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 . 

In the final letter of the Grandpa's Love Letters series, Grandpa describes some last-minute details before the wedding. Like the letter before, I'm shocked at the prices: $125 for most of the wedding. I compared the results of several historical inflation calculators, and that amount is equivalent to about $2,200 currently. 

My brother had mentioned having some letters from my grandparents as well, so I wonder if some letters are missing. 

Here's a lovely picture of Grandma. Is this at Lackawanna River, I wonder?

***

6/19/40

Scr. Pa.

Dearest Ann

I took the things I brought up over to our home on Monday noontime. The palor [sic] had just been painted and it looked nice, the bedroom was being (painted) when I was there. 

We made the trip up on Monday in very good time but I had a hard time keeping my eyes open. I am glad those Monday morning trips are over. 

If I can clean up my work in time I will leave here at 4.00 o'clock Friday afternoon and should be in Paterson by 9.00 o'clock.

On Friday I intend to bring some of the clothes I have here over to our home so as I will not have much to cart to the tourist home we may stay at.  

Charles brought the ring home on Sunday night, has he brought it over to you yet?

Please try to figure out how many photographs we will need so as we can tell Zito on Sunday. If you have the time also see that we will have enough refreshments for all with a little to spare in case some unexpected guests should come. 

One thing you definitely will have to do is to draw out enough money to pay for the cost of the ceremony, ring, flowers, car, refreshments, and other items. We will need at least $125.00 to take care of the above this figure does not include the costs of the refreshments other than the beer and liquor. What I have left of my pay after I pay then rent and the deposit on the gas meter should keep us for a week or more. 

Otto and Fred took me out for a few hours and gave me a treat. 

I do not think we will have much trouble finding a studio couch for our living room. I saw three different styles of the type we are looking for. They we [sid] advertised in the paper as being Simonons Studio couches and were priced at $39.95. 

I could go on and on but as I want to catch up on some sleep. I must close now. I remain as ever your coming groom and lover. Ray

***

Ready to get started creating your family archives? Here are some of my favorite products: