and cleaning things up in order to get over school the time disappeared. I guess I'd better tell you first about our tour of the house. When Mrs. B. told me Friday she would call on Sunday I thought she was going to put it off again; and more so on Sunday as it clouded up about midmorning and rained a little. But on the dot of twelve she 'phoned and only I talked with her and she agreed to meet us out there at 2:30. We left home at one so as not to take any chances and by the time we passed through town the sun was out and the weather as beautiful. Taking it easy I timed it out to the house in 1 hr. and 3 minutes. We were early so I also measured the distance to the church and school and it's a little more than the stone's throw I may have led you to believe. Its about the same distance as to St. Mark's but on the same Long Green Pike and sits back a hundred or so feet from the road. We went back to the house and parked out front till they arrived at 2:35. If time permits, I'll sketch a floor plan and put in one of your envelopes but this is the way it lines up. The porch is concrete or stone and is at street level. So is the entrance to the front door. Now the house is not on a grand a glorious scale for which we are happy; I mean by that the Inn, as it was called, was over 50 years old when Doctor bought it. But he has put in all hard wood floors and insulated it. The front room is maybe twenty two or three feet by about eighteen. If you come in the front door and walk straight ahead there are two large French doors with frosted glass. Opened, they make the front look larger and lead into the dining room. This is a strange sized room. It is about twenty some feet wide but only ten feet long or rather vice versa. It has a large buffet built in (probably part of the old Inn bar) with plenty of storage space. The main thing this room has to offer is the alcove on the south. There are two windows and it would make a perfect dining place for a small family but we intend to use the kitchen....which is nice and large. Mommie has her windows over the sink and built in cabinets. There is a Hotpoint electric stove with the automatic cooking features and on the opposite wall from the built in stuff, there is an arrangement for the washer which I will try to picture. It is about three times as deep as an ordinary sink and has separate hot and cold faucets and in our opinion is also very handy for washing dirty little ones. The back door goes one step down, I think, onto a cement patio--small---and then three more steps to the back yard which is wonderful. From one look, I'm a bit confused on the general makeup but I remember lattice work and an archway of wood and plenty of play space for the kids. There is a cement walk and a gate around the side and another walk straight ahead from the kitchen door which leads to the garage through another gate. The yard is fenced and then tree type hedges to a height of maybe ten feet have been allowed to grow over the fencing and three tremendous trees (oak I believe) provide shade and breezes. It is entirely grass covered even though the former occupants had 5 kids. The cellar, here we go again, has no inside the house entrance. There are steel doors on a concrete foundation and go down to a beautiful heating system. But the basement is only about as big as our kitchen at 25. In one corner is the three or four hundred gallon tank for the well water which is filtered and softened. The furnace is a good national Radiator special with a summer-winter oil hook-up. There is just oil for heating and electricity--no gas. To move on with the tour, there are doors out of the front room and midst room to a hall with plenty of closet space under the stairs and a small room which the former occupants used for a telephone booth complete with door. The stairs to the second floor lead to the bathroom on the right--built in tub with shower out of the wall, built in cabinet "for all of Ann's lotions and perfumes" and no plunger standing in the corner. There are two bedrooms on this second floor which was formerly the dance hall part of the Inn. They are not overly large as it would seem but more than enough room. Up again to the third floor, there is one large room, not all the way across both houses, but almost so. There is one nice little alcove with a built in book shelf. In the one closet there is a door which leads to the unfinished or storage part where they keep storm windows and other junk. Sunday was a warm day and walking from the third floor room to this uncompleted section was a noticeable change of about 20 degrees in temperature. So I hope you're back in time to help fix the place up for Christmas; better yet, I hope you're there for Thanksgiving dinner. Mrs. Burton called me this morning and said she's going out to the country today and will look around to see if she has a couple of old chairs and a couch which can be fixed up and donated. I think Ann 's pretty happy about it just as long as there is not too much interference from you know who. And I'm willing to go along just so they are satisfied. They have started to paint the downstairs again and are making everything white. I'm trying somehow to put across that we think everything is nice and much more than adequate but for you not to expect the smoothness of 20th Century design. Anyway, here's hoping things work out and we get rid of our present place. We received a nice letter from Schatz hoping the same before he gives up trying on August 24.

Now back to other news. Early Saturday morning Cousin Anna called and I answered, She was crying and said they had taken Cousin Claire to Bon Secours Friday night with pneumonia. I offered the car and she said she would be ready about 10:30. Stevie went to his morning nap and Arlene watched Mike and Kathy so Ann could go along. We found Cousin Claire in a private room with the window wide open and just a hospital gown on with her feet out. She said they had gone over her and didn't know what it was, but not pneumonia. While we were there she had a terrible coughing spell which continues, she says until chunks of something are expelled. We stayed till twelve and left Cousin Anna for the day. I called on Sunday, Monday and again an hour ago. Yesterday Cousin Ann was crying and said it was no better; that they had taken X-rays and tests and found nothing wrong but the coughing was making her so weak. They said it might be some kind of allergy from dogs or sheep. This morning Cousin Ann said she was somewhat better and they had her constantly inhaling the fumes of some electric device and would know more this afternoon. I offered to pick her up and bring her home this evening if nothing happens and will let you know the score in another day or so.

I filled in for Mrs. Brown again last week and didn't see much of home. There were only two classes on Tuesday and one on Friday but the staying around breaks up the night. Ann was disgusted with me because he pays according to classes and not nights and I agree it was not worth it, but I was helping Mrs. B. and not B. H.

Saturday night we saw three movies. To fill in time, ABC put on two shows - 8 to 9 and 9 to 10. The first was a mystery with unknown stars and 1935 vehicles and the second was James Dunn in another mystery titled, believe it or not, "The Luck of the Irish". The redeeming feature of both was that there was not a pause for station break or advertising in the full hour each ran. Then came the Gunther Playhouse which you may have seen: "Twin Beds" with George Brent, Joan Bennett, Misha Auer, Glenda Farrell, Una Merkel and Ernest Truex. We liked it. The rest of the week had been taken up with the convention, of which I saw a little bit on Wednesday. Last night, the summer Westinghouse Studio One was pretty good with "The Last Thing I Do" but the acting is way off from the pros.

A number of news dispatches have been issued on the violent rains you have been having. Another thing, I must have missed the Service Sun when they acknowledged your letter, Andrew. I don't know where they've been hiding it since I sent you that one clipping.

I'll drop you another note tomorrow or Thursday with at least the news about seeing Cousin Claire tonight.

END OF LETTER

Editor's Notes:
Charles works for Dr. and Mrs. Burton who have promised him the use of a larger house near their farms northeast of Baltimore. At one time the house was an Inn.
Charles also teaches nights for the Baltimore Institute - a business school.

Next Posting: August 1, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

Saturday, July 21, 2012

It's Cool at Gambrill's



July 21, 1952 - Noontime

Dear Andrew and John

Here's what I have been able to find out about the housing situation. Mrs. Burton tells me the people left sometime last week and she went out last Friday to have them clean up the place and see if any painting or repairing needs to be done. Unless something changes her mind, she wants to meet Ann and the little ones out there next Sunday, July 27, to show all of us the inside. And, as to the moving date, she told me to mark my calendar for Monday, August 4, two weeks from today. Now we're going to take all this as gospel and Ann is planning accordingly. The big hitch right now is our present house. We talked to Schatz again and he suggested bringing the price down to eighty five hundred and maybe something could be done. We are almost positive Cimino wants the place and for around $8000, but the thing I've been worrying about is that maybe Schatz is in with him and stalling till we have to get out and thinks we'll accept a lower price. We don't feel we can go any lower both for your benefit and for ours also. To try and press Schatz a little, I'm going to get a letter off today canceling our agreement. I signed up in May for 3 months but notice must be given in writing 30 days prior to cancellation. I'll try to smooth it over by saying I'm sure the place will be sold before the termination of the agreement but since we are getting out in two weeks we'd rather have the place rented than let it stay idle. I'll say that but we don't want to do it under any circumstances. So there are plenty of headaches. I guess by the time you receive this you had better send any correspondence to 700 Cathedral until I get the definite address. On John's allotment, I noted It is dated the first of the month. I'm going to leave one of those forwarding cards at the Post Office and will ask them, if the check doesn't come by the 4th, if it will be OK to pick it up there as I am the one it is addressed to. I'm sure it will work out but if you want to continue it, John, I think you said you are the one who has to notify of a change in address. If you'd like to get it in right away, the address is certain to be Hydes, Maryland, or to be more explicit, Long Green Pike and Hyde Road, Hydes, Maryland. The mail will bet to Hydes station all right because Mr. Musselman from Overlea, where Ann was staying, is the Railway postman on the Ma and Pa that delivers to Hydes. That Hyde or Hydes spelling is confusing; I have a postmark here at the office with "Hyde" and another that cane in a week or so ago for the Doctor, with "Hydes". On the map the road is given as "Hydes}" and the actual road sign near the house spells it "Hyde". So let's make it "Hydes".

To change the subject, when I was at the Post Office last week at the lower level, sending a sample of our mica to Mexico, I noticed they have a chart which looked homemade with colored inks, listed RPO numbers from 1 to 8 or 9 hundred; 301 wasn't listed and there were many other gaps as well. Each listed number had from one to five colored symbols beside it. At the bottom the legend showed each stood for something that could not be sent to that particular APO. For example, a number of them called for no coffee, no cigarettes and no candy.

We have been baking in terrific temperatures and humidity for more than a week which kept us close at home on Saturday. At night we turned on the TV for "The Last of The Mohicans" and I liked it as well as Arlene did. Yesterday was another hot one and again we stayed at home till about five o'clock Ann suggested she had never seen Gambrill State Park above Frederick. That's where we went, arriving about 6:15 and found it wonderfully cool that high up. We stayed till they closed at 7:00 and were back hone by 8:40 with the heavier traffic. We got the kids into bed, then I turned out my pockets with my bankroll of 46¢ and Ann doubled it so I took her over the Westway to see "Walk East on Beacon", one of those documentary films like the "House on 53rd St." (or is it 93rd). We were home again a little past eleven for another restless night.

I JUST GOT A CALL FROM MRS. BURTON AT 12:25 AND YOU'LL HAVE TO DISCOUNT IN PART SOME OF THE ABOVE. SHE SAYS SHE NOW HAS WORD FROM THE BOYS PAINTING OUT THERE THAT THEY CAN'T FINISH UNTIL ABOUT THE FIFTEENTH OF AUGUST AND AS SHE WOULDN'T HAVE US MOVE ON SATURDAY FOR "NO ONE STAYS IF THEY MOVE INTO A HOUSE ON SATURDAY" WE SHOULD NOW MAKE THE POSITIVE DATE FOR MOVING AUGUST 18. I TOLD HER WE WANTED TO CONTACT A MOVER AND WOULD HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW FOR SURE AND SHE SAID AUGUST 18 WOULD BE DEFINITE. HOWEVER, SHE STILL WANTS US TO COME OUT THIS SUNDAY, JULY 20, IF IT IS NOT TOO WARM TO LOOK THE PLACE OVER. SO IT MIGHT WORK OUT BETTER THIS WAY. IT GIVES A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GET RID OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT LETTING IT SIT VACANT AND WE MAY GET THINGS LINED UP A LITTLE BETTER. ANN WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WHEN I CALLED HER JUST NOW AS SHE OBTAINED A NUMBER OF LARGE BOXES ON SATURDAY AND HAS BEEN PACKING THINGS RIGHT AND LEFT.

I'm going to stop this one now. There's no gossip or news I can think of. I guess it's because all this other stuff is on our minds but. I'll write you a few short ones when I think of something as the week progresses.

END OF LETTER

Editor's Notes:
Charles works for Dr. and Mrs. Burton who have promised him the use of a larger house near their farms northeast of Baltimore.

Next Posting: July 29, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

Saturday, July 14, 2012

A Picnic at Loch Raven and A Trip to Otter Point


Monday, July 14

Dear Andrew and John,

We have had a fairly quiet week - not as hot as the nineties until yesterday and today. The rains of last Monday and Tuesday deposited over 7 1/2 in. in the two days. The record was set on Monday when 5.9 in. fell in a 24 hour period. I don't have to tell you I'm glad to say we didn't have to show the house on those days.

Cousin Claire dropped in during the day, on Wednesday if I recall rightly, on her way to Ellicott City for part of her vacation, and left a cute pinafore dress for Kathy.

I had to work out the Doctor's all day Wednesday and about 4:15 he asked me to pick up the Mrs. at the beauty shop on Greenmount Avenue. She was a bit startled to see me and when she got in the front seat and I was preparing to start off, said: "You know, Charles, it has always been my policy not to take chances or try to save a few seconds when you get there just the same by taking it easy." I assured her I seldom played speed demon and took her hone at a steady 25 miles an hour. The reason I mentioned this, the rest of the time she repeated the story that the maintenance man, a fellow named Richard at the farm, had it direct from the woman now in our house out there, that if Mrs. Burton wanted them to get out so badly they would do so. I could tell that Ann was on pins and needles to see if any progress was being made so I suggested she see about her eyes on Saturday and we take a few sandwiches and drive out to the country. So I got an appointment with the same eye Doctor for 9:30 Saturday morning and we took the picnic basket (2nd time it had been used) ful1 of sandwiches and potato chips plus the thermos jug of ice cubes and some Pepsis, together with the kids and Arlene's girl friend Mary Margaret Tucker. There is still is still nothing serious with Ann's eyes but a slight astigmatism in one but the doc thought a change in prescription necessary to the tune of $23.50 and that with the cheapest lenses; but it's good to know there is nothing serious. We headed out Loch Raven Blvd. and beyond, passing to the east of Towson and skirted Loch Raven itself to the other side where there is a fair-sized bridge and a stretch of pines with picnic facilities. We were the only ones there for the next hour while we ate end let the kids run around a little. Ann went to the water and dragged back a 50 lb. hunk of drift wood we brought back in the rear of the car which she intends to use for something or other. We then found the roads directly to Hyde (I received a letter from the farm this week and this times it was postmarked with Hydes) were closed and we had to detour around Glen Arm Road and then over Long Green Pike. We rode past the house to the church, turned around and back again. I could see nothing changed from the last time we were out that way maybe two months ago but Ann, with her woman's intuition, says everything is OK and she just feels it that moving is in process. She'll have to explain that to you herself. They didn't want to go home but suggested Otter Point, that is, down on the river by Edgewood; so we got there about 1:30. The river was beautiful and while the kids had no bathing suits and didn't go in, they got a kick out of standing on the pier that runs out for about fifty feet where the lawn ends 100 ft. in front of the house. The river there, as I may have told you before, is about a mile across. We left there at 3:00 and came back by way of the Joppa Road across Towson and by Emerson Farms and the Hilltop Theatre and home by 5:00. Ann finally got her ironing and baths out of the way so we sat down at ten to watch a little TV. The Oriole baseball game was just going off way ahead of time and the Gunther movie is not scheduled till 10:30. For the half hour in between they put on Snader Shorts of songs by Theresa Brewer, the Delta Rhythm Boys, Ginnie Simms and some colored gal whose named escapes me... We also enjoyed the movie, back to an English-made "The Counterfiters" with an English cast and then one of those things, all by itself, "Presenting Lon Chaney, Jr.". It was well made and well acted; the only fault I guess you could find was that the entire locale was supposed to be Los Angeles and they ran out of gangsters and bit parts without American accents. Sunday we sat around as it was very warm and Ann wanted to keep the little ones quiet. We saw Philco present "A Letter to Mr. Priest" which is another repeat from last year or the year before. Looking over the TV program I saw where we missed Joan Crawford in "Rain" which was on at 6:00 p.m.

A bit over a week ago Arlene wrote you a two sided letter on a 8 1/2 x 14 sheet of mimeograph paper which she gave me to mail. After looking it over, we don't see how she got out of the 8th grade and Ann made her take it back to do over which I see hasn't been done as yet. Last week's injuries to the babies was confined to a spider biting Stevie in several places on his ankle which merged and turned into a messy sore which took four days to get the half inch diameter scab it has on it now. Mike was bitten on the upper lip and under the right eye by something on Friday which had his face all out of proportion in swelling and redness. This time Ann got Stevie a complete-whiffle which I'd like to capture on film but probably wont. I'm enclosing a couple of prints on which Pavelle did a little better job than Ritz. The one of Kathy is anything but flattering, especially the dirty shirt, but it gives you an idea.

Today's news by Ann at my noontime call was that we received an announcement of Sally's wedding on Saturday, July 12. No doubt you have, also been sent one and it will arrive about the time of this unless it went by regular mail. Ann didn't, have it handy so I don't know the name of the fellow but we are going to send a congratulation card in care of Mrs. Hauge.

As for neighborhood news, there's not much. The filling station across the street is again open under new management, having closed down two weeks ago. I have been parking the car in the back yard and the birds and plum tree have been giving it a work-out. Ed and Marie Pierpoint are looking for a place; they can't stand Mrs. P's nagging and general attitude any longer. Ann is still mad at Milka and May Smith. Milka greeted her one day with "Why Mrs. Conner, my you've grown fat". And after Ann, had taken off a few pounds. And May called her over one day and very confidentially said, "We've decided not to raise your rent". Ann begged her pardon and she repeated it. Ann said she was sure she had the wrong party and May said, "You're Mrs. Batchelor, aren't you?" We drove by the radar set up at Rolling Road and the new Highway and it's a mess. A dozen tar paper shacks, a few big guns, and trash everywhere. The headquarters company stationed at old St. Timothy's has, as I told you, surfaced half the lot on Ingleside with stone for a parking place and has made a soft ball diamond out of the rest with the usual results.


END OF LETTER

Editor's Notes:
Charles works for Dr. and Mrs. Burton who have promised him the use of a larger house near their farms.
Ann has a cousin with a house at Otter Point on Bush River east of Baltimore County.

LINKS

Next Posting: July 21, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Conjunctivitis and The Fourth Of July



Monday, July 7 1952

Dear Andrew and John,

In some respects we had a nice quiet weekend and since last Thursday we received several letters from each of you and the pictures, Andrew. I am still waiting to see what Pavelle does to the black and whites of the kids. I got the word from you, John, that the color prints had been done by a private set-up and I'm sure no commercial or grind-'em-out company would take the pains to see the color rendition was so perfect. I put an ad in the Argus, as I told you, about the Polaroid and didn't get a single nibble; offered it at best price over $50 and included attachments plus "will deliver".

When I got home last Thursday we put the little ones to bed and Arlene baby-sat while we took the Clapsaddles up on their offer. Arrived at the Marling House a few minutes past seven and they came right on our heels. As we were seated on that single table strip by the bar, Aunt Hannah was at the next table with someone she introduced as Mrs. Hayes. She left soon afterward but said she had a
letter from one of you. Next to the night out Ann and I had together, which I think we appreciated more because we made our own decisions, we really had a very good time. It was, my first taste of the M.H., you know, and those rum buns you talked about were delicious. As Earl paid for everything, we each had two drinks and the crab imperial a la carte (cheaper that way) with the salad that came along and yet I saw the bill at $17.90. I haven't been able to figure it out; seems a little high to me. I believe I told you Marling sold out several months ago but his head is still on everything including the ballet pictures on the walls. They have taken the hula gal with the running lights off the bar. From there we walked while deciding on a show, Ann and Annie was discussing Pat and Mike or St. Anne and the Something or Robin Hood or The Batchelor and Somebody; but the picture we saw was "Brave Warrior" with Jon Hall at the Mayfair and you can guess who picked it; I kept quiet. After that - home; Ann was a bit bothered by her eyes and they did look red and swollen. On the way she told me she had stood in front of the sun lamp for 20 minutes but had put paper over her eyes. That, combined with the movie and the fact she hasn't had her glasses available since Kathy snapped them in the middle brought on the consequences. She got to sleep for an hour but was up two o'clock walking the floor; then she walked outdoors and finally when she couldn't stand the pain I took her over to St. Agnes Hospital at 3:15 in the night, or rather morning. The doctor pronounced it acute Conjunctivitis or eye infection and put some drops in to ease the pain. She lay there for about an hour, after which he squeezed a tube of a cod liver oil and something mixture in each eye and gave her a shot in the arm; another rest and we went home but the pain didn't stop and neither of us slept. Toward morning the ice bags helped somewhat and she quieted down. What had Ann (and me, too) worried was that after we left the hospital she couldn't raise her eyelids and when she pried one up with her finger, couldn't see a thing. This was no doubt caused by swelling of the lids or something internally but by the afternoon of the Fourth we were both relieved when she could open them a little more than a slit and could see. The infection broke Saturday and stuff has been draining out ever since. I put the drops in all day Saturday and Sunday and with the aid of dark glasses Ann could go out for short periods at a time before applying cold packs. On the morning of the Fourth, I took Mike and Kathy down to the high school to watch the goings on while Ann tried to rest and Stevie napped for his usual two or three hours. We got there too late for the sucker scramble but Abe awarded each a couple of consolation lollipops and that suited Kathy for the rest of our stay down there. Jane and Edward showed up and while Edward didn't want to enter any of the games, Mike and Jane lined up with 100 others for something for kids under 8. The object was to hold a paper plate in the mouth, balance a marble on the plates, and run the length of the field and back. The gun went off and Mike and Jane streaked down and back with the plate clutched in one hand and the marble in the other. They were disqualified but had a lot of fun. The only other contest they entered was for "over 8 " -- a peanut collection; from which they emerged with a handful of peanuts. Then home we went to lunch and a little rest.

The parade was at 3:00 this year, or actually at 3:30 for a little rain held things up but passed over. We had no company on the porch and Ann watched for a little while but found the light too much. They had a good many bands and floats and I do think it was the largest yet. Earl added a big top of canvas to cover the entire section around the snowball stand and with about nineteen relatives working hard they managed to keep the line from blocking the view. The fireworks weren't up to usual; didn't start till 9:15 and were all over at 10:00. Stevie loved them and had his finger sticking at in the air spouting "See, see" till he was hoarse (one of his few words). Kathy enjoyed them, too, from the porch, and Mike didn't comment one way or the other but after a few big ones, he arose from his chair and announced "Mother, think I should rest for awhile" and went in the house but watched out of the window. Saturday was another pleasant day with temperature in the eighties and low humidity and we did practically nothing. Ann stayed in most of the time and I clipped a hedge and cleaned up the cellar and some weeds besides washing the car. Yesterday Arlene and I went to nine o'clock Mass in the chapel as they are still working on the church. I was in there on Friday and they seem to be rounding the ceiling which had to be repaired. At 9:05 Father Hughes came down into the hall and announced the priest that was due from the Monastery had forgotten about it and they 'phoned someone else was coming. The substitute didn't show up till 9:30 and was in the uniform of a Navy lieutenant chaplain. At the time for announcements he told the people not to think it strange that he appeared in uniform, that he was a chaplain. As if that explanation wasn't bad enough, he added, "For those who do not know what a chaplain is..." and went on in detail to elaborate. Guess he thought he was really out in the sticks. Ann made it to church and back OK but I knew she couldn't see well yet because she walked up the road with the glasses on to get a pack of Camels. She had to use a vending machine and came back with Chesterfield - didn't notice the mistake till she came into the house. Being in for three days like that, I suggested a ride as far as Friendship airport yesterday evening about 6:30. She felt well enough and we were down in less than 25 -minutes; this was our second visit. Nothing much doing on Sundays but I'd like to visit their dining room or cocktail lounge sometime. We bumped into Mr. Hahn and Willis, Betty and their kids seeing Willis off on a trip to Columbus. On the way back we picked up Auntie Florence, Mr. Bellis' sister, and now we know where she lives with the Dorsey's. It's one of the Schatz Bros. place on Valley Road after you turn there at the golf course and head toward town and Wilkens Avenue. I've always known it as the Lippe chocolate people's place.

Saturday evening we turned on TV to see two movies; at 9:00 CBS is putting on weekly shows in place of Ken Murray or as his summer replacement. Anyhow, from 9 to 10 it was Paison - which I haven't spelled correctly but you know what I mean, that Italian film and very good. After that, the Gunther Playhouse was Louis Hayward, Richard Carlson, Joan Fontainne and Tom Brown in "The Duke of West Point" copyright 1937. So Gunther has apparently given up on English films and is obtaining more recent American first releases. I found it entertaining and it must have been one of Joan Fontainne's first appearances though she had a rather large part.

Have to teach four nights this week as Mrs. Brown asked me and she is vacationing again. TV and radio is given over almost entirely to the Republican convention and there are only a couple of parts of it I would like to see. Abe left Saturday morning for two weeks to Toledo, Detroit and Chicago now that his car is pretty well broken in.

Just before I started this, Mrs. Burton 'phoned and asked me to call her back when the others had gone to lunch. She said she heard the present tenant of our future home was preparing to leave, had found a house about 5 miles away and the movers were there to look over things and finally that she might be out in about three weeks so that the possibility is still there we could be it by the first of August.

END OF LETTER

Editor's Notes:
Charles works for Dr. and Mrs. Burton who have promised him the use of a larger house near their farms. Charles also teaches night for a business school - The Baltimore Institute.
The Bellis' live next door at 23 Bloomsbury. Jane and Edward are bout the same age as Charles' children.
The Fourth of July parade always passed their house on Bloomsbury.
Ann Clapsaddle is a high school friend of Ann.
Abe Scop is a lifelong friend of Charles.

Next Posting: July 14, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner