Grandpa mentioned in his last letter that he was listening to an address by President Roosevelt. FDR delivered the following speech on the date that Grandpa wrote to his beau in Ohio.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt Address over the radio on Navy Day concerning the attack upon the destroyer U. S. S. Kearny, October 27, 1941
"The forward march of Hitler and of Hitlerism can be stopped -- and it will be stopped."
Five months ago tonight I proclaimed to the American people the existence of a state of unlimited emergency.
Since then much has happened. Our Army and Navy are temporarily in Iceland in the defense of the Western Hemisphere.
Hitler has attacked shipping in areas close to the Americas in the North and South Atlantic.
Many American-owned merchant ships have been sunk on the high seas. One American destroyer was attacked on September 4. Another destroyer was attacked and hit on October 17. Eleven brave and loyal men of our Navy were killed by the Nazis.
To continue reading...
I thought you might be interested in sharing in the historical context of what your parents and grandparents experienced as they wrote to each other. As their relationship was growing and giving them life and excitement, I wonder what it felt like for parts of their world to be crumbling around them.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Grandpa, October 28th 1941
Dear Dolores:
Since you are so intent on being a “pest” I suppose I should write “Dear Pest.” How could I be so rude? Really Hun, I think you are anything but a pest. If you are such a one, I must confess that I wish there were more pests, however I am interested in only one and that one is you. I believe we can settle this “pest” question this week-end.
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| FDR delivers a speech (I believe this is the one that Grandpa was listening to). |
The Chief Executive - Pres. Roosevelt - is interrupting my powers of concentration. I am interested in hearing what he has to say, but I fear I will not be able to write very well, while trying to listen to his “plan”! Why can’t he wait until I have finished writing you?
Can you smell paint Dolores? You could if you were here. In fact I painted until 10:00 tonight and still am not finished. I am glad to say, however, that the kitchen is completed. I am hoping to paint the back room tomorrow. You will see I didn’t get as much done today as I had hoped. I left here this morning before 9:00 to go to the hospital for my glucose test and it was noon when I got back. Then I had to take time out this P.M. to go back for the report. Had it not been for all that time, I am sure I could have gotten much more done.
Would you be interested in the report from my test? I was very much interested and also pleased. The result was normal so I have nothing to get worried about. The doctor said “Go home, eat, drink, and be merry.” Just how literal should I take those orders? Anyhow I was glad for such a favorable report.
Dolores, I was more than pleased with your letter this morning saying you were still planning to see me Nov. 1st. Really, thought, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for having you miss your brother’s wedding. I understand the situation and wouldn’t blame you if you had decided not to come. Even so I am glad you are planning to come up here.
I guess I didn’t make myself plain concerning the bus I thought it would be best for you to take. Of course, I thought you would be taking the late bus since it would mean quite a bit less time on the road. As I said I would be pleased to have you arrive earlier, but it would be a much harder trip for you. I am sure the plans you have made are best. You see we are still agreed after all. I’ll be seeing you Kalamazoo at 4:55 P.M. Saturday. O.K? I’ll be sure to be there.
This has surely been a rainy day here - a good time to work inside. Late this afternoon it turned quite cold and right now I believe it is nearly freezing outside. The weather forecast is snow before morning. Boy! do I appreciate my heater? It surely gives me a lot of comfort.
I have several matters of correspondence that must be taken care of before I go to bed and it is late now so may I please be excused from this to get my other work done? One thing is a matter of transferring two church letters and that is a new experience to me. I must also write the pastor of the church where I am planning to be in meetings next week.
Until tomorrow, Good night -
With Love,
Ted
Grandma, October 27th 1941
Dear Ted,
Before I go any farther, let me explain that I am using this terribly large paper because I’m fresh out of my other. I fully intended to get some yesterday but my memory failed me - as usual. Let me further explain that it’s just as well I have to use it since this letter must of necessity be short. Please forgive me again but I was later getting home from work tonight due to our “broken down” car and I must get up early tomorrow and go to work. I hope you’ll understand my predicament. You would rather have me write a short letter than none at all, wouldn’t you?
The folks from Detroit left early this afternoon, about 2 o’clock. I was so sleepy then that I went upstairs and took a nap. I had to take the 3:10 bus for work. I know I could have written to you between 2 and 3 o’clock but it slipped my mind until too late. I guess I forgot that I would have to get to bed as soon as possible since I have to work tomorrow. I have been having Monday off when I work on Sunday but they double-crossed me this week. I should not have to be at work at 8:00 am tomorrow since there are supposed to be 10 hours between tricks, but they slipped up somewhere on my schedule. I referred it to them yesterday morning and they said they’d do something about it but they evidently forgot all about it. Consequently, I arise early tomorrow. That 10 hour business is a state law too, so if they are found out they’ll have to pay the penalty. I did my part.
Please forgive me for all this boring explanation and alibi-ing. I don’t know why I should bother you with my petty troubles. I’ll try to do better from now on.
Mary Evelyn is going to stand up with Jeanette and Hordy when they are married. She is so tickled. Of course she’ll get a new dress, etc. and that strikes her splendidly. They are going to be married on Sunday. Then both families plus Hordy’s best man are going to have a nice dinner at a lovely restaurant not far from Dayton. Only the immediate families will be present at the ceremony. Exclusive, see? I’m still coming up to see you though if you still want me. They still insist on it. OK?
I’m going to hurry to bed now. ‘Night -
Love,
“Dodo”
Grandpa, October 27 1941
Dear Dolores:
Would you believe it? I have been right here studying since 3:00 this afternoon. That is what I get for putting off my preparation for Sunday evening. It really isn’t a matter of putting it off so much as it is the lack of time. I hardly know when I could have found time to do it before. Perhaps I’m not exactly prepared yet, but I feel sure I have the mind of the Lord as to the message of the evening. I will be preaching from John 12:32. I will admit that it was a bit hard to know just how a text of that kind should be treated. I am attempting to emphasize the last part, “...will draw all men unto me.” It would be needless for me to explain here the truth I hope to be able to impress upon the minds of the people. You will have occasion to hear this “preacher” next Sunday, I hope. After you have heard him once or twice you may never care to see or hear him again. I sincerely hope that won’t be true.
Today I had a quarterly meeting which included a communion service this morning. Since I am not yet qualified to administer the sacrament I had hoped to have Uncle Albert from Hillsdale be here, but this was also his quarterly meeting Sunday so that was out. Consequently, I did the preaching had had had the retired minister you have heard me speak of here conduct the communion service. He is the one who will be preaching for me next Sunday night. Isn’t that kind of him? I think it is.
Say, Dolores, I have a suggestion to make for next Sunday, that is providing you are going to be here. Perhaps I should say a request. Now don’t say “no” will you? O.K. Here it is. Would you please plan to sing a special number in the service here next Sunday morning? I can hear you making excuses already. My plan was to wait until you got here to mention it, but then you could have the excuse that you weren’t prepared. Don’t worry about the people here being critical. If they were, they would have a different preacher. I would appreciate it very much if you would plan to do that and I am sure the people would. How about it?
It seems like as time goes on the more I have to do. I don’t mean to be complaining but some times I feel like “Woe is me!” It seems like I will never get caught up. Just this morning I was notified that I was to speak at the November meeting of the Allegan ministers. What that, revival meetings next month, and my own work here and probably I will be working some in the Penny Store, I wonder how I am going to get it all in. Did you ever feel that way? There must be a way out. And of course I have corresponding obligations which I couldn’t neglect. At least I don’t intend to.
Tomorrow I hope to complete the job of painting here that I have been wanting to do for so long. I may not be able to get it all done, but I am hoping there will not be much left to do. You see I won’t have to take time out to get any breakfast so I can get up real early (about 5:00) and start right in. I might even get one room done before I have to go to the hospital. It will be necessary for me to be there for at least two hours.
Time out until after church...
9:15 Sunday night
Hello Again!
I just turned my radio on and there is being a hymn sung that we used here in my evening service. There are quite a number more voices on the radio than there were in church. In spite of that I think we had good service - even in spite of a poor preacher.
Before church this evening one of the ladies came to my door with a package for me. It was nearly time for service so I didn’t take the time to open it then. Just a few minutes ago I opened it and guess what I found. Food, of course! It included fruit salad, cookies, cup cakes, and two large pieces of fried chicken! Can you beat that? Did I eat! I’ll say I did. I’m not to eat any breakfast in the morning so I really made the best of it. I am sure I will survive until lunch time tomorrow.
When you receive only one envelope you may think you are getting only one letter, but you will find I have written one each day and am enclosing both of them in one envelope. I want to write my sister tonight so I better bring this to a close.
Good night Hun!
Yours with love,
Ted
Grandma, October 26th 1941
Dear Ted,
I’m beginning to feel my late hours and lack of sleep more and more. My back aches and my eyes even hurt they’re so tired. I must be sure and do my best to get to bed early as many nights as possible next week in order to get rested up and prepared for the weekend. If I do that, we can stay up as long as want to - providing you get “slept up” ahead too. How will that be? (Don’t take me too literally.)
The “kids” had quite a time when they went to apply for their license this morning. Jeanette is of course under age and we thought just her mother would be okay to sign for her, but they asked for her dad. After some “quibbling” they finally gave it to them, provided her dad can get down on next Saturday or goes to the marriage license clerk in Detroit and has a special form filled out. So up to now, everything is going along fine.
This afternoon the Detroit folks went to Cincinnati to visit Mrs. Grueneberg’s other daughter and they took mother along. That meant that father and us girls had to shift for ourselves for supper. Mother sort of hated to run off and leave us (or so she said) so she suggested that father take us out to eat. We didn’t object of course, so accordingly he met us after we all were off work and we went to the nicest place. I had the best vegetable soup I ever ate outside of what mother (and I) make. The funny part is that they got home shortly after we did. So we all had a nice time.
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| This is my best guess at the type of car the Simpson family may have purchased in 1941 |
A few minutes after we got home, father started to the grocery after the groceries mother had ordered. Lo and behold! The car refused to start. We had plenty of gas and everything was running perfectly when we came home from town but it wouldn’t even sputter or anything. We were parked going down hill so Mary and I started pushing. More fun (?). When we got halfway down the street, along comes Hordy and the folks with the De Soto. Well, we pushed the old Ford for blocks and still she wouldn’t give so we pushed her home. Hordy and father have been working on it, but they couldn’t find the difficulty and have finally given up. We are not worrying too much because guess what - we’re going to get a new car very shortly. Isn’t that grand? The only thing we need to worry about is to get “Lizzie” in running condition to take in for appraisal and trade-in. The fellow who is maneuvering the sale for us wants our Ford on Monday because he things he can get our new one then. We’re tickled pink. By the way - guess what kind of a care we’re getting? Yes sir, a Chevrolet! It’s a beige coach. Mary Evelyn wasn’t here when our “agent” told us he had it (he’s been trying to get us one for some time) so we decided to keep it a secret from her and surprise her. I’ll be we’ll have a lot of fun with her when she finds out. She’s been wanting a new car so long. So have we all, as far as that goes.
Ted, you really ought to be here tomorrow. You know what I smell? Chicken! 2 of them. They’re getting their preliminary cooking tonight and the odor floats pleasantly out in the atmosphere. I’m hungry already. You know I have to admit that when I work, my appetite is much better than when I loaf around. Strange, isn’t it?
I’m glad to hear that you are no longer going to loaf. You must be kind of tired just sitting around doing nothing. All kidding aside though, I think it will be nice for you to clerk in the store if they still want you. Good luck to you. And I think it would be good experience for you if you should decide to take that revival meeting. If they will consent to your starting the 4th or 5th, I will consent to it. I know - just who do I think I am? Naturally, you’ll go ahead and do as you think best regardless of me and that’s exactly what you should do. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
In a week I’ll be with. Then we can talk and talk. Won’t that be nice? I’ll save some things to tell you until then so good-night for now.
Love,
Dolores
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