Austin Letters 1927 to 1939
Envelope from Mt Grove house
to: Mr. Chas Raymond Austin
Apartado 234
Maracaibo, Venezuela
South America
Sunday evening Jan 9th, 1927
My dear Ray,
I am staying home from church on purpose to make a special effort to answer some of my correspondence.
We are having quite severe weather, but before we know it, summer times will be here once more with all its work and worries. It is hard to tell which is the more agreeable of the two, summer or winter. Still winter does not hold the hardships that it used to for most of us. Likely you are sweating just at present.
Gladys called us up form Port Jervis last night and said she had heard from you, she as well as ourselves were growing anxious for it had been three weeks since she had heard when last we saw her one week ago today.
We are all well but Bobby. He has a sore throat, a number have chickenpox here.
Do they have radios where you are? If so, do you get any US stations? They say KDKA from Pittsburgh is heard in Australia.
It looks as though Uncle Sam might have some little trouble with Mexico and the Central American Countries. Today’s paper stated that China had asked the other powers for help to protect their citizens from the rebels who ever they are. Do you get any NY papers? If not, we could send you some of course the news would be old, but still new to you and others so far away from home.
Howard Pellon is dead and Charley Lass. Howard died of typhoid fever and Charley of pneumonia.
The people who usually go south are down there again, lucky ones.
Eddie Crail’s mother died leaving him a few thousand, so he built a house or bungalow up at the Lake. He took Leon Parker up there as care taker and partly out of sympathy for they say Leon is nearly dead of consumption.
Last fall, old Bishoff took a monkey up to them (Leon and Eddie) to take care for a few days and told them he would come back and get it again, but never showed up, so it was on their hands about a week ago Eddie found it with a box of matches trying to strike them. He hi i tover the head with stove poker and killed it. Leon began to swear at Eddie. So poor Leon was chased out. He is over with Mrs. Kirk now, right after that, Eddie and Patsy Clark were celebrating and got in some kind of a dispute, then they had trouble, so the other night, Bill saw Eddie Crail and he told him that “the surroundings were so crude here in Eldred,” that if he could sell his house here, he would “move to where the society was more congenial.”
Fred Morgan decided he would buy Eddie’s house. He wrote out a check for $4500. He did not sign it, but said he would as soon as Eddie gav him the deed of the house. The best of all, I thought was when Fred told that his wife had received a check for $10,000 for some Lumberland. They asked him what bank the check was on, and he said the custom house. So they all told him the money must be safe. Eldred certainly has its share of foolish characters.
Dory does not come in very often. They only have the movies once a week and they are not well attended which make this ruling ones sore. When you are sending cards, send some to Rev. Robert Collins, Madison, NJ. He will be surprised to hear form you from SA. Be sure and take good care of yourself and remember that we think of you every day and are looking forward to the time when you will return. Love from all,
Mother.
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Tenafly, NJ March 18, 1927
Dear Friend
I thank you for being willing to take my cattle for a while. Now we hear that the roads are very bad. So I am afraid to risk sending a moving van full of furniture up until later for fear they should get stuck in that road in front of my place as they did once before and not be able to get up to the house.
The same man that brought the cows down is going to take them back and he expects to go by the Monticello wood as that will be clear? road all the way. He is very good. What day, will depend on the weather. I wish I could send some of the rye ? we have so much of for bedding…
It will be nice if you will feed them well and they will be pretty well shaken if after the long ride.
Now Lon, about the second week in April, I would like you to open up the house and have Herman Bosch fix the pump in the kitchen. I will settle all bills with you when I get there. I am feeling better, but am not real well yet. Have had heart trouble.
The weather here is too warm for comfort as we have to keep the furnace going. It is not at all likely that it will continue so warm.
Hope this finds you and Ida well.
With kind regards to give both from all.
Your friend, Emma K. Collins
PS be careful of the cows for a few days after their long auto ride.
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Envelope:
from Tenafly, NJ
Feb 14, 1928
To: Mr. A A Austin
Eldred, NY
Letter:
Tenafly, NJ Feb 14, 1928
Dear Friend
I enclose check for months from January 15th to Feb 15th.
Now, Lon, I wish you would send me your bill for what hay you have let me have up to this date and also for any other bill I may owe you. Did you take all the hay from my barns? If there is no hay at my barn, I wish you would see that there is a ton put in there before the road is too bad to get any taken over it.
I forgot to say that when you trim the fruit trees, be sure and trim those down at the old place.
I will need 5? new floors in all then the stalls of the barn now. Do you think you could get Willie Austin to help you and do the work and get the lumber? If so, let me know if Willie isn’t helping you ? Rob Clark would do so.
Hope you and Ida are well. The winter has not been severe, but cold enough and we long for the ? and spring time.
With kind regards from us and ever your friend.
Emma K Collins
Be sure and send feed bills.
————
July 18, 1930
from Rev. John R. Ralph
ME parsonage
Glen Spey
Dear Bro Austin
You no doubt have learned from the newspapers we are celebrating “Founder’s Day” at the Glen Spey Church on Sunday First. Celebrating the 146th anniversary of the church. We would be very pleased to have you favour us with an address, knowing you to be connected in an internal way with the Church History.
The Service begins 2:30 pm and you will be the first speaker. Hoping you can come. I thank you in anticipation of your kindness.
Very Sincerely yours,
John R. Ralph
——–
1933
envelope: Box 346 E. Islip, NY
Feb 14, 1933
Mr. and Mrs Chas R. Austin
64 Hendricks Ave
New Brighton State Is., NY
Sympathy card
May it comfort and sustain you to know that the sincere sympathy of friends is ever near you.
Dear Raymond and Gladys,
I am so sorry for you that I don’t know how to express my grief. When the weather gets a little settled, try to bring the children and come over to see me. With much sympathy, Aunt Anna
1934
from Eldred
Nov 27, 1934
To Mr. AA Austin, Eldred
thank you card for his sympathy from Chas and Harold Dunlap and family
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Edwin Mortimer Austin b. Dec 11, 1937
written 1938?
Letter head The Pines C M Austin Proprietor
Tuesday Evening
Dear Gladys,
I surely was glad to hear of Edwin Mortimer and that you are all well. I wonder if Jake brought Marjorie back yet? I understood she expected to last Sunday.
That Irishman’s name was something like Marr or Murr, so the boys think. Am glad the children liked their things. I didn’t know Arthur was going to Port to get them, so I went down and bought some here in Eldred, but we found use for everything. The doll wouldn’t open its eyes wide as it should, I think there was something loose inside of it.
When you was in the hospital, did Melva get a box of cookies and an apron I sent her if not it was insured and we might as well look after it.
Do you remember Mr. and Mrs. Gill? They were people who rented here in summer and sometimes stayed during the winter. The last two winters they went south and one wee ago today, he dropped dead. He was brought back here form Florida and buried. His wife’s mother is buried here in Eldred.
Clara was married a week ago Sunday. Her husband seems very nice and he has some very nice people. They all came to pay their respects to Clara before the wedding. And they went to see his Father and Mother after they were married. his folks at least his parents live in Brooklyn.
I still have your Christmas present to get off to you. You will get it before next Christmas.
The boys are still working, but Bob has been home for a few days. I wonder if your father is still down with you?
I am doing some embroidery work and want to make a quilt or two. I can’t seem to find a pattern to make the dress I brought home by. I was to make it over for Melva, but all the patterns I run across have swing skirts and I am sure that is too narrow to make a full skirt. You remember it is a henna dress. I think you said Jake gave it to you. Likely I will run across a pattern later.
I would like to come down later if only for a day or two. Don’t think I can stand the round trip in one day. Aunt Charlotte and I was talking perhaps early in the spring we would go down to see a Shakespearean play. If we went on a Friday, I might get over for Sunday or Saturday. It’s just all talk so far.
Mrs. Garbarini sent you and Raymond a card. I will try and find it and write her address on it so you can send her one in return.
I should write a couple more letters, but am going to bed instead.
Love to you all, Mother
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The Pines heading envelope and letterhead
Mrs Chas R. Austin
64 Hendricks Ave
New Brighton State Is., NY
March or May 22, 1938
Monday evening
Dear Gladys,
I did manage to send the apples (I promised the children) this morning. It is like summer today.
Yesterday they took John Love to the hospital. Three weeks ago he was taken down with pneumonia and from all accounts he has to have an operation like you had.
Annie Maier died with pneumonia. Julius had it, but has recovered and did you know Mr. Hanlon was buried the third of March? and Uncle Johnny died about three weeks ago. Everyone dies or is married up here this year.
Charlie Ort married Anna Bragne. Lawrence Racine is married.
Joe Dassori was up a week ago. I am having my kitchen all cleared up and it has had two coats of paint. The paper I sent for was sold out so am delayed at having the job finished. The room where you slept I have had a light paper put on and it looks very good.
When you have time you better write Anna a letter. Somehow she didn’t receive a card.
I have been in about three weeks with a cold but last week ventured out. I don’t know what in the world I would do if I got sick now so have to be careful.
Nellie is going to help me again this summer. Perhaps after we get everything straightened out I can get away for a week or two. Anyway will live in hopes even if I die in despair. Nellie has been quite sick herself.
Dr. Gulfruend was in this PJ hospital over a week. Little Frankie Clouse was operated on for mastoid this afternoon.
Truman is under the weather again. This time jaundice. If it don’t clear up by Thursday, he is going up to the Callicoon hospital again.
I suppose you will be up at Easter time. I hear Melva is to come and I understood Joanie was to spend the week with Jake. Tell Raymond to be careful about catching cold this weather.
Love to all, Mother
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1939
Hopewell Junction, NY
3/31/1939
Dear Brother Lon,
I was glad to receive your letter and learn you were well.
We are having real spring weather. the farmers are plowing and getting ready to sow oats and make gardens. One neighbor planted garden peas a week ago.
The old must die and I am getting old very fast. I will soon be 74, but at heart I do not feel older than when I was 40.
Early morning I kneel and thank God for health and strength as I have it.
Sometime in April I will go to Ossining to live. I wish it was so I could go to Kansas with you in June, but it will be impossible to get away from my work this summer
I paid for and got a certificate for the plot where Emma is buried. The plot is 25 ft and 12 1/2 E and west. My wife and her sister bought the other half of plot and buried Father Parmenter in.
[This must be from James Eldred Austin]
December 1939 Christmas Card to A A Austin from Mae Parker
note on envelope: Parkers bought and lived in the Old “Eldred” homestead (Temperance Tavern) Still lived there when I was 12 or 13.