When It Rains, It Pours

Thursday, August 21.

Dear Andrew and John,

I'm not making any more rash statements, but by the time you get this we should have moved; if we haven't, we'll be without 'phone, water or gas and electric. Tuesday night this Corbett of Schatz came to the house with the contract of sale already signed by the Seickes. I was a little reluctant to sign but did so, but first changing the date of "on or before" settlement from September 24 to September 15, which means it has to be settled by then. I also questioned Mr. Corbett further and he said they had not yet approached the B & L Association but would do so on Wednesday; also that if it was not approved, then Schatz would take it up with their B & L and if that fell through, they would declare it no sale and return the cash to the buyers. Well, no sooner had I signed and gotten him on his way when the 'phone rang and Ann talked to Mrs. Herrig, who was happy to say her brother-in-law had OK'd giving them the cash and she wanted the house. She hung up and we were still looking at each other when Mrs. Murphy, another Schatz agent, called and said she had what looked like a definite sale as the people had to be located in Catonsville by September 1. So there you are; stewing over this thing for a month and then three possible sales in one hour. I'm trying to put some pressure on Schatz to hurry this one through or at least find out by the week-end if the loan is to he made to the Seickes so we can let Mrs. Herrig know right away. Her set up, I'm sure, would go through much faster, as is the case when you are dealing with a bank.

Virginia offered to take Ann and the kids for a ride out to the house on Friday and Ann accepted but I found out yesterday that Mrs. B. plans to be at the house all day Friday and wants us to try to meet her out there Saturday afternoon to see what Progress has been made as we have only been inside the house that one time. I dislike the idea of leaving the house on Bloomsbury empty for maybe a week and maybe more but Arlene has to be in school a week from next Tuesday and I guess we can't delay it any longer. As for transportation at the new place, until you pick up your Cadillac, we'll have to make friends fast. The Hyde railroad station is within walking distance down Hyde Road but the darn train makes only one trip north and one trip back to Baltisore each day. It hits Hyde in the morning about 8 a.m. and goes on up to York, Pa. Coming back that same day it stops at Hyde a little after five and gets to Baltimore about 6 p.m. There is a bus that goes from Baltimore to Jarrettsville a couple of times each day but as far as I can determine, it doesn't use any road nearby. But there's plenty of people out that way so they must use something. When we were at Aunt Alice's last Sunday we found out that St. John's may not have a high school but they have a senior social club. They advertised in the Baltimore Sun last Saturday that they were holding a carnival and chicken picnic Saturday and Sunday from morning till night.

Abe had to take his father to the hospital again yesterday. His blood pressure was way, way up and he couldn't speak. They had a night nurse on him and he seemed to be resting this morning, so Abe said.

I'm filling out a forwarding address card this morning for all of us and I see it is for two years so we won't have to worry. I'm also checking the block promising to guarantee postage on any parcel post or other literature in case anyone sends you or us anything.

END OF LETTER

Editor's Notes:
Charles' family is moving from Catonsville. Charles' employers, Dr. and Mrs. Burton, have promised him the use of one of their houses in Long Green Valley.
Virginia is a friend of John's.
Abe Scop is a long time friend of Charles.

Next Posting: August 22, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner

Blow Out The Candles And Then You're Five

Tuesday, August 19

Dear Andrew and John,

Keep your fingers crossed. We may have something here. Nothing is definite as yet but Mr. Corbett of Schatz dropped by the house last night to tell Ann the Seicke's had put a deposit of $500 with them on the house. The reason I say it is not definite is that they have not approached the bank or Building and Loan for the financial arrangements. I understand if they placed the money with the real estate dealer with that agreement, they will get their cash back but if they don't specify, they lose the down payment if the financing falls through. So Ann is trying to learn more of the details this morning so that she will know whether to notify the movers for next Monday, August 25. Andrew, you said not to mention cash so I won't, but if either you or John wants to know the selling price, just ask. We didn't get what Schatz led us to believe, but we'll be able to take tare of the mortgage, the moving and Arlene's tuition all right.

Let's get off the subject a little while; or maybe better not for I've just read the above paragraph and you're wondering who in the heck the Seicke's are. First thing last Saturday morning Ann said she was tired of this fooling around and would get something out of Schatz. Up there she went at 9 a.m. and back in fifteen minutes. She didn't see either of them but scarcely had she walked in the house when the 'phone rang, and an agent wanted to show the house on Sunday at 2 p.m. I hung up the receiver and Mr. Corbett, of Schatz, was knocking on the side door asking to show the place that afternoon at 1 o'clock. He came on time with one of the Seicke's, a wife and one kid. I don't know which one it is but at the present time they live right on the corner of Bloomingdale and Bishops in a large shingled semi-detached house -- the one bordering right on the turn. I thought at the time they were interested because they were the first ones who asked to see the cellar and I had just been down there wiping up the last traces of water. From the entrance way back it was all nice and dry. The prospects on Sunday were in and out of the house so fast you would have thought a dog was chasing them, so we knew there was no hope there. Yesterday I tried to get Schatz all day but could talk to no one but Marion. She asked to be remembered to you, but I can't picture her. I had school last night and came home via Bishops Lane, hoping to drop in and ask if they were considering the house as they don't have a 'phone; however, the first floor was dark and only one light on the second so I kept on going. Ann was waiting for me on the porch, wondering why I hadn't called from school. She had left word there and they didn't relay the message. She wasn't excited or anything; it's a sort of anti-climax.

Back to Saturday, we were going to confession in the afternoon but we put it off till 7:30 and Arlene watched the little ones who were poohed. They were in bed by six-all three, so after confession we rode down the Edmondson Highway to Ellen and Jerry's. They weren't home so we continued on over to Irvington and visited with Cousin Anne and Cousin Claire for almost an hour. Cousin Claire said she had a letter--from John I think, and she said you were thinking of living in Catonsville some day. Well, just remember, you're to stay with us just as long as you care to--both of you. Even though we couldn't get your things moved out there, we're not squeezed on room. We even planned the evening of the day we first saw the place that we would try to put the Hide-A-Bed in the one bedroom with the kids so that when you returned you would have a bedroom all to yourselves. The Hide-A-Bed has lasted us nightly for over two years now-no, I'm wrong, it was one year in May, but anyway I'm sure it will hold out for another year or so. It better had. I want to see them move the thing it weighs over 400 pounds.

Cousin Claire looks OK now and is supposed to be back at work as of yesterday. They hadn't heard anything of Mary and wondered because she was supposed to come out during July and take them out to her place.

You're right, we sure do miss the TV set. This last was the longest week end I ever spent. We were back from the Boehms about a quarter to nine and with fooling around and reading in bed, were asleep before eleven. After the people rushed through the house on Sunday, Ann suggested dinner and getting out for a ride. We ate about three and Ann had a cake she had made for Mike's birthday so we invited Jane and Edward in. All morning long Mike had been announcing that he was not 5 yet. We said yes as of early that morning. After we lit, I mean lighted the candles and he blew them out he proudly announced, "Now, I'm five years old!" We decided the drive to Ann's cousin, Dot's, place at Middle River, but when we got there no one was home so Aunt Alice's is only fifteen minutes away and that's where we ended up. We didn't get there till 6:30 and found Sammy and Pud visiting. Pud took Ann to see their apartment and when they returned at 8:00 we headed for home. I came out to get some diapers out of the car and Virginia and Dee skidded to a stop, coming up Bloomsbury. Virginia had been trying to call Ann all afternoon to find out what time we were going to move as she had offered to help out on Monday„ I had to tell her it was all off but Ann got her last night and she was up for awhile yesterday and offered to lend a hand next Monday, if that is the date.

We heard on the radio this morning that the southern part of Korea was hit by a typhoon with 100 mile and hour winds so I guess you got part of it up your way.

Got a nice long letter from Brother Bertin, answering mine of last November 27. He said he has not been in Baltimore for any length of time but during July drove up from Camp Calvert with Brother Malcolm to drop Brother Hilary off and returned right away late at night. Says he is well and still at St. John's Prep, Danvers, Mass. That was last Friday, the day they change their slates.

END OF LETTER

Editor's Notes:
Charles' family is moving from Catonsville. Charles' employers, Dr. and Mrs. Burton, have promised him the use of one of their houses in Long Green Valley.
Virginia is a friend of John's.

Next Posting: August 21, 1952

Copyright 2012 Stephen A Conner