March 12, 1947 The Shock, The Upside Down House and Getting the Afghan Out of the Way

March 1947 LHJ  (image courtesy of www.etsy.com)

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Your letter gave me an awful shock but I was so relieved to have Daddy's cards.  I didn't expect Beulah to have to go so suddenly.  It's about time the doctor made up his mind and I'm so glad the operation is over.  Of course, I'd like to know all the details but don't bother about writing letters until things get settled again which will probably be a long time.

This is examination week at the college.  B didn't have one this morning so stayed home till noon.  He is getting anxious for vacation--wants to clean up the car which really needs to be done.

Thursday is Faculty Wives Club and Aggie is going to read a play to the group.  She is very interested in plays and has done some work in summer stock companies.

I went to McLeods last Friday and they left Saturday.  Her house was upside down of course and the packers were there packing dishes.  I wanted to go earlier in the week but had a stiff neck a couple of days and didn't do much of anything except complain--ha!  They still haven't sold their house.  They had one offer of $10,000. but she said they gave more than that for it so still hope to get more.

I'm sending a floor plan I tore from the New York Times.  I liked it and thought you might get some ideas from it.  We mailed the new Journal to you too--today.

I haven't added much to my tablecloth lately. I thought I'd spend most of my time on the church afghan and get it out of the way.

My ironing from last week is still waiting so I'd better get started on it.

I hope you are all getting along all right.  Don't try to do too much.  Take care of yourselves and Beulah.  Keep me posted."

               Lots of love,

                    B & Bonnie

NOTES from Ann:  A short time after Bonnie sent this letter, she got a late night phone call from her Mother, a very rare occurrence.   It was determined that she would travel by train to Missouri in order to be with her sister and help care for her children during the difficult recuperation following the operation.  The next letter posted will be dated April 8, 1947 which is the first letter written after Bonnie's return to Connecticut. 

And on March 12, 1947, the Truman Doctrine is introduced.  Truman addressed congress about the serious economic and politically volatile circumstances in Greece and Turkey, and Great Britain's inability to provide any further financial aid.  Use the link to see news footage:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmQD_W8Pcxg

For the full text:  http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/trudoc.asp

March 5, 1947 The Sewing Machines, Too Lazy to Bake and The Baby Sleeps Over

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We have had another snow and now it is cold and windy.  I can hardly wait till it gets warm enough to open the windows and go outside again without shivering.

I had a real nice birthday but was too lazy to bake myself a cake.  B gave me a Presto cooker and a box of candy.  I was so pleased and we've used the cooker twice.  It certainly saves time.  Thanks a lot for the money.  I'm going to save it to buy something I really want.

B went to Sears to see about getting me a machine but their list was so long and only one model was available so we decided to wait awhile longer and maybe there will be a wider selection.  We found out that White makes their machines and they are lots cheaper so I'll probably buy mine there when I get one.

Karl has been taking some classes in New York on week-ends so Aggie took Jody and went with him last week.  They went Friday afternoon and got back about 5:00 Saturday.  The baby stayed with us and slept in her buggy.  She is 5 months old and is such a good baby.  We got along fine.  Aggie brought us tickets for a play in New York so we are planning big on a trip down.  B will have a vacation between terms and we will go then.

Aggie and I are going to a bridge party tomorrow night.  I'll work on my tablecloth.  I told the woman I did not play but she said to come anyway.

McLeods are leaving "Saturday".  As yet, they haven't sold their house.  I want to go see her again if I can at all but I don't want to stay all day and it is hard to get in for an afternoon.

Did you get your first copy of "Better Homes and Gardens"?  I got mine and it is full of pretty things.  You should get some ideas from it for your new house.

It is too much trouble to send the paper every week so just send it when there is something special in it.

We haven't had a daily paper for about two weeks.  There has been a strike but we are supposed to get one tomorrow.

Hope you are both fine.  How about sending me a sketch of your house--just a rough one?"

              Lots of love,

                      B & Bonnie

NOTE from Ann:  Bonnie used the Presto Pressure Cooker a lot--jams,  jellies, marmalade, Swiss steak, soups, stews, applesauce, etc.  As a child, I just remember that it hissed, steamed and sounded like it could explore at any minute.  A little history from Presto follows:  "With victory in sight in 1945, the company resumed a portion of its civilian production. First to be released was a 16-quart canner, followed by a 4-quart saucepan-type Presto pressure cooker. The pent-up demand for pressure cookers was tremendous and, in an industry which included eleven other manufacturers, more Presto pressure cookers were purchased by consumers than all other brands combined."  http://www.gopresto.com/information/history.php

And about the Alexander Smith rugs:  "Alexander Smith started his carpet manufacturing plant in 1845 in West Farms, New York. An American, Halcyon Skinner, had perfected the power loom for making Royal Axminster in 1876. He and Alexander Smith combined, forming a very successful carpet company. Alexander Smith was elected to Congress in 1878, but died on the evening of election day. Sixteen hundred people were employed at his factory at the time of his death. Alexander Smith & Sons continued.  During World War I, the carpet looms were converted to make tent duck and navy blankets. In 1929, Alexander Smith & Sons was the largest manufacturer of carpets and rugs in the world." http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CIoBEBYwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carpet-rug.org%2Fdocuments%2Fpublications%

February 26, 1947 Snow to the Running Boards, The Nicest Lunch, Sew Desiring Again, B's Buckwheat Cakes and Cheddar Souffle

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"People here are still digging out after the big blizzard last Thursday.  The man next door has a little tractor with a snow plow so with that and a lot of shoveling we were able to get out Friday morning.  The wind did a lot of blowing so of course some spots of ground are bare and other places have hip-deep drifts.  It was deep most anywhere though--to the running boards in the middle of the road.  Sunday was the most beautiful day with the sun on the snow so we took some pictures--just black and white ones.  B took some pictures of our apartment too but hasn't printed them yet.  When he does we'll send you some.

I've started work on my tablecloth again.  Had you forgotten I was making one?  I think it's about half done and would like to get it finished before I start anything else.  It takes so long to do a block and is so hard on my eyes I may get tired of it again.

The McCalls and the Springfield paper both came yesterday.  We enjoyed the paper a lot--there was a notice that one of B's old students in Springfield was getting married to a nephew of Dr. Hill.  The McCalls has some lovely things in it--makes me want to sew.

Mrs. McLeod called me this morning to say that her other little boy has the measles.  They are leaving the eighth of next month and she has been so worried for fear he would take them a day or so before they were to leave.  She gave us some pure buckwheat flour when we were there last week and B mixed up some buckwheat cakes with yeast.  You could smell the things all over the house.  I didn't like them at all but B and Jody did.

I spent yesterday with Edith Swann--her husband is in our department.  She had the nicest lunch and then some other girls came in for dessert.  She had hot rolls, cheese souffle, tomatoes fixed with bread crumbs, olives and a gelatin-mixed vegetable salad.  For dessert she had apples fixed with crisp crumbs of some sort and ice cream.  Poor B didn't get much supper when I got home and I was still full.

I had a short letter from Beulah yesterday but she didn't tell much.  I was glad to get it, though.

This letter is a mess but this pen is awful.

Hope you're both fine and that Daddy's cold is gone."

                      Lots of love,

                             B & Bonnie


B's Buckwheat Cakes

Stir together in a large bowl; 1-1/2 c. buckwheat flour, 1-1/2 c. white flour, 1/3 c. sugar and 1 T salt.
Dissolve 1-1/2 tsp. active dry yeast in 4 c. warm water.  Stir into flour mixture.  Stir in 1/2 c. oil.  Let stand at room temp. 1 hr.  Refrigerate covered overnight.  Stir in 1/4 tsp. soda.  Drop on hot, greased griddle 1 T at a time or use gravy ladle.  Cook like any pancake.

Quick Cheddar Souffle

Heat till melted 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 c. grated cheddar and 1/4 tsp. dill weed.  Beat 6 medium egg yolks until lemon colored & thick.  Slowly pour in soup mixture.  Beat till stiff 6 egg whites with 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar.  Fold yolk mixture into whites.  Make a collar of foil in 2 qt. dish.  Pour in mixture.   Bake in 350 preheated oven for 40 minutes.  (This bakes high.  Allow oven space.)

February 19, 1947 Sew Much Fun, So Many Wrecks, Finished with Amber and The Sweeping Measles

Pennsylvania RR Ad, 1946

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"We've been having some cold and some fairly warm days.  It is the wind that I hate and we usually have that.  Today is nice and sunny but cold.

Aren't you having fun with the machine?  You must sew most of the time from the list of things you say you've made.  Your suit is certainly pretty and the blue will be perfect with it.  Did you find a pattern and how are you making it?

The paper you were sending hasn't come yet but I guess it will soon.  It seems like it takes mail an awful long time to get out here.  The train wreck on the New Haven road may be the reason the paper hasn't come.  Did you ever hear of so many wrecks in your life?

I saw in the paper (Mirror) that the W.S. Lea house was for sale.  Were you interested at all?  I don't think I was ever inside it but it always looked comfortable and homey from the outside.  I don't think I'd like either of the houses you mentioned in your letter.

I guess you'll never have a better chance to sell your rugs but it would be silly to buy rugs to fit the house you're in and you'd have to have some.  Your feet would really get cold without rugs on the floor.

I have finished Amber but I just don't know what to think of it.  It was very interesting but plain vulgar to our way of present day thinking.   People were so wicked then. 

I am going to McLeod's again tomorrow.  I'm going to stay with the children while she goes to a party that is being given for her.  The older boy is recovering from the measles so they can't go to any neighbors to play.

The measles are sweeping the state but they don't seem to be serious this year.  So far, we haven't heard of any cases in our neighborhood.

The faculty wives tea was really nice.  It was the day before Valentines so they used red and white for decorations.

Although we don't know for sure yet, B will probably teach the last semester of this summer and that means we'll be coming home in July.  He doesn't care whether he teaches the first or last part of the summer but some of the other teachers prefer the first part.

News is pretty scarce so take care of yourselves."

                    Lots of love,

                           B & Bonnie

NOTE from Ann:  There was a serious wreck on Feb. 18, 1947 on the Pennsylvania Railroad's Red Arrow.  Use the link for details.  http://www.gendisasters.com/data1/pa/trains/altoona-trainwreckfeb1947.htm

February 12, 1947 The Big Snow, Priced Too High, Too Many Wives, "Lust for Life", "Forever Amber" and Oatmeal Pecan Coffee Cake

Image courtesy of www.goodreads.com

 Dear Mother & Daddy,

"Since I wrote you we have had a big snow.  But I guess you have read about it in the paper.  It seemed like a lot of snow but we had only four or five inches and other towns not very far away had 10 and 12 inches.  It is real powdery and we had lots of wind too so it has drifted a lot.  Everything was so pretty and white Sunday that we thought we'd go out and get some pictures but after we went to church we changed our minds.  It was too cold and the snow was blowing too much.  


Saturday afternoon we went to an open house at President Welte's home.  Mr. and Mrs. Welte and two other couples gave it together and it was quite a nice party.  I guess they invited most of the faculty because some of the invitations were for different hours.


I spent yesterday at McLeod's just visiting.  Did I tell you they were moving to Maine?  He has a job there so they are selling their house.  They are asking $16,000. for it which is too much.  She wants to leave the first of the month but wants to sell the house first.  It is a nice little house but she'll have to come down in price if she wants to sell it.


Thursday is faculty wives--a tea this time.  Their club is nice but not near as nice as Yale Dames.  There are so many wives I still don't know them all but it doesn't matter for every one else is in the same fix.  

The McCalls finally got here and I have it all read.  Jody was so glad you didn't want the Journal.  She had wanted some of the pictures (why, I don't know for they buy lots of magazines) and I told her I was sending it to you.  Then she wanted my mommy to save it till I went to see her again and bring the magazine back.  She is so funny.

I've been reading some books.  Last week I read "Lust for Life"--the story (true) of an artist and now I'm reading "Forever Amber".  It isn't nearly so bad as the papers would have you think.  In fact, it is good and tells a lot about customs, food, and clothes at the time of Charles II in England.

I'm sorry about the lots.  Isn't there a vacant lot back of El Sellers place--across from George Chalfont's house?  How about that place? 


I tried the oatmeal bread recipe.  The rolls were kind of gummy but the bread was good.  The recipe made 2 pans of rolls and 3 loaves of bread.


I can't find a blotter and am smearing ink all over everything.


I have started the afghan for the church bazaar but haven't but two rows done.  It will be like yours only smaller so I hope to get it done for their April bazaar.


I hope you are both fine and that Beulah's family is all right by now."
    
         Lots of love,


              B & Bonnie

NOTES from Ann:  For a review of Kathleen Winsor's "Forever Amber", the  supposedly "shocking", banned-in-Boston and extraordinarily popular book in the 40s:  http://www.salon.com/2003/05/31/winsor/ 

And for a review of Irving Stone's popular "Lust for Life": "Literary masterpiece. Irving Stones' Lust for Life is a dark, brooding biographical novel on Vincent van Gogh that leaves the reader both emotionally exhausted and mentally exhilarated at the same time. Mr. Stone captures the very essence of the van Gogh mystique: A manically driven genius who captures in his art that which he cannot embrace as a man. Never really appreciated in his day, van Gogh has become one of the greatest painters of all time. So much crammed into only 37 years, his chaotic life became a portrait study of roiling genius and tortured sadness mixed with artistic rejection and unrequited love. Only his brother Theo believed, but in the end even that is not enough, as Vincent gives in to his inner demons and dies of a self-inflicted wound at the young age of 37. Oh Vincent, to think what could have been but will never be: We get a glimpse of how he suffered through his eternal struggle with his insanity.
Bravo Irving Stone. A Lust for Life is a wonderful interpretive study of Vincent van Gogh: the man, the artist, the tormented genius. A classic. A must read for anyone who is interested in art especially the Impressionists of the late 19th Century."  (www.amazon.com)

Oatmeal Pecan Coffee Cake (Much better than the gooey rolls)

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 13x9 or larger pan.  Combine 2 c. flour, 1 c. oatmeal, 1 c. packed brown sugar, 1/2 c. chopped pecans, 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1 tsp. salt.  Mix & add 2 large eggs and 1 c. buttermilk.  Stir in 1/2 c. oleo, melted and cooled.  Mix well.  Pour into pan.  Combine topping & sprinkle evenly over cake:  1/2 c. oatmeal, 1/3 c. brown sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 c. melted oleo and 1/2 c. pecan pieces.  Bake 30-35 min. or till toothpick is clean.  Serve warm or room temp. in squares.

February 5, 1947 The Faded, Shrunken Dress, Not Interested and A Brick House

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"B hasn't been gone to school very long and I haven't washed breakfast dishes yet.  This is such a cloudy, gloomy day.  The weatherman keeps saying it is going to get terribly cold.

Sunday was a sunny but cold day so we went for a long drive after dinner.  We were almost in Mass. but it was getting late so we had to start home.  There was still lots of snow in that part of the state although ours has been gone quite a while.

Now that my painting is done I decided to fix up some of my clothes.  I've been intending to dye a gray dress that had faded so I did that yesterday.  I liked the gray so I just made a darker gray to cover up the faded places.  The color came out fine but it is about size 7 or 8 now.  I didn't think it possible that anything could shrink so much.  It was so disappointing because I always liked the dress.

I have a new Journal and have it all read but don't know when I can send it because Aggie asked to read it and it takes her so long to get around to things.  There is a bread recipe in it that sounds wonderful and I think I'll try it out.

A teaching job was offered to me last week but I decided not to take it.  We didn't know any details except it was in a secretarial school, was part-time teaching grammar and business letter writing.  The school called the Dean of Women at the college and she asked B if I would be interested. 

Your two letters came last week but the McCalls hasn't come.

Your suit must be pretty.  How is it made and is it light gray?

A brick house would certainly be nice.  I would like a red brick house sometime.  There aren't many here, though.  Most of them are wooden and painted.  It looks like the up-keep in this climate would be terrific.  Did you say something about wanting white brick?

Maybe I'd better get to work.  We get up so late I don't get much done in the morning.  Hope you're all fine."

              Lots of love,

                    B & Bonnie

NOTE from Ann:  Listen to the top hit of the week--Count Basie's "Open the Door Richard":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdBTMEP_fmk

And for an amusing 1947 video, The Secretary's Day, 1947 use this link: http://archive.org/details/Secretar1947

January 29, 1947 Eight Ate, Don't Listen, The Best Laid Plans, Full Drawers, Chocolate Cake and Candied Sweet Potatoes

Dear Mother & Daddy,

"I'm being sort of lazy this week since I got the pantry painted and got our entertaining done.  We had our party Sunday evening and everything turned out fine.  Mr. Rollins could not come so there were eight of us which made it a little easier.  Our guests sent us a beautiful azalea plant so we used that for a centerpiece with white candles.  It had oodles of pink blossoms and is such a nice one.  We ate cafeteria style.  The men ate on a card table and the rest of us used our little tables so everything was fine.  They all seemed to think we were awfully brave to have all of them here at the same time but it wasn't so hard.  B showed the pictures after we ate and we visited the rest of the time.  Aggie has lots of nice things and I went down there and got all the things I didn't have.  I told B it was certainly nice to have a reserve supply like that.  I baked the ham Friday and we had that sliced cold.  Then I had candied sweet potatoes, whole green beans, pineapple-cheese salad, hot rolls, olives, chocolate cake and almond ice cream and coffee.  Everything tasted real good.

I'm so glad you have found a lot and am extra glad you didn't buy a farm.  The thoughts of you two on a farm worried me but I had decided you were old enough to know what you could do.  It is better for you to decide what you want to do anyway instead of listening to other people.  Have you made any plans about the house?  I'll be anxious to hear.  There isn't much chance that you'll have it finished by next summer but we can talk about and maybe plan some of the decorating when I'm home.  Why don't you send for every free or .10 booklet on decorating that you see advertised.  You might get some good ideas there.

I'm so sorry about Hortense's baby but I can't see why she didn't go to a navy hospital.

Have you got the package yet?  I hope it gets there without breaking.  You had better check the address you put on our letters.  The last one you sent to New Berlin.  It is East Berlin.

There is still a little ice here and there but it's like spring and there is lots of mud now.

I was thinking again last night how good it was to have been home Christmas even if things didn't go as we planned.  The Christmas tree with lights and being with all of you meant so much.

We are really enjoying our desk.  The one we bought was fine so we kept it and saved $10.  It has 7 drawers and we already have most of them full.

I hope to hear from you soon.  Hope you are both fine.  How are your feet, Mother?"

                 Lots of love,

                      B & Bonnie

Half-Hour Chocolate Cake aka Economy Chocolate Cake (The Joy of Cooking, 1946)

It is claimed that the following cake can be prepared, baked and iced in one-half hour and the claim is justified.

Melt then cool, 2 oz. chocolate.  Sift 1 c. sugar.  Beat well 2 T soft butter and 1 egg.  Add the sifted sugar gradually.  Beat these ingredients well with a wire whisk.  Sift before measuring 1 c. cake flour.  Resift with 1 tsp. any baking powder and 1/4 tsp. salt.  Combine 3/4 c. milk and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Add the sifted ingredients to the egg mixture in 3 parts alternately with thirds of the combined liquids.  Beat the batter until it is smooth with a wire whisk.  Add the cooled chocolate.  Bake the cake in a greased 7 inch ring mold in a moderate oven 350 for about 25 minutes.  Spread it while it is hot with chocolate icing or serve plain with ice cream.

Maple Sweet Potatoes

Peel & slice 1/4" thick 4 lbs. sweet potatoes.  Overlap slices in a baking dish.  Mix & pour over slices 1/3 c. maple syrup, 1/4 c. melted oleo, 1/4 c. orange juice, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. salt.  (Sprinkle on 2 T dried tarragon if desired).  Cover with foil.  Bake 45-60 min. at 350 or till they can be easily pierced with a fork.  Uncover and bake 20-25 min. more to glaze & get golden on edges.  Baste during baking as needed. 


Glazed Sweet Potatoes

In large skillet, mix 1 c. boiling water, 1/4 c. brown sugar (packed), dash salt and a 3 oz. pkg. of orange or peach jello.  Bring to a boil and add 4 T butter.  Add 2 lbs. cooked, sliced sweet potatoes or use canned.  Bring to boil, turn heat to simmer.  Baste often & cook till syrup is thick and potatoes are well glazed. 


Honey & Cinnamon Candied Yams for 12

Put 6 cooked yams or sweet potatoes cut in halves in buttered casserole.  Dissolve 1-1/2 T cornstarch in 2 T cold water.  Combine & bring to boil 1-1/2 c. honey, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, 1-1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind, 1/4 c. orange juice and 1 tsp. salt.  Add cornstarch and cook till thick and clear.  Remove from heat.  Add 6 T butter, stir to melt.  Pour over potatoes.  Bake 15 min. @ 375.