Trumbull – To The Guion Settlers – Greetings – A Birthday Remembrance – September 8, 1940

Alfred Duryee Guion

R-92    September 8, 1940

To the Guion settlers in

the Cook Inlet and Orinoco River Sections,

Greetings:

Nellie ( Nelson Sperling) is home again. He is on leave of absence from the Army for recuperation purposes. He walked in here a few minutes ago. He doesn’t know whether he will go back to his old post or be sent to Kelly Field in Texas. He likes the Army, and the treatment he receives. Mrs. Mantle has heard nothing from Art but as his term of enlistment is about up she would not be surprised to see him walk in any time now.

For the last week we have been having bright sunshiny weather with just enough edge in the coolness to suggest fall days ahead. Alas I cannot take unadulterated enjoyment from the fact because sneeze days are here again and, while each year, attacks seem to be a little milder than the previous year, they are yet bad enough to be unwelcome. Maybe if I live long enough I’ll outgrow the thing entirely. Incidentally, this is one of the reasons why I have stopped taking morning walks. Stirring up pollen or merely being in amidst it in field and wood quickly puts my eyes, throat, nose, etc., in such a state of irritation that all the benefits of the exercise are nullified. Another reason why I discontinued the walking idea in the early summer was because as soon as the mosquitoes became prevalent it took much of the joy out of woods walking and then, as I do not especially enjoyed tramping highways with cars whizzing by at frequent intervals, I strike off as soon as possible into words, roads, across fields, along narrow paths, etc., and I found that early in the morning the dew is so thick on the fast-growing vegetation in early summer that before many hundred feet my shirt, trousers, shoes and in fact every bit of clothing was saturated. I might as well have stood out in the rain. However, I intend resuming walks in the fall and winter.

Following my usual custom in order to celebrate the reaching of another milestone on the journey through life, I have started on its way to each of you boys a little birthday remembrance. ( To celebrate his own birthday, Grandpa always gave his children presents.) Of course it won’t reach you by the 11th but it would be pretty difficult to know when to mail it so as to reach you by parcels post at any designated time. As far as Dave and Dick are concerned, I am considering the possibility of taking them to New York to see some of the current shows, but this is contingent on Dick’s being able to get time off. Dick is talking about saving up his money and taking a hobo trip with Bobby Kascak through Florida.

It looks as though I would have a busy few days next weekend. Mr. Burr has promised to have somebody up here with a power saw so that we can saw up that wood which has been piled up near the barn since you boys took down the Locust trees and it may be that we shall be able to complete arrangements with the Trust Company, to move into new business quarters, and naturally Sunday is the best time from a traffic standpoint to do this.

Gale Brand, Bruce Lee, his daughter and his niece came up one day this week. We were unable to persuade Gale to do any card tricks.

No letter from Lad this week, a short one from Ced and a real letter at last from Dan, very interestingly written and being passed around through many hands. Someday when Dan is famous and his biographer undertakes “The Life and Letters of Daniel B. Guion”, this one will have a place, if for no other reason then it’s dating the time of patent medicine advertisements, Ugda tablets, etc.

Wells, a few words to each of you individually and then I will see what Charlie McCarthy has to say.

DAD

Saturday and Sunday I will post more Special Pictures.

Judy Guion

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Peabodys And Duryees – Dear Laddie – A Letter From Aunt Betty To Lad – September 8, 1940

Aunt Betty Duryee

L. DURYEE

72 Elm Ave.

MT. VERNON, N.Y.

Sept. 8, 1940

Dear Laddie,

Your letter of July 28^th, which I received on Aug. 6^th, made me feel ashamed of myself for not answering your former letter to me last May. You certainly returned good for evil and I appreciate it and hope you will forgive me as well.

You see I am trying to make amends by writing so soon after getting the letter and picture of you feeding the deer, it is a very good picture of you, and the deer must be very tame. You spoke of your father mentioning about my saying that I had not heard from you for ages, as I have said, I did get a letter in May. You did say in that letter that you had received a birthday letter, but what I had really meant was whether you had received the account of the Duryee family that I had sent at Christmas time, for since sending that, I have mislaid my copy, so please keep your copy for it is now the only record we have.

Now this letter, which I received on August 6, does answer all my questions and you have indeed thanked me for everything.

Now about the trip on Mother’s Day. It was a lovely Sunday in May and Dad, Richard, Cedric and Daniel came down in a new Buick car he was trying out, stayed to dinner here at the Knolls, then Dad said that being Mother’s Day, they had planned to take me on a trip in the country and that I must choose where I would like to go. Of course anywhere was just grand for me for I don’t get many rides as a rule, so then Dad said, well, he had thought I would enjoy a ride to Newburgh to see the Smiths. Oh boy! I had never thought of anything so delightful so we got an early start and were over the Tarrytown Ferry up by way of, and through, West Point, and then over the Storm King Highway to Fairfield which is the name of the Smith’s place. They were home and so very glad to see us. Elliott had not seen Dad since he was a little boy and he was so glad to have an opportunity to talk to him and to meet the boys. The boys were all over the place and Mrs. Smith treated us to drinks (soft) and cake. We left there about six o’clock and drove back to Mount Vernon and Mrs. Seipp insisted that they all stay to supper which really turned out to be another dinner. Altogether it was a very delightful day.

I do so hope that you will be able to come home soon, anyway the time slips away so fast that the rest of your time will not seem too long, not as long to you as to us, we all miss you. I have been staying in Trumbull the last three weeks in August but it was so cold and damp that we could not be out much, so did not enjoy it as much as usual. The baby is dear, so good and smiles all the time, and only cries when he hurts himself or is hungry. I am glad you can see from some of the pictures that you have a car.

Keep the desire for work with the diesel engine in the back of your mind and I am sure the opportunity to get in to that field will open up for you. What we desire, yearn for wholeheartedly comes to us sooner or later. That mechanic may not turn out to be “so hot”.

I have been to the World’s Fair three times this year, standing one hour in the line to get into the General Motors, and see their exhibition of the Highways and Horizons of Tomorrow. I think it was one of the best in the fair.

I have joined a Willkie for President Club  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Willkie ) and tomorrow am going to get a card for people who are undecided which to vote for, Willkie or Roosevelt, to pledge to vote for Willkie and then see that they are sure to register and turn out on Election Day. I know Dad is writing to you today and telling you all the latest news of Trumbull and also of Dan and Ced, it is fine they seem so well contented. I am so proud of you all, to think you all have gone out and found jobs for yourselves.

Thank you for your very interesting letter.

Lovingly,

Aunt Betty

Tomorrow, a letter from Grandpa to the Guion Settlersin the Cook Inlet and Oronoco River Sections.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Venezuela And Alaska, All Hail (2) – Individual Notes To Each Son – September 1, 1940

“The Old Swimming Hole” at Anzoategui Camp, January, 1940

Supplement to R-91           Sept.1, 1940

Dear Lad:

Some weeks ago when Arnold and his sweetie were showing me through their trailer they mentioned in the course of a discussion on pots and pans that they would like very much to have some of this new stainless steel ware that lasts a lifetime but that the cost was so high that they did not feel able to afford it except buying one piece at a time. The other day when I was in Read’s (Department Store in Bridgeport, Connecticut) I ran across a beautiful set of two stainless steel pans with copper plated bottoms put out by Revere of Boston. The sets were a double boiler, something I have wanted to get for myself for a long time but did not feel able to afford the necessary $6.50. However I did buy this double boiler as a gift from you to Arnold and from what they said last night when they came over to borrow the punch bowl, it must have been a happy choice. So you are set back $6.50 by your spendthrift Purchasing Agent father. I hope you will think I did the right thing by our little Nell.

I am still holding firm on the purchase of a movie projector, playing one store against another to get the best price possible. I find I shall have to purchase a screen also.

Cedric Duryee Guion

Dear Ced:

Thanks for your last letter also enclosing the note you started in Seattle to tell me what happened to the Willys and never finished. I will await with interest the history you are writing. By the way, the thin sheets ought to have reached you by now.

I shopped around several days last week to try to find a suitable uniform outfit and finally located what I think you wanted at an Army and Navy store. Practically the same thing at Meigs would have cost two or three dollars more. Jacket, pants (which, because of the long legs and narrow waist had to be ordered from the factory) shirt and leather necktie totaled $7.13. This is a couple of dollars more than you allowed and you had better consider the excess a gift from your Dad. I have been after Dick all week to get out the blue dungarees and Brown dress coat and will try to ship them off to you Tuesday in one package.

Daniel Beck Guion

Dear Dan:

I don’t know why I continue to write to you, unless that’s it is that hope springs eternal in the human breast. Saw Barbara (Barbara Plumb, a neighbor and Dan’s girlfriend) yesterday and she said she had a couple of letters from you which were very nice letters but she did not think I would be interested. I would be interested however in hearing from you as to what the contacts you have had so far on the job promise for the future. Do you like the man with whom you work? Are they Army officers and are you subject to Army discipline? Did you have to sign a contract and, if so, was it with the US government, or did you have to enlist in the Engineers Corps? You have told me practically nothing and naturally I am a bit interested. Aside from the present job, have you decided on any more definite plans for the future than you had when you left? Are you going to the University at Fairbanks and if so will you study geology? If not, what line of work do you expect to follow? If you haven’t yet made up your mind, it is about time you got together with Dan and had a quiet heart-to-heart talk and decided something instead of just allowing yourself to drift along. Maybe I’m doing you an injustice to imply that that is what you are doing but, in the absence of any news from you, that is all I can assume.

One other topic and then I’ll stop. That is health, doctors and hospitals in Anchorage. When you were in Venezuela I did not worry because of Ted’s assurance that health was taken care of and I don’t now worry about Lad for the same reason, but I don’t know how good a doctor there is in Anchorage or if there is any sort of hospital. Ced wrote you were laid up a few days ago with a cold. Let me know the dope on this.

DAD

Tomorrow I’ll post the third portion of this letter, a confidential and personal letter to Lad.

I’ll be posting Special Pictures on Saturday and Sunday.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Venezuela And Alaska, All Hail (1) – Local News Of Interest – September 1, 1940

Alfred Duryee Guion (Grandpa)

R-91

September 1, 1940

Venezuela and Alaska, All Hail:

I’ll take up the photos first because, presumably, you have looked at these already before reading the letter. They are enlargements of small snaps taken either by Zeke or Lois on various occasions. I borrowed the negatives and had these made for your entertainment. At first I thought of putting captions on the back, but decided this was superfluous as what they are is quite apparent and you may prefer to supply your own titles. They were taken in the early summer of 1940. (Which snapshots Grandpa is referring to, I do not know)

Hay fever season is here again and I have started on my sneezing bouts. Does ragweed grow in Alaska or have they some other pollen bearing weed that takes its place? Does anyone have hay fever in Anchorage? In Pariaguan? If ever I decide to visit either place in the late summer this might prove the deciding factor.

Monday Aunt Anne ((Peabody) Stanley, Grandma Arla’s sister) arrived with Gweneth (her daughter), dog and crutches. Her ankle is still in a plaster cast so quite naturally every step she takes has to be with the aid of crutches. She looks better however and says she has gained 14 pounds. She left with both children the next day to return to Virginia via New Rochelle with the idea of getting settled for the fall school term. She is having alimony trouble with Fred right now and although Fred was supposed to contribute towards Donnie’s (Don Stanley, Aunt Anne’s son, who arrived to spend the summer in Trumbull with very little notice) huge capacity for eating while here and Anne was going to see that if Fred did not make good she would, I have so far received only a $12 check from Fred. Due to Don’s visit our plans for the summer were completely negatived, not only by his being here but because of extra financial burdens. Helen also owes $16 yet from the things she bought on my account at Read’s last Christmas. I’m beginning to think (my own fault of course) that maybe the Peabody’s are taking me for a ride and I’m soft enough to let them do it.

Aunt Betty is still with us but expects to go back early next week. She has done a lot of mending, darning, etc. Bruce Lee stopped in one night during the week and invited us all down to Westport Friday night. It seems Alice was away for a few days vacation, and Pat had a cousin, a 17-year-old girl, from Maryland visiting them, and nothing would do but that the girls, without any help from Bruce, prepare a buffet supper. This they did and a good time was had by all. Last night we all went to the movies – – Errol Flynn in The Sea Hawk. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sea_Hawk_(1940_film)

The summer, if you can call it such, is practically over. Tuesday or Wednesday I guess it is, Dave goes back to school, and I’ll have to begin thinking about furnace fires and ashes and kerosene, etc. oh, yes, Elizabeth told us that while we were at the movies yesterday, Britta  and Rusty stopped in on their way home from Wakefield.(Rusty Heurlin and his sister, Britta)

We are still dickering with the Bridgeport City Trust Company, who owns the building on South Main St., that we are considering renting. The trouble is that it is up two long flights of stairs, and when we order paper in packages of 120 pounds or when customers like Ashcroft send us 28,000 envelopes each month with four enclosures for each and the truck man has to carry this material up these stairs, there is going to be a sit down strike right then and there. So I am trying to get them to rig up some kind of hoist, but to do that they say it will be necessary to knock a hole in the outside wall and put in a new window which will cost about $80 and could not be done for the rent they are charging. So, we’ll see.

Arnold (Gibson, Lad’s best friend) is to be married today and they will leave in their trailer for a trip through New England. They came over here last night and borrowed our punch bowl. Arvin Zabel (the brother of Raymond Zabel, Elizabeth’s husband) has lately been in his third smashup. Paid a $25 fine for reckless driving. Zeke says he is now thinking of joining the Navy.

And that’s all the news for this evening, ladies and gentlemen. Next broadcast of local news will be one week from today, over, Station

ADG

Tomorrow and Wednesday, two more portions of this letter. Thursday, a letter from Aunt Betty (Bettie Duryee, Grandpa’s Aunt) and on Friday, another letter fgrom Grandpa to his three oldest sons in Alaska and Venezuela. Judy Guion

Life in Alaska – Dan Writes Home About The Willys And The Rumored Invasion – August 25, 1940

Daniel Beck Guion

Wed. Aug. 27

Anchorage

Dear Dad, this is jiust a hasty note (in spite of my haste I seem to have taken the time to insert an extra “i” in “just”) to add my bit to what Ced might have written last night. He mailed his letter while I slept this morning, thus depriving me of the chance to enclose this note in his envelope.

The envelope in which you enclosed the Certificate of Merit and the clipping from Bridgeport Life arrived yesterday, over one month from the date of mailing ….That in spite of its being via airmail! The letter offered to send a check to tide us over the starting period. We are the ones who should be sending you a check to pay for the Willys, so flagrantly wrested from you. I have already directed you to acquire title to any money I have lying idle in the bank as payment on the Willys. You have not acknowledged it yet.

You did properly in reading Fred Chion’s letter, and I have sent it to Barbara to read, and to return it to you so that Ted can read it.

Re: Jap Invasion. The only rumor I have heard about any invasion is that there must be some secret threat or the Government would not go to all that expense (and this, after eight years of the New Deal!). My personal opinion is that the new methods of warfare might employ the term “over the top” in reference to the top of the world, i.e. over the North Pole from Europe …. A much shorter and apparently less hazardous route than the old ones, now that air has come to stay. Alaskan defense, then, would be available against not only Japan, but Russia and Europe, too.

Regards to all, especially Don (Stanley, cousin and son of Aunt Anne (Peabody) Stanley, who has been spending the summer at the Trumbull House), whom I have shamefully neglected.

Dan

Tomorrow, Dan’s note of Sept. 9th, and a letter dated Sept. 11th, written to Lad. Wednesday, another letter home from Sept. 14th, on Thursday one from Oct. 8th and on Friday, one from Oct. 9th.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Dear Ced – What Happened To The Willys? – August 25, 1940

Cedric Duryee Guion in Anchorage, Alaska

R-90

August 25, 1940

Dear Ced:

Bless your heart, old-timer, I’m right grateful to you for your faithfulness in writing so often. Tell a recalcitrant Dan he is not following my paternal injunctions as he ought in the matter of writing to his old Dad. So far his account of your ducal adventures is the only word I have had from him. Ah, me, what it is to have a lady love who must engross all of one’s writing time. If, when and as you get a girl, reserve some time for the home folks, even if it has to be provided for by formal treaty.

Your letter to Dick came through very promptly – – in fact it arrived directly on his birthday. In it, of course, was your letter also to me, and your letter to Elizabeth which arrived yesterday also contained your letter to me with its enclosure of $20 in money order of the realm. You shouldn’t of did it, unless you can well spare it, because as you well see from the enclosed accounting, Dick has already made six payments of five dollars each in payment for the Packard, and while I have not drawn on any of this, pending your instructions, it is available, and I would not like to feel you are skimping on your living expenses to pay back the few things I was able to take care of for you during your starting period.

By the same token, don’t plan on sending the $25 a month you so generously offer unless  and until you can do so without the least inconvenience. A father’s job is to help his boys, you know, not be a burden to them.

I have asked Dick to get out the clothes you mentioned and will send them on to you, as you request. I will also see what I can do about purchasing the uniform pants and shirt. I will and enclose with this letter a financial accounting of my expenditures on your account and will also send a similar accounting for Dan.

Wil you please send me a full description of what happened to the Willys? How, when and where (to whom) did you sell it? How much did you bring, etc.? I have referred to this several times in past letters but so far with no result. I am making a separate paragraph of this request and emphasizing it in red to ensure an answer. Do I get it?

I wonder if you or Dan can dig up without much trouble or expense a map of Anchorage, on which you can spot where you live and eat and work. It would be interesting if you could.

As to the thin paper, I forgot to mention in my last week’s letter that a supply of these had already been mailed you by regular mail which ought to arrive fairly soon.

The old Plymouth is still running on all six although, for two mornings running during the damp weather, I was unable to get it started, and had to send for Steve one time and Arnold the next. The trouble seemed to be in the ignition system with wires getting damp or oily and short-circuiting a bit. Lately however, it seems to be okay. I read somewhere that the Buick people were planning to get out a new model this fall and had already stopped production on the present model to get tools built for the 1941 car.

Alfred Duryee Guion (Grandpa), Elsie May Guion, his sister and Aunt Betty, Lizzie Duryee, their Aunt.

Aunt Betty has in mind giving up her room at the Seipps after the holidays and either living in New York for the winter or, if she can find suitable location at a reasonable sum, to go to Florida for a time, say until May.

I believe it is very important that we elect Willkie and I wish one of you fellows would start a Willkie Club there in Anchorage. Have you affiliated with any church? If for no other reason, it affords a good opportunity for a newcomer in the community to meet new friends.

DAD

Tomorrow I will post a letter from Dan to his Dad, at least answering part of the question of the Willys.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Dear Lad – Show Me The Layout, Please – August 25, 1940

Alfred Peabody Guion (Lad) at the Anzoategui Camp in Venezuela

R-90

August 25, 1940

Dear Lad:

Dave has been away at camp all this week with the Boy Scouts at Rusty’s camp, which has so many memories for all of us. I have received one postcard from him which says: “We’ve had the worst thunderstorm I have ever seen last night. The lightning struck just off the island. Today it was windy so six of us went down the Lake by using a homemade sail. On the way back the waves were pretty high.” I expect the campers will return sometime late this afternoon or this evening. Aunt Betty is still with us, although she is talking of going home this weekend. The last two days have been almost cold. We have had a fire in the alcove and today I lit the oil stove in the kitchen. I slept comfortably last night under two blankets and a quilt.

Don (Stanley) is also with us yet although his mother (Anne (Peabody) Stanley, one of Grandma Arla’s younger sisters) phoned day before yesterday from Vermont saying that she expected to reach Trumbull this coming Wednesday. She still has to use crutches and cannot yet drive a car but Gweneth (Stanley, her daughter) has learned to drive and it is she who will drive her mother down from Vermont.

Your airmail letter made very good time and actually reached here on Dick’s birthday, and as you know by this time, I had anticipated your wishes as to a birthday gift for him. He will probably write you himself but he was very much pleased with the camera and developing outfit. Arnold (Gibson, Lad’s best friend) is to be married September 1st and I suppose you would like me to send him a wedding present in your name. It is bothering me a bit to be continually eating into the money you send home to save by taking a sum here and another there. In fact I think I shall enclose with this a little financial accounting of your funds since the first of the year so you can see for yourself just how matters stand.

It makes me very happy to know that I can be of use to you, old son, and I wrote the Reader’s Digest immediately upon receipt of your letter and asked them to renew your subscription on the Spanish edition and send the back numbers in English, and to send me the bill. I have as yet received no answer. I also ordered the Spanish book sent to you and charged to my account.

I appreciate your letting me know about receiving my letters and note if you have received 86 by the time you wrote on August 14 you are pretty much up to date. By the way I got this letter on August 19 – – just five days en route.

Sometime when you have the leisure would you clarify in my mind what is now a bit hazy regarding the locations and distances apart of the various camps and wells you mention from time to time. For instance, some of your photos referred to Pariaguan Camp and others to Anzoategui. The panorama which you took from the water tower is, I assume, at Pariaguan. If you have prints of the same negatives can you describe where on this panoramic view your particular casa lies? In your last letter you refer to Guario 3. Where are Guario 1 and 2 and are they abandoned? On second reading, I suppose 1, 2 and 3 are all wells at Guario and it is No. 1 that is now showing signs of real life. If it does develop in good shape, will that mean a bonus for you? I think I shall send your letter regarding the new plane on to Ced as from his letter to me, he will be much interested in your description of it. By the same token, I am sending Ced’s letter describing his planes on to you.

Please don’t forget to send Ced’s letters back promptly as there are many people to whom I have not shown his last one, dated August 12th, that would be interested in reading it. The other two you may send back by regular mail if the airmail postage cost runs to high.

Don’t forget to vote for Wilkie.

DAD

Tomorrow, I’ll post another letter written on the same day to Ced in Alaska. I’ll finish the week with a hasty note written by Dan to Grandpa..

 Judy Guion

Trumbull – Dear Ced (2) – Local News That’s Fit To Print – August 24, 1940

The family after Raymond Zabel Jr., Baptism, a few months berfore Dan and Ced left for Anchorage, Alaska.

Left to Right: Alfred Duryee Guion (Grandpa), Richard Peasbody (partially Hidden), Cedric Duryee, Elizabeth Westlin (Guion) Zabel, David Peabody, Raymond Zabel, Sr. holding “Butch”, Daniel Beck. Lad was the only one missing.

Eleanor Kurtz (daughter in the Kurtz family who own the local Grocery Store) is getting married next month. Butch is sleeping soundly at present but with all the noise Zeke is making I don’t know how long he will stay that way. We’ve been having a card tournament lately – just playing rummy – and so far I am champ – not to sound as if I am bragging or anything like that. Today Dick (Guion, her next younger brother and playmate as children) went downtown with me and we bumped into Donald W (Whitney, a neighbor a ways up the street) on the corner of Main and Fairfield. He said he had called up the house and they told him Dick had gone to town. He figured more people passed the corner there than any other place so he stationed himself and began to watch for us. He had just about given up hope when along we came. He bummed a ride home with us. You know he has a car now. It isn’t in running condition as yet. He hopes to get a license next week. I don’t know what make it is. Charlie Hall (a closer neighbor and one of The Gang” that spent a lot of time at the Trumbull House and about Dick’s age) has a new one to – I believe it is a 35 or 36 Ford. Dick has hopes of buying one like it. – Did I hear some remarks from you? Art Mantle (another neighbor and friend of Lad’s) get’s out this week or next – I don’t know whether or not he expects to reenlist – maybe you know? Irv (Zeke’s brother) cracked up again. It cost him $25 this time and I guess his license was taken away because he was arrested for reckless driving by Nat Heywood. Zeke wants to know if you have saved any money as yet. Well space is getting short so I had better close before I get squeezed in.

Love,

Biss

P.S. – Butch say’s Da-da-day – Translate as you please.    B (Biss)

Tomorrow, a letter from Grandpa and on Thursday, another letter from Grandpas to Ced, written on the same day. On Friday, a letter from Dan to Grandpa at home in Trumbull.

Judy Guion

Trumbull – Dear Ced (1) – Biss Writes To Her Older Brother – August 24, 1940

This week I will be sharing letters written in August of 1940. This is the letter Elizabeth (Biss) writes to Ced in Alaska. Biss has been married to Raymond Zabel and she writes to Ced about their first son, Raymond Zabel, Jr. 

Elizabeth Westlin (Guion) Zabel and Raymond Zabel, Jr. (Butch)

8:05 PM

8/24/40

Sat. Eve.

Dear Ced —

I just finished reading your letter and decided to answer immediately as Zeke was not home – so Zeke just walked in. He went fishing last night for the weekend but the fish weren’t biting so he came home this afternoon instead of staying over.

Arnold Gibson and Alta Pratt on their wedding day

Arnold and Alta (Arnold Gibson, Lad’s best friend, and his girlfriend, Alta Pratt) are getting married September first at Alta’s house and then they’re going on a three weeks vacation or honeymoon up the line to Canada etc. Of course they are taking the trailer along with them.

Butch (nearing his 1st birthday) considers himself too smart for school and is starting one of his own instead. He is teaching “How to bring up parents” but so far he found his class below par. As far as hunting and fishing are concerned he is waiting until he is able to join you to see Alaska’s sports for himself – he’s from Missouri. I reserve my comments as to Butch’s rival myself for the words aren’t fit to print. I still am not sure – but I have my doubts and fears. Zeke says, “It all depends upon who’s fishing whether or not there is sport in those fish”.

Aunt Anne ((Peabody) Stanley) has not showed up as yet for she tripped on something and broke a bone in her foot. She is coming Wednesday and Gwen (her daughter) is going to drive for Aunt Anne can’t as yet. Aunt Betty (lizzie Duryee, Grandpa’s mother’s sister) is visiting us for a few weeks. Grandma (Peabody), Grandma Arla’s mother), Aunt Helen ((Peabody) Human, Mrs. Ted Human), Aunt Dorothy (Peabody) and Uncle Lawrence (Peabody), one of Grandma Arla’s three brothers) were up a week ago to get Aunt Helen’s trunks straightened out and shipped to New York. It is practically winter here although it is only August. Dave went up to Pomperaug or someplace or another. The police have been reinstated just as they were before.

Tomorrow I will post the rest of this letter filled with local news.  On Wednesday and Thursday, two letters written on the same day, one to Lad and one to Ced. On Friday, a letter from Dan to his Dad in Trumbull.

Judy Guion

Special Pictures – More Relaxing At Camps In Venezuela – 1939 – 1941

Alfred Peabody Guion (Lad) relaxing in Pariaguan, Venezeluela, 1940

Alfred Peabody Guion (Lad) and Jim Pierce at Karnopp’s Camp, Venezuela in 1939

Sleeping arrangements for Alfred Peabody Guion (Lad) at one of the Camps in Venezuela

Cabins for two,  Anzoategui Camp – (1) Paul Dutton and Bob Jones; (2)Stanley Barnes and Frank Borgan; (3) Herb Hadley and Al Guion; (4) The Mess Hall

Ballgame at Anzoategui, Venezuela – S.V.O.C (Socony-Vacuum Oil Company) vs M.G.O. (?) , Feb. 1940

“It’s mine” – in front of House # 68, Anzoategui, Venezuela,  March, 1940

Alfred Peabody Guion dressed for a Halloween Party. On the back, he wrote “Al Guion – Pariaguan – Oct. 31, 1940

Club House at Pariaguan, Venezuela, Oct., 1940

Tomorrow, I will begin posting letters written in August and September, 1940. Lad remains in Venezuela working for the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company and Dan and Ced have been in Anchorage, Alaska, since June.

Judy Guion