December 1943 - A Letter From Elsie Greenwell Upton - Part One

As Christmas neared, Elsie wrote to her daughter and family.

Envelope

Letter - Page 1

"Springfield, Oregon
12-13-43

Dearest Margaret, Jim, and Barbie:

I was sorry Barbie couldn't stay with us longer.  She was just as good as a little girl could be.  I have finished my wash and tho't I would write to you while I rest.  Barbie helped me wash last Monday and my clothes looked the best they have in a long time.  I was glad to have some of Barbie's little things in my wash.  She said something funny I will have to tell you.  I knew she should go to the bathroom and I was trying to convince her she should go and she said, 'Grandmother I don't have to grunt for I did those things at home.'  She finaly(sic) went and was a much happier little girl.

Barbara - 1942

Dad and I enjoyed her a lot and the..."

Letter - Page 2

"...house was so quiet and we were lonesome when she went home.  Thank you for letting us have her for a few days.  About the dress she tho't Mrs. Gerlach gave her, I am not surprised.  That was to be a Christmas present but Mrs. Gerlach didn't understand it that was so she finished it for her while she was here.  Nothing was said who gave it to her.  Mrs. Gerlach made it for me to give her.  I hope it is alright.  I think those were nice gifts you got for June's1 kiddies.  You can't get much or any thing but what it will cost a lot.  I got Dianne a book and paid $2.50 for it.  It is a nice story about a horse.  I hope she will like it.  I read the story and tho't it was good."

Letter - Page 3

"If I knew where Don was I would send him something.  I mailed Ellen and Grover a package last Thursday.  I tried to make it look like Christmas and I hope they get it in time.  We had a letter from Ellen Saturday and she has another bad cold.  I am worried about her for she has so many bad colds.  I had sent her winter clothes to her the week before and she hadn't received them yet.  I hope she gets them alright.

Dad when(sic) up to Fall Creek Sunday to look after his cattle.  It was pretty cold Sunday so I stayed home and wrote letters and Xmas cards.  I had a letter from Adah2.  She said Dortha's3 husband had called her from Frisco and she went to where he was and spent 9 days with..."


LETTER TO BE CONTINUED...

1 June Gantenbein Suckow - daughter of Fred Gantenbein and Fannie Greenwell Gantenbein
2 Adah Long Greenwell - wife of George Greenwell
3 Dortha - the oldest daughter of George and Adah Long Greenwell

February 1943 - A Letter From June - Part Two

June Gantenbein Suckow's letter continues...

Letter - Page 4

"...Lots of people commute - there is good bus service now.  I was going to say something else but Milton had something to say and he said it, so I forgot.  I'll remember by the time you come to Portland maybe.

Gee, I could really get excited about that - seeing you kids often, I mean.  But I guess I'd better wait until you know for sure.

Your baby is about to be grown up and three years old - right?  (My babies have all got long legs, too.)  Give her a big kiss for me - I've got a package for her - it doesn't amount to much, beacuse there isn't much to choose from in Sandy, and that is the only place I ever go..."

Letter - Page 5

"...and you never get what you send for in the mail order catalgues any more.  I was in Portland 4 times in 1942 - took Dad Suckow to the Dr., went to see my Dad when he was sick, went to Milton's Aunt's funeral, and Christmas shopping.  It's impossible to get anyone to take care of the kids or the cows, so we just stay here, and do it.  I guess it's easier than killing [reference to WWII Pacific theater enemy] at that.

"Im getting no place fast in this letter - I started out wishing Baby Ann 'Happy Birthday' and ending up shooting [reference to WWII Pacific theater enemy].  What I meant to say, was I'm not going to mail her packaging for a few days because I'm going to send..." 

Letter - Page 6

"...you some junk Judy has outgrown and I want t fix some if it up a little.

This letter doesn't make sense - and after me being so very slow getting around to writing it.  Og yes - I meant to tell you - we had about 25" of snow - Had to use horses and sled for 2 weeks.  The road was open, excepting about 5 days, be we couldn't get to it - not even with the tractor.  The snow was too deep for the kids to play in very much.  They just fell around.

Well, thanks for Xmas presents, happy birthday to Barby Ann, and I am excited that the prospect of your coming to Portland.

Love from us all -

June" 

Envelope - Reverse

When I was scanning the letter and envelope to post on the blog, I notice that Margaret Upton Waning - List Maker Extraordinaire - had written on the back of the envelope as follows:

• "1. Clean up (bath) M,W, Sat
• 2. letters M,W,F or Cook T, Th, Sat
• 3. outside
• 4. extras (read - visit - sew & etc)"

February 1943 - A Letter From June - Part One

In early February Margaret's maternal cousin, June Gantenbein Suckow sent a long, newsy letter.

Envelope

Letter - Page 1

"Boring, Oreg.

Feb. 11, 1943

Dear Margaret, Jim and Barbara Ann,

Thank you very much for our Xmas presents.  We all like them very much.  We've been having water trouble more often than not this winter, so I wash when and if I can - so you can see how happy I was to get towels.  Ma Suckow has been trying to talk me into getting brown ones like she uses so now I can say, "These were given to me", and I'm not disobeying my mother-in-law either.  The wash cloths are, of..."

Letter - Page 2

"...course, to pretty to use.  The apron and dish-covers I'm using even if they are pretty - I guess that's what they are for.  The kids love their books.  They are beautiful books.  We save them for special occasions.  Thanks so very much for all the things.  I hope I didn't get things mixed up - there sure was a commotion around here about package-opening time.

I enjoyed having Helen1 here - I don't see her very often either.  Helen and Ellen2 both in California.  Lucky aren't they?  I hope Ellen is very happy.  She told me a little about her boy friend when she was out here one time so I wasn't too surprised.  It..."

Letter - Page 3

"...just doesn't seem right for that little imp to be a grown-up married lady, though.  There was quite a run on Greenwell cousins getting their names changed lately, wasn't there?  It sounds like Ellen might be going to some interesting places if 'Grover' (I might as well get used to his name) is subject to 'transfer without notice.'

We are glad to hear that Jim is getting around and doing things.  From what you said, he is expecting to get better yet.  We'll be very happy to have you live in Portland3.  If you can't find a house in town there might be some around here..."

Letter to be continued...

1 Helen - June's younger sister, Helen Gantenbein

2 Margaret's newlywed sister, Ellen Upton Hall

3 Reference to the Waning family's pending move to Portland - Jim would soon be employed by Iron Fireman.  .

Summer 1942 - The Accident - 2nd Letter From June Gantenbein Suckow

June Gantenbein Suckow sent a card and two letters - all in the same envelope.  This letter is written with a pencil.  Let's discover why!  

Letter - Page 1

"July 7, 1942

Dear Margaret:

Am I a dumbbell!  The enclosed letter I addressed to "Springfield, Wash".  I wrote a card to Helen1 at the same time - I supposed her card went to "Republic Oreg".  I just haven't time to write a new letter, so I'll send it to you anyway.  I understand Jim is a little better than you thought.  I sure hope that's right.  I'm enclosing a card for him - it's meant to cheer..."

Letter - Page 2

"...him up - but if he's not in the right mood for something like that, don't give it to him.  (I mean well, but I don't know how he is exactly).  The card is too big so I'll mail the letter with the card.

I'm sorry I haven't mailed B.A.'s2 pkg. yet - today I hope - tomorrow sire!

I have strawberries I picked last night on the stove - I'm supposed to go pick raspberries at 9a.m. so I just have to say Goodbye!

I love you all!

June & family

P.S. My pen is in where the kids are sleeping - excuse please!"

1 June's sister - Helen Gantenbein

2 B.A. = Barbara Ann

Almost 70 years later, members of the extended Greenwell Family are still picking raspberries and making jam!

Summer 1942 - The Accident - Letter from June Gantenbein Suckow

June also sent a letter soon after the accident!

Letter - Page 1

"July 2, 1942

Dear Margaret,

We are all so terribly sorry about Jim's accident.  We are all thinking about him and praying for him.  You don't know how hard we hope that he will be all right.  Ellen has been keeping us (via Ma1) informed, but we are anxious to hear more when ever you can write.

I am at Mom's - came to see Dad2.  He is much better 2/3 well he says.  The Dr. said he had to say in bed 1 or 2 days more!  Dad is too hot - he wants..."

Letter Page 2

"...up.  But he has to be careful.

This is the first time I havew been in Portland since last January, and boy, Oh Boy, is it a hot one.  I should go home but I'm afraid I'd cook before I got there.

Thank you so much for Corky's3 package.  Those are the cutest little shirts.  They are just as dear as they can be.  They look awfully nice on him and, he was so happy to have some "square" money."

Letter Page 3

"Judy3 got a little sweater with her birthday dollar.  That was when it was cool.

I have a package for Barby-Ann, at last.  I am awfully sorry to be so late with it.  I guess it's her 2 1/2 birthday.  I won't get it in the mail today, but I'll try to do it tomorrow.

Margaret dear, write when you can, and if there is anything we can do, you just whistle.  I imagine Jim is not interested in anything much now, is he?  As soon as he is able, we will write to him, and try to help make the time pass for him.

Our love from us all (mother & Dad, too)

June"

Letter - Page 4

1 Ma - Fanny Greenwell Gantenbein - Margaret's maternal aunt 

2 Fred Gantenbein - Fanny's husband

3 Corkey & Judy - June & Milton's children.

    

Summer 1942 - The Accident - Card from June Gantenbein Suckow

Margaret's cousin, June Gantenbein Suckow sent a card...

Enevelope

Front of Card

Inside of Card

Margaret Upton - Autograph Album 1927-1933

Some pages from a young (age 12 to 18) Margaret Upton's Autograph Album. 

Glenn and Eleanor Greenwell

Eleanor Greenwell (cousin)

Glenn Greenwell (cousin)

June Gantenbein Suckow

 

June Gantenbein Suckow (cousin)

Polio - 1956

Polio was still a feared dread disease in 1956.

This is a letter from Margaret Upton Waning's cousin Helen Gantenbein.

By this point Helen was married to Earl (no last name known) and Helen's sister, June was married to Maurice Suckow.

Suckows and Waning Children - Madras, OR

I think this was a letter enclosed with a Christmas card.

"Dear Margaret and All --

We have so appreciated your letters - I'm a stinker for not answering.  Only person I know of that's worse is my sister.  I didn't hear from her for a good six months.  Then she had such bad news.  I suppose she has written you - but in case she hasn't - Curtis has Polio.  He is left with his upper arms paralyzed.  The expectation is that he can get back at least 80% of his muscle use.  He should be..."

"home from the hospital by now.  I talked to her Sun.  The rest of their family is O.K.  We had a heck of a summer.  Earl's back went bad on Father's day (a disk injury).  He spent the Fourth week end (plus) at home in bed then went to the hospital for 10 days July 7 - wore a brace till back to the hospital 5 days the last of Aug.  And in a cast for a month then a brace again.  He was much better 'till about two months ago, and now he is again in pain.  He is working - he did all summer between trips to the hospital - but he is miserable.  So you see why we couldn't make any plans for go to June's - or anything.  Earls' Dad is still the same - paralysed and blind.  Dianne, Clair and babies just stopped by to give us pictures of the babies and Santa.  Sure wish I could show them to you they are sooo cute.  Debbie is all..."  

"puckered up to cry - it's adorable!  We expect to have quite a Xmas with them - we enjoy them so much anyway.  This note sounds like the last rose of summer but in spite of our troubles we really are happy.  We would like so much to see you folks again.  I surely hope an other year we can make it.  Hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.

Love Earl and Helen"



Sum-Sum-Summertime!

Cherry Grove, OR - 1924

Back row: June Gantenbein, Elsie Greenwell Upton, Ellen Upton (baby),

Front row: Margaret Upton, V'Ona Upton, Dwight Loomis, Mildred Loomis, Fred Gantenbein.