Prelude: The letters to Miss Frances Fairfield continue… This letter from Bob was written only three days after his last letter, December 8, 1938. Bob is now living in Rochester, while Frances is home with her parents in Hornell. Not a long distance by today’s standard, but I sure it was quite a trek in 1938.

 

THE LETTER:

Dearest Fran!

Just got home -11pm- went to a 15-cent show, ‘twas lousy- Got your letter- I’m not slipping, I always get around to writing you every day but it’s the mailing I miss out on.  I was sorry you couldn’t come and I dashed right home to see if you were and got the letter, but it will be a short time anyway so I’ll see you – Oh yeah, I almost forgot if you come up Friday afternoon and are here at 5, stop at the place we stopped when we got the interview, you remember? And I’ll be right out at 5. Oh yeah, about the job I’m still very much enthused but there is so much to tell, I’ll wait and tell you when I see you- OK?

So, you’re going over to Mom’s.  I’m glad to hear it even if I was the instigator and here should cement a strong and lasting friendship.  I only hope you get in- she’ll probably be so far inside the radio that she won’t hear anyone at the door.

Hope you pass your test- I love you darling an awful lot and I’m fairly busting to hold you close and kiss you and well, you know ‘cause you must feel as I do. Well darling, so long for now and I love you.

X for ya       Bob

 

COMMENTARY:

As we watch this relationship develop, I can’t help but wonder how Frances feels. Because we only have the letters that were written to Frances and not the letters she sent to Bob; we’re left with many unanswered questions.  Is Frances as crazy about Bob as Bob is crazy about her?  Does she write him as many letters and he writes her? What do her parents think? They let her go to Rochester to see him, but how often?  There are two sides to this relationship and we’re only seeing one.

 

 

HISTORY:

Just for fun, I looked up what the fashions were for 1938 and found a few pictures:

    

Prelude: The letters continue from Bob to Miss Frances Fairfield. This letter was written on December 4, 1938. Bob’s last letter was from June of 1938. So here we are 6 months later and Bob is living in Rochester, NY.

 

THE LETTER:

Dearest Fran,

Well, you’re gone an hour and I’m lonesome as anything.  My friend the crooner is sure liking tonight- I don’t know whether you will be able to read this or not, as I forgot to bring any other pencil than this and it’s sort of like a crayon.  I hope your mother wasn’t mad at you, getting in so late, but I hated to see you go- I hope you didn’t mind my not kissing you- I wanted to bad enough, so I’ll just use Monday’s kiss tonight and it will make me one short all week. So happy over now that I’m way over here and alone.  I appreciate all the nights that you were with me and am so grateful that we have made the most of our time together. It’s kind of a good thing we didn’t carry out our plan for today as this would have been a funny way to spend our first night- The land lady was here and I paid her the dollar, leaving me a dollar a day ‘til Friday- Gee!

This summer was swell- in fact everything has been, if only you could be here all would be complete- I miss you darling and will continue to until I see you and kiss you. The Paper is drawing to a close but not me, I’ve just started.  I hope you’ll go down and see mom once in a while.  Well, I’m going to take hike tomorrow and see if I can’t find a little better place- It’s not my idea of a place to spend 5 nights a week- It was a different event in Brooklyn, I was learning much but now I think I can afford something a little better.  It isn’t at all my idea of the place I thought I’d stay when I got working. However, It will have to do ‘till I find something.

I love you- that keeps running through my noggin so, I guess it’s time I put it down. I’ll wait ‘till morning to mail this as I have no key and it wouldn’t do to wake the house tonight.  However, I’m writing it tonight- Well it’s time I quit and went to bed. I love you darling and will work hard for you starting tomorrow-

I love you.

Bob

 

COMMENTARY:

This is an interesting letter. It seems that Fran came for a visit and stayed a few nights, but I’m not sure where. Bob seems to be renting a room in someone’s home. We have to remember that this was 1938 and young women didn’t just stay at young men’s places at least I don’t think they did. Anyway, it seems that Bob has fallen deeply in love with Fran as he tells her he loves her three times in this letter. It’s interesting to see how their relationship is developing considering we know how it ends up. What do you think?

Prelude: A short letter from Bob to Miss Frances Fairfield. This letter was written a month later than the last one I posted. Bob is graduating from the Pratt Institute located in Brooklyn, NY. and he includes an invitation to his commencement in this letter to Fran.

 

The Commencement Invitation reads: “The Trustees of Pratt Institute request the honour of your presence at the commencement Exercises on Thursday, June the ninth nineteen hundred and thirty eight at half past two o’clock, in the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, New York.  (and yes, the word “honor” is spelled like above in the invitation)

 

THE LETTER:

Dearest Fran,

Sorry that I haven’t written to you befor now but I’ve been very busy—School was over last Friday but we’ve had baccaulaurate or however you spell it, anyway we had it Sunday and we have a faculty reception tomorrow night—Sorry, that you couldn’t get down as I’d have like to have taken you—but as it is I’m going with a gal—aren’t you jealous—Well, anyway I thought that I’d rather take someone than go alone and not have anyone to talk to, but I’ll be good so there—My mother is coming down Thursday and my sister is driving down from Binghamton Wednesday—I’ll be home the latter part of next week—So get ready—I went in to see about a jobs today at the school and they said that there probably wouldn’t be anything more doing now until the last of August, but if there was they would let me know—So get me any Electrolux sample kit ready gal—I thought that maybe you’d like to have one of these invitations to the exercises for your scrap book so I’ll send it—When do you graduate,, I’m going down and be a witness, can I? Well I can’t think of anything more to say and so I’ll close—So long for now darling and I love you…

Bob

 

COMMENTARY: Each letter gives us a little more insight into the lives of Bob and Fran.  It’s kind of interesting that he is taking some gal to the faculty reception but, I have a feeling it was the thing to do back in 1938. Bob seems very excited to get home to Fran as he tells her to “Get Ready.”  We know where they eventually end up from the previous letters I’ve posted but it’s really fun to look back at their beginning and see the ups and downs of this young relationship.

A Special Note to my Friday’s Letter readers…

I’m so sorry that I was unable to post this letter on Friday. My computer crashed and it took me a couple days to get a new one and recover some of my data. I really appreciate you taking the time to read these letters with me. Sometimes, with all the technology around us all day long, it’s nice to escape into the words of the past. Precious words written by people just like us, accept they had to wait days, and sometimes weeks for their correspondent to reply. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this week’s letter.

Prelude: The letters between Bob and Miss Frances Fairfield continue. Our last letter was from October 1935. This letter is from May 1938. Bob is now in Brooklyn, NY and as he types this letter you can feel the stress of a long-distance relationship creeping in.

 

THE LETTER:

Dearest Fran,

Well, I guess I got no girl anymore have I ??  –Hope there is nothing wrong—I know just how you feel when I don’t write now—I thought for sure there would be a letter today but alas—you must be awfully busy—well I am too—So, I guess I can excuse you this once but—I hope that I hear from you Monday—You haven’t gone and gotten yourself another guy have you?  I mean gotten serious about one—I know that if I were to worry about all of your other guys, I wouldn’t have much time to do work—I don’t know yet whether I’m coming home or not.  I’d like to but if things keep up as they have been—I don’t suppose you’d be able to find much time for me—Ain’t I being mean—Well, there’s nothing new—except Arny got a job in New York and he starts Monday.  I don’t know whether it’s permanent or not but he’s taking it for a little while anyway—A few others have them too, but I haven’t been doing any looking for them as it would be just my luck to find one that would stick me here all summer when I want to be with you—So, I’m just minding my own business and going to school.

Donald was over tonight, in fact he just went home and as usual he’s telling me what he’d done last night- unquote—I stayed up until four this morning doing some work and fooling around just to see the eclipse – unquote —Did you see it? Well, I did and it was swell and all I could think of was you and me sitting in the car at the top of the hill watching the moon slide through that big tree—But I’m determined I couldn’t be a-thinking of ya and the moon and me when you don’t even write to me—and so, I stricken you from my thoughts and went back to work and finally to bed—Where I did allow myself my usual quota of thoughts of you and they were as swell as ever—but I don’t suppose you ever have time to do a little wondering my way—but I mustn’t be too harsh with you cause I lovey you regardless of how often you write and all that—Well I gotta fo for now and so I’ll quit.  I love you darling more than ever so please write me soon.

Bob

COMMENTARY: Well, Bob is sure in love and he’s a bit romantic too. We can tell he’s a bit worried that Fran has found someone else.  We also find out that Bob is going to school in Brooklyn. I looked up the address he posted and I the nearest school I found was Pratt Institute. It was established in the 1800’s and was still there and offering 4 year degrees by 1938. (see link below) I also looked up the eclipse Bob mentions and found that it was a lunar eclipse. (see link below) All in all I really enjoyed this letter from Bob. You can read between the lines and see how much he is in love with Fran, and knowing that, just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside…What do you think?

 

HISTORY:

Here is a link to Pratt Institute: https://www.pratt.edu

Here is a link about the eclipse: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/1938-may-14

 

 

Prelude: The correspondence between Miss Frances Fairfield and Bob continues. This is the second earliest letter I have from Bob to Fran. It was written on October 6, 1935. It seems that Bob was away and living in Richmond, Virginia. He may possibly have been there going to college. It’s just not clear… Please be reminded that I try to copy these letters as they are written with spelling and punctuation mistakes included…

 

THE LETTER:

Dear Fran,

I was very glad to receive your letter, I thought for a while your had forgotten me or else was mad about that question I asked you. I’m glad to hear you’re going to the mountains, lots of luck with them thar deer, but be very careful your’e something of a dear yourself. (wasn’t that nice of me to say that?) I’d like to see you in your new outfit bet you look very huntsmannish and stuff, you’d look good in a fig leaf. (that’s a compliment, but don’t sound so good. I won’t say anymore like that.) I’m glad to hear that you missed me, I hope you mean that. I also am glad to hear that you are having a picture developed and sent me, that’s very nice of you. So, to be just as big as you I’m sending my own self portrait done in oils or in underwear. Hope ya like it.

Gee! There should be lots of tall corn in the mountains furnishing you with an excellent subject for conversation. I wish I was home just to go to the social evenings, I’ll bet they’re much fun. I get the paper (Evening Tribune) down here so I read about it. I would have loved to see Miss Harrower play ping pong, Did she have a gym suit or pabthing suit on????

I got seven letters the other day, and every one told me that it had rained in Hornell for the past two weeks. Hope you didn’t have a flodd with out me there to keep time for all the boys. Remeber don’t go having floods without me. D’ya hear?? I also received letters telling me that I couldn’t typewrite worth a Damn and my English was even worse. Is it my fault this doesn’t spell right?

You’dbbetter hurry and answer this letter or else—- I’ll cut you off my list of active correspondents and wouldn’t that be awful??

As I read over this letter I find that my typing, spelling, and English not to mention punctuation are getting worse, so I better stop. Thanks for answering that question so nicely, I was kind of sorry I asked, thinking you might be offended, but I had thought of it so often, I had to. It was a very tactful, diplomatic, and encouraging answer. It kindled little fires of hope within (from a poem). No Fooling as long as you feel the same as I do, we should get togethera lot during Christmas vacation. O. K. ????? Please answer this question. Also, again. I’d better close now for yu go to sleep reading this. So long.

Yo’ suthuhn fran’

Bob

 

COMMENTARY:

I love this letter. Bob is so funny and he doesn’t seem to care about being proper in his writings. It was 1935 and he was a modern guy.

Of course, Bob leaves us wondering about “The question.” What exactly did he ask Miss Frances Fairfield? Well, we know she wasn’t too offended because she answered it…and it was a “tactful, diplomatic, and encouraging answer,” to boot. Did he ask her if she liked him? Loved him? Or… Was it something totally different? I’m not sure we are every going to find out because the next letter I have from Bob to Fran is written in 1938… Three years later…

Lastly, I love that Bob used a line from a poem … “It kindled little fires of hope within.” I searched for the line and tried to find out the name of the poem, but I came up empty. If any of you reading this recognize the line or the poem, please let me know and what are your thoughts on “The question?” I’d love to hear your insights.

 

 

 

Prelude:

It’s time to get back to some more letters to Miss Frances Fairfield of Hornell, NY. As you know Fran is involved with Bob and they’ve had quite a few twists and turns on their path of life. The last letter I posted from Bob to Fran was from 1940. This letter is the earliest letter I have from Bob to Fran. Bob wrote this letter on September 17, 1935. Try and think of it as Fran having a flash back to when she was first getting to know Bob.

 

THE LETTER:

Dear Fran,

Sure, I am quite sure we can come down. Do you want me to ask Bud or are you going to?

Doris Edythe knows about it, hope so, because I want her to go with me.

If I write a note, will you give it to her? You had better.

Is Chet coming to? Hope so. Say, is Arlene still bothering you? I will write to her when I find time, but in the mean time you can tell her for me to go jump in the lake.

I sure think Edythe is swell, wish you had gotton her for me the first time.

No, We didn’t see Tony, but we got a ride with some fellows we knew from here.

Sure we can be there by eight or I hope we can. Well, will close for now.

A Friend

Bob

P.S. I won’t let Bud know about it.

 

COMMENTARY:

Well, well, well…. They were just friends and Bob liked someone else. He had his eyes on Doris Edythe. Who knows who Fran was thinking about then, but it doesn’t seem to be Bud. This letter is kind of vague and it sure would be nice if we knew what Fran wrote to Bob before he sent this letter to her… But this we do know, Bob and Fran are going to see each other, even if they are with other people right now.

It’s funny how life turns out, and how couples are often formed through friends of friends. The ones that you never think will end up together, well, they end up together.

 

 

Prelude:

Here is another letter from Young Hank. He is a soldier on active duty somewhere in Italy during WWII. This letter is written on February 14, 1944 to Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fairfield of Hornell, NY.

 

THE LETTER:

Italy                                                                Feb. 14, 44

 

Hello there,

I received your letters but haven’t had the chance to write. I’m sure you understand how it is and don’t mind. Thanks a million for writing. It’s really nice getting them even if I can’t get around to answer them.

Right at the present time Little Hank is having a pretty good time. They gave us a little time off so we were doing a little sight seeing. Of course we have a drink now and then to make the sights look better. I don’t think anyone minds us having one now and then. Do you?

Five of us fellows are doing all right, just the same. We’re all feeling fine and hope you all are the same. How is Mr. feeling these days? Tell him I said hello and not to work too hard. Tomorrow’s another day, and is it?

The weather isn’t too bad. It’s a little cool but what can you expect this time of the year.

Thanks again for the letters. Sorry this isn’t more interesting. I’ll tell you all about it when I get home. I mean the good times we had. Good luck and be care full.

 

As Ever

Young Hank

 

COMMENTARY:

Hmmm. This letter from Young Hank is a little strange. It’s kind of a letter about nothing. In fact, he apologizes for it being so un-interesting. I wonder as I read between the lines if Hank is just trying not to say anything revealing that could hinder the war effort or if he was a little drunk when he wrote it. He insists that everything is fine, but he is in the middle of a war. It could be just what he needs to say to get thru the day and the hardships of being far from home and in a foreign country fighting a war. What do you think? Let me know.

Prelude:

Here is a letter that is on loan from my sister-in-law Suzie Gunderson Crisafulli. It was written by her great grandmother, Emma Rebecca Bystrom to her future husband Albert Anderson. Emma wrote the letter on February 4^th 1903, while she was living in Centerville, South Dakota. Albert was living in Dalesburg, South Dakota at the time.

 

THE LETTER:

Centerville, S. D.

Mr. Albert Anderson,                                    February 4, 1903

 

Kind friend, It is 11:30pm and Selma and I are still up. We were working at baskets for the social at Riverside next Friday eve. We hope to see you and a lot of other Dalesburg folks there.

The real object of this note is to tell you to wait till Tuesday to come after Selma and stay over night so, as to take in the entertainment that eve at the Opera House. I can’t say what kind of show it will be, but we three used to, could have pleasant times together before and so I take for granted we can again.

Oh yes, Selma wants you to be sure and tell Will Larson about it too. Ha! Ha!

Well don’t tell folks I wrote this. It’s from Selma, you know.

 

Your Friend,

Emma Bystrom

 

COMMENTARY:

What a sweet letter. I love how she gets right to the point… “The real object of this letter…” She’s basically saying come and stay over night so we can all go to the Opera House. Oh and don’t forget to tell your friend Will to come too. Selma needs somebody! Anyway, it is a short and sweet letter, and I’m told it is the first of several letters between Emma and Albert. It’s a quaint little look into the lives of people living in the early 1900’s. I’ll be interested to see how this correspondence develops and how they end up getting married.

 

HISTORY:

Here is a link to some history on Centerville, South Dakota… The Opera House is mentioned. http://www.centervillesd.com/discover-centerville/history/

Here is a link to some history on Dalesburg, South Dakota : http://www.dalesburg.org

 

 

Prelude: Here is another letter from Young Hank to Mrs. Frank Fairfield. In Hornell, NY. It was written on November 22, 1943 from “Some where in Italy.” As soldiers during WWII were very careful in their letters not to give away their exact location, in case the letter were to fall into enemy hands.

 

THE LETTER:

Hello there,

How is the world treating you this fine morning? It’s really nice here. The sun is shinning very nicely and the sky is nice and clear. It seems nice too, after having so much rain. The weather hasn’t gotten too bad yet. The nights are quiet cool but the days are nice. In the last letter I received from my mother she wrote you had snow. They say it doesn’t snow much here. I’ll let you know about that later.

How is everything at the garage these days? I suppose Mr. Fairfield is still working too hard. Here’s hoping business is good and your both in perfect health.

Things are about the same over here. We had a few days rest but now we’re back in action. I had the opportunity to climb a mountain yesterday that overlooked a valley and some smaller hills. It was very beautiful and it reminded me of the fine tower up in Canada. I sure hope I can go there again.

I’m feeling fine and getting along very good. I’m a pretty lucky soldier and being lucky, I somehow got the good breaks. Here’s hoping I continue to get them.

Ever since I started this letter I wanted to thank you for the wonderful box you sent me but I can’t seem to find the words to express myself. It came last night after I went to bed or laid down, I should say. It’s really swell and I don’t know how to thank you. I can only assure you that it is greatly appreciated and I hope that some day I can repay you for being so swell to me.

Just as I started this sheet we had an air raid, or I should say enemy planes flying over. We fired a few shots but they were after something else and they kept on going. It’s all in a days work.

I have to close now and get some work done. Tell Mr. Fairfield and all the boys I said hello.

As Ever,

Hank

P.S. Thanks again for everything.

 

COMMENTARY:

This is another pleasant letter from “Young Hank,” though now he is signing the letter as just “Hank.” I think war can make a young man grow up fast. The letter is so very calm and nice, of course until we get to the part where he tells us there’s an air raid happening as he started to write on the second sheet of paper in this letter. My heart stops and he tells us they fired a few shots and the planes continued on. It surpasses all the pleasantries and smacks us with the reality of where this boy is, in the middle of a war. It’s a real life look into the life of a soldier during WWII. A soldier that was from a little town in Western New York State, he was someone’s son.

It was years before I was born… I have no idea what living during a world war was like, but Young Hank and his mother and Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield… they knew.

Prelude: We’re taking a break from the letters to Miss Frances Fairfield, but I promise to get back to them soon. We are however staying in the Fairfield family. This letter was written October 11, 1943 from Young Hank and addressed to Mr. & Mrs. Frank Fairfield of 194 Seneca Street, Hornell, NY. Young Hank is in the military and may be writing from somewhere in Europe but his return address is written as NY, NY, Where much of the military mail was filtered through the Army Postal Service during the war. Just a reminder, I try not to correct spelling or other errors in these letters… I want them to be authentic.

 

THE LETTER:

Hello there,

I received your V mail of Sept. 22. Thanks a million. I also received your letter from Canada. I sure would have liked to have been there with you. Lilah and myself had a swell time while we were there. Dad and mother want us to go up again so they can go with us.

At one time I figured I would like to visit Europe and see what was over here but I have changed my mind. If I ever do any traveling after this war is over it will be in North America.

I suppose you have lots of work for the shop. By the way, what does Mr. Fairfield think of the new cars when they come out? I suppose they will be a great deal different than the last. I hope it won’t be too long until there out. What do the people back home think of the war and when it will be over?

Just had a little interruption, you know how it is these days. I’m feeling swell and getting along fine to. I have been very lucky and hope I keep on being lucky. The food situation is good and they keep us supplied with cigarettes. It’s very seldom the fellows don’t have smokes. I think the O.M. does a swell job on that point.

Thanks loads for the swell compliment you paid me in you last letter. I haven’t heard about flags being put on the Honor roll, but if they are doing that now it will sure make it look nice. It’s sure good to know that you have friends back home that think enough of you to do things like that. Thanks again.

All the boys said to say hello. We really have a good bunch of fellows in our outfit. We get along good and have our share of good times.

How is everything at the Big Elms these days? I wish the next time you see cliff and the rest, that you would tell them all I said hello. I wish I could write to more but you know how it is these days.

I hope this finds you all well and getting along good. Tell Mr. Fairfield I said hello and take good care of himself, you do the same.

As Ever

Young Hank

COMMENTARY:

These military letters from young soldiers during World War II always get to me. I imagine what they were going through, fighting and longing to be back here in America. Young Hank is writing this lovely letter and asking common questions about what is going on back home… Then he asks…”What do the people back home think of the war and when it will be over?” Boom! He gets to the heart of the matter and it gets to me!… A question all the soldiers fighting overseas must wonder about, and a question they still ask today when they are over there risking their lives for their country… It makes you think.

I also I love Young Hanks speech and his use of  words and phrases like, “Swell” and “A good bunch of fellows.” Young Hank seems to be writing more to Mrs. Fairfield than to Mr., I believe she was the one sending him letters. I wonder if Young Hank worked for the Fairfield’s, or if they were neighbors or just friends of the family. Regardless, Young Hank seems like a really nice guy and his letter seemed hopeful considering he was in the middle of a war. What do you think?

 

HISTORY:

Here are a couple of links about October of WW II:

http://ww2today.com/1st-october-1943-the-allies-welcomed-as-they-enter-naples

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/10/world-war-ii-the-allied-invasion-of-europe/100160/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_World_War_II_(1943)