Five kids from the same family in class

This is an interesting picture from the Baca County Book. There are 5 Rutherfords in this picture. Royal is the end of the second row on right. I figure the 1913 caption has to be wrong because Royal was born in January 1909 which would make him 4 years old. That's a little young even for an exceptional kid. 1914 or 1915 would be more likely. Bill on the Left side of the row was about a year older, then we have Tom and Madie behind Bill. Deet in the right back was born December 1900 which makes him about 8 years older than Royal.

So the missing in this picture from Annie's family are: (This is the sequence Annie has them in her will and I assume it is their birth sequence.

• Lydia who became Lydia Yokum
• Almon (Chuck) lived in Lincoln, Nebraska and I think was using the name Conover when I was young.
• Sarah who became Dr. Sarah Blanchett (see last postin)
• Rollins (Turk) he stayed in Baca County and bought up land during the dust bowl. He was the most financially successful of the family. Turk was born April 24, 1899 so he was a little over a year older than Deet.
• Margret - died in accident as a young adult.

This is a one room school house picture. One teacher taught all of those kids. It had to work out that much of the teaching was done by the older kids to the younger. If you have ever done much teaching you know this is a good way to learn. The young Rutherfords were oriented to teaching. Both Royal and Madie taught. Tom was getting ready to teach when he was killed in an accident. Bill was getting ready to start college when a motorcycle accident put him in a hospital and recovery in stead.

Royal's letter to Martha #14 assumed written 9/21/1936

In the letter below, "My sister and brother-in-law from Wellington, Kansas", would be Sarah and her husband H O Blanchett. Henry (assume H O) Blanchett was a early teacher in the county. He taught in a country school there sometime 1915-1920. The story as I heard it from Mom (Martha) was that H O showed up to spark Annie Rutherford, the mother, but caught the eye of the older daughter, Sarah and that was it. One can see from the picture above she was a striking woman. Sarah was also a bit of a flapper from what I can tell from pictures in the Baca County Book. They left to study chiropractic under Doctor Palmer. They both became Doctors of chiropractic setting up offices in Wellington, Kansas not far to the East.

What I remember as a kid was that when ever they came to visit we all got adjustments. They would line up chairs or put us on a table and we would lie down and get our bones cracked. By that time late 40's H O was usually sick but Sarah was a ball of fire.

H O would have been the one who said he knew Landon who was running as a Republican against FDR that year. In other letters Royal refers to the Communist Canadate for president being arrested in Illinois and Norman Thomas who was the perennial Socialist Candidate complaining to Roosevelt. I never thought of Royal as a polical being but he certainly stayed aware of things around him. I will have other things to say about Dr. Sarah later.

RLR

Letter 14 assumed written 9/21/1936

Dearest Martha,

I was out to a bridge party after I came in from the country one of the teacher's fiance came from Greeley & Mrs. Michal had a little party. I had a very nice time. Everything was quite tame, I played one no trump hand and cleaned up. My sister and brother-in-law from Wellington, Kansas were here over the weekend. They came Sat Morningng at 3:00 am and left about 3:00 pm Sunday. I went home Sat Night and came back about six Sunday. I brought back some swell petunias for the window box. Also a nice banquet of snapdragons and one of zinnias. I went to school planted the petunias as soon as I got here.

I did not expect a letter Saturday but the one I got certainly was a fine one. It was next best to seeing you. I won't be too long until I shall see you. It has been five weeks since you pulled out of Union Station in Denver. Xmas will come sure.

My brother-in-law, who knows Landon quite well, does not think him such a big man. He thinks Landon is being backed by big business, and that he will be a machine in the hands of big business.

I wish I could see you today. You will be here by me this time next year. It looks as if June would be the month?

Love,
Royal

Royal's Letter to Martha #13 assumed written 9/19/1936

Letter 13 assumed written 9/19/1936

Saturday Morning

Dearest Sweetheart,

You will notice that I am holding you up as my bestest. Please don’t let me down.

It is now nearly eight o’clock and I have not been down stairs for breakfast. Of course I had to practice on the lyre given me at the faculty picnic for telling the most enormous story. I think perhaps in a short time I shall be ready to come east for the liars contests. Perhaps I shall be gaining international fame as a lyrist.

I went to the Baptists Church to a party last night. The fortune teller told my fortune – I am going to marry a pretty blonde in my early thirties, have two children (Impossible) have a happy life, and meet many people due to my wining personality. I just imagine pretty blonde is OK, but why think of a later time than June?

I am sending this special delivery. You should get the same Sunday. I wanted to celebrate the fact that my first pay check came in. I am surely making a drastic effort to pay everything and have the car, Life Ins., and such paid out next spring, so that the bells can ring without worry. Martha you just got to.

School has gone the smoothest I have ever seen a school go. Really I never saw a school so uneventful. No news in this instance means good news. If nothing happens Bersche and I will be on our way early Dec 23 to visit Indiana, Illinois, and other points east. Mr. Morris may come with us, too. His girl friend lives in Chicago.

I am sorry you are not here this morning Sweetheart we would go to school and have a big time.

Love to Martha,
Royal.

Royal's letter to Martha #12 assumed date 9/17/1936

Letter 12. Assumed written 9/17/1936

It is interesting how things have changed. The janitor's and their wives served the lunch. The entertainment- Would we do such things today?

Royal was always good at tall tails or tails of any kind. He used to receive "Quote" news letter from Toast Masters which I think were always full of stories. He also had books that he would pull stories from. I remember once I was at a Lions Club lunch meeting, I think I was being honored for getting the Star rank in scouts. An older boy, in high school was there probably getting his Eagle, the highest rank in scouts, and Dad introduced him. I will use the name Walter but I am not sure who it was.

He told this story about Walter.

Walter had a girl friend he liked a lot, but the girl's father did not like Walter for some reason. The father took the girl aside and told her that Walter was like and old beat-up car. He said he is all rusty, his engine misses, and his fenders rattle. The girl looked at her father and thought for a few seconds and said, "Yes, but his clutch is good.". As I remember this got some good laughs and Walter turned red.

Also always the horse trader. He is going to ask the car salesman to throw in a free radio.


Thursday Nite
Dearest Martha;

We had one swell time at our picnic. The Janitors and their wives served the lunch. Weinners, buns, pickles, potato chips, mustard, marshmallows, cookies, and last fair ice cold watermelon. We played a guessing game with beans, jumped with the rope, told tall stories and blew up balloons. Given up I might say that yours truly received the Lyre for telling the biggest one. The party ended in a blaze of glory when the art teacher took the men into a huddle and allowed us to take kisses as we chose. The janitor gave kisses to the "gals". Our faculty are all a fine group. I really don't see how we did so well in choosing them. The load must have been on our side.

If I'm to have a gray car why not write on gray stationary. I might nget the car in two more weeks. I am going to try the man and see if he won't throw in a radio free.

I surely wish you could have been at the picnic. I needed you. It would have been quite nice for the Superintendent to have appeared with the wife. There will come a day. First payroll for this year comes out tomorrow. Teachers made a mad rush to get their certificates registered today so that they would be eligible.

Mr. Lewis is out of the bathroom and I must get in. I shall write you more in the morning if I have time. I may go with the bus driver on ine of the routes tomorrow morning. I wish I could see you, and just sit and look into your eyes.

Love,
Royal

Royal's Letter to Martha #11 assumed date 9/16/1936

Now we start un-dated letters. He was writing often enough that he would just put the day of the week at the top or in this case nothing. I have used the letter's content to put together a sequence and assign an assumed date. I also put together monthly calendars for August to December 1936 to aid me in placing the letters. If he talks about the picnic on Thursday I can place it especially if as in this case he says fifteen more weeks. Sometimes he looks forward (so many more weeks) and sometimes he looks backwards (It was 3 weeks ago I put you on the train). It is interesting he is using metaphors and similes to talk about his feelings. I think "water to a drowning man" is interesting but a little mixed. The sailor and the port seems right on though. Some times he slips into the colloquial "Sorta" but generally he stays with proper english. The Mr. Lewis etc. is definitely from an earlier age. I hope someone is enjoying these. I certainly enjoy getting them to gether.

RLR

Letter 11 (I think this was written 9/16/1936)

Dearest Martha,

We had a session of teachers concerning library cataloging. Later Mr. Austin, Mr. Lewis, and I got together and divided other questions of importance. If we do not have any changes our Christmas vacation will be from Dec. 22 (start 23rd) to Jan 3. A total of twelve days. School will be out approximately May 21. We are going to give a faculty play sometime before Christmas. I am sorta thrilled about twelve day Christmas vacation. I think I can do a lot toward persuading you in that time.

Your letter came like water to a drowning man today. It hit the spot, filled the bill, and thrilled me through and through. I really think I can carry on, and on if you just love me, and promise to be with me next year. There is not limit to where we can go together. The distance I can travel without you is so short. I truly need you everyday. The sailor can carry on if the lighthouse is in sight. Fifteen more weeks and I shall see you - the sailor shall put in at port.

We are having a faculty picnic tomorrow evening starting a 5:30. The janitors and their wives are planning the lunch. A committee of teachers are planning the entertainment. I am sorry you can't be here.

I'd love to be in your town for the horse show. I have never attended any type of stock show in my life. I am quite interested in good farm stock but have never known anything very definite about such.

Oh, yes we are all invited to the Baptist church to a party Saturday evening. We certainly are being feted. A revival meeting starts Monday or maybe Sunday. I did not choose to let them use our school auditorium for it.

[No signature]

Quotes

I subscribe to Information Week's daily IT newsletter and some times they have interesting quotes. Here are a few. Does anyone know who Emo Philips is?

Quote of the day:"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." -- Pablo Picasso

Quote of the day:"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book." -- Groucho Marx

Quote of the day:"Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater." -- Albert Einstein

Quote of the day:"A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kickboxing. -- Emo Philips

The family pot roast

Fragment from Mary's email.

Richard-Ironically, I clipped the same pot roast article out -- it is now sitting on my kitchen counter waiting to be tried. Thanks for the critique - I'll definitely try it now. I needed another reason to go to Costco and spend money. I thought it looked good because I remember Mom's chuck pot roasts were always so good -- especially when she made her home-made noodles with it. I do pot roast in the slow cooker once or twice a month -- it is definitely comfort food to me.

Yes I two remember the family pot roasts, but the memories vary. I would say Mom became a better cook after we moved to California. Her pot roasts were always good. She didn't have a slow cooker but she had a pressure cooker.

The pressure cooker was a heavy aluminum pot with a lid that sealed. It allowed for fast cooking with much less water. When you live at 6000 feet water does not boil at the same temperature it does at sea level. Sea level boiling is at 210 degrees at 6000 feet I think that is somewhere between 190 and 200 degrees. That means that when you boil or steam things it is much slower. A pot of beans at 6000 feet may take for ever to become soft. A pot roast may never become the soft fall apart tasty thing we usually think of. Using a pressure cooker with the lid the temperature of boiling water and steam rises. You can get that fall apart roast in a very short time. But it is not the same.

Mom had two pressure cookers in Colorado. The was a large one for canning which held 8-12 quart jars and was used to cold pack home canning. The other was smaller and she used that for pot roasts, chili beans, stewed chickens, etc. It would take a tough cut of meat and turn it into soft eatable stuff. Sometimes almost mush. One of my favorites was corn bread with these mushy soupy beans on top.

pressure cookers were (are) dangerous because they worked with pressure. There was a little weight that set on top and a black button that would rise up out of the weight that showed the current pressure. If you left them on to high of heat for too long they could explode. There were always stories about someone's cooker exploding and covering the walls and ceiling with whatever was in the pot.

Diane, my first wife, was very good with pot roasts. Sandra used to fix a pot roast in a slow cooker with a package of Lipton's Onion Soup Mix. You can't get any simpler, but it was good. Anita is just the best cook. As witness to that I gained over 30 pounds over the years we have been together. I have lost 20 of those pounds and struggle to keep it off. I do think of of Pot Roast as comfort food. I always miss the potatoes and gravy that Mom would make to go along with the roast. Those things are just not as good for me now.

When we were young Mom would often over cooked things. Green beans were boiled for an hour. Green beans out of the pressurer cooker were very soft and almost gray. I think it was the mid-west farm style of cooking she had learned as a girl. When I was at Grandma's after Grandpa died one meal we had ground beef patties. They were these small almost black hockey pucks, very chewy. I thought this is where my Mom learned to cook. Some of that was what one did to be sure the food was safe. In California her cooking improved. Maybe she had more time and she was exposed to other ways of doing things.

RLR

Royal's letter to Martha Sept 15, 1936

I am reaching the end of the dated letters. Soon, because he wrote so often, Royal stopped dating his letters. He becomes less formal. That means I will just do my best to try to figure out a sequence from the contents or randomly type them.

In this letter he talks about "Gretchen" I think she must be the woman who introduced Royal & Martha. Royal & Mr. Lewis are going to Denver for the State Schools Convention and there they will have dinner with Gretchen. This of course will remind him of Martha etc.

He also talks about another school superintendent who married a high school girl he was 50 she was 16. I would think that must have been a cause of talk.

RLR

September 15, 1936
Dearest Martha,

It is now eleven pm. I have worked like a dog all day. We have been making an inventory of the science lab. Since dinner I had NY-A students helping. One was good the other not so good.

Mr. Lewis mailed your letter in Lamar today.

I'm sorry the special delivery did not arrive Sunday as I had planned. I mailed it here Saturday and by all right it should have burst in some time Sunday. I am glad if anything I write can thrill you. I'm glad you are happy and sweetheart I certainly hope you are looking forward to a wedding, because there must be one. Perhaps your outlook has changed concerning the things that would be necessary for comfortable living in the near future. Poets say two can live as cheap as one but not with exactly the same articles.

It is quite cool here - this climate in the fall is superior to every place - even Illinois. Let me recommend it to you for the fall of 1937. My feet were awfully cool last night but not so cold as my heart. Somehow this heart of mine just has not had the practice it knew this summer. Remember it is all staring up and beware the Illinois "gal" that has to be there when the tide is unstemmed.

Of course you are not to be jealous women never are, but the art teacher handed kisses out to all men teachers and invited them to take more at future times. She's a blonde - you know that Downer [?] woman. Please don't get excited Mr. Lewis and I are running on the level this year. Maybe some of the same talents that won the lyre [?] would, make life less monotonous for the wife. I somehow don't look forward to a great deal of monotony.

No we don't do any such thing as you mention. We get a life certificate it is just that. No more no less. We don't even need to teach in order to keep ours in force. What is the title of the book?

Our state convention is to be November 5-6-7. That means we leave here November 4th to go to Denver. We have two football games the next week, which will surely break in on these school days. Mr. Lewis and I will have dinner with Gretchen November 6. It will surely make me long for someone from the old state of Indiana. The fact that I may be broke may not be the only reason I may not have an appetite. We will go together next year.

As far as I can tell School is getting along quite well. We are having a few complaints once in a while but really it is well nigh impossible to please everybody.

A little Poem:

The violet is much too shy,
The rose too little so;
I think I'll ask the buttercup
If I may be her bean.
When winds go by I'll nod to her
And she will nod to me,
And I will kiss her on the cheek
As gently as may be.
And when the mower cuts her down,
Together we will pass,
I smiling at the buttercup,
She smiling at the grass.

I don't know whether you get sentimental over little poems or not, but I fear that I sometimes do.

All men teachers go to Walsh to the Knights of the Hickory Stick Banquet, tomorrow night. Mr. Rost is the Supt. that married a high school girl. (50 & 16) He will be presented with rejuvenation pills speeches etc. I really expect a high & hilarious time. I'll be in favor of being lenient with the man as my turn comes soon and sure.

Mr. Austin and I are going to church tonight. It is a series of protracted revival meetings. We must appear there some - Will go next year.

Love to my bestest [?] girl,
(better than the art teacher!)
Royal

Pot Roast Diversion

I saw this picture of a Pot Roast in the Costco Connection publication and thought it looked so good. I pointed it our to Anita and she made it. It was spicy but very good. We will have it as left overs tonight. I don't think you can read the fine print so I will type the reciept.

Sicilian-Style Pot Roast
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 cup of red wine
1 quart prepared tomato sauce
Grated peel and juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup kalamatta olives, pitted and halved
1 Morton's of Omaha Beef Pot Roast (2-3 lbs)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

-Preheat oven to 325 F.
-In a heavy saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add red pepper flakes and garlic to saute pan; cook until the aroma is apparent. Add wine and simmer until liquid is reduced by half. Add tomato sauce, grated lemon peel and olives; bring to a simmer.
-Place pot roast in the sauce, cover the pan and gently heat until an internal temperature of 150 deg. F is reached (approximately 30 minutes).
- Add lemon juice chopped parsley to sause and check seasoning.
-Serve with polenta, broccli and crusty bread.
Makes 4 servings.

Email from Mary Canizzaro

Everyone-It is just great!

Have you all read the blog lately? Marj and Tom, I know you will get a kick out of it. Thank you, Richard, for being so persistent for us. I love reading the letters -- I can not imagine Dad that way -- I don't have a lot of memory of him young, with a young man's personality. He was definitely in love with Mom. And Richard, I love your additions and memories of the older car and Aunt Maidie and Uncle Horace.

Marj and Tom, I'm sure that you have some additional memories of those things also. I seem to have a very vague memory of Aunt Maidie and Uncle Horace and maybe of the hardware store -- Is it possible that my big brown christmas teddy bear came from the hardware store? I remember wanting a big teddy bear very much for one Christmas. On the day before Christmas, we, as a family, visited a store on Main Street, near where you described the hardware store to be. I saw Teddy Bears in there and Dad left carrying aVERY BIG package tightly wrapped. The next morning there was that Teddy Bear under the Christmas tree. (Marj now has that teddy bear in her bear collection -- I loved him very much.) Anyway, that was one of my first inclinations that there was not really a Santa Claus.

Hope everyone is doing well. It was wonderful to see you all when Richard and Anita were. Eini and Jim, we missed you very much and hope to see you next time. Hopefully it will not be too long.

Love,
Mary

The Teddy Bear I remember well. Dad was like that sometimes, he would see you liked something and the next day it would appear. I remember going to the Busy Corner Drug store with Dad and Tom and seeing these neat pistols. They were made of tin you pulled the trigger and sparks would come out of the barrel. They were great guns. We always loved guns of all types. Something about boys and guns. It was a few days before Christmas and on Christmas day there were two of these guns.

RLR

Royal's Letter to Martha Sept 13,1936

Royal often talks about his sister and I am not sure who that is since he had several. The one he was closest to that I remember was his sister Maidie. She was Terry & Linda's mother. They were adopted when they were very small babies and she died soon after. She was married to Horace [ I'm not sure about the spelling] Retherford. There was some thought that the Retherfords and the Rutherfords were related but if it was so it was a long time in the past.

Maidie was my favorite aunt proably because she was around from the ages of 4 to 7 or so and the rest of my relations lived far away. I remember Horace & Maidie coming over for dinner and they brought a quart of ice cream. It came in a square box. We wrapped it in a blanket to keep it cold while we ate. We didn't have a refrigerator or Ice Box. After dinner the ice cream box was opened up and the ice cream cut into eight equal pieces. One for each of us. What a treat.

One Christmas There was a present under the tree for Tom and I from Horace & Maidie. We speculated what could it be. It was a rectangular package about 24" x 24" x 3". I was hoping it was a chemistry set, a microscope, etc... On Christmas morning we opened it and to our surprise it was a picture of Jesus. I was very disappointed. I don't recall ever seeing the picture after that. What ever happened to the picture of Jesus?

We had moved to Montrose, Colorado from Arizona, where Royal was a teacher, in 1945. Royal was to work at Horace and Maidie's Hardware Store. Royal thought he was to become a partner in the business but he was treated more like a hired hand. Horace was a very smart man but he had only finished the third grade in school. Royal had a Masters Degree. Horace loved to show Royal up and point out how college was of little use. I think it was hard for dad. The hardware was in the block west of Townson on Main St. It was the same block as JC Pennys Store. It was an old fashion Hardware with bulk screws and nails, tools etc. Much of their goods were things for the farmers and ranchers outside of town. I remember going to the hardware and Maidie saying, "lets buy the kids ice cream cones." They had one of the big brass National Cash Register machines with all the buttons and drawers where the money was kept. She pushed a button and the drawer come popping out and hit me in the head.

After working there for about a year the position of High School Principal opened up in Montrose. I assume Royal and Martha talked about it and he applied for the job. He got the Principal job and got out of the hardware business. He was 37 or 38 years old.

Springfield, Colorado
September 13, 1936

Dearest Martha,

A change from the shades of somber gray stationary. I was down town after Mr. Lewis and I came from the country this evening so I invested in some white stationery.

Mr. Lewis and [I] went to the country to collect my laundry. We saw my mother and sister and got a big bouquet of flowers. I shall have a sample of these to grace the office tomorrow.
A three week revival started here today. I shall need to go quite often. The evangelist will give an assembly from 3-4 Tuesday. The meeting is being held in an old store bldg. Here in town it means we shall not have night school activities during this time. Perhaps a blessing in the open or in disguise.

Monday Eve 6:15 pm

I spent nearly an hour seeing the said evangelist today. He gave me a whole lecture on how godless the teachers and high school students are. Quote "The high school people their ideals from trashy movies instead from the word of God". I told him I thought many good movies had been produced in the last years. He is one of these guys that require anything and everything to give way. I asked our teacher to change the date of their professional concert to Sept. 28 instead of Sept. 25. I learned years ago that Satan must not be crossed when he does things in the name of the Lord. Our local minister is not at all in sympathy with him, but what else is there to do.

(in pencil)
9:45 pm.

I'm sorry but forgot and left the fountain at school and I have to use this instrument for finishing this letter. On the next page I am writing you a riddle. I wish I could give you this tonight.

(in pen)
Here's A riddle:

I am just two & two, I am warm, I and cold,
And the parents of numbers that can not be told;
I am lawful, unlawful, - a duty, a fault;
I am often sold dear, good for nothing when bought;
An extraordinary boon, and a matter of course;
And yielded with pleasure when taken by force.

(in pencil)
Mr. Morris Mr. Lewis and I have been to school and down town. I did not have on my necktie and went somewhat like a hick. Mr. Lewis & [I] worked on the N.Y.A. situation and talked over some other problems. Mr. Lewis and the athletic Coach are leaving directly at 2:00 tomorrow attend an athletic meeting in La Juanta.

Martha, dear you are fortunate in having someone you can confide in. Mr. Lewis and I never talk such problems. He knows I plan to get married either the spring or in the summer. Knowing you of course he thinks that OK. Martha I know we can make a success of this thing. If we can't there is no reason for anyone to try it. Every thing is on our side. Love, back ground, common interest, education, everything. It would take some give and take, but think how fine it would be to have each other. Honey, I certainly miss you everyday, I can't go through another winter without you.

I am making every effort to be just as conservative as I dare be. I don't think it pays a "Super" to be too "Scotch". My personal expenses surely have been cut to the bone.
My work is not without problems and no large school would be. I think our school is going over quite well.

Our Xmas vacation starts Dec. 22 after the program. I can probably make a part of the trip that night, but I guess I could never make it to see you much before sometime Christmas Eve. I do not have a car and have not been able to trade to advantage. Remember sweetheart that I shall live from now until then expecting to see you again. Here's the answer to the riddle.

Love to Martha from Royal.

Royal's letter to Martha Sept. 10, 1936

Supt. Office, Thursday Sept. 10, 1936

Dearest Martha,

Mr. Lewis and I just got here. Time about seven thirty. It is somewhat unsettled here today. Windy, and dust in the air.

You will probably notice that my handwriting is somewhat smaller than last night. Well I just feel smaller when I sit at this desk.

Mr. Lewis and [I] went to town for a walk last night. I got talking to a man that has promised to give me an estimate on the cost of lighting our football field. Not to be done this year, but maybe before many years. You know maybe next year when you and I are here.

I guess I must ring off and get busy. I must plan two lessons and do some other odd jobs.

Remember, above all else I love you. You’re my sweetheart.

Love
Royal

Royal's letter to Martha Sept 8, 1936

I just thought I would throw in a copy of the letter since it is on official letter head. So far he has used two different stationeries. Below the picture of the School at the top you can see "R. F. Rutherford Superintendent". In an earlier post I said he was County Superintendent but from this I would guess he was Springfield town / city Superintendent.

Springfield Public Schools
September 8, 1936

Dearest Martha,

You are duly appointed secretary to the Superintendent. You can keep the big book, write warrants, file vouchers and do a million and one other things if you have time after we have had the teachers over for tea and the Board over to eat Swiss steak.

Please excuse the school stationary. It is all I have here at the house. I have been out to Mr. Roy Thompsons house this evening. He is the only board member that lives in the country. I am sending you some clippings that may remind you of certain things that happened not to long ago.

We did not have school labor day. I went with the coach to two butts to the Music Day celebration in the afternoon. I danced a few times during the evening. I could not enjoy it. My sister was there and she and I danced four or five times. I listened to the music. It made me quite homesick to see you when I heard some of the selections. Martha , you can’t imagine how I miss you unless you miss me the same way. My life can never be complete until I have you. I surely wish you were here to sleep on my arm tonight.

Today was Primary election day in Colo. One of the newspapers are staging a big election party down town. I can hear the broadcaster now. It is almost 12:00 and I must get to bed but I'll try to get up to write more in the morning.

Up early, have shaved, dressed and am now ready for school. Mr Lewis is here and the Denver Post News reported is giving the election news.

It surely would be great to wake up and find you here some morning, but perhaps I am just day dreaming. I will see you before many moons. I am still afoot. But I'll not walk there when I come to see you.

I can't make up my mind whether to buy a car now or later. I have waited thus far, and expect I shall wait at least two to four weeks more.

Remember, Martha that what ever else happens that I love you. It would be great to see you.

Love Royal.

Royal's letter to Martha Sept 7, 1936

There are a couple of things of interest here.

Royal is musing about a car in several letters. The American male has a history of love affairs with their automobiles and Royal is no exception. But it is interesting that the car represents the means of getting to Indiana to see the women he loves. It is a means to an end. When he finally bought a 1936 Ford he drove it until 1950. That's 14 or 15 years. I recall standing in the back set of that 1936 Ford Sedan as we traveled across country one summer to Indiana when I was about 4. Mary must have just been born. That car must have made several of those trips from Colorado to Indiana.

When Royal & Martha finally decided in 1950 to buy a new car; he went into the Chevy dealer's to look at a car and the salesman either ignored him or didn't help him because he thought he would continue to drive his old car. To retaliate he went to the Ford dealer and bought a new 1950 Ford. I was driving that car, the 1950 Ford, as a teen, in 57-59 . It had rusting under sides and primer on a spot Tom and I had applied on one door. It was cool to have primer spots on your car. Tom put a glass pack muffler on it and it had a nice mellow sound going through the gears. I think it was close to 1959 or so before it went away. I don't recall what happened to the 1950 Ford.

He talks about the punk letter he wrote. Of course Martha didn't save that letter so we don't know what he wrote. It would be interesting to be able to read both sides of this conversation but we only have Royal's letters.

Earlier posts that relate to Royal's family are 7-9-05 Picture of Bill & Royal, 6-1-05 storey of Bills life in Baca County, and 5-27-05 storey of Annie's, their mother, life in Baca County.

Springfield, Colorado
September 7, 1936

Dearest Martha,
Something tells me that it would be rather foolish for us to plan to live apart again for another year. So many things can happen. "Exit" would have been more appropriate than "live" in that sentence any way.

I was quite worried by many things yesterday. I had a good night’s rest last evening & night and I really feel quite pepped up today. Mr. Hale, our Coach, Mr. Morris, the English teacher and I have a date for church today. I did not finally get up until 9:30. I got up at seven and bathed shaved and went back to bed. The additional rest will be good for me.

We have no school tomorrow. I am going home this afternoon and not come back until sometime tomorrow. I shall visit read eat and in general get my mind off school matters so I can come back Tuesday ready for the grind.

I might get the car in another two or three weeks. I never know just what to do. My brother is really of the opinion that it would be better to wait and get a 1937. I am not at all convinced that this is true.

I gave my paper on snakes at the fall meeting of the Baca Ed. Assn.Yesterdayy. It was quite well received so I think I was elected Secretary and treasurer of the association. The fellow before me wrote a beautiful Palmer hand, imagine some of this writing in comparison to that. I am about fifty dollars better off financially by belonging to the association. Of course you understand this money belongs to the association; well, I understand that too.

The air mail letter came no sooner. I am sending this one straight. Please report on its time of arrival.

Mr. Lewis left yesterday for Bristol to visit his mother over the vacation. He was not feeling very well yesterday but I imagine he made the trip OK.

I am ashamed of the "punk" letter I wrote yesterday. But really I never was quite so low. I don't get that way very often, but it seems as if I do reach the lowest depths of despair when I do. I was afraid I was about to be involved in the low political situation that exists in this town. I am not interested in politics. Why do people that are as "low as snakes lips" try to pull other people to their same low level. We are trying desperately to divorce our school from all semblance of politics.

Oh, be careful how you flirt with that janitor. Men never stop being interested in women. Of course I don't expect a sudden elopement.

It is approaching church time and I must mail this letter and meet the fellows.

I'll see you in about sixteen more weeks; woe be unto you when I do.

I love Martha,

Yours,
Royal

Royal's Letter to Martha Sept 1, 1936

As a kid I always enjoyed the beginning of the school year get together of all the High School Teachers in Montrose. I remember the tables loaded with food and my friends whose parents were teachers being there. It was early September out in the apple orchard and lights would be strung up and chairs everywhere. Since I didn't do any of the work, I thought it was great. Royal talks about the teacher reception in Springfield and it sounds much more formal.

Springfield, Colorado
September 1, 1936

Dearest Martha,

Second day over no serious mishap. I really think I’m going to be a success after all – perhaps if you pray and hope for me. And without delay write that we’ll be here together next year. Please!

I taught only two of my classes today. I must need get a desk copy of the physics book and look it over a bit. I taught my biology and eighth grade arithmetic. Today was Sept 1 and I had to pay bills that took some time, and I do have quite a lot of work to do now in getting my work started. (I mean my account books)

Mr. Austin and I made a call or two this evening. We visited the railroad camp, and there interview the fathers and mothers of about a dozen Negro children. They will either attend our school or go to Texas they are not sure which yet. I can’t be sure which they should do.

Wednesday Eve Sept 2, 1936

Your letter came today. We have only one mail a day. We can get our mail about eleven o’clock. I am sending this one straight tell me if the airmail arrives any sooner. I doubt if it does, but I may be mistaken.

Mr. Bersehe and I went to the country this evening. Mr. Bersche is our teacher that lives in Waterloo, Ill. We met my brother on the way here with my clothes. (clean washed). I went on to my sister’s house and had a visit with her. Mr. Bersche and I came back to Springfield and ate dinner at the Colorado Cafe. We could have come to the boarding house and have eaten at Measel’s but I thought it best maybe to eat down town as Mrs. Measel was not expecting us. I got two bouquets of flowers at my sister’s place. They are not as pretty as usual as the blight is growing on them. She really has a nice collection. I got a large bouquet of bachelor buttons for Mr. Bersche.

I talked with man about the car again today. I probably will not get it for some time as it will mean a certain saving to wait until a later date.

If all goes well I shall most probably get some raise next year, but it surely does cost families to live in this town. Rent will without a doubt be cheaper next year. I must have you here whether or no. Life is just too short to have the one you love so far away. Life just is not complete. We must either plan to live here or else I must quit being a school Superintendent. I just can’t properly fill the bill whether these people realize it or not.

I am teaching a much heavier load than I intended. I have three classes, or lack only fifteen minutes teaching half of every day. I teach Biology and Physics in high school and 8th grade arithmetic at the grade school. It will be much better that I am teaching a class at the grade school the superintendent has never done this before. Next year I shall confine my work to one class each place; we shall have more time in the evenings then.

The joint reception for the teachers is being held Friday night. I shall introduce the principals and let them introduce their respective teachers at the reception. This will be much different than usual. The joint idea is new too.

I surely wish I could see you to night. You should be here by to lay on my arm and talk to me. I am surely lonesome for you. …

I have decided to send this letter AirMail so that it will be sure to arrive Friday. I shall send one soon regular. I don’t think it make any difference in time.

For heavens sake! Write me often as I surely do enjoy hearing from you.

Love,
Royal

Royal's Letter to Martha 8-31-36

Royal is living in Springfield, Colorado located in Baca County. Baca County is in the south-east corner of Colorado. Oklahoma is to the south and Kansas to the east. This is planes country, flat and dry. It is a part of the dust bowl. They are over 200 miles from Denver.

He is the new County Superintendent of Schools. The last Superintendent left in a scandal something to do with taking county money. He has a High School Principal (Mr Lewis) and a Grade School Principal working for him. He is living in a boarding house i.e. he has a room and they serve meals.

He started teaching in a one room country school grades 1-8 at the age of eighteen in this county. He told me once some of the boys were bigger than he was. He took college correspondence courses and went to college in the summers. He had worked at various teaching and administration jobs since. He was one summer away from having his masters degree in 1936. He was twenty-seven. He had just met the girl of his dreams at the last summer school and he was starting this new demanding and political job. He was also into science and photography.

Royal's mother and brother Bill (see picture and write-up in earlier posts) live on the family homestead out side of Vilas (about 15 miles away). He is the youngest in a family of twelve so he has older siblings living in the area. He doesn't have a car. He is dependent on others or a bus when he travels.

Springfield, Colorado
August 30,1936

Dearest Martha;

Mr. Lewis and I went to church this morning and worked at school this afternoon. I wrote some letters and put the sand in the big aquarium in preparation for the winter season.

Mrs Measel had a birthday dinner for Mrs Hernes today. She is a dear friend I have made since I have been here in Springfield. She keeps tropical fish. Her health condition has been somewhat alarming due to an internal cancer. Mrs Measel thought this might be our last time with Mrs Hermes. Hermes' run the motion picture here in Springfield. We took some pictures and if they are good I'll send you some.

My brother came after me to go home last evening, but I could not leave as we were invited out to dinner.

I need a car powerful bad. Don't be surprised if I turn up with a new one any letter I may write.

Oh, yes Martha you must write me more. I have forgiven you as I realized that you were not settled and perhaps writing comes quite hard.

A young man from here leaves for a month's vacation next week. He is going straight to PA where he will pick up the girl friend. They will be married Thursday and after honeymooning for the rest of the vacation will return to Springfield for the winter. I certainly envy any man who can do this. The Lord just has not blessed me in such great way.

Be sure to write me soon.

Yours with love,
Royal

Royal's Letter to Martha 8/21/1936

When Martha left Colorado in 1936 she went to San Antonio, Texas to visit her Uncle John's family (I think). That would be her father's brother. Then she was to head for home. Her mom and dad surprized her by driving down with her two sisters to meet her there.


Friday Morning August 21,1936
Dearest Martha,

You may not appreciate all these bulletins but here goes another. I did not arise too early this morning. I have had a shampoo, bath, shave, etc. and I am now clean as a new pin Everything would be perfect if I could just see you for awhile. Xmas will soon roll around.

It did not rain much, but looks as if it could continue during the day today.

I know it must have been some surprise to find all your family in San Antonio. But really that was the sensible thing for them to do. Families should do more things together so that they get that "we" feeling for each other. I surely hope you have a nice time and know you shall.

I have been busy everyday this week. I went straight to mother’s when we came down Saturday, and stayed there until Monday morning. I went back home Wednesday about three oclock so that mother would have the car to go to town. I might say Mr. Lewis is in Bristal, and that I have the car from home over here. When I got home Wednesday I decided to stay home and sleep while Mother and Bill went to town. I slept about fifteen minutes and so half dozen flies bothered me so bad that I got up and cleaned house for the rest of the time. I even mopped the dining room – don’t you imagine I am some housekeeper? They did not return from town until about eight so I had time to take a stroll – you were there only in my imagination.

I surely do have a fine Board of Ed. To work with. One member does have rather poor attitudes. He has decided likes and dislikes founded it seems to me on prejudice in many cases, but all in all I don’t think I could have a better group. Rember that they are all in favor of their superintendent getting married as soon as possible. Keep This in Mind.

Love,
Royal