1942 Letter from Cecil

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Letter from Cecil M. Daggett

January 8, 1942

Dear Folks;

            Do you know that this matter of writing a letter to all of our brood and their wives is getting to be a major undertaking?  Pretty soon I shall have to cut stencils and have the letter mimeographed.  This letter is being written with 9 carbons in giving me ten copies.  Probably the fellow who gets the 8th or 9th or 10th copies will have to put up with pretty feint copies.  It may be that some of you will have to send your letter to someone else in order to get the letter properly circulated.

            Anyway, this letter is going to Waterville, Madison, Hallowell, Middleboro, Norfolk, U.S. Army Camp somewhere that we do not know yet, Norfolk, Philadelphia, and Florida.  “Some circulation” isn’t it?

            Instead of writing as I usually do, in a running narrative, I am going to imagine myself as a moving picture writer of script and use the technique of the scenario writer.  There has been so much transpiring that this seems the only way to get it all down.  I want to write it also in such form that Mother and I can keep it as a sort of “History” for our own future enjoyment and information.

            I will therefore take a separate sheet for each subject and tell the story under subject heads so as not to omit any interesting occurrence.  It will make a bulky letter, but will give you all a picture of all the happenings and of course some of the sheets will tell a story about you.  But as we used to tell the income tax inspector, “If you can do any better, just try it some time.”

            So there will be sheets about each of you and us here at home.  Also, there will be something about the newest member of the Family, the lovely Natalie and her people.  As I get to thinking about it, this letter seems to be capable of being enlarged into a book and I shall have to abbreviate some and not let myself get too wordy or I shall never get done.

            In the first place, lets dispose of the weather and the matter of health.  Everybody all along the line is well so far as I know.  That is something to thank God for.

            The weather is cold and clear.  As I write this the thermometer outside our kitchen window is registering 12 below zero.  This is the first real cold spell we have had this winter.  It makes a terrible strain of our fuel supply both here and at the Sheldon.  And fuel costs money.  We are keeping warm in both places.  As for snow, we have three inches on the ground now, which came a few days ago.  Before that, the ground was bare except for patches of ice around the edges of the streets and sidewalks.  We have lately had some hard rains, which have served to help the water supply in the wells and streams.  The situation was getting really serious.  Farmers and people living in the country, including Ruth and James, were faced with a critical shortage.  All OK now, I am told.  Up to this date the walking has been much safer than for some years past – the walks being bare and free from ice.

            As my eye runs back up over the page of writing I catch some mistakes where I have punched the wrong key and get a wrong letter.  You will have to guess what I meant to punch and read for the meaning.  I use the one-finger method, which is not as accurate as some other methods.  I can get up some speed and as my handwriting is notoriously illegible, you are really more fortunate than you may realize.

 

CHRISTMAS

[Father Daggett’s Page 2]

 

We had a good Christmas.  Of course we were unsettled and stirred up by several unusual happenings and the depressing cloud of John’s having to go to the Army hanging over our thought and planning.  John came home from Boston Sunday the 21st, late in the evening.  Natalie had been staying with us here at the Sheldon since the preceding Thursday, after the close of the Fall Term at college.  We had a lovely time with her before John came and of course after he landed things flowed all the more.

            Mother and I were very tired from the long train of strain and care of the many things that started last summer, so we could not get up steam to do very much in the way of entertaining or feeding.  In this program of taking things as easy as possible, the folks here aided and abetted us fully.  So, we entered the Christmas days in much less strain than ever before.

            JOHN borrowed Hugh Smith’s car and, with Natalie, Bob, and Martha went over to Winslow and got a tree and some evergreen.  They set this up in the living room here.  It used to be the dining room.  We took the glass case, in which Mother has kept silver and cut glass for 50 years, up to a spot on the 2nd floor; and the children set the tree up there.  Martha and Bob trimmed it prettily and it really looked good.

            RUTH AND JAMES, and the two little boys, came up Wednesday for a short time.  Too short altogether, but it was raining, and freezing as it rained, making the traveling treacherous, so James wisely said that they could only stay long enough to say “Hello” and leave their gifts for the tree.  We had a jolly time for a few minutes – perhaps a half hour.  Ruth and James gave us a good report of wonderful progress in their building and equipment at the Hallowell home, which relieved and pleased us very much.

            They brought us some very acceptable gifts.  They did much more than they ought to have, with all the real hard work they have had to do in getting things done at their home.  We cannot mention everything, but we must speak of the big box of dry pine cones which the boys gathered for us to use in our fireplace, the two roosters which provided us with such wonderful dinners on Christmas Day and the following Sunday, the toilet supplies which the Family Chemist and his wife put up so attractively and which give us pleasure and satisfaction all through the year.  But best of all was to see them all looking so well and healthy and happy.

            NATALIE stayed with us until Wednesday afternoon, long enough to enjoy some of the Christmas with us.  Martha hung her stocking and Santa Claus, with the help of John, who for the first time in his life, helped at this interesting part of Christmas.  We had our gifts, on the tree, late in the forenoon Thursday.  Horace and Leah came down and added to our happiness.  Boxes had come in for us from Norfolk, Middleboro, Philadelphia, and other places.  John assumed command of the distributing festivities, and we really had a happy time.  Horace and Leah stayed to dinner, which was a combination cabaret and sit-down affair, not too hard for Mother, but good enough, and all that we needed to eat.  John kept us right on schedule as he was leaving on the 3:40 train for Ashland to spend Christmas Night and part of Nat’s vacation in Ashland with her.  John had a lot of fun and satisfaction in getting his gifts this year.  It was the first time in his life that he had had sufficient money to do anywhere near what he wanted to do for his loved ones.  He had a special pleasure, with the help of some of you folks who were in on it, in giving mother an electric Mix Master.  Mother was thrilled.  He also got himself an Elgin wristwatch to take with him into the Army.  Many of us helped with this.  It is a beauty.  He is very pleased with it.

            I think that you will all be interested in what we have been doing here at the old house.  Some weeks ago I had a supply of insulation blanket come down from Boston, and I used it to insulate under the floors of the kitchen, around the cupboards, and all over the cellar entrances to the lower cellar.  I also carried it under the floor of what was the dining room.  We notice a great difference, and it makes it much more comfortable for Mother in the kitchen as she does her work there.  Of course, we have not had, until yesterday and today, any very severe weather, but we know that this insulation is keeping us much warmer.  I had the old furnace taken down again and put together with new cement and its bolts tightened.  It will go us this season with careful use.  We are burning wood again, as I do not think we would be safe in using coal.  We keep warm enough.  The cut about it is the constant and frequent tending necessary to keep the fire up to pitch.  In the kitchen, we have the fuel oil burner, which does a fair job of heating the water and warming the kitchen.  We keep this on all night and find that the kitchen and the most of the lower part of the house keep warm all night.  We have had no trouble with pipes freezing.

            We took much more care than usual in putting on the double windows this fall, and there is not much cold leaking in through them now.  I had a long job with glass setting.  There were many lights cracked and some all out in the house windows and the double sash.  I used nearly ten pounds of putty.

            We have made some changes here, which you may not all be familiar with.  The piano, which was in the north room, we have brought in to the south, front room, and with the divan moved to the side of the fireplace, and the chairs rearranged, and the music cabinets, we have a pretty good music room.  The north room, we have made into a sleeping room for Mother and Martha.  We have the twin beds set up there; and, with the dresser, Martha’s desk, and bookcase; it makes a combination bedroom and study room.  This room can be heated from the furnace and makes it possible for Mother to have a warmer sleeping room.  I still use and like the cold room upstairs.  The family dining set of oak; which has been in use for so many years, and which you are all familiar, and at which you have all grown up; we have taken down and stored carefully in the shed.  We could, if necessary, set it up quickly if a crowd of you is in sight, but with our smaller family now, it was too large and took up room, which we can use to better advantage.  The chairs, which go with the table, we have taken over to the Sheldon, and are using them there in the different rooms.  The long bookcase which we had in the north room, has been brought out and set up on the wall next to the kitchen and is now full of books.  We scouted around in the down street second hand stores and finally found an old fashioned ash extension table with drop leaves, about one-third the size of the old table.  This we use as a combination reading and dining table.  When we get some leaves to use when it is extended we can take care of eight people very comfortably.  As it is now we can seat six without crowding too much.  We have collected all but one of the old fashioned cane-bottomed straight back chairs that belonged to some of the ancient forebears.  These we had re-caned as needed and, when the missing one is found and put in use, will give us a set of six.  With the radio and several easy chairs, we have a comfortable sitting room that we are enjoying a lot.  We plan to paint the floor again, black as it was before, and also the table and chairs, black to match.  The bookcase and the standing finish, we will sometime get around to paint a cream.  We also plan soon to get the wiring modernized and base outlets installed for floor lights etc.  Mother has made a start with the window hangings, and when she has the job done, we shall be pretty spiffy.  We are using the round mahogany table for a telephone table.  We all like this change a lot, and when we are through, we think that we shall have an attractive room.

 

HORACE AND LEAH help us a lot with their visits.  Horace gets in two or three times each week, and Leah comes with him whenever she can.  The road between Waterville and Madison is good, which is fortunate because Horace has to come down on business and for his Church appointments at least twice each week.  He is still playing at the Church on Sundays; and the choir rehearsal on Friday evening makes it necessary to come down then.  He runs in a minute on Sundays after church service, which cheers us up a lot.  Leah is making good progress with fixing up their home, and has excellent taste in these matters.  We were all very much impressed when we went up for our first visit at Thanksgiving time.  She helps Horace a lot, too, with the clerical part of his work, which is considerable and very important. 

Leah tells us that she and a group of younger women in Madison have organized a Junior Women’s Club, to function as a subsidiary of the older organization there.  This is going to help them, both in getting acquainted socially; and, of course, will help Horace in his business. 

Leah does a lot of sewing and knitting.  She has a great gift for design and is a real stylist.  I have no doubt that she could make her living at dress designing if she had to.  There is a lot of bookkeeping and recording in connection with Horace’s work; and it has to be done accurately and strictly according to the Company’s rules.  Leah’s training in this kind of work, and her general knowledge of office work makes them a good team of workers. 

Madison is a typical mill town with wide social differences, but considerable money.  Just now, all the mills are going full blast and will be busy for the war duration, probably.  Horace has contacts with all kinds of people, from the professional, well-educated persons, down to those in the mills and out on the farms, who can hardly read and write. 

Horace is one of twenty agents working out of, and under the Waterville office of the Metropolitan Ins. Co.  The Co. sells all kinds of insurance – Old Line life, health, and accident, industrial, group, etc.  The health and accident and the industrial policyholders pay some weekly, some monthly, and others at other times.  Horace has to make some 300 calls every week to make collections, and turns in his money each day, and has to come out to a cent in his money.  These regular collections calls take all his time for 3 to 4 days of each week.  Fridays he has to spend in Waterville with all the other agents at the office in consultations and agents’ meetings.  This leaves him evenings and Saturday to canvass for new business.  He has his quotas to strive for - so much life, so much industrial, so much health and accident, etc.  He says though, that if he follows the Company’s instructions faithfully, does what they say, when they say, and in the way they say, it invariably gets results. 

This Waterville office writes over $1,000,000. of life insurance each year, in addition to the other kinds of insurance.  This gives an idea of the size of the organization here and what they are doing.  Horace had a quota of $50,000 in Life to write to make the Honor Roll.  This he did with a little to spare and now has a good start on the next year’s quota.  The Supt. wants him to write $100,000 this year, and Horace says that he thinks he can.  The Company drives them hard, but they pay well for results.  Horace gets a regular weekly check based upon the preceding 3 months’ business; and to this is added his commissions on Life Policies as he writes and places them, and such other new business as he puts on the books, less such lapses etc. as occur.  It is a wonderful job for him, and he is ringing the bell. 

Isn’t it good that, after all the uncertain and disappointing time since college days, that he has got his teeth into something now that he likes, which pays him well, and at which he is doing so well? 

Every time he comes in to see us, he is good to tell us about what he is doing; and I get as excited as a child over it all.

 

 

 

This page is about RUTH AND JAMES.  They have been making history at Hallowell, and I think that we all want to know about it and rejoice with them. 

Ruth is the last person who I can think of as living in the country.  I can easier think of James doing it, because he was brought up in a small town.  But, be that as it is, Ruth seems happy as a clam in her rural environment, and it really is lovely.  They have ten acres of land, and a 1-˝ story house - old in years and rambling in architecture - and what they have done to it staggers the imagination.  And they are not done yet by any manner of means.  Of course, you all have seen their home at some stages of the development, but no one of you has been there lately to see this fall’s accomplishments. 

Being two miles out of the settled part of Hallowell, and four miles from the Capitol Building at Augusta, they are beyond the water and sewer services.  They have electricity; which means lights, power for pumps, electric washer, refrigerator, and radio.  And, for the other things, James has two wells from which to pipe water.  He has put in, this fall, a deep well water pump which delivers all the water needed, to storage tanks in the house, with pressure enough to take care of all fixtures.  The sewer problem is taken care of by a septic tank and disposal bed buried a safe distance from the house. 

James may be a professional chemist, and he is a good one; but he is many other things too – principally a carpenter, a plumber, an electrician, a steamfitter, and a mason.  Yes, with Ruth’s help, he is a painter, and a paperhanger.  When they first were talking and planning, I made some suggestion that they have all of these things done up at one time and work off the expense as they were using them.  But, they went ahead on the plan of doing as much as possible themselves as they lived along.  We have been astonished at their resourcefulness in getting things done, and in their patience in getting along without many needed things until they could get around to putting them in themselves. 

The house, as you will remember, sets back from the road a matter of 100 feet with the big old timer maple trees in front.  This fall, James has painted the outside white.  When he gets some blinds or shutters on, the result will be great.  It looks clean now and no longer looks weather beaten and run down.  It really looks great! 

It is inside that the real works have been going on.  The electricity makes it possible for an electric pump and storage tanks to be set up in the cellar.  With the water available in the house the heating plant can function.  This is set up in another part of the cellar.  James has put in a coal fired hot water system with radiators in all the downstairs rooms and capacity for heating future finished rooms on the second floor.  Also, with water in the house, it is possible to have a modern bathroom.  They have this all set up and in use now, with fixtures just as good as anybody would want. 

And the new chimney with the double flues means safe draft for furnace and a big fireplace on the first floor.  They have built this fireplace with an opening large enough to take big wood.  The finish around the doors and windows and the doors themselves are old fashioned, making it an exciting process fixing these things.  The results are comfort, coziness, and character not possible in all new construction. 

New paint and wallpaper and floor treatment with touches of modern wiring and fixtures add a lot.  Ruth’s kitchen is almost all electric with modern cupboards, porcelain sink, etc.  Doesn’t it sound good?  And the best part of it all is that they have done almost all of the work themselves, kept well and come through it all happy and contented.  They also have a hound dog, hens, geese, ducks, and good neighbors. 

DOT AND DOUG are building themselves into the life of Middleboro in an important way.  Mother and I have not been able to get down to see them, but those who have checked up on them report that they really have something to say about the community affairs.  Fort Edwards, one of the largest Army camps in the country is near enough to Middleboro to make them war and defense conscious.  The whole Cape is probably a more or less danger point as is any other point on the Atlantic coast.  Anyway, I understand that Dorothy is wearing a uniform upon occasion as one of the head “men” of the Town’s defense preparations.  John reported that she was busy at her job, was organizing the women, and steering activity in all the departments of the local defense program.  Doug is a Defense Warden. 

Doug’s work takes him to Camp Edwards and all the country around it constantly, and he rubs up against this war business pretty closely. 

The church in Middleboro receives a lot of their thought and energy.  Doug is a Trustee and Dot is Supt. of a dept. in the Sunday school.  She also sings in the choir upon occasion.  I know of one time when John was due down there over a weekend that she got some other people to team up with her and John to form a quartet.  John said that they had a good time and got along with their singing reasonably well. 

The children, Jack and Martha [Dot and Doug’s children], are growing up.  Jack sent us his picture for Christmas, and he appears to be growing into a fine manly boy.  We have not seen Martha lately.  I haven’t for almost a year, but John and Nat have told us about her and what an interesting child she is.  We had a talk over the phone with them all about ten days ago, and it did our hearts good to hear the children’s voices.  Martha is self-conscious and could hardly say more than “Hello”, but Jack rattled off a lot of information about himself in a short time.  Mother sent him a Christmas present of some interesting shells and a book about them that he seemed to like a lot.  The thing that really registered with him was a “two wheel bike”.  It does not seem real to me that he is old enough to be riding a bicycle.  He is doing remarkably well in school and is also taking music lessons.  Martha attends kindergarten. 

Dot and Doug have been mighty good to John all the time he has been in Boston.  He went down to see them almost every weekend that he did not come “down” here to see Nat and us.  Once he sang a solo in their church, and he was down there when the radio flashes first came in about the Jap attack on Pearl Harbor. 

They entertained John and Nat for a day on their wedding trip.  Nat and John both were thrilled with the dinner at the Toll House.  Dot and Doug gave them a swell dinner in a private room there with wedding cake, flowers, and all the fixings.  Nat said that the waiter came in with the little round cake with a flower on it.  The cake was set on a small music box that revolved and played “Here Comes the Bride”.  Corsages of yellow roses for Dot and Nat and attractive table appointments made a great setting for the party.  I will not attempt to describe the menu, but John said that he nearly exploded he ate so much - steak a foot thick, onion soup, fruit salad, and many side dishes, etc.  I can imagine how they laughed, ate and ate, and giggled, and ate and ate.  John said that he could manage only half of his last glass of milk.  This Toll House is an eating spot on the cape noted all over the eastern part of the country.  Whenever a Massachusetts host and hostess wants to put on the dog for a guest or guests, the Toll House is chosen as the proper place to entertain, and it sure is swell. 

A lovely Christmas box came to us from them, all with useful gifts for us all.  They did too much, but it warms the heart to know that they love us.

I was just about to go up to bed one night, two weeks before Christmas.  It was about 11:30 P.M. when the telephone rang.  Who in the world is calling at this hour, I thought?  Imagine my excitement when the operator said Norfolk, VA is calling.  I yelled for Mother to get up and come, and in a moment CECIL’S voice came in as clear as if he were no further away than Portland.  We were thrilled; and rushed into conversation that was politely, but firmly, guided into the channels Mr. Cecil Daggett, Jr. had planned.  He had planned out just what he wanted to tell us and the three minutes allotted was not too much time.  So, after the first happy greeting, I confined my part of the talking to saying “yes”  “yes” “no” “no” as was necessary to let him know that we were listening and understanding. 

They were both well but stirred up, being situated in such a busy war preparation center as Norfolk.  They had decided that they had better forearm themselves and take certain precautions with their belongings and possessions so that if the place was bombed or it became necessary to leave quickly at any time, they would not have too much impediment with which to bother.  We were told that the household belongings were on their way to us in Waterville, for us to store for the duration of the war - or until wanted.  They were coming by truck overland and would be unloaded into whatever place we decided to store them.  Also, they were sending some valuable papers and so forth for deposit in the safe deposit box at the Waterville bank. 

So a week later a van, big as a freight car, drove into Sheldon Place one morning about 8:30.  Mother and I had planned to store the things in our shed here at 12 Sheldon Place, so I told the driver to get as close as he could.  For a moment I almost expected him to back right into the shed itself.  There were two men with the van and they did a good job in unloading.  They handled the things carefully, and everything had evidently been packed with care in the van.  They said that the things were rehandled only once and that at Boston.  Every item had a sticker on it that carried a number and the name of the Boston carrier. 

Well, we had expected a small lot of goods, such as a poor struggling couple would have been able to accumulate in two years of nomadic housekeeping.  Imagine our consternation when we beheld enough to furnish a boarding house.  It filled our shed chock-a-block, and we had to use the front door for a day or two.  I personally inspected every box and every other thing to see that no damage had occurred.  Then I was able to sign the freight bill as all in good order.  The driver was a Boston Irishman, and he certainly knew his work. 

After we got our breath, we were amazed at the care Cecil and Buddy had taken in boxing and packing their things.  It made my back ache to think of all the work it meant for them. 

In a few days a letter came with instructions about what to do with some of the things.  Well we put our heads together and decided that many of the things were too good to stay out in the cold shed, so we set aside the front northeast room on the second floor and furnished the room with their things.  There was a hope in the back of our minds that they might perhaps pay us a visit and occupy the room and use their own things.  So, the bed, dresser, chairs, bookcases, desk are safely placed up there.  The wonderful Capehart radio and record player is hooked up here in the living room.  We are using it and never have enjoyed anything like it before.  Now they must miss it.  The electric refrigerator, as instructed, we placed in our kitchen, but we have not used it any yet.  I now have packed one whole side of our shed with their barrels and boxes and marked all the things with the initials CMD. 

I understand that they have kept their apartment and are using a little borrowed furniture to get along.  One other piece of furniture that we are taking good care of is an electric washing machine.  They are keeping their car with them for transportation when, and if, necessary.  Cecil has evidently made a success of the years work down there in the Southwest Store as he had a sizable bonus at the end of the year with a perfect credit record.  He would like to get transferred to a position nearer or in New England and he is trying to bring this about.  We would be glad to get them nearer too.  I expect that Cecil was in Philadelphia this week conferring with Southwest officials on this matter.  We shall be interested to hear what developed. 

I expect that Cecil would have been tempted to make an effort to get to John’s wedding if there had been more time.  He would have to come and return by plane if he had attempted the trip.  I doubt if he could have reached Ashland that way in time, because there were two severe storms that came in the space of two days - one a heavy rain and the other a snowstorm.  When we got to Ashland we found a foot of snow and the roads very slippery and dangerous to travel.  All the planes were grounded for three or four days. One of the reasons Horace did not risk the trip was the uncertainty of road travel. 

As soon as John and Nat made their final plans we sent a day letter to Cecil and Buddy, but we realized that their coming was out of the question.  There is no telegraph office in Ashland and all telegrams have to be phoned from Presque Isle.  I took Cecil and Buddy’s wire of congratulations and good wishes for John and Nat on the phone Tuesday morning while at the home of Mr. George Mooers, just as we were sitting down to breakfast.  John and Nat were thrilled to get the wire and know that Cecil and Buddy were thinking of them.  A wire came in from Dot and Doug shortly after this Norfolk telegram.  Horace and Leah phoned too. 

When John and Nat got back to Waterville from Ashland after their trip back up there after their wedding trip, we called Cecil and Buddy by phone.  Things had been happening so fast.  There had not been time to exchange any letters.  We felt that it would not be right for John to leave home for the army without talking with his brother and Buddy.  John had had a chance to talk with all the others, but not Cecil.  So, when they got back to Waterville at 2AM Tuesday morning, we put the call through to Norfolk.  Horace and Leah came down late in the evening and were here to meet John and Nat at the train, and Bob waited up too.  Buddy answered first and then called Cecil.  We afterwards found out that their phone is next to their bed where they have it for quick answering in case of emergency.  Cecil sounded sleepy, but Buddy sounded wide-awake.  We all got in a word of greeting and John had a chance to say goodbye.  You see, we had to call then to get the night telephone rate and also because John was leaving at noon for Camp.  After the call we had hot cocoa and talked awhile.  Then Horace and Leah went over to the Sheldon with them, and they talked awhile.  Leah told us today that they got back to Madison at 4 AM.  You see Horace could not be here to see John off so he and Leah had to say their goodbye then too. 

It is a comfort, even if Cecil and Buddy are so far away, to know that we can talk with them by phone if necessity warrants and demands.

 

The Norfolk Christmas box and boxes came in time to be placed on our tree and the Holly and mistletoe hung in the house and on the wreath on the outside door. 

ROBERT is busy at Coburn, where he is taking very good rank and trying much harder than he ever has before.  His choice and decision to spend this year in further preparation rather than try to make the College grade is proven wise.  He has matured a lot and is finding himself fast.  Since the war has come to us, it is still more evident that this year can be much wiser used in this way than at College where he would have had to work very hard and be faced all the time with having to give it up at almost any time for Army service.  You see, he is almost nineteen and will have to register soon and be subject to call. 

Hugh Smith is being very kind to him as he was to John before him.  He has given him a job as Librarian at the School, and his counsel and encouragement has been very helpful. 

Bob is taking more and more responsibility at the Sheldon and helps us in many other ways all the time.  I do not know just what we would do without him.  It is a confining and exacting job at the Sheldon now with something all the time to see to.  In the winter the job is doubly hard.  Bob lives in the large room on the 3rd floor, which he has fixed up rather better than either John or Cecil Jr. did.  He has a good desk, study lamp, books, and all his cherished athletic insignia and trophies around him.  He gets his four meals each day here and acts as the liaison between the two houses. 

He is interested some at the Church and has some responsibility as an officer in the County Baptist Young Peoples Organization.  Both he and Martha were in the Christmas Pageant at the Church and performed well.  It was in costume and he was Lancelot, I think, and Martha was an Angel.  Mother went and said that it was a good show. 

Martha and Bob are keeping on with their music.  Both are showing progress.  Bob is wrestling with Sibelius’ Finlandia and Martha is working on a variety of pieces.  John’s Christmas present to Bob was money to help with his lessons.

 

MARTHA is doing exceptionally well at school.  Her rank is the very best, and she seems to do her schoolwork with a minimum of effort.  She likes to read almost as well as Ruth used to.  She will read everything from Shakespeare to Wild West and we have to watch rather closely and can keep up with her a part of the time.  She has rigged up the radio which Cecil Jr. let John have and which he brought home from Newton.  This she has on a stand beside her bed and we have radio at all hours when she is home.  She and five other girls of her school and age have a club that meets once a week, skating parties, and occasional movie parties that provide her social life.  Five sets of beads at Christmas helped her a lot with her “fixing up” which takes more and more of her attention now.  She gets good results too.  She is a very attractive girl with good posture, beautiful teeth, pleasant features, and is bright and snappy with good manners and unusual poise. 

While we were up to John and Nat’s wedding, she visited with Ruth and James at Hallowell.  She went down by herself on the bus and came back the same way.  Sometimes it is hard to realize that she is growing up.  She takes some interest at the Church in the young peoples’ program.  She goes over each Sunday night for the tea and whatever comes after.  In the morning Sunday school exercises in her Department she plays the piano.  She plays the hymns in any key she thinks appropriate so she says.  She still takes the cat to bed with her for company at night.

 

JOHN, owing to circumstances – some of which he could control – and others over which he had no control – makes the highlight of the family news.  In a way he is responsible for this long family splurge letter. 

Back in September we all realized that his number was so low that he would be called sometime this winter.  So, at every chance, he talked with people who he thought might advise him of the best course to follow and give him information about the different services of the Army and Navy.  Strange as it seems, he was not successful in finding any one who knew very much about it all.  I even went to the recruiting office in Bangor for information, but came away with nothing, which helped very much.  The matter dragged along in suspense until October, when it seemed that the country would not get into a shooting war, but would call up the boys for a certain period for a defense army.  So, wishing to get at it and get it over as soon as possible, John went down and volunteered for the Draft.  This meant that he signed up to go when the next call for Selectees came – whenever that call came.  He was led to believe that this call would come in January, which, of course, it did.  By volunteering in this manner, he accomplished practically the same result as if he had enlisted.  The term of enlistment would be for 3 years, and the Selectees are in for “the duration” which at that time appeared to be a matter of 2 years or less.  This set of volunteering for the draft put him in line for Officers School appointment after a few months of training with a chance to choose the branch which seemed most attractive to him after he had been in the Army long enough to see what it was all about. 

The knowledge that he would be called soon hung like a cloud over us all, and his Mother and Father could not think of much else.  It wore on John too, but he took it like the soldier he is.  No one knew, from his smile and actions, that anything out of the ordinary was taking place. 

His call to be examined came in November, and he reported in Bangor Dec. 5th.  It made an expense for him of travel from Boston to Waterville.  The Draft Board here could only finance his travel to and from Bangor from Waterville.  Of course, he passed those physical exams, and he was told to expect his call to report for induction in 4 to 5 weeks. 

John immediately gave his notice to his employers in Boston and arranged to train another man for his job.  Mr. Danner, the President of the American Hide and Leather Co., was very kind.  He gave John much wise counsel and told him that there would be a job for him when he comes back.  He also wrote a letter for John to take with him to present to his Commanding Officer, whoever he might be, when John gets into his training camp.  Mr. Danner was an officer in the last war and could give lots of helpful suggestions. 

John felt that he should give up his work on the 21st of December, to give him some time here with us and also to be as much as possible with Nat, both here and in Ashland.  He had a singing engagement at the Newton Baptist Church for the last two Sundays at $5.00 per.  They, too, said that they wanted him back when he got out of the Army. 

Dot came into Boston to see him for a little while one day that last week, and John tried several times to contact Aunt Marian by phone before leaving, but did not call at a time when she was home.  Perhaps he left it until the weekend days when she was out of town. 

So, he showed up here Sunday evening, December 22nd by bus.  He left Boston as soon as possible after the church service that Sunday AM.  Horace and Leah and Nat met him.  When I got home from my evening service, they were all here standing around and talking and eating.  John was so glad to get home; he did not touch the floor at all.  He was especially pleased to be able to exhibit a $100.00 bonus check that the Company had given him as he left them.  Certainly the American Hide & Leather Co. did well for him.  A good job, one substantial pay increase, and this liberal bonus in six months service gives me the idea that John did well for them. 

After John came home that Sunday evening, the next three days were pretty full of comings and goings and eatings.  Nat was staying at the Sheldon and here as our guest as it was her vacation.  So, we had an old time houseful of boys and girls.  Bob and Martha, too, were on vacation.  So, with all the Christmas business, we were in a crowded condition with everybody happy, but Mother and Father rather numb with the effort to keep up with it all.  No wonder we could not get concentrated on our own Christmas boxes and other preparations for those of our loved ones who were away. 

I have described the Christmas festivities here in another part of this letter, so I will not repeat here.  After spending the very last amount of time possible with us, Nat left for her home on the afternoon train on the Wednesday before Christmas day.  This got her to Ashland late that night, Christmas Eve.  We all appreciated the goodness of her family in letting us have her here for so long.  She is no longer “company” and fits in now just like one of us as she really is.  After Nat left, John was busy with his own arrangements for going away – getting his clothes in some kind of order, and keeping up considerable pressure on us to get the Christmas tree and gifts here distributed on schedule, so that he could get away to join Nat in Ashland on Christmas day.  It all worked out on schedule, and he took the afternoon train Christmas day.  He got to Ashland late that night in time to participate in their Christmas celebration.  Pretty good planning, I thought – to get in two Christmas parties 200 miles apart all in the space of 24 hours and with all concerned happy. 

Before Nat left Monday, John and she came in and electrified us by stating that they would like to get married right away and have things all settled for themselves before he had to leave for the Army.  Of course, we all had been looking forward to this as probably coming along a little later, after the close of the College year, and as soon as John was established in the Army.  The liberal bonus, with the assurance of the job after the Army service, at a salary which would permit them to establish their home; made them full of courage to go ahead.  John put into the meeting of this situation the same quick decision-making, coupled with quick execution that characterized his conduct on the football field.  After their announcement of their wish to go ahead, and as soon as we could get our breathing apparatus to functioning again so that we could speak, we wisely told them that we would be happy with them in any plan for their lives that they thought was the right thing to do.  Nat’s people felt that same way, later on, when they were faced with the same announcement.  So everybody swung into line and got busy with the necessary preparations.  A week is a short time to get a wedding set up; where there are so many interested parties.  However, it was done, as I will describe later.  We were forced to be secretive about the whole matter from John’s first announcement to us, until they could get to Ashland and make the necessary plans there with Nat’s people.  There was the College matter to be arranged, too.  Neither John nor Nat wanted to go ahead without the assurance that Nat would be allowed to remain in the College dormitory, complete her course, and graduate next spring.  John went at this, too, in quick hitting football style, and in a short time, had seen all the persons in authority from the President to the Dean of the Women’s Division and arranging all the matters pleasantly and carefully.  So, it was not until Friday the 26th, late at night, over the phone, that we were given the green light from John who was in Ashland to release the whole thing to everybody.  I am going into all this detail of explanation, so that you all may know what the excitement was, how we had to hustle, and what the strain was that we and all of Nat’s folks, worked under for those few days.  Being off so far and faced with the short time in which to make his arrangements, John had to tell us what he wanted and we had to try to do as we were told.  Oh, I might insert here that I was enjoying, through all this, an attack of [text missing] had to get well, as I did. 

Of course John wanted as many of his people as could come to be at the wedding.  He wanted his brothers and sisters, but realized that all were busy, widely separated, and that the notice was short – too short for plans to be made to come by more than those closely at hand.  He wanted Horace to be there and play, but Horace could not leave.  His job is so important to him, and he was under so much pressure from the main office to complete certain allotments of business in the last few days of the fiscal year, that his leaving was impossible.  So, John wired me that I must go.  A face swollen up the size of a balloon is not exactly a wedding accessory.  Besides, I could not do the job nearly as well as Horace could.  However, after it was definitely established that Horace could not go, I could not bear the thought of John being without the services of some of us.  So, I got Mother to agree to go with me, we breathed deeply, and we began to get ready.  Then, up came Bob with the inquiry, “Do you think that there is any chance of my getting up there to the wedding?”  I told him that I did not see how it could be arranged.  He did some quiet thinking and some steady rocking back and forth in the living room here for about a half an hour.  Then he said, “Well… my hitching technique is pretty good.  I think that I can make it over the road if you are willing.  I will get someone to take care of my fires at the Sheldon.”  Well what can a person say to propositions like that when one is willing to make such an effort to see his brother get married?  So, the end of that story is that he dressed up warm, put a few things in his pocket and started out Monday AM at 8:30.  He took the bus to Fairfield, and then worked his thumb.  He got to Ashland before we did.  A ride to Clinton, another to Bangor, one to Old Town, one to Mars Hill, and one to Presque Isle got him over the road fast.  He went into a drug store in Presque Isle to phone Ashland, and when he came out, ran into John and Nat on the street.  Nat, too, took him out on the Ashland road a ways and told him she would tell some Ashland people in Presque Isle to pick him up.  Bob got a ride with the 2nd that came along, and soon was sitting in the Mooers’ living room getting acquainted with Nat’s sister Rachel.  I am not real sure yet whether Bob was wholly motivated by a consuming desire to see John married, or whether Rachel may not have figured in the picture somewhere.  Mother and I took the Streamline train at 3:40 Monday afternoon and had a very pleasant trip up.  Of course, it is a long journey, but we had comfortable seats and a corking lunch.  We had enough reading matter to keep us occupied.  We also had lots to think about.  Weston McRae got on the train at Northern Maine Junction.  We had his company the rest of the way.  I had told Bob that if darkness overtook him anywhere along the line, to board our train and finish out the trip with us.  I had given him money to do this with if he found it necessary.  I kept getting up at the principle stations to see if he was in sight.  There was a newly married couple on this train, so we were in a wedding atmosphere all the time.  When we got to Presque Isle at 10 o’clock, John and Nat and Marilyn Ireland (Nat’s roommate) were on the platform to meet us.  We all piled into the car and had a comfortable ride over the 20 miles to Ashland.  When we left Waterville, there was no snow.  It was snowing a little when we got to Aroostook, but the biggest surprise was to see a foot or more of snow on the ground and to find it pretty cold.  The roads were good and safe for auto travel.  We were taken directly to Nat’s home where we had a chance to meet Nat’s Father and Mother and sister again.  After visiting awhile we again got into the car and Nat’s Father drove us across the town to Mr. George Mooers’ home where we were to make our headquarters and be pleasantly entertained.  Mr. and Mrs. George Mooers are Nat’s Fathers foster parents [Sue Daggett Dean’s note:  George and Linnie Mooers actually had adopted Nat’s (my Mom’s) Father.  George was actually Bampy’s (Nat’s Father/my grandfather) cousin – a long story.  Bampy’s name at birth was Wilmer Mooers (his Mother’s maiden name) Allen.  When adopted by George and Linnie Mooers, Bampy's name was changed to Wilmer Allen Mooers] so, it was like being in Nat’s own home.  We thought that this was a very thoughtful arrangement for our entertainment, because it took us away from the younger people at Nat’s home.  We had a quiet, warm room in this old, rambling, modernized house.  We had such a good time talking with these good people!  Mrs. Mooers was a Houlton woman, graduate of Ricker Institute, and former schoolteacher.  Mr. Mooers is now the District Manager of the Maine Public Electric Service, is widely traveled, and through the years has built up an acquaintance among noted and interesting people few men attain.  We found so many mutual acquaintances and so many mutual interests that we almost forgot that our principle reason for being in Ashland was a wedding.  So few people now a days are good conversationalists that when one finds one, he feels like indulging the privilege to the full.  That is just what I did.  I hope that I did not tire them, for I had such a good time that I perhaps taxed their hospitality, in this respect, too much. 

After a restful night and a good breakfast, Rachel and Bob came over with the car and took us to the church for a look at the organ and then on to Nat’s home where we met the gathering relatives and guests.  Everybody was so genuinely kind and hospitable that we felt right at home and perfectly at ease from the very start.  Nat’s home is a new modern well-planned and comfortably furnished house with a large living room and chimney fireplace.  There was not much time then to visit; but after the wedding ceremony and the reception we relaxed with Nat’s parents, the uncles and aunts, cousins, neighbors, and friends from Ashland and many other points in the County.   As I remember, there were folks from Presque Isle, Houlton, Caribou, etc.  They were all such friendly souls exhibiting the traditional Aroostook camaraderie. 

About half past five, I took a walk down into the town to stretch my legs.  After I got back to the house, Mrs. George Mooers had her chauffeur come over with the car and we all went back to her home for supper and a quiet evening.  At 8:30 Mr. and Mrs. Wilmer Mooers, Nat’s Father and Mother and two friends from Presque Isle came over for a short chat and to say goodbye because we were to go too early the next morning.  They did not stay long as everybody was pretty tired.  By ten o’clock we were in bed, and after another restful night we got up at 6:30 for breakfast and the early start for the train at Presque Isle.  Nat’s Father was on hand at 7:15 with the car.  He drove us over the icy roads to the RR station.  Weston McRae was with us, and, in spite of the 12 below zero temperatures, we were perfectly comfortable. As it was clear, we had a chance to see the interesting country and Hay Stack Mountain, which is a rocky hill of perhaps 1500 feet rising abruptly out of the hills.  We were told that Nat and John had climbed it several times.  We also passed the Presque Isle Government Airport, which is one of the largest in the country.  The train was on time and after a short wait in the station we were on our way home again.  Mac left us at Northern Maine Jct., and we were in Waterville at 3 o’clock. 

Bob did not hitchhike home.  One of Nat’s friends was driving down on Thursday, so Bob had a ride home in warmth and safety.  He said that he never had a better time in his life.  He got acquainted with a lot of nice young people and Nat’s folks were mighty good to him.  Martha did not go with us.  It did not seem possible to take her.  She packed her bag and went down to visit with Ruth.  She made the trip by bus and had a good time with them all.  Martha parked her cat with the Douglas’ while we were gone.  We found everything all right when we got home – including the cat.

 

WEDDING

 

The wedding was solemnized in the attractive little Episcopal Church in Ashland.  This church is about as large as the Episcopal Church in Waterville.  It is finished in natural wood inside with open rafter effect.  It has the long chancel with the organ at the side, and the altar at the rear.  The pews seat about 100.  The entrance is on one side of the building instead of at the rear.  This made a long procession up the aisle impossible.  It did give all the people in the pews a good chance to see without the usual neck stretching common to wedding processions that start in the rear and come to the front.  This short procession came in from the side and up the short aisle in front of the pews.  I played the traditional wedding music on the Bocey Vocalion (spelling?) Organ.  This organ was a gift to this church from Nat’s great aunt. 

The decorations were the work of Nat and John and their friends.  The ends of the pews had sprigs of evergreen tied with white ribbon.  The front of the chancel was banked with evergreen with small trees and a rustic fence on either side of the entrance to the chancel platform.  Up in the top, above the chancel, was an American flag that moved gracefully during the whole service as the warm air from the heating register below came up to it.  It seemed symbolic of the service about to be rendered by the to-be soldier standing under it with his bride.  Mr. McFarland, the Rector, used the full Episcopal Service with two rings.  He performed his part very skillfully and impressively.  His voice and diction were very clear, and Mother was able to hear every bit of it.  Her Ashland schoolmate and lifelong friend Alicia Coffin was Nat’s Attendant.  Alicia is now a student at University of Maine.  John had as Best Man Weston McRae, his college friend, former roommate at the Sheldon, and boy friend of Jean Cannell, Nat’s other roommate at Colby.  Bob was an usher with two other Ashland young men.  The church was filled with relatives and friends.  Even though it was high noon and very cold; they came to participate in the happy and, at the same time, solemn ceremony. 

The reception, at the Mooers’ house after the church ceremony, was delightfully informal.  To be sure there was a receiving line with the bride and groom and the bride’s parents, but all the friends circulated around freely and informally and had a good time. I never saw a more beautifully appointed dining table.  Punch and cakes were served by Nat’s girl friends.  Marilyn Ireland, another of Nat’s college roommates, served at the punch table and Rachel had charge of the guest book.  There was a huge three layer Lady Baltimore bride’s cake with white frosting, and shredded coconut cream filling.  Nat cut it and I took care to get two generous pieces.  Mrs. George Mooers who is, as I have mentioned before, Nat’s Father’s Foster Mother, and our hostess, made this cake.  The lace tablecloth was the handwork of Nat’s Great Aunt Ella and given to Nat for her hope chest.  The candlesticks in the center were Nat’s Christmas gift to her Mother.  The punch bowl was - well it is beyond me to describe its beauty.  The red candles and holly from a Seattle relative should be mentioned as they added color to the effective ensemble.  The friends were in no hurry to leave. Soon, John put his arm around his bride, and with me stumbling along with an accompaniment on Mrs. Mooers Steinway grand piano, sang one of our favorite songs, For You Alone.  Folks insisted upon more songs, which he did, and then Nat and he, with a group of other Colby and University of Maine boys and girls, sang a few college songs.  Mother says to mention too the little squares of traditional wedding cake done up and tied with white satin ribbon. 

Nat’s wedding dress was a beige silk crepe soft and beautifully trimmed with Valencia lace of the same color, little hat chick and “Frenchy”. [I don’t know what that means.  Perhaps “chic”? – srd.]  Her corsage was made of yellow roses.  She wore white gloves and black suede shoes. 

Nat’s “going away dress” was a gray flannel, tailored suit with a stunning felt hat that I am powerless to describe.  In my weak masculine way, I should say it had a picked crown and wide-ish brim.  Anyway, it made me want to grab her.  The bridesmaid wore a blue silk rayon dress with blue-black hat and shoes. 

Nat’s wedding ring was a little band of yellow gold with diamonds.  John’s ring was a plain yellow band. 

They left by car for Presque Isle at 3:30 (Tuesday Dec 30th).  There they took the train for their wedding trip.  Nat’s Father drove them over to Presque Isle.  As soon as they had gone, Alicia Coffin took her car and, with Weston, Rachel and her girlfriend, Marilyn Ireland, followed them over to Presque Isle and made merry with them until the train came.  From the looks of the station platform the next morning when we left, they did a good, thorough job with the confetti.  Bob was there too.  He went over in the car with John and Nat.  We have since found out that John and Nat came as far as Waterville that night and stayed at the Sheldon on the third floor.  They then took the same train out of Waterville that we came in on the next afternoon, but they did not let us see them.  So, we did not know anything about that until they got back and told us. 

They made the Hotel Belleview their home in Boston for the time they were away.  They got back to Waterville Monday AM at 2:30 and left for Ashland that same afternoon. 

This long letter has been a week in the writing.  There are some things that might be mentioned now as I close to bring everybody up to date.  I have told you that John and Nat got back from Ashland at 2 AM Wednesday and that we all called Norfolk and talked with Cecil and Buddy.  We got to bed for about four hours sleep and then faced, together, the final preparations and goodbyes.  John ran over to Coburn to see his good friend Hugh Smith for a few moments and then at 11:30 we had our dinner.  Our goodbyes here were clothed with smiles and banter.  No tears or takings on.  Everybody was “eyes front, shoulders back”.  However, as John and Nat left us here to go over to the Sheldon for a few last moments together alone, we each about-faced and lapsed into sober silence, with our own thoughts and prayers. 

John’s orders were to report to the office of the Draft Board at 1 o’clock [Wednesday, Jan 7, 1942].  He asked that he be allowed to make his departure from there without any of us on hand.  This was wise too, because it is not our custom to make ourselves conspicuous and the parting can best be faced without the prying eyes of onlookers.  So, he reported alone.  For personal sentimental reasons I could not feel comfortable without knowing for myself that he got away safely.  So, I had a post of observation in a store doorway down the street away and saw him leave in the big B&M bus.  Or to put it more accurately, I saw the bus leave.  People were milling around the bus so closely that I did not actually see John, but I was told later by one who was there that he was one of the last to board the bus, having been put in command of the whole party.  Just as they were about to leave, the Draft Board came out on the sidewalk and read the Army order putting John in charge and investing him with the necessary authority and responsibility to see that the boys got to camp safely.  There were about 25 in this group.  I had tried to find out, the day before, how many were going, but they would not give me any information   Government regulations made it impossible to know who, how many, or exact time of leaving.  So there was absolutely no stir when the boys left, except what was made by the friends and relatives there at the bus.  There was nothing in the papers either.  A short item two days later in the Sentinel said the party left so and so.  No pictures or names.  I am told these orders from Washington have been somewhat relaxed this week.  They can now give out the names of individuals and when they are going, but not the numbers. 

So was the manner of leaving of our soldier boy. 

When we left for Ashland on Monday [December 29, 1941] for the wedding, we took with us John’s orders to report for induction.  You see, up to that point he had known that the call would come any day, but the actual order to report had not been sent to him.  So, when we received that in the morning’s mail, we took it along with us, as we knew that he must know right away and get ready.  This Army order was accompanied by a printed pamphlet giving detailed instructions and information about all the questions one would naturally ask about this new life, etc.  We read this on the way up and had many of our questions answered. 

Following these instructions he took with him only enough clothes to last him three days.  The Army clothes them from the skin out, and he was told that if he took any more than what these three days required, he would have all the more to send back.  At the end of three days the Government gives them paper and rope to do up these things and they are sent back collect.  This bundle, which was his small bag, has just come to Nat, she phones. 

His card to Nat stated that their bus reached Portland at 6:30.  They had supper there, and reached Camp Devens near Fitchburg, Mass about 11:30.  It was 2AM before they were assigned to their sleeping places.  It was very cold. 

We were more or less worried because it was 20 below zero.  But, we knew that they would probably be warm enough.  A note in the Boston paper, which came to my attention a few days before, had said that Camp Devens was getting so crowded that it had become necessary to set up tents for some of the boys.  I shivered thinking of John being billeted in a tent.  But, he was not. 

They got him up the next morning at 5:30 and the work of being inducted began.  John has not written a whole lot about the things, because they have kept him pretty busy.  But, the instructions, referred to above, stated what to expect, and I know about what he was being put through.  He now has his full equipment: long-legged underwear, uniform, shirts, handkerchiefs, hat, overcoat, raincoat, etc., etc.  He writes Nat that it is very warm and may mean that he is to be assigned to a northern camp for training.  Wasn’t it strange that he should go into Camp Devens where I took so many boys 25 years ago in the last war? 

He says that the camp is a huge place.  He has been there several days and hasn’t seen a gate yet.  He has met several Colby boys whom he knows, and probably will continue to run into acquaintances as the days go by. 

He thinks that Devens is only a supply point and that he will be passed on at once to a training camp.  His instructions said that he would be there only 3 days – probably just long enough to get equipment, have physical exams, etc. 

Inoculations follow and a long series of IQ tests to determine for what he is best fit. 

We are all hoping and expecting that after a few months basic training, he will get to an Officers School and get the necessary preparation for a commission starting as 2nd Lieutenant. 

We are all very proud of our soldier boy and what he is doing for his Country and us. 

Nat has plunged into her College work, and she says that everybody is continuously kind to her.  Many more of the girls will get married, she expects, before the year is over.  She is good to us, calling up each day, or running in.  We have all taken her into our hearts completely, and she makes a lovely addition to our family circle.  She has been as carefully brought up as our boys and girls, and, with the many advantages of boarding school and college study, has acquired an unaffected poise and culture which makes her a capable interesting and glamorous person.  She will make a wonderful life companion for John, a lovely daughter for us, and a sweet sister to all you boys and girls.  These days of separation are going to be hard for her, as for us, but she has the moral fiber and good old backbone to endure and carry on with courage and fortitude. 

Nat and John are two pure and honest souls, loving each other and facing a world in turmoil and with economic conditions like nothing any of us have ever faced – hard as some things have been for us.  And who shall say that they have not done exactly right in joining their lives to face and meet all and whatever is ahead - together? 

Mother and I think that they have done right and they have our blessing.  God bless them both.