I'm continuing my series of scanning, transcribing, and annotating my grandfather's love letters to my grandmother leading up to their marriage in June 1940. The letters are chronologically organized and preserved, using the methods I discuss in detail in my book, Creating Family Archives: A Step-by-Step Guide for Saving Your Memories for Future Generations.
The latest entries for the Grandpa's Love Letters series are double letters. One was written in the afternoon, while the other was written that night. Grandpa is looking for a new place to move into once they got married. The options are interesting--an apartment with a shared bathroom for $23 rent or one in an attic for $25. Is the rent weekly? Monthly?
The first letter lost its diagram of the apartment, but the second letter has an overview of what the apartment would look like.
Which one did they choose?
"Ann + Ray Note" is written on the back by Grandma.
***
6/5/40
Scr. Pa.
Dearest Ann:
This noon time I took a look at some rooms very near to the shop which seem to be almost just the thing for us with one exception, this is, both the landlord and the second floor tenants use the same bathroom which is on the second floor.
The rent for the three rooms with heat and hot water furnished is $23.00. It is in a new house next to a store in a quiet neighborhood. The rooms are all of medium size and very nice with a[t] least one closet in each the bedroom and the kitchen. In the hallway there is a linen closet of cedarwood, in the kitchen there is a cabinet sink and the bathroom is all tile. There is one entrance, that is nea[r] the back porch. Enclosed you will find a little sketch of the location of the shop and the apartment and also a rough sketch of the rooms. After I finish writing this letter I am going to look at at least one more place on the hill near the shop.
Perhaps we could drive up together on Saturday morning to look at the first place I mentioned or perhaps I may have another one by that time that we can look at. Perhaps we can arrange it so that we can get our marriage license early Saturday and then drive up here immediately to look at the rooms.
Try to let me know by Friday if you can come up. I told the landlord that I would let her know on Saturday.
With all my love,
I remain your lover
"Next"
***
6/5/40
9.45 P. M.
Scr. Pa.
Dearest Ann:
Since I last wrote to you a few hours ago I have looked at another apartment within walking distance of the shop which in some ways is better than [the] place I first mentioned. By walking distance from the shop I mean that I would have time to come home for a few minutes with you and get something to eat. The rent is 25 Dollars and includes heat, hot water and electric. It is located in an attic and has three rooms with a side entrance. There seems to be enough closet space and the kitchen is furnished with a new small gas range and linoleum floor covering. As usual there is some catch, being that the rooms are in the attic they may be host in the summer. At present is no tub in the bathroom but they are going to put one in. Here's a rough sketch of the layout of the rooms.
Otto called me up and mentioned that if you came up on Saturday, you could sleep in a room in their house overnight and then we could leave on Sunday afternoon instead of Saturday night.
Fred mentioned that he would like to take his mother along to look at some rooms if he could find a few places to look at by the time Friday night rolls along. I must close now cannot without saying that I find myself more and more in love with you as the day of our marriage draws nearer.
Your Sweetheart
Ray
***
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