Tag Archives: old letters

Family matters

"I have told you a thousand lies I guess."

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The letters from my mom’s shoebox jump from 1918 to 1942. There was a good bit of migration from the Appalachian region to Detroit in the ’40s, and many of the remaining letters reflect that. This one has a dash of intrigue and a little romance, too. It’s one of my favorites.

Detroit, Mich
June 1, 1942

Dearest Mattie;

Will answer your letter I got Sat. It is the first chance I have had to answer it. I guess you have got the letter about Dixie Nell coming down there by now. I told her if she came back up here without you she was a goner. (Ha)

I would send this over where you stay but I don’t know where to send it. I guess you go home often though and you will get it anyway.

Dixie N is leaving here Sat., I guess you was glad to hear that. I was myself and I hope you are. I don’t know, but I just feel like sometimes that you won’t come or something like. I’m just crazy I guess. Well if nothing happens I’ll be seeing you about the 20th of this month. Boy I’ll bet you can’t get in the house under [illegible] and I gets through cooking and missing. We told Dixie we would get a blond to cook for us and boy does she blow up. You all had better hurry back or we might starve, you know we would before we get a blond, wouldn’t we? Maby we can make it if you all will hurry.

Say you are staying with Mack Tuck. Yes I know him. You live on the same street the hospital is on the lower side of the road, is that right? Maby it won’t be so hard to leave home now that you are already. They are lot of boys over there. I don’t know whether you are save over there or no? (Ha)

Mattie I love to hear you say I can trust you because I believe in you. I always have. I have told you a thousand lies I guess. You know it though. But not while I’m up here I haven’t told you a one. I had a few drinks Sat. is the first time. I’m not a sot like I usted to be Matter. I tell them I have to save my money to by baby …

[I think there must’ve been a page missing here]

… home [illegible] your myself if I had known it I could have left here Fri. night and got there the nixt night, but you can come with Dixie Nell and it will be all the same only I wish I could come with her.
Darling all I can tell you is that I’ll be waiting for you even forever, but I know you’ll be here. [illegible] that’s all there is to it. And please believe what I tell you. I quit lying long ago. I don’t lie, I guess lots of things to big sometimes, but I don’t guess when I talk to you.

Well I have to close now. Write to me everyday Mattie. I’ve just one letter in over a week. Please do.
Darling I love you and you and you

Your
[illegible, but my best guess is “Doug”]

Family matters

"Times is fairly good here."

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A few years ago, my mom gave me a shoebox full of old papers that her grandfather had saved. Some of them were yellowed receipts and such, but there were also quite a few letters from various family members. I scanned and transcribed them when Mom gave me the box, and then I didn’t do anything else with them other than think, “There could be a book here.”

Maybe some day I’ll get started on that. Until then, though, I’ll share the letters here. This one — to my great-great-grandfather from his brother — is the oldest.

January the 19: 1914

Dear Brother,

It is with much pleasure that I [illegible] a few lions to let you know that we are all well at this time. Hoping these few lions will go safe to your hands safe an find you all well. Well Tom I have been thinked I would [illegible] been putting it off you musent think hard of me. Well Tom I have been wanting to come over there for some time an have had no chance. I cant leave Eller an the children by their self an there is no one to stay with them. The old lady is gone back to the county home. Well Tom you must come over an see us. Eller and all the children has had a chance for measels. Their time to take them is next Sunday an I would bee glad if you would come an stay with me a few days. I will have no one to stay with me for every body has got the measels around here. Well I hope you had a good Cristmas an enjoyed your self. I had a mighty good time through Cristmas. We rabbit hunted some. They was one day that we killed 11 rabbits. We killed in all 25 an 3 patteridges.
I would like to see you all but I don’t know when I can get to come now. It will bee some time before we will get through with measels. Tell all of the folks howdy for my. Tell Jasper that all I no to [illegible] He hah just [lyed?].

Well Tom times is fairly good here. I want you to come if you posible can. I will be lonesom here by my self when Eller an the children gets down. You come an we will eat fresh meat till we cant see. I just killed on of my hogs to day that I had when you was here. It mad a good one to. You let me no whether you can come an stay a few days or not by return mail an if you can I will rite you when thay take them. So I will close by saying rite soon.

From your brother George McCall to T.R. McCall