Dead People in the Basement

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Mrs. Hannah Nylander

1964

Mrs. Hannah Nylander of Sioux City, Iowa died Friday morning, August 14th in Sioux City. She was a former Oaklander. Callers in Oakland Tuesday enroute from the funeral in Sioux City were Bernard Nylander of Maywood, California, Mrs. La Vern Warn of Phoenix, Arizona and Mrs. and Mrs. Milton Nylangder and children of Omaha, Nebraska.

Northern Pacific - R.N. Johnson

I have been waiting to hear from you

Lincoln, Nebr.

June 18, 1956

Dear Marie -

I answered your letter that I recieved from you. I have been waiting to hear from you. I wish you could take time to write and let me know that you have received my letter.

To-day I sent you a package and I had a return card made out. If you have moved I hope the package will be forward to you. You didn't write what your new address will be. Please let me know as soon as possible.

Now the coat I sent is the one Mrs. Durand gave me. I had it cleaned. You could make it over for one of your girls. Or make a jacket for your-self. I think it would be a good idea to turn it on the wrong side.

The dress is one Lottie sent me for Mother's day. It was not my size. I wrote to Lottie about sending the dress to you. Hope you can make it over and don't have it buttoned down the front please. I don't like a dress made with buttons down the front at all.

I used some of that cello-phane and had some left over. It is use-full in fixing articles like framing pictures. The coat, dress part of box and cellophane are what I sent you. The paper was just to take up room Marie. I haven't talked to any social worker yet. In your letter which you wrote to me and was post-marked May 5th, you wrote - "Keep me posted on things. Let me know if you get a visit from the social worker. I'll write some more if this doesn't bring results." Un-quote.

Not I think I would like to first talk to the social worker who looks after those who come from Douglas County. She is also out at the hospital where Mrs. Leopold is. Because Mrs. L. just don't seem to care to do something for me. Now I would like your consent to talk to the social worker from Douglas County. And please co-operate. And I was thinking to some time I will call you up next Monday afternoon June 25th and hope you will be at home.

Now this is what I plan to ask you

1. Are you coming to Lincoln this summer?

2. Let me have permission to talk to the social worker for Douglas County.

3. Then ask your consent to let me talk to my guardian. To ask him to come to Lincoln and see me. I intend to pay him for any services.

4. Then if you can't come to Lincoln this summer than have my guardian see about Martin coming here for me.

5. Now this is what I wish to have you co-operate and help me with. The lady said that is, the one I work for, that she is going to see about my money. I can't explain all in detail. I work on the average of 10 hours a day. And she wants 1st class work done. So please write the answers to 1 to 4 and when I call please answer as it is quite expensive to telephone. Your father has not been here and please ask him to come to Lincoln to visit me and write as soon as possible.

Please excuse this pen and my writing.

And again may I remind you to write and give me your new address. Let them know at the telephone office your address.

I must close now.

Best wishes.

As ever

Your Mother.

P.S. Have answers prepared in this letter 1 to 4, please. Thank you.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Clippings

Ruth liked her newspaper clippings. These were saved in this wrinkled paper bag:

Anniversary Announcements...

And the backside often proves interesting as well...

Warnings of Juvenile Delinquency...

With more interesting thoughts on the reverse...

And finally, shoes!

Johnsons' Journal * Volume IV * December 1966

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Our families are like birds

Omaha, Nebr.

May 28, 56

Dear Mrs. Jensen:

I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting so long for a letter of thanks to you for that lovely handky and the box of stationary that came later. It was very nice of you to send them and I did appreciate it very much. I do hope the dresses fit and looked well on you, if not maybe you would know of someone that could use them. I have been so busy with the spring cleaning and am still working at it. It takes me a long time to do this big house alone. I am sorry not to have any suit cases, the ones Auntie Lou had were much the worse for wear and were not much good for anything. How nice that you had the chance to talk direct to Marie. I'm sure that she would like to come but we both know what it means financially and otherwise when you have a family of little ones to consider. You know our families are like birds, once they leave the home nest their responsibilities begin, and problems are always with them just as they were with us when we were young. We love them all very dearly, and would like to have them near, but they know best what they can do. I know how anxious you are and hope that everything will be in your favor. I'm sorry that I cannot promise to come to Lincoln. We are expecting company from Ohio soon and I must bring this house-cleaning to an ending and get rested a bit before they come. Summer is well on the way and I want to get through before it gets too hot. Do hope that this finds you well. Thanks again for the nice gifts, will let you know if I hear anything from the children. Bye for now.

Very Sincerely,

Mrs. Durand

1972 Light Bill

I think Grandma Lottie took the "Keep This Part For Your Record" a bit too literally.

Please write to Martin and remind him to write to his mother

Lincoln, Nebraska

April 19, 1949

Sunday

Marie dear -

I received your most welcome letter and the book of 3 cent stamps. Also later received the box of candy and thank you also for the card enclosed with the candy. The flowers pictured on the card are lovely and I like the words. Also wish to thank you for the money you sent the Storage Co., for me. When you hear from them please let me know what they say. Thank you.

Marie I had a short letter written for your father and enclosed was the short letter that Martin had written. I was very pleased to receive it. I can hardly believe Martin is in those far away places can you Marie? I don't know how much post-age it take to send a letter that far. Will you find out and let me know when you write next time? And now that you have Martin's address please write to Martin and remind him to write to his mother.

I received the Easter card from you, handkerchief, receipt for money and short letter. I thank you very much Marie for all. Also thank you for sending card to my cousin in Chicago.

Marie in your letter you did not write what I most wished to know about if you are coming out here. I hope you can take a vacation with your family like last summer. I would like for you to come when the weather warms up and please arrange to come. I would be so glad to see you all for I am so lonesome and hope that you will come. Are you intending to go to any convention before long? I hope you are.

I suppose you buy big enough shoes for your little girls. Well in the Ladies Home Journal for October 1948 there is a good article about - Fit Your Child's Foot by H.L. Whitman. If you can send the article to Lottie.

Well Frank will surely get used to driving a car like Garfield.

If you attend some convention then you can come this way and please write very soon. Now this is what I wish for you to answer so please don't fail. And thank you again for what you have sent me so recently.

As ever,

I am,

Your, Mother.