There was a break in letters at this point - maybe there were more phone calls between my father and mother or maybe some letters went missing.
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 1 October 1947
Another day and another month has passed us by in our down hill struggle to be together and I'm hoping that many more similar days come and go at a rapid pace. Right about now I'm all worn out for some reason or other and I'm going to hit the sack as soon as I finish this letter. I figure I'm tired because I got up so early this morning to go to Mass and Communion. I'm still going strong and I shall try to keep it up as long as I can. I seem to be getting awful religious in my old age but I could think of worse things that I could be doing. If all my prayers are answered we should have a very happy and joyful life. The day was humid and hot and it seemed to drag and drag. This afternoon seemed endless and I was very glad that it ended. Since I have the duty today I couldn't quit early as has been my custom on slow days so the extra minutes of delay just dragged grudgingly along for me. The cool weather seems to shorten the days and I only wish that it would come and stay for a long spell. From all the weather reports that I've heard and read the cool or I should say cold Autumn seems to be with you all at home. You probably dislike it but I'd like to see some of it down here. It would really work wonders for all of us. Rumors are flying around once again about the disposition of the base but I'm just ignoring them all until an official notice comes out. I'm not going to build myself up into a nervous wreck jumping at every conclusion and then being set back disappointed. Seeing is believing but I'm keeping my eyes and ears open for an opportunity to get East. On hot dragging days like these I get forlorn and disgusted with it all so if my letter sounds down in the dumps blame it on the weather because it really is responsible for it all. I had two consolations today, your letter and pay day, the rest of the day was pure monotony. I'm going to answer your letter now because my inspirations are few and the few that I do have are melancholy. Norman and Hannie seem to have a case but such is life I guess. You are forgiven for missing Saturday night but please don't let it happen too often or I'll object quite strenuously. I am answering your letter of last Sunday and I'll be waiting tomorrow on pins and needles for the details of the sale. If all goes well I should get your letter tomorrow, Friday the latest. I'm glad my blues are on the way because the next time I send them home will be the last time and that should be in April sometime. I'm looking too far ahead I guess. I'm sorry that they caused you so much trouble because I was thinking of throwing them into my bag the last time that I was home but it skipped my mind at the last minute. Thanks a million for sending them to me. Football, I guess is the main topic all over these days and I would certainly enjoy being home and going to a few of the games, high school and collegiate. It isn't my luck this year but as I always seem to say, next year will be our year for it. Now that Jim has moved I guess things will be okay once again with no landlord to bother him and the kids, and he'll be able to save some money also which won't hurt in the long run. Cynthia & Kathleen will build up your experience in Child Welfare for the coming years so you should be in for a hectic time. I'll be round to either aid or hinder so it really won't be too bad. I miss you terribly honey and I hope that time zips by like anything. I'm going to close out for now so take care of yourself. I love you with all of my heart.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & always
John”
My uncle Jim Keohane and family were living at 183 Waltham Street in Newton in 1945 - Jim was working as a welder.
I don't know where they moved in 1947, but they were living at 12 Caulfield Circle in Newton in the 1949 Newton Street Directory - Jim was a sheet metal worker. I know he was working at Raytheon in Waltham when I was young - he might have helped my father get a job there. They were both laid off from Raytheon at some point.
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 2 October 1947
Here I am once again and we seem to be well started into the month of October which will shorten our time of separation by another month. The time is moving but I guess the heat has me on edge once again because the days seem to have slowed down a bit for me. The ensuing weeks will bring about a change in the weather for which I shall be thankful and then time will really move along. It won't be long until Columbus Day and Armistice Day have passed by and with Christmas and New Years next on the list the year will be gone. As usual I'm too far ahead of myself but I miss you terribly and any dreaming that I do to ease the pain in my heart helps me out a lot but I hate to return to reality once more as I must. I'm going to try to get a leave for New Years if possible if it can't be arranged I'll try to get home for our anniversary in February. It's a little early yet to plan anything because you never can tell what will happen down here from one month to the other. The rumor market is doing business once again but as usual I'm still sitting tight and keeping my fingers crossed hoping and waiting for the best to happen if and when it does. I went to Mass and Communion this morning once again and I have a feeling that I'm becoming quite angelic or something. This is the longest stretch of daily Communion that I can remember so I must be improving with age. The only setback is that I miss my extra hour of sleep in the morning and I get drowsy early at night from it all. This week will end the early Masses as the Masses from now on will be in the afternoon at five.
I have been looking around for a present for you that won't drain my expenses but I can't find anything special. I'll locate something though to hold you over until I get enough money for a plane ticket and get enough spare money to buy you something real nice as I promised you. I'm always thinking of getting home that is why I like to keep enough money in hand for a plane ticket just in case. Tomorrow I'll give another look and see what I can dig up around here.
I got the letter that I've been looking for today and now that everything is settled around the homestead I'm quite happy. It is all sort of unbelievable to me, owning a house and all that at times I'm amazed at our capabilities, honestly I am. I guess it was the suddenness of it all that makes it seem so strange but at times I don't realize it. That ninety dollars extra was a very rough estimate made at the bank and a lot under what my mother and father figured on so you did quite well. I am as proud of you as I can possibly be and I wish that I could be home so that we could both be completely and permanently happy. After all of the deductions for this that and the other Gladys didn't have too much left after all. If that's all that is left I don't intend to sell out ever. If you haven't already please thank her for giving us such a wonderful break in the deal and that we appreciate it very much indeed. If we are lucky and fortunate enough to go on another buying splurge I hope that we can get another good break. So far we have done amazingly well from my way of thinking and we have only started out on our road of life.
I was really surprised to hear of her small policies and I'm glad that you mentioned them. The lawyer gave you good sound advice. If that house should have burned up while she owned it her two policies would have paid her about 2000 dollars at the very most. A poor business woman. If you have enough money cover it for twelve years and then all of our worries will be over until the house is ours. While we have the money we should use it to our best advantage and do all these things long range to save worry & strain in the future. Well honey what I didn't answer tonight I'll answer tomorrow. Okay? I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you so very very much. Please take real good care of yourself.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always and always
John"
I found a copy of the deed filed when my mother and father bought the house on Green Street in Book 7194 Page 581 in the South Middlesex Registry of Deeds. I remember my mother saying that she had called my father and told him that the house was for sale - what should she do? She said my father said to make an offer on the house. My mother said she had no idea what to offer. From my father's letters it sounds like they might have discussed it with my father's parents. My mother said that she came up with a figure and made an offer for the house that was accepted.
"Know all men by these presents, that I, Gladys L Hoey, of Watertown, County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Administrator of the Estate of Ellen A White, late of Watertown, aforesaid, by the power conferred by license of the Probate Court for the County of Middlesex dated September 23, 1947 for Seventy-eight Hundred ($7800.00) and every other power, paid, grant to John J Manning and Ellen M Manning, husband and wife, as tenants by the entirety, a certain parcel of land with the buildings thereon situated in said Watertown and bounded: Beginning at the northwesterly corner of the following described premises, said point being 58 feet more or less southeasterly from the southerly line of Green Street at the northwesterly corner of land now or late of Barron: thence running southeasterly by land now or late of Hoyes 61.65 feet more or less to land of Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston thence turning and running northeasterly by land of said Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston 50.13 feet more or less to land now or late of Horn; thence turning and running Northwesterly by land of said Horne, 55.55 feet more or less; thence turning and running southwesterly by land now or formerly of Barron 50.13 feet, more or less, to point of beginning. The area enclosed by above description covers 2955 square feet, more or less. Said premises are conveyed together with the benefit of passageway rights as described in the deed recorded with Middlesex (So Dist) Deeds, book 4633, page 490.
Witness my hand and seal this twenty-ninth day of September 1947.
Signed Gladys L Hoey
Middlesex September 29, 1947
Then personally appeared the above-named Gladys L Hoey, administratrix as aforesaid and acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be her free act and deed, before me John J Curran (?) My commission expires May 21, 1948.
Rec'd & entered for record Sept 30, 1947 at 3h. 4m. P.M. #267"
The right side of this page has 2 listings: Book 20753 P 344 (?) and Book 23142 P 60
The Whites lived at 298 rear River Street - if you look down the driveway between the two houses below, you see another building on the left - perhaps that was 298 rear.
I also found Watertown street directories for 1912, 1914, 1915, and 1917 that listed John M White, carpenter with a house at 4 Green Street.
In the 1920 US Census for Watertown, Gladys was 11 years old - she and her family lived at 8 Green Street. Her 45 year old father John White owned the house - he emigrated from Canada in 1895 and had taken out papers for citizenship. He was a carpenter for a (?) Jobbing Company. His 40 year old wife Ellen had emigrated from Ireland in 1898. They had 3 children: 13 year old Florence, 1 year old Gladys, and 6 year old Russell.
I like the picture below - it shows all the houses in this small area on Green Streets - on the far left is my old house at 222 Main Street - Pauline Courtney owned that house. The light colored 2 family house in the front is 8 and 10 Green Street - Gladys' father owned this house, but I'm not sure if she lived upstairs or downstairs. The tan house in back near the steeple for St Patrick's Church is 4 and 6 Green Street - the house that Gladys will sell to my parents in 1947. The triple decker was owned by the Walsh family. The blue house on the right was a single family house.
The Watertown Assessors Office lists #8-#10 as being built around 1920 - there was no #8 on the 1898 map. The triple decker in back is listed as built in 1830 - so was this house one of the houses on the 1898 map? And the blue house on the right was supposed to have been built in 1910.
By the 1930 US Census the Whites were living at 6 Green Street - that is now the upstairs apartment in the tan house. John and Ellen White own the house which is worth $4800 - they have a radio. He has become a naturalized citizen and is a carpenter for the town. 23 year old Florence works as a clerk at an insurance company - 22 year old Gladys is a stenographer for an architect - 16 year old Russell is attending school.
So the Whites owned the tan house in back and the yellow house in front?
By the 1940 US Census the Whites have moved across Green Street to #17 - they own the house which is worth $3500. John White has died. The family has been living in this house since at least 1935. Florence is still working as a typist clerk at an insurance company. Gladys is housekeeping, and Russell is unable to work. Gladys' husband Eddie Hoey is a truck driver for a laundry.
The green house below is #15 and #17 Green Street - this is looking down toward Main Street - this was built about 1910. The yellow house on the right is #8 and #10 Green Street which the Whites also owned.
I think the Whites owned both of these two family homes at one time - the one on the left is #19-#21 Green Street - this was also built about 1910. The Watertown Housing Authority has them now.
By the 1950 US Census, Ellen White had died - her son-in-law Eddie Hoey was the head of the family - he worked 75 hours the previous week as a milkman for a retail milk company. Neither Gladys, Florence or Russell were working.
I vaguely remember Eddie and Gladys Hoey when I was growing up on Green Street. I knew they owned the 2 houses across the street, but I don't remember hearing that the Whites had ever owned our house or the house in front.
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 3 October 1947
Hello again my pet. I just returned from the football game here on the base which we lost 8-2 so it's pretty late and I'll make this a "quickie." I hope that you don't mind because after getting a long letter today I feel kind of guilty only writing a short one. I'll answer it tomorrow night though when my inspiration will be low and I'll really need something to fall back on. The football game was plenty exciting but the results prove that the sailors can't train on beer and night life and win ball games. They tried real hard though I'll give them credit for that. My work week is over and I have a long weekend to bypass thru some sort of diversion. I have a watch Sunday morning that will consume four hours for me but the rest is just lingering time. I bet a couple of bucks on a football pool and if I win I'll buy you anything that your heart desires. I'll have to win first so I'll be sweating all the football games tomorrow to learn my fate. Hope for good luck and you can have all of the things you have been wanting and that I have been promising you. Here's hoping!
I went to Mass and Communion this afternoon, first Friday and my streak continues. I think I'll sleep in tomorrow and wait until Sunday before I go again. I'll call you Sunday afternoon just to tell you how much I love you and miss you which adds up to something tremendous indeed. I'll let you know then how I made out in my gamble. I hope I succeed but my luck never was too much to brag about as far as gambling is concerned. I'm going to sign off for now until tomorrow night by telling you that I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you tremendously.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always
John xx
P.S. - 347 days
49 weeks to go
116 ?"
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 4 October 1947
I had intended to write a long letter to you tonight but once again I am foiled as this is the end of my paper. I didn't realize that I used so much of it so I'll postpone the long letter until tomorrow night. I didn't go to Mass this morning so my streak has ended but I shall commence again this coming week as the Masses are in the afternoon except on Sunday. All afternoon I have been sweating out the football games and as is my usual case I couldn't make out in the pool if my life depended on it. I came close but close ones don't count so my thoughts of quick riches are out of the window once again. It was a good gamble $200 for two so the chances were worth taking. It took away a terrific spell of loneliness that I had today so listening to the games took my mind off of you temporarily. At times I think I'm on the verge of going nuts but something comes up that distracts me. Thank God. I miss you terribly more so on weekends when there is absolutely nothing doing whatsoever and I keep thinking of being home with you and going here there or somewhere else or just being home. That is one real reason that I hate to see week-ends roll round down here. It all adds up to such a terrific waste of time for both of us when (we) could be doing something else that would leave us both happy and contented. It will all end soon though, that is one consolation and I'm praying that it will be soon. It's just the atmosphere and lack of diversion that brings on this very melancholy mood but I'll get over it soon I hope. The show tonight stunk. 'Singapore' with Fred MacMurray and Ava Gardiner. A lot of muck and junk with a little sentiment thrown in was all that it added up to. Well honey I have the first watch tomorrow so I'm going to sign off for now and hit the sack I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you so desperately. Please take care of yourself.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always
John x”
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 5 October 1947
Here once again is your poor downhearted loving husband who has just completed a trying and a lonely day. I called you about a dozen times but couldn't make out and then in one last call of desperation I finally talked to your mother. I had visions of all sorts of things when no one answered all afternoon but your mother cleared it all up. I was worried stiff all day. I put my first call in at two o'clock your time and continued to call al least twice an hour up until seven o'clock. I couldn't imagine what had happened and it seemed awful strange that no one answered the phone all afternoon. I intended to keep calling until midnight and if I didn't get any answer then I was going to get desperate and call the cops. I really wanted to talk to you, not over anything important, just to talk. I've been so low and lonesome these past couple of days I needed to hear your voice to cheer me up and bring a glow of happiness and comfort into this miserable life that I'm leading. Since that won't be the case I'll wait until next Saturday or Sunday to talk to you whichever is convenient to you. I remember reading about the parade but I forgot the date. Now that my worries are over I'll relax and go to bed. I had hoped to get some writing paper today while I was on watch but no luck so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to write you that long letter that I promised you. Just about now I haven't got enough paper to talk or write about anything only that I love yo so very very much and that I really miss you desperately. I could kid myself along and say that the time is moving right along but I'll be realistic and say that the time is dragging by and that I'm very lonely and down in the dumps. I do love you and I miss you so very very much. I hope that tomorrow I'll be in a better mood. Until then please take care of yourself.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & always
John xxx”
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 6 October 1947
My whole outlook on life has taken a complete reversal due to the fact that I received a windfall of mail today from everyone. I got two letters and a package from you, my blues, a letter from my mother and last but not least a letter from your Aunt Nellie. It tickled me pink to get them all and I feel very very happy indeed. What letters do for my morale and disposition you can never realize. Last night I was completely demoralized from loneliness and such but today I'm in a world completely my own. I thank you from the bottom of my heart my dearest for pulling me out of my slump and I only hope that someday in someway I may have the chance to reciprocate because it will be a great joy for me to bring you as much pleasure as your mail has brought me today. You are more wonderful than I can ever possibly tell you. If you can keep it up my trials and depressive moods will be at a minimum from now on.
I didn't get any news from home because nothing has happened back there but she sent me her love and best wishes so what more could I ask for. Your Aunt Nellie's letter was very chatty and newsy and I got the dope on the Cape as it stands. She told me that she didn't think that they would get back to Boston before Nov 15 so they still have about a month to go. It must be pretty cold down there at this time of the year but they don't seem to mind it as she didn't mention it in her letter. If we were ever down there now that the nights are getting cold I'm afraid that you would need a couple of blankets as I don't think that I could keep both of us warm enough. I'd be very very willing to try just to see how it would work out but I'm afraid that we will have to wait until next year when things will be different then I'll be able to keep you warm each and every night. Boy what pleasures and joy I'm missing out on by being down here in this God forsaken wasteland but since time is moving us closer I'll wait.
She thinks I did a wonderful job in buying the house in Watertown and sends me all her luck. She thinks that we are both wonderful and why shouldn't she, because we are both wonderful and I'm the first to admit it. You, of course are a little more wonderful than I am but that is as it should be because you are wonderful as I've told you so very very often. Fred is coming along all right and from all indications I guess he will be in full swing by the time they get home. I certainly hope so because he has all his old connections and cronies to meet and a bum leg would really be quite a hindrance to him. Mae's father and Fred had quite a time while they were together - so I guess Fred is quite happy over it all. I'll have to pay him a call when I get home again this winter if all goes well. Now that I have passed along the news from my home and the Cape I'll try to think of something from here. Nothing is happening that creates any excitement in fact it's quite dead around here. I went to Mass and Communion again this afternoon and if you receive all of the graces that I'm praying to have bestowed on you you will undoubtedly glow all over. I'm praying for your health and safety and our mutual happiness together plus wisdom strength and fortitude for the both of us. Being young and inexperienced in this game of life we need all of these virtues to see our way through to a happy contented life.
I heard the last game of the World Series today which the Yankees won so I can't imagine how I'll spend my weekends and afternoons from now on in. I'll have to find a new routine I guess as I'll need something to keep me occupied for the rest of my time down here.
As I told you before I got my blues today and they arrived in good shape. All they need is a press and they will be ready to wear in any eventuality that arises. I want to thank you again honey for all your effort and for doing a swell job of packing. That will be the last time you shall have had to pack them because when I bring them home again they shall be home to stay and for keeps that really sounds wonderful. I'll have to stand five inspections in them and then I'll have no further use for them except to wear around the house. Maybe I can get a civilian cuff put on them and use them for dress. Enough of that for now I had best get to answering your letters or I'll run out of paper all over again. I'm going back now to the one I promised to answer before but kept postponing over the weekend. Right off the bat before I do it I want you to go to the bank or some one else who knows anything about the housing laws and find out definitely how much we can legally raise the rent. I think it's still only 15% as they still have rent controls and if we charge more even though the Callahans voluntarily agree we can be hailed into court. Look it up as the fine is pretty stiff and we have no intention of dishing out dough needlessly. As long as the house pays for itself that's all that we care about. Please don't forget.
I miss the radio down here and I'm going to take your advice and buy one, not a real good one only a cheap job that will hold me over while I'm down here and give me a few good hours of entertainment. I like that great big writing paper that you're using now as the letters seem quite long even the 'shorties.' I'm glad that my letters are building up your spirits after a tough day at the office and if they help you one half as much as yours help me they must be doing wonders. The letter that I wrote to you yesterday wouldn't cheer you up much after a tough day but since I don't write dismal letters very often I don't think it will dampen your spirits any. I hope not.
As for all those presents that I intend to buy you and you insist that I should well I've declared a truce on them and I postpone the matter for a while unless I run into a windfall of cash in the immediate future which seems uncertain at this writing. When I do buy them I'll surprise you. You are a most wonderful wife and deserve anything that I can get for you regardless of your pleas to the contrary.
As for saving the surplus money that we collect on the rent I think it's a good idea. Put (it) into your account if you wish and in that way we will know how we stand in the matter. I'm not contemplating making any profit but as I've said before as long as the house carries itself and has enough left over to pay the water bill each year we haven't a care in the world. With everything working out like that we are saving for ourselves for the future with the house just an added asset to fall back on if and when times get really really rough. I want to congratulate you on your saving spirit by boosting your bond deductions up to $6.00 a week because at the end of the year it really adds up and we can always use it later when we need it. Between the two of us we can save $500 bucks thru bond savings alone which should add a little something to our previous figures. I hope that you don't think I'm being money mad or anything along that line, because I'm saving for an object we, a way out, for both of us so that we can have happiness and serenity in the future. In order to reach the objective we will both run into privations of one sort or another but the results will more than pay for them. I want happiness and comforts for you and me without breaking our backs to attain it and winding up in the end with nothing. Good times won't last forever and if a bust does come in the future those that have will make out and I want us to be getting our share of everything.
I'm going to answer just one of the letters that I received from you today and then I'm going to bed because I'm feeling the pangs of writers cramp on my fingers. Your mail is reaching me all right now since you have got back into the swing of things. Keep up the good work honey because you are doing real well and I love you dearly for it all. My Masses prayers and Communions are all for you and us as I've told you before and if they bring us happiness I'll make it a lifelong habit because I do want real honest to God happiness for both of us more than I want anything else.
That draft to Pensacola that I missed out on was only one of many that are scheduled to leave so maybe I'll be lucky enough to make it someday. I hope so as this place is really desolate. I read the Post write up on the Watertown-Dedham game and I guess the boys have quite a squad. Being a Town taxpayer now I guess I have to root for them.
I hope Mae told Aunt Hannah about our vain efforts to try to get to see her just so we won't be blacklisted. This life is really rugged but we shall saunter down to see them sometime if and when the opportunity arises. We have to stay in the good graces of all. So Stephen thinks that we got a good buy in the house, well for once we agree on something although I thought so at first. When we do go over to see them we will have a mutual subject to talk over so we won't be arguing all of the time intentionally or unintentionally. Well that's that for tonight kid 'cause I simply have got to go to bed and get my rest. If you were here with me talking to me instead of me writing well then maybe things would be different if you know what I mean, so I have to go to bed alone. I love you my dear with my whole heart and soul and I miss you terribly. Please take care of yourself.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always
John xx
P.S. I'll call Saturday or Sunday. Okay?”
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 7 October 1947
The second day of the week has come and gone and time is really moving along at a steady pace. Tomorrow will find the week half gone and I haven't done or accomplished a blessed thing as far as work or production is concerned. That's the whole trouble around here I guess the constant continual monotony of doing absolutely nothing day in and day out. It won't change either so I'll have to sit it out. Saturday morning is inspection for all of us, it isn't official as yet but we are all preparing for it nevertheless. I received another letter from you today. I should say two letters in one envelope because that's the way that it was. I'll answer them a little later on when I use up all my inspirations such as they are. I had planned to write to Aunt Nellie and my mother tonight but I'll let it go until tomorrow I guess as I went to the show tonight and as a result I have only time for one letter and that's to you, my favorite correspondent.
As has been my custom as of late I went to Mass & Communion again today and you are once again the recipient of all my prayers and blessings so by now you should really be inspired. As I've told you now and then in my letters rumors are still flying around as to the final status of this place and although I listen to them with bated breath, I still don't put any faith into them. If I did I'd be going around in circles and at this stage of the game that would be quite disastrous for me as I can only think of getting home to you and staying there. If anything comes up that is official and confirmed you shall be the first to know I promise you. Every week a batch of guys get discharged out of here so our manpower is being drained little by little. If it gets much lower they definitely will have to close down because there won't be anyone around to keep the place going. I'm not worrying about it too much because it's exactly what I want provided it will get me East.
I think I'll get to your letters now because as usual no information down here makes me turn to your letters for inspiration. I have a couple to answer so I'll try to clear them all up. I'm taking your advice in buying a radio as I told you last night and I contacted a chief I know who has a couple and I'll probably buy one from him. I'll let you know how I make out. I really need one to while away my lonely hours especially on weekends when the days and nights seem endless and are so very lonesome.
There doesn't seem to be much excitement anywhere these days so if any does arise you should be well rested for it. Since nothing usually happens around here for me to get excited about I have no alternative but to relax and take it easy and save myself until I get home to you. You are all the excitement I need. I'm looking forward to being with you with all of my heart and I'm praying for time to fly by so that it will be realized but quick. Hannie and Norman seem to be going at very strong but keeping Hannie out so late Thursday night sort of put him in the dog house with your mother. It reminds me so vividly of all our late sessions down by the river but I don't recall keeping you out quite that late although I do recall a few three o'clock dates. Those were the days kid that I'll never forget. Memories of yesteryear.
You are reading a terrific amount kid but please take it easy on your eyes or you will end up blind for fair. To put all that time in a book sounds very complimentary for the book because it makes it sound quite interesting. I'll look it up and give it a whirl. My whole trouble is that I can't concentrate long enough to finish one as I keep jumping from one book to the other and any novel that I like seems to end too abruptly. I'm just inconsistent I guess.
Incidentally not that it makes much difference, if you recall you said that you were going to quit smoking but I see that you are still at it. I guess they have got you too.
Now for your letter of Sunday. I guess you couldn't have felt any worse than I felt because I built up a case of blues all day long and when I couldn't contact you I just gave up. I figured after the parade you went to a show and wouldn't be home until later so I didn't call again. I was really despondent, more so than I have ever been and only a little sound reasoning kept me from following your example of crying my blues away, I was so lonely and blue that I was almost tempted to pack my bags and go home but the consequences are too grave now that I have so little time to do. When you called me I must have been at the show because I kept calling steady all afternoon until I went to the show. I'm sorry, really sorry, that I caused you to cry over it all and I only hope that it doesn't happen again. It won't if I can prevent it. Being down here and after kicking around these past few years my hide and mind are toughened to disappointment but I don't want to cause you any grief or pain ~ ever. I'll call this weekend and everything will be all right. Well honey I'm going to have to close out for now until tomorrow when I shall write once again. I love you with all of my heart and miss you and want you terribly. Please take care honey.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always
John xx”
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 8 October 1947
Hello again my dearest. Today makes this month one quarter gone besides cutting the week in half. I'm still waiting for these days to take a sudden spurt and hurry right on past unnoticed. If they ever go by me unnoticed I'll swear that I slept thru them. I took your advice and bought a radio from one of the chiefs that slept in the barracks before I went home on leave. He is now living on the base with his wife and family and because of a foul up in his mailing address he is up against it and is broke. I paid him fifteen dollars for the radio and think I got the best of the deal. Now my evenings and weekends won't be so lonesome due to the diversion that radio entertainment provides. I'm in a happy frame of mind over it all. Some of the rumors that I told you about have been partially confirmed. The personnel of this base is going to be slashed fifty percent and they are to be transferred elsewhere. I don't know to where they will be sent so I beseech you to say a prayer for me and that I shall be deposited upon the heavenly soil that is Quonset Point. Your prayers were always answered before and maybe they will be once again. I'm hoping that it will turn out to be so. I've been dreaming about back there ever since I left and I know that you would want me back there. So please say a few prayers for me.
I received another letter from (you) today so I'm very happy on that account also. It was postmarked yesterday at noon so the mail is really coming along at a terrific pace. Now if it keeps up like this everything will be quite wonderful.
I went down town this morning and drew my money out of the bank and endeavored to buy some white shoes for inspection but to no avail. I have no alternative but to wear my black ones. I'll probably get bawled out for it but what the heck. This is the last inspection in whites so I'll not have to worry about white shoes until next year ~ April or May.
I'm going to answer your letter now so that I won't get too far behind in my correspondence. Reading over your past two letters I've come to the conclusion that our minds run in the same channel - we both experienced terrible disappointment Sunday but Monday with its mail deliveries brought about a complete changeover. It's simply got to be love that causes it all. I was terribly disappointed Sunday but when I got your mail Monday the world was once again quite a beautiful place to be living in. Now that it is all over and we have our wires uncrossed everything will go along well. I'm glad that my mail brings you so much joy as yours fill me with all kinds of happiness. I'm still continuing with my Mass and Communion and will indefinitely I guess. As for your presents well I'll have to postpone them for a while. If and when I do send you something I don't want you to reciprocate as you put it, because right now I have everything I can use so please save your money as we can use it later.
I'm glad that everything is going along as well as it is and if Gladys has any comedowns it's much too late. The house is ours and ours to stay. Find out about that insurance as soon as you can because it's imperative that we protect our investment because if we run into something drastic we are out $7800. I'm going to close out for now because my roommate has to do some pressing and will be using the table. I'll write again tomorrow so until then take it easy. I love you and miss you dearly.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always
John xx”
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 9 October 1947
My dearest Ellen, how goes the battle with you today? I just returned from the show where I saw 'Kiss of Death' with Victor Mature. I liked it a lot although it seemed dragged out in spots although the dragged out portions only added to the suspense. If you haven't read the reviews as yet it's a story of a guy who turns squealer and the mob has the finger on him to sort of erase him from this planet. It was really good and I liked it a lot because it seemed realistic and possible. If you see it take a good grip on your seat.
As usual today I went to Mass and Communion that topping off a rather speedy day. This week has really rolled by and it's much to my liking. If the months only roll by just as quickly I'll indeed be very happy. I don't know what is making it go so fast but it is really moving along - I'm not complaining.
I received a letter from you this afternoon so my day was really complete. As I told you before, I guess it was in yesterday's letter that I've been looking for a pair of white shoes to wear for inspection. Well yesterday I looked all over town and failed to find any but today I went to Ships Service and made out like mad. There staring me in the face was a pair of white shoes. I wasn't going to buy them but I can always wear them when I get out. They will probably give me a sharp look which I'll need. If I didn't think of wearing them as a civilian I really don't think I would have bought them. But since things will work out okay I'm laying my money on the line. Between painting and football games plus the inspection I'm going to be a busy character but that's the way that I want it. Sunday afternoon I'll give you a buzz and then relax listening to the radio. It sounds as though I have it all planned out but I'm almost certain that something will come along to disrupt it completely. I had intentions of listening to Al Jolson but I went to the show instead.
I'll answer your letter now. It was really wonderful to hear from you one again and I must say that your mail is coming along at a steady pace and I thank you very very much for all of your letters. I'm listening to Eddie Cantor so if the letter runs off at a tangent blame it on distraction.
I would really and truthfully love to be home now that the leaves are changing color and everything is beginning to look like autumn. I guess I'm just homesick that's all. It must really be beautiful at home now but it continues to be hot and drab down here. With Miss Mac on vacation you should be having yourselves quite a relaxing time at work. It's about time that you can relax now after a hectic year. As for my leaves I'll try to get home for ten days during the winter and then ten days again early in the Summer in June I guess. After that I'll await your arrival down here and my ultimate discharge. How does that appeal to you? It's the best that I can do right now as anything else will make the intervals excessively long for both of us. This way we will be able to see each other about every 120 days. Mae and Frances will really lose weight over that money but I've come to the conclusion that you don't get anything for nothing and anything that you do get isn't worth it.
I'd sooner see Frances get (it) than Mae because she can really use it whereas Mae will throw it away on junk of one sort or another. Agreed? By the time the lawyer gets his cut I doubt if there will be much left. Well that's all for now. Any portions that I've omitted I'll answer over the weekend. I miss you very very much my dearest and I love you with all of my heart and soul. Please take care.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always
John”
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 9 October 1947
Hello my sweet, another week has ended and I'm that much nearer to you. This week moved right along so as you can guess I have no complaints, at least not too many any way. The time is getting short but there is still a lot to go nevertheless but at this rate it shouldn't be too long. It won't be too long now until Thanksgiving will be behind us and then the turn of the year. After the first of the year time will really roll by. Oh happy happy day.
As usual I went thru my holy ritual of Mass and Communion and I'm getting set now for Inspection tomorrow morning. I bought a pair of shoes, white ones, so I'm all set for everything that comes along. Tomorrow I'll paint the rooms so I'll be occupied for the day. I'm looking forward longingly for a phone call Sunday afternoon when I'll be able to speak to you and let my morale be built up as only you can build it up. I got a letter from you today also so my day and weekend is quite complete. With all the work that I have planned plus your phone call I'll be well on my way to full time employment with very few moments moping around getting lonesome and blue. There isn't any football game downtown tonight but I have a college game on the radio that will be a substitute. Maybe tonight I can catch up on my correspondence but I doubt it. If I do get any spare time over the weekend I'll definitely have to write to Aunt Nellie and Fred and to my mother also. If I let it pile up too long I'm afraid I'll be disowned by all concerned and that would never do. By the way honey if you ever think of it send me Aunt Hannah's address so that I can send her a card every now and then to show them that I haven't forgotten them completely. If we ever do go to see them sometime at least we won't have to make excuses from the outset. Anything to keep them all happy. Around the beginning of December I'll probably be inquiring about a lot of other addresses in order to send some Christmas cards to all concerned. I guess I'm looking too far ahead but I'm giving you a tip beforehand.
Nothing of interest happened today so I'm going to get to your letter right away. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart my dearest for your letters that are arriving here each and every day because without them I don't know what I would possibly do. Keep it up honey you are wonderful and I love you tremendously. Let's forget last Sundays mix up as neither of us were to blame, it's just that we got our signals crossed. I don't blame you for it and if it makes you feel better I forgive you. I don't want you blaming yourself for our mutual mistakes. When we speak Sunday all will be okay.
I really would like to see the expression on Madeline's face when she walks into the shower that Annie is going to hold for her. Annie certainly saved you a tremendous amount of work by having that shower at her place. I agree that you were the most surprised or should I say frightened person I ever saw at your shower. I'll never get over the idea of you wanting to bring a bottle and me making up excuses attempting to talk you out of it. With all those people there I'm afraid your face would have been quite red indeed. Sweet sweet memories of hectic though happy days of yore. Annie must be really going to town in doing over the house. Now that it is her own home she can fix it up as she wishes and from all accounts she is quite well. After the way the old folks had it, it must seem like a different place altogether. It's a nice big place with plenty of room all over so she and Neil have plenty of room to move around.
When I get out and we get settled down to living like normal people we can look around for something that we like and we can start life as we planned and as we like. I for one would love it whether you can cook or not. After all if you do the cooking you must remember that you will have to eat the same stuff that I do. After eating this goulash that the Navy passes out any attempt on your part would be a very welcome improvement. That isn't flattery honey that's the truth. Down here the only thing worth boasting about is the baking and it's good. Just keep watching your mother and ask a few questions and you'll get all the information that you need. It really will be heaven honey just the two of us together and living our own lives. I'm looking forward to it with all of my heart. Incidentally did you ever get the sinks you wrote to me about? I just thought about it so I figured I'd ask you about it. I'll ask you Sunday. I read over the folder that you sent to me and the house is a dream and something that I've been dreaming about for a long, long time. It's something for both to really work on and try to attain if not in the near future then in a few years time. Before I do any more purchasing I'll have to get a job, a steady one and then we can look to the future and plan accordingly. You seem to be having the same dreams that I am having and they are not silly they are very good dreams. Let's work to a house like that where we can just be ourselves. Send along all your ideas I'm listening with all ears. If all goes well maybe in four or five years we will be able to get a home of our own.
Please honey get a hold of some insurance on that house as soon as you can because if anything should happen we would wind up with nothing except a mortgage.
Well honey I'm going to close out for tonight and I'll write again tomorrow night. I love you my dearest with all of my heart and soul and I miss you terribly. Please take care of yourself.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always and always
John xxx”
Annie O'Callahan was one of my mother's best friends - we saw earlier that she was living at 238 Main Street in Watertown - very close to the Keohanes on Green Street. Her mother Annie died just before Christmas in 1946, and her father died 2 months later in February 1947! It sounds like Annie got the house on Main Street from her parents or maybe she and her husband Neil Stevens bought it. This is the house where my best childhood friend lived - Alice Nelligan and her family lived upstairs where Annie lived before her - I spent many happy times in that house. Annie's sister Alice and her husband Joseph Bertrand are living in the downstairs apartment in the 1950 US Census. When I lived on Main Street - across Green Street from them, I used to go out for breakfast on Saturdays with Johnny Bertrand and his wife Joanie Marchand whose family owned Jack's Variety Store on Orchard Street. Joanie used to work in the Town Clerk's Office across Main Street where I got to know her. Johnny Bertrand's younger sister Rita Ricard went to St Pat's School with my sister Patty.
My very dearest darling Ellen, 12 October 1947
I didn't write to you last night because I didn't want to disturb the chief that I sleep with. He had a watch from midnite till eight this morning and after I returned from the show he was trying to get some sleep so as I said, rather then disturb him I didn't write. Nothing happened yesterday any way except inspection which came off all right and quite faster than the last one that I stood. I hope that they are all just as fast. After all of my planning as to what I was going to do over the weekend I wound up doing exactly nothing except listen to the football games and read a few magazines. The radio saved me from blowing my top. Today went along smoothly and hearing your voice on the phone really helped out tremendously. I had thought up a million things to ask you all during the week but as was the case with you they just didn't come to my mind when I spoke to you. I'll call you again in a couple of weeks and maybe we'll be able to remember. That's the first time I've heard your voice on the phone for ages or so it seems. Honey please forgive me for closing out abruptly but my head is pounding and throbbing and it feels as though it is going to crack open. I don't know what causes these headaches but they seem to come around each Sunday night. I guess it's just the boredom or that I eat too much for dinner and don't get any exercise. I'll write you a long letter tomorrow. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you terribly my dearest. Please take good care of yourself.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always
John xx”
"13 October 1947
My very dearest darling Ellen,
A great big hello to you once again and how goes the battle. Today it rained and rained so as you can see it was rather dismal with the heat and rain. I did get a letter from you today so my day wasn't completely dismal and without cheer. I was greatly pleased to hear from you today once again as I am always. Last night although I wasn't despondent and full of remorse or loneliness I did have a terrific headache that almost pounded the roof off my skull. It's all gone now and I'm feeling pretty good now. I said last night that I blamed it on eating too much and lack of something to do so I guess that's it. They usually come around every weekend and they go away Monday morning. Weekend blues I guess!
Nothing happened today not even a good rumor to think about but the day moved along. I had intended to go to Mass this afternoon but I forgot to muster and by the time I thought of it and did muster it was too late to go to Church so my streak has ended. I'll pick up again tomorrow where I left off today and endeavor to continue my righteous path. Some night this week I'm going down town to see 'Gone with the Wind' which is playing all this week. Yesterday the place was mobbed but maybe when I get around to seeing it it won't be so crowded. I missed it when it first came out so I'll see it now while the opportunity is presenting itself. Friday night I'll be witnessing another football game so it will have to be between now and then, maybe tomorrow night. I still haven't written to Aunt Nellie and my mother. Every time I start out to write something comes up to side track me so it's still hanging over my heart. I'll have to get to it really soon. Incidentally I'm getting to hear Christopher Lynch tonight so I'm all ears. I haven't heard him for ages and since he reminds me of home I'm going to listen quite attentively. Please let me know how you make out in your paper hanging venture in the dining room. It will really brighten it up and I hope that you got some nice paper, bright and cheerful. Hannie and Norman must be going quite strong if he could be convinced to help paper the room. That's love I guess. With the pipes all cleared, the dining room papered and a new sink on the way I'm afraid I won't know the place when I get home. If I get home late at night on my next leave and walk in unannounced as I did before I'll swear that I am in the wrong house. That I shall have to wait to see. As I told you over the phone I may be able to get home for New Year's if not I'll wait until February when I'll take ten or twelve days. After that leave I'll take another about June. How's that? It's the best that I can do to cut down long waiting periods in between. With Miss Mac on vacation you people seem to be having a picnic. Too bad that it can't always be like that and then life would be complete indeed. I would really love to be home now as the leaves are changing colors. Your letter describing the Autumn foliage makes me long and yearn to be home. I saw some pictures of Lake Walden in Life and they brought back such pleasant memories of our summer vacation. I want to be with you always and always. I never heard of Timberlane but we should know all about it when Hannie returns. If she doesn't watch out she will wind up getting married and she doesn't want that ~ much.
You can send my greens anytime at all honey there is really no hurry as it's still too hot to wear them. Well I must draw to a close. I have to prepare a shop talk for school tomorrow so I'll be at it immediately. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you terribly my dearest.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always and always
John xx”
"My very dearest darling Ellen, 14 October 1947
Hello my pet. I'm in fair spirits as all my urgent business has been taken care of and I'm relaxed once again. I had to give a shop talk today and building up to it for the past few days I was sort of on edge but today when I finally gave my talk I was perfectly composed and from all indications I did quite well. It was a phase of our work improvement program that was set up to develop us all into instructors and human relation men. We have been getting lectures for the past few months and they will continue for a few more months. After a final exam if we pass we get a diploma as qualified Navy instructors. It's not a bad deal and I figure these guys who are going to stay in will benefit by it. As far as I'm concerned it's very educational and enlightening as it explains things that I already recognized but couldn't quite fathom or understand. It would be a wonderful course for Miss Mac to take as it would teach her how to get along with people genuinely. With her disposition I think it would really perform miracles and it would be the greatest advertisement Dale Carnegie ever had. Now that the shop talk is completed and I can relax I'll be able to divert my attention to my correspondence and to knick-knacks at work. I've been contemplating making a lamp for the room so now maybe I can get at it. It will while away the time during the day and maybe the time will go faster for me. This week is moving along at a fair pace and tomorrow is pay day so I have something to look forward to and I'll be that much richer. I got another letter from you today and I want to thank you very much. Did I ever tell you just how wonderful you are? You're the very very best there is and I'm the luckiest guy in the world to have such a wonderful person for a wife and I appreciate you more and more each and every day. Soon the day will arrive when I will be able to show you how much I really do appreciate you but since we are now apart there isn't much that I can do. I'll try though. Outside of my recital this morning the day went along its usual monotonous way but since it's all over it wasn't too bad. Time is moving and it's quite a consolation as sometimes I fear that it is standing still. I had better get to your letter now. I want to thank you for the bank statement on the sale. I'll hold onto it hoping that you have a similar copy if not I'll send it to you. You can put that among your papers and in the future we can look back on our first important venture in our young married life. I'm glad that my letters are bringing a bit of happiness into your hum drum days and I only wish that I could be there in person to cheer you up. I guess we are both bored, listless and very lonesome for each other but hold out a while longer and we shall be together once again permanently. It's rough I know and there isn't much that I can do about it so I'm just hoping and praying that time flies by for us. Eleven months from today I'll be home to stay. I still haven't answered Aunt Nellie's letter and if I don't soon I'll be disowned so I'll definitely have to get at it real soon. My mother is in the same boat so I'll have to give them both a break by answering their letters real soon. With the nights nice and cold back home I'm missing out in my chore as a bed warmer for my beloved wife, a pleasure that I miss very very much indeed. It's things like that that makes the life so much more rugged to live and why I want so desperately to get it all over with as soon as possible. I'm going to have to close out for now honey. Please take it easy. I love you with all of my heart and soul and I miss you so very very very much.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & always
John xxx”
My very dearest darling Ellen, 15 October 1947
The week is half over and so for that matter is the month - so no matter how I think to the contrary time is moving right along. For the month of October it's really hot around here and the contrast between down here and up there must be really terrific. From your letters it's so wonderful up home that I get nostolgic (?) at times dreaming and thinking about it. Around here the heat and humidity persist and I don't know when it will leave us so that we can get pleasingly cold. I'm looking forward very very much to be home next fall so that I can get accustomed once again to the beauty and cold that is home in the Fall. I guess I'm just incurably homesick.
I had three happy moments and one disappointment today but since the good overbalanced the bad all turned out well. The disappointment was the fact that pay day was postponed until tomorrow so it really wasn't a disappointment merely a slight setback. The happy moments came when I received a letter from you in the morning. I thank you very much indeed. The other happy incident was a rumor that has a lot of foundation and came from a very reliable source. This lash up is going to fold up in the spring time. I don't know how it will affect my status down here, very little I'm afraid but I'm definitely keeping my ears open for a good deal. It's still not official but I think it will be in a day or two. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything definite.
The third happy moment was when I received your second letter which filled my dull day to the maximum. As I told you yesterday I think you are wonderful and I appreciate you more than I can possibly say and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You're swell.
I went to the show tonight and saw 'Unsuspected' with Claude Rains and Joan Caulfield. It was scary and good. I liked it a lot and recommend that if you see it go prepared to get scared stiff. I'm quite a movie fan and I'm getting to be a critic I'm afraid but since it's for a dime I can't lose anything. I hope that when I get discharged I'll be able to get away from the habit on going to the movies so often. I guess I'll manage all right as movies didn't appeal to me when I was home with you on leave. I'll get to the unfinished portion of your letter and have you inform me as soon as you find out anything about that rent increase. My mind will then be completely at ease. Other than that everything seems to be going very well at home as far as the house goes what with the taxes and rents all being taken care of. Those people at the bank are quite nice and helpful and if anything comes up give them a buzz. That house out front isn't worth the price and from the bank's refusal to underwrite the G.I.s who attempted to buy it my convictions are confirmed. Eight thousand is about all that he will get for it maybe five hundred more if he is lucky. If he wants to sell he had better present a selling price or he never will get it off his hands. I guess he knows what he is doing so let him go. Are they still flocking around to look it over as they were when I was home? We shall never have to worry about our house unless Watertown turns into a ghost town which isn't at all likely. I guess we are just lucky.
Honey with the letter I got this afternoon I don't expect a letter tomorrow so I'll wait until tomorrow to answer them I hope that you don't mind too much as my inspirations are nil. I love you with all of my heart. Please take care of yourself honey, I'll write again tomorrow.
All of my love to you
God Bless & keep you
Always & always
John xxx”
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