Summer 1942 - The Accident - A Letter from Helen Upton - Part One

A long, newsy letter from Margaret's paternal cousin, Helen Upton arrived in August 1942.  Helen was born about 1914 (one year older than her cousin Margaret), but was leading quite a different life - that of an unmarried, working, Big-City girl. 

Helen Upton - Springfield, OR - October 1940

Envelope

"Sunday Aug 23 -

Dear Margaret & Family -

Surprised to receive your letter & very sorry to hear your news.  I wish there was something I could do to help.  I hope Jim is getting better fast.  Some how it is hard to sentence him in bed for such a long time.  He is so active & such a big guy.  U get they had a hard time at the hospital to find a bed big enough for him.  It won't be long now before he will be home & up again.

And no doubt Uncle Otto will be glad to have that day come again too.  How has he been able to get along without Jim this summer - with all the men in the army, navy etc - Won't be long around here now when the streets will be entirely without men except for old, old men or boys in uniform home on short leaves.  Getting pretty desperate already as it is.

At the store we haven't a company assistant manger & couldn't get one so the boss made our local floor man the assistant.  I have been pretty busy since I wrote you last.  How long ago that was I have lost track except for a from Youngstown where I am on a relay job for the company.  They enlarged the store there - had quite a crew from other store helping.  Had a nice time - was the second relay job I was on - was in East Liberty in Pittsburgh in February.  Had a nice time there too.  However I won't be going on any more as I have a new jog at the store.  Am in charge of the Ready-to-Wear on the second floor.  I don't remember if you were up there or not but it is quite nice.  Just had it repainted & shades added - makes quite an improvement to the place.

Was in New York a couple weeks ago to a meeting of most the the department heads held at the hotel, Pennsylvania where we stayed.  Left here on Sunday eve and got there the next morning & left N.Y. on Thursday & reached Erie again in time for work Friday morning.  They kept us busy while we were there didn't even have time to do any shopping."   

To be Continued...