Mary Jane Rapp Anglin's letter to her Sister

1935
          Written on stationery with dad's job letterhead:
             Thacker Sign and Scenic Studio
               118 1/4 So. Buffalo St.
                 Warsaw,  Indiana

                                               Winona Lake Ind.
                                                Chestnut Ave.
                                                November 20,1935

Dear Ina Mae,
Don  just came home for dinner and gave me your letter. Our stove generator wouldn't function this morn so Don sent for a new one. We had to have a cold dinner; salmon, celery, fruit, and cake. He's making a pattern for the big black cats I'm going to put on the curtains for Kayo and Janney's room.
I have my kitchen and bathroom curtains finished and up. 

Don said (during dinner ) that we would come out Thanksgiving afternoon and you can come back and stay until Sunday.

Aunt Lidia was here Tues. afternoon for about 2 hours and said that you were over to Grandmother's Sun. nite.  I don't suppose we will
have any Christmas over there as we usually have.

I haven't heard from Beryl since I live here but I wrote her last week. I imagine there is a letter down at the post office. Don is just now going down to see.
I heard Elenor Powell sing and tap dance over the radio about 15 minutes ago. 
Kayo and Janis are over their colds and their eyes are o.k. We had Kayo up to Doc Baum's last evening for a physical examination. He said he was all o.k. except that he needs Cod Liver Oil to ward off colds. What a relief!
I'm glad you wrote please write again. We were up to see Mac and Doyle last night and they were out here Tues. night. Now I must close Don wants to go.

                                         Lots of love,
                                           Your sister,
                                                Mary

                 

Back in the saddle

 We celebrated with Sam as he turns 21 tomorrow. I am sure there will be other  celebrations but last night he put up the manger scene and he hung his personal ornament on the tree here.
Sam is Graces third and preseeded the the twins by two and one half years. 
This lake house is more like a cottage so I had Sam paint a little door sign calling it "Glenjanny"...a little like the early cottages in Winona . That is where Glen spent most of his formative years.

We got December early!

I'm sure there have been very cold Novembers but not in my remembrance. 

Long family in the way back machine.

I originally hand wrote this on an old yellow tablet that resembles the "goldenrod" pad with which we all started school. There was a hacking problem trying to get into some programs...so i had to have my beautiful rose gold HP wiped and inspected. Now everything has to be reinstalled. Arrrgh!!!

Back to genealogy:  Both Glen and I have a lot of family behind us. I have the Anglins,Rapps,Kitchs
and Rushers. Glen has the Longs, Hoovers, Garrards
and the historic and legendary Dotys. One must start somewhere so I will begin with Edward Doty on. the Mayflower. You can find the timeline on this post from a few years back.

One reason I want to start there is it it is easier. The Mayflower society has already awarded authenticity
to Glen's family tree through his grandmother Long's family. 

I remember Grandma Long and do not remember ever hearing her talk about her family history.
Glen's aunt Gurthie told us she had heard her mom talk about it when she was young. The researchers were working on it during her lifetime in another branch of the family. 
Grandma Long was not effusive with her speech; she usually kept her thoughts to herself.
The ancestor of our history was not one of the venerated leaders of the pilgrims. He was an indentured apprentice/servant, which makes him even more interesting in my estimation. I'm Grandma* Long now and I'm talking. 

Edward Doty, the "pilgrim" in question was written about in an almost comically pejorative way. He was a young man aboard the Mayflower as one of the "others " ....what we might call support staff. After landing, he got into a few scrapes with"Pilgrim law"

When he matured he owned land and became an upstanding member of the community.
The good things Edward did have been largely
overlooked. He helped build the first sheltering buildings including most of Stephen Hopkins dwelling almost singlehandedly. He helped with the sick and dying  that first horrible winter they lost one half the people. He was one of the signers of the Mayflower compact and many years later his daughter married Miles Standish's son.

      *I prefer to be called Grammy or Gram.

Days gone by in a blur

What a miserable hunk of time...starting with a wind storm which brought down half of a favored tree onto my little red Grand Am causing it to be totaled. The really miserable part was searching for documentation for insurance and licensing.
The up side is my new Buick Encore, red again, and cleaned and sorted office files.
During that futile search for my former car title I found some journaling labeled "writing list", should have said recap.
1997: After a terrible Spring because Glen went through heart surgery w/complications. We got the go ahead to take a trip to Niagara Falls w/Nick.
1998: Spring break..Glen was awarded a stay at a major resort hotel (4 star) in Hilton Head. Nick went along and we had a great ocen vacation. Then we went on down to Atlanta to see Chris.
1999: Kicked off our presidential and family history tours. Plymouth Plantation for family and Quincy Ma. for John Adams homes.
2000: Spring break..8 presidential sites in Ohio were part of a whirlwind trip with great hotel pools for Nick a highlight.
2001: History trip to  Virginia where we visited 8 more presidential sites.
2002 Mary joined us on our history tour to Lincoln (Springfield Il.), Truman (Independence Mo.) and Eisenhour (Ks.) where we visited aunt Cecily and took her along. 

                    My little red Grand Am

Uncle Wayne Rapp was a radio guy in rhe seccond world war

From the Panama Canal Zone May 25, 1942
to my aunt Anna (his sister). 
Dear Ann,
Well doggone it, I finally got around to writing back to you. Been pretty busy last few days because we are short some men in radio right now. One is in the hospital with Malaria and two are doing other work temporarily. Went to see Landfair a couple nights ago (he's the one who has Malaria ); and he was glad to see us. Said he had a 104 degree temperature at one time. Probably be a couple weeks before he gets back.
Tomorrow is your birthday, I believe . Suppose you will be at Herm and Liz's. I'll risk sending it there anyhow. I see you have been seeing some very good shows. We've seen some good ones here too in the last week or so. "Shanghai Gesture", "How green was my valley", and "Captain of the clouds". Tomorrow night is      " The lady is willing". I hope you get to see the ones I mentioned and I get to see the ones you enumerated. 
Aunt Lydia sent me a ( I hardly know how to describe it) goofy or something (*I think she was viewed as a bit if a scamp) card about Hitler and the Japs. Keep 'em crying was the motto.
I've got to write and thank Grandmother for that candy. Hope your side stays o.k. Anna. Do all you can to keep it that way, won"t you? I sure don't like to hear of any of you being sick.
Got a short letter from the Anglins (Wash and Grace) a few days ago and there was a page from Kaye Donn and one from Janice enclosed.
They have learned to write; told me how old they are. Said they wished they could see me and mentioned Gene. One of them said he is funny. Kaye Don sent me his address. It's 603 W. Winona Ave., Warsaw, Ind. He said he had the mumps and they are not funny Mc Gee. (*a quote from popular radio show where wife, Molly says that alot.) Pretty good for a little fellow, huh?
Are Doyle, Mac and the boys doing o.k? Suppose Doyle is in the same business yet. Hope Herm, Liz and Dave are doing alright now. Maybe they will write me soon or maybe they have already. Glad you like the locket and perfume. I wasn't sure just what you'd like. Would have gotten you something with France Field stamped on it if they had it. 
I'd like to see Bud some more, of course, but I think he would dread coming back here by the way he talked before he left. Bet he will make a good pilot.
I don't have any trouble reading your writing.
Did you ever try rinsing your pen out good with water before filling? Seems to help mine and it's not very old either.
About the Os - dosen't a small circle mean a hug or am I daffy?
I can't make such a hot one on paper- out of practice no doubt. You know what I mean tho, don't you? Or don't you? Maybe I don't 'splain it so good as Andy does to Amos. (*another reference to a popular radio show "Amos and Andy", of that era.)
Well, 'nuff of this stuff for once. Write when you can.
            Lots of love , Mine sister,
                                                Wayne 
      

                                     Wayne (on left) home on leave with his brother Herm

Memorable moments from past springs

We were fortunate enough to move our pre-school daughter and baby son (Chris and Cec) to a beautiful two story house overlooking Center lake on one side. Before that spring I had used my sewing machine to make children's clothes and toys plus a Vogue cover portrait collar shirtwaist dress without benefit of a sewing room, but with this new move I was delighted to have my own sewing room. It was huge, light and airy. One window overlooked the garden and the other a view of the park and lake. As I was sewing one afternoon the radio
announced the the U.S. congress had just signed a bill to make Hawaii our 50th state. About this time of the year I was lucky enough to score a ticket to the fashion show/ luncheon put on by Snells, the last word in ladies wear in this town. It was held at the ultra lavish Petro's restaurant.  There all the tables were arranged like Caesar's Palace in Vegas. Large windows  looked out across the lake to where we live now.
At that time the occasion called for hats and gloves. I had just finished making a white pique  halter top sundress topped with a blue and white gingham  duster. This was big "new"
fashion. Even though it was home sewn I was wearing it. No one would be looking at me. After the show and lunch John Snell, the owner, drew names out of a large hat for prizes. I am sure most of the ladies there were frequent customers of his so I was rather embarrassed when my name was drawn winning the grand prize. But I flung back my shoulders and did my best runway walk to receive a lovely, fully fitted, genuine simulated leather overnight case. 
                                      

                     In  My Vogue portrait-collar shirtwaist dress i'm putting
                                          Cecily's  Sunday school gloves on her.

Daffodill time

At 7:04 this morning the sky and the lake were the same shade of red and ,sure enough,
it looks like it will rain. 
Some of the daffodils out back are starting to open..they are more protected.
I am trying not to get too excited about the warmer temps. I have seen snow on Easter .

Second world war deprivations

I was elementary school aged during the second world war and remember some of the rules that made us think we were being helpful in "the war effort" wheather we were or not. 
We lived in a rented house 5 structures from the RR tracks on the south side of Center St.

Dad went back to his roots and planted a Victory garden. War Bonds and theater tickets were given away in a Victory Garden contest.
( I don't think we won).
Coffee rations allowed 1 and 1/4ths cup of Java per day. (Zowie!This would be tough for me now)
States imposed liquor rashions. 
Each community had controlled buying times for rashioned goods. These included.. Cheese, butter, canned fish and milk, coffee, sugar , shoes, gas, tires, fuel oil, meat  and eggs. Grandma Grace raised chickens so we benefited.     

Rapp ..Count writes to Anna during the second world war.

Dear  Anna,
I bet you think i'm homesick to see you. (yes).Shorty left sunday after
dinner. Won't be back until tomorrow (wednsday) night and maybe not then. Why don't you and Mag come up ? It's about time isn't it? (Mag is their friend).
Gee, I'm so awfully glad for you that Jess got to come home. Of course I'm glad for him too. He can come to you on half the fare that you could go to him.

(Count is Anna's older sister and Jess is Anna's army boyfriend).

You can send the skirt up if you want to but there's no need to.
Wish you could see my green dress- it can be worn in the spring as a suit. I don't wear it very much because I have to wear a girdle to make it fit real nice. 
Got a new Chicago mail order catalog.
My last letter from Wayne (their brother) said he hadn't heard from you for a long time and he wondered how you were. You should write to him just like you always did. I imagine he just about lives for our letters from home.
We'll be glad to get a snapshot of Jess in his uniform - whenever you send it.  
   Tell Mag hello, I sure enjoyed your letter. Write. Bye now, with Love, Count (and Shorty)

Background info leading up to our history in Indiana

The Treaty of Paris was concluded 1783.
Up until that time Indiana was part of Virginia.
Oct. 5, 1787 Congress elected Gen. Arthur St.Claire Gov. of the Northwest Territory which was, then, designated as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The Brits had been trying to keep this area from being settled. St. Clair was replaced by Maj. General Anthony Wayne. Soon "civilized"
inhabitants of the Territory estimated 4,875, 

1813 the Indiana state capitol was established at Corydon. 

1814 Ghent Treaty opened the gates for immigration to Indiana. Also Fredrick Rapp
(our ancestor on the Rapp side) founded the ill fated Harmony, Indiana.

Anglin family treeview

Some of you may have the Anglin Family Tree ..latest version ..which was put into a little red book in 1968.  Well, I am not updating it but you can. It resides in the Koscuisko County Old Jail Museum. Here is that version of what happened before we got here, and shortly after.

The Anglin Family Tree begins with our ancestor,
Adrian Anglin who was born  November 1762, in
the state of West Va.(not a state yet). His parents were Jane and William Anglin. The Anglins were 
known to be of Scotch/Irish descent. First Scotch ,
probably living in or near Strathclyde. Then after 
James I of Scotland fought the Irish of Ulster County, Ireland we most-likely moved to Ireland because of  the Government and church conflict.
Becoming dis-satisfied again some of them moved to America, France and other lands. Anyway , Jane and William made their way to Virginia where Adrian was born and grew up. He was listed in a historical register of Virginia soldiers , Rev. war
1775-1785. This just means he was known to be a soldier within that window. 
Another account of Virginia soldiers has Adrian's
grandfather Phillip coming from France. Who knows...they seemed to be ever looking for greener pastures.
In any event, the government awarded soldiers land in the west (including Indiana). However,
Adrian , late in life, waited until his married daughter and her family (the Samuel D. Halls)
had established a home in Indiana. The story is that Adrian brought his wife, Mary (McClung) 
Anglin and his three unmarried children across
the mountains, in a Conestoga wagon, to his daughter's home on the prairie, still there in Clunette, In.
  

How the Gasts enhanced our family.

.Marge and Bob with friends around the time of their wedding.

The person who had the most influence on my teen years outside the immediate family was my wonderful first cousin, Marge Gast. I have published several of her writings here starting with her account of growing up at Angleton. I have always been amazed about all the ways our family have connected with the Gast family which I will record after some background on how they got here. I found this description doing research at the Old Jail Museum.

Maria and Andrew Halbeisan came from Switzerland with two children. They moved to Freemont, Ohio before coming to Akron, In. Andrew was a shoemaker and often walked to Peru for supplies. In September,1855, twins were born, Andrew Almondo and Mary Helen. Nine children reached maturity and attended school with Indian children. 
Andrew Almondo, called Double A, married Laura Bell in 1879, but she died in 1884 after having two sons,Estil A. (Marge's father-in -law) and Thomas.
In 1886 Double A. married Flora Etta Bitters. They had Karl B (Brick)1887 and Whitney Kline 1885,Marie Kathleen (Talbot)1900 and Robert Purcell(R.P.) 1904.

Double A grew up and became a building contractor, road builder, and extensive land owner. Elected sheriff of Fulton county in 1888, he served two terms then became Postmaster in Akron. He also built, owned and operated the Opera House there. His brick mills supplied material for the high school in 1914 and for many homes and churches. (but wait, there's more)..Double A helped form the telephone utility plus Akron Heat, Light and Power Co. Both he and his wife "Ettie" lived 101 years.

Here is where we come into the picture. Many years before our Marge and their Bob (Double A's grandson) met and married, Gaylord Long (my husband, Glen's dad,) got a job with Gast Construction Co. working close to where Gaylord lived in Morocco, In. He stayed on with them when they won a construction job around Warsaw. During that time he met and married Glen's mom, Martha Hoover.

Fast forward to the early 1950s when I am living and working with Marge...kind of a live in nanny. (She stayed in my bedroom on Washington St. when I was a child and she was in her early twenties.)  I could not count how many times Marge and Bob were a beacon to me and a boon to this community.  

I heard a spring heralding robin's sweet clear song this morning. Yesterday was St. Patrick's day. When Chris' family left about 5:30, snow that resembled fine Styrofoam beads was coating the porch. That is Indiana for you.

Rapp
I thought 17 year old  Aunt Anna might have something to say about Valentines but ..no.
This time in her life is all about boys and school.
Farmed out to family friends and neighbors to care for kids, she made the best of it. Her dad was remarried to a Ft. Wayne woman and Count was not married and settled so she could live there, yet. Her typical Sunday was like this:" Up at 8:00. Mary Alice (friend) and I went to  Sunday School. Ate dinner. Went to Kiefers then Cochrans. Then to Mary Alice's..was there most of the afternoon..we made candy (fudge),  We ate toasted cheese sanswitches + " and fruit salad. Stopped to see Count and ate supper. Listened to the radio then Count came up to get the catalogue ( probably Sears & Roebuck) to take home.Roy and Nora (where she was staying ) and I played Rum, I studied from 9:45 to 11:30. To bed at 11:45.

Best Valentine ever, I wish I still had..
Memories of my seventh year are pretty scant but I remember a valentine party I was honored to attend. 
We did not have the money for commercial valentine cards and the invitation said " bring one". My father was a commercial artist so he made a big bright valentine to take. I was not yet worried about being different. I just wanted cake. 
See the Feb. 17, 2014 post for early president's attempts at romance.

February is a short but big month in my life. I was married in February, my only son was born in this month ect. Youngest daughter's first son was b0rn in on this date,  February 11th.  Happy Birthday Nick!!

The dreded report card

People of a certain age like me remember them with chagrin. Mine were most likely discarded but somehow, Glen's survived.
I was cleaning out a desk drawer yesterday and found several from his celebrated years at East Wayne elementary. That school had eight grades in his day. Several years ago it was rebuilt in the same location. Now named Jefferson, it has six grades and a kindergarten, plus a pre-k. There are multiples of several grades. Some of the luckier kids have my lovely daughter-in-law for their teacher.
Anyway, when Glen attended first through eighth grade graduation, the report cards were somewhat different. There were no kindergartens in the school system then. His first grade card had 1938-39 penciled in. He was 5, so not six until November, and pretty small for his age, they still took him. 
The first declaration to parents
 was : On or before the first Wednesday of each school month this report will be filled out and sent to you. The eighth grade one 
stated the same including..if this student is failing you should try to find the cause and co-operate in correcting the difficulty. Your signature indicates that you have examined this report. It does not 
necessarily mean that you approve. Glen did ok in elementary but he excelled in High School and finished second in his class ..after the guy who became one of the first presidents of Grace College.