Family – Dear Caric – Butch Asks Biss to Write to Ced – September and October, 1944

             Elizabeth (Biss) Guion Zabel

Sunday Night,

9:39 P.M.

9/24/44.

Dear Caric,

You can thank Butch for this unexpected letter from me. You see he and Marty were having an argument the other day over who was going to wear a pair of slippers that Butch received from one of you boys up there in Alaska about two winters ago and I told Butch that they fit Marty so let him have them as he had no other pair and Butch did have an extra pair. Well Butch let Marty have the slippers but very grudgingly and he told me to go down town and buy him another pair just like those so I had to explain to him that I could not buy another pair like that as they had come from Alaska and they did not sell slippers like that around here so he told me to write to Ced—-right now, mother! I told him I would write to you and see if you could get another pair for him so can you? Here is a description of the slippers if you can find another pair similar to the ones here. They have three “A” markings on the front in colored beads. It seems to me that there were some other beads on it too but I wouldn’t be sure now. He wears a size 12 children’s shoe if you do happen to find a pair.

I have to stop now just as I am getting started as Zeke wants to get to bed early tonight and I have to take a bath. We have all been sick this week so that is the urgent reason for getting an early start to bed but I will tell you more about that tomorrow when I continue this letter to you. Good night for now from me and Zeke too.

Sunday Night,

9:23 P.M.

10/1/44

Well, here I am again! I put down the ”9“ and then looked around at the calendar to see what day it was only to find that another month had crept up on me unawares. I think I will send Dave a note tonight too to wish him a happy birthday.

I suppose Dad has told you by now that Bob Peterson died this past week from a Tumor of the brain. It was a surprise to us here as we hadn’t even heard he was sick. Dad probably mentioned how long he was sick.

Zeke and I started bowling this last week and I am proud to state that I had the honor of bowling high score for the night with a score of 126. We bowl with the Singer dept. that Zeke works in. Johnny and Dot Heigelmann bowl with us. They give a prize for high score for women at the end of the season and if the scores had counted that night I probably would have had a good chance to win it right then and there.

Did Dad tell you that Aunt Betty fell last week and hurt her knee? I guess she had one of her dizzy spells as she didn’t trip on anything but just fell. I greatly doubt that she will last the winter out as I can see her failing more and more every time she comes down here for a visit, I believe she is losing weight too. We were talking about Christmas today and trying to find out what the different people wanted and Aunt Betty said she thought having somebody else do the cooking would be the best Christmas she ever had in her life. I felt awfully sorry for her at the time and thought what a shame it was that she had to do all the cooking.

Well, Zeke wants to go to bed early again and is almost finished with his bath so I had better cut this short if I want to get that birthday note written to Dave tonight.

Love,

Biss

P.S. The rest send their love too.

Tomorrow, a quick note from Marian to Grandpa, then another letter from Grandpa to his boys (and Marian). 

Judy Guion

 

Family – Birthday Wishes To Ced From Biss – June 7, 1945

Elizabeth Westlin (Guion) Zabel

Sunday Aft.

4:40 P.M.

6/2/1945

Dear Ced —

Just a short note to wish you a Happy Birthday. I thought (Butch was pestering me there, I made a mistake) of you yesterday and was going to write you a note then but I got busy washing the walls here in the kitchen and didn’t get the time. I should be washing this floor right now but I don’t feel ambitious enough at present so I’m not going to bother. I got a letter from Barby (Barbara Plumb) this past week and she mentioned that she had gotten a letter from Dan in which he said he only needs 71 points so I don’t know what they will do with him. She has only 41 and is longing to come home on a furlough and then get to another theater of war. That must mean the Pacific. She said she wouldn’t want to be kept in the states. I also got a letter from Dave, which I have to answer this afternoon and they cut half of it out so it didn’t make much sense. He was talking about morals. Zeke went up to get his physical this past Thursday and his papers were stamped with “general service” but I doubt very much that they will take him as the quotas are very light from his board. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens – it’s pretty late for him to go in now tho’.

Jean (Mortensen) Guion (Mrs. Dick)

I guess Jean is pretty thrilled about going to S.A. (South America) to join Dick – I imagine she will go around Aug. or Sept. Dad has probably told you about it in a letter to you. Another thing he probably mentioned is that it is a horribly disagreeable day today. We had snow flurries here this past week. Mrs. Zabel lost all her string beans, two tomato plants, her strawberries, and I believe her grapes. Imagine having freezing weather in June! So is it as bad up there too? We had some flatfish for dinner this noon that Zeke caught this morning. He is going to go out again next Sunday. I think I’ll cut this letter short as the kids are slowly driving me nuts! They have had two fights already since I started this letter and they are being a general nuisance – they keep hitting my arm and touching the ink etc. I wish it were nice out so I could kick them both outside. They have been heckling both Zeke and myself to go up to Trumbull but Zeke took a snooze and neither one of us feels like going out. Zeke just suggested going down to Tomlinson’s for a hotdog but I don’t want to go unless he goes too. It’s raining and I don’t feel like standing in line for 15 minutes just to get a hotdog. I weigh 117 ½ pounds now and am feeling much better as a whole than I did back in January. The kids haven’t been sick once since I had their tonsils out last Nov. Of course they have had one or two slight colds – but no fever or anything. Well, I’ll write you again sometime when I have the time and when I have something to say – which isn’t very often.

Love,

Biss

P.S. I had a swell time when I went to New York with the girls or did I tell you that in my last letter?  B

Tomorrow and Sunday, two more letters from Biss while she was living in St. Petersburg in 1934-35. Next week I’ll be posting letters written in 1941

World War II Army Adventure (58-2) – Dear Dave – Hurricane Damage – September 16, 1944

This is the other half of the letter Biss began on Thursday night, September 14, 1944. These are pictures of some of the tree damage around the Trumbull house.

 

 

 

Saturday night,

11:13 P.M.

9/16/44

I regret to inform you that quite a bit of damage was done to the old hunting grounds.  The other half of our pet Apple tree finally succumbed to the ravages of Mother Nature.  A large limb from the Maple tree standing just over the old sand bed fell over the roof of Kit’s side of the house but as far as I know there was no damage done to the house itself (Kit is Katherine Warden, who is continuing to rent the apartment, with her two children,  while her husband, Paul, is in the service.).  The maple in the front of Kit’s part, where we had our rope swing at one time, also lost a large limb and leaves quite a large opening in the front of the house.  The maple on the same side, only across the driveway, which was a fairly young one if you remember correctly, fell down and knocked the pine tree that was beside it down also.  The top of the pine tree in front of the house came off but luckily it doesn’t show, however, the top of the pine tree just in front of the garage also lost its top and it very definitely does show.  I believe we lost one or two of the pines over by the garage, you know the small ones that were put there in recent years.  As I remember it, that is the extent of the damage done around our house.

Now for the rest of the neighborhood.  Do you remember the great big maple that used to be at the side of Mantle’s house? Well, it is no more.  From the looks of it, it pulled up the sidewalk at the same time.  The pine tree in front of Bushy’s old house was cut in half and I guess they will have to cut the rest of it down themselves.  There are a couple of Elm trees or something in front of Danny Well’s old house,  or in other words, Bushy’s present domicile, and I don’t know whether the trees fell down completely or whether just the large limbs fell, but I do know that what ever it was it blocked the road pretty completely.  I was too busy trying to maneuver around the tree to notice what it was that had fallen, Dad will probably give you a more accurate description anyway so it doesn’t really make much difference that I didn’t notice too closely.  I am three quarters asleep so you will have to excuse the numerous mistakes.  Zeke is in the other room sawing wood and I think he has the right idea.

Marty was sick last night and I didn’t get to bed until about three thirty and I was up off and on through the rest of the night, so consequently, I have been rather groggy (nothing unusual, I know.)  all day.  Butch didn’t think I went without enough sleep last night, so he is sick tonight, to finish me off completely.  Don’t ask me what is wrong with them as your guess is as good as mine.  It seems to be a touch of indigestion along with a fever and it only lasts for a day – – something they ate no doubt.  Maybe it was the excitement  of the storm that caused it, who knows?  It could be the apples that they have been eating so abundantly of late too.  We have about a bushel that fell off in the storm and every time I turn around, the kids have another one in their mouth.  There are about six apples in the basket with one bite taken out of each, that I rescued from the kids.  It reminds me of that old story of the farmer boy that took a bite out of each apple in the barrel at his grandmother’s house or something, you get the idea anyway, I hope.  Well I have to stop right here in sheer desperation as my eyes refuse to stay open any longer and I don’t even know what I am putting down on the paper anymore so if the end here is incoherent you can understand.

Love,

Biss

P.S. I almost forgot – – Butch gave me explicit orders to tell you that he wants you to come home Wednesday as he wants to visit with you and then you can go back the next day after Wednesday — What day is that, Mommy?

Tomorrow, I will begin posting a week of letters written in the summer of 1944. 

Judy Guion

 

 

 

World War II Army Adventure (58-1) – Dear Dave – A Letter From Biss – September 14, 1944

 

         Elizabeth (Biss) Guion Zabel

Thursday night,

9:15 P. M.

9/14/44.

Dear Dave,

As you have guessed from the time on the letterhead, we are in the middle of our second hurricane — at least the second hurricane that I can remember.  There is no sign of any damage around here but tomorrow I expect to go for a ride and see what I can see.  I woke both the kids up to see the wind but Butch wasn’t interested.  Marty got up and watched for a few minutes but he didn’t seem too impressed at the time altho’ tomorrow he will probably be all excited and Butch will probably be quite put out that we didn’t awaken him to let him see it to.  I may not be able to finish this letter as the lights will probably be going out pretty soon they have been flickering on and off all evening.

Dad and Aunt Betty were down for supper tonight and Aunt Betty was quite worried about the storm altho’ it didn’t seem to faze Dad in the least.  I guess they got home all right tho’, as they left here about 7:30 and the storm didn’t hit here until about 8:30 and that was plenty of time for them to get home.  I guess Jean went straight home from work when she heard the storm warnings and saw the rain beginning to come down.  That started coming down about 5:30.

Butch does not live up to the Guion tradition of detesting school but quite the contrary, loves it very much and can’t wait to get there.  Every day he comes home and tells me everything that they did including going to the bathroom.  He only goes half a day and wants to know when he can go all day.  Marty is anxious to go too but he has to wait two more years yet as he was born after January 1st.  However, he is very glad to see Butch go every day as he can play anything he pleases without having any(one) plaguing him.  They have gotten to the stage where they are always having fist fights and of course Marty always comes off second best.

Bob Jennings is home on leave and he wishes he could see you.  I guess most of his friends are gone from the old hunting grounds.

If you thought about us here you would have made it a point to stop in and see us the last time you were home, you old so and so!  I’ll bet you that you heard from me before you did Dick — right?  In fact, I’ll bet you he won’t write for a good long time to come.  I’m still peeved because I didn’t get one of those good pictures of you and Jean did!  After all, there are a lot of pictures of you hanging around up at the house that she can look at any time she feels like but I can’t do that!  I resent being pushed into second place like that even if I did ask favors of you all the time.  I’ll bet Jean was always asking favors too.  Well I had better get off that subject as I always get in a stew about it and end up getting mad at Jean who isn’t to blame in the least except that she is favored above me because of her better disposition and looks but after all I can’t help being me!

Have you remembered that fellow’s name as yet?  I can’t imagine who he could be.  Maybe I didn’t know the guy for, as you know, there were a lot of people that went to school at the same time that I did and I didn’t know all of them by a long shot.

Well, I think I will stop here for now as it is almost 11:30 and I will continue tomorrow after I have seen what damage was done by the storm and report same to you.  I put 9:15 at the beginning only to find that the clock stopped at that time so I don’t know what time it was when I started this thing to you but I would guess that it must have been about 10:45.

—Goodnight—

Tomorrow I will finish this letter to Dave from his sister, Elizabeth, known as Biss to family and friends.  I don’t know how Elizabeth got the name Biss, but I have thought about it.  Biss was about seven and a half when Dave was born.  I can imagine that when he started talking, Elizabeth was a difficult name for him to pronounce and he might be, in fact, the person who first started calling her Biss.  This is only a conjecture on my part. 

Judy Guion

 

Family – Dear Ced – Biss Writes to Ced – May 3, 1945

 

           Elizabeth (Biss) (Guion) Zabel

Butch and Marty

Thurs. nite

10:45 P. M.

5/3/45

Dear Ced –

If my writing seems stiff tonight it is because I am cold and my hands are stiff. We got your package last night and enjoyed it very much. Butch has fallen in love with his slippers and Marty is quite jealous so he won’t allow Butch to look at his book. He gets a big kick out of the real fuzz on the bear. They got up before I did this morning and raided the candy, however I rescued about half of it so Zeke and I weren’t gypped completely. I was a little jealous of Butch and his slippers myself because my shoes have holes in them and it has been raining all this week practically and every time I go out I get my feet wet. I have no slippers and I was looking at Butch’s slippers with an envious eye wishing they were a little larger so I could slip into them and warm my feet up. Is it too much to ask to see if you can get three more pairs of slippers? I know that is rather nervy of me! Zeke wears an 8/2 shoe, I wear 6-6 1/2 and the slippers are a little large (size 2 – which is three sizes larger than his shoe) but they will be just right by the time winter gets here. Sooo – Marty, I should judge by that, should get about a size 13 child’s or size 1. As for Zeke and myself, our feet have stopped growing (I think) so we should have ½ – 1 size larger, I guess, then our shoes are. If you can get them (lined with warmth if possible – you know flannel or some other warm substance) please do and let me know how much I owe you. Zeke’s slippers are worn out and Marty’s have worn out since I wrote you that letter asking for slippers for Butch — Well, enough for that –

I suppose Dad told you Sunday, when he wrote, that Aunt Elsie came up from N. Y. Last Thursday feeling quite ill — well she was planning to go back to N.Y. Monday afternoon after she had seen the doctor but when she saw him, he told her she had to go back to bed for a week and under no conditions whatsoever was she to set foot out of the bed. She has a very bad case of varicose veins which caused her foot – rather leg – to buckle under every little while causing her to fall. I don’t know what happens when the week is up. As for me – my weight is up to 115 pounds now and I am feeling like a million dollars, full of pep and rarin’ to go. I have better color than I had and I haven’t had a cold or any other sickness all winter (knock on wood!)

Erwin Laufer and Bill Knopf got home Monday. Bill is going to be married this Sat. Erwin was over last night and he is looking like a million dollars. He is the first one I have seen that came back “of sound mind and body”. I still haven’t gotten over the thrill of seeing him looking so well. I was so afraid he would be all nerves and a little ______ the way Erv (Zeke’s brother), Art, Bill Tomak, and the rest have come back. Erwin always was rather moody which made me even surer that the fighting would leave him somewhat demented but thank God he is perfectly normal. We sat up until two A.M. this morning talking – he did most of the talking, about all we did was to ask questions. He doesn’t drink the way the other fellows do either – or chase after anything that is wearing a dress. Those other fellows rather disgust me. I can overlook a certain amount but there is a limit to everything I think and they go beyond. Of course Erwin may be that way too but he didn’t appear to be in his manner of talking and acting. He is a buck sergeant, you know. He said he turned it down about five times as he didn’t want to have the responsibility of the men’s lives in his hands but he finally accepted it a while before he came home as you lose just about one rating in pay when you come back here. I couldn’t begin to tell you all of the interesting tales he had to relate. Well, I think I had better stop rambling and go to bed as it was late – or rather early – when I went to bed last night (or rather this morning) and it is fast approaching the midnight curfew. “The Three Caballeros” ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Caballeros ) is playing at the theater so I guess I’ll have to take the boys to see it this coming Sunday. They have been waiting for it to come to Bridgeport as they have seen advertisements for it in different magazines. The rain is pouring down outside and the wind is blowing a veritable gale. My doors keep rattling and I can feel the wind blowing across my feet, that is because the kids broke one of the windows on the sunporch today – how I hate rainy weather when I have to keep those wild Indians in the house. There is no school this week and so far we have had three days of rain – I am just about to the end of my rope. If it rains again tomorrow – as it is supposed to do- I think I will become a jabbering idiot! Do I see a sardonic smile on your face at that last remark? Well, good night for now and I’ll write again. Thanks again for the package.

Love,

Biss

This weekend I’ll be posting more of Dave’s World War II Army Adventure.

Next week I’ll post letter written in 1941. Lad will be coming home from Venezuela soon and lots of people are looking forward ti that event.

Judy Guion

Biss Writes to Ced – Question About Ced’s Deferment – March 31, 1944

Elizabeth, known as Biss to family and friends,  Grandpa’s only daughter, is married and living in Stratford, CT, a few miles from Trumbull. She and Zeke Zabel have two boys, Grandpa’s first two grandchildren.

            Elizabeth (Biss) Guion Zabel

Friday afternoon

2:07 P.M.

3/31/44

Dear Ced: —

I am going to do a mean thing to you and write a very short note, as it is well into the PM already and I have touched nothing at all in the house. Besides I have just finished writing five other letters and am beginning to get tired. I wrote Alfred, Aunt Dorothy, Uncle Burton, Peg and Viv. Viv was disappointed because she didn’t get to see you while you were home. I am writing mainly to find out how you made out with your deferment and whether or not this new law, of all under 26, will spoil your deferment for you – I hope you will be able to hold off until June and maybe you will be able to keep out altogether.

I got a letter from Aunt Dorothy this morning and she is up and around again – that is what started me on this writing spree. I had been meaning to write her ever since I found out she was laid up. I am beginning to feel like my old self again, thank goodness. Butch is supposed to be in bed with a cold but I think he is out more than in – I have told him to get back to bed so far about 100 times at least. Marty just came in from outside with wet feet and pants so he has to go to bed as soon as he is through  in the bathroom. They’re going to have their pictures taken tomorrow night in their sailor suits. I wish it would get nice and warm out – we have had a couple of warm days so far and it just makes one inpatient for more of them. Marty is calling so I guess I had better close here.

Love,

Biss

P.S. – My arm is so tired it is stiff and sore – that is my real reason for stopping.

Tomorrow, a quick note from Lad to Grandpa, Thursday, another letter from Grandpa and on Friday, another letter to Ced from Peg, a friend in Trumbull.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Dear Lad and Dan (2) – Biss is Married – March 12, 1939

 

Bulletin No. 2 and also my second reason for an airmail letter may be explained by quoting a letter received by Special Delivery early Saturday morning from Elizabeth, who the night before left the supper table early, as she frequently had done in the past, ostensibly to go up to take care of the Ever’s children.  Here is a letter postmarked Bridgeport, 9 P.M., March 10th:

Dear Dad:

I promised once that I would never get married without letting you know first.  Of course, this isn’t quite as honest as telling you personally but I know you are going to be against it and I am sure enough myself that I want to, even tho’ you disagree.

I didn’t tell you because I knew you would start in with one of your lectures and I know just about what you will say and I have thought it over — your lecture — I mean.  Please don’t tell even the family for I would rather wait and break the news to everybody myself personally.  I will talk over plans with you when I get back.

We will be back not later than Monday night and may be back in time for supper Monday — if you will accept me of course.  You can wish me luck and congratulations if you wish but I don’t feel as if I need them.

Maybe you had better have a gun to receive me if you are too angry, but I think you will have more sense than that, and I am sorry you are going to be hurt but I really do want this even tho’ you think I won’t and that I’m not in love and making a big mistake, etc.  I don’t think I am, and if you should be correct — well it’s my funeral and I like it!

Love,

Biss

P.S. Please don’t be too harsh in your thought — We all have our own lives to live and this happens to be my choice even if it isn’t yours.     Biss

And that, boys, is as much as I know about the thing to date. I suppose it is Zeke.  I suppose they will have it obtained a license, possibly from Helen (Helen Plumb, Town Clerk and sistr of Barbara Plumb, Dan’s girlfriend), who would be ethically unable to say anything about it, possibly from Bridgeport.  I don’t know whether a civil or religious ceremony was performed.  I don’t know where they intend to live.  In fact I don’t know nuthin other than the above.

While I am in no mood to comment on it at present I would be interested in what you boys have to say on the matter.

The moving finger writes; and, having writ

Moves on: nor all your piety or wit

Shall lure it back to cancel half a line,

Nor all your tears wash out a word of it.

Please give my very best regards, Lad, to Uncle Ted, and try to convey to him the deep satisfaction we feel at his rapid recovery and our gratefulness that he was able to avoid even by so narrow a margin, his approach to that great unknown.  I sincerely hope this happening marks the turning point in his fortune and that from now on life’s pathway will be smooth and pleasant, even though it may not be continually strewn with roses.

As always,        DAD

Tomorrow and Thursday, letters from Lad and on Friday, a letter from Carl Wayne to both Lad and Dan.

Judy Guion

St Petersberg Adventure (18) – A Proposition – May 24, 1935

 

                                                                                             

                                                                                              Elizabeth (Biss) Westlin Guion

Friday night

12 PM E.S.T.

5/24/1935

Dear Dad,

This may be a long letter or it may be a short one – as yet I know not. We will be sending the package up sometime at the end of next week. This is the third letter I have written to you this week so a two letter week will seem small after this.

I have a proposition to make with you. I was wondering if you would let Aunt Anne stay with us for two or three weeks until I once more get settled, for if I have her with me for my first one or two weeks at home I think it will be easier for me. It could be on the same basis as it was while you were down here at Christmas time. You could give her the apartment if Astrid has moved out by the time we get home.

I got a Good Housekeeping for June yesterday and it says to give 3 to 5 weeks notice for change of address – but to get back to my proposition – I figured it would be nice for the kid brothers to have Don and Gwen for company for a while for they are here so seldom and I also thought it would be nice for you to have a grown person to keep you company for a while. She has no place to go when she does get up there and that is one reason why we are staying on here. Of course the other reason is money. Aunt Anne is thinking of getting a job. It is now Monday and Gwen and Aunt Anne have gone down for a lesson in knitting.

We took Carl and Dot out for a picnic lunch yesterday. We had loads of fun playing baseball and catch. I am going to miss them frightfully when I leave and how I wish I could bring them home with me for keeps. The only thing I can bring home is a picture of them but I am hoping that they will come up and visit me – but I doubt it for they haven’t much money. I ate dinner there yesterday and had lemon pie! How it makes my mouth water to think about it. Carl is going to graduate this year and he’s going to have a picture of himself taken in his graduating cap and gown – what a laugh I’m going to give him. Dot is only a sophomore but she looks more like a Junior. Exams commence next week. How I dread that! We have two weeks counting this one – left of school. I hope I pass – and thinking of learning how to knit. Have you seen Peggy since she has been home? How is she – I mean how sick? I have finally written to Grandma. I am hoping to get a letter from you this morning. Have you gotten any pictures of Mack? This seems to be limited to asking questions and so I had better quit and give you a chance to draw your breath and answer the questions.

Love,

Biss

This is the last letter I have found from Biss. If Grandpa agreed to the suggestion that Aunt Anne and her children stay in Trumbull for a few weeks, it would make sense that they would leave as soon as possible. There are only two more days of school this week and then exams next week. School would be finished and it would make sense for Aunt Anne to leave by May 31st to avoid paying rent in June.

Tomorrow I will begin a new adventure. Dave had his 18th birthday at the end of September, 1943, and left High School in the middle of his Senior year to join the Army. He had four older brothers who were serving the Army in various capacities around the world and he wanted to do his part. I have the letters he wrote home, recently acquired from his daughter, and will be sharing them each weekend for the foreseeable future. I hope you enjoy the written thoughts of a young man entering the war at this late date.

Judy Guion

St Petersberg Adventure (17) – Letters to Dave, Dick and Pops – May 22, 1935

Biss (Elizabeth), Grandpa’s only daughter, has been living in St Petersburg with her Aunt Anne taking care of Anne’s children, Don and Gwen, for the past school year. She was having trouble at home, struggling to adjust to the death of her Mother and her Father and three Aunt’s felt a change of scenery might help her to adjust. The school year is practically over and she will be heading home soon, she just isn’t sure when.

       David Peabody Guion

Wednesday afternoon

3:59 PM E.S.T.

5/22/1935

Dear Dave,

I enjoyed your letter very much. I hope that scene you put on the back of the letter won’t come true but it will let you go to bed when I tell you to. That word, scene, up above means picture. I hope you will be able to read this letter, I have no hard words to write, I don’t think, so you should be able to understand all of it. What is Ardith’s sister’s name? I suppose you play with Tubby quite a lot, don’t you? I was naming your past girlfriends as well as your present one. I bet a lot of other boys like Evelyn besides you, don’t they?

You should always make it a capital I when you are referring to yourself, like “I went to the store when I was home.” instead of “i went to the store when I was home.” Do you see what I mean? I am very glad that Miss D’Alier is all well now. How long was she out of school? You better get your marks up in school or I will…. I don’t know what I will do. I am glad that Miss Grabber is a good teacher. What is the matter? Don’t you like her when she isn’t teaching? I knew you would like Miss Shiffron more. I think she is very nice and I have had a lot of nice times with her. Will you send her my best regards?

It seems to me that you have a pretty long tongue! I was just studying the picture on the back. It is supposed to be a picture of you and myself? Is it in the past or in the future? I hope I will hear from you again very soon for I enjoy your letters very much. Tell Dick to write to me please – I’ll send the story some other time.

Love,

Biss

Wednesday afternoon

4:13 PM E.S.T.

5/22/1935

Dear Pops !

I get a great kick out of your letter today but wish to tell you that it isn’t the first time that I have written twice in one week nor is it going to be the last time. Why is it that the lilacs out by the kitchen are always the first ones to come out? We are studying very hard for exams and it is hard to find time to write however, I skipped today consequently have found some time to write. I have been trying to straighten my clothes out.

There was a dress I saw which I wanted to get for a dollar 59 but I have decided to save my money instead. I have been fighting with myself all morning trying to decide and I still haven’t come to any conclusion! Avid feeling that my brothers are going to cooperate with me quite a bit more than they did and I feel sure that we can make a go of it. I feel sure that I will be able to make the great – because, ”I’m a Guion.”  It will certainly take a lot to trim me down to any kind of size, I’m afraid.

      Richard Peabody Guion

Dick:

I am glad Dick and Dave are well but I do think that Dick could have written me while he was in bed. I enjoyed Dave’s letter immensely and have already answered it  – I hope you will give me just an immediate answer is I have given him. I am glad Mr. D’Alier liked me for I simply adore the whole D’Alier family and expect to go down and see them the very first night I am home – unless I get home at night, then I will wait until the next day. My writing is very uneven this evening, have you noticed? Maybe it is my change of thoughts.

If you see Carl tell him to write to me although I haven’t written to him – maybe I will before you see him again – it all depends on how much time I have. I loved that “Town of Trumbull” writing paper which you used last time. I thought it quite aristocratic. I hope you expect to see “Les Miserables” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(2012_film). I saw Mississippi” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_(film) and thought it was very uninteresting. How did the boys like it? I imagine Grandma liked that quite a lot.

I have a picture of the gang but thanks for a glimpse of them in the enlarged – I only have the small. As for my photographs – I have decided as the senior one and as yet have not received them from the studio. I will bring one or two of them home with me for I promised Ced one. Tell Dan you will never know how I appreciate that dollar and those stamps. I am going to break my rule and by a popsicle this afternoon with a nickel of that dollar for I am boiling over.

I went to Tarpon Springs but I’d don’t like Bill – I like Carl and Dot Roughgarden – you will probably hear plenty about them in the future. The reason why I wanted to write to Good Housekeeping and Parents is I haven’t the address and I don’t know how to word the letter – will you do it? If you don’t mind I would like to use the stamps for personal letters. I’ll hold onto them until I receive your answer.

Send Mack down here. I won’t mind one speck! Tell him I miss him and hope he misses me too. He wags his tail – it means he does. Well I have to close now because I have no more room.

Love,

Biss

Tomorrow and next week, letters written in 1945 while all five of Grandpa’s son’s are helping the War Effort, serving around the world. 

Judy Guion

St Petersberg Adventure (16) – The Prom and Some Ping Pong – May 20, 1935

Biss (Elizabeth), Grandpa’s only daughter, has been living in St Petersburg with her Aunt Anne taking care of Anne’s children, Don and Gwen, for the past school year. She was having trouble at home, struggling to adjust to the death of her Mother and her Father and three Aunt’s felt a change of scenery might help her to adjust. The school year is practically over and she will be heading home soon, she just isn’t sure when.

 

                                                                               Art Mantle, Biss (Elizabeth) and Alfred (Lad) Guion

Monday afternoon

3:36 PM E.S.T.

5/20/1935

Dear Dad:

I really have a good reason for not answering your letters as soon as I should. I have been very busy this last week. I went to the prom last Friday evening as I had hoped and played ping pong from about 9:15 to around 1230 or 12:45. I had a very nice time. I had one game with my geometry teacher and another with some other teacher. I didn’t know who he was. I would take a few minutes out of every hour or hour and a half and go over to have something to drink – for refreshments were free. Saturday, I was busy right up until the time that I went to bed. Sunday Carl and Dot Roughgarden went out to the beach with us and we took lunch along. I have not had so much fun in a long time. Carl is my favorite boy and Dot is my favorite girl so it was just perfect. Both of them were quite badly sunburned – my face is the only part of my anatomy which was touched by the penetrating rays. So you see my weekend especially was very busy.

Next Sunday, Jim Wokheiser and his sister, Gwen’s teacher, are going  out to the beach with us. I like Jim a lot too, but I hope to go out with Carl and Dot once more before I go home. I’m afraid I won’t because they are both very nice looking and I imagine they have plenty of other things to preoccupy them.

I hope Ced will hurry and get better – perhaps you will have to feed him with a derrick to get enough food into his system! I am glad Dave is getting over his fear of the dark! He must, if he is willing to sleep out all by himself.

I am very glad you liked and saw ”One Night of Love”  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Night_of_Love– don’t you like Grace Moore better than Jeanette McDonald?

I got four letters today! That is the most I have gotten, at once, for a long time. I was trying to figure out how that sentence should go and so the mistakes. It seems to me that I have made quite a few mistakes in this letter already. Maybe it is because I am trying to write too fast but I have to or fear that my thoughts will slip from my head.

I got my English report and found I had gone up 10 points, almost, and now have 85. Last time I had 75+ so I did not go up quite 10 points. We are studying for exams so I may not write as often this week but I will try. We have exams on the third and fourth of June. I’ll be glad when they are over! The Seniors get their’s next Wednesday and Thursday. That’s all for now.

Love

Biss

As I was re-reading this letter, I found myself reading faster and faster, so I wouldn’t loose her train of thought. Biss is jumping all over the place with her thoughts and I’m afraid I might miss something if I don’t get to it fast enough. Do you think that’s what she is feeling as she writes this?

Tomorrow, another letter from Biss to her family in Trumbull.

Judy Guion